Ch.5 SR's

Question 1

What factors nurtured the growth of colonial political power during the first half of the eighteenth century?

Answer 1

official neglect, geographic remoteness, geographical hindrances to quick transportation and centralized government

Question 2

What two events in 1760 brought about changes in British colonial rule that would eventually lead to American independence?

Answer 2

1. Britain’s huge debt following the end of the French & Indian War
2. George III ascending to the throne

Question 3

What influence did Christian thought have on the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 3

The Declaration reflected Christian political thinking that defined natural law as synonymous with God’s law

Question 4

What two significant factors during the American revolution profoundly molded the nature of the United States government following the war?

Answer 4

1. a weak legislative central government (2nd Continental Congress)
2. Strongly independent stae governments

Question 5

What was the crucial weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 5

the inability of the national government to enforce its policies

Question 6

In what three major areas did England influence American colonial government

Answer 6

local government, legislative government, and limited government

Question 7

What two major events focused attention upon the shortcomings of the American Confederation?

Answer 7

1. Shay’s rebellion, which granted a fear of anarchy

2. The Confederation Congress’s inability to effectively deal with interstate commerce disputes on a national scale

Question 8

What two key procedural rules, established at the very beginning of the constitutional convention, greatly facilitated the progress of the convention?

Answer 8

1. a rule of secrecy was passed out of the convention hall

2. the organization of the convention as a committee as a whole

Question 9

What major agreement did the constitution convention reach after only five days of meeting?

Answer 9

they agreed that a new government should be established consisting of a supreme legislative, executive, and judiciary

Question 10

Who is known as the Father of the Constitution?

Answer 10

James Madison

Question 11

In what three major areas did the Constitutional convention need to make compromises

Answer 11

representation, slavery, and commerce

Question 12

Who were the main leaders among among the anti-federalist?

Answer 12

Patrick Henry, George Mason, Edmond Randolph, George Clinton

Question 13

Who were the main leaders among the Federalist?

Answer 13

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

Question 14

What were the two major arguments presented against the adoption of the Constitution?

Answer 14

1. Crushed state power

2. lacked a Bill of Rights

Question 15

What were the two most crucial state conventions in the ratification of the constitution?

Answer 15

Virginia and New York

Question 16

What factors led to the final approval of the constitution in Virginia and New York?

Answer 16

Madison compromised by promising to help push through a Bill of Rights which helped enough Virginia delegates to approve the Constitution. Some New York anti-Federalists switched sides because they saw that Virginia’s anti-Federalists were unable to succeed in blocking the ratification.

Question 17

What actions by England threatened colonial governments and aroused revolution?

Answer 17

when England passed a series of taxes and trade restrictions on the colonies. They required colonists to serve in the army and imposed a peacetime army on the colonists

Question 18

How did Jefferson justify the colonies break with England in the Declaration?

Answer 18

by basing his arguments on the “unalienable rights” of man established by natural rights. The king had also continually violated these rights

Question 19

On what major issues did the Constitutional Convention agree?

Answer 19

On the restructured need for national government as well as on basic principles for need of limited government.

Question 20

Describe the major issues that required compromise at the Constitutional Convention. Name the compromises.

Answer 20

States wanted equal representation. Slave states wanted slave accounts in representation. All states wanted better control of commerce.

Question 21

Summarize the positions of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.

Answer 21

Federalists defended a strong central government, and predicted dire consequences if the constitution was rejected. The anti-federalists warned the loss of state rights would lead to teariny and feared a lack of a Bill of Rights.