Study Guide

Formation

of the

U.S. Constitution

NOTE: If you can answer these questions satisfactorily, you should do well on this section of the first exam. The material below consists of important material from the lecture. Questions on the test will be largely taken from this material.

Terms (definition and significance):

Philadelphia

Alexander Hamilton

founding fathers

Virginia Plan

James Madison

New Jersey Plan

Three-fifths Compromise

Great Compromise

federalists

anti-federalists

Federalist Papers

Publius

John Jay

Bill of Rights

Questions to Think About:

What was the political philosophy of the founding fathers and how did it effect the formulation of the United States Constitution?

What was the role of compromise in the formulation of the US Constitution and what were the conflicting interests that needed to be compromised?

How did the US Constitution become ratified? Was it an easy or a hard process?