Anti-Federalists: A group who wanted a limited federal government and more power for individual states.

Bar: A term that encompasses all certified lawyers—those who have passed all official requirements (the bar exam) to be certified as lawyers.

Checks and balances: The system within which the three branches of the U.S. government can review and dismiss acts passed by one of the other branches.

Continental Army: The army formed by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. The army included militias (civilian emergency forces) from the individual colonies as well as new recruits.

Continental Congress: An assembly of delegates representing the colonies. The assembly first met in 1774. When they met again in 1775, the Revolutionary War (1775-83) was underway. The Continental Congress evolved into the revolutionary government.

Federalists: Members of a major political party in the early United States. Federalists believed in a...