New+Nation

A NEW NATION INTERNET SCAVENGER HUNT
** //Copyright 1998 Jan Purnell// Permission granted to reproduce only for use in the classroom.**

====Click on the //__blue__// highlighted links to travel to sites where you will find answers to the questions below. If there is no highlighted link in the question, the answer can be found at the site of the previously highlighted link. ==== __OUR EARLY GOVERNMENT__

1. Before the Constitution was drafted, a document called [|The Articles of Confederation] was in effect. A. On what date were the Articles adopted?

B. On what date did the Articles become operative?

2. What did the Articles establish between and among the 13 states?

3. Under the Articles, for what 3 things was Congress responsible?

4. List 3 things the Articles did not allow Congress to do.

Read the article on [|Daniel Shays] in order to get a background for the following questions.

5. Shays' Rebellion made leaders of our nation stand up and take notice. [|The Constitutional Convention of 1787] was held to make the Articles of Confederation better and stronger. The members of the Convention instead decided to draft a new constitution. A. How many states had to approve this constitution before it went into affect (first paragraph) ?

B. How many states ended up ratifying it?

6. Which [|states] were the first 5 to ratify the Constitution (Look at the chart on the right)?

7. Which was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution?

8. Which were the last two states of the original 11 to ratify the Constitution?

9. Why were some people [|against] ratifying the Constitution (Part III section B?

10. In order to avoid any violation of certain civil rights, the First Congress of the United States introduced 12 amendments to the constitution. Amendments 3 - 12 were accepted and became known as the _

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OUR GOVERNMENT TODAY

The basis of early government having been formed, the document known as the Constitution has been the law of our land for over 200 years. Still today, there is a system which allows for the division of duties within our government. Answer the following questions on the branches of government we know today.

__11. So that no one branch of government has too much power, a system of checks and balances is in place. One branch checks another in their duties.__

Take a look at a [|chart] of the three branches to familiarize yourself with them.

Now, list the branch that [|checks] the following duties:

(You need to read carefully - the answers are not as plainly given as they could be!)

A. Create and pass legislation (Makes Laws):

B. Appoint Federal judges:

C. Declare laws unconstitutional (Judges Laws):