APUSH Review: The Constitution

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Constitution, explaining why it replaced the weak Articles of Confederation and highlighting key compromises like the Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise, Slave Trade Compromise, and Commerce Compromise. It covers essential principles such as separation of powers, the electoral college, the elastic clause, and the original election process of senators. The video also contrasts Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the purpose of the Bill of Rights, and demonstrates early constitutional strength through the Whiskey Rebellion. Perfect for AP World or U.S. History students, it breaks down complex concepts into clear, memorable explanations.

Takeaways

• 📝 The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government with no strong executive and a weak judiciary.
• 💰 Economic problems under the Articles included separate state currencies and tariffs, discouraging trade.
• ⚡ Shays’ Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger government.
• 🤝 The Constitutional Convention was initially meant to revise the Articles but resulted in a completely new Constitution.
• 🏛️ The Great Compromise created a bicameral legislature: House of Representatives (population-based) and Senate (equal representation).
• ✊ The Three-Fifths Compromise counted 60% of slaves for representation in Congress.
• 🚫 The Slave Trade Compromise ended the importation of slaves in 1808.
• 🏭 The Commerce Compromise allowed Congress to tax imports but not exports, benefiting northern industries.
• ⚖️ Separation of powers divides government into legislative (makes laws), executive (enforces laws), and judicial (interprets laws) branches.
• 🗳️ The Electoral College elects the president; senators were originally chosen by state legislatures (17th Amendment later allowed direct election).
• 📜 The Elastic (Necessary and Proper) Clause lets Congress create laws for modern issues not explicitly in the Constitution.
• 🆚 Federalists supported the Constitution and wrote the Federalist Papers; Anti-Federalists opposed it, leading to the Bill of Rights being added.
• 💪 The Whiskey Rebellion demonstrated the strength of the new Constitution in enforcing federal laws, unlike Shays’ Rebellion under the Articles.

Q & A

Why was the Articles of Confederation considered weak?

The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government with no executive branch and a very weak judicial branch. States had their own currencies and could impose tariffs on each other, discouraging trade. This weakness was highlighted by events like Shays' Rebellion.

What was the original purpose of the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention?

The original purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation, but it ultimately resulted in the creation of a new Constitution.

What was the Great Compromise and why was it important?

The Great Compromise combined the Virginia and New Jersey plans, creating a bicameral legislature. The House of Representatives would be based on population, while the Senate would have equal representation for each state. This resolved disputes between large and small states.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

The Three-Fifths Compromise determined that 60% of slaves would count toward congressional representation, affecting the number of representatives each state could have in the House.

What was the Slave Trade Compromise?

The Slave Trade Compromise stated that the importation of slaves would end in 1808, reflecting the founders' hope that slavery would eventually disappear.

What was the Commerce Compromise and how did it benefit the North?

The Commerce Compromise allowed Congress to tax imports but not exports, which encouraged trade policies that supported Northern industries and manufacturing.

How does the Constitution ensure separation of powers?

The Constitution divides government into three branches: legislative (makes laws), executive (enforces laws), and judicial (interprets laws), preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful. This concept was influenced by Montesquieu.

What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

The Electoral College is used to elect the president, rather than a direct popular vote by citizens. Most states use a winner-take-all system.

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first 10 amendments, was added to gain support from Anti-Federalists who were concerned about the potential abuse of federal power.

How did the Whiskey Rebellion demonstrate the strength of the Constitution?

The Whiskey Rebellion showed that the federal government under the Constitution could enforce laws and maintain order. Unlike Shays' Rebellion under the Articles, the federal government successfully suppressed the protest.

Who were the Federalist Papers written by and what was their purpose?

The Federalist Papers were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support ratification of the Constitution by explaining its benefits and addressing concerns of Anti-Federalists.

What is the Elastic Clause and why is it significant?

The Elastic Clause, also called the Necessary and Proper Clause, allows Congress to make laws not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, such as regulating new technologies. Alexander Hamilton used it to justify creating the Bank of the United States.