Chapter 2

Question 1

what is a constitution?

Answer 1

a statement of fundamental principles that governs a nation or an organization

Question 2

what is an indentured servant?

Answer 2

a colonial American settler contracted to work for a fixed period in exchange for food, shelter, and transportation to the New World

Question 3

was early America an equal society?

Answer 3

no

Question 4

what is a compact?

Answer 4

a mutual agreement that provides for joint action to achieve defined goals

Question 5

how do compacts and covenants relate to the formation of some early American colonies?

Answer 5

some formed through compacts or covenants between the settlers

Question 6

what is a covenant?

Answer 6

a compact invoking religious or moral authority

Question 7

how many features of colonial politics propelled the new nation toward its constitution?

Answer 7

6

Question 8

what are the six features that led to the constitution?

Answer 8

1. the colonies were hella far from England
2. every colony elected its own legislature
3. plentiful land created equal opportunities for ordinary people
4. some colonies began with compacts or covenants
5. many colonists came to the New World to practice their religion in peace
   6 border areas in early America were violent and insecure due to brutal wars with Native Americans

Question 9

why did the colonists revolt after helping the British win victory over France?

Answer 9

England left ten thousand troops in America to protects the land they just won
England was super in debt after the war ad tried to use the Americans as a bank

Question 10

what is delegate representation?

Answer 10

representatives follow the expressed wishes of thevoters

Question 11

what is trustee representation?

Answer 11

representative do what they regard as in the nest interest of their constituents, even if those constituents don’t agree

Question 12

what is mercantilism?

Answer 12

an economic theory in which the government restrains imports and promotes exports to maintain national power and wealth

Question 13

was imposing a stamp tax on the colonies a good idea?

Answer 13

nope

Question 14

how did colonists respond to the stamp tax?

Answer 14

THEY ORGANIZED SIS. they formed the Stamp Act Congress in October 1765 and sent a protest to the king

Question 15

did the Stamp Act Congress work?

Answer 15

yes, for two years

Question 16

what came after the Stamp Tax?

Answer 16

the Townshend Acts in 1767

Question 17

what were the Townshend Acts?

Answer 17

new taxes, led to the Boston Massacre

Question 18

Boston Tea Party?

Answer 18

colonists yeeted tea into the harbor in a big “fuck you” to the English

Question 19

what was the first continental congress?

Answer 19

a convention of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies that met in 1774

Question 20

what was the second continental congress?

Answer 20

a convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that became the acting national government for the duration of the Revolutionary War, drafted the Declaration of Independence

Question 21

what are the five main ideals in the first part of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 21

1. all people are equal
2. their creator endowed them rights that can’t be taken away
3. these rights include: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
4. people form governments to protect those rights
5. governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed

Question 22

what was the second part of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 22

colonists’ grievance to King George

Question 23

what were the three main grievances?

Answer 23

1. violations of the right or representation
2. a standing army not under civilian control
3. loss of an independent court

Question 24

what is a confederation?

Answer 24

a group of independent states or nations that yield some of their powers to a national government, although each state retains a degree of sovereign authority

Question 25

what was the first constitution called?

Answer 25

the Article of Confederation

Question 26

did they work well? why or why not?

Answer 26

no, there was no strong central government bc of PTSD from King George

Question 27

what were the four problems highlighted by the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 27

1. the new republic needed a strong central government if it were to survive 2. a vigorous national government needs a stable source of revenue 3. different sources of government power should balance one another 4. a weak central government left the nation vulnerable

Question 28

what was the last straw for many national leaders concerning the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 28

Shays's rebellion

Question 29

what did leaders do after Shays's rebellion?

Answer 29

they convened the Constitutional Convention to make a new constitution

Question 30

what were the five central issues debated concerning the new constitution?

Answer 30

1. should the people be involved directly in the government? led to indirect elections 2. national vs. state power? Madison v. New Jersey plan compromised with House and Senate 3. nature of the presidency? electoral college 4. how best to separate powers? checks and balances 5. slavery? no answer bc racism

Question 31

what the preamble do?

Answer 31

WE the people

Question 32

what did article 1 do?

Answer 32

describes Congress

Question 33

what did article 2 do?

Answer 33

describes the Presidency

Question 34

what did article 3 do?

Answer 34

describes the Courts

Question 35

what did article 4 do?

Answer 35

describes relations between the states

Question 36

what did article 5 do?

Answer 36

authorized amendments

Question 37

what did article 6 do?

Answer 37

made the constitution the law of the land

Question 38

what did article 7 do?

Answer 38

said that the constitution needed to be ratified by 9 states

Question 39

what is classical republicanism?

Answer 39

a democratic ideal that calls on citizens to participate in public affairs, seek the public interest, shun private gain, and defer to natural leaders, Anti-Federalists used this to argue against ratification

Question 40

what were anti-federalists 4 major complaints with the constitution?

Answer 40

1. it stripped political control from citizens and placed it in a powerful national government 2. president looked too much like a king 3. standing armies and navies were a threat to peace and liberty, wanted citizen militias instead 4. constitution had no bill of rights

Question 41

how did the federalists argue for ratification?

Answer 41

the Federalist papers

Question 42

what is the Bill of Rights?

Answer 42

the first ten amendments to the constitution, listing the rights guaranteed to every citizen

Question 43

1st amendment?

Answer 43

freedom of religion and speech

Question 44

2nd amendment?

Answer 44

right to bear arms

Question 45

3rd amendment?

Answer 45

soldiers can't force you to let them stay in your home

Question 46

4th amendment?

Answer 46

no unreasonable search and seizures

Question 47

5th amendment?

Answer 47

rights for the accused

Question 48

6th amendment?

Answer 48

certain rights guaranteed in criminal trials

Question 49

7th amendment?

Answer 49

right to trial by jury

Question 50

8th amendment?

Answer 50

no excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment

Question 51

9th amendment?

Answer 51

open to other rights

Question 52

10th amendment?

Answer 52

any powers not given to federal government are reserved for states and people

Question 53

what is incorporation?

Answer 53

the process by which the Supreme Court declares that a right in the Bill of Rights also applies to state governments

Question 54

what is originalism?

Answer 54

a principle of legal interpretation that relies on the original meaning of those who wrote the constitution

Question 55

what is pragmatism?

Answer 55

a principle of legal interpretation based of the idea that the constitution evolves and that interpretation of the constitution must be put in the context of contemporary realities