Vocab
Limited Government
Political system where the government's power is restricted by law
Name one of the 13 original colonies
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Who was the primary write of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
What type of Legislature did the Articles of Confederation establish?
A unicameral legislature (one congress)
What was the major disagreement between the Federalists & Anti-Federalists? (hint: what did the Federalists want that the Anti-Federalists did NOT)
The major disagreement was over the Constitution and the power of the national government.
The Declaration of Independence
The document primarily written by Thomas Jefferson declaring all 13 colonies free and independent from British control
Who were the group that settled the east coast of North America
The British
Name one of the points made in the Declaration of Independence
What rebellion started making the Founding Fathers rethink the Articles?
Explain the key points of both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. Which states supported each plan? What was the key disagreement between the two plans?
Virginia Plan: Proposed a strong national government with three branches and a two-house legislature. Representation in Congress would be based on population, meaning larger states would have more representatives. Larger states generally supported this plan.
New Jersey Plan: Proposed a government with a one-house legislature in which each state would have equal representation, regardless of population. Smaller states generally supported this plan.
Key disagreement: The major disagreement was over representation in Congress. Large states wanted representation based on population, while small states wanted equal representation for each state.
Federalists
Group of politicians who favored ratification of the Constitution
Why did the American colonists want independence from Great Britain? Why did they have issues with the way they were being governed?
The colonists believed Great Britain was governing them unfairly and violating their rights. They were upset about taxation without representation, British laws and taxes, restrictions on their freedoms, and having no representatives in Parliament. They believed government should protect their rights and have the consent of the governed.
Discuss a plan for action against the British, without actually separating from Great Britain
Name one power that Congress had under the Articles of Confederation
Declare war, Make peace, Conduct foreign policy, Borrow money, Create a military, Negotiate treaties, Admit new states
Explain how the Connecticut Compromise solved the major disagreement between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
The Connecticut Compromise created a two-house legislature. The House of Representatives would have representation based on population, which satisfied larger states. The Senate would give every state equal representation with two senators, which satisfied smaller states.
Anti-Federalists
Group of politicians who opposed ratification of the Constitution
Which enlightenment thinker believed that government is exists to protect natural rights (life, liberty, property)
John Locke
What day was the Declaration of Independence approved by the Continental Congress?
July 4, 1776
Name one power that the states had under the Articles of Confederation
Collect taxes, Print money, Regulate trade, Govern themselves, Maintain militias
Name the two things the framers did to satisfy the Southern States with the issue of slavery during the Constitution Convention.
The 3/5ths Compromise, and the Commercial Slave Trade Compromise.
The Articles of Confederation
First official government of the U.S.
What are Natural Rights?
Basic and universal freedoms that every person is born with just for being human, meaning no government can justly take them away
Who was appointed by the Second Continental Congress to oversee the newly formed Continental Army?
George Washington
What were the Articles of Confederation? Explain why the Articles failed as a system of government.
The Articles of Confederation were the first system of government for the United States. They created a weak national government and gave most of the power to the states.
The Articles failed because the national government was too weak. Congress could not easily raise taxes, regulate trade, or enforce laws. There was no strong executive branch to enforce laws and no national court system. It was also difficult to change the Articles because amendments required the agreement of all 13 states.
What was the main argument James Madison was trying to make in Federalists No.51?
The main argument James Madison was making in Federalist No. 51 was that the new U.S. government needed checks and balances and separation of powers so that no one person or branch could become too powerful.