Governing a New Nation
This was the first plan of government for the United States, adopted in 1777.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
The Constitutional Convention took place in this city in 1787.
What is Philadelphia?
The branch of government that makes the laws.
What is the Legislative Branch?
Supporters of the new Constitution were called this.
Who were the Federalists?
The First Amendment protects these three basic freedoms.
What are freedom of speech, religion, and the press?
Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government could declare war and make treaties, but it could NOT do this to raise money.
What is collect taxes?
Delegates kept the Constitutional Convention’s debates secret for this reason.
What is to speak freely without public pressure?
The branch of government that carries out or enforces laws.
What is the Executive Branch?
Opponents of the Constitution who feared a strong national government were called this.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
The Second Amendment protects this right.
What is the right to bear arms?
This 1785 law divided western lands into townships and set aside one section for public schools.
What is the Land Ordinance of 1785?
The Virginia Plan called for this number of branches of government.
What is three?
The branch of government that interprets laws and ensures they follow the Constitution.
What is the Judicial Branch?
Federalists like Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote these essays to persuade people to support the Constitution.
What are the Federalist Papers?
This amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
This 1787 law created a system for forming new states and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.
What is the Northwest Ordinance?
This compromise created a two-house Congress — one based on population and one with equal representation.
What is the Great Compromise?
The introduction to the Constitution, written by Gouverneur Morris, begins with these words.
What is “We the People”?
This state’s ratification was seen as crucial because others were expected to follow its lead.
What is Virginia?
These amendments protect the rights of people accused of crimes.
What are the Fifth through Eighth Amendments?
This rebellion by Massachusetts farmers in 1786 showed that the Articles of Confederation were too weak.
What is Shays’ Rebellion?
This agreement decided that enslaved people would count as part of the population for representation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
This delegate is known as the “Father of the Constitution.”
Who is James Madison?
To win Massachusetts’ approval, Federalists promised to add this to the Constitution.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Congress passed the Bill of Rights quickly because many states ratified the Constitution only with this condition.
What is the promise that a Bill of Rights would be added?