Origins of American Political Ideals
Define the concept of a limited government. (Cannot use the word "limited" in the definition.)
basic principle of American government, which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away
What was the Stamp Act?
A law that put a tax on paper/stamps
The first constitution that outlined the federal government was...
The Articles of Confederation
What does it mean to ratify something?
to approve/put in effect
What is another name for the Great Compromise? Why is it sometimes called this?
The Connecticut Compromise because CT delegate, Roger Sherman, helped to create the plan.
What were the 3 types of colonies during King George's rule?
charter, proprietary, and royal
This Founding Father was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
to REVISE the Articles of Confederation
How many of the states needed to approve the Constitution before it was ratified?
2
What was the Magna Carta?
a. A document that declared the colonies to be independent from Great Britain
b. A document that gave more power to the King
c. A document that guaranteed right to citizens and limited the power of the King
d. A document that set up the U.S. government that we know today
c. A document that guaranteed right to citizens and limited the power of the King
Which event led MOST DIRECTLY to the calling of the First Continental Congress?
a. The battles of Lexington and Concord were fought.
b. British troops killed five colonists in Boston.
c. Colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.
d. Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts.
d. Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts.
The Articles of Confederation reflected the colonists' desire for
a. a strong executive branch.
b. State sovereignty.
c. a bicameral legislature.
d. a strong judicial branch.
b. State sovereignty.
What was the difference between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists point of view about the Constitution?
Federalist--pro strong central government; felt it was necessary to bring people together
Anti-Federalist--against the strong central government created by the Constitution; feared it would lead to a monarchy and did NOT like that there was no bill of rights
What was the Quartering Act?
Laws passed by the British Parliament that required American colonists to house and supply British soldiers
Use this excerpt from the English Bill of Rights to answer the question.
“. . . that the pretended power of suspending the laws, or the execution of laws, by regal authority, without consent of Parliament is illegal . . . that levying money for or to the use of the Crown . . . without grant of Parliament . . . is illegal . . . that it is the right of the subjects to petition the king . . . and that prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal . . .”
—English Bill of Rights
Which of the following ideas is embodied in this excerpt?
a. The king needed the consent of Parliament to appoint advisors and ministers.
b. The king needed the consent of Parliament in order to tax people.
c. The king had the right to prosecute illegal petitions protesting royal laws.
d. The king had the power to suspend laws without Parliament’s consent.
b. The king needed the consent of Parliament in order to tax people.
Frustration and anger resulting from the Stamp Act were rooted in the understanding that
a. the British Parliament was imposing a tax that was traditionally reserved for colonial governments
b. British troops policing Stamp Act protests resulted in the Boston massacre
c. the act was not repealed despite widespread protests
a. the British Parliament was imposing a tax that was traditionally reserved for colonial governments
Explain the events that took place during Shays' Rebellion that illustrate the failures of the Articles.
After the American Revolution, many farmers in Massachusetts faced economic hardship. They had:
Accumulated high debts
Struggled to pay taxes
Risked losing their farms to creditors or foreclosure
The national government under the Articles of Confederation had no power to help these struggling farmers, and the state government was seen as favoring wealthy creditors over ordinary citizens.
The Rebellion
Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War captain, led a group of angry farmers in protests and uprisings.
The rebels blocked courts to prevent foreclosure hearings, trying to stop the loss of farms.
In early 1787, Shays and his followers attempted to seize the federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts, hoping to force the government to cancel debts and ease taxes.
The uprising was eventually put down by the state militia, but the rebellion exposed serious problems in governance.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise? What issue did this settle?
Every five enslaved people would count as three people for both representation and taxation purposes.
What Issue It Settled
The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the dispute over how enslaved people would be counted in determining:
Representation in the House of Representatives (which affected political power), and
Direct taxation on the states (which affected how much money each state owed the federal government).
Impact
Southern states gained more representation in Congress than they would have if enslaved people had not been counted at all.
Northern states accepted the compromise to move forward with the Constitution, even though many disagreed with counting enslaved people in any way.
The compromise strengthened the political power of slaveholding states, making slavery an even more divisive issue in the years to come.
What was the significance of the Albany Plan of Union?
An early, but unsuccessful, attempt at colonial unity for mutual defense and governance, foreshadowing later efforts like the Constitution
What are at least two ideas or concepts found in the Constitution that were borrowed from the Petition of Right or English Bill of Rights?
Both English documents emphasized that the king was not above the law. The Petition of Right challenged the king’s ability to impose taxes or imprison people without Parliament’s consent.
This idea appears in the U.S. Constitution through checks and balances and the separation of powers, ensuring that no branch of government can act above the law.
Protection of Individual Rights
The English Bill of Rights protected people from cruel and unusual punishment, excessive fines, and unlawful imprisonment.
These same protections appear in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and are reflected in the broader concept of individual liberties found in the Bill of Rights.
3. Right to Due Process of Law
The Petition of Right (1628) argued that the king could not imprison or punish people without following the law — this meant that everyone was entitled to a fair legal process before losing their life, liberty, or property.
This principle directly influenced the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
Read the excerpt below from the Declaration of Independence (1776):
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Which of the following ideas most directly influenced this passage?
A. The English Bill of Rights, which limited the power of the monarchy and established parliamentary authority
B. Enlightenment thought, particularly the concepts of natural rights and the social contract
C. The Great Awakening, which emphasized personal spiritual freedom and religious equality
D. The Mayflower Compact, which created a framework for self-government among early colonists
B. Enlightenment thought, particularly the concepts of natural rights and the social contract
Give at least two reasons why the Articles of Confederation were inadequate to meet the needs of the time. Explain using examples.
Various responses
In detail, explain the Great Compromise. How did it bring together the opposing states?
A Bicameral Legislature (Two Houses of Congress):
Senate: Each state would have two senators, no matter the size or population. This satisfied the small states, who wanted equal representation.
House of Representatives: Representation would be based on population. Larger states would have more representatives, satisfying the large states.
Legislation Required Approval from Both Houses:
Any law had to pass through both the House and the Senate, ensuring that both population-based and equal representation played a role in decision-making.
Explain the structure of the Articles of Confederation. (What was the legislature like? Strength of federal gov.? How was state power handled?)
Established a weak central government with a unicameral legislature (the Confederation Congress) where each state had one vote, while the states retained most sovereignty