Building Our Country: Chapter 6: A New Nation, Lessons 1–2

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. confederation
    a union of political organizations
    The delegates outlined a plan for a new government. They called this plan the Articles of Confederation.
  2. ratified
    formally approved and invested with legal authority
    Congress sent the plan to individual states to be ratified.
  3. legislative
    relating to a lawmaking assembly
    Under the Articles of Confederation, the government had one branch—the legislative branch, which is the part of government that makes the laws.
  4. executive
    having the function of carrying out plans or orders
    The executive branch carries out the laws passed by the legislative branch.
  5. judicial
    relating to the administration of justice
    The judicial branch, made up of courts and judges, decides what laws mean.
  6. currency
    the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used
    To pay its war debts, Congress began printing a new national currency called "continentals."
  7. inflation
    a general and progressive increase in prices
    The continentals became worthless. This resulted in inflation, which meant that the price of goods increased while the value of money decreased.
  8. regulate
    bring into conformity with rules, principles, or usage
    As you read, the new nation was unable to regulate business between states and other countries.
  9. ordinance
    an authoritative rule
    Congress issued several ordinances, or laws, to organize the territory.
  10. delegate
    a person appointed or elected to represent others
    In May 1787, many signers of the Declaration of Independence, called delegates, returned to Philadelphia.
  11. constitution
    law determining the fundamental principles of a government
    Others came to craft a completely new constitution, or written plan for government.
  12. consult
    seek information from
    During the convention, he took detailed notes that historians still consult today.
  13. compromise
    an accommodation in which both sides make concessions
    A compromise takes place when people on both sides of an issue give up something to reach an agreement.
  14. preamble
    a preliminary introduction, as to a statute or constitution
    The Preamble, or introduction, expressed the main goals of the new constitution.
  15. check
    the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
    They set up a system of checks and balances. In other words, each branch had ways of limiting the powers of the other branches.
  16. balance
    a state of equilibrium
    They set up a system of checks and balances. In other words, each branch had ways of limiting the powers of the other branches.
  17. veto
    the power to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act
    The president can limit the power of Congress with a veto, or a refusal to sign a law.
  18. authority
    the power or right to give orders or make decisions
    The states have the authority to manage elections and issue licenses.
Created on Wed Jul 14 14:11:44 EDT 2021 (updated Thu Jul 15 15:12:39 EDT 2021)

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