Creating the Government, American Foundations Exam 2

Articles of Confederation

Who: Congress and states.

What: First U.S. constitution; each state had one congressional vote.

When: Ratified 1781.

Where: United States.

Why significant: Fear of centralized power produced a weak government without direct taxation or effective commerce regulation. Debt and coordination problems encouraged replacement in 1787.

Great Compromise

Who: Constitutional Convention delegates.

What: Population-based House and Senate with two members per state.

When: 1787.

Where: Philadelphia.

Why significant: Balanced large-state and small-state demands. Allowed creation of Congress by combining representation of population with equal representation of states.

Three-Fifths Clause

Who: Constitutional delegates.

What: Counted three-fifths of enslaved people for House representation and direct taxation.

When: 1787.

Where: Constitution.

Why significant: Increased slaveholding states’ congressional and electoral influence. It granted enslaved people no voting rights, strengthening slaveholders through people they denied political participation.

Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Who: Supporters and opponents of constitutional ratification.

What: Debate over national power and liberty.

When: 1787–1788.

Where: States.

Why significant: Federalists defended stronger government and structural checks; Anti-Federalists feared centralized authority and missing rights protections. Opposition helped secure the promise of a Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights

Who: Madison, Congress, and ratifying states.

What: First ten constitutional amendments.

When: Ratified 1791.

Where: United States.

Why significant: Explicitly restricted government and protected specified rights. Responded to ratification concerns, although Madison doubted written promises alone could prevent abuses without effective institutional safeguards.

Essay: Why did Americans replace the Articles with the Constitution?

Thesis: They sought more effective govermnet without recreating tyranny

Argument 1: The Articles could not reliable provide revenue, enforcment, or economic coordination

Argument 2: The Constitution supplied stronger institutions and powers

Argument 3: Federalism, checks, representation compromises, and rights protections addressed fears raised by that stronger government

ESSAY: How did compromise shape the Constitution?

Thesis: The Constitution became possible through bargains that balanced interests but preserved inequalities

Argument 1: The Great Compromise reconciled large and small states

Argument 2: Representative institutions balanced popular particpation with elite distrust.

Argument 3: Slavery clauses secured support while strengthening slaveholders’ influence and limiting revolutionary equality