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Constitution facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What was the name of the constitution of the first national government of the United States? | Articles of confederation. |
| Why did the Articles of Confederation not have a chief executive and limit the Confederation Congress' power? | To prevent a strong national government by keeping power in the state's government. |
| What law created a plan for dividing and selling land in the Northwest Territory | Land Ordinance of 1785. |
| What were the two land divisions created by the Land Ordinance of 1785? | Townships and sections. |
| What law organized government for the Northwest Territory and created a plan for territories to become states? | Northwest Ordinance of 1781 |
| Identify three of four economic problems the U.S. had during Confederation years? | Repaying revolutionary war debt, Inability to regulate trade and tax, inflation and economic depression. |
| Why was the Confederation Congress unable to solve the country's economic problems? | It lacked the power to tax and regulate money. |
| Why did Shay's Rebellion in 1786 lead to the Formation of the U.S. Constitution? | It showed people the confederation government was too weak and needed to be changed. |
| What was the name of the May 1787 meeting held in Philadelphia to make changes to the Articles of Confederation that resulted in a new constitution being written? | Constitutional Convention. |
| Who was the leader of the Constitutional Convention? | George Washington. |
| Who is known as the "Father of the U.S. Constitution" because he took notes at the Convention and his ideas of government were incorporated into the constitution? | James Madison. |
| Why did New Jersey plan favor small states? | Each state would have one vote in the legislature. |
| Why did the Virginia plan favor larger states? | Representatives for each state in the legislature would be based on the population. |
| What compromise at the Constitutional Convention created a Congress where each state has two Senators and state population determines the number of House of Representatives? | Great Compromise. |
| What was the dispute between northern and southern states about counting slaves for representation in Congress? | Southerners wanted slaves counted as part of slave populations, northern people did not. |
| What compromise at the Constitutional Convention settled the issue of Which level of government slaves for representation in Congress? | Three-Fifths. |
| What Compromise at the Constitutional Convention was made regarding importing new slaves? | Slave importation would be allowed to continue for 20 years until 1807. |
| How were John Locke's Enlightenment ideas of protecting people's natural rights incorporated into the constitution? | The constitution specified and divided the governments power. |
| Why were some people, known as anti-Federalists, against the new constitution? | The constitution was too strong and lacked protection for individual rights. |
| What compromise was made to convince people who were against the constitution to accept it? | A promise to add a bill of rights. |