The Development/Change of the Constitution

The Development/Change of the Constitution

By Christina Camacho

Multiple Choice

The Articles of Confederation created a strong central government.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles, the national government had no power to impose taxes.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

In the Articles of Confederation, where was most of the government power placed?

• The States
• The National Government
• The Continental Congress
• The Legislative Branch

Multiple Choice

Shays' Rebellion represented...

• a success of the Articles of Confederation

• a failure of the Articles of Confederation

Multiple Choice

The main cause for many of the rules in the Articles of Confederation was that the delegates at the Continental Congress...

• did not want to give the states too much power because they'd proven they were willing to rebel against a government.

• wanted to create a government that was identical to England's government.

• were concerned about giving the central government too much power because the King had used his power unfairly.

• wanted to unify the states together, which included creating one army and one type of currency.

Multiple Choice

The final draft of the Articles of Confederation, which formed the basis of the new nation’s government, was accepted by Congress in November 1777 and submitted to the states for ratification.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The New Jersey Plan called for a bicameral legislature with one house, in which each state would have one vote. Thus, smaller states would have the same power in the national legislature as larger states. 

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The Virginia Plan called for a bicameral legislature consisting of two houses. The number of a state’s representatives in each house was to be based on the state’s population. In each state, representatives in the lower house would be elected by popular vote.

• true

• f

Multiple Choice

Under the Great Compromise, Congress, it was decided, would consist of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state, regardless of size, would have two senators, making for equal representation as in the New Jersey Plan. Representation in the House would be based on population. Senators were to be appointed by state legislatures, a variation on the Virginia Plan.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Under the Three-Fifths Compromise, slaveholding states were allowed to count all their free population, including free African Americans and 60 percent (three-fifths) of their enslaved population. 

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

What is the Bill of Rights?

• document authored by Thomas Jefferson that details the rights of the citizens

• first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual freedoms

• twenty-seven amendments added to the Constitution over the years

• powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution

Multiple Choice

The Bill of Rights was intended to quiet the fears of Federalists that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties and thus encourage their support of the new national government.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Why were The Federalist Papers written?

• To encourage people to vote for George Washington as the nation’s first president.

• To oppose the admission of slaveholding states to the federal union.

• To encourage voters to ratify the Constitution.

• To encourage states to oppose the Constitution.

15th Amendment

 The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870. Ratified means that it was made official. This amendment protects citizens from being denied the right to based on race, or former slave status. Before this amendment African Americans and/or former slaves were not allowed to vote. This amendment clearly stated that all men over the age 21 would be able to vote. The 15th amendment was accepted after slavery was outlawed. Unfortunately even after the amendment, African Americans would still face obstacles in order to vote. They were required to pay toll taxes and take literacy tests. 

Multiple Choice

There are two primary ways that an amendment to the Consitution can be proposed; one method is for Congress to propose an amendment. A second method of proposal of an amendment allows for the petitioning of Congress by the states.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

All amendments that were added to the Constitution became known as the Bill of Rights.

• true

• false