Chapter 2

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

Weak central government, confederal structure. States had the most power and thus federal government was ineffective in times of crisis. This was deliberately done b/c colonists feared another tyrannical king controlling them.

Question 2

limits of power of A.o.C government

Answer 2

NAtional government couldn’t tax and needed to ask states for money that they oftened denied. Federal gov couldn’t regulate commerce, couldn’t develop national economy. Couldn’t respond to national emergencys

Question 3

Annapolis Convention

Answer 3

Confederence to discuss the issues of disputes between states, but larger goal of making changes to confederation. Only 5 states participated. But this confederence led to the Philly Convention.

Question 4

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 4

Rebellion that the inefficient Confederation struggled to put down, states refused to help Massechusetts. This convinced many that changing confederation was necessary

Question 5

Crisis on Confederation

Answer 5

shortage of currency backed by gold/silver, debt crisises, foreign powers threatening

Question 6

Constitutional Convention

Answer 6

Philly Covention, called to fix the Articles of Confederation for a stronger central govenrment

Question 7

Key issues of Convention

Answer 7

representation of the states and power of the national government

Question 8

Constitution on limited govenrment

Answer 8

the Constitution limited the powers of the national government to protect the individual rights of the citiznes and distribute power between diff branches and state/federal level.

Question 9

Virginia plan

Answer 9

supported the big states: bicameral with proportional representation in both houses

Question 10

New Jersey Plan

Answer 10

for the small states: unicameral legislature with 1 vote for each state, very similar to Articles of Confederation

Question 11

The Great Compromise

Answer 11

Grand Committe decides that a bicameral house with a Senate where each state gets two votes and a house with proportional representation

Question 12

Compromises on Slavery

Answer 12

3/5ths compromise, resulted in more representation for the Southern states, Compromise on Importation Congress couldn’t restrict slave trade till 1808

Question 13

federalism

Answer 13

shared power between government and the states

Question 14

seperation of power

Answer 14

insure that citizens have power and voice in the government and the states

Question 15

Federalists vs Anti Federalists

Answer 15

supporters and detractors of the Constitution. Federalists were usually powerful elists while Anti Federalists were rural farmers that feared elites ruling over them

Question 16

Federalist Papers

Answer 16

Highly influential papers written by Hamilton, Madison, Jay meant to sway the public opinion towards ratification

Question 17

Tyranny of the Majority

Answer 17

large majority of citizens use power to trample the minority: Federalist Concern, Shay’s Rebellion, poor revolt and overthrow the government

Question 18

Tyranny of the Minority

Answer 18

small group of citizens trample rights of majority: the fear of Anti Federalists: represented by Britian’s rule of the colonies and monarchs/dictatorships from history