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The first written plan of government for the United States. A confederation is an association of states that cooperate for a common purpose.

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Articles of Confederation

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A written plan that provides the basic framework of a government.

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A Constitution

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A meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 at which delegates from the states wrote the U.S. Constitution.

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Constitutional Convention

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The group established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president. Voters in each state choose their electors.

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The Electoral College

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The "Age of Reason" in 17th and 18th-century Europe emphasized using rational thought to discover truths about nature and society.

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Enlightenment

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A series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the Constitution by the states.

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The Federalist Papers

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The plan of government adopted at the Constitutional Convention that established a two-house Congress. In the House of Representatives, representation from each state is based on state population. In the Senate, each state is represented by two senators.

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The Great Compromise

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A law passed by Congress in 1787 that specified how western lands would be governed.

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The Northwest Ordinance

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A region of the United States bounded by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the Great Lakes. The region was given to the United States by the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

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Northwest Territory

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To formally approve a plan or an agreement. The process of approval is called ratification.

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Ratify