Federalism: Refers to the division of power between the central government and state governments, similar to how in a group project, each person has specific tasks while still working together towards a common goal.
Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the United States, which established a weak central government but gave more power to individual states. Think of it like having multiple captains trying to steer one ship without clear guidelines or coordination.
Constitutional Convention: A meeting held in 1787 where delegates gathered to revise and improve upon the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the creation of the U.S. Constitution. It's like when your group realizes that your original plan for an event isn't effective and you hold another meeting to come up with better ideas.