The Articles of Confederation
Which weakness of the Articles of Confederation was most directly exposed by the government's inability to pay its debts from the Revolutionary War?
Its lack of power to levy taxes
What was the nation's first constitution called?
The Articles of Confederation
What 1787 event in Massachusetts frightened American leaders and highlighted the weakness of the national government to handle unrest?
Shays's Rebellion
Supporters of the new Constitution, such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, were known as:
Federalists
This system prevents any one branch of the federal government from gaining too much power.
checks and balances
Why did the first state constitutions, like Pennsylvania's, deliberately limit the power of the governor?
Americans feared giving too much power to a single ruler after their experience with British rule.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the fundamental problem created by Article XIII of the Articles of Confederation, which required unanimous consent for amendments?
A. Nine states voting to pass a law regarding western lands.
B. Congress being unable to force states to pay for the army.
C. Twelve states approving a critical tax on imported goods, only to have it blocked by Rhode Island's single "no" vote.
D. A dispute between Virginia and Maryland over land claims west of the Appalachians.
C. Twelve states approving a critical tax on imported goods, only to have it blocked by Rhode Island's single "no" vote.
Who is known as the "Father of the Constitution" because he authored the basic plan of government adopted by the Convention?
James Madison
The idea that government is based on a contract between the people and their ruler, protecting natural rights of life, liberty, and property, comes from which Enlightenment philosopher?
John Locke
What was the strongest and most compelling argument made by the Anti-Federalists against the proposed Constitution?
It lacked a bill of rights to protect individual freedoms.
Under the Articles of Confederation, which powers did Congress possess?
The power to borrow and print money
The financial problem of "continentals" having almost no value was caused by what underlying issue?
The money was not backed by sufficient gold or silver, leading people to doubt its worth.
How did the Virginia Plan's proposal for legislative representation differ from the New Jersey Plan's?
The Virginia Plan proposed representation based on state population, while the New Jersey Plan proposed equal representation for all states.
The Constitution's model of balancing the powers of government by separating them into legislative, executive, and judicial branches was most directly influenced by which Enlightenment thinker described in the text?
Baron de Montesquieu
Why was the ratification by large states like Virginia and New York considered essential, even after the required nine states had already approved the Constitution?
The new government could not succeed without their participation and support
What was the primary purpose of the Ordinance of 1785?
To establish a process for new territories to become states
What did the disputes over western land claims and the refusal of Maryland to ratify the Articles reveal about the early republic?
The states were not yet united and often prioritized their individual interests over the collective good.
The "Great Compromise," proposed by Roger Sherman, settled the dispute over representation by creating:
A bicameral legislature with a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.
The division of power between the federal government and the state governments.
Federalism
How did the Federalists, particularly in states like Virginia, overcome the strong opposition from Anti-Federalists to secure ratification of the Constitution?
By promising to add a bill of rights as an amendment to the document.
The contrast between the Northwest Ordinance's ban on slavery and the Mississippi Territory's allowance for it best illustrates which emerging reality of the new nation?
The growing sectional divide between North and South over the institution of slavery.
Why was Spain's decision to close the lower Mississippi River to American shipping in 1784 a major problem for the United States?
It cut off the primary trade route for Western settlers to ship their goods to market.
A decision to count every five enslaved persons as three free persons for purposes of representation and taxation.
Three-Fifths Compromise
Congress passes a law establishing a new tax on imported goods. Which branch does Congress belong to?
Legislative Branch
How did the Constitution's principle of federalism directly address the primary fear that had shaped the weak central government under the Articles of Confederation?
By sharing power and leaving some powers to the states, it balanced the need for a stronger national government with the fear of tyranny.