Confederation of States
Confederation in Crisis
Constitutional Convention
Ratifying the Constitution
100
What was the name of the nation's first government framework?
Articles of Confederation
100
Name one issue with the Articles of Confederation?
lack of taxing power; no executive branch to enfore the laws; no judicial (courts) to settle disagreements; took 3.5 years to ratify.
100
Who was known as "the Father of the Constitution"?
James Madison
100
The people who supported the Constitution called themselves
Federalists.
200
What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?
It specified how western territories could become states.
200
What major event made Americans consider strengthening the national government?
Shay's Rebellion
200
What government structure was borrowed from Baron de Montesquieu?
separation of powers; three-branch government
200
What did the Anti-Federalists say the Constitution lacked?
an explicit Bill of Rights
300
Why were many Americans wary of drafting a constitution?
Citizens feared a strong, powerful, abusive government like Britain (King George III).
300
Why did George Washington compare the effectiveness of the Articles to "a rope of sand"?
He argued that the national government did not have enough power to keep the country together.
300
What form of legislature did William Paterson's New Jersey plan propose?
unicameral (one house) Congress with equal representation for every state
300
What disagreement did the Three-Fifths Compromise attempt to resolve?
400
Why were many states hesitant to sign the Articles of Confederation?
They did not want to give Congress control over their affairs.
400
Why was it difficult for Congress to raise money under the Articles of Confederation?
400
What was the significance of checks and balances in the new government?
Each government branch could limit the power of the others; they could "check" the other branch(es)
400
How does the Bill of Rights protect people in the United States?
It offers a list of individual liberties defended by the government.