Unit 2: Articles of Confederation & Constitution — Quiz Practice

70 practice cards based on Unit 2 lessons 2.1–2.6: vocabulary and significance, essential questions, social groups, compromises, Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, and Bill of Rights scenarios.

Confederation

An association of sovereign states with a relatively weak shared government. Why it matters: Explains why states held most authority under the Articles and Congress struggled to act.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting of 55 delegates from 12 states in Philadelphia, May–September 1787, initially called to revise the Articles. Why it matters: Delegates instead drafted a new Constitution; wealthy white male property owners dominated the meeting.

Virginia Plan

Proposal favoring representation based on population in a stronger national legislature. Why it matters: Favored large states; helped shape the House of Representatives.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal retaining equal state representation in a one-house legislature while strengthening some national powers. Why it matters: Protected small states; equal representation survived in the Senate.

Great Compromise

Agreement creating a two-house Congress: population-based House and equal-state Senate. Why it matters: Reconciled large and small states and helped make agreement possible.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement counting three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and direct taxation. Why it matters: Increased slaveholding states’ political power without granting enslaved people rights or votes.

Payments “in kind”

Payments made with goods or produce instead of money. Why it matters: Cash-poor farmers wanted this option. The Constitution restricted states’ ability to require creditors to accept alternatives to gold or silver as legal tender; it did not prohibit voluntary barter.

War bonds

Government promises to repay money borrowed to finance the Revolutionary War. Why it matters: Many original holders sold them cheaply; later holders wanted repayment. Recognition of national debts benefited bondholders and required revenue.

Federalism

Division and sharing of power between national and state governments. Why it matters: Strengthened the union while preserving state authority; different from dividing power among three branches.

Republic

Government in which citizens govern through elected representatives. Why it matters: Connected revolutionary opposition to monarchy with representative institutions; voting access was limited in practice.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that government authority comes from the consent of the people. Why it matters: Expressed by “We the People”; government is legitimate because people authorize it.

Separation of powers

Dividing government duties among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Why it matters: Prevents all governmental power from being concentrated in one institution.

Checks and balances

Powers that allow each branch to limit or oversee the others. Why it matters: Helps prevent tyranny; for example, a president can veto a bill and Congress can override the veto.

Ratification

Formal approval of a document or amendment. Why it matters: The Constitution required nine states: reached in 1788; the new government began in 1789. The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.

Executive Branch

The president and executive officials who carry out and enforce federal laws. Why it matters: Supplied enforcement capacity missing from the Articles, while remaining subject to checks.

Electoral college

The system in which state-appointed electors formally choose the president and vice president. Why it matters: Created an indirect method of presidential selection; each state’s electors equal its House seats plus senators.

Legislative Branch

The branch that writes and passes laws. Why it matters: Under the Constitution it is Congress, divided into the House and Senate.

Congress

The national legislature; under the Constitution, the House plus the Senate. Why it matters: Has powers including taxation, regulation of commerce, and declaring war; stronger than Congress under the Articles.

House of Representatives

Chamber of Congress with seats apportioned among states by population; members serve two-year terms. Why it matters: Gave large states greater representation and was the part of the original federal government directly elected by eligible voters.

Senate

Chamber of Congress with two senators per state, each serving a six-year term. Why it matters: Protected equal state representation; originally senators were selected by state legislatures.

Judicial Branch

The federal courts that interpret and apply law. Why it matters: Created a national judicial system lacking under the Articles and helps check other branches.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court, established by Article III. Why it matters: Provides the top level of the federal judiciary and resolves important constitutional disputes.

Shays’ Rebellion

Massachusetts farmers’ uprising in 1786–1787 against taxes, debt collection, and foreclosures. Why it matters: Exposed the national government’s weakness and increased support for constitutional reform.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Law organizing the surveying and sale of western public land. Why it matters: An achievement under the Articles that organized settlement and provided a potential revenue source.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Law establishing government and a path to statehood in the Northwest Territory; prohibited slavery there. Why it matters: Created a framework for admitting new states on equal terms; its slavery ban applied to that territory, not the entire nation.

Daniel Shays (listed as “Daniel Shay”)

Revolutionary War veteran and a leader of the Massachusetts uprising. Why it matters: Represented distressed farmers whose debt and tax protests alarmed political and economic elites.

George Washington

Revolutionary commander, presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention, and first U.S. president. Why it matters: His support lent credibility to the Constitution and the new executive branch.

Federalists

Supporters of ratifying the Constitution and creating a stronger national government. Why it matters: Argued that national authority was needed for stability and trade; the Federalist Papers defended ratification.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents or critics of ratification who feared excessive national power and inadequate rights protections. Why it matters: Their pressure helped secure the promise and adoption of the Bill of Rights.

James Madison

Convention delegate, major constitutional thinker, Federalist Papers coauthor, and leading drafter of the Bill of Rights. Why it matters: Helped design and defend the new framework and then address objections about individual liberties.

Alexander Hamilton

Advocate of a stronger national government and coauthor of the Federalist Papers. Why it matters: Promoted ratification and a government capable of financial stability and repayment of national debt.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. governing framework, adopted in 1777 and fully ratified in 1781. Why it matters: Created a weak national Congress and powerful states; its shortcomings led to replacement by the Constitution.

Constitution

The governing framework drafted in 1787, ratified by the required nine states in 1788, and put into operation in 1789. Why it matters: Established federalism, three branches, and a stronger but limited national government.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791. Why it matters: Protected liberties and limited federal power; fulfilled a promise that helped secure ratification.

Why did Congress adopt the Articles?

To unite states for war and diplomacy while keeping national power weak because Americans feared another abusive government like Britain’s.

What were three successes under the Articles?

Treaty of Paris (1783): independence and peace. Land Ordinance (1785): survey and sell land. Northwest Ordinance (1787): territorial government, statehood process, regional slavery ban.

What were the Articles’ central weaknesses?

Congress could not directly tax, compel state contributions, or regulate commerce effectively. No separate executive or general national judiciary; amendments required all 13 states.

Why replace the Articles with the Constitution?

Debt, trade disputes, and unrest exposed national weakness. The Constitution added taxing, commerce, and enforcement powers while limiting government through federalism and checks.

How did Shays’ Rebellion lead to constitutional reform?

Farmers protested taxes, debts, and foreclosures in 1786–1787. The national government could not finance an effective response, alarming leaders and building support for the 1787 convention.

What did bankers and merchants want, and how did they benefit?

Stable money, debt repayment, trade regulation, and enforceable contracts. The Constitution recognized national debts and strengthened national revenue and commerce powers.

What did farmers and poor workers want?

Tax and debt relief, wartime payment, and payments in goods when cash was scarce. Creditor protections and restrictions on state legal tender often favored wealthy bondholders instead.

What did Southern planters gain, and what did enslaved people lose?

Planters gained constitutional protections for slavery, return of people escaping bondage, and extra representation. Enslaved people received neither freedom nor political rights.

How did the Revolution influence the Constitution?

Opposition to kings and taxation without representation encouraged popular sovereignty, representative government, limited power, and checks; slavery and restricted voting contradicted liberty and equality.

What was the central Federalist–Anti-Federalist disagreement?

Federalists favored a stronger national government and ratification. Anti-Federalists feared centralized tyranny and demanded explicit protection of individual rights and state authority.

Why was the Bill of Rights added?

Federalists promised amendments to win support for ratification. Madison helped draft them; the first ten amendments were ratified in 1791 to protect liberties and limit government.

Federalism vs. separation of powers?

Federalism: national vs. state power. Separation of powers: legislative vs. executive vs. judicial responsibilities.

Separation of powers vs. checks and balances?

Separation gives branches different jobs. Checks and balances gives each branch ways to limit the others.

Which branch makes, enforces, and interprets laws?

Legislative makes; executive enforces; judicial interprets.

Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan?

Virginia favored population-based representation and large states. New Jersey favored equal state representation and small states.

How did the Great Compromise satisfy both large and small states?

House seats depend on population; each state receives two senators regardless of population.

Did the Three-Fifths Compromise grant enslaved people rights?

No. It counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and direct taxation, increasing slaveholding states’ power without granting votes.

What did the slave-trade compromise say about 1808?

Congress could not prohibit slave importation before 1808. It did not end slavery in 1808.

Did the Northwest Ordinance ban slavery nationwide?

No. It prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory.

What did the original Constitution establish about presidential terms?

A four-year term, with no two-term limit. The two-term limit was added in 1951.

How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution?

Nine of thirteen. The requirement was met in 1788.

1787 vs. 1788 vs. 1789 vs. 1791?

1787: Constitution drafted. 1788: ninth state ratified. 1789: new government began. 1791: Bill of Rights ratified.

Who wrote the Federalist Papers, and why?

Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay wrote anonymously to encourage ratification of the Constitution.

Which groups dominated the Convention?

White male property owners, including lawyers, bankers, merchants, and plantation owners. Women, enslaved people, and many poorer groups lacked representation.

Scenario: Government punishes peaceful criticism. Which amendment?

First Amendment: freedom of speech.

Scenario: An unreasonable government search. Which amendment?

Fourth Amendment: protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Scenario: Compelled self-incrimination in a criminal case. Which amendment?

Fifth Amendment.

Scenario: Criminal defendant denied assistance of counsel. Which amendment?

Sixth Amendment.

Scenario: Cruel and unusual punishment. Which amendment?

Eighth Amendment.

What does the Ninth Amendment recognize?

People retain rights beyond those specifically listed in the Constitution.

What does the Tenth Amendment reserve?

Powers not delegated to the United States or prohibited to states are reserved to the states or the people.

Why did farmers seek payment in kind?

They often lacked cash but had goods or crops. In-kind payment means paying with goods instead of money.

Who benefited from repayment of war bonds?

Current bondholders, including wealthy purchasers who bought bonds cheaply from distressed original holders.

How were senators originally selected?

By state legislatures, rather than direct popular election.

What were Federalist and Anti-Federalist leaders?

Federalists: Washington, Madison, Hamilton. Anti-Federalists: Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee.

Who decided voting qualifications under the original Constitution?

States generally set qualifications; many required property ownership, excluding large portions of the population.