The Constitutional Era
(1781-1789)
•What is a republic?
•A representative
democracy
• What is the basic
principle of republican
government?
• The people elect
representatives who
make the laws.
• What was the first
attempt at workable
government in the
United States?
• The Articles of
Confederation
•What was wrong
with the
government under
the Articles of
Confederation?
•It was too weak!
•What does a
constitution
provide?
•The basic
framework of a
government.
• Name 5 factors that made the
national government under the
Articles weak?
• 1) only a legislative branch; 2)
Congress had no power to tax; 3)
no national currency; 4) each
state had 1 vote in the
Confederation Congress; 5) no
executive and no judicial branch
•What does the
legislative branch
of a government
do?
•Makes the laws
• What does the
judicial branch of a
government do?
• Interprets or explains
the meaning of the
laws
•What does the
executive branch
do?
•Enforces the laws
• What is a compromise?
• An agreement in which
both sides get part of
what they want, but
neither side gets all of
what it wants.
•Where did the
Constitutional
Convention meet?
•Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
What was the Great Compromise
or Connecticut Compromise?
• A plan providing for a two-house
Congress in which the people would
be represented in a House of
Representatives and the states in the
Senate. In other words, the House of
Rep. would be based on population,
while each state would have 2 U.S.
senators.
What was the Virginia Plan?
• A framework proposed by the
Virginia delegation to the
Constitutional Convention under
which the national government
would have a legislature consisting of
two houses. Representation in both
houses would be based on
population. Big states would have
more representatives.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
• A framework proposed by the New
Jersey delegation to the
Constitutional Convention under
which the national government
would have a legislature consisting of
one house. Under the New Jersey
Plan each state had one vote. This
plan benefited small states.
Which one became part of
the Constitution: the Va.
Plan, the N.J. Plan, or the
Great Compromise?
• The Great
Compromise
What was the Great Compromise
or Connecticut Compromise?
• A plan providing for a two-house
Congress in which the people would
be represented in a House of
Representatives and the states in the
Senate. In other words, the House of
Rep. would be based on population,
while each state would have 2 U.S.
senators.
What is federalism?
• The division of power in
the United States
between the national
government and the
state governments.
Who served as chairman
of the Constitutional
Convention?
• George Washington
Who is considered the
“Father of the
Constitution”?
• James Madison
When federal law and
state law conflict,
which law is supreme?
•Federal Law
Who leads the executive
branch of the federal
government?
•The President
Who leads the judicial
branch of the federal
government?
•The Supreme Court
What is the name of the
legislative branch of the
federal government?
•Congress
What are the two
houses of Congress?
• The House of
Representatives
• The United States Senate
How is a state’s
membership in the
Senate decided?
• Two senators from
each state
How is a state’s membership in
the House of Rep. Decided?
• By Population; States with
large populations have
more representatives than
states with small
populations.
What was the three-fifths
compromise?
• A compromise between the northern and
southern states
• Slaves would count as 3/5 of a person in
figuring the slave states’ population for
representation in the House of
Representatives
What is separation of
powers?
• The division of power
among different
branches of
government.
What is the checks and
balances system?
• A system of government by
which each branch of
government can check or stop
the actions of the other branches
• How many states had
to ratify or approve
the Constitution
before it could take
effect?
•9
Who were the
Federalists during the
Constitutional era?
• People who supported
the Constitution.
Who were the AntiFederalists during the
Constitutional era?
• People who opposed the
Constitution
What does interstate
commerce mean?
• Trade between states
What is the Bill of
Rights?
• The first ten
amendments to the
Constitution
What was the basic idea
of the Virginia
Declaration of Rights?
• That government should
not violate basic human
rights.
Who wrote the
Virginia Declaration of
Rights?
• George Mason
Who wrote the
Virginia Statute of
Religious Freedom?
• Thomas Jefferson
• What two documents did
Madison consult when he
was working on the Bill of
Rights?
• The Virginia Declaration of
Rights and the Virginia
Statute of Religious
Freedom
What did the Virginia Statute
of Religious Freedom do?
• Outlawed the
established church in
Virginia
• Supported the idea of
freedom of religion
What rights does the First
Amendment guarantee?
• Freedom of speech,
freedom of the press,
freedom of religion,
freedom of assembly, and
the right of petition
What church was the
established church in
colonial Virginia?
• The Anglican church or
Church of England
What does the term
ratify mean?
•Approve
To what did the phrase
“ratification of the
Constitution” refer?
• 9 of the states approving
the Constitution so that it
would take effect
What First Amendment
freedom allows people to
gather at public
meetings?
•Freedom of
Assembly
What First Amendment
freedom allows Americans to
make written requests to
make changes in the
government?
•Freedom of Petition
On what document
was the Bill of Rights
based?
• The Virginia
Declaration of Rights
What is a
constitutional
amendment?
•An addition to the
Constitution
During the state ratifying
conventions, what did the
Anti-Federalists force the
Federalists to promise to
adopt?
•A Bill of Rights