US History: Articles of Confederation, Constitution, and Revolutionary War

What was the first national government of the United States called?

The Articles of Confederation

What was a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

It lacked an executive officer and national courts.

How many states needed to agree to enact a law under the Articles of Confederation?

9 out of the 13 states.

What was required to amend the Articles of Confederation?

All 13 states had to agree.

What major issue did the national government under the Articles of Confederation successfully address?

Control of western expansion.

What was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

An act that organized the Northwest Territory and set rules for the creation of new states.

What were the three stages for a territory to become a state according to the Northwest Ordinance?

1. Governed by a governor and judges; 2. Form a legislature at 5,000 males; 3. Apply for statehood at 60,000 population.

What event in 1786 highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Shays' Rebellion.

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?

To scrap the Articles of Confederation and create a new government.

What key powers were granted to the new government established by the Constitution?

Taxation, foreign trade, and control over the military.

What was the compromise made between large and small population states in the Constitution?

The establishment of a Senate with two members from each state and a House of Representatives based on population.

What are the Bill of Rights?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee personal liberties.

What majority is required to pass a law in the new government?

A majority vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives and the approval of the president.

How many states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to go into effect?

9 out of the 13 states.

Who were the authors of the Federalist Papers?

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.

What was one argument against the Constitution from its opponents?

Some believed it took too much power from the states.

Who was elected as the first president of the United States after the Constitution was ratified?

George Washington.

What was the significance of the Northwest Territory?

It was the first organized territory of the United States, established under the Articles of Confederation.

What was the largest source of revenue for the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

The sale of western land.

What did the Articles of Confederation lack that contributed to its ineffectiveness?

Taxing power and a strong central authority.

What was the Connecticut Western Reserve?

A portion of land in northeastern Ohio retained by Connecticut after ceding claims to western land.

What was the outcome of the Constitutional Convention?

The creation of a new government with a stronger federal structure.

What pamphlet did Thomas Paine write that attacked the king and appealed to American nationalism?

Common Sense

What was the significance of the Battle of Bunker Hill?

The British took the hill but suffered heavy losses, losing over 1000 men and all their officers.

What was the outcome of the Saratoga Campaign in 1777?

The British defeat at Saratoga convinced France to support the American rebels.

Who were the key British commanders involved in the American Revolution?

John Burgoyne and Lord Cornwallis

What was the composition of the colonial population's allegiance at the start of the Revolution?

1/3 Patriots, 1/3 Loyalists, 1/3 undecided or apathetic.

What were some advantages of the Patriots during the American Revolution?

Defensive posture, familiarity with the terrain, and motivation for independence.

What were some disadvantages faced by the British during the Revolution?

Long supply lines, vast distances, and political dissension.

What significant military action did Washington take on Christmas 1776?

He crossed the Delaware River and surprised the Hessians at Trenton.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Paris concluded in 1783?

It recognized the independence of the United States and established its boundaries.

What were the boundaries of the United States as established by the Treaty of Paris?

From Canada to Florida, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.

What was the significance of the American Revolution in terms of government?

It established the first truly republican form of government without a monarch.

What role did propaganda play in the American Revolution?

It was vital in shaping public opinion and rallying support for the Patriot cause.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Oriskany?

American forces defeated Joseph Brant's Iroquois, leading to a loss of Native American support for the British.

What was the impact of the American Revolution on future revolutions?

It served as an inspiration for oppressed peoples and was a classic example of a political revolution.

Who were the American diplomats involved in negotiating the Treaty of Paris?

John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin.

What was the main strategy of the British command during the Saratoga Campaign?

To cut the colonies in half and isolate New England by moving three armies simultaneously along the Hudson River Valley.

What engineering feat did American forces accomplish after taking Fort Ticonderoga?

They dragged the cannons through the New England wilderness to Boston.

What was the significance of the American Revolution in terms of Enlightenment principles?

It was the first revolution based upon Enlightenment principles.

What was the political situation in the colonies as fighting began?

A significant number of colonists were unsure of their loyalties, with many being apathetic.