Birth of a Nation

Question 1

Daniel Shays

Answer 1

leader of Shays’s Rebellion

veteran of Revolutionary War

demonstrated weaknesses of national government under Articles of Confederation

Question 2

federalism

Answer 2

government wherein power is divided and shared between a national government and regional governments

Question 3

checks and balances

Answer 3

system wherein each branch of government exercises some restraining power over the other branches

Question 4

judicial branch

Answer 4

branch of government that interprets the Constitution

described in Article 3 of the Constitution

given the vaguest description of the 3 branches in the Constitution

Question 5

legislative branch

Answer 5

branch of government that makes laws

described in Article 1 of the Constitution

Question 6

enumerated powers

Answer 6

powers given to the national government alone

Question 7

amendment

Answer 7

addition or change to US Constitution

Question 8

reserved powers

Answer 8

powers given to the state government alone

Question 9

popular sovereignty

Answer 9

idea which states that ultimate political authority rests with the people

Question 10

executive branch

Answer 10

branch of government that carries out laws

described in Article 2 of the Constitution

Question 11

Constitution

Answer 11

supreme law of the land

short and vague

can be changed and interpreted differently as times change

Question 12

1^st 3 articles of Constitution

Answer 12

describes the 3 branches of government

Question 13

James Madison

Answer 13

known as “father of the Constitution”

brought plan for new government to Constitutional Convention

developed the Virginia Plan

Question 14

Alexander Hamilton

Answer 14

most important supporter for stronger national government

major leader of Federalist Party

Question 15

George Washington

Answer 15

president of the Constitutional Convention

Question 16

George Washington’s farewell address

Answer 16

began precedent of only running for 2 terms as President

Question 17

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 17

author of the Declaration of Independence

Question 18

Shays’s Rebellion

Answer 18

armed uprising in Massachusetts

many rebels were veterans from Revolutionary War

led by Daniel Shays

Question 19

significance of Shays’s Rebellion

Answer 19

pointed out weaknesses of national government (unable to stop uprising)

Question 20

Virginia Plan

Answer 20

Constitutional proposal for an upper house and a lower house

states would be represented in both houses according to population

good for large states

rejected by small states

Question 21

New Jersey Plan

Answer 21

Constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a unicameral congress

good for small states

rejected by large states

Question 22

Great Compromise

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 22

plan to create a lower house (House of Representatives) where representation is based on states’ population and upper house (Senate) where each state has 2 members

Question 23

Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer 23

compromise reached among state delegates during Constitutional Convention

stated that slaves were equal to 3/5 of one person when counting states’ populations

Question 24

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

Answer 24

first constitution of the United States

loose union of 13 states

created by the Second Constitutional Congress

included only one branch (Congress)

Question 25

powers of federal government under Articles of Confederation

Answer 25

declare war

make peace

conduct foreign relations

borrow money

set value of and issue money

create army and navy

settle disputes between states

pass laws

change the Articles of Confederation

Question 26

weaknesses of federal government under Articles of Confederation

Answer 26

had no executive or judicial branch

could not pass laws without 9 out of 13 votes

gave 1 vote to each state

needed unanimous vote of all 13 states to make changes to the constitution

could not draft troops

could not collect taxes

had no power to regulate interstate commerce

was composed of representatives appointed by state governments for one year terms

Question 27

Federalist Papers

Answer 27

series of essays explaining the Constitution and its benefits

Question 28

Federalists

Answer 28

supporters of Constitution

Question 29

anti-Federalists

Answer 29

opponents of Constitution

Question 30

distribution of Federalist Papers

Answer 30

printed in newspapers

Question 31

authors of Federalist Papers

Answer 31

James Madison

Alexander Hamilton

John Jay

Question 32

advantage of Federalists (in comparison to anti-Federalists)

Answer 32

more organized

Question 33

supporters of Federalists

Answer 33

business owners

city-dwellers

Question 34

key leaders of Federalists

Answer 34

George Washington

Benjamin Franklin

Alexander Hamilton

Question 35

Federalists’ arguments in favor of Constitution

Answer 35

experience in public office is needed

citizens can vote against leaders they dislike

Question 36

supporters of anti-Federalists

Answer 36

rural farmers

Question 37

anti-Federalists’ arguments in opposition of the Constitution

Answer 37

president will have too much power (comparable to a king)

terms in office are too long

term limits are necessary

national government leaders would not understand problems of common people

Question 38

Constitutional Convention

Answer 38

also known as Philidelphia Convention

held in Philadelphia from May 1787 to September 1787

attended by 55 men from 12 states (Rhode Island was absent)