Unit 2 Study Guide: A New Nation

Study Notes

Articles of Confederation

Established a confederate government, prioritizing state power over national authority.
Concerns over a centralized government stemmed from fears of tyranny reminiscent of British rule.
Structure included a one-house legislature, with each state casting one vote, but lacked an executive and judicial branch.

Limitations of Congress

Congress had no taxation power, relying on state contributions for funding.
Unable to draft soldiers or regulate trade, limiting national defense and economic stability.

Failures of the Articles

Ineffective due to the absence of a strong central government; major decisions required approval from 9 out of 13 states.
Lack of financial power and authority to manage interstate commerce led to economic difficulties.
Incapable of forming a military, exemplified by inability to quell rebellions like Shays' Rebellion.

Achievements Under the Articles

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 were significant legislative achievements.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Introduced a systematic approach for land sales and settlement.
Public land divided into uniform townships (6x6 miles) and further into 1-mile squares.
Designated portions of land for the establishment of schools, emphasizing the link between democracy and education.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Established a process for the admission of new states from the Northwest Territory, north of the Ohio River.
Required appointment of a governor, secretary, and judges to manage territories.
Territories could establish a legislature and apply for statehood after reaching specific population thresholds (5,000 free males for legislature; 60,000 for statehood).
Resulted in the inclusion of five new states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising led by farmers in Massachusetts in response to economic hardships and tax burdens.
Farmers sought relief from property seizures and demanded the issuance of more currency for loans.
Government response highlighted weaknesses in the Articles, leading to calls for revision at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention.

Constitutional Convention

Convened in 1787 to address the inadequacies of the Articles; attendees from 12 of the 13 states.
Resulted in the drafting of a new Constitution featuring a stronger central government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Key compromises included the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise to balance representation.

The Great Compromise

Merged elements of the Virginia Plan (population-based representation) and the New Jersey Plan (equal representation).
Established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with two representatives per state.
Crucial for maintaining the unity of the states and preventing fragmentation.

Bill of Rights

Composed of the first ten amendments to the Constitution aimed at protecting individual freedoms.
Guarantees rights like freedom of speech, religion, and press, along with protection against government overreach in the form of unlawful search and quartering of soldiers.

Checks and Balances / Separation of Powers

The Constitution established three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—to avoid concentration of power.
Legislative branch (Congress) is responsible for law-making, while the executive branch (President) enforces laws and conducts foreign relations.
The judicial branch (Supreme Court) interprets laws and ensures their application aligns with the Constitution.

Description

Explore the foundational concepts of the United States government through this study guide. Dive into the Articles of Confederation and understand the key principles behind the federation. Test your knowledge with flashcards that cover the essential elements of this pivotal time in history.