US Constitution Review

Constitution Era

Day 1

The Articles of Confederation

• In 1781, the Articles of

Confederation became the
first form of government in the United States

• The Articles of Confederation

had only one branch of
government—the legislative
branch—which had the
authority to declare war,
make treaties, and borrow
money

Multiple Choice

The reason the Articles of Confederation only established the legislative branch was to -  

• show the importance of a representative legislature to foreign nations

• keep power out of the hands of the courts

• ensure the government would not become too powerful

• give the legislature supreme rule over all the states

Multiple Choice

What division of government had the majority of power under the Articles of Confederation?

• Federal Government

• State Government

Multiple Choice

Which branch of government was the only branch in the Articles of Confederation?

• Judicial Branch

• Federal Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

Day 1

Weaknesses of the Articles

• The government had no power to pass

taxes

• The government could not regulate

trade

• All states had to approve any

amendments, or changes to the government

• New laws required the approval of at

least 9 of the 13 states

• There was no executive branch to

enforce the laws

• The states had more power than the

national government

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Multiple Select

Which of the following were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? Select THREE correct answers.    

• The states were more powerful than the national government

• 9 of the 13 states had to approve any changes to the government

• There was no executive branch to enforce the laws

• The government had no power to pass taxes

Fill in the Blank

In the Articles of Confederation, the government could not ___ to raise money for the government.

Multiple Choice

Why did the Articles of Confederation not include an executive branch?

• They did not feel it was needed.

• They were afraid of the central government becoming too strong.

• They wanted to keep all the power in the federal government.

• No one could serve as president.

Day 2

The Northwest Ordinance

• The Northwest Ordinance

established a plan for the
orderly addition of states to the United States

• This land forbid slavery,

allowed freedom of religion,
and ensured trial by jury

• Once a territory reached a

population of 60,000 they
could apply to be an equal state in the Union

Multiple Choice

One of the primary goals of the Northwest Ordinance was to -

• establish a structure for adding states to the U.S.

• prevent Native Americans from legitimately owning land

• abolish old British and French forts still remaining in the area

• create a means for transporting setters to western settlements

Multiple Select

Which details best explain the Northwest Ordinance?  Select three correct answers.

• Freedom of religion and trial by jury were freedoms provided

• Once the population reached 60,000, the territory could apply to be a state

• Slavery was forbidden in the Northwest Territory

• If any gold or silver were found, it must be turned over to the state

Multiple Choice

After the end of the Revolutionary War, states were eager to expand into newly available territory.  The states of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia argued over competing claims to land west of the Appalachian Mountains.  This conflict was addressed by the -

• Missouri Compromise

• Wilmot Proviso

• Northwest Ordinance

• Kansas-Nebraska Act

Day 3

Constitutional Convention

• In 1787, delegates met in

Philadelphia with the
intention of revising the
Articles of Confederation

• Once the meeting started,

they decided to create an
entirely new form of
government instead of
revising the Articles

Fill in the Blank

The purpose of the Constitution Convention of 1787 was to _____ the Articles of Confederation.

Multiple Choice

The Constitutional Convention of 1787, the decision was to create a new ____ of government.

• law

• compromise

• form

• vote

Day 4

Great Compromise

•The Virginia Plan suggested 3
branches of government and
representation in Congress based on the population of each state

•The New Jersey Plan
recommended that representation from each state be equal

•The Great Compromise created a bicameral Congress, with one
house based on population and
the other house having 2
representatives from each state
for equal representation

House of

Representatives

Senate

Multiple Select

Which of the following details were included in the Great Compromise?  Select THREE correct answers.  

• House of Representatives chosen based on population

• Senate had two representatives from each state

• Bicameral congress

• Executive branch that held all the power

Multiple Choice

Why was this congressional structure created by the framers of the Constitution?

• To follow the plan outlined in the Articles of Confederation

• To reach a compromise between large and small states

• To reach a compromise between slave states and non-slave states

• To implement the outcome of a popular vote

Multiple Choice

Which of the following should replace the question mark in this diagram?

• Direct democracy

• Great Compromise

• Checks and balances

• Missouri Compromise

Day 4

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

• Northerners and

Southerners agreed to have
3 out of every 5 slaves count
towards a state’s population

Count

Don’t Count

Multiple Choice

Southern states wanted to count slaves towards their population so that -  

• slaves could be given citizen status

• slaves would be a tax break for landowners

• they would have a larger population which would give them more representatives in congress

• the British would recognize America as a country with a larger population than theirs

Day 5

Philosophers of the Constitution

•John Locke claimed that if a
government failed to fulfill its purpose
of protecting individuals’ freedoms,
citizens had both the right and
responsibility to overthrow the
government

•Montesquieu believed that
government power should be
separated to keep one group from
gaining too much power

•William Blackstone believed that even
a king should not take away a person’s
property and believed strongly in
individual rights

Life

Liberty

Property

Constitutio

n

Multiple Choice

Claimed that if government didn’t protect individual freedoms, then the people have the right to get rid of it

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesquieu

• William Blackstone

Multiple Choice

Believed that government should have checks and balances, and supported individual rights

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesquieu

• William Blackstone

Multiple Choice

Believed government power should be separated to prevent one branch from being too powerful

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesquieu

• William Blackstone

Day 6

Constitutional Debate

•After the Constitution was written, it
required ratification, or approval, by
9 out of the 13 states for it to go into
effect

•Civil discourse is a form of debate in
which both sides respect each
other’s views while still expressing
their own opinion

•For over a year, all across the
country, delegates debated on the
ratification of the Constitution

Multiple Select

What was the significance of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

• Delegates created a new framework of government.

• The British introduced new economic policies.

• Delegates respectfully listened and debated with others.

• The Anti-Federalists insisted on a bill of rights.

• Delegates kept the majority of power at the state level.

Day 6

The Federalists

•The Federalists supported the
ratification of the Constitution

•They believed the Constitution
created a more powerful
government, but not too
powerful

•James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and John Jay wrote
The Federalist Papers to explain
how the Constitution worked

Day 6

The Anti-Federalists

•Patrick Henry and George
Mason emerged as leaders of
the Anti-Federalists group

•They believed that the
Constitution created a
government that was too
powerful and that it would take
away citizens’ rights

•The Anti-Federalists demanded
a bill of rights be added to the
Constitution before ratification

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes a Federalist?

• Preferred a stronger state government

• Believed a strong federal government was essential

• Fought and defeated the British Navy

• Wanted a bill of rights added to the U.S. Constitution

Multiple Select

Which of the following best describe an Anti-Federalist? Select two correct answers.      

• Anti-Federalists wrote papers to explain how the Constitution worked.

• Anti-Federalists wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution to protect individual rights.

• Anti-Federalists supported the expansion of power in the executive branch.

• Anti-Federalists believed the Constitution made the government too powerful.

Multiple Choice

Those who agreed with this point of view were known as -

• Minutemen

• Loyalists

• Federalists

• Patriots

Day 7

Constitution Accepted

• Written in 1787

• After much discussion and

debate, all the states
ratified the Constitution
once the promise to add a
bill of rights was made

• In 1791, the Bill of Rights

was officially ratified

Multiple Choice

Both parties agreed to ratify the Constitution once the Federalist consented to -  

• returning land taken from farmers before Shays' rebellion

• giving more power to the state governments than the federal government

• providing medical care to former veterans of the American Revolution

• adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution

Day 7

Organization of the Constitution

• Preamble – Introduction

• Article I – Legislative Branch

• Article II – Executive Branch

• Article III – Judicial Branch

• Article IV – States Respect Each Other

• Article V – Amending the Constitution

• Article VI – Constitution is Supreme

Fill in the Blank

The Legislative branch _____ the law.

Fill in the Blank

The Executive branch _____ the law.

Fill in the Blank

The Judicial branch ______ the law.

Multiple Choice

Which principle of the constitution is expressed in the three branches of government?

• Federalism

• Limited Government

• Checks & Balances

• Separation of Powers

Day 7

The Preamble

• The introduction to the

Constitution

• Announces the purpose of the

Constitution:
• To form a more perfect

union

• To give justice to all
• To keep peace
• To keep our country safe
• To help people
• To protect our liberty

Multiple Choice

Why were southern delegates to the Constitutional Convention willing to accept the Three-Fifths Compromise?

• It increased the political influence of the South.

• It allowed indentured servants in the South to become citizens.

• It decreased the federal tax on property in the South.

• It allowed the South to expand its industrial output.

Multiple Choice

Which argument would a Federalist make to support ratification of the Constitution?

• The Constitution will enable states to nullify laws that are harmful to citizens.

• A strong federal government will be more stable than a loose confederation of states.

• The Constitution will allow states to establish banks to stabilize the national economy.

• A republican system of government will better represent large states.

Day 10

Amending the Constitution

•The Constitution provides guidelines for
making changes to the document

•The amendment process allows for the
Constitution to change and grow with the nation, ensuring that the government adapts to the needs of its people

•It is an intentionally difficult process so
that any changes are fully thought-out
and totally necessary

•Only 27 amendments have been
passed

•Amendments 1-10 are the Bill of
Rights and protect individual
freedoms

​Requirements for Amendment:
Proposed by two-thirds of the House & Senate
Ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures

Fill in the Blank

To _______ the Constitution it requires two-thirds of the House and Senate. Also requires three-fourths of state legislatures to ratify.

Multiple Choice

What assurance did this argument give to those who opposed ratifying the Constitution?

• The amendment process would allow state governments to nullify federal law.

• Making the federal government superior to state governments would ensure greater stability.

• The rights of citizens would be better protected by having both federal and state levels of government.

• Giving greater power to the federal government would allow it to assist states in times of crisis.

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of this amendment?

• To encourage citizens to monitor the federal government

• To prevent conflicts between state and local governments

• To limit the authority of the federal government

• To increase the participation of citizens in state government