The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution Flashcards
Remember that the Articles and the Constitution formed systems of government (12 cards)
What document was the United States governed under during the Revolutionary War?
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles formed a loose coalition of states with weak central authority.
What replaced the Articles of Confederation?
The Constitution
The Constitution established a stronger central authority and an improved system of government.
What type of government does the Constitution establish?
Federal government
This term refers to the national government that governs the United States today.
What were two reasons the Articles of Confederation were replaced?
- Weak central authority
- Specific provocations like quartering troops
The Articles did not adequately address the governance needs of the states.
True or False: The Constitution cannot be amended.
False
The Constitution can be and has been amended to meet changing needs.
What was THE GREAT COMPROMISE?
A compromise that treated states as equals while accounting for population differences
Each state gets two Senators; Representatives are based on population.
How many Senators does each state get, regardless of population?
Two Senators
This is part of the structure established by THE GREAT COMPROMISE.
What determines the number of Representatives each state gets?
Population
Larger states receive more Representatives than smaller states.
What was the 3/5 Compromise?
A compromise allowing three of every five enslaved people to be counted for representation
This was significant for determining the number of Representatives in the House.
Who wanted every enslaved person to count for representation in the House?
The slave-holding South
The abolitionist North opposed counting enslaved people for representation.
What were higher goals addressed by the Constitution?
- Freedom of speech
- Other civil liberties
These goals were part of the motivations for creating the Constitution.
What was the preamble to the Constitution?
WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT
UNION, ESTABLISH JUSTICE, INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE
COMMON DEFENSE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF
LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY, DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH THIS…
