Articles of Confederation vs Constitution quiz

Alexander Hamilton said that judges need an "independent spirit". "What did he mean?

Hamilton meant that judges should be free from politics so that they can interpret the law and judge cases on their own merits without pressure from the outside.

How did the Bill of Rights get added to the Constitution?

Some states agreed to ratify the Constitution only if a Bill of Rights was added to it. James Madison made sure this promise was kept. He was a member of the first Congress, and he drew up proposed amendments to the Constitution. Ten of these amendments were passed by Congress and ratified by the states. They are known as the Bill of Rights.

Why did the Anti-Federalists oppose the Constitution? What do you think was their strongest point?

The Anti-Federalists thought the Constitution created a government that was too strong and would infringe on people's freedoms. The Constitution mostly focuses on how the government works, not on the people it serves.

What were the Articles of Confederation, and why did this document fail?

The Articles of Confederation was a document that set up the first government of the United States. This government was too weak. It did not have power to collect taxes, regulate trade, or even draft soldiers into an army.

What were the 3 main ideas expressed in the Federalist papers about how the Constitution set up a strong government that preserved freedom?

The Constitution created a strong national government, yet one that preserved freedom. It did this in three ways: It set up a federal form of government, which listed the powers of the national government and reserved all other powers to the states. It separated the powers of the national government by dividing it into three branches, each with a separate function. The legislature makes the laws, the executive enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets them. It set up a republic form of government, a representative government accountable to the people.

Why do people today think the Federalist papers are important?

The Federalist Papers are important for two reasons: Their publication helped the Constitution get adopted. They gave the best explanation of what the drafters were thinking when they wrote the Constitution.

What were the Federalist papers?

The Federalist Papers were a series of articles written in New York newspapers in support of the proposed Constitution. The articles were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.

Why did the Federalists oppose the Bill of Rights?

The Federalists believed they had created a limited government that would not infringe on anyone's rights. Therefore, they believed a bill of rights was unnecessary.

What were the main differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?

There are many differences. One is that Congress was the only branch under the Articles of Confederation vs. three branches under the Constitution. Because this government had so little power, people did not demand a Bill of Rights under it, but they did for the Constitution. The Constitution allowed for the regulation of trade whereby the A of C did not allow for this. Under the Aof C, They (the government) could not collect taxes or draft soldiers; under the Constitution, both were allowed.