DECLARATION OF INDPENDENCE
This Enlightenment thinker influenced the Declaration with ideas about natural rights and social contract.
Who is John Locke?
This group supported the Constitution.
Who are the Federalists?
The Preamble is the __________ to the Constitution.
What is the introduction?
The Articles of Confederation created a __________ central government.
What is a weak central government?
This system divides power between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
This document explained why the colonies were breaking away from Great Britain.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This group demanded a Bill of Rights before ratifying the Constitution.
Who are the Anti-Federalists?
The Preamble begins with these three words.
What is “We the People”?
Under the Articles, Congress had no power to collect this.
What are taxes?
This principle protects people from government abuse by dividing power.
What is separation of powers?
According to John Locke, these three natural rights must be protected by government.
What are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote these essays.
What are the Federalist Papers?
This goal means keeping peace at home.
What is ensure domestic tranquility?
This rebellion showed how weak the Articles of Confederation were.
What is Shays’ Rebellion?
This document replaced the Articles of Confederation.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
The group that met in Philadelphia and chose Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration.
What is the Second Continental Congress?
This side believed states should have more power than the national government.
Who are the Anti-Federalists?
This Preamble goal refers to protecting the country from foreign threats.
What is provide for the common defense?
Changing the Articles required agreement from how many states?
What are 13 states?
This group feared tyranny from a strong central government.
Who are the Anti-Federalists?
This phrase means the government gets its power from the people.
What is consent of the governed?
Name ONE major difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Examples: size of government, Bill of Rights, state power, Constitution support
This phrase means protecting freedom for future generations.
What is “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity”?
Name TWO weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Examples: no national army, no power to regulate trade, no courts, no executive
This idea allows people to overthrow a government that violates natural rights.
What is the right to rebel?
These were the complaints listed against King George III in the Declaration.
What are grievances?
This group believed a large republic was better for preventing tyranny.
Who are the Federalists?
Which goal of the Preamble focuses on fairness in laws and courts?
What is establish justice?
600
This problem caused economic confusion because each state handled it differently.
What is trade?
This system prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
What is checks and balances?
This section of the Declaration explains why the colonists believe they are justified in breaking away from Britain.
What is the explanation section?
Name one Anti-Federalist leader and state one concern they had about the Constitution.
Example: Patrick Henry → feared loss of rights
Which Preamble goal best connects to the creation of the military?
What is provide for the common defense?
The Articles were designed this way because colonists feared repeating life under this ruler.
Who is King George III?
This Supreme Court power allows courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.
What is judicial review?
This phrase describes rights that cannot be taken away by government.
What are unalienable rights?
Why did Federalists believe a Bill of Rights was unnecessary at first?
They believed the Constitution already limited government power.
Explain why the Preamble is important even though it does not create laws.
It explains the goals and purpose of government.
The Articles created a __________ system where states held most of the power.
What is a confederal system?
This government system replaced the Articles of Confederation and divided power between states and the nation.
What is federalism?
The Founding Fathers believed rebellion was justified when government became ___________.
What is tyrannical?
This compromise helped convince Anti-Federalists to support the Constitution.
What is the promise of a Bill of Rights?
This Preamble goal allows the government to help improve citizens’ quality of life.
What is promote the general welfare?
Explain two weaknesses of the Articles and explain how the Constitution fixed them.
Example: No taxes → Congress can tax; No courts → Supreme Court created
This concept connects the Preamble and the Declaration by emphasizing people’s power in government.
What is popular sovereignty?
Explain one grievance listed in the Declaration and name one modern constitutional protection that fixes it.
Example answer: Trial by jury → Bill of Rights / Due process
Compare Federalists and Anti-Federalists on state power vs. national power.
Federalists favored strong national government; Anti-Federalists favored states.
This phrase shows that the people—not the government—are the source of power.
What is “We the People”?
Why was Congress unable to stop Shays’ Rebellion?
Because there was no national army.
Using two documents, explain how the Founding Fathers tried to prevent tyranny.
Examples: Declaration + Constitution; Preamble + Bill of Rights