Articles of Confederation
What was the first national framework of government called?
Articles of Confederation
In what year did the Constitutional Convention meet?
1787
What does compromise mean?
Each side gives up something to reach agreement
Which compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths for representation and direct taxation?
Three-Fifths Compromise
Which branch makes federal laws?
Legislative
Under the Articles, how many votes did each state have in Congress?
One vote
What is a framer?
A person who creates or shapes a system, such as the Constitution
How many houses of Congress did the Great Compromise create?
Two
Did the Three-Fifths Compromise give enslaved people voting rights?
No
Which branch enforces federal laws?
Executive
Name one important weakness of the Articles.
Congress could not directly levy taxes /
lacked an executive or national judiciary /
major changes were difficult
Which plan favored representation based on population?
Virginia Plan
Which house gives each state equal representation?
Senate
What was one political effect of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
It increased slaveholding states’ representation and political influence
Which branch interprets federal laws?
Judicial
Why was it hard for Congress to respond to national problems under the Articles?
It had limited powers and depended heavily on states for money and cooperation
Which plan favored equal representation for states?
New Jersey Plan
Which house bases representation on state population?
House of Representatives
Until what year did the Constitution protect the transatlantic slave trade from a federal ban?
1808
How was the new government different from the Articles government?
It established a stronger national government with three branches and greater powers
Why did the weaknesses of the Articles lead to the Constitutional Convention?
Delegates sought a stronger, more effective national government
Why did large and small states disagree about representation?
Large states wanted population-based influence; small states feared being outvoted and favored equality
How did the Great Compromise resolve the Virginia–New Jersey Plan disagreement?
It combined population-based House representation with equal Senate representation
What did the Fugitive Slave Clause require, and why was it unjust?
Answer: It required return of people escaping enslavement; denied their freedom and protected slavery
Why were compromises both necessary and controversial in 1787?
They helped delegates agree on a Constitution, but some protected slavery and harmed enslaved people