U.S History Regents Review

A mutual agreement to obey any laws agreed upon for the general good of the colony. Signed by (male) Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower. Established the notion of self-government in America.

The economic system of imperialism. The colonies exist for the benefit of the mother country.

The taxpayer (colonists) had no say in the making of their taxes. (Examples: the Stamp Act, the Intolerable Acts, the Tea Act).

Document declaring the British King a tyrant, listing his wrongs against the American colonies, and proclaiming the independence of the United States. Written in the name of the People, by Thomas Jefferson. Outlawing of slavery clause rejected.

A loose confederation of independent states that gave limited powers to a central government

This formally ended the Revolutionary War for Independence with Great Britain.

Provided for the formation of not less than three, nor more than five, states (Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin), and forbade slavery in the entire territory.

Farmers revolted in protest of losing their farms for non-payment of debts.  The national government, under the Articles of Confederation, was too weak to react.  This hastened the call for the Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention occurred to form a strong national government.  As a precaution against having to assume the financial burdens of the smaller states, the larger states exacted an agreement that revenue bills could originate only in the House, where the more populous states were to have greater representation. The southern states won the point that in enumerating the population of the states, three-fifths of the black slaves within their borders should be added to the total number of white persons within their borders.

The Virginia Plan provided a House of Representatives elected by popular vote, and a Senate elected by the House. This would have given the more populous states control of the national legislature Proportional representation means "representation in proportion to a state's population).

Provided for a single legislature in which all the states were to have equal representation.

The present arrangement, whereby the states are equally represented in the Senate and are represented in the House of Representatives in proportion to their populations.

Southern black slaves were counted as 3/5s a citizen for purposes of proportional representation.

Division of the federal government into three branches in order to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch.

Article I.  The most important branch of government because it most directly represents the People.