Question 1

Describe the Articles of Confederation and the major weaknesses in the federal government created in relation to the federal and state level powers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the Articles of Confederation and the...

Question 2

Madison believed tyranny by the majority could be prevented by having so many factions nobody could get a majority.

Accepted Answer

This principle is known as the "pluralistic" theory of democracy, and it was a cornerstone of Madison's political philosophy as outlined in Federalist No. 10. He argued that a diverse array of interests and groups would create a "multiplicity of factions," preventing any one group from dominating the others and thereby safeguarding individual liberties.

Question 3

The system of checks and balances was put in place to help masses hold government responsible for their policy decisions. .

Accepted Answer

The system of checks and balances was designed to ensure that no single branch of the U.S. government becomes too powerful, by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others. It is not directly about helping the masses hold the government responsible for policy decisions, although it can indirectly contribute to accountability.

Question 4

Discuss the elements of American social class structure at the time of the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

The Courts can check the power of Congress by declaring laws to be unconstitutional.

Accepted Answer

This is the concept of judicial review, in which the courts can determine if laws passed by Congress are in line with the Constitution and can strike them down if they are deemed unconstitutional.

Question 6

State-issued paper money helped debtors by becoming worth less over time.

Accepted Answer

State-issued paper money, or fiat money, is not backed by a commodity such as gold or silver, and its value is determined by supply and demand. As the supply of paper money increases, its value decreases, resulting in inflation. This means that debtors who owe a fixed amount of money are able to repay their debts more easily with money that is worth less over time. This can be beneficial for individuals who are struggling with debt, but it can also have negative effects on the overall economy.

Question 7

Congress can check the power of the President by overruling the results of the Electoral College.

Accepted Answer

Congress does not have the power to overrule the results of the Electoral College. Once the Electoral College votes are certified by Congress, they are considered final and cannot be easily overturned. However, Congress does have the power to impeach and remove a president from office if they believe he or she has committed "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Question 8

The original U.S. Constitution includes a property qualification for the right to vote.

Accepted Answer

The original U.S. Constitution did not include a property qualification for voting; it left the determination of voter qualifications to the individual states.

Question 9

Runaway slaves that made it to non-slave states were declared free by the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution did not declare runaway slaves free if they made it to non-slave states; instead, the Fugitive Slave Clause required the return of escaped slaves to their owners.

Question 10

Identify and then explain how the background, education, training, and social standing of the Founding Fathers made them Elites? Would they be considered Elites in Modern America?

Accepted Answer

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Question 11

Explain the system of Checks and Balances created in the Constitution by James Madison and provide examples.

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Most delegates to the Constitutional Convention were slave owners.

Accepted Answer

The majority of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention owned slaves or lived in states that allowed slavery. Out of the 55 delegates, at least 25 owned slaves or had some direct involvement with the slave trade. This reality had a significant impact on the debates and compromises reached at the convention regarding issues such as representation and the slave trade.

Question 13

A republican form of government believes in mass democracy.

Accepted Answer

A republican form of government believes in representative democracy, where citizens vote for representatives to make decisions on their behalf, rather than direct democracy where citizens vote on every issue themselves.

Question 14

At the time of the Convention George Washington was one of the richest men in the country.

Accepted Answer

Yes, George Washington was one of the wealthiest men in the country at the time of the Constitutional Convention. He owned vast amounts of land, including his beloved Mount Vernon, and also had profitable businesses such as a distillery and a fishing operation.

Question 15

The Founders believed that inequality of wealth and property was a natural result of diversity.

Accepted Answer

The Founders did believe in the principle of natural inequality, as they recognized that people have different talents, abilities, and motivations that lead to differences in wealth and property. This belief was rooted in their understanding of human nature, as well as their study of history and philosophy. However, they also believed in the importance of limiting inequality through policies such as equal protection under the law, property rights, and government intervention in certain areas. Therefore, while they recognized the reality of inequality, they also saw it as something that could and should be balanced against other values, such as freedom and justice.

Question 16

The Constitution limits the corrupting influence of power by balancing representation in the national government.

Accepted Answer

The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government, and it also includes several mechanisms for balancing representation in the national government, such as the Senate's equal representation for each state and the House of Representatives' apportionment of seats based on population. By doing so, the Constitution seeks to prevent any one person or group from gaining too much power and potentially abusing it for their own benefit.

Question 17

Discuss the different needs for a federal government between debtors and creditors in 1787 in relation to bonds and debt. How does this relate to the absence of delegates from Rhode Island? How might this relate to present-day concerns about student loans?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

The New Jersey Plan wanted a unicameral legislature.

Accepted Answer

The New Jersey Plan, presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, proposed a unicameral (one-house) legislature with equal representation for all states. This plan was favored by smaller states who feared that under a larger, two-house legislature, they would be outvoted and have less influence.

Question 19

The Bill of Rights was a concession made by the Federalists in order to secure the ratification of the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was added to address concerns raised by Anti-Federalists who argued that the Constitution did not adequately protect the individual rights and freedoms of citizens. The Federalists agreed to add the Bill of Rights as a compromise to secure the ratification of the Constitution.

Question 20

The Virginia Plan called for the United States to have a parliamentary system similar to Britain.

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 2: The Elite Consensus of the Founding Fathers: Us Political Principles