Become familiar with the following terms and events:
 

Shay’s Rebellion, 1786-87
Republicanism
“The People”
Articles of Confederation, November 1777, Ratified March 1781
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Mississippi commerce and Spain
Annapolis Conference, September 1786
Constitutional Convention, May 1787
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Great Compromise
Federalists and Antifederalists
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist party
The Jeffersonian Republicans
Ratification, 1788
Bill of Rights, December 15, 1791
Democratic-Republicanism
Jay’s Treaty
Pinckney’s Treaty
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

1. What was the fundamental idea behind the Articles of Confederation?  Refer to the text, but also think about the question in terms of what you read about the Constitution.
2. Is there, similarly, a fundamental idea behind the Constitution?
3. What were the decisive arguments that secured ratification of the Constitution?
4. While reading the Constitution, list illustrations of the balance of powers;  of federalism;  of the strength of the federal government.
5. In what sense does the Bill of Rights constitute a complete defense of the liberty of the individual?  In what sense is it incomplete?
6. What is the main argument in Federalist #10?  In Federalist # 51