Unit 3 Test Flashcards
Articles of Confederation
What type of government was created?
the AOC created a weak central government with unbalanced power. Too much power to the states and not enough to the central government.
What are the main features of AOC style of government?
The AOC only had legislative branch- A national government congress with one house (unicameral)
Federal government did have power to make the western territories into states (Northwest Ordinance 1787)
What were the weaknesses of this government? (AOC)
No power to tax
No power to raise an army
No Chief executive
Each state only got 1 vote…this was disproportionate
No judicial branch… No national court system
Describe the causes and effects of Shays Rebellion.
Shay’s rebellion was mostly a rural uprising of citizens in Massachusetts who could not pay the high state of state taxes and were about to lose their lands. The event was significant because it was a key factor in the need to pass a new constitution.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
Fix the Articles of Confederation
Who was elected president of the convention?
George washington
What were the major components of the Virginia Plan? Who did it benefit?
It provided for 3 equal branches of government with checks and balances
Written by James Madison (Known as the father of the constitution)
It called for the # of representatives in congress to be based on state population
This would benefit larger states
What were the major components of the New Jersey Plan? Who did it benefit?
It called for the sumner of representatives in congress to be based on equal representation for 2 states
This would benefit small states like new jersey, Delaware, and Rhode island
Connecticut Compromise
(the great compromise): Proposed by roger sherman. It called for 2 houses of congress (bicameral=house). One house would be based on population and the other would be based on equal representation (this blends both virginia and New Jersey)
Slave Trade Compromise:
This allowed for the slave trade to continue for another 20 years. This pleased the slave states.
Three-Fifths Compromise
It counted slaves as ⅗ of a person towards a state population slaves would als be taxed by ⅗ , which is what the north states wanted.
Understand how Three-Fifths Compromise impacted states
This would give Southern states more control in the House of Representatives. The slave issue was not resolved and it would later lead to a civil war.
Why did the Federalists support the Constitution?
They liked how it would have a stronger central government with the power to tax
Who were some of the most important Federalists?
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
Why did the Anti-Federalist initially not support the Constitution?
They worried that the constitution gave too much power to the federal government. They wanted more power to the states and a bill of rights to protect individual rights.
Who were some of the most important Anti-Federalist?
Patrick henry, George Mason, Sam adams, Thomas Jefrson
Federalist Papers
Who wrote them?
James madison, Alexander Hamiltion and John Jay
Federalist Papers, why where they written
To persuade the states to ratify the Constitution as it was written with no changes
The Constitution
What type of government did the Constitution create?
Created a strong central government with 3 branches and bill or rights
How did the Constitution differ from the Articles of Confederation?
Created a strong central government with 3 branches
Created a system of checks and balances
Created a federal system (Federalism) where power is divided between the national government and state governments
Allowed for amendments to be made
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
To protect the rights of all people and future generations
Discuss how the system of checks and balances works?
Each branch of government can limit and check the power of the other 2. This ensures htat no one branch of government becomes to powerful
What are the 3 branches of government and what do they do? List at least 2 powers for each branch.
Legislative: Make laws and declare war (power to tax, declare war, maintain the military)
Executive: Enforces the laws (makes treaties, commander in chief of military)
Judicial: Interprets the law (they can determine if laws are constitutional or not)
What are the five freedoms in the first amendment?
Speech, religion, press, assembly, protest
