Writing the Constitution
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Questions and Answers

What was the primary concern of the Anti-Federalists regarding the new Constitution?

  • It did not address taxation adequately.
  • It favored large states over small states.
  • It centralized too much power within the states.
  • It created a strong central government that threatened individual rights. (correct)

What document is known for addressing the arguments made by Anti-Federalists?

  • The Articles of Confederation
  • The Declaration of Independence
  • The Federalist Papers (correct)
  • The Bill of Rights

Which feature distinguishes the U.S. Constitution from the Articles of Confederation?

  • No ability to levy taxes
  • Weak executive authority
  • Unicameral legislature
  • Bicameral legislature (correct)

Who was unanimously selected as the first president by all states during the election process?

<p>George Washington (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Federalists use their resources to support the Constitution's approval?

<p>By leveraging financial and political power. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of representation was established in the House of Representatives?

<p>Proportional representation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which document required ratification by the legislatures of nine out of thirteen states?

<p>The Constitution (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What compromise stated that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person?

<p>The Three-Fifths Compromise (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group supported the proposed federal system of government that divided powers between central and state governments?

<p>Federalists (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which region opposed slavery more significantly by the 1780s?

<p>The Northern states (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main concern of Henry and Adams regarding the national government?

<p>The consequences of too much power in the hands of the national government. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the practice of counting enslaved individuals for representation purposes in Congress?

<p>Three-Fifths Clause (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who were the individuals that opposed the changes brought about by the Constitution?

<p>Anti-Federalists (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the key arguments during the debates about the Articles of Confederation?

<p>How states should be represented in Congress. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of representation did the Virginia Plan advocate for?

<p>Proportional representation based on population. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of the executive branch established by the delegates?

<p>Elected independently of the legislature (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the New Jersey Plan differ from the Virginia Plan?

<p>It recommended an equal vote for all states. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of legislature did the New Jersey Plan propose?

<p>Unicameral legislature. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What power was granted to the national government by both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans?

<p>Regulating commerce and collecting taxes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the debates regarding the representation issue?

<p>A compromise was reached. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the term 'Great Compromise' refer to in the context of the Constitutional Convention?

<p>A balanced representation plan. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What prompted political leaders to debate reforming the government in 1786?

<p>Shays's Rebellion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Alexander Hamilton's primary belief regarding government?

<p>A strong central government is essential for economic stability (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following individuals opposed giving more power to the central government?

<p>Samuel Adams (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main concern of political leaders when replacing the Articles of Confederation?

<p>Preserving state rights while ensuring national stability (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did James Madison play in the formation of the national government?

<p>He emphasized that national problems required a strong central response (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the outcomes of the Newburgh Conspiracy?

<p>A coup d'état threatened the central government (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of government did the Founders struggle to balance during the Constitution's creation?

<p>Liberty, order, and democracy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Madison believe the national government should represent?

<p>The will of the people (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Articles of Confederation inadequacy

The existing US government system was insufficient in 1787.

Shays's Rebellion's impact

This revolt prompted a debate on reforming the US government.

Founders' balancing act

Balancing liberty, order, and democracy in the new government.

Hamilton's view on government

Hamilton favored a strong central government for economic stability.

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Newburgh Conspiracy

A planned coup to force the US to fund its soldiers.

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Madison's view on national govt.

Madison believed the national government should represent the people's will.

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Opposition to central govt.

Individuals like Patrick Henry opposed giving more power to the central government.

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Balancing Act for Founders

The challenge of creating the new government while addressing liberty, order, and democracy.

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Bicameral Legislature

A legislative body with two chambers. In the US, the House of Representatives and the Senate make up the bicameral legislature.

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Proportional Representation

The number of representatives a state gets in the House of Representatives is based on its population.

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Equal Representation

Each state gets two senators in the Senate, regardless of population.

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Chief Executive

The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch, responsible for enforcing laws.

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Slavery's Impact

Slavery played a large role in the South's economy, using enslaved people as laborers. This led to debates about representation and rights.

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Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes, settling a disagreement about how to count them for representation.

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Ratifying the Constitution

The process by which states had to approve the Constitution before it could become law, requiring a majority of states to agree.

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Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Those who supported the new Constitution and a stronger central government were Federalists, while those who opposed it were Anti-Federalists.

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What was the goal of the Constitutional Convention?

The Constitutional Convention aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation, the existing weak national government, to address its shortcomings.

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How did the states disagree at the Constitutional Convention?

Delegates argued over how states should be represented in the national legislature: whether it should be proportional to population or equal for each state.

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What was the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, favoring larger states.

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What was the New Jersey Plan?

The New Jersey Plan advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, benefiting smaller states.

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What was the Great Compromise?

It resolved the disagreement over representation by creating a bicameral legislature with a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with proportional representation.

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What powers did the new government get?

The new national government gained significant powers, including regulating commerce and collecting taxes, to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

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Why did the delegates fear giving power to the national government?

Some delegates like Henry and Adams were concerned about potential abuses of power by a strong national government, fearing it would infringe on individual liberties.

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How did Shay's Rebellion impact the convention?

Shay's Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government, motivating delegates to seek a solution.

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Anti-Federalists' Stance

The Anti-Federalists opposed the new Constitution, arguing that it gave too much power to the central government and threatened states' rights.

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Federalist Papers' Purpose

The 85 essays known as The Federalist Papers were written to defend the Constitution and address arguments against it.

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Federalists' Winning Strategy

The Federalists used their financial and political influence, with leaders like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, to gain public support for the Constitution.

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Bill of Rights' Impact

The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to protect individual liberties, addressing the Anti-Federalists' concerns about a powerful central government.

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First US Government

The first US Congress, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, was formed after ratification with Federalist candidates winning a majority.

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Study Notes

Writing the Constitution

  • Objective: Recall the process of creating the Constitution and the role of the Great Compromise.
  • Replacing the Articles of Confederation: Many Americans in 1787 felt the existing Articles of Confederation were inadequate. Leaders debated how to fix them.
  • Balancing Liberty, Order, and Democracy: The Articles of Confederation were designed to prevent national government interference with states. However, cracks appeared, leading to debates over how to restructure the US government.
  • Shays's Rebellion: A farmers' revolt in Massachusetts in 1786 highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles, prompting debates about government reform. The debate focused on finding a balance between liberty, order, and democracy.
  • Debating the Role of Government: Alexander Hamilton strongly favored a strong central government to solve economic problems. In 1783, he planned the Newburgh Conspiracy. James Madison argued that states' inability to solve national issues risked the country's dissolution. Madison believed national power should come from the people (not just the states).
  • Opposition to a stronger central government: Prominent patriots like Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams opposed proposals for more central power. They feared the consequences of too much power in the federal government.
  • Differences in opinion: The conflicting views about the balance of power threatened to derail the attempt to reform the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitutional Convention

  • Delegates: In May 1787, 55 delegates from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) met in Philadelphia. Disagreements existed about how states should be represented in Congress.
  • Virginia and New Jersey Plans: The Virginia Plan proposed proportional representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan proposed equal representation for all states.
  • The Great Compromise: Delegates resolved the representation issue with a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives (proportional representation) and the Senate (equal representation).
  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Disagreement over how to count enslaved people for representation led to the Three-Fifths Compromise, counting each enslaved person as three-fifths of a free person. This compromise was a controversial and problematic aspect of the new constitution. Southern states wanted to count all slaves for representation, while Northern states, increasingly focused on abolition, wanted little or no consideration of enslaved people.
  • Chief Executive: Delegates decided the chief executive would be chosen independently of the legislature.

Ratifying the Constitution

  • Ratification Process: Nine of the thirteen states needed to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect.
  • Federalists and Anti-Federalists: Federalists supported the Constitution. Anti-Federalists opposed it.
  • The Federalist Papers: 85 essays collectively known as the Federalist Papers addressed arguments made by Anti-Federalists.
  • Bill of Rights: Anti-Federalists' concerns about individual liberties led to the demand for a Bill of Rights as a condition to ratifying the Constitution.
  • First Elections: In 1788, Americans voted for members of the new national bicameral Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).

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Description

This quiz explores the creation of the U.S. Constitution, focusing on the debates surrounding the Articles of Confederation and the Great Compromise. It examines significant events like Shays's Rebellion and the contrasting views of key figures such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison about governance. Test your understanding of the balance between liberty, order, and democracy.

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