U.S.

HISTORY - 7/8: 2016-2017

CHAPTER 7 - TEST REVIEW
CONTENT VOCABULARY TERMS - The definitions for these terms can be found on the Content Vocabulary
Activity Worksheet. The page numbers listed are the locations of the terms in the Student Textbook
constitution (p. 187)
bicameral (p. 187)
republic (p. 188)
petition (p. 190)
ordinance (p. 190)
depreciate (p. 191)

depression (p. 195)

manumission (p. 197)
proportional (p. 199)
compromise (p. 200)
federalism (p. 206)
legislative branch (p. 207)

executive branch (p. 207)

Electoral College (p. 207)
judicial branch (p. 208)
checks and balances (p. 208)
amendment (p. 210)

KEY PEOPLE - What are the most significant facts about these people as discussed in Chapter 5
Robert Morris (p. 192)
Alexander Hamilton (p. 197)
John Locke (p. 206)
John Adams (p. 193)
George Washington (p. 197)
Baron de Montesquieu (p. 206)
James Madison (p. 197-198)
George Mason (p. 201)
KEY GROUPS/MEETINGS/EVENTS - What major decisions, activities, and/or consequences are associated
with these groups, meetings, and events?
Shays Rebellion (p. 195-196)

The Constitutional Convention (p. 198)

KEY DOCUMENTS/PROPOSALS/LAWS - Describe the most significant points, impacts, and issues related to
these items.
The Articles of Confederation (p. 188)
The Ordinance of 1785 (p. 190)
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (p. 191)
Virginia Plan (p. 199)
New Jersey Plan (p. 199)

Connecticut/Great Compromise (p. 200)

Three-Fifths Compromise (p. 201)
Magna Carta and Bill of Rights of 1689 (p. 205)
The Bill of Rights (p. 210)

KEY QUESTIONS
Section 1:
Why did the early state constitutions limit the power of the governor? (p. 187)
What were 3 requirements, adopted by most states, in order to vote? (p. 187)
- 1) white male; 2) at least 21 years old; 3) own property or pay a certain amount of taxes. NOTE: a few states
allowed free African American males to vote, but not all.
Because the power of the governor was limited, what branch of state government was the most powerful? (p. 188)
In what year did the Articles of Confederation formally become the government of the United States of
America? (p. 189)
What were some important achievements of the Articles of Confederation? (p. 189)
Which law, passed in 1787, marked the first attempt to stop the spread of slavery in the United States? (p. 191)
Why did paper money printed by the Continental Congress and the states have no real value? (p. 191)
Why did the Continental Congress struggle to pay of debts from the Revolutionary War? (p. 192)
Following the war, what two actions by Great Britain created tension with the United States? (p. 193)
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What action by Spain hurt Western settlers ability to trade? Why did Spain do this? (p. 193)
Section 2:
Why did many Americans call for the Articles of Confederation to be changed? (p. 195)
Why did Shays Rebellion frighten many Americans? (p. 196)
What group from Pennsylvania organized the first American anti-slavery society? (p. 196)
Although many slaves were freed, particularly in Northern states, did this mean an end to discrimination? (p. 196)
Why did states south of Pennsylvania cling to the institution of slavery? (p. 196)
Why did George Washington change his mind about supporting a revision of the Articles of Confederation? (p. 198)

What three groups of people were not represented at the Constitutional Convention? (p. 198)
Why did Northerners agree that Congress could not interfere with the slave trade until 1808? (p. 201)
Section 3:
Why did the Framers of the Constitution spend so much time discussing the history of political thought? (p. 205)
What was The Enlightenment? (p. 205)
Why did the Framers of the Constitution include the necessary and proper clause? (p. 206)
What are two shared (concurrent) powers of State and Federal governments? (p. 207)
What does it mean that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land? (p. 207)
What are the 3 branches of government in the U.S.? Which Articles of the Constitution correspond to which
branch? (p. 207-208)
What are some examples of checks among the 3 branches of the U.S. government? (p. 208)
- President can check Congress by vetoing or rejecting a bill.
- Congress can override a veto if 2/3 of both houses vote for a bill
- the President appoints Supreme Court Justices
- the Senate must approve the Presidents appointments
- the Supreme Court checks Congress and the President by ruling on the constitutionality of laws and
presidential acts.
How many states had to ratify the Constitution for it to go into effect? (p. 209)
Who were the Federalists and Antifederalists? What did each favor or support? (p. 209)
Why did James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay write the Federalist Papers? (p. 209)
What was the strongest criticism of the Constitution? (p. 210)
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution in 1791? (p. 210)

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. Was the new U.S. government effective under the Articles of Confederation? Why or why not?
- It was ineffective because the national government did not have enough political and economic power.
2. Why is the Constitution considered a document of compromises?
- The delegates had to compromise on issues such as distribution of powers, representation, and slavery.
3. What ideas and features are found in the United States Constitution?
- Ideas: Enlightenment ideas about natural rights, limiting government power, separation of power
- Features: the Constitution 1) shares power between a central government and state governments;
2) establishes branches that make laws, carry out laws, and interpret laws; 3) is the supreme law of the land; 4)
protects individual rights

COMPARING THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND THE CONSTITUTION: The following table contains
the key contrasts between the government under the Articles of Confederation and under the U.S. Constitution.
Many of these contrasts are the answers to questions asked earlier in this study guide. This table is intended to
be a concise visual review. It can also be found in your textbook on p. 211 in a slightly different form.
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Division of
power
Description
of its function

Things
Congress Can
Do

Things
Congress Cant
Do

Government
Structure

Established a weak central government

and strong state governments

Created a federal system that divided powers

between the national government and state
governments

a firm league of friendship in which

each state retained its sovereignty,
freedom, and independence

the supreme law of the land

Congress could:
conduct foreign affairs
maintain armed forces
borrow money
issue currency

Congress can:
issue taxes
regulate trade between states & nations
control currency
raise an army
declare war
pass laws that are necessary and
proper to carry out its responsibilities

Congress could not:

regulate trade
force citizens to join the army
impose taxes

Only states can:

regulate trade within their borders
establish local government schools
set marriage and divorce laws

One branch - legislative

Three branches of government

legislative (makes the laws) - Congress
executive (carries out the laws) President
judicial (interprets the laws) - Supreme
Court

No chief executive (president)

Rule by congressional committees

Includes a system of checks and balances so

that no branch becomes more powerful than
another.
Congress includes:
House of Representatives - number of
representatives for each state based on the
states population
Senate - two senators per state

Representation One state, one vote

Making a law

UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

To approve a law:
9 of 13 states needed to agree

To approve a law:
Both the House of Representatives and
the Senate must approve a bill for it to
become law.
The president may approve or veto the
bill