Constitutional Foundations

Question 0

Declaration of Independence: The grievances

Answer 0

Send part of Declaration of Independence 
Makes case against Britain: T
Taxation without representation,
Quartering soldiers, 
Abolition of colonial assemblies
Mercantilism

Question 1

Declaration of Independence: The Philosophical Basis

Answer 1

Influence by Locke
Est. “Unalienable rights” as cornerstone of natural rights
Limited governments by “consent of governed”

Question 2

Declaration of Independence: the statement of spears too.

Answer 2

Announcing revolution

Question 3

Conservative revolution

Answer 3

New government based on consent of governed
No centralized power
Maintain rights under Britain while carrying out major promises in Declaration of Independence

Question 4

Government under Articles of Confederation

Answer 4

1. A weak national government with one-house Congress (which could only declare war and sign treaties)
2. Dominant state governments

Question 5

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

Answer 5

Central government could not tax, draft soldiers, have a chief executive, or have a national court
Needed 2/3 majority to pass legislation
Amendments needed to be unanimous by states
States could impose tariffs on each other
No foreign policy (=Barbary pirates)

Question 6

Success of government under Articles of Confederation

Answer 6

Northwest Ordinance: abolished slavery in acquired Northwest Territories

Question 7

Federalist No. 10 pointed out…

Answer 7

Factions in society could paralyze effective government

Question 8

Federalist No. 47 outlined…

Answer 8

Separation of powers

Question 9

Framers of the Constitution believed that…

Answer 9

Inequities of wealth were a principal source of political conflict, but they did not try to eliminate them from the Constitution

Question 10

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 10

Aka Great Compromise
Compromise between New Jersey Plan (equal representation) and Virginia Plan (population representation)
Est. Bicameral Congress:
Senate equally represented
House of Representatives determined by population

Question 11

Three-Fifths compromise

Answer 11

Slaves counted as 3/5 person in population count for representation

Question 12

When were the first political parties born?

Answer 12

During the fight to ratify the Constitution

Question 13

How Federalists felt about the Constitution

Answer 13

Advocates
Argued that “tyranny of the majority” could threaten the economic fiber of the nation.
Believed new Constitution’s checks and balances would protect minorities
Prohibited ex post Facto laws

Question 14

The constitution gave states….

Answer 14

“Full faith and credit”

“Republican” form of government

Question 15

Anti-Federalist feelings toward Constitution

Answer 15

Opposed
Led by George Mason and Richard Henry Lee
Pennsylvania Packet and Letters from the Federalist Farmer
Thought Constitution overruled Declaration of Independence and could lead to abuse from central government
Insisted on Bill of Rights