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Mr. McCormack Big Idea Worksheet

American Government Study Guide

Central Dauphin High School

Chapter 2 – Origins of American Government

Section One: Our Political Beginnings (p 28-32)

The origins of the United States can be traced primarily to the __________, who settled in large numbers along the Atlantic Coast. (p 28)

These settlers brought with them expectations for a political system that included three main ideas: __________, __________, and __________. (p 28-29)

Please complete the following chart describing some landmark political documents. (p 29-30)

|Document |History |Modern Relevance |

|Magna Carta | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Petition of Right | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Bill of Rights | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

All English colonies could be divided into three categories: __________ were subject to the direct control of the King; __________ were organized by a person to whom the King had granted large landholdings; __________ were largely self-governing. Over time, most colonies moved into the category of __________. (p 30-32)

Please complete the following chart showing your knowledge of the English colonies. (p 30-32)

|Colony |Date Founded |Facts About Government |

|Massachusetts | | |

|New Hampshire | | |

|Rhode Island | | |

|Connecticut | | |

|New York | | |

|Pennsylvania | | |

|New Jersey | | |

|Delaware | | |

|Maryland | | |

|Virginia | | |

|North Carolina | | |

|South Carolina | | |

|Georgia | | |

Mr. McCormack Big Idea Worksheet

American Government Study Guide

Central Dauphin High School

Chapter 2 – Origins of American Government

Section Two: The Coming of Independence (p 34-39)

By the mid-1700s, the relationship between Britain and the colonies had become somewhat __________. (p 35)

Britain was responsible for colonial __________ and for __________, provided a uniform system of __________ and a common __________. (p 35)

Little was taken from the colonies in __________, and the few regulations set by __________ were largely ignored. (p 35)

Shortly after __________ came to the throne in 1760, Britain dealt more firmly with the colonies. (p 35)

Many colonists objected to new taxes as “taxation without __________.” (p 35)

Colonists saw little need for British protection after the __________ were defeated in 1763. (p 35)

Please describe the various efforts at inter-colonial cooperation by completing this chart. (p 35-37)

|Effort |Date(s) |Participants |Outcome |

|New England Confederation | | | |

| | | | |

|Albany | | | |

|Plan | | | |

|Stamp Act Congress | | | |

| | | | |

|First Continental Congress | | | |

| | | | |

__________ provided a network for cooperation and exchange of information among the patriots. (p 36)

The __________ occurred on December 16, 1773, when a group boarded ships in Boston harbor to protest against the British. (p 36)

The Battles of __________ and __________ started the war on April 19, 1775. (p 37)

The __________ became the nation’s first national government and remained so for nearly five years. (p 37)

The __________ was adopted on July 4, 1776. (p 38)

Identify the historical figures described in the chart below. (p 36-38)

|Name |Role |

| |Commander in Chief of the Continental Army |

| |President of the Second Continental Congress |

| |Patriot who started the Committees of Correspondence |

| |Principal author of the Declaration of Independence |

After independence, most of the states adopted written constitutions that shared several features: __________, __________, __________, __________, and ____________. (p 38-39)

Mr. McCormack Big Idea Worksheet

American Government Study Guide

Central Dauphin High School

Chapter 2 – Origins of American Government

Section Three: The Critical Period (p 44-47)

On November 15, 1777 the Continental Congress approved a plan for government called the __________.(p 44)

This plan did not take effect until __________, the last of the 13 states to consent, approved it on March 1, 1781. (p 44)

As for government, a __________ was the sole body created. (p 44)

It was __________, made up of delegates chosen __________ by the states as their __________ directed. (p 44)

Each state had __________, whatever its population or wealth. (p 44)

__________ and __________ functions were handled by committees of the Congress. (p 44)

Congress could appoint one of its members as its __________ each year. (p 45)

Please describe the Articles of Confederation by summarizing the following features of it. (p 45)

|THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION |

|Powers of Congress |State Obligations |Weaknesses |

| | | |

|1.___________________________ |1.___________________________ |1.___________________________ |

| | | |

|2.___________________________ |2.___________________________ |2.___________________________ |

| | | |

|3.___________________________ |3.___________________________ |3.___________________________ |

| | | |

|4.___________________________ |4.___________________________ |4.___________________________ |

| | | |

|5.___________________________ |5.___________________________ |5.___________________________ |

| | | |

|6.___________________________ |6.___________________________ |6.___________________________ |

| | | |

|7.___________________________ |7.___________________________ |7.___________________________ |

| | | |

|8.___________________________ | |8.___________________________ |

| | | |

|9.___________________________ | | |

| | | |

|10. | | |

The Revolutionary War finally ended on __________. (p 45)

America’s independence was confirmed by the Treaty of __________ in 1783. (p 45)

List several ways in which the post-war union seemed ready to dissolve: (p 45-46) _______________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The movement for a stronger government took concrete form in 1785 when __________ and __________ resolved some of their differences in a conference at __________. (p 46)

This meeting inspired a larger gathering of states at __________ in 1786 that ultimately issued a call for all states to attend a convention at __________ in 1787. This convention would produce the _________. (p 47)

Mr. McCormack Big Idea Worksheet

American Government Study Guide

Central Dauphin High School

Chapter 2 – Origins of American Government

Section Four: Creating the Constitution (p 48-54)

Every state but __________ sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention. (p 48)

This group of delegates became known as the __________. (p 48)

Prominent leaders of the group: ________________________________________________________________

Prominent leaders not included: ________________________________________________________________

__________ was elected to serve as President of the Convention. (p 50)

__________ became the floor leader and most productive contributor. (p 50)

Though the convention had been called to revise the __________, the delegates resolved to replace them. (p 50)

Please describe the competing proposals contained in the table below. (p 51-52)

| |Virginia |New Jersey |Connecticut Compromise |

| |Plan |Plan | |

|Author | | |Roger Sherman |

|Number of Branches in Government | | | |

|Number of Houses in the Legislature | | | |

|Number of Legislative Representatives | | | |

|per State | | | |

|Method of Selecting the Executive | | |Not Part of the Compromise |

|Number of Executive Officers | | |Not Part of the Compromise |

Please describe the competing proposals and ultimate resolution of other Constitutional controversies. (p52-53)

| |Three-Fifths Compromise |Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise |

|Position of Southern States | | |

|Position of Northern States | | |

|Ultimate Compromise | | |

Please list several sources of the Constitution: (p 53) _______________________________________________

The Convention completed its work and delegates signed the final draft on _________, 1787, the anniversary of which is now celebrated as “Constitution Day.” (p 54)

Mr. McCormack Big Idea Worksheet

American Government Study Guide

Central Dauphin High School

Chapter 2 – Origins of American Government

Section Five: Ratifying the Constitution (p 56-58)

The Constitution was vigorously debated between two groups known as the __________ and the __________. The first group supported the Constitution, while the second opposed it. (p 56)

Only __________ states would be required to ratify the Constitution. (p 56)

The two most controversial features of the new Constitution were: (p 57)

1. _____________________________________________________________________________ and

2. ________________________________________________________________________________.

Please summarize important points about the Ratification Debate. (p 56-57)

| |Federalists |Anti-Federalists |

|Prominent Members | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Main Arguments | | |

| | | |

| | | |

__________ was the first state to ratify the Constitution. (p 57)

__________ ratified on June 21, 1788, bringing the number of states who ratified to nine. (p 57)

New York’s ratification debate was particularly fierce, but also produced a group of essays known as __________. (p 58)

These essays were written by __________, __________, and __________. (p 58)

The value of these essays today is that they __________. (p 58)

__________ was chosen as the new capital city. (p 58)

__________ was elected to serve as the first president, and __________ was elected to serve as his vice-president. (p 58)

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