Chapter 2 - The Constitution Flashcards
What ideas influenced the American colonies’ views on government?
Enlightenment principles like natural rights, consent of the governed, and social contracts heavily influenced colonial views, alongside British legal traditions and colonial self-governance.
What does Chapter 2 of American Government discuss?
It examines the origins of the U.S. Constitution, its development, the challenges under the Articles of Confederation, the process of ratification, and the mechanisms for constitutional change.
Why were the colonists unhappy with British rule?
They opposed taxation without representation, restrictions on westward expansion, and lack of local autonomy, which led to growing tensions culminating in the American Revolution.
What were the main features of the Articles of Confederation?
It established a confederation with a weak central government, leaving most powers to the states. Congress could not tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Its weaknesses led to economic instability, weak national defense, and challenges like Shays’ Rebellion, highlighting the need for a stronger federal government.
What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
To address the weaknesses of the Articles and create a new framework for a stronger federal government.
What compromises were made at the Constitutional Convention?
Major compromises included the Great Compromise (bicameral legislature), the Three-Fifths Compromise (counting enslaved individuals for representation), and agreements on federal powers.
How does the Constitution structure the federal government?
It establishes three branches: legislative (makes laws), executive (enforces laws), and judicial (interprets laws), with checks and balances between them.
What powers did the Constitution give to the federal government?
It granted powers to tax, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, maintain a military, and enforce laws, among others.
What were the Federalists’ main arguments in favor of the Constitution?
They argued it created a stronger, balanced government capable of addressing national problems while protecting against tyranny through checks and balances.
What were the Anti-Federalists’ main concerns about the Constitution?
They feared centralized power and the lack of explicit protections for individual rights, which led to the promise of the Bill of Rights.
How can the Constitution be amended?
Amendments require either a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of states.
What role has the amendment process played in U.S. history?
It has allowed the Constitution to adapt to changes, such as abolishing slavery (13th Amendment) and expanding voting rights (15th and 19th Amendments).
Why is the U.S. Constitution significant?
It provides the foundational framework for the federal government, balances power between states and the national government, and protects individual rights through amendments.
What is the Bill of Rights, and what are its main provisions?
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, added to protect individual freedoms and limit government power. It was ratified in 1791 as a response to Anti-Federalist concerns during the ratification of the Constitution.
The Ten Amendments in the Bill of Rights
First Amendment: Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
Second Amendment: Protects the right to keep and bear arms.
Third Amendment: Prohibits quartering soldiers in private homes without consent during peacetime.
Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures; requires warrants based on probable cause.
Fifth Amendment: Provides protections for those accused of crimes, including due process, protection against self-incrimination, and double jeopardy.
Sixth Amendment: Ensures the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, legal representation, and the ability to confront witnesses.
Seventh Amendment: Protects the right to a jury trial in civil cases involving claims exceeding a certain amount.
Eighth Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
Ninth Amendment: Declares that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not mean other rights do not exist.
Tenth Amendment: States that powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states are reserved for the states or the people.
