Virginia Plan
Madison's plan for a National Government with greatly expanded powers
New Jersey Plan
Paterson's plan for a National Government, which greatly resembled the Articles of Confederation
Connecticut Compromise
a combination of the Virginia and New Jersey plans
Three-Fifths Compromise
a plan to satisfy Southerners' desire to inflate the population count of their States
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
a plan to satisfy Southern fears that the Federal Government might be funded through export duties
they were serving the United States abroad as ambassadors
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were not at the Constitutional Convention because...
1. popular sovereignty
2. checks and balances
3. separation of powers
Although the Constitution is often called a "bundle of compromises," nearly all the delegates were dedicated to the concept of
enslaved people
The Three-Fifths Compromise referred to whom?
1. the political writings of John Locke
2. British tradition
3. colonial experiences
List three major source of ideas for the Constitution
the Constitution was imperfect, but none better could be framed
Summarize Benjamin Franklin's judgment of the outcome of the constitutional Convention
1. God was not mentioned in the document
2. The document did not allow States to print money
3. The constitution lacked a bill of rights
List three objections to the new Constitution
they were two of the largest, most populous States, so without them the government would probably not succeed
Ratification of the Constitution was crucial in Virginia and New York because...
it was a convincing commentary on the meaning of the constitution
What was the significance of The Federalist?
nine
How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution?
many of their leaders had also led during the Revolutionary war
Anti-Federalists were so powerful during the ratification process because...
1. George Washington to preside (best leader possible)
2. All work in secret (prevent rumors, people could talk candidly)
3. All votes by state delegate (straight up and down votes)
List and describe some major organizational factors that contributed to the success of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
1. House of Representatives to be determined by population
2. Southern States may use 3/5 of total slave population for calculating number of representatives (not 100%)
3. However these slave populations would be calculated for tax purposes as well (good
What was the 3/5 Compromise?
Solved strong disagreement over slavery between north and south
Why was the 3/5 Compromise needed to continue the work of the Philadelphia Convention?
Commerce and slave compromise prohibited tax or exports and put any law regarding slavery on hold for 20 years (to 1808)
Describe the Commerce and Slave Compromises.
1. got slavery issue shelved
2. taxes on goods exported from slave labor free of tax
3. Avoided slavery issue to get country organized in 1787
What did the South achieve?
1. Patrick Henry
2. George Mason
3. Richard Henry Lee
they represent South plantations, farmers, and smaller states
Describe the major figures in the Anti-federalist movement toward ratification.
1. no mention of God
2. no Bill of rights
3. States then could not print money
4. Process of ratification 9/13 colonies to approve (not 13/13)
5. fear of central authority
Describe the main selling points of the Anti-federalists in convincing the state conventions not to ratify.
1. John Jay
2. Alexander Hamilton
3. James Madison
eastern Banks, traders, shippers wanted new government
Describe the major figures in the Federalist movement to ratification.
1. creates strong central government (power to tax, borrow)
2. regulates interstate and foreign commerce
3. creates strong executive to enforce laws
4. provides strong court system to settle disputes
5. establishes single Federal currency
Describe the main selling points of the Federalists in convincing the state conventions to ratify.
the absence of a bill of rights
What was the cause for many people to oppose ratification of the Constitution?
quorum
a majority
too much power
What did most opponents of ratification believe the new Constitution gave to the National Government?
New Hampshire
The votes in this state brought the number of ratifying States to nine, the number that the constitution required for it to go into effect.
the power to appoint a presiding officer
was a power given to Congress by the Articles of Confederation
amendments needed the consent of all 13 State legislatures
What was the main reason that no amendments were ever added to the Articles of Confederation?
1. States bickered among themselves
2. Economic chaos spread among the former colonies
3. Violence broke out in several places
three reasons for changing the Articles of Confederation in the mid-1780s
delegates
Who met at Annapolis to recommend a federal plan for regulating commerce?
the loss of their properties to tax collectors
the main concern of the rebels who carried out Shays' Rebellion was to protest
Articles of Confederation
every one of the 13 States had to ratify this before it became effective
economic issues
What first motivated Americans to get together to discuss the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation?
revise the Articles of Confederation
the main purpose for a 1787 convention in Philadelphia was to
a Congress, a legislature branch of government
What branch of government did the Articles of Confederation set up?
economic and political problems
after the Revolutionary War came what kind of problems