background cards Flashcards
What economic problems did the U.S have during the Confederation years?
Inflation, Inability to regulate trade, Economic depression, and repaying Revolutionary War debt
What law organized government for the Northwest territory and created a plan for territories to become states?
Northwest Ordinance
Why was the Confederation Congress unable to solve the country’s economic problems?
It lacked the power to tax and regulate money
Who was the leader of the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington
What Compromise at the Constitutional Convention settled the issue of counting slaves for representation in congress?
Three fifths
Why did the Virginia plan favor states with larger populations?
Representation for each state in the legislature based off of population
What compromise at the Constitutional Convention settled the issue of counting slaves for representation in Congress?
The Great Compromise
How were John Locke’s Enlightenment ideas of protecting people’s natural rights incorporated into the Constitution?
The constitution specify and divided the governments power
What were the two land divisions created by the Land Ordinance of 1785?
townships and sections
Why did Shay’s rebellion in 1786 lead to the formation of the U.S Constitution?
It showed people the Confederation government was too weak and needed to be changed
What was the name of the May 1787 meeting held in Philadelphia to change the Articles of Confederation that resulted in the writing of a new constitution?
Constitutional Convention
What was the dispute between northern and southern states about counting slaves for representation in Congress?
Southerners but not Northerners wanted slaves counted in state populations
What Compromise at the Constitutional Convention was made regarding importing new slaves?
Slave importation would be allowed for 20 more years until 1807
Why were some people known as anti-federalists, against the new constitution?
The constitution was too strong and lacked protection of individual rights
Who is known as the “Father of the U.S Constitution” because he took notes at the Convention and his ideas of government were incorporated into the constitution?
James Madison
What was the name of the Constitution of the first national government of the United States?
Articles of Confederation
Why did the New Jersey plan favor states with smaller populations?
Each state would have one vote per legislature
What Compromise was made to convince people who were against the Constitution to accept it?
Bill of rights
What law created a plan for dividing and selling land in the Northwest Territory?
Land Ordinance of 1785
Why did the Articles of Confederation not have a chief executive and limit the Confederation Congress’ power?
To prevent a strong national government by keeping power in the state governments
