vocab
What means having two separate lawmaking chambers?
bicameral
What was the primary goal of the first state constitutions written after declaring independence?
The primary goal was to adopt a state constitution or plan of government.
How did the Revolutionary War bring the issue of slavery to the forefront of national discussion?
-The idea of freedom and equality during the revolution made people question how slavery could continue.
What historical and philosophical sources provided the founding ideas for the U.S. Constitution?
Enlightening thinkers of Europe
Explain checks and balances
a system by which each branch of government limits power of other branches.
What is a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives?
republic
What was the structure and purpose of the Articles of Confederation?
The structure and purpose was to have a good government and establish rights.
How did depression and affect the states, particularly farmers, in the mid-1780s.
Farmers couldn’t sell crops easily or pay their taxes and debts.
Many farmers lost their land or were jailed for unpaid debts.
What were the main arguments presented by the Federalists in favor of ratifying the new Constitution?
Supporters of the US Constitution (a person who advocates a system of government).
What is the electoral college?
special group of electors chosen to vote for president and vice president
What is to fall in value?
Depreciate
Identify and explain the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation that ultimately caused them to fail?
They had limited power so that conducting foreign affairs, maintaining armed forces, borrowing money, and issuing currency. They also could not tax people.
What was the Virginia Plan, and explain which types of states benefitted from?
strong national government with 3 branches (legislative, executive, judicial)
2 houses for legislative branch
Benefitted larger states with bigger populations since they would have more representatives.
What were the main arguments presented by the Anti-Federalists against ratifying the new Constitution?
The opposite of federalists, people who disagreed, campaigned against the US Constitution
Which branch of government that executes, or carries out, the law; headed by the president.
executive
What is another word for law?
Ordinance
Describe the purpose and provisions of the Ordinance of 1785.
A land ordinance passed by congress, became the precedent for selling land in the united states. The ordinance surveyed and divided the northwest territory to be sold. It helped to raise for the federal government and also set to stage to create new states and not have existing states expand west.
What is the New Jersey Plan, and explain which types of states benefitted
1 house for legislative branch
Each state would have equal representation
Benefitted smaller states
What is the legislative branch?
lawmaking branch of government
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise, and what was the main political reason it was created?
3 out of every 5 enslaved people would count toward the state’s population.
Made to keep the southern states in the union
What is a period when economic activity slows and unemployment increases?
A depression
What was the Northwest Ordinance, and what important principle did it establish regarding the creation of new states?
It gave freedom of religion, it also stated there should be no slavery.
What is the the Great Compromise regarding representation in the legislature.
Combined both New Jersey and Virginia Plans
2 house (bicameral) legislature-Congress and Senate
Congress-based on population (benefitted large states
Senate-2 representatives per state (benefitted smaller states)
What is the judicial branch?
the branch of government that includes that settle disputes and questions of the law.
What specific problems and conflicts did the United States face with Great Britain following the Revolutionary War?
Troops stayed, Britain put restrictions on trade, US government was weak