Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could ask the states for money but could not make them pay. Which power did Congress lack?

Changing the Articles of Confederation required the agreement of all thirteen states.

In the Confederation Congress, how many votes did each state get?

Under the Articles, states put taxes on goods coming from other states, and Congress could not settle the quarrels. Which power did the Constitution give Congress to fix this?

In 1786 and 1787, farmers in Massachusetts who were losing their farms over debts took up arms against the courts. What did this uprising show many Americans?

Delegates gathered in Philadelphia in May 1787. What was the meeting first called to do?

The delegates agreed to keep their debates secret, and they closed the windows and doors of the meeting room. Why did they keep the proceedings secret?

Every one of the thirteen states sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

The delegates in Philadelphia chose one member to preside over the whole convention. Which delegate did they choose?

Which delegate kept detailed notes of the debates and shaped the plan for a national government of three branches, earning him the name Father of the Constitution?

At the convention, large states wanted seats in Congress given out by population, while small states wanted every state to have the same number. How did the Great Compromise settle the argument?

Delegates argued over whether enslaved people should be counted when deciding how many House seats each state received. What did the Three-Fifths Compromise decide?

Article VII said the new government would begin once enough states approved the Constitution. How many of the thirteen states had to ratify it?

Supporters of the new Constitution were called Federalists. What did the Anti-Federalists argue?

George Mason of Virginia sat through the whole convention but refused to sign the finished Constitution in 1787. What was his main objection?

Several states agreed to ratify only if protections for liberties were added. What is the Bill of Rights?

"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union..." What are these opening words of the Constitution called?

The Articles of Confederation set up no national courts. Which branch did the Constitution create to interpret the laws and settle disputes about them?

The Constitution created the office of president to carry out the laws. How long is one presidential term?

Congress passes a bill and sends it to the president, who refuses to sign it and keeps it from becoming law. What is this action called?

What was the Articles of Confederation?

Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government was designed to be strong and centralized, similar to how it is under the Constitution.

Which power DID Congress have under the Articles of Confederation?

Why was it hard for the national government to pay its debts under the Articles?

The Articles of Confederation went into effect in 1781, before the American Revolution was officially over.

Which problem showed many Americans that the Articles were too weak?

Where did delegates meet in 1787 to revise the Articles and create a new government plan?

The Constitutional Convention created a completely new Constitution instead of only fixing the Articles.

What was one major goal of the Constitution?

Which branch of government makes federal laws under the Constitution?

Which branch of government carries out or enforces federal laws?

Under the Constitution, how does a person become a justice on the Supreme Court?

Why did the Constitution divide power among three branches?

Checks and balances allow each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches.

The Great Compromise blended two plans. Which plan, favored by the large states, called for seats in both houses of Congress to be based on population?

In the Senate, every state has the same number of senators.

In the House of Representatives, a state's number of representatives is based mainly on what?

What is federalism?

Why did some people want a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

What had to happen before the Constitution could become the nation's new plan of government?