AOC and Constitution

Articles of Confederation

100

This document served as the first national government of the U.S. after the Revolutionary War

Articles of Confederation

200

Name one major problem with the Articles of Confederation. Hint: What could it NOT do?

Possible Answers: No strong central government, Congress couldn't tax, no national court system, each state had equal representation regardless of size

300

Under the Articles of Confederation, who had more power: the national government or state governmenst?

State governments

400

Why was Congress' inability to tax under the Articles of Confederation a problem?

Possible answers: Couldn't raise money to pay back debt, fund an army, or run government agencies

500

Describe how the weaknesses of the AOC led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787

Possible answers: States and leaders recognized the national government was too weak to manage trade, defense, and finances, so they met to create a stronger federal government and revise the AOC - resulting in writing a new Constitution.

U.S. Constitution

100

This document replaced the AOC and created the current framework for the U.S. government

Constitution

200

The Constitution begins with a short phrase that sets out the goals of the new government. What is this called? Hint: it's the same as the beginning of the Declaration of Independence

The Preamble

300

What is the main purpose of the Bill of Rights?

To protect individual liberties and limit power of the federal government

400

Who is considered the Father of the Constitution, and what state was he from?

James Madison, Virginia

500

The Bill of Rights consists of the first (blank) amendments. Name 3 rights that the Bill of Rights gives us.

10, Right to free speech, free press, freedom of religion, right to bear arms, no quartering of soldiers, protection from illegal search and seizure, etc. 

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

100

The Federalist Papers were written for what purpose?

To get states to ratify the U.S. Constitution

200

Name one author of the Federalist Papers

Possible answers: James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton

300

What was the main concern of the Anti-Federalists when debating ratifying the U.S. Constitution?

They felt it gave too much power to the national government and lacked protection for individual rights

400

Name a famous Anti-Federalist

Possible answers: Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Edmund Randolph

500

Even though he was a Federalist, who ended up writing the Bill of Rights to add to the Constitution? Hint: he was called the Father of the Constitution

James Madison

Key Compromises

100

The Great Compromise was a compromise between the New Jersey Plan, which favored equal representation, and the (blank) plan, which favored larger populated states.

Virginia

200

The 3/5 Compromise was an agreement about how to count which group of people for representation and taxation?

Slaves

300

Explain why southern states wanted all enslaved people to count towards their state's population.

It would increase their number of representatives and give them more political power.

400

The slave trade compromise stated that Congress could not ban the slave trade for how many years?

20

500

The Great Compromise settled on (blank) branches of government, including a legislative branch made up of the (blank) and the (blank).

3, Senate, House of Representatives

Branches of Government/Separation of Powers

100

Name the 3 branches of the U.S. government.

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial

200

This branch of the federal government makes the laws.

Legislative

300

This branch of government enforces, or executes, the laws.

Executive

400

This branch interprets the laws and makes sure they are constitutional.

Judicial

500

The ability of each branch of government to limit another's power is called what?

Checks and Balances