Constitutional Convention Practice Flashcard

Front

Who wrote the Virginia Plan?

Back

James Madison

Answer explanation

Future President, James Madison, was a delegate from Virginia, hence the name. Most people regard him as the Father of the Constitution since the Virginia Plan makes up the bulk of the Constitution

Front

Which plan called for having two houses of legislature?

Back

Connecticut Compromise

Answer explanation

Connecticut made the compromise between Virginia and New Jersey, basically smashing the two plans together

Front

Which plan favored bigger states?

Back

Virginia Plan

Answer explanation

Basing representation (in Congress) on population means that states like Virginia will have more votes than states like New Jersey. Less-populated states would always be drowned out by more-populated states

Front

Which plan favored less populated states? Options: Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, Connecticut Compromise, New York Plan

Back

New Jersey Plan

Answer explanation

By giving all states equal representation, small states like New Jersey would have the same amount of influence as bigger states like Virginia, despite having a fraction of their population

Front

How did the Virginia Plan determine a state's representation in congress?

Back

By population

Answer explanation

Basically, according to this plan, your state matters more if it has more people

Front

How did the New Jersey Plan determine a state's representation in congress?

Back

Equally

Answer explanation

Seems logical tat al states should have equal representation, but on the other hand, should small states be able to overrule big states?

Front

bicameral

Back

having two houses

Answer explanation

This is how our Congress is set up today. Two Houses: The House of Representatives and the Senate. It is the major part of the Connecticut/Great Compromise

Front

The Three-Fifths compromise settled a dispute between

Back

Northern and southern states

Answer explanation

Just like the Civil War, 80ish years later, the divide for the slavery argument was North and South

Front

The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with counting _______ as part of the population. Options: slaves, women, immigrants, Native Americans.

Back

slaves

Answer explanation

The major issue revolved around representation. If the Southern states count slaves as part of their pop., then they would become way more powerful than free-states. By counting slaves as 3/5 of the pop, Southern states were happy enough with representation and abolitionist felt they could build off of this in their fight against slavery

Front

Why is the Three-fifths Compromise controversial?

Back

The Founders missed a chance to eliminate slavery

Answer explanation

We had a chance to avoid future problems because of slavery. Not to mention, we talked a big game about equality when writing the Constitution. But in the end, the Southern States would never go along with a Constitution that banned slavery.