Name _____________________
U.S. Government
Mr. Kraft
Origins of Government (Unit # 2)
Power Point Notes
Original 13 Colonies:
1. What is the first written set of laws in American History? _______________________________
2. What country established, owned, and controlled the original 13 American colonies? ________
American Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence: (1775 – 1783)
1. What is the reason for the American colonials rebelling against the control of the U.K. over their
land? __________________________
2. What was the “battle cry” of the American colonials before and during the American
Revolutionary War? ___________________________________________________________
3. What American group wrote the Declaration of Independence?
_____________________________________
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Who was the main author within this larger group? ________________________________
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Short Answer: What did the Declaration of Independence do?
4. What “war hero” became the first U.S. President after the American Revolutionary War?
_________________________________
5. What is the first set of laws created by the U.S. government after earning their independence in
the American Revolutionary War? ______________________________________________
Articles of Confederation: (1781 – 1789)
1. Was the Articles of Confederation a list of federal or state laws? ________________________

National / Federal Laws – ____________________________________________________

State Laws – ______________________________________________________________
2. Why was the Articles of Confederation thrown out after 9 years?
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_________________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________________
3. Short Answer: What were the original 13 states beginning to see themselves under the
Articles of Confederation when they were given the right to write their own state constitutions?
4. Who is expected to follow the laws of state constitutions? ______________________________
5. What set of federal laws replaced the Articles of Confederation? ________________________
The Constitution:
1. At what meeting was the Constitution created? ______________________________________
2. Who is known as the “Father of the Constitution”? ____________________________________
3. Who developed the government theory “separation of powers”? _________________________

What “movement” was he part of? _____________________________________________
4. List the three branches of government under the “separation of powers” theory?
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_________________________
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_________________________
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_________________________
5. What type of government was Montesquieu hoping to avoid with a government based on
separation of powers? _________________________________
6. Who developed the Virginia Plan? ________________________________

Under this plan, how many houses were to make up the legislative branch? _____________

Under this plan, was the executive branch supposed to be weak or strong? _____________

Under this plan, who determines the members of the judicial branch? __________________
7. Who developed the New Jersey Plan? ________________________________

Under this plan, how many houses were to make up the legislative branch? _____________

Under this plan, was the executive branch supposed to be weak or strong? _____________

Under this plan, who determines the members of the judicial branch? __________________
8. Who developed the Connecticut Plan? ________________________________

What is another name for this plan? ____________________________________________

Under this plan, how many houses were to make up the legislative branch? _____________

What is the name of the two houses?
1. _________________________________________
2. _________________________________________

What is the name of this government group when both houses are combined? __________

In which of these two houses is the power of each state equal? __________________

In which of these two houses is the power of each state unequal? __________________
9. Short Answer: What was the 3/5 Compromise?
10. Short Answer: What was the underlying motive of the 3/5 Compromise?
11. Under the original constitution, what is the year when slavery can be banned in the U.S.?
__________________
12. Under the original constitution, what type of tax cannot be placed on traded U.S. goods?
__________________
13. Under the original constitution, who made up the “electors” in the Electoral College?
______________________

What Constitutional Amendment changed the Electoral College to what it is today? _______

What phrase best explains the present-day Electoral College? _______________________

What determines the amount of electoral votes each state has in an election year?
_________________________
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How many electoral votes are there in an election year? _____________

How many electoral districts are there in an election year? ________________

What area becomes an electoral district in an election year? _________________________

How many electoral votes are needed for a candidate to become president? ____________
Constitutional Ratification: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
1. Were the Federalists for a strong or weak central government? ________________________

In essence, who are the Federalists today? ________________________
2. Were the Anti-Federalists for a strong or weak central government? _____________________

In essence, who are the Anti-Federalists today? ________________________
3. During the ratification of the Constitution, what were the Federalists and Anti-Federalist in
disagreement over? ______________________________________________

Short Answer: What was the compromise to solve this issue?
4. How many votes were needed for the Constitution to be ratified? ________________________
5. What year was the Constitution ratified? _______________
6. What is the last state to ratify the Constitution? ______________________
7. What year was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? _____________________

What is the Bill of Rights? ___________________________________________
8. Short Answer: Why has the Constitution lasted so long?