WGU C963 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
What was the Enlightenment
Ideas centered around the value of human happiness.
A period in Western European history following the Middle Ages. The source of our ideas about
natural rights.
Who was John Locke?
an English philosopher, lived in the 17th century, ideas would be used as the basis for American
Revolution, known as the "Father of liberal philosophy"
Why did John Locke think the state of nature confirms natural rights?
He believed that most people are good and respect the rights of others because of their
conscience tells them they should.
What natural rights did Locke believe the social contract should protect?
Life, liberty, property
What is the meaning of the term popular sovereignty?
Government based on consent of the people, people decide for themselves whether their
territories would enter the Union as free or slave states.
What is the meaning of the term consensual political rule?
There is an ongoing renegotiation about social contracts because it doesn't always fulfill our
natural rights. If our rights aren't fulfilled, it could cause social and political conflict.
How were the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights
influenced by Enlightenment thinkers?
Declaration of Independence-each citizen has the right to reason, autonomy, and the notion that
all human beings are equal by nature.
Constitution-Liberty, equality, and justice helped to create the conditions for the American
,Revolution.
Bill of Rights-recognized that people had basic rights that the government must protect, such as
freedom of religion, speech, and the press.
Describe the structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation.
Unicameral (one-house) legislature, not national executive or judiciary, delegates to Congress
were appointed by the state legislatures, and each state had one vote.
Name the powers of the government under the Articles
The power to declare war, appoint military officers, sign treaties, make alliances, appoint foreign
ambassadors, and manage relations with Indians.
One of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was the unanimous consent of the
states required to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation. What are the other
weaknesses?
Each state only had one vote in Congress, no matter the size. Congress had no power to tax.
Congress did not have the power to regulate foreign trade. There was no executive branch to
enforce any acts passed by Congress,
Why was Shays Rebellion an example of these weaknesses?
Exposing that the government could not form a military or draft because the federal government
did not have money due to the fact that they did not have the ability to enforce taxes upon the
citizens.
What were the VA and NJ plans?
Virginia Plan - Called for three branches of government and two houses of Congress.
Representation in each house would be determined by population.
New Jersey Plan - called for three branches of government and a single house of Congress.
Proposed equal representation for each state in Congress.
What was the Great Compromise (also known as the Connecticut Compromise)?
, A compromise made between the Virginia and New Jersey plans, it was meant to address the
issue that states with a larger population wanted congressional representation based on
population, while smaller states demanded equal representation. (Constitutional convention)
In one sentence for each, describe the three other compromises made at the Constitutional
Convention.
3/5th Compromise - 3/5th of the slave population would be counted for determining direct
taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.
Separation of Powers + Checks and Balances - Three branches of government (executive,
legislative, and judicial) are kept separate, each branch is given certain powers to check and
balance the other branches.
Federalism - A system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power
with a national government.
Who were the Federalist and the Anti-Federalists?
What did the Federalists believe?
What did the Anti-Federalists believe?
Federalists - A centralized national government with strong fiscal roots, felt that the Constitution
was open for interpretation.
Anti-Federalists - Believed the Constitution created a central government that was too strong and
that would abuse power.
What was the general purpose of writing the Federalist Papers?
The Federalist Papers was a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison,
John Jay. The purpose of the Federalist Papers was to convince the American people to support
ratification of the Constitution.
What was the main argument expressed in Federalist Paper #10?
Warning the power of factions and competing interest over the United States Government.
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
What was the Enlightenment
Ideas centered around the value of human happiness.
A period in Western European history following the Middle Ages. The source of our ideas about
natural rights.
Who was John Locke?
an English philosopher, lived in the 17th century, ideas would be used as the basis for American
Revolution, known as the "Father of liberal philosophy"
Why did John Locke think the state of nature confirms natural rights?
He believed that most people are good and respect the rights of others because of their
conscience tells them they should.
What natural rights did Locke believe the social contract should protect?
Life, liberty, property
What is the meaning of the term popular sovereignty?
Government based on consent of the people, people decide for themselves whether their
territories would enter the Union as free or slave states.
What is the meaning of the term consensual political rule?
There is an ongoing renegotiation about social contracts because it doesn't always fulfill our
natural rights. If our rights aren't fulfilled, it could cause social and political conflict.
How were the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights
influenced by Enlightenment thinkers?
Declaration of Independence-each citizen has the right to reason, autonomy, and the notion that
all human beings are equal by nature.
Constitution-Liberty, equality, and justice helped to create the conditions for the American
,Revolution.
Bill of Rights-recognized that people had basic rights that the government must protect, such as
freedom of religion, speech, and the press.
Describe the structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation.
Unicameral (one-house) legislature, not national executive or judiciary, delegates to Congress
were appointed by the state legislatures, and each state had one vote.
Name the powers of the government under the Articles
The power to declare war, appoint military officers, sign treaties, make alliances, appoint foreign
ambassadors, and manage relations with Indians.
One of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was the unanimous consent of the
states required to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation. What are the other
weaknesses?
Each state only had one vote in Congress, no matter the size. Congress had no power to tax.
Congress did not have the power to regulate foreign trade. There was no executive branch to
enforce any acts passed by Congress,
Why was Shays Rebellion an example of these weaknesses?
Exposing that the government could not form a military or draft because the federal government
did not have money due to the fact that they did not have the ability to enforce taxes upon the
citizens.
What were the VA and NJ plans?
Virginia Plan - Called for three branches of government and two houses of Congress.
Representation in each house would be determined by population.
New Jersey Plan - called for three branches of government and a single house of Congress.
Proposed equal representation for each state in Congress.
What was the Great Compromise (also known as the Connecticut Compromise)?
, A compromise made between the Virginia and New Jersey plans, it was meant to address the
issue that states with a larger population wanted congressional representation based on
population, while smaller states demanded equal representation. (Constitutional convention)
In one sentence for each, describe the three other compromises made at the Constitutional
Convention.
3/5th Compromise - 3/5th of the slave population would be counted for determining direct
taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.
Separation of Powers + Checks and Balances - Three branches of government (executive,
legislative, and judicial) are kept separate, each branch is given certain powers to check and
balance the other branches.
Federalism - A system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power
with a national government.
Who were the Federalist and the Anti-Federalists?
What did the Federalists believe?
What did the Anti-Federalists believe?
Federalists - A centralized national government with strong fiscal roots, felt that the Constitution
was open for interpretation.
Anti-Federalists - Believed the Constitution created a central government that was too strong and
that would abuse power.
What was the general purpose of writing the Federalist Papers?
The Federalist Papers was a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison,
John Jay. The purpose of the Federalist Papers was to convince the American people to support
ratification of the Constitution.
What was the main argument expressed in Federalist Paper #10?
Warning the power of factions and competing interest over the United States Government.
