Chapter 5

Question 1

What major agreement did the Constitutional Convention reach after only five days of meetings?

Answer 1

To establish a new national government, restructured and redefined with a supreme legislature, judiciary and executive

Question 2

Who is known as the Father of the Constitution?

Answer 2

James Madison

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Representation, slavery, and commerce

Question 4

Who were the main leaders among the Anti-Federalists? the Federalists?

Answer 4

Anti-Federalists: George Clinton, Patrick Henry, Edmond Randolph, and George Mason
Federalists: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

Question 5

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

Answer 5

• curbed state power

- lacked a Bill of Rights

Question 6

What were the two most crucial state conventions in the ratification of the Constitution? What factors led to the final approval of the Constitution in these states?

Answer 6

• Virginia and New York
• a few undecided Virginia delegates were swayed by Madison’s promise to help push through a Bill of Rights and some New York Anti-Federalists switched sides after Virginia Anti-Federalists failed to block ratification

Question 7

What actions by England threatened colonial governments and aroused revolution?

Answer 7

England passed a series of taxes and trade restrictions, imposed a peacetime army on the colonists, and forced colonists to provide them with provisions

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Jefferson based his argument on the unalienable rights of man established by natural laws. Since the king had repeatedly violated these rights, the colonists were justified in seeking independence.

Question 9

On what major issues did the Constitutional Convention agree?

Answer 9

• the need for a restructured national government

- basic principles such as limited government

Question 10

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

Answer 10

• states wanted equal representation
• slave states wanted slaves to count in representation
• non-slave states didn’t want slaves to count in representation
• all states wanted better control of commerce

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Federalists: defended a strong central government and predicted dire consequences if the Constitution were rejected
Anti-Federalists: warned that the loss of state’s rights would lead to tyranny and feared a lack of a Bill of Rights

Question 12

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

Answer 12

• a rule of secrecy outside the Convention Hall

- organization of the Convention as a committee of the whole

Question 13

In what three major areas did England influence American colonial government?

Answer 13

Local, legislative, and limited

Question 14

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

Answer 14

• official neglect
• geographic remoteness
• geographic hindrances to quick transportation and centralized government

Question 15

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

Answer 15

• Britain’s huge debt following the end of the French and Indian War
• the ascension of George III to the throne

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Reflected Christian political thinking that defined natural law as synonymous with God’s law

Question 17

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

Answer 17

• weak legislative central government (2nd Continental Congress)
• strongly independent state governments, which superseded colonial administrations

Question 18

What was the crucial weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 18

Inability of the national government to enforce its policies

Question 19

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

Answer 19

• Confederation Congress’ inability to effectively deal with interstate commerce disputes on a national scale
• Shay’s Rebellion, which generated a fear of anarchy