Powers and Branches
Antifederalists feared a strong central government and the lack of a Bill of Rights. They
advocated for amendments to protect individual and state rights.
Why did Antifederalists oppose the Constitution ,and what changes did they advocate for?
known as the "Father of the Constitution," was a key architect of its structure and a leading advocate for its ratification.
Who was James Madison, and what role did he play in the creation of the
Constitution?
The Land Ordinance of 1785 aimed to organize and sell western lands to generate revenue for the national government. It divided land into townships of 36 square miles, further divided into 36 sections of 640 acres each.
What was the purpose of the Land Ordinance of 1785, and how did it organize
western lands?
○ Heavy taxes on farmers led to debt and foreclosures.
○ Economic depression reduced farmers' income, and courts seized property from
those unable to pay debts.
What economic problems led to Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts? Identify two
specific causes.
Antifederalists feared a strong central government and the lack of a Bill of Rights. They
advocated for amendments to protect individual and state rights.
Why did Antifederalists oppose the Constitution, and what changes did they
advocate for?
Without tax revenue, the government struggled to pay debts, maintain an army, or fund essential operations.
How did the inability of the Confederation Congress to impose taxes affects its operations.
proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population or wealth, favoring larger states.
Describe the Virginia Plan and its proposal for representation in the legislature.
It provided a process for admitting new states, banned slavery in the Northwest Territory, and set a precedent for orderly expansion.
Describe how the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 contributed to the expansion of
the United States.
The national government couldn’t impose taxes or regulate commerce, which left it
unable to fund itself or resolve trade disputes between states.
How did the Articles of Confederation limit the national government’s ability to
address economic issues?
The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay to defend the Constitution and persuade states to ratify it.
What were the Federalist Papers, and what purpose did they serve during the
ratification of the Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation granted the national government the power to declare war, make treaties, manage foreign affairs, regulate Native American relations, and borrow money. However, it lacked the power to tax or enforce laws directly.
What powers DID the Articles of Confederation give to the National Government
proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states, favoring smaller states.
What was the New Jersey Plan, and how did it differ from the Virginia Plan?
The original purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation to address its
weaknesses in governing the nation.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
Weak central authority made it difficult to negotiate effectively, enforce treaties, or prevent foreign encroachments, such as British troops in the Northwest Territory.
What challenges did the United States face in managing its relationships with
foreign powers under the Articles of Confederation?
Federalists supported a strong national government, arguing it was necessary for unity, economic stability, and defense against foreign threats.
Which group supported a strong national government, and how did they justify
their position during debates over the Constitution?
Popular sovereignty is the principle that government authority comes from the people. It ensured that the government operated with the consent of the governed.
Define popular sovereignty and explain its importance in the context of the new
government.
created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
Explain the Great Compromise and how it balanced representation between large
and small states.
The goal was to create a new framework of government that balanced power between the states and the national government.
What was the main goal of the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in
1787?
Without tax revenue, the government struggled to pay debts, maintain an army, or fund essential operations.
How did the inability of the Confederation Congress to impose taxes affect its
operations
Federalism divides power, granting certain powers to the national government and
reserving others for the states.
What is federalism, and how does it distribute power between the national and
state governments?
The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Congress, with the House of
Representatives based on population and the Senate providing equal representation for
states.
The judicial branch reviews laws passed by Congress to ensure they are constitutional
and resolves disputes under federal law.
Describe the role of the legislative branch in the U.S. government. How is it
structured?
What is the role of the judicial branch, and how does it interact with laws passed
by Congress?
It determined that three-fifths of the enslaved population would count for taxation and representation, balancing interests between slaveholding and non-slaveholding states.
What
was the Three-Fifths Compromise, and why was it significant for both
northern and southern states?
Smaller states argued that equal representation ensured they wouldn’t be overshadowed by larger states in legislative decisions.
What were the arguments made by those who supported equal representation for
states at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution gave the federal government the power to tax, regulate commerce, enforce laws, and maintain a strong central authority.
How did the Constitution address the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation, particularly in terms of federal power and economic stability?
They promised to add a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms and state
sovereignty.
What promise did the Federalists make to the Antifederalists to ensure the
ratification of the Constitution?