CHAPTER 9
CONFEDERATION AND CONSTITUTION, 1776–1790
1. Part Two Intro. (pp. 164–165) This introduction gives you a preview of the authors’ answers to
certain key questions about the new nation as it struggled to find its legs and then to grow into
adolescence. Look at this section and list three major questions you think the authors will be
addressing in the next seven chapters.
(1)
(2)
(3)
2. Impact of Revolution (pp. 166–168)
a. Contrary to the French Revolution, the authors say that the break with England produced an
“accelerated evolution” rather than a full-scale social, economic, and political revolution.
Nevertheless, list two areas you found interesting where the authors say that “striking changes” did
result from the Revolution.
(1)
(2)
b. Summarize the argument of the authors as to why slavery was not abolished in the new, supposedly
democratic and egalitarian nation. *** Do you buy this argument?
3. State Constitutions (pp. 168–171) Significantly for the future national constitution, Congress asked
the ex-colonies to produce formal documents summoning themselves into being as new states. List
two features of these new state constitutions that you found to be particularly significant:
(1)
(2)
4. Articles of Confederation and Land Policy (171–175) (Note: It's interesting to think of the
similarities between the U.S. under the Articles and the European countries today that are working
gradually to come together under the European Union. The method of tax collecting is also similar to the
United Nations today which must rely on assessments from member states. The U.S. and other countries
often withhold their assessments if they disagree with certain U.N. policies.)
a. On p. 171, the authors call the thirteen original states essentially sovereign countries because they
_________ their own money, raised their own ___________ and navies, and erected their own
_________ barriers. The ____________ of Confederation were passed by Congress in 17___, but
required unanimous approval of the states. What had to be done with regard to state claims to western
lands before all states would concur?
b. List three features of the Articles of Confederation that differ from our current Constitution:
© Copyright Houghton Mifflin Company Student Reading Questions for The American Pageant, Twelfth Edition
(1)
(2)
(3)
c. Despite its weakness under the Articles, the authors praise the passage by Congress of two highly
significant “red-letter” laws. The _______ Ordinance of 1785 called for the Northwest Territory to be
surveyed and sold to pay off the national debt, with a part of each section to be set aside for public
education. Even more important because it meant voluntarily giving up power, the _____________
Ordinance of 1787 set up the mechanism by which these territories could become states on an equal
basis with the original thirteen.
5. Creating the Constitution (pp. 175–182)
a. The weak and divided American government was at the mercy of foreign powers, especially its
previous mother country, ____________. A debtor uprising in western _____________ in 17___
called _________ Rebellion exemplified the potential for anarchy at home in the absence of a strong
central government. Ostensibly to strengthen the Articles, the states sent delegates to a convention in
______________ in May 17___. The method of selection (by state legislatures) assured that delegates
would be “a select group of propertied men.” *** Is it your sense that the main interest of these
delegates was stability and order or democracy and popular freedom? Why?
b. George _____________ was elected chairman of the convention, but the real “Father of the
Constitution,” who seized the initiative early, was James __________ of Virginia. When the
convention decided to scrap the Articles and start anew, the bargaining began. What was the
(1) “Great Compromise”:
(2) “Three-fifths Compromise”:
(3) Electoral College:
(4) Principle of “Checks and Balances”:
c. Look at the chart on p. 181. *** What two changes under the new Constitution do you think did
most to strengthen the federal government relative to the states?
(1)
(2)
6. Ratification (pp. 182–187)
a. *** From your perspective, what were the two best arguments against the new Constitution
advanced by the mostly backcountry Antifederalists?
(1)
(2)
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b. Ratification was helped by publication of The ____________, an eloquent theoretical defense
written by Alexander __________, James ________, and John _______. What do the authors mean
when they say on p. 186 that “the minority had triumphed—twice?”
(1) First:
(2) Second:
VARYING VIEWPOINTS
The Constitution: Economic or Ideological Interpretation
1. Summarize the economic interpretation of the Constitution put forward by progressive historian
Charles Beard in 1913. Then list one or two pieces of evidence he uses to support his thesis.
Thesis:
Evidence:
2. Summarize the more revolutionary or ideological interpretation of historian Gordon Wood in 1969.
Then list one or two pieces of evidence, including Madison’s creative justification for an “extensive
republic” in Federalist 10.
Thesis:
Evidence:
3. *** Do you have any view about these differing interpretations? Do you see the Constitution as a
revolutionary or reactionary document—or a little of both? Review again the authors’ conclusions on
pp. 186–187. On balance, do you see the Constitution as the triumph of a conservative minority out to
protect their economic interests or as a triumph of the country’s brightest minds who sought to apply
republican theory better to the American situation
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THE CONSTITUTION (Appendix Page A34)
1. Preamble: Signers of the Declaration of Independence had referred to themselves as “We, the
representatives of the United States of America …,” whereas the Constitution starts off “We the
people of the United States.” *** Can you come up with a theory to explain this important
distinction? If you are familiar with the political theories of John Locke, can you make a connection
between those theories and the phrase “We the people . . .”?
Skim over the Constitution and simply list the following main headings or bold-faced titles:
Article I
Art. I, Sec. II, Cl. 3
Art. I, Sec. III, Cl. 1
Art. I, Sec. VII, Cl. 1
Art. I, Sec. VII, Cl. 2
Art. I, Sec. VII, Cl. 3
Art. I, Sec. VIII
Art. I, Sec. VIII, Cl. 18
Art. I, Sec. IX
Art. I, Sec. X
Art. II
Art. II, Sec. I, Cl. 2
Art. II, Sec. 2
Art. III
Art. III, Sec. II
Art. IV
Art. V
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CHAPTER 9 TERM SHEET
Confederation and Constitution
Pages 166–168
Society of the Cincinnati
Abigail Adams
Pages 168–171
Massachusetts State Constitution
Fundamental Law
Bill of Rights
Pages 171–175
Articles of Confederation (1778–
1781)
Western land claims
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Pages 175–182
John Jay
Requisition System
Shays’ Rebellion (1786)
Alexander Hamilton
Philadelphia Convention (May–July
1787)
Benjamin Franklin
James Madison
Virginia (large‐state) Plan
New Jersey (small‐state) Plan
“reat Compromise”Electoral College
“hree‐fifths Compromise”Checks and balances
Pages 182–187
Anti‐federalists
Federalists
The Federalist Papers
(Hamilton/Madison/Jay)