8 th Grade U.S. History STAAR Review Constitution FORT BURROWS 2018
VOCABULARY Confederation - A group of loosely connected nations or states that work together for mutual benefit. Republic - A system of government where people elect their leaders. Rebellion - An uprising, going against a government or authority openly and/or violently. Convention - A meeting or gathering for a specific purpose Delegate - Someone who is sent to a meeting to advocate for a group of people. Consent - Agreement Compromise - An agreement where both sides have given up some of what they wanted in order to accomplish a goal. Electoral College - The body of representatives that elects the president. Each state has a set number of representatives the number of members they have in the House Representation - Having someone who can speak or act on your behalf in the government Bicameral - Having two houses or sections Senate - The body of Congress where all states have an equal vote. Each state has 2 Senators. Constitution - The document that explains how the government is laid out. Preamble - The opening of a document. An introduction. Popular sovereignty - The belief that the power of the government comes from the people. Separation of powers - The division of government operations into branches or sections. The government was designed this way so that no one branch would have too much power. Legislative Branch - The branch of the government that makes the laws. Includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. Executive Branch - The branch of the government that enforces the law. Includes the president, his advisors, vice-president Judicial Branch - The branch of government that interprets the law. Includes the Supreme Court Limited government - The idea that government should have to follow rules and laws and cannot expand its power beyond what is written in the Constitution.
Checks and balances - The system that allows one branch to stop another from acting. Law - A rule or a system of rules Bill - A proposal for a law Nominate - To select someone for a job, position or award. Cabinet - A group of advisors that the President selects to give him advice on specific issues. Impeach - To put a government official on trial. Veto - To reject a law. Unconstitutional - To go against the laws and rules set out in the Constitution Federalism - The system where the national government shares power with state governments. Ratification - A formal signature on a formal agreement like a treaty or contract Federalist - Someone who supported the ratification of the Constitution as written at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Anti-federalist - Someone who did not support the ratification of the Constitution. Amendment - A change made to the Constitution. Bill of Rights - The first ten amendments to the Constitution. Unalienable rights, Natural Rights - Rights that you are born with that cannot be taken away. Grievances - Complaints
Articles of Confederation Weaknesses Powers Structure Weak central government One branch of government Can declare war no power to tax (Congress) negotiate treaties no common currency One vote in congress for each print money no national army state create a postal system no power to enforce laws or no national courts direct foreign affairs regulate trade no president Explain why the specific weaknesses listed below were a problem for the United States. No president No power to tax No national currency No power to regulate trade between the states No national army All states have to agree to change the Articles of Confederation No national court system
Northwest Ordinance IMPORTANCE Created a government for the territory Provided for the admittance of new states RULES OF THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1. Slavery was illegal in the Northwest territory 2. Encouraged free education 3. Religious freedom 4. Trial by jury 5. As soon as territories reached a population of 60,000 people, they could become a state 1. How many states were created out of the territory? 2. What geographical feature might have made people decide to settle in the Northwest Territory? 3. What river borders the NW territory to the west? 4. What river borders the NW territory to the South? Shay s Rebellion Poor farmers were upset that they were being taxed a lot, and were not making money from selling their food If the farmers didn t pay their debt, they were taken to prison Farmers protested the government taking them to prison There was no national army to stop the rebellion, but the state army stopped it Many people now felt the need to change the government
Influence of Major Historical Documents Magna Carta 1215 Constitutional Convention Guaranteed trial by jury. The king could not impose taxes without the consent of the people English Bill of Rights 1689 stated that Englishmen had guaranteed rights Mayflower Compact 1620 Pilgrims agreed to form their own government and obey its laws Federalist Papers 1788 Collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution. Which historical document do you feel was the biggest influence on the Founding Fathers? Why? Reflection: I had trouble with: I remembered very well! I need to review Notes:
Great Compromise New Jersey Plan Virginia Plan favored small states Legislature would have 1 house Each state would get 1 vote in congress Favored large states Legislature would have 2 houses Both houses would get representation Based on population or wealth THE COMPROMISE TWO house legislature 1) Based on population = House of Representatives 2) Equal number of representatives, 2 per state = Senate Senate + House of Representatives = Congress Congress makes laws 3/5 compromise During the Constitutional Convention, the Northern and Southern states disagreed about counting slaves as part of the population The south wanted slaves to count because that would mean they get more representatives in Congress The North felt this was unfair The North agreed to count slaves as 3/5 of a person Slaves still did not have citizenship or the right to vote There are two ways two represent the 3/5 Compromise. Draw them both
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison Important People Patrick Henry, George Mason Favored the Constitution Constitution Opposed the Constitution Wanted limited state power. The Senate gave enough power to the states (Strong FEDERAL government) The Bill of Rights was unnecessary Power of the13 States Bill of Rights Wanted strong state power (strong STATE government) Bill of Rights was a must in order to protect individual freedom Wanted the Constitution instead of the Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation could be fixed We should be a large country Size of the Nation We should be a small country Large farmers, merchants, Supporters Small farmers, often from rural areas 1. A federal government ought to be clothed with all the powers requisite to complete execution of its trust. 2. Energy in the Executive is a leading characteristic in the definition of good government. 3. A bill of rights serves to secure the minority against the usurpation and tyranny of the majority. 4. The states should respectively have laws, courts, force, and revenues of their own sufficient for their own security; they ought to be fit to keep house alone if necessary. 5. I am against inserting a declaration of rights in the Constitution If such an addition is not dangerous, it is at least unnecessary.
Bill of Rights 1 st amendment Speech Religion Assembly Press Petition 2 nd bear arms 3 rd no quartering soldiers 4 th search and seizure 5 th due process 6 th speedy trial 7 th trial by jury 8 th no cruel or unusual punishment 9 th people have other rights 10 th powers not listed are given to the states Reflection: I had trouble with: I remembered very well! I need to review Notes:
Principles of the Constitution Draw a picture that represents each principle Popular sovereignty rule by the people Republicanism the right to vote for representatives Federalism Separation of powers Balance of Power Limited government Individual rights power is shared between the national and state governments branches that make, enforce or interpret laws controls (checks) can be made on the other branches everyone is bound by the US Constitution personal freedoms are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights Read the statements below and choose which principle is being described. All answers will be used only once. Separation of powers Limited government Federalism Republicanism. 1. The President is commander in chief of the military, even though Congress declares war. 2. The national and state governments can conduct elections. 3. The citizens of Texas vote for the new governor. 4. A President can only serve two terms.
Checks and balances Federalism Individual rights Republicanism 5. This principle divides power between the state and national government. 6. In 2000, Americans chose George Bush as President. 7. Congress has the power to confirm or deny the President s nominations. 8. citizens are guaranteed the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If you had to get rid of ONE principle, which one would it be and why?
Amending the Constitution A two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress to propose an amendment Three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures to ratify, or approve, an amendment New Amendment to the Constitution If you could create a new amendment to the Constitution, what would it be and why? Reflection: I had trouble with: I remembered very well! I need to review Notes:
Grievances from Declaration of Independence Grievance in Declaration of Independence For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. U.S. Constitution Amendment #3: Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes during times of peace Article 1, Section 8: Gives power to Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations Article 1, Section 8: Gives Congress power to raise and collect taxes Article 4, Section 3: Congress shall have the power to make all necessary rules and regulations about the territories and property that belongs to the United States. Article 1, Section 8: Gives power to Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations Amendment # 7: Rights guaranteed to the accused Article 1 Section 8: punish pirates and punish people who break international law.
Grievances from Declaration of Independence Grievance in Declaration of Independence U.S. Constitution For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.