Chapter IX: The Confederation and the Constitution

REVISED

1. What significant changes to the new United States resulted from the revolutionary war?
2. What was the major obstacle to ratification of the Articles of Confederation? How was the problem solved?
3. Describe the powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation.
4. Explain the differences between the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
5. What motivated the "founding fathers" to call for a convention to modify the Articles?
   
6. Who was present at the Constitutional Convention? Which significant figures were missing?
7. Explain the first three articles of the constitution. Which body of the government was described in each article and how did federal powers under the new Constitution contrast with federal powers under the Articles?
   
8. Who were the Anti-Federalists, and why did they lose their struggle to the Federalists?
   
9. Which states most wanted to ratify the Constitution and which were most opposed? Why?
   
10. Why does Bailey call ratification of the Constitution a "Conservative Triumph"?
11. Even though Kennedy says that Charles Beard's interpretation of this period is faulty, what aspects of his thesis have some degree of credibility?
    
12. Identify:
    
    • Alexander Hamilton
      
    • James Madison
      
    • Geroge Mason
      
    • the Great Compromise
      
    • the Electoral College
      
    • the elastic clause
      
    • the Bill of Rights