Unit 2 Test

Question 1

How many years did the original Articles of Confederation last before it was changed

Answer 1

6

Question 2

Who changed the AoC?

Answer 2

The English colonists (Framers)

Question 3

What does framer mean

Answer 3

Someone who made the constitution

Question 4

What were the three main concepts that the the English colonists brought with them to America?

Answer 4

1. The need for an ordered social system or central government
2. The idea of limited government (government should not be all-powerful)
3. The concept of a Representative democracy(A government that serves the will of the people)

Question 5

What are the 9 weaknesses of the AoC AND why were they problems AND what was their solution

Answer 5

1. Congress under the Articles was unicameral (one house) making it so that each state had one vote, no matter its size
   -Why is it a problem?: bigger states believed that they should have more say because they have more people, smaller states believed they should have an equal say because they had less people
   -What did the Constitution create?: A two house congress (bicameral), a one house senate, and one house of representatives that included two representatives per state
2. Congress was powerless to collect taxes and create money
   -Why is it a problem?: Government can’t do anything or give anything to its citizens and there was no exchange between the nations or each state
   Solution: Congress could collected taxes and coin money
3. Congress could not regulate foreign or interstate trade
   -Why is this a problem? The states with the resources took advantage of the states without (Ex: New York taxing the shipments that came in)
   -Solution: Congress could regulate foreign and interstate trade
4. No executive branch to enforce acts of congress
   - Why is this a problem? If the states didn’t agree with the law, they didn’t have to enforce it
   -Solution: President heads the executive branch to enforce acts of congress
5. No national court system to handle disputes between states
   -Why is this a problem? No national group to handle legally handle state disputes
   -Solution: Created a national court system to handle disputes between states
6. Amendments (any change to constitution) made only with consent of ALL of the states
   -Why is this a problem?: No one would agree AKA: nothing would change
   -Solution: Amendments ratified (formally accepted/ made law) by 3/4 of the states
7. A 9/13 majority of BOTH houses needed to pass laws, (super majority)
   -Why is this a problem?: Not enough people will vote and it’s harder to pass and get the majority rules
   -Solution: A simple majority majority of BOTH houses needed to pass laws
8. Articles only a “firm league of friendship”
   Why is it a problem?: What legally is a friend??? Who will enforce their friendship
   -Solution: Constitution created a strong national government
9. The national government could not raise an army, only request that the states send soldiers
   -Why is this a problem?: Pirates (No shipping protection) the states could fight
   -Solution: Nationally raised armed forces with a craft if necessary