Chapter Two: United States Constitution

These flashcards cover key concepts and events from Chapter Two on the United States Constitution, focusing on the American founding, the Articles of Confederation, and the drafting of the Constitution.

What year did the American founding period begin with the establishment of Jamestown, Virginia?

1607

What agreement did the Pilgrims create on the Mayflower?

The Mayflower Compact

What was the significance of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut?

It was the first written constitution in the Americas.

What was a major consequence of British taxation such as the Sugar Act and Stamp Act?

Colonists felt they were being taxed without representation.

What phrase became a rallying cry for colonists against British taxation?

No taxation without representation.

What event involved the dumping of tea into Boston Harbor as a protest?

The Boston Tea Party.

What were the Intolerable Acts?

A series of punitive laws passed by the British in response to the Boston Tea Party.

What was the First Continental Congress?

A gathering of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies in 1774 to address colonial grievances.

What important decision was made at the First Continental Congress regarding British goods?

An outright boycott of all British goods.

What was the name given to the rebellion led by Daniel Shays?

Shays' Rebellion.

What document served as the nation's first written constitution?

The Articles of Confederation.

What was a major flaw of the Articles of Confederation?

The central government lacked the power to tax.

What event confirmed the need for a strong national government after the Articles of Confederation?

Shays' Rebellion.

What was the purpose of the Annapolis meeting?

To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

What two plans were proposed regarding representation in the new legislature?

The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.

What compromise created a bicameral legislature in the United States?

The Great Compromise.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

A compromise that allowed slaves to be counted as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

What was a key compromise regarding the regulation of interstate commerce?

No export taxes in exchange for Congress regulating interstate commerce.

What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia?

The drafting of the United States Constitution.

What does the Constitution establish regarding the executive branch?

It created a President as the head of the executive branch.

What was the purpose of the impeachment process outlined in the Constitution?

To hold the President and judiciary accountable for their actions.

When was the Constitution approved by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

September 17, 1787.

What is required for the Constitution to be ratified?

Approval by nine of the thirteen states.