US History Chp. 11 Flashcards
The first plan of government that the states agreed upon after the War of Independence was called…
Articles of Confederation
What main reason was the Articles of Confederation a weak government?
It had no power to tax the people
Why did the American people make this government weak?
They were afraid having a strong government
Several years later when they discovered the Articles of Confederation was too weak, a group of men met to form a new government. What was this group of men called?
The Constitutional Convention
Where did the Constitutional Convention meet (in what city)?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In Philadelphia, the Constitutional Convention met in what building?
Independence Hall
What man was chosen as the president of the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington
What man did the most important work at the constitutional Convention?
James Madison
What plan of government did the Constitutional Convention make which our country still follows today?
The Constitution of the United States of America
(the Constitution)
When asked, what kind of government had been formed, this man replied by saying “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Benjamin Franklin
Which part of our new government would have the power to see that the laws for obeyed?
The President
Which part of our new government would have the power to make our country’s most important laws?
Congress
The part of government whose job is to judge whether the Constitution has been obeyed.
The Supreme Court (the highest court)
Congress is divided into two groups called ___________ ? What are the names of these groups?
Houses
The Senate and the House of Representatives
What house of Congress gives the states equal representation?
The Senate (each state elects two representatives)
What house of Congress gives the larger states more power (more representatives)
The House of Representatives (the larger populations get more representatives)
What was added to the constitution to protect the freedom of individuals and groups?
The Bill of Rights
Our new government was a republic. What is a republic?
A government run by representatives of the people in which no group has all the power.
Who was elected the first President of our country? Who was his Vice-President?
George Washington
John Adams
Where was our country’s first capital located?
New York
What is the name of the day that the newly elected President takes the oath of office?
Inauguration Day
When George and Martha Washington finished being President and First Lady, they returned home to their plantation in Virginia. What was it called?
Mt. Vernon
Who became the second President of the United States?
John Adams
What important black scientist helped to plan the nation’s new capital?
Benjamin Banneker
What two states gave up land to build the new capital of the United States?
Virginia and Maryland
What was the name of our nation’s new capital?
Washington, D.C.
On what river was our new capital built? And what was the name of the land on which it was built?
Potomac River
District of Colombia
