Articles of Confederation/Constitution Review Sheet

Articles of Confederation/Constitution Review Sheet

Name:

Test Date:

I. Articles of Confederation:

-Four debates over government

a. Strong national government vs. weak national government

b. Strong state government vs. weak state government

c. Republican government vs. autocratic government

d. Monarch vs. executive

-How did the Americans settle these debates? Did their decisions work?

-What is federalism? What is sovereignty? What is a term of office?

-What were the powers of the State Governments under the Articles of

Confederation?

-What were the powers of the Central/National Government under the

Articles of Confederation?

-What were some problems in America under the Articles of Confederation?

a. Problems with congress

b. Problems with America

c. Problems with, and between, the states

d. James Madison’s idea of factionalism

-Articles of Confederation made state governments strong and the National

government weak

-Articles of Confederation didn’t establish the office of President

-Shays’ Rebellion:

1. Who was Shays?

2. What happened in September, 1786?

3. What happened in January, 1787?

4. What were the results of Shays’ Rebellion?

II. Constitutional Convention

-Who attended the Convention?

-What was their initial goal? What did they actually do?

-When did the Convention meet?

-Where did the Convention meet?

-Why did they meet at this time in American history?

-How did they accomplish their goal?

-2 Plans for a new Government:

1. Virginia Plan:

a. Strong central government

b. How did it structure the government?

c. Representation was based on population in a state

d. Large states supported this plan

2. New Jersey Plan:

a. Small states supported this plan

b. One state = one vote; equal representation

c. Defeated immediately by the delegates at the Convention

-Compromise at the Convention:

1. Connecticut Compromise (or Great Compromise)

a. Compromise between Virginia and New Jersey plans

b. Equal representation in Senate (upper house);

c. Representation based on population in House of Representatives

(Lower House)

d. Established the form of government we use today.

2. 3/5 Compromise

3. Slave Trade Clause

4. Fugitive Slave Clause

-Signing the Constitution:

1. Was it legal after it was signed? What happened next?

-Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists:

1. Which group supported the Constitution and why? Which group

opposed the Constitution and why?

2. How many states needed to ratify the Constitution before it took effect?

3. Which were the 1st, 2nd, and 9th states to ratify the Constitution?

-Bill of Rights:

-First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

-What rights are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?

-Did the Federalists or Anti-Federalists support the Bill of Rights?