All Flashcards
Compare the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
Virginia Plan favored larger states with representation based on population and a strong national government. The New Jersey Plan favored smaller states with equal representation and a limited national government.
Compare Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Federalists supported the Constitution and a strong national government, while Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, fearing it would lead to tyranny and advocating for states' rights.
Compare the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles of Confederation had a weak central government with limited powers, while the Constitution established a stronger federal government with broad powers and a system of checks and balances.
Compare direct democracy and the Electoral College.
Direct democracy involves citizens directly voting on policies, while the Electoral College is an indirect system where electors chosen by each state cast the votes for president, balancing state and popular interests.
Compare representation in the House and the Senate.
Representation in the House is based on population, favoring more populous states, while each state has equal representation in the Senate with two senators, ensuring smaller states have a voice.
Compare the powers of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
Under the Articles, the federal government had very limited powers, unable to tax effectively or regulate commerce. The Constitution granted the federal government significantly more power, including the power to tax, regulate commerce, and enforce laws.
Compare the views of James Madison and Patrick Henry on the Constitution.
James Madison was a strong advocate for the Constitution and a strong national government, while Patrick Henry opposed the Constitution, fearing it would lead to tyranny and infringe on individual liberties.
Compare the motivations behind the Three-Fifths Compromise and the ban on the international slave trade until 1808.
Both were driven by the need to balance the interests of the North and South. The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed representation, while the ban on the slave trade aimed to appease Southern states' economic concerns.
Compare the immediate and long-term effects of the Bill of Rights.
Immediately, the Bill of Rights addressed Anti-Federalist concerns and secured ratification. Long-term, it has served as a cornerstone of American civil liberties and a model for human rights declarations worldwide.
Compare the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
The Land Ordinance established a system for surveying and selling western lands, while the Northwest Ordinance established a system for governing and admitting new states, promoting westward expansion and national unity.
What is the definition of Articles of Confederation?
The first government established by the newly independent United States, characterized by a weak central authority and strong state powers.
What is the definition of Bicameral Legislature?
A legislative body composed of two chambers or houses.
What is the definition of Unicameral Legislature?
A legislative body composed of one chamber or house.
What is the definition of the Great Compromise?
An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature with representation in the House based on population and equal representation in the Senate.
What is the definition of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.
What is the definition of Electoral College?
A system established by the Constitution for electing the president, where each state is assigned electors based on its representation in Congress.
What is the definition of Federalism?
A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.
Define 'ratification' in the context of the Constitution.
The formal approval and adoption of the Constitution by the states.
What is the definition of Federalists?
Supporters of the proposed Constitution who favored a strong national government.
What is the definition of Anti-Federalists?
Opponents of the proposed Constitution who feared a strong national government and advocated for states' rights.
Who was James Madison?
Known as the 'Father of the Constitution,' he played a key role in drafting the Virginia Plan and advocating for a strong national government.
Who was Alexander Hamilton?
A leading Federalist who advocated for a strong central government and co-authored The Federalist Papers.
Who was George Washington?
Presided over the Constitutional Convention, lending his prestige and authority to the process of creating a new government.
Who was William Paterson?
Proposed the New Jersey Plan, advocating for equal representation for all states in the legislature.
Who was Roger Sherman?
Proposed the Great Compromise, which combined elements of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.
Who was Edmund Randolph?
Presented the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention, advocating for a strong national government.
Who was John Jay?
Co-authored The Federalist Papers, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution.
Who was Patrick Henry?
A prominent Anti-Federalist who opposed the Constitution, fearing it would lead to tyranny.
Who was Samuel Adams?
An Anti-Federalist leader who initially opposed the Constitution but later supported it after the addition of the Bill of Rights.
Who was James Wilson?
A delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Pennsylvania, he was a strong advocate for popular sovereignty and a republican form of government.