Section 1
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution;
The New Nation Meets Challenges
LESSON 1
How Did the New Nation
Govern Itself After
Declaring Independence?
SECTION 9.1
Text pp. 132 – 137
Read “How Did the New Nation Govern Itself After Declaring Independence?” (pp. 132-137).
Study Exercises
On line a of each box, write the name of one of the branches of state governments. On line b, briefly
describe its function.
Branches of State Governments
1.
a.
2.
a.
3.
a.
b.
b.
b.
Answer the questions.
4. When it was first written, the Articles of Confederation assigned which part of government to
the national government?
5. After the states approved the Articles, what four things did Congress have authority to do?
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Lesson 1
6. What were the provisions of the Land Ordinance of 1785?
a. The Northwest Territory was divided
b. Townships
c. The sixteenth section
7. What were the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
a. The region
b. Congress appointed
c. When the territory had five thousand males,
d. When a territory’s free population reached sixty thousand,
8. How many states had to ratify the Articles of Confederation before it could go into effect?
9. What were two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Circle the letters of the correct answers.
10. What two problems did the United States government face at the beginning of its existence?
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a. Indian opposition
d. fighting between states
b. foreign army invasions e. droughts
c. Shays’ Rebellion f . economic depression
LESSON 2
How Did the United
States Develop Its
Constitution?
SECTION 9.2
Text pp. 138 – 142
Read “How Did the United States Develop Its Constitution?” (pp. 138-142).
Study Exercises
Use the chart and the table to answer the questions. The table shows the population of states after the
first census in 1790.
Congress
State Populations
House of
Representatives
Senate
Connecticut238,000
Georgia83,000
Maine97,000
The number of
representatives is
based on the state’s Larger states have
population.
more power than
smaller states.
Each state is
represented by two
senators.
The states have
equal power.
New York
340,000
North Carolina
394,000
Pennsylvania434,000
Vermont85,000
Virginia748,000
1. a. In which house of Congress do smaller states have less power?
b. Why?
2. a. In which house of Congress do small states have the same power as large states?
b. Why?
3. a. Which state would have the largest number of representatives in the House of
Representatives?
b. Which state would have the fewest representatives?
4. Which state, Pennsylvania or Connecticut, would have more representatives in the Senate?
5. If Vermont supported a law and Pennsylvania did not support it, would Vermont have more of a
chance to get the law passed in the House of Representatives or in the Senate?
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Lesson 2
Complete the sentences.
6. The anti-Federalists thought the Constitution ignored
rights.
7. The first President of the United States took office on
.
8. The
represented differently.
was the agreement to have two houses of Congress
Circle the letter of the correct answer.
9. The first President of the United States was ? .
a. Thomas Jefferson c. Benjamin Franklin
b. George Washington d. James Madison
10. People who did not support the Constitution were called ? .
a. Anti-Federalists c. Anti-Governmentalists
b. Anti-Constitutionalists d. Anti-Americans
Do these exercises.
11. What compromise did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention make on slave trade?
12. What compromise did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention make on trade?
13. The Three-Fifths Compromise counted only part of the slave population for what two purposes?
14. a.The
Plan favored large states; it called for two houses of
Congress whose representatives were based on each state’s population.
b. Who proposed this plan?
15. a.The
Plan favored smaller states; it called for one house of
Congress with each state having the same number of representatives.
b. Who proposed this plan?
Review
Write true if the sentence is true and false if the sentence is false.
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16.
Economic depression hindered the new United States.
17.
Only two-thirds of the states needed to ratify the Articles of Confederation before it could take effect.
18.
The Articles of Confederation could not regulate trade or enforce many laws.
Lesson 2
Answer the questions.
19. What were two ordinances the Articles of Confederation established?
20. Which branch of government wrote the laws?
21. Which branch of government decided how to apply the laws?
22. Which branch of government enacted and enforced the laws?
23. Which branch of government was assigned to the national government under the Articles of
Confederation?
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LESSON 3
What Kind of
Government Did the
Constitution Provide?
SECTION 9.3
Text pp. 143 – 147
Read “What Kind of Government Did the Constitution Provide?” (pp. 143-147).
Study Exercises
Write L for legislative branch, E for executive branch, and J for judicial branch beside the correct
function.
1.
enforcing laws 8.
declaring war
2.
regulating trade 9.
serving as chief diplomat
3.
making laws 10.
applying laws
4.
signing new laws 11.
the military’s commander-in-chief
5.
raising armies 12.
coining money
6.
interpreting laws 13.
appointing people to government offices
7.
imposing taxes
Do these exercises.
14. In order, list the steps needed to amend the Constitution.
a.
b.
15. How is the United States system of government:
a. democratic?
b. republican?
c. federal?
d. national?
16. What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called?
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22.
21.
27.
18.
20.
Congress
28.
Branch
26.
• may call
special
Congressional
sessions
Branch
24.
25.
• may pardon
federal criminals
President
•can propose amendments to
the Constitution if it does not
approve of court ruling
• decides on the meaning of laws
23.
• controls spending for
Presidential programs
17.
Branch
19. Supreme Court
Complete the chart to show how the Constitution allows for checks and balances between branches of government.
Lesson 3
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Lesson 3
Review
Complete the sentences.
29. As part of the
Compromise, only part of the slave population was
counted when assessing federal taxes and determining the number of representatives from each
state.
30. As part of the
houses.
Compromise, Congress was divided into
31. Delegates who opposed Congress regulating slave trade compromised by saying Congress must
wait
years before interfering with slave trade.
Write Senate or House of Representatives beside the correct description.
32.
has two representatives from each state
33.
number of representatives is determined by each state’s
population
Answer the questions.
34. What group opposed the Constitution?
35. In what year did George Washington become the first President of the United States?
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