Glossary
Articles of Confederation
The first national constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781, which established a loose confederation of states with a weak central government.
Example:
Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government struggled to pay its debts because it lacked the power to directly tax the states.
Bills of Rights
Sections within early state constitutions designed to protect individual liberties and freedoms from government overreach.
Example:
The Virginia Declaration of Rights, a precursor to the national Bills of Rights, guaranteed fundamental freedoms like freedom of the press and religion.
Constitutional Convention
A meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787, prompted by the failures of the Articles of Confederation and events like Shay's Rebellion, where delegates drafted the U.S. Constitution.
Example:
The widespread alarm caused by Shay's Rebellion directly spurred the call for the Constitutional Convention, as leaders realized the existing government was too weak to protect the nation.
Land Ordinance of 1785
A success of the Articles of Confederation that established a systematic process for surveying and selling western lands, organizing them into townships and setting aside land for public education.
Example:
The Land Ordinance of 1785 not only helped the government raise revenue but also laid the groundwork for future public school systems by reserving land in each township for education.
No power to enforce laws
A major deficiency of the Articles of Confederation, meaning the national government lacked the authority or means to compel states to comply with national legislation.
Example:
Even if Congress passed a resolution, its no power to enforce laws meant that states could simply ignore national directives without consequence.
No power to regulate trade
A significant flaw of the Articles of Confederation that prevented the national government from resolving economic disputes between states or negotiating unified commercial policies with foreign nations.
Example:
The national government's no power to regulate trade led to states imposing tariffs on each other's goods, hindering interstate commerce and creating economic friction.
No power to tax
A critical weakness of the Articles of Confederation, meaning the national government could not directly collect revenue from citizens or states, leading to constant financial instability.
Example:
Because the Articles granted the government no power to tax, it had to rely on voluntary contributions from states, which were often insufficient to fund national operations or pay war debts.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
A significant achievement of the Articles of Confederation that established a clear process for admitting new states to the Union on an equal footing and notably banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.
Example:
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was groundbreaking for prohibiting slavery in new territories, setting a precedent for future debates over the expansion of the institution.
Shay's Rebellion
An armed uprising of debt-ridden farmers in Massachusetts (1786-1787) led by Daniel Shays, which exposed the critical weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government.
Example:
The inability of the national government to effectively respond to Shay's Rebellion highlighted the urgent need for a more robust federal system capable of maintaining order and addressing economic distress.
State Constitutions
Documents created by individual states after declaring independence, serving as early experiments in self-governance and outlining the structure of their new governments.
Example:
After the Revolution, Virginia drafted its own State Constitution, establishing a bicameral legislature and a governor, reflecting its unique vision for republican government.
Weak Central Government
A characteristic of the government established by the Articles of Confederation, where most power resided with the individual states, limiting the national government's ability to act effectively.
Example:
The Weak Central Government under the Articles meant that when states had disputes over trade, there was no strong national authority to mediate or enforce resolutions.
Weak Executive Branches
A common feature of early state constitutions, reflecting a post-Revolutionary War fear of centralized power and a desire to prevent a tyrannical executive like the British king.
Example:
Many states deliberately created Weak Executive Branches to ensure that governors could not accumulate too much power, often limiting their terms and authority.