Chapter 7: Document Based Questions

Afra Khanani

Period 8

Chapter 7: Document Based Questions

DOCUMENT A:

·  Why did the states through their delegates at the Continental Congress create such a weak national government?

§  It was a weak national government because they had to quickly put together the articles of confederation. The articles of confederation were the written document setting up the loose confederation of states that comprised the first national government. It also sharply limited powers. The weak Confederation government had a difficult time uniting and finding the right resources to fight the war and get the peace to get out of the coercive central government under the British control.

·  Where was government authority centered in the thirteen states? Why?

§  Authority was centered economically/financially because of all the taxes. Also, maintenance of armed forces and conduct of war and peace. Centered in VA?

·  Was this considered democratic in the concepts of that day?

§  Yes, it was democratic because George Mason was the leader for Virginia, and he was democratic, so it must be.

DOCUMENT B:

·  Would the property requirement shown in New Jersey’s 1776 constitution be restrictive or democratic?

§  The property requirement would be restrictive, because there were restrictions on who could vote, and there had to be certain criteria for the voters.

DOCUMENT C:

·  Was this an oversight or democracy?

§  It would be democratic. It was said before that there were male protests saying that women could not run the nation, they’re the mothers to clean cook, and direct the wheel and loom. There were limited restrictions like being of full age, and having a stable income, which coincides as having a certain amount of land. It also explains why the women could vote, then again couldn’t. It was probably because the men were overruled, then at another meeting they protested and majority rule ruled again.

·  When women actually voted, what eventually happened?

§  They had the right to vote, (those who were property owners) then the legislation changed again, and they didn’t have the right anymore.

DOCUMENT D:

·  Were these documents consciously democratic in their nature?

§  Yes because they were from the Constitution which was democratic in the sense it was more equality for all men, rather than a strict government enforcing laws.

DOCUMENT E:

·  Is this an intentionally democratic document?

§  No, I think it wasn’t intentional but led to democratic reasoning, saying that the men should all have the same say and all should be equal, giving a democratic sense.