All Flashcards
Compare Federalists and Antifederalists.
Federalists supported the Constitution and a strong national government; Antifederalists opposed the Constitution, favoring states' rights.
Compare the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
The Virginia Plan proposed representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan proposed equal representation for all states.
Compare the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles created a weak central government with limited powers, while the Constitution established a stronger federal government with broad powers.
Compare direct democracy and the Electoral College.
Direct democracy involves citizens voting directly on policies, while the Electoral College is an indirect system for electing the President.
Compare the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Senate has equal representation for each state, while the House has representation based on population.
Compare the powers of the President under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
Under the Articles, there was no real executive branch. The Constitution created a powerful executive with significant authority.
Compare the power to tax under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles lacked the power to tax effectively, while the Constitution granted Congress the power to levy taxes.
Compare the amendment process under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles required unanimous consent for amendments, making it very difficult to change. The Constitution established a more flexible process.
Compare the judicial branch under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles had no national judiciary. The Constitution created a Supreme Court and a system of federal courts.
Compare the views on central government between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Federalists favored a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists favored stronger state governments and a weaker central government.
Who was James Madison?
The "Father of the Constitution"; he drafted the Virginia Plan.
Who was George Washington?
Chairman of the Constitutional Convention; his leadership was crucial.
Who was Alexander Hamilton?
A leading Federalist who co-authored The Federalist Papers.
Who was Patrick Henry?
A prominent Antifederalist who opposed the Constitution.
Who was John Jay?
A Federalist who co-authored The Federalist Papers.
Who was Samuel Adams?
A leading Antifederalist who feared a strong central government.
Who was John Hancock?
A prominent Antifederalist.
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
Although absent from the convention, his ideas influenced the process.
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
Played a key role in shaping the final document of the Constitution.
Who was Gouverneur Morris?
He is credited with writing the Preamble and was a strong advocate for a powerful national government.
What was the Constitutional Convention?
A meeting in 1787 to create a new government structure for the United States.
When was the Constitution ratified?
1787-1788 (but Rhode Island held out until 1790!).
What was the significance of the Federalist Papers?
A series of essays written to persuade New Yorkers (and others) to ratify the Constitution.
What led to the creation of the Bill of Rights?
Antifederalist concerns about the lack of protection for individual liberties.
What was the Great Compromise?
An agreement that created a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in one house and equal representation in the other.
What was the Virginia Plan?
James Madison's proposal for a strong national government with representation based on population.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
A proposal for equal representation for all states, regardless of population.
What was the 3/5 Compromise?
An agreement to count slaves as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and taxation.
What was the Commerce Clause?
Gives Congress the power to regulate interstate and international commerce.
What was the Whiskey Rebellion?
A protest against a federal tax on whiskey that tested the authority of the new government.