Articles of Confederation
What was the first U.S. government called?
The Articles of Confederation
Who led Shays' Rebellion?
Daniel Shays
What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
To revise the Articles of Confederation
What two plans were combined in the Great Compromise?
The Virginia Plan & New Jersey Plan
What issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise address?
How enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation
Name one weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
Congress could not tax/ No President/ No National Army
What did Shays' Rebellion reveal about the government?
That the national government was too weak to stop uprisings
Which state did NOT send delegates to the convention?
Rhode Island
How did the Great Compromise resolve the debate over representation?
It created a two-house Congress (House of Representatives = population, Senate = equal votes per state)
How did the Three-Fifths Compromise benefit Southern states?
It gave them more seats in Congress by partially counting enslaved people
Why couldn't Congress collect taxes under the articles?
The government had no power to enforce taxation laws.
What did farmers in Shays’ Rebellion want?
Lower taxes and protection from debtors’ prison
Who was known as the "Father of the Constitution"?
James Madison
How is the House of Representatives structured under the Great Compromise?
Representation based on population
How did Northern states feel about the Three-Fifths Compromise?
They opposed counting enslaved people for representation but agreed to the compromise
WHy did the Articles of Confederation fail?
The government was too weak to handle national issues.
What was the outcome of Shays' Rebellion?
The rebellion was crushed, but it led to calls for a stronger government
Why was the Constitutional Convention held in secret?
To allow open discussion without public pressure
How is the Senate structured under the Great Compromise?
Each state gets 2 senators
What did the Three-Fifths Compromise say about taxation?
Enslaved people would also count for tax purposes
How did the Articles of Confederation influence the Constitution?
It showed the need for a stronger federal government with checks and balances
How did Shays' Rebellion push leaders to create the Constitution?
It convinced them the Articles of Confederation were too weak
What were two major disagreements at the Constitutional Convention?
Representation in Congress & how to count enslaved people
How did the Great Compromise create a balance between big and small states?
It gave big states more influence in the House and small states equal representation in the Senate
How did the Three-Fifths Compromise impact future debates on slavery?
It deepened the divide between North and South over slavery