Chapter 3 Section 1 Guided Reading Questions
The Nation’s First Governments
Name______________________
Hour___
1.
Describe the three-part government that each of the new states (former colonies) established.
What main responsibility did each part have? (6)
Each state had a ….
Legislative branch to create the laws
Governor to carry out the laws
Court to decide how to apply the law
2.
What does the word bicameral mean? (1)
two houses
3.
What two things are established by having a Bill of Rights in a state constitution? (2)
Basic freedoms and legal protections to the citizens
4.
What was the first constitution of the newly formed United States called? (1)
The Articles of Confederation
5.
What is a confederation? What was the main reason for creating a confederation in the newly
formed United States? (2)
A group that bands together for a common purpose…. The American confederation was for
protection… the need for an army to protect citizens from another British invasion.
6.
List two powers the above confederation (question #5) didn’t have. (2)
No power to tax or enforce laws
7.
List the accomplishments of each of the following agreements:
Ordinance of 1785 – set a system for surveying new western lands for settlement
Northwest Ordinance – set the policies for new territorial governments and how these
territories eventually become states
Treaty of Paris – Created a peace agreement with Great Britain to end the
Revolutionary War
8.
What was the underlying cause of Shay’s Rebellion? Why was this event seen as a wake-up call
for our new nation? (2)
Great personal and state debt was the underlying cause for the rebellion which showed that the
Articles needed to be revised in order to create a strong national government
American Government
Chapter 3 Section 2: The Road to the Constitution
Name_____________________
Hour___
Answer the following questions after reading pages 72-78 in your textbook.
1. Which state did NOT attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia? What was
their reason for not attending? (2) Rhode Island: its leaders opposed a strong
central government
2. What was the TOTAL number of delegates to the convention? 55 How many of those
delegates had been part of the First or Second Continental Congress? 44(2) (NOTE: use
the section entitled “Who were the delegates?” on pg. 73 to answer this question)
3. Who was the OLDEST delegate at the convention? How old? Who was the youngest
delegate? How old? (4)
Ben Franklin was the oldest at 81yrs. And Jonathan Dayton was the
youngest at 26 yrs.
4. What three categories of people were NOT part of the convention process? (3)
Native Americans, African Americans and women
5. Which three American political leaders of the time were also NOT part of the
Constitutional Convention? (3)
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Patrick Henry
6. Who was selected as leader of the convention? As leader state two tasks this person
had to perform. (3)
George Washington was selected as leader to 1) call on speakers and 2)
make sure the meetings ran in an orderly fashion
7. List three key operating procedures that governed the convention meetings. (3)
1. Each state had one vote
2. A simple majority would decide things
3. Keep convention work a secret
8. Name the two plans of government that were presented at the convention. For EACH
plan state how representation in Congress would be determined and who were the
major supporters of EACH plan. (6)
The Virginia Plan—representation in Congress would be based on population.
The large states supported this plan.
The New Jersey Plan—Congress would have equal representation from all
states. The small states supported this plan
9. What is a compromise? (1)
A way of resolving disputes in which each side gives up something in order to
gain something in the end.
10. Name (give BOTH) and explain the compromise that resolved the conflict between the
plans of government you discussed in question #8. (4)
Connecticut or Great Compromise--- A two house Congress where the Senate
would have equal representation from the states and the House would have
representation based upon population.
11. Describe the controversy surrounding the counting of slaves for representation in
Congress. Make sure your state BOTH sides of the controversy and then explain the
compromise that was reached on this issue. (4)
The south wanted slaves to be counted in population in order to gain power in
the House. The north felt that since slaves couldn’t vote, then they shouldn’t be
counted in the population. The 3/5ths Compromise counted 3/5th of the slave
population for each state for representation in Congress.
12. Describe the controversy surrounding the selection of the president that was part of the
debate at the convention. Explain the compromise that was reached on the issue. (4)
Some people thought that Congress should choose the president (that would
then disrupt the checks and balances process—the executive branch would be
solely determined by the legislative branch)
Others thought the people themselves should choose the president (many
Founders did not believe that citizens would be easily swayed and not make
good decisions when voting)
They decided on the Electoral College to select the president which is a group of
people chosen by the state the select the president based off of the popular
vote
13. How many states were needed to approve (ratify) the new Constitution of the United
States? When was that milestone reached? (give complete date) (2)
9 of 13 states were needed and this magic number occurred on June 21,
1788
14. The Federalists supported the creation of the Constitution. What was their main
argument in support of the document and what type of people made up this group? (2)
The federalists argued that without a strong national government the United States would
not survive. The large landowners made up a large majority of the federalists.
15. The Anti-Federalists did not support the Constitution. State the two arguments
presented by this group in opposition of the document. (2)
1. The new Constitution would take away the liberties they fought for in the
war against Great Britain (lacked a Bill of Rights)
2. The new Constitution would take too much power away from the states
3. The new Constitution would favor only the wealthy in society