Ch.2: The founding and the Constitution

Question 1

Five sectors of society:

Answer 1

New England merchants
southern planters
royalist (hold land)
shopkeepers, artisans, laborers,  patents
small farmers

Question 2

Enforced a previous tax on molasses

Answer 2

sugar act of 1764

Question 3

Required printed materials to have a stamp on them

Answer 3

stamp act

Question 4

East India company decided to sell their tea directly to the colonist, which led to

Answer 4

the Boston tea party

Question 5

Philosophical document stating that certain rights were inalienable
Political document explaining that since the king had violated those rights, the colonists had the right to separate
Addressed multiple audiences

Answer 5

The Declaration of Independence

Question 6

America’s first written constitution; served as the basis for America’s national government until 1789.
Weak central government; no president, only a legislature

Impractical government, giving each state one vote regardless of population, and requiring all 13 to make amendments

Prevented colonies from creating treaties

Lacked an army or navy to protect citizens

No taxing authority

Answer 6

Articles of Confederation

Question 7

A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the rational government

Answer 7

confederation

Question 8

Goal was to prevent the court from repossessing debt-ridden lands held by poor farmers in western Massachusetts
The rebellion revealed the weaknesses of the new central government, which lacked both the power to tax and also a national army.
Served as a focal point for those who would draft the new constitution

Answer 8

Shay’s Rebellion

Question 9

Part of the GREAT COMPROMISE: A framework for constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state

Answer 9

virginia plan

Question 10

Interests: the financial interests of the wealthy were better protected under the new Constitution.
Principles: the new Constitution embodied leading political theories of the time regarding liberty, equality, and democracy

Answer 10

The constitutional convention

Question 11

a framework that is introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population

Answer 11

New Jersey plan

Question 12

The agreement reached the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of representation to population

Answer 12

Great Compromise/conneticut

Question 13

the agreement that stipulated that for the purpose of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as 3/5 of a person

Answer 13

3/5 compromise

Question 14

What was the goal of the framers?

Answer 14

A central government strong enough to promote commerce and protect property against infringement by the states

Prevent “excessive democracy”

Emphasize ideas that would generate public support

Restrain the federal government from impinging on liberties and property rights

Question 15

Most powerful branch of new government
Two chambers: House and Senate
Each has different powers
Each is accountable to a different constituency
Different term lengths (2 yrs. House, 6 yrs. Senate)
Share some powers with the other branches

Answer 15

legislative branch

Question 16

The framers needed an executive both to offset the potential power of the new Congress and to act with speed during times of crisis.
They also needed a unifying figure who would serve as the head of state

Answer 16

Executive Branch

Question 17

Goal was to nationalize government power through one court that was supreme over all the others and that could stand up to the other branches

Answer 17

Judicial Branch

Question 18

Favored a stronger central government
Federal control over the economy
Clear property rights
Government by elites

Answer 18

Federalist

Question 19

Favored the balance of power being with the states
Clearly articulated rights (not just property)
Government by leaders who shared the economic interests of the people

Answer 19

Antifederalist

Question 20

Three fundamental issues brought upon the federalist and antifederalist

Answer 20

representation
tyranny
limited government

Question 21

Antifederalists wanted representatives who shared the same financial interests and backgrounds as those they represented.

Feared only the rich would be elected and would act against everyone else’s interests

Federalists thought elections would keep the legislators concerned for their constituents’ interests

Answer 21

Representation

Question 22

Antifederalists were concerned government would be controlled by the wealthy elite.

Feared tyranny of a wealthy minority

Federalists feared the mass electorate would team up against the wealthy elite, who would always be in the minority.

Feared tyranny of an unsophisticated majority

Answer 22

Tyranny

Question 23

Antifederalists wanted a weak central government with enumerated powers and a Bill of Rights.

Federalists saw the need for a strong central government, and divided its powers to prevent tyranny of the majority.

Answer 23

Limited government

Question 24

Mechanism through which each branch of gov. is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; presidential veto power over congressional legistlationl, the power of the senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments

Answer 24

checks and balances

Question 25

the electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for presidential and vice president

Answer 25

electoral college

Question 26

the first 10 amendments in the U.S Constitution

Answer 26

Bill of Rights

Question 27

the division of government among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making

Answer 27

separation of power

Question 28

a system government in which power is divided by the constitution between the government and regional government

Answer 28

federalism

Question 29

specific powers guaranteed by the constitution to congress and to the president

Answer 29

expressed powers

Question 30

enumerates the power of congress and provides them with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry them out

Answer 30

elastic clause

Question 31

having a legislature assembly composed of a two house system

Answer 31

bicameral

Question 32

the power of the courts to review and if necessary declares actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional

Answer 32

judicial review

Question 33

states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state

Answer 33

supremacy clause

Question 34

a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John jay supporting ratification of the Constitution

Answer 34

federalist papers

Question 35

a change added to a bill law or constitution

Answer 35

amendment