Unit 1 Review Test Practice

1. What is known as the official beginning of the America Revolution? The Stamp Act Boston Tea Party Quartering Act Battle of Lexington and Concord During the _________, the majority of delegates voted to declare independence from Britain. 1st Continental Congress 2nd Continental Congress Stamp Act Congress Albany Plan Unit 1 Review Test Practice

2. Warm UP! • Journal: Why do people form friendships or alliances?

3. Warm UP! • Why do the colonies need a union? • Why should they form 1 central government rather than 13 small governments? • Social contract theory: giving up some freedom to gain the protection of a society

4. Most had strong governors with veto power. • Most had bicameral (2-house) legislatures(law-making bodies). • Property required for voting. • Some had universal white male suffrage (voting). • Most had bills of rights. • Most separated religion from government. State Constitutions

5. Declaration of Independence (1776): declaration of natural rights of all people of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Articles of Confederation (1777/1781): the first “constitution”; set up a loose relationship between the states and a one state-one vote rule. Land Ordinances (1785/1787): set up a system for surveying and selling new land, as well as a system for admitting new states into the Union. Constitution (1788): the document that set up rule of law, the 3 branches of federal government, and rights of citizens. 4 Original US Laws/Documents

6. The Articles of Confederation • The Continental Congress set up a looserelationship between the states to help run the war effort. • The Articles set up a one-house (unicameral) legislature (law-making body) where each state had one vote. • Special Powers: legislature dealt with foreigncountries and controlled the army.

7. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation • Lack of power and money • Congress had no power to collect taxes, regulate trade, or enforce its laws – this is because of their experiences with Parliament • Lack of central power • No single executive (leader) or group directing policy • No national judicial (court) system to interpret laws • Rigid rules for changing the rules • Laws needed the approval of 9 states • The Articles could not be revised without all 13 states • How did the Articles of Confederation interfere with the ability of Congress to manage the war effort?

8. Case Study: Shays’ Rebellion • Americans feared that the government could not protect them as riots began to break out in several states. Daniel Shays led a rebellion after he had fallen into debt because of heavy state taxes (to pay for the war debt). The Massachusetts courts threatened to take his farm as payment, and Shays led about 1200 farmers in an attack on the federal arsenal. • The rebellion was stopped, but it served as a wake up call to other states and political leaders that a stronger government may be necessary to protect the people. • Which weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation did Shays’ Rebellion expose?

9. Constitutional Convention • On May 25, 1787, 55 delegates from every state but Rhode Island met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation and strengthen the government. • They kept their discussions secret until the Constitution was complete.

10. Constitutional Convention • The convention began in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall on May 25, 1787. • The Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation were signed here (the Constitution would be as well).

11. Constitutional Convention • Rhode Island was the only state that did not attend the Constitutional Convention • Every other state sent delegates. Each state received 1 votes at the convention.

12. Who was there? 8 delegates had signed the Declaration of Independence, 7 were governors of their states, and 41 were members of the Continental Congress. They were all white males. James Madison (VA delegate) took notes of each speech and discussion. His records are the only written details we have of the convention. George Washington presided over the convention. He never offered his own opinions, but kept debates orderly and reasoned. Madison Washington

13. Describing the Convention • The delegates wanted to create a government system that was reasoned and reflected, but did not want to create an entirely new system. • The states had their own political habits for some time because Britain allowed them to govern themselves at first, and the Framers were wise enough to realize that.

14. Reflection Question: • Do you find it easy or difficult to compromise? Why? What does a good compromise look like?

15. Representation (Votes!) • The biggest battles during the constitutional convention in Philadelphia were over representation – who was going to have avote when making laws? • The colonists just fought a war because they were taxed without being represented, so the delegates at the convention wanted to get it right. • This created several problems between the states.

16. Representation Battles VIRGINIA PLAN NEW JERSEY PLAN Small states wanted Congress to be unicameral (1 house) and wanted each state to be equally represented (i.e. each state receives 1 vote) • Large states wanted Congress to be bicameral (2 houses) and wanted representation to be based on population(i.e. the more people you have in your state, the more votes you get in Congress)

17. combined the desire for representation based on population from the Virginia plan and equal representation for each state of the New Jersey Plan created a bicameral (2 houses) legislature(Congress) where each state would have equal representation in the Senate (New Jersey Plan wanted this) and proportional representation in the House of Representatives (based on population – Virginia plan wanted this) The Great Compromise

18. Southern States • Southern states wanted to ensure that slavery would continue under the new Constitution. • They also wanted slaves to count towards population when determining representation in the House of Representatives.

19. Northern States • Northern states thought that slavery would eventually die out, so they were not incredibly concerned with whether it was allowed to continue. • However, they really did not want slaves to count towards population when determining representation in the House of Representatives. • Remember, the more representatives you have, the more votes (AND POWER) you have!

20. 3/5 Compromise • To solve the issue of slavery and population, the delegates decided to add 3 to the population number for every 5 slaves in a state (or counting each slave as 3/5). • Although slaves had no natural or civil rights, the southern states benefitted from having a lot of slaves because it increased their votes (and power) in the House of Representatives. • Who believed that everyone was born with rights?

21. Daily Assessment • How did the Great Compromise (p75 textbook) incorporate elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans? List something specific about each plan that made it into the Great Compromise. • 3-4 complete sentences please. Remember, your writing makes your thinking visible!