Module 5-1
Define the word "constitution"
a set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government.
What event got rid of the Articles of Confederation and helped create the U.S. Constitution?
The Constitutional Convention
The main goal of the Constitutional Convention was to...
Improve the Articles of Confederation
This branch contains the president, all his departments and they enforce the law
Executive Branch
What does it mean to ratify something?
To get official approval
The First national government in the United States were known as the ___________
Articles of Confederation
How did states interact with each other under the Articles of Confederation, in terms of trade?
They competed with each other for prices/ placed tariffs on one another.
What was the main idea of the 3/5th's compromise?
Slaves would only count as 3/5th's of a person in regards to a state's population.
What is federalism?
To balance the power of the central government with the power of the states.
The Articles of Confederation were created by who?
The (Second) Continental Congress
Why didn't the United States have an army after the American Revolution?
The army disbanded and they had no money to afford a new one (no taxes)
The Virginia Plan determined representation based on what?
Chosen on basis of state population
What is a tax on imports or exports?
Tariffs
What was the only government branch that existed under the Articles of Confederation?
Legislative (Continental congress)
What did Daniel Shays and his men protest in 1786?
High taxes and heavy debts on their farms
The New Jersey Plan said representation should be determined by...
Each state has same amount of votes
What are amendments?
Official changes made to the Constitution
What is the purpose of checks and balances?
To make sure no one branch gets too much power
Give 3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
States can refuse requests
Little power to national government
No President or national courts
What did Shays' Rebellion show about the Articles of Confederation?
They were too weak to resolve any of the issues the nation was facing at the time.
What were the 3 parts of the Great Compromise?
1. Bicameral legislature
2. House of Representatives - number of reps based on state population
3. Senate - Same # of representatives in every state
Who wrote a majority of the Federalist Papers, trying to convince states to ratify the constitution?
Alexander Hamilton
List 3 rights included in the Bill of rights
Freedom of speech, religion, protest, press, petition
Right to bear arms, right to privacy, right to a trial/ a lawyer
Right to not house soldiers