US Constitution

US Constitution

History Shorts 8th grade

1

When the United States became a new country, it needed a new government. Americans knew they did not want to have a king as a leader. They did not want one person to have too much power. The leaders decided to have a republican government. Representatives would be chosen by the American people to run the government.

Multiple Choice

When the United States became a new country, it needed a new...

• government

• ruler

• king

• president

Multiple Choice

They did not want to have a ... as a leader.

• president

• man

• king

• queen

Multiple Choice

They did not want ... person to have too much power.

• six

• seven

• two

• one

Multiple Choice

.... would be chosen by the American people to run the government.

• king

• representatives

• no one

• politicians

2

Between 1776 and 1780, many of the states wrote constitutions. Americans thought it was important to have the powers of government written down. Each state constitution listed the rights of its citizens. Most state constitutions said that the people were the supreme rulers.

Multiple Choice

Americans thought that it was important to have the ... of the government written down.

• rules

• laws

• politics

• powers

Multiple Choice

Most state constitutions said that the ... were the supreme rulers.

• people

• kings

• queens

• politicians

3

During the American Revolution, the Second Continental Congress met. The representatives at this meeting wrote a plan for a national government. The articles of Confederation was approved by all 13 states in 1781. The states joined together as a loose union, run by a week national government. Congress, a group of representatives, ran this national government.

Multiple Choice

During the American Revolution, the ... Continental Congress met.

• first

• third

• fifth

• second

Multiple Choice

The Articles of Confederation was approved by all ... states in 1781.

• 50

• 11

• 12

• 13

Multiple Choice

..., a group of representatives, ran this national government.

• Washington

• Congress

• Revolution

• continental

4

For many reasons the Articles of Confederation did not work for the United States. The leaders wanted the states to feel more like a nation. They thought the national government should have more power.

Multiple Choice

For many reasons the Articles of Confederation did not work for the ...

• United States

• Great Brittan

• new world

• Spain

Multiple Choice

They thought the national government should have more ...

• power

• money

• votes

• representatives

5

In 1787, representatives met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to rewrite the Articles of Confederation. At this meeting, the leaders realized that rewriting the Articles of Confederation would not help. Because they wanted to make so many changes a new government had to be created.

Multiple Choice

In 17--, representatives met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to rewrite the Articles of Confederation

• 87

• 97

• 77

• 27

Multiple Choice

Because they wanted to make so many changes a new ... had to be created.

• government

• constitution

• president

• king

6

The representatives replaced the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution. It created a strong central government with three branches. Now, the United States had Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court to run the country. This type of government could work better and still protect people's rights. In 1788, enough states ratified, or accepted the Constitution for it to become law.

Multiple Choice

The representatives replaced the Articles of Confederation with the ...

• Constitution

• Articles of Confederation

• Bill of Rights

• will

Multiple Choice

It created a strong central government with ---branches

• 3

• 2

• 1

7

The rules of government would have to last a long time. The leaders knew the Constitution would have to be able to change. It would have to be able to change so it would work in the future. Therefore, the leaders wrote the Constitution so it can be changed by amendments. Because it can change, the Constitution still works today.

Multiple Choice

The leaders knew the Constitution would have to be able to ...

• change

• grow

• stop

Multiple Choice

Therefore, the leaders wrote the Constitution so it can be changed by ...

• amendments

• rules

• laws

• judges