Lesson 8 SAQs: Creating the Constitution

Why did the Federalists support the proposed Constitution?

The federalists supported the proposed constitution because they believed that the constitution would be a stronger unification of the states.

What was the first and most difficult issue the framers of the Constitution had to face during their debates about the nature of new government?

The first and most difficult issue presented was whether or not the government's power to rule should come from the states or the people. The answer supported by James Madison was that the government's power should come directly from the people.

Why did the framers of the Constitution decide to create an electoral college?

The framers of the constitution decided to create an electoral college because Neither Congress nor the people, they decided, should choose the president and vice president.

What was the greatest concern of the opponents to the Constitution?

The greatest concern of the opponents to the Constitution was how many states had to ratify and feared that the national government would be too powerful.

What motivated the large populated states to ratify the Constitution?

The large populated states were motivated to ratify the constitution because they wanted to have as much representation as possible.

What was the main purpose of the Federalist Papers?

The main purpose of the federalists papers was to be in support of the ratification of the Constitution by the states.

Who was Daniel Shays trying to help with his rebellion?

The money shortage was particularly hard on farmers who could not earn enough to pay their debts and taxes. In Massachusetts, judges ordered farmers to sell their land and livestock to pay off their debts. Led by Daniel Shays, a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill, Massachusetts

Why did Congress call for a Constitutional Convention in May, 1787?

The situation in the United States." Each state was invited to send delegates to Philadelphia in May 1787 "for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation."

What motivated the small populated states to ratify the Constitution?

The small populated states were motivated to ratify the constitution because they wanted more representation since it was based on population.

At the Constitutional Convention, why did southern states want enslaved people counted as members of a state's population?

The southern states wanted enslaved people counted as members of the states population to get more representation, due the increased population

Why did some Americans support the Articles of Confederation?

The states still had their freedom and independence.

List the three proposals of how the new government would choose the chief executive.

The three proposals of how the new government would choose the chief executive were the people would elect, elected by a specially chosen group of "electors" from each state, or Congress.

What is a republic?

A country governed by elected representatives.

What is a federal system of government?

A federal system of government is a system of government, in which a strong national government shares power with the states.

Define separation of powers.

A key constitutional principle that divides the functions of government among three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial, to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

Which of the following groups were not represented at the Constitutional Convention?

Most of the delegates brought extensive political experience to the meeting. More than two-thirds were lawyers, and most had served in their state legislatures or held a state office. Thomas Jefferson was so impressed by the ability and experience of these men that he called the convention "an assembly of demi-gods."

Why is James Madison known as the "Father of the Constitution"?

One delegate wrote of Madison, "In the management of every great question he evidently took the lead in the Convention." Indeed, Madison's influence was so great that later he would be called the "Father of the Constitution."

How would slaves be counted in figuring a state's population?

Slaves would be counted in figuring a state's population by using the three fifths compromise, which was an agreement made at the Constitutional Convention stating that enslaved persons would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state's population for representation in the House of Representatives.

List the weaknesses of the government under the Articles of Confederation.

Some of the weaknesses were that the powers were limited by the inability of Congress to impose taxes. Congress had to ask the states for funds to do anything, and the states often ignored Congress' requests.

Why did Anti-Federalists dislike the proposed Constitution?

The Anti-Federalists dislike the proposed Constitution because they were worried about taxes and taking away the rights of the people.

Describe the organization of the government outlined in the Articles of Confederation.

The Articles created "a firm league of friendship" in which "each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence." This "league of friendship" was a loose union in which the 13 states cooperated for common purposes. It was run by Congress, in which each state had one vote.

Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention

Fifty-five delegates from 12 states attended the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island, which prided itself as "the home of the otherwise minded" and feared a strong national government, boycotted the meeting.

What was the long-term effect of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

It gave people the requirements to be a state and banned slavery in the states.

Why was the Northwest Ordinance an important law?

It made a state an organized way to distribute territory

Who would ratify the Constitution, the people, or the states?

The Constitution would be ratified by the people/ delegates representing the states

How did the Federalists respond to the fears of many Americans that a strong federal government would take away their freedom or take away their rights?

The Federalists responded to the fears of Americans by stating that the powers given to the government, they pointed out, were strictly limited. In addition, those powers were divided among three branches so that no one branch could become too powerful.

How did the Great Compromise impact representation in Congress?

The Great Compromise impacted the representation in congress by planning to keep a two-house Congress. The first house, the House of Representatives, would represent the people and included a number of representatives from each state based on the state's population. The second house, the Senate,would represent the states, and each state would have two senators elected by their state legislatures.

What was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a law passed by Congress in 1787 that specified how western lands would be governed.

What land was affected by the Land Ordinance of 1785?

The Western lands were affected by the Land Ordinance of 1785.

What were the beliefs of the group known as the Federalists?

The beliefs of the group known as the federalists were argued that the Constitution would create a national government that was strong enough to unite the states into a republic. The Federalist leaders also addressed the fears of many Americans that a strong government would threaten their freedom or take away their rights.

What two ideas did the Constitution Convention try to balance?

The constitution wanted to balance peoples freedom and the power of the government.

Why did Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry not attend the convention?

They feared that a strong national government would endanger the rights of states.

Why did Congress want to create a decentralized government?

They wanted to unite the states under one national government.

Why did Shays' Rebellion cause some of the nation's leaders to call for a convention

To many Americans, however, the uprising was a disturbing sign that the nation they had fought so hard to create was falling apart.to strengthen the national government.