U.S. History Constitution

In JUNE the continental congress appoints a committee to prepare a document. The committee selects THOMAS JEFFERSON to compose a draft. The draft is reviewed and revised by the committee . In JULY congress debates and revises the document. The congress officially approves the document. The sequence of these events resulted in the adoption of the.....

• Articles of Confederation

• Bill of Rights

• Treaty of Paris

• Declaration of Independence

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

1. did not grant the federal power to tax or regulate commerce
2. did not established a common currency
3. did not established an executive or judicial branch

What does this suggest about the drafters of Articles of Confederation ?

• they did not want the judicial system based upon that of Great Britain

• they feared that a strong central government will abuse its power

• they were uncertain that democracy would be the best type of government

• they did not think that state governments could provide for the general welfare

In 1787 the United States was at a crossroads. Farmers in western Massachusetts had rebelled the year before property taxes. The state struggled to end the rebellion. Events such as this one contributed to the decision to-

• sign the Treaty of Paris

• repeal the Intolerable Acts

• declare an embargo on imported goods

• restructure the federal government

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

Which of the following correctly describes the Three-Fifths Compromise?

• A portion of the slave population was counted for legislative representation

• A federal law enforcing the return of fugitive slaves was passed

• The census bureau was established to help apportion representation

• The election of senators was delegated to state legislatures

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Virginia Plan ? New Jersey Plan

What s missing in the middle?

• Direct democracy

• Great Compromise

• Checks and Balances

• Missouri Compromise

In the ... republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.

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 in times of crisis

SPEAKER 1: A strong government will provide order and stability

SPEAKER 2: We have just left the control of one tyrant; let us avoid an American tyrant.

SPEAKER 3: The strength of our union lies in the independence of our states.

SPEAKER 4: We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.

Which speaker is in favor of ratifying the Constitution?

• SPEAKER 1

• SPEAKER 2

• SPEAKER 3

• SPEAKER 4

In the debate of the U.S. Constitution, which point would have been made by a Federalist?

• "The existing national government lacks the ability to add new states to the union"

• "The states are in danger of losing the ability to raise revenue."

• "The existing national government lacks the power to perform essential functions."

• "The states are unable to protect the rights of the people."

Why did the Anti-Federalist demand that a bill of rights be added to the U.S. Constitution?

• To strengthen the authority of the federal government

• To improve the organization of the judiciary

• To give each state an equal amount of power

• To protect individual freedoms from the federal government