Chapter 8 Study Guide

1. What were the Articles of Confederation?

The nations first form of government that created a loose union of the states, or a firm
league of friendship.
2. What 4 major things was the government allowed to do under the Articles of Confederation?
Raise an army and a navy
Make war and peace
Print money
Set up a postal service
3. What was the 1 major thing the government could not do under the Articles of Confederation
Impose taxes
4. What did the Ordinances of 1785 and 1787 do?
Divided up land to sell to settlers
5. As part of the Ordinances, what was not allowed in the Northwest Territory?
Slavery
6. What did Shays Rebellion show about the federal government?
That it was too weak
7. Why is Shays Rebellion remembered today? (What is its ultimate importance?)
It shocked Congress into calling for a convention
8. Why were delegates invited to Philadelphia after the rebellion?
To revise the Articles of Confederation
9. Who is remembered as the Father of the Constitution? Why?
James Madison
Because his influence over the convention was so great
10. What was the most important rule of the Constitutional Convention? Why?
Secrecy
So delegates would feel free to speak their minds without alarming the general public
11. What were the beliefs that all of the delegates at the convention held in common?
That it was the governments main job to secure our rights to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, and that the best way to do this was through a republic.
12. What was the major question that divided them?
How strong should the federal government be?
13. Describe the 3 major points of the Virginia Plan.
3 branches of government
2 houses of Congress (the House of Representatives, and the Senate)
Representation would be based on the population of each state
14. Which types of states preferred this plan?
Large states
15. Describe the 3 major points of the New Jersey Plan.
3 branches of government

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1 house of Congress
Representation would be based on the state (each state got 1 vote)
Which types of states preferred this plan?
Small states
Describe the 3 main points of the Great Compromise.
3 branches of government
2 houses of Congress; representation in the House of Representatives would be based
on population, and representation in the Senate would be based on the state.
How did southern states want slaves to be counted? Why?
As people
Because they would have more representation in Congress
How did northern states want slaves to be counted? Why?
As property
Because they wanted the southern states to pay taxes on their slaves
Describe the Three-Fifths Compromise.
Each slave would be counted as 3/5ths of a person when determining a states
population, and for taxes
Why were southern states worried about Congress controlling trade?
They thought northern states would try to end the slave trade
Describe the 2 main points of the slave trade compromise.
Congress would control trade but promised not to tax exports or to mess with the slave
trade for 20 years.
Northerners had to agree to a fugitive slave clause (to return runaway slaves)
How many executives did the delegates decide on and to how long of a term?
1 executive
4 year term
How did the delegates decide that the executive should be chosen?
Executive would be elected by a specially chosen group of electors
Describe the how the Electoral College works.
Winner-take-all system; if a candidate wins a state, he gets all of the electoral votes
from that state.
How was the Constitution ratified?
By delegates elected by special state conventions.
Describe the Federalists and their main argument.
Supporters of the Constitution
Argued that the federal governments power was limited by three branches of
government.
Describe the Anti-Federalists and their major complaints.
They were against ratification of the Constitution
Taxes
Thought president would rule like a king

Didnt like giving up state power to federal power

Judicial branch would overpower state courts