Formation of the U.S. Constitution

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What is a confederacy?

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A confederacy is a union of sovereign groups or states that, by compact, create a central government with limited powers.

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What is a federation? How does it differ from a confederacy?

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A federation is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions under a central government. Unlike a confederacy, a federation has a stronger central authority.

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What is a unitary state? How does it differ from a federation?

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A unitary state is a state governed as a single entity where the central government holds the majority of the power, unlike a federation where power is divided between central and regional authorities.

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What was the Second Continental Congress?

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The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that met from 1775 to 1781, managing the colonial war effort and moving incrementally towards independence.

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What was the Declaration of Independence (1776)?

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The Declaration of Independence is a historic document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared their independence from British rule on July 4, 1776.

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What were the Articles of Confederation (ratified 1781)?

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The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a national government with limited powers.

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What was the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

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The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a meeting in Philadelphia where delegates drafted the current Constitution of the United States.

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What were the antifederalists & federalists (regarding the debate during the Constitutional Convention)?

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Antifederalists opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government, while federalists supported it, leading to a significant debate during the Constitutional Convention.

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What were the Federalist Papers (1787-1788)?

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The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles and essays written to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution.

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What is a constitutional amendment?

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A constitutional amendment is a formal change or addition to the Constitution.