Constitution Comparison Worksheet

The United States Constitution stands apart in history as the cornerstone document for a nation like none before it, but it was not the first law of the land. The discussion and drafting of the U.S. Constitution from the Articles of Confederation was one of great debate and innovation, and it is important to look at the types of changes that were pivotal to creating the supreme law of the United States.

Unit IV

Scholarly Activity: Constitution Comparison Worksheet

Page 1: Fill in the blanks below with the appropriate answers.

Page 2: Complete the essay in a minimum of 300 words in length.

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Table 1 Instructions: Compare the Articles of Confederation and Constitution by filling out the blanks below.

Comparison

Articles of Confederation

Constitution

Ratification Year

(1.)      

1788

Votes

1 vote per state

2 Senate votes + proportional House votes

Legislature

(2.)      

Bicameral

Courts

State courts only

Separate Judicial Branch

President

Presided over Congress

(3.)      

Trade

State controlled

Federally controlled

Passing Laws

Consensus of (4.)       states

Congressional majority and presidential signature

Tax Laws

State controlled

Federally controlled

Control of military

Congress

Congress

Currency

State Issued

Federally Issued

Amendments

Required the consent of (5.)       states

2/3 Congress and 3/4 of states

Table 2 Instructions: Fill out the missing words from the United States Bill of Rights.

Amendment 1

Right to freedoms of (6.)       and speech; right to assemble and to (7.)       the government for redress of grievances

Amendment 2

Right to keep and bear arms to maintain a well-regulated (8.)      

Amendment 3

Right not to house (9.)       during time of war

Amendment 4

Right to be secure from unreasonable (10.)       and (11.)      

Amendment 5

Rights in criminal cases, including to (12.)       process and indictment by grand jury for capital crimes, as well as the right not to testify against oneself

Amendment 6

Right to a speedy (13.)       by an impartial jury

Amendment 7

Right to a (14.)       trial in civil cases

Amendment 8

Right not to face excessive (15.)       or fines, or (16.)       and (17.)       punishment

Amendment 9

Rights retained by the (18.)       , even if they are not specifically (19.)       by the Constitution

Amendment 10

(20.) States’       to powers not specifically delegated to the federal government

Below, compare and contrast the philosophies of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists that emerged during the time period of the Constitutional Convention through the ratification of the U.S. Constitution (roughly the late 1780s). In your answer, make sure to also include how the philosophies of both parties were reflective of the American society of the time.

Your response must be at least 300 words in length.

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