U.S. History Unit 2 Vocabulary Activity

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Questions and Answers

What was the Constitutional Convention?

A convention of delegates from all the states except Rhode Island that met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in May of 1787.

What role did the Articles of Confederation serve?

They served as the written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain.

Which of the following are weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? (Select all that apply)

Congress had power to tax

No central leadership (executive branch) (correct)

Changes required unanimous consent of 13 states (correct)

Congress had no power to enforce its laws (correct)

What was the Great Compromise?

It proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation of the states in the upper house. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Virginia Plan aim to achieve?

It outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, with representation in Congress based on population. Signup and view all the answers

What was the New Jersey Plan?

It was designed to protect the interests of small states by proposing a unicameral legislature with each state having one vote. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise determine?

It determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted when determining a state's population for legislative representation and taxation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Commerce Compromise?

It established that the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce would be a Congressional power. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Constitution?

The Supreme law of the land. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Federalists?

They were supporters of a strong national government and the new Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

They opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and favored a weaker national government with stronger state governments. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Federalist Papers?

A series of eighty-five essays urging the citizens of New York to ratify the new United States Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

What is a republic?

A form of government in which the people elect their leaders. Signup and view all the answers

What is popular sovereignty?

Government based on the consent of the people. Signup and view all the answers

What does federalism refer to?

The division and sharing of power between national and state governments. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Baron de Montesquieu?

He introduced the idea of separation of powers. Signup and view all the answers

What are checks and balances?

The principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Constitutional Convention

Delegates from all states, except Rhode Island, convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May 1787 to address issues in governance.

Articles of Confederation

Served as the initial written framework for the national government of the United States post-independence from Great Britain.

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

Lack of central leadership due to no executive branch.
Congress could not enforce laws or tax, and had no authority to regulate trade.
No national court system existed, and amendments required unanimous consent from all 13 states.

Great Compromise

Established a bicameral legislature; lower house had proportional representation, while the upper house provided equal representation for states.

Virginia Plan

Proposed representation in Congress based on state population.
Suggested a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

New Jersey Plan

Aimed to safeguard small states' interests by assigning each state one vote in Congress.
Introduced a unicameral legislature where each state had equal representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Determined that three out of every five enslaved individuals would be counted for state population, impacting legislative representation and taxation.

Commerce Compromise

Granted Congress the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce, balancing national governance without risking fundamental rights.

Constitution

Established as the supreme law of the land, establishing a framework for a strong national government while protecting individual rights.

Federalist

Supporters of the Constitution who advocated for a robust national government.

Anti-Federalist

Opponents of the Constitution who favored weaker national control and stronger state governance.

Federalist Papers

Series of eighty-five essays written to encourage New York citizens to support the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Republic

A government form where officials are elected by the people, emphasizing popular sovereignty—the authority is based on the consent of the governed.

Popular Sovereignty

Concept whereby the government derives its power from the consent of the people, necessitating approval by nine states for the Constitution's enactment.

Federalism

Describes the division of power between national and state governments, allowing both levels to govern concurrently.

Baron de Montesquieu

Introduced the concept of separation of powers to prevent any one branch of government from gaining excessive authority.

Checks and Balances

A system ensuring that separate branches of government can limit each other's powers, fostering collaboration and accountability.

Judicial Review

The authority of courts to invalidate legislation or executive actions deemed unconstitutional.

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Description

This quiz focuses on vocabulary related to the Constitutional Convention and its key terms. Participants will fill in definitions and provide a visual representation for each term. Enhance your understanding of this pivotal moment in U.S. history.