Unit 3 Flashcards
Constitution Era (72 cards)
What was the Articles of Confederation, and when was it?
-The Articles of Confederation became the first form of government in America in 1781.
-1st document before the Constitution
What was the only branch of government in the Articles of Confederation, and what did it have the ability to do?
The only branch of government was legislative (representatives), which had the ability to declare war, make treaties, and borrow money.
Why was an executive (president) branch not created?
The colonists were trying to escape an all-controlling ruler such as the King of Britain.
What were the weaknesses of the articles of confederation?
-The government had no power to pass taxes (could not collect money).
-The government could not regulate (control) trade.
-9 of 13 states had to approve any changes to the government.
-There was no executive (president) branch to enforce the laws.
-The states had more power than the national government.
What was the Northwest Ordinance?
The Northwest Ordinance created a plan for the orderly addition of states to the Union.
What were the requirements for the Northwest Ordinance?
-This land forbid slavery, allowed freedom of religion and trial by jury.
-Once a territory reached a population of 60,000 they could apply to be an equal state in the Union, and they needed borders.
What happened to farms in the south after the American Revolution?
After the American Revolution, farms were damaged in the south.
As a result of the farms conditions in the south what happened to the economy?
-Trading with other countries slowed.
-As a result, farmers could not pay state taxes, and states took the farmer’s land away.
What was Shay’s Rebellion, who was a part of it, and what were they doing?
Daniel Shays led a rebellion with other farmers (who wanted their land back) by marching outside a courthouse with guns, not allowing judges inside.
What did Shay and his group almost get ahold of and who were they stopped by?
Shays and his group almost got a hold of an arsenal before the state militia stopped them.
What did Shays Rebellion result in?
Shays Rebellion resulted in many Americans wanting a stronger form of government than the Articles of Confederation.
What was the Constitutional Convention, when was it, who was a part of it, and where was it?
In 1787, our Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia to revise (redo or change) the Articles of Confederation.
What happened at the Constitutional Convention once the meeting started?
Once the meeting started, delegates (representatives) decided to create a whole new form of government instead of revising the Articles.
Why did the delegates decide to create a new Constitution?
Because the Articles of Confederation were too weak.
What was the Virginia Plan?
-The Virginia Plan suggested a branches of government (judicial, executive, and legislative) and representation in Congress based on the population of each state.
-Part of the Great Compromise
-Favored larger states
What was the New Jersey Plan?
-The New Jersey Plan recommended that representation from each be equal.
-Part of the Great Compromise
What did the Great Compromise do?
The Great Compromise created a bicameral (2 houses of representation) Congress with one house based on population, and the other house having 2 representatives from each state for equal representation.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Although the south treated slaves as property, Southerners wanted to count slaves towards their population so they could have more representation in Congress.
What was the outcome of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Northerners and Southerners agreed to have 3 out of every 5 slaves count towards a state’s population.
What was the Magma Carta?
-The Magma Carta limited the king’s power and gave citizens the right to a trial by jury (in 1215).
-Roots of the Constitution
What were the English Bill of Rights?
-The English Bill of Rights protected certain rights of citizens from the government (in 1689).
-Roots of the Constitution
What was the Mayflower Compact?
-The Mayflower Compact was created by the people (in 1620).
-Roots of the Constitution
Who was John Locke?
-John Locke claimed that if a government did not fulfill its purpose of protecting individual’s freedoms, the citizens had the right [and responsibility] to overthrow (get rid) it.
-Philosophers of the Constitution
Who was Montesquieu?
-Montesquieu believed that government power should be separated to keep one group from gaining too much power (3 branches of government).
-Philosophers of the Constitution
