Forming A New Political System Flashcards
Why is the English Bill of Rights significant?
It listed freedoms protected by the government
Why is the Magna Carta an important influence on the constitution?
It established the idea of a limited government
What did the Land Ordinance of 1785 create?
A system to auction public lands to pay of government debt
What did the Northwest ordnance of 1787 provide?
A system for a territory to become a state
What did the Land Ordinance of 1785 require?
It required that part of each township would be set aside for schools (lot 16)
What rule did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 create about slavery?
Slavery was outlawed, but slave owners could keep existing slaves from other states
What was the importance of the Articles of Confederation?
They established the first national government of the United States
Why was the new government set up to be intentionally weak?
To prevent a oppressive government like Great Britian
What power did congress not have?
To tax the citizens of the United States
What were the problems of the Articles of Confederation?
Trade with Britain and Spain
Shays rebellion
Inflation and economic depression
What was one reason people called for changes to the Articles of Confederation?
They believed they were weak and ineffective due to weak central government
Besides representation, what was another major issues that required compromise?
Slave trade
Who was George Washington?
The President residing over the constitutional convention
Who was James Madison?
He was known as the “Father of the Constitution”
Where and when was the Constitutional Convention held?
During 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
What did the small states want?
They wanted equal state representation in congress
What did large states want?
They wanted the power of congress to come from the people (population)
How are the members of the senate determined?
State representation
How are the members of the House of Representation determined?
By population
What did most state constitutions have the the original US constitution didn’t?
A Bill of Rights
What did the Great Compromise (or the Connecticut compromise) create?
A bicameral legislature
Why did the smaller states fear the Virginia plan?
The feared that they wouldn’t have enough power in Congress
What did the Great Compromise resolve?
It resolved the conflict between the Virginia and New Jersey plans
Was slavery abolished at the Constitutional Convention?
Nope
