The Articles of Confederation
This document created the first national government of the United States but gave most power to the states.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
This group supported ratifying the Constitution and wanted a stronger national government.
Who were the Federalists?
Together, these three parts of government divide power by making, enforcing, and interpreting laws.
What are the three branches of government?
This plan favored large states by basing representation on population.
What is the Virginia Plan?
This amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press.
What is the First Amendment?
Under the Articles of Confederation , Congress did NOT have this important power, which led to financial problems.
What is the power to tax?
This group feared the Constitution would give too much power to the executive branch.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
This branch interprets laws and can declare them unconstitutional, limiting the power of the other branches.
What is the Judicial Branch?
This plan favored small states by giving each state equal representation.
What is the New Jersey Plan?
This amendment protects against government overreach by providing citizens with the means to overthrow the government if it stops protecting natural rights
What is the second amendment?
This rebellion showed that the national government was too weak to maintain order under the Articles.
What is Shays’ Rebellion?
These essays were written to persuade states to ratify the Constitution.
What are the Federalist Papers?
This branch carries out and enforces the laws and can veto legislation passed by Congress.
What is the Executive Branch?
This compromise created a two-house legislature to satisfy both large and small states.
What is the Great Compromise?
This amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment.
What is the Eighth Amendment?
According to the Articles, each state retained this, meaning the national government could not interfere easily.
What is state sovereignty?
Anti-Federalists feared the president because they believed he might resemble this type of ruler.
What is a king or monarch?
This branch of government creates laws, controls taxation, and represents the people and the states.
What is the Legislative Branch?
This compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
This amendment protects the right to a fair and speedy trial by jury a protection originally contained within the Magna Carta.
What is the Sixth Amendment?
One major weakness of the Articles was that Congress could not do this, making laws hard to enforce.
What is enforce laws / regulate the states?
The Anti-Federalists demanded this addition to the Constitution to protect individual freedoms.
What is the Bill of Rights?
According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract Theory, power must be limited and shared so no single group can dominate the people—this idea is reflected in what system of government?
What is checks and balances?
This part of the Constitution explains the goals and purposes of the government.
What is the Preamble?
The Bill of Rights was designed mainly to do this.
What is limit the power of government / protect individual rights?