Weaknesses of the Articles
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One vote for each state, regardless of size.
Congress cannot collect taxes.
 This led to the government to issue worthless paper money that
caused inflation
Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
 This restricted growth of interstate commerce and trade
No separate executive branch to enforce acts of Congress.
No national court system to interpret laws.
Amendment only with consent of all the states.
A 9/13 majority required to pass laws.
Articles only a “firm league of friendship”
These weaknesses were demonstrated by Shay’s Rebellion
Causes of Shay’s Rebellion
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The wealthy investors that had
paid for the Revolution
wanted their money back.
The states raised taxes to pay
the debt.
Poor farmers rioted in protest
of the raised taxes.
Massachusetts didn’t have the
money to raise an army to
stop the riots.
Congress didn’t have the
power to tax to raise a
national army to stop the riot.
Effects of Shay’s Rebellion
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People would defy any
government that acted
against their wishes.
It showed America
that the federal
government had to be
strengthened to avoid
civil unrest.
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Shay’s Rebellion was a reflection of
A.
B.
C.
D.
A strong central government
A weak central government
An effective government
A fair system of taxation
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What contributed to the demise of the Articles
of Confederation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The lack of representation in Congress
The inability of Congress to tax
The ability to make treaties with foreign
governments
The restrictions on debate within Congress
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Which of these was a major domestic problem
faced by the government under the Articles of
Confederation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Maintaining national security
Counting population for voting purposes
Regulating the slave trade
Establishing strong state governments
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Which of the following people would have
MOST LIKELY supported the Articles of
Confederation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A Federalist
Someone who believed states, rather than a
central government, should have greater
authority to rule
Someone who believed a central government,
rather than states, should have greater authority
to rule.
Alexander Hamilton
B
The Constitutional Convention
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55 Delegates meet in
Philadelphia in 1787
These are mostly wealthy, all
white males
George Washington was elected
as the presiding officer
The sole purpose of the
convention was to amend the
Articles of Confederation
Hamilton and Madison quickly
directed the convention toward
drafting a new document
Two different plans are put forth
for the new government.
The Virginia Plan
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It called for the creation of a
bicameral national
legislature where each state
would send representatives
in proportion to the
population.
This plan made the federal
government stronger than
the state governments.
The New Jersey Plan
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It called for the creation
of a unicameral national
legislature where each
state had an equal
number of votes
This plan kept the
national government
weak and the states
powerful.
The Great Compromise
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It created a bicameral
legislature.
The Senate would
have the same number
of representatives
from each state.
In the House of
Representatives, the
number of
representatives would
be based upon the
population of the state.
The Federalists
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The Federalists were a group
that advocated for increased
power for the Federal
government
This group included
Washington, Madison,
Franklin and Hamilton
They felt that central
government would provide
stability and order
They were convinced that
the Constitution would
provide safeguards for the
rights of the people
The Anti-Federalists
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The Anti-Federalists were very
leery of federal power
They feared that the central
government would trample the
rights of the people
They also felt that the federal
power would usurp the power of
states
They insisted on a written
guarantee of rights and liberties
which became known as the bill
of rights
After the convention, Jefferson
became the leading advocate for
the Anti-Federalists
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James Madison commented that, “A
government composed of such extensive
powers should be well organized and
balanced.” Which of the following helped to
balance power between the large and small
states?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The slave trade
The Great Compromise
The three-fifths compromise
The Bill of Rights
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The US Constitution begins with the words
“We the People.” Why did Madison chose
these three words to open the document?
A.
B.
C.
D.
To show the delegates were unanimous in their
approval of the document
To show that government gets it power from the
“consent of the governed”
To illustrate that the Constitution was written for
everyone
To emphasize that the people elect everyone in
government
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Which of the following problems did the Great
Compromise solve?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Slavery in the US following the revolution
How many representatives each state would have
in the federal legislative branch
Debate over when the slave trade would end
What rights would be protected under the
Constitution
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The Three-Fifths Compromise
A.
B.
C.
D.
Established a legislative branch comprised of two
houses.
Allowed slaves to be partially counted as part of
the US population.
Made George Washington president in exchange
for maintaining slavery in the South.
Allowed southerners to count slaves in the
population in exchange for immediately ending
the slave trade.
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Who of the following would have been MOST
LIKELY to favor the Virginia Plan?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A delegate to the Constitutional Convention from
a small state.
A delegate to the Second Continental Congress
from a small state.
People opposed to slavery.
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention from
a large state.
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A strong Federalist would have MOST
LIKELY supported which of the following?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Jeffersonian-Republicans
The Articles of Confederation
The Bill of Rights
The Constitution prior to any amendments
C
Trade and Powers
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The powers of government
were to be divided between the
state and federal governments
This is a system known as
federalism
The Presidential term was
limited to 4 years, with no
limit on the number of terms
The following page discusses
the separation of powers and
the system of checks and
Balances
Division of Power
Slavery Issues
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Slaves as population
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Northerners do not want slaves counted,
people = votes
Clearly, Southerners prefer to count
slaves as population
3/5ths Compromise solves the issue
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Importation
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To woo Southern states slave import is
guaranteed until 1808
It is then to be regulated by Congress
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Lawmakers have tried to pass this campaign
finance law twice. Both times, the president has
vetoed the law. This time, most believe the US
Supreme Court would uphold the law if it came
before the Court.
What does this information describe?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The power of the Great Compromise
The importance of federalism
The system of checks and balances
The need to reform government
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The US Constitution is built on all of the
following principles EXCEPT
A.
B.
C.
D.
Governments can act without answering to the
people
The power of the government rests with the
people
State and federal governments share power
The federal government holds supreme power
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The three-fifths compromise sought to prevent
A.
B.
C.
D.
States with high slave populations from
dominating the House of Representatives.
The Senate from becoming too powerful within
the bicameral system.
The Constitution from ultimately being ratified.
Antifederalists from winning the debate over
federalism.
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Limited government, a system of checks and
balances, a separation of the powers in
government, and government based on the will
of the people, form the foundation for the
A.
B.
C.
D.
Northwest Ordinance
United States Constitution
Louisiana Purchase
Articles of Confederation