Articles of Confederation
What was the Articles of Confederation?
America’s first national government.
Where was the Constitutional Convention held?
Philadelphia
How many amendments are in the Bill of Rights?
Ten
How many branches of government are created by the Constitution?
Three
Which group supported ratifying the Constitution?
The Federalists.
Why did the Articles create a weak national government?
The colonists feared a strong central government.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
To fix the Articles of Confederation.
What is the main purpose of the Bill of Rights?
To protect individual freedoms and rights.
How many branches of government are created by the Constitution?
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Which group feared a strong national government?
The Anti-Federalists.
Name one power Congress did NOT have under the Articles of Confederation.
The power to tax, regulate trade, enforce laws, or raise an army.
Who served as the leader (president) of the Convention?
George Washington.
Which amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, and the press?
The First Amendment.
Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?
The Legislative Branch
Name one leader who supported the Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, or John Jay.
What problem occurred because Congress could not tax the states?
The government could not pay its debts or soldiers.
Why were the meetings of the Constitutional Convention kept secret?
So delegates could speak freely and compromise.
Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?
The Fourth Amendment.
What system prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Checks and Balances.
Why did Anti-Federalists oppose the Constitution at first?
It did not include a Bill of Rights.
How did Shay’s Rebellion expose a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
The national government could not stop rebellions or maintain order.
What major decision did the delegates make instead of fixing the Articles of Confederation?
They decided to write a new Constitution.
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
To protect citizens’ rights and satisfy the Anti-Federalists.
What principle divides power between the national government and state governments?
Federalism
What collection of essays was written to persuade states to ratify the Constitution?
The Federalist Papers.