Colonial & Articles
What was a direct colonial response to British taxation?
The Boston Tea Party and other protests
Federalists supported a strong national government, while Anti-Federalists favored what?
State power/Weak central government
What was the primary purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
To count three-fifths of enslaved people toward state population for representation & taxation
What term describes a legislature made up of two distinct houses or chambers?
Bicameral
What do we call powers kept strictly for state governments under the 10th Amendment?
Reserved Powers
What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
To justify the colonies' separation from Britain
What major principle did both Federalists and Anti-Federalists agree upon to share power?
A system of Federalism (shared national and state power)
What is the significance of the Supremacy Clause?
It established that federal law takes precedence over state laws
What are the first 10 amendments guaranteeing individual freedoms called?
The Bill of Rights
What do we call powers explicitly listed in the Constitution for the federal government?
Enumerated (Expressed) Powers
How did Shays' Rebellion highlight the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
It showed that the national government could not effectively suppress uprisings
What was the key difference between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?
Virginia Plan favored population-based representation; New Jersey Plan favored equal representation
What was the original purpose of creating the Electoral College?
To create an indirect voting system for electing the president
What principle splits government power across 3 branches to prevent tyranny?
Separation of Powers
What do we call powers shared by BOTH national and state governments (like taxation)?
Concurrent Powers
Which of the following was NOT a weakness of the Articles: No tax power, no standing army, no executive, or unicameral legislature?
Central government had a unicameral (one house) system of government
What type of government did the U.S. Constitution establish regarding federal vs state power?
A central government with powers balanced between federal and state authorities
Why was the amendment system created in the Constitution?
To allow changes to the Constitution while preventing excessive alterations
What system allows each branch of government to limit or block the actions of the other two?
Checks and Balances
Which compromise counted enslaved individuals for representation and taxation?
Three-Fifths Compromise
What was the main weakness of the Articles of Confederation overall?
It created a weak central government with limited powers
How did the Great Compromise resolve the issue of representation in Congress?
It created a bicameral legislature: House by population, Senate with equal representation
What are the two majority requirements for amending the U.S. Constitution?
Approval by 2/3 of Congress AND 3/4 of the states
What system divides political power between a central national government and state governments?
Federalism
Which compromise created a 2-house legislature combining population and equal representation?
Great Compromise