After reading Chapter 2, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the political events that led up to the ratification of the Articles of Confederation as well as the strengths/weaknesses of those Articles.
2. Explain why the Constitution was “a product of a series of compromises” and what specifically the contents of those compromises were.
3. Summarize the important motives (Beard’s thesis), and political ideas of the framers.
4. Describe the ratification struggle, noting the differences between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists and the issue of adding a Bill of Rights.
5. List and explain the significance of the four major constitutional principles—separation of powers/checks and balances, federalism, limited government, and judicial review.
6. Explain the process of amending the Constitution.
7. Elaborate on the reasons for the Constitution’s durability, such as the stability of American society and the document’s vagueness.
8. Explain the political relevance and modern changes in federalism.

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