Day 2 - Origins of the Constitution

What are the natural rights identified by John Locke?

Life, liberty, and property.

What is the principle of 'Consent of the Governed'?

People allow the government to govern them in exchange for the protection of their natural rights.

What happens if the government fails to protect the people's rights?

People have the right to rebel and create a new government.

What is the significance of the Declaration of Independence?

It declares the causes for separation from Britain and asserts the unalienable rights of individuals.

What phrase encapsulates the colonists' grievance regarding taxation?

No taxation without representation.

What year did the colonies declare independence?

1776.

What was the first governing document of the United States?

The Articles of Confederation.

What type of government structure did the Articles of Confederation establish?

A unicameral legislature (Congress) with each state having one vote.

What was required to pass laws under the Articles of Confederation?

A 9/13 majority.

What was a major limitation of the Articles of Confederation?

The government had no power to tax.

What was Shays' Rebellion?

A revolt by farmers in Massachusetts against state government over debts and high taxes.

What was one problem with having no national military under the Articles of Confederation?

The national government had to rely on states to provide soldiers.

What issue arose from having no common currency?

Each state had different kinds of money, complicating trade.

What was a consequence of each state having one vote regardless of size?

More populous states had less power in Congress.

What was the threshold for amending the Articles of Confederation?

Unanimous (100%) approval was required.

What did the phrase 'the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God' refer to in the Declaration of Independence?

The inherent rights that justify the separation from Britain.

What were the economic reasons for the American Revolution?

Colonists were upset about taxation and economic control by Britain.

What were the political reasons for the American Revolution?

Colonists wanted to make their own rules and govern themselves.

What was the outcome of the American Revolution?

The colonies defeated the British and became the United States of America in 1783.

What did the Articles of Confederation lack in terms of governance?

There was no separate judiciary or executive branch.

What was the significance of the 1786-87 Shays' Rebellion?

It highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for reform.