Articles of Confederation & Early Government
What was one of the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
A) It allowed Congress to levy taxes.
B) It established a strong executive branch.
C) It did not provide for a national judiciary.
D) It allowed states to print their own money.
C) It did not provide for a national judiciary.
The Articles of Confederation didn't create a national judiciary, leaving the federal government powerless to resolve disputes between states.
Who proposed the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention?
A) Edmund Randolph
B) James Madison
C) Roger Sherman
D) William Paterson
A) Edmund Randolph
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
A) The agreement that banned slavery in new states
B) The agreement to count three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and taxation
C) The provision to allow slavery in all states
D) The provision that protected the slave trade
B) The agreement to count three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and taxation.
The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed for three-fifths of the enslaved population to be counted for representation purposes.
Who were the Federalists?
A) Those who supported the Constitution
B) Those who opposed the Constitution
C) Those who wanted a strong executive branch
D) Those who believed in a centralized government
A) Those who supported the Constitution.
Federalists supported the new Constitution and a strong central government.
Which constitutional amendment protects the freedoms of religion and speech?
A) Second Amendment
B) Ninth Amendment
C) First Amendment
D) Fifth Amendment
C) First Amendment
The First Amendment protects the freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 establish?
A) Guidelines for the sale of western lands
B) A prohibition on slavery in new territories
C) The creation of the U.S. Constitution
D) The first national bank
B) A prohibition on slavery in new territories
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory, establishing a pattern for future states.
What principle allows national, state, and local governments to share governing power?
A) Federalism
B) Separation of Powers
C) Dual Sovereignty
D) Constitutionalism
A) Federalism
Federalism is the system that allows multiple levels of government to coexist, each with certain powers.
What did the Slave Importation Clause prohibit?
A) The importation of slaves for 20 years
B) The taxation of enslaved people
C) Slavery in Western territories
D) Importation of slaves from Canada
A) The importation of slaves for 20 years.
The Slave Importation Clause prevented Congress from banning the slave trade for 20 years after the Constitution was ratified.
Which group supported the Bill of Rights?
A) Federalists
B) Antifederalists
C) Both Federalists and Antifederalists
D) Neither
B) Antifederalists.
Antifederalists argued that a Bill of Rights was necessary to protect individual freedoms from a strong central government.
What does the Tenth Amendment establish?
A) The right to a speedy trial
B) Powers reserved for the states and the people
C) The prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment
D) The right to bear arms
B) Powers reserved for the states and the people
The Tenth Amendment emphasizes that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states and the people.
What did the Articles of Confederation allow Congress to do?
A) Impose taxes
B) Create a national currency
C) Declare war
D) Establish a federal judiciary
C) Declare war
The Articles allowed Congress to declare war, but it lacked the power to tax or regulate commerce.
Who proposed the Great Compromise?
A) Edmund Randolph of Virginia
B) William Paterson of New Jersey
C) Roger Sherman of Connecticut
D) James Madison of Virginia
C) Roger Sherman of Connecticut
The Great Compromise, crafted by Roger Sherman, combined aspects of both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, leading to a bicameral legislature.
What was the Fugitive Slave Clause?
A) A provision to outlaw the practice of slavery
B) A provision to prevent runaway slaves from living freely in northern states
C) A provision requiring southern states to outlaw slavery
D) A provision requiring states to provide sanctuary to runaway slaves
B) A provision to prevent runaway slaves from living freely in northern states
The Fugitive Slave Clause required that runaway slaves be returned to their owners, even if they fled to free states.
D) It lacked provisions for individual rights
D) It lacked provisions for individual rights
Antifederalists feared that the Constitution did not do enough to protect individual rights, which led to the creation of the Bill of Rights.
What does the Eighth Amendment protect against?
A) Cruel and unusual punishment
B) Unreasonable searches
C) Excessive bail
D) Double jeopardy
A) Cruel and unusual punishment
The Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, as well as excessive bail and fines.
What was the Treaty of Paris in 1783 significant for?
A) It established the U.S. as an independent nation
B) It ended Shays's Rebellion
C) It granted the U.S. the right to regulate trade
D) It created the Northwest Ordinance
A) It established the U.S. as an independent nation
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
What was the primary purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
A) To reaffirm the Articles of Confederation
B) To address the weaknesses of the federal government
C) To declare independence from Britain
D) To finalize the Bill of Rights
B) To address the weaknesses of the federal government
The Constitutional Convention was convened to address the structural flaws and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
D) It gave Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states
D) It gave Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states
The commerce clause gave Congress the authority to regulate trade between states and with foreign nations.
Who was one of the most vocal Federalists in favor of ratifying the Constitution?
A) George Mason
B) Patrick Henry
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) Thomas Jefferson
C) Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a strong Federalist who worked tirelessly to support the ratification of the Constitution.
What is the purpose of the Ninth Amendment?
A) To protect the right to trial by jury
B) To ensure that not all rights of the people are listed in the Constitution
C) To protect against unreasonable searches
D) To limit the powers of the federal government
B) To ensure that not all rights of the people are listed in the Constitution.
The Ninth Amendment recognizes that individuals have rights beyond those explicitly listed in the Bill of Rights.
Why did the Articles of Confederation include limited powers for the federal government?
A) To protect individual freedoms
B) To prevent the government from becoming too powerful
C) To ensure the United States could expand westward
D) To allow for easier economic development
B) To prevent the government from becoming too powerful
The Articles were deliberately designed to avoid creating a central authority as strong as the British monarchy.
What key principle did the Framers include to ensure that no one branch of government became too powerful?
A) Popular sovereignty
B) Separation of powers and checks and balances
C) Federalism
D) Electoral college
B) Separation of powers and checks and balances.
The Framers used separation of powers and checks and balances to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.
C) Ordinance of 1785
The Ordinance of 1785 required the surveying of land and established guidelines for the division of western territories, while also setting aside land for public education.
What was the primary goal of the Federalist Papers?
A) To encourage states to reject the Constitution
B) To provide a defense for the new Constitution
C) To outline the power of the states
D) To call for the immediate addition of a Bill of Rights
B) To provide a defense for the new Constitution
The Federalist Papers were written to persuade people to support the ratification of the Constitution by explaining its principles and benefits.
Which of the following rights is protected by the Sixth Amendment?
A) The right to own property
B) The right to a fair and speedy trial
C) The right to own a weapon
D) The right to be free from excessive fines
B) The right to a fair and speedy trial.
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a fair and speedy trial, including the right to an impartial jury and legal representation.