Ch. 8 - Early American Government Notes
I. Articles of Confederation
A. America’s first written form of ___________________________________.
B. Every state had their own _____________________________________ and
acted independently.
C. All of the power in the government was in the states because they wanted to
________________________ the power of the national government after they had
been abused by King George III.
D. Every state had its own ___________________________________.
E. All national decisions had to be approved with each
___________________________________.
II. Problems under the Articles of Confederation
A. The United States of America was in _______________________________ from
the American Revolution. Under the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. had very little
_________________________________power to pay these debts, due to it weak
central government.
B. The two major weaknesses were weak national government and a weak national
____________________.
C. Made it difficult to deal with other nations, because all states had to approve
__________________________.
D. Paper money became _____________________________________.
III. Events in the early United States of America
A. The Northwest Ordinance
1. Created a ____________________________________________ that included all land
north of the Ohio River and East of the Mississippi River.
2. When the territory reached ____________________________________ people the
territory could apply for statehood.
B. Diplomatic Problems
1. Britain refused to leave some areas east of the
_____________________________________________.
Ch. 8 - Early American Government Notes
2. Spain occupied _________________________________________ and lands west of
the Mississippi River.
C. Shays’ Rebellion
1. Daniel Shays was a war hero from the American Revolution turned farmer in
Massachusetts.
2. He led a rebellion in Springfield Massachusetts over debt and
__________________________________________________.
3. The rebellion showed the critical need of a strong national government with a strong
national _________________________________________. If the new nation struggled
with a farmer’s rebellion, how would they defend an attack from a power like England?
IV. Change in Government
A. A nationwide call for a stronger government was led by
_____________________________ and Alexander Hamilton.
B. A constitutional convention was called in May 1787 and went through the summer.
_____________________________ Delegates attended.
C. The convention took on more prestige when
________________________________________ decided to support it.
D. James Madison - Known as the ‘Father of the Constitution’ because he was the main
____________________ of it.
His first attempt was called the Virginia Plan.
It called for a ______________________ house legislature where representation was
based on ________________________.
E. – The New Jersey Plan
The other plan proposed was called the New Jersey Plan.
Each state would get one vote regardless of _________________________________.
Gave the power to tax and regulate trade
Also has a weak _______________________________ branch
The groups could not decide, which eventually lead to the………
Ch. 8 - Early American Government Notes
V. Finalizing the new national government
A. The ______________________ created a two-house legislature including a House of
Representatives and a Senate.
1. The House representation would be based on state
_____________________________________.
2. The _____________________________________ would have every state with two
members, regardless of population.
B. The 3/5’s Compromise
1. Every __________________________________________ was to count as 3/5’s of a
person for population and taxation.
2. The slave trade would be left alone until __________________________________.
Then Congress could choose to limit it if they wanted to
C. Bill of Rights
1. Designed to protect individual
__________________________________________________.
2. Were added to the _________________________________________in order for
Virginia and Massachusetts to sign.
3. The Bill of Rights was based on England’s _____________________________ which
was written in the 1200’s and stressed individual rights.
D. The new United States Constitution was signed in 1787 in
_______________________________________________.
VI. Government under the Constitution
A. Our government is divided into three branches, Executive, Legislative, & the
_______________________ branches.
B. The Constitution is divided into sections called
_____________________________________________.
C. The first three articles of the Constitution describe the three branches and their
_____________________________.
D. Federalism – the sharing of powers between central and state
__________________________________________.
Ch. 8 - Early American Government Notes
E. The President is elected using an electoral ____________________________________.
1. Every citizen in every state may vote for an
______________________________________.
2. The elector who receives the most votes casts that states vote for who they want to be
______________________.
3. The candidate that receives the most electoral
___________________________________ becomes President.
4. Presidents serve a _______________________ year term after being elected.
F. Check and Balances
1. Every branch is designed to _______________________________________ the powers
of the other two branches.
2. This is to prevent any one branch from becoming too
______________________________ and abusing their powers.
G. Ratify – to ____________________________________________.
H. Separation of powers – giving different _____________________________ to different
branches of the government.
VII. 1st political parties
A. Federalists
1. Believed in the ___________________________________ and a strong central
government.
2. Supporters included James Madison, __________________________________, and
Alexander Hamilton.
B. Anti-federalists
1. Believed in the Articles of Confederation and ____________________________
state governments.
2. Supporters included Patrick Henry and
________________________________________.