Unit 4: Forming a New Nation Study Guide

Why did many Americans fear a strong central government?

• States would be too powerful

• People would lose their rights

• Another war between US and Great Britain would break out

• Laws would prevent people from moving further away

Why is Shays' Rebellion an important event?

• It started the Civil War

• It led to the Constitutional Convention

• It showed strength of the militia

• It highlighted the power of the government

Why is James Madison known as the Father of the Consitution?

• He wrote the Constitution

• He was the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention

• He was the smartest member of the Constitutional Convention

• He was prepared to lead the discussion at the Constitutional Convention

What is a republic?

• A country led by a President

• A government led by a powerful few

• A parliamentary form of government

• A country led by elected representatives

What weaknesses did the Articles of Confederation have?

• They could not declare war

• They could not impose taxes

• They could not set up a postal system

• They could not create an army and navy

What was the Great Compromise?

• A debate over representation in Congress

• A debate over the names of political parties

• A debate about checks and balances

• A debate about how to elect a president

What was the greatest challenge in the Constitutional Convention?

• How to respond to foreign countries

• How to help farmers and ranchers

• How to balance large and small states

• How to balance eastern and western states

Why did some oppose the Constitution?

• Taxation would be eliminated

• Selection of George Washington as president

• Replacement of the Articles of Confederation

• Giving up state power to form a stronger Union

What is federalism?

• Sharing of power between state and national government

• Government run by one political party

• A single leader controlling the government

• Individual states having national government power

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

• Slaves would be counted as 3/5ths of a person when determining a state’s population for representation.

• Slaves would count in a separate category when determining the state's population for representation.

• Slaves would count as an individual person when determining a state's population for representation.

• Slaves would not count at all when determining a state's population for representation.