1. 2nd Quarter Review

2. 2nd Quarter Review

3. 1. What were the specific provisions of the Northwest Ordinance
of 1787? It determined how the NW Territory would be governed.
As a territory grew in population, it would gain self-governance:
5,000 free adult males = elect an assembly
60,000 = apply to become a new state
slavery was outlawed
freedom of religion and trial by jury

4. 2. What government weaknesses existed under
the Articles of Confederation and how was it fixed?
A weak national (central ) government that:
1. Had no executive branch
Could not enforce national laws
Could not enact or collect taxes
Could not regulate interstate or foreign trade
Could not establish federal courts
Could not amend (change) the Articles
A Constitutional Convention of 55 delegates was held in Philadelphia to rewrite the Articles and create a stronger national government.

5. 3. How did the creation of a bicameral (2 part or house) legislature
by the Great Compromise resolve the debate at the
Constitutional Convention?
The Great Compromise settled the question of representation in the
Legislature. It combined the Virginia & New Jersey Plans
by creating:
Senate – equal representation with 2 reps per state
House of Representatives – representation based upon
a states population

6. 4. What is the system of checks and balances designed
to do?
As a way to control the power of government, it is designed to ensure that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.

7. 5. What are the Bill of Rights and what do they do?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution. They guarantee
basic individual freedoms to citizens.

8. 6. What is a federal system of government designed to do?
A principle that limits the power of government, it is a system
of government in which power is shared between the central
(or federal) government and the states.

9. 7. What is the function of Congress in the federal government?
Congress makes the laws

10. 8. How can the president check the power of the
legislative branch?
Veto acts of Congress
Call special sessions of Congress
Can suggest laws & send messages to Congress

11. 9. What role does the Constitution assign to the
judicial branch?
The judicial branch interprets the law

12. 10. The First Amendment protects what freedoms?
The freedoms of
Speech
Press
Religion
Assembly
Petition

13. 11. What were the specific provisions of the Treaty of Paris of 1783?
United States was independent
Boundaries set
Fishing rights off Canadian coast
Each side to repay debts it owed the other
Exchange of prisoners
Congress would recommend that states return Loyalists’ property

14. 12. Why did the key states of Virginia and New York finally
ratify the Constitution?
These politically important states had concerns about the creation
of too strong of a central government so with the promise of the
addition of a Bill of Rights to guarantee individual freedoms, they
ratified the Constitution.

15. 13. What were the specific provisions of the Land Ordinance
Organized western lands into six square mile plots
(townships) which became known as the Northwest Territory
Eventually formed the states of: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan,
Illinois, Wisconsin, & part of Minnesota

16. 14. Name the precedents (examples that became standard practice)
established by president George Washington?
Agreed to be addressed as “Mr. President”
The two-term presidency
Established the presidential cabinet
Followed a foreign policy of neutrality

17. 15. How do the principles of the United States Constitution limit
the power of government?
Popular Sovereignty – the country is ruled by the peoples’
consent (permission) to make the government
accountable to the people
Republicanism – people exercise their power by voting for political representatives which ensures that the
people have a voice in government
Federalism – government power is divided between the central &
state governments which gives them exclusive power
in their areas

18. Separation of Powers – the division of basic powers into branches
Separation of Powers – the division of basic powers into branches so no one branch is given all the power
Checks & Balances – Controls that each branch of government has
over the other branches to ensure that the
branches work together fairly and do not
become too powerful
Individual Rights – the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments)
guarantees certain personal liberties &
privileges which shield people from an
overly powerful government