Kim 1

American Politics Chapter 2 Study Questions

2.1
1. Why did the colonies begin to protest against the British government, and what forms did this protest
take?
the colonists wanted their own freedom and independence
o was able to enjoy freedom of speech, press, assembly
violent protests
2. What were the goals of the First and Second Continental Congress?
First Continental Congress
o restore harmony between Great Britain and American colonies
Second Continental Congress
o remained in session to serve as the government of the colony states
3. What principles underpin the Declaration of Independence?
government should be built upon the consent of the governed and that the government should be
limited in many ways
the government cannot take away certain unalienable rights
if a government becomes destructive, the governed have the right to abolish the government and set
up a new one in place of it
2.2
1. Why did the delegates to the Second Continental Congress seek to retain power in the states versus
creating a strong central government?
having a strong central government is similar to the monarchy in Great Britain that they just gained
their independence from
2. Provide four reasons that help explain why the Article of Confederation failed
did not grant the states the power to tax
the Articles made no provision for an independent leadership position to direct the government
the Articles did not allow the government to regulate interstate and foreign commerce
the Artcles could not be amended without unanimous agreement of the congress and the assent of all
state legislatures
2.3
1.What were the primary differences between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans?
Virginia
o separation of the government into three branches
o state representation should be based on population
Jersey
o set of 9 resolutions that would have, in effect, preserved the Articles of Confederation by
amending rather than replacing them
2. What major compromises did the drafting of the Constitutional entail?
Connecticut/Great Compromise
o state representation based on population will be the basis for House of Representatives and
state representation based on 2 representatives per state will be the basis for the bicameral
legislature- House and Senate
2.4
1. What four political principles underlie the Constitution?
republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances
2. Which powers are provided Congress through the necessary and proper clause, and why are these
important?
necessary and proper clause is the basis to execute enumerated powers
important because it gives Congress to go through any necessary means to execute these powers
3. How did the Constitution originally address the institution of slavery?

Kim 2
slavery was brought about through the representation of a state; a non-slave would be counted as 1
person, and a slave would be counted as 3/5ths of a person giving the slave states more
representation in the House of Representatives

2.5
1. Who were the Federalists and Antifederalists, and what were their main points of disagreement?
Federalists were those who favored big center government and Antifederalists were those who
favored a smaller central government but with more state power
2. What is the Bill of Rights, and whose rights is it guaranteed to protect?
the Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the US Constitution; it prevents the national
government from tampering with the fundamental rights and civil liberties of the people and
emphasize the limited character of national power
2.6
1. What are the two methods through which constitutional changes can be proposed, and what are the two
methods for ratifying those changes?
proposal
o (1) 2/3rds vote of members present in both houses of Congress (33 amendments)
o (2) national convention by Congress at request of 2/3rds of state legislature (no amendments)
ratification
o (1) 3/4ths of state legislatures (26 amendments ratified)
o (2) Constitutional Conventions in 3/4ths of the states (one amendment, the 21st, ratified)
2. How can political practice alter the American political system without any formal amendment to the
Constitution?
the President has come to overshadow Congress and enlarge their powers
2.7
1. How has the Constitution been extended to expand political equality?
2. What is the Constitution's stance on social equality.
slavery abolished (13th amendment), income tax imposed for tax redistribution (16th amendment)
3. Did the Constitution create a government that primarily reflected the pluralist or majoritarian model?
pluralist model of democracy
created a republic, a government based on majority consent; they did not intend to create a
democracy, which rests on majority rule