The Early Government
What was the first plan of government for the United States called?
The Articles of Confederation
In what city did the Constitutional Convention take place?
Philadelphia
What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
The Preamble
What does popular sovereignty mean?
It means the people have the power to govern by voting and electing leaders who represent them.
Which group wanted to replace the Articles of Confederation with a more effective national government?
The Federalists, because they supported creating a unified national government under the new Constitution.
What was one major limitation of the Articles of Confederation?
The national government could not collect taxes or enforce laws.
Who played a significant role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution?
James Madison.
How many articles are in the U.S. Constitution?
Seven
What does the Rule of Law mean?
The rule of law means that everyone, including government leaders, must follow the law.
Which group feared an oppressive central government and demanded a Bill of Rights to protect citizens’ freedoms?
The Anti-Federalists, they wanted a Bill of Rights to prevent government oppression and protect citizens from centralized power.
What event showed that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to maintain order?
Shays’ Rebellion
What was the Virginia Plan’s main idea about representation in Congress?
Representation should be based on population.
What is the Preamble, and what is its purpose?
The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution and it states the goals of the government
What does Limited Government mean?
A government that can only do what people allows it to do.
What part of the Constitution protects people’s basic rights and freedoms?
The Bill of Rights.
Why did the delegates decide to create a new Constitution instead of just fixing the Articles of Confederation?
Because the Articles of Confederation limited the national government’s authority to solve problems or unite the states.
What was the New Jersey Plan’s main idea about representation in Congress?
Each state should have equal representation regardless of size.
What are the main parts of the U.S. Constitution?
The Preamble, the seven Articles, and the Amendments.
What does Separation of Powers mean?
It means that government power is divided into three branches so no one has too much power.
What is one way the Constitution can be interpreted to meet the needs of society today?
Through judicial interpretation by the courts or by passing amendments.
How did Shays’ Rebellion influence the creation of the U.S. Constitution?
It showed leaders the need for a central government able to protect people’s rights and ensure stability.
What compromise combined both plans and created a two-house Congress?
The Great Compromise.
What are the official changes or additions to the Constitution called?
Amendments.
What is the purpose of Checks and Balances?
Its purpose is to make sure each branch can limit the actions of the others to prevent abuse of power.
How do the early exclusions of women, enslaved people, Indigenous nations, and lower-class citizens connect to today’s abuses of power and violations of rights?
Then and now, those in power have limited others’ rights through discrimination and exclusion based on race, gender, and class.