Chapter 2—The Convention

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What was the New Jersey Plan?

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A proposal for the structure of the United States government that called for a single legislative body with equal representation for each state, regardless of population.

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What was the Great Compromise?

Back

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature, combining elements of both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.

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What was the Northwest Ordinance?

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A law passed in 1787 that established a method for admitting new states to the Union from the Northwest Territory.

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What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

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An agreement that counted three-fifths of a state's slave population for purposes of representation and taxation.

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What did George Washington believe about the Articles of Confederation?

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He believed they were too weak and needed to be strengthened to provide effective national governance.

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What was the main concern of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton regarding the Articles of Confederation?

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They believed the United States needed a strong central government to function effectively.

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What powers did the Articles of Confederation deny the national government?

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The Articles did not allow the national government to regulate trade, impose taxes, or enforce laws.

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What is the significance of the Constitutional Convention?

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It was a meeting in 1787 where delegates drafted the Constitution of the United States, addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

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What role did compromise play in the formation of the U.S. Constitution?

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Compromise was essential in resolving disputes between states with different interests, leading to agreements like the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise.

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What is federalism?

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A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states.