1) Powers under the Articles of Confederation
Study Notes:
Powers under the Articles of Confederation
What powers did the Articles of Confederation allow for the national government to have?
The ability to exchange Ambassadors
The ability to make treaties with foreign governments and India...
What powers did the Articles of Confederation allow for the national government to have?
The ability to exchange Ambassadors
The ability to make treaties with foreign governments and Indian tribes
The ability to declare war
The ability to borrow money
The ability to settle disputes among states
How did these powers compare to the powers granted to the national government under the
Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation granted fewer powers to the national government compared to the
Constitution.
In what ways were these powers limited or restricted under the Articles of Confederation?
These powers were limited by the weakness of the national government and the strength of the states
under the Articles of Confederation.
The national government did not have the power to tax or the ability to enforce its decisions, making it
difficult to effectively exercise these powers.
2) Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Study Guide:
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
What were the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
,No power to tax
A President who lacked power
No money to buy ships
No money to pay soldiers
No national judiciary
How did these weaknesses impact the effectiveness of the national government under the Articles of
Confederation?
The lack of a power to tax made it difficult for the national government to fund its operations and carry
out its responsibilities.
The weak executive branch, with a President who lacked power, made it difficult for the national
government to effectively lead the country.
The lack of funding for ships and soldiers limited the national government's ability to defend the country
and protect its interests.
The absence of a national judiciary made it difficult for the national government to resolve disputes and
ensure justice.
How did these weaknesses contribute to the need for a new form of government, as outlined in the
Constitution?
These weaknesses made it clear that the Articles of Confederation were insufficient for effectively
governing the country, leading to the need for a new form of government with stronger powers and
more effective institutions.
3) Who proposed the New Jersey Plan and what were its main features?
Study Guide:
Who proposed the New Jersey Plan and what were its main features?
The New Jersey Plan was proposed by William Paterson and included three branches of government,
with the states having the power and each state having one vote.
It featured a unicameral, one-chamber legislature and included a supremacy clause, also known as the
"Law of the Land."
How did the New Jersey Plan differ from the Virginia Plan in terms of representation and the balance of
power between the national government and the states?
,The New Jersey Plan granted equal representation to each state, whereas the Virginia Plan granted
representation based on population.
The New Jersey Plan emphasized the power of the states, while the Virginia Plan granted more power to
the national government.
How did the New Jersey Plan contribute to the debate over the form of the new government during the
Constitutional Convention?
The New Jersey Plan represented a more decentralized approach to government and was favored by
smaller states that were concerned about being outvoted by larger states under the Virginia Plan.
The debate over the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan ultimately led to the compromise known as
the Great Compromise, which combined elements of both plans.
4) Who proposed the Virginia Plan and what were its main features?
Study Guide:
Who proposed the Virginia Plan and what were its main features?
The Virginia Plan was proposed by James Madison and included three branches of government and a
bicameral legislature with two chambers: the House, elected by the people, and the Senate, appointed
by the legislature.
Votes in the legislature were based on population, and the national government was granted the power
to tax, regulate trade, veto state laws, and create an army.
How did the Virginia Plan differ from the New Jersey Plan in terms of representation and the balance of
power between the national government and the states?
The Virginia Plan granted representation based on population, whereas the New Jersey Plan granted
equal representation to each state.
The Virginia Plan granted more power to the national government, while the New Jersey Plan
emphasized the power of the states.
How did the Virginia Plan contribute to the debate over the form of the new government during the
Constitutional Convention?
The Virginia Plan represented a more centralized approach to government and was favored by larger
states that wanted more representation in the national government.
The debate over the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan ultimately led to the compromise known as
the Great Compromise, which combined elements of both plans.
, 5) What was the main purpose of the Great Compromise?
Study Guide:
What was the main purpose of the Great Compromise?
The Great Compromise was a way to reconcile the differences between the Virginia Plan and the New
Jersey Plan and reach a consensus on the form of the new government.
How did the Great Compromise combine the ideas from the Virginia and New Jersey plans?
The Great Compromise combined the concept of representation based on population from the Virginia
Plan with the idea of equal representation for each state from the New Jersey Plan.
What were the main provisions of the Great Compromise related to slavery?
The Great Compromise included the 3/5 compromise, which counted each slave as three-fifths of a
person for the purpose of determining representation in the House of Representatives.
It also allowed slave owners to reclaim their slaves in states where they had fled, and required that
slaves be over the age of 28 and born in the US in order to be freed.
How did the Great Compromise address the concerns of both large and small states during the
Constitutional Convention?
The Great Compromise satisfied the concerns of both large and small states by allowing for both
representation based on population and equal representation for each state. This helped to establish a
balance of power between the national government and the states.
6) What was the main structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation?
Study Guide:
What was the main structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation established a government with a Congress, with representation based on
population.
The national government under the Articles of Confederation was weak, and the states were strong.
How did this structure compare to the government established under the Constitution?
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