Creating the U.S. Constitution

Review Game

Q: What were the problems with the Articles of Confederation?

Answer:

* No national executive—aka president

* No national court system* National government could not collect taxes* National government could not raise an army* National government could not regulate trade

Q: What is the name of the convention that was held to discuss

the revision of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer:

The Constitutional Convention

of 1787

Q: When did the Constitutional Convention take place? (Months/Year)?

Answer:

May through September of 1787

(hint: Remember the extreme heat over the summer?)

Q: What was decided upon at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 concerning the Articles of

Confederation?

Answer:

It was decided that the Articles of Confederation should be thrown out.

The delegates wanted to start from scratch.

Q: How many delegates were at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and

where did they meet?

Answer

There were 55 delegates from all states EXCEPT Rhode Island.

Rhode Island chose not to send any delegates.

They met in Philadelphia @ the Pennsylvania State House

Q: Who were some of the well-known delegates at the Constitutional

Convention of 1787?

Answer:1. George Washington– he served as the presiding officer, or

“captain of the team” at the convention

2. James Madison -wrote the Virginia Plan and defended the attempt to build a stronger central government. He kept numerous notes of the proceedings of the Convention

3. Alexander Hamilton -that argued neither the Virginia Plan nor the New Jersey Plan were adequate. He was the main author of the Federalist Papers.

4. Roger Sherman- He debated with James Madison over the representation issue and was influential in securing the passage of the Great Compromise

5. Ben Franklin -Arrived May 28,1787 and was present through the signing of the Constitution; suggested prayer when the convention was in disarray.

Why are the delegates also called the “Framers”?

Answer:

They helped to frame, or shape, our form of government in the United States

Q: When the delegates signed the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia, how many parts

existed in the document?

Answer:

Two parts – a Preamble and the Articles

Q: After the delegates signed the U.S. Constitution, who did they need to get to ratify (pass) it?

Answer:

The states needed to ratify. In fact, at least 9 states needed to okay it for it to be ratified.

Q: Within the states, what was the argument that existed among

individuals?

VS.

Answer:

Federalist and Anti-Federalists argued within the states.

The Anti-Federalists feared a strong federal (central)

government. They were not ready to agree to the U.S.

Constitution

The Federalists supported the strong federal (central)

government. They were ready to agree to the U.S.

Constitution.

Q: What did the Federalist do to convince the Anti-Federalist to ratify the

U.S. Constitution?

Answer:

The Federalists (including Hamilton, Madison, Washington) suggested the addition of a

Bill of Rights to make anti-Federalists happy.

Congress met and wrote the Bill of Rights to be attached to the U.S. Constitution.

This eased the minds of many anti-Federalists.

In June of 1788, NH became the 9th state to ratify the Constitution and make the new government official.

By the spring of 1790, all 13 states ratified the new Constitution.

Q: The Preamble = the ______ of our government?

Answer:

The Preamble = the goals for our government.

Q: The Articles = the ______ for our government

Answer:

The Articles = the plan for our government

Q: What are the titles of the first 3 Articles of the U.S. Constitution?

Answer:

Article 1= Legislative Branch

Article 2= Executive Branch

Article 3= Judicial Branch

Q: Does the power in the U.S. belong solely to the states or the

federal government?

Answer:

Neither…

THIS IS FEDERALISM:According to the U.S. Constitution, some powers belong solely to

the states

(elections, establish local governments..)

But….Some powers belong solely to the federal government

(declare war, coin money..)

Some powers are SHARED! (TAXES! COURTS!)

Q: While federalism = division of power between the levels of

government, separation of powers = ??????????

Answer:

CHECKS and BALANCES

Every branch can “check up on” the other two. This prevents one branch from

having too much power!

Ex. The House of Reps in Congress can impeach a president.