Unit 3: From the Articles to the Constitution Flashcards
Why was Shay’s rebellion significant?
It demonstrated the need for a stronger central government.
What is Federalism?
The system of shared power between the national gov. and the states.
Which plan was mainly supported by the smaller, less populated states?
The New Jersey Plan.
Who were some Anti-Fed leaders?
Sam Adams and Patrick Henry
What is one part of the Great Compromise?
A 2 house legislature with one house based on equal and the other house based on population.
Why was the Great Compromise adopted?
To settle differences over representation in Congress.
How was the Constitution different from the Articles of Confederation?
The Constitution created a national gov. that had three branches.
What was originally stated in the Constitution?
Federal judges were appointed by the president, not elected by the people.
VA Delegate
Father of the Constitution and writer of the VA Plan
James Madison
PA Delegate
Older Member
Chief Diplomat
Ben Franklin
NY Delegate
Believer in strong central gov.
Author of many Federalist papers
Alexander Hamilton
VA Delegate
Chairman of the Convention
Most respected individual
George Washington
What were key weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? (7)
- Congress cannot tax
- States regulate their own trade
- Congress had to ask states for soldiers
- No Chief Executive or President
- 9/13 states needed to approve laws
- No national court decision
- Congress cannot regulate currency
What happened after Congress couldn’t tax?
There was no income to pay off debts
What happened after states couldn’t regulate their own trade?
There was uneven prosperity between states–jealousies
What happened after Congress had to ask for soldiers?
The national was vulnerable to invasion
What happened after there was no Chief Executive or President?
Lack of leadership and no unity
What happened after 9/13 of the states needed to approve laws?
It was nearly impossible to pass laws
What happened after there was no national court system?
Disputes between states went unresolved
What happened after Congress couldn’t regulate currency?
Mass printing of money made it worthless
What were the successes of the AofC? (Winning Independence - 4)
- Appointed Washington Commander
- Created an Alliance w. France
- Prohibited slavery in NW territory
- Negotiated Treaty of Paris
What were the successes of the AofC? (Organization of New Lands - 4)
- Process to statehood (1785)
- NW Land Ordinance Law
- New states formed around the Great Lakes
- Orderly land sales that promoted public education
How was the AofC structured?
- The only Congress
- Each states get 1 vote
Describe the Land Ordinance of 1785 (5)
- Gov. needs $$ and has a lot of land to sell
- Land was divided into 6x6 sections and sold
- Section 16 was used for schools
- Farmers bought land
- 4 sections were held off
Describe the Northwest Ordinance (4)
- Process for statehood
- Population 5,000+ had their own gov. and Constitution
- Population 60,000+ could submit their Constitution for approval
- Newly created states banned slavery
What’s the order of the Gov. Plans?
Continental Congress (1 and 2), Articles of Confederation, US Constitution (1787-Now)
Who was Daniel Shay?
A revolutionary war veteran who led Shay’s Rebellion
Why did Shay’s rebellion happen?
States raised taxes but refused to print more currency. Farmers, who were in debt, petitioned for more money to be printed. Coastal Elites controlled legislature and refused to print more $$.
What was the impact of Shay’s rebellion?
It alerted prominent leaders and highlighted the flaws of the AofC and a weak central government. This highlighted a need for a stronger one.
What was the Annapolis Convention?
It was an important rallying point in the movement toward a federal convention to address the Articles of Confederation.
Describe the VA plan (Madison and Randolph): (9)
- 3 main branches
- Bicameral Legislature
- Number of reps. from each state would be according to the state’s pop.
- House of Rep. would be directly elected by the people
- Senate was elected by members of the House of Rep.
- Leg. branch would choose a President
- Leg. would also choose judges
- Leg. could regulate trade, strike down laws, tax foreign goods, and used armed forces to enforce laws
- State laws would be subordinate to fed. laws
Describe the NJ Plan: (6)
- 3 branches
- Unicameral legislature
- Each state would have the same number of reps. regardless of size
- Legislative branch would choose President
- Executive branch would appoint judges
- Legislature could regulate trade, strike down laws, tax foreign goods, and used armed forces to enforce laws
How were the two plans different?
VA Plan was to get rid of AofC, and NJ plan wanted to revise the AofC
What was the issue with the Great Compromise?
States couldn’t figure out how to have representation in Congress
What was the issue with the 3/5 Compromise?
States couldn’t decided how the enslaved population be counted for representation in Congress and for taxation.
What was the issue with the Slave Trade Compromise?
States couldn’t decide if slavery needed to continue, and which level of gov. regulated trade, and who took care of runaways.
Describe the Great Compromise:
-Bicameral Legislature
-Representation based on pop. in House of Reps
-Equal representation in the Senate
Describe the 3/5 Compromise:
3 out of every 5 slaves counted toward population and will be taxed
Describe the Slave Trade Compromise:
-Internatl. slave trade ends in 20 years (1808)
-Congress regulates trade/tariffs
-Fugitive Slave law–must return runaways
Describe the typical delegate at the Constitutional Convention:
A rich, powerful, white man
Put the five events in chronological order: (Constitution was ratified, Treaty of Paris, AofC, Shay’s Rebellion, Constitutional Convention)
- Articles of Confederation
- Treaty of Paris
- Shay’s Rebellion
- Constitutional Convention
- Constitution was ratified
What were Federalists?
They supported to Constitution as written
What were Anti-Federalists?
They opposed the Constitution as written
Who were Fed. leaders? (3)
James Madison
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
Who were Anti-Fed. leaders? (3)
George Mason
Patrick Henry
George Clinton
What were the Feds. main argument in support of the Constitution?
The AofC was too weak and a more effective balance of power will protect individual rights
What were the Anti-Feds. main argument in opposition of the Constitution?
A strong national gov. would limit democracy and restrict state’s rights
What were advantages of the Fed. argument? (3)
- Strong Leadership
- Well Organized
- Wrote a series of persuasive essay
What was an advantage of the Anti-Fed. argument?
Recent memory of colonial experience under a monarchy
What was a disadvantage of the Fed. argument?
The Constitution was new and untried and Americans were already suspicious of a national gov.
What were disadvantages of the Anti-Fed. argument? (3)
Poorly Organized
Slow to respond
States ratified quickly
What were the Federalist Papers?
They were a series of essays that defended and explained how the new constitution will work for the country.
Who wrote the Federalist Papers? (3)
Madison, Hamilton, and John Jay
Why were the Federalist Papers important to the ratification debate?
They led up to the creation of the Bill of Rights and convinced State legislatures to ratify the new constitution.
Why were VA and NY important during the ratification debate?
They two large states would divide the US if they didn’t agree to ratify the constitution (Mason and Henry were Anti-Feds).
Why was the Bill of Rights important?
It was a balance between too much government and too much democracy.
What were the arguments for the BofR? (3)
-Experiences under British rule
-Additional security against an abusive gov.
-Continue tradition from the DofI and Revolution
What were the arguments against the BofR? (3)
-Separation of Powers & Check and Balances
-Fair Elections
-Rights not listed are not protected
What two documents helped shape the BofR?
Mason’s VA Declaration of Right
Jefferson’s Statute of Religious Freedom
How did the founding father insure Limited Gov? (3)
-Bill of Rights
-Checks & Balances
-Federalism
How did the founding fathers limit democracy? (3)
-Electoral College
-Indirect voting for Senators
-Supreme Court Justices appointed, not elected
Who was Roger Sherman?
He created the Great Compromise
What is the checks and balance system?
Provides each branch with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
What powers can the Leg. branch do to the others? (4)
-Reject Treaties
-Impeach a President
-Override a Veto
-Impeach Supreme Court Justices
What powers can the Executive branch do to the others? (3)
-Veto Bills
-Adjourn Congress in certain situations
-Appoint judges
What powers can the Judicial branch do to the others?
