United States Constitution

Multiple Choice

What was America's first written constitution?

• The Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Bill of Rights

• The Declaration of Independence

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What did America lack after the Revolutionary War ended?

• A national government

• A state government

• A local government

• A federal government

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In what year did colonial representatives work together to write a new government plan?

• 1787

• 1777

• 1767

• 1797

Multiple Choice

When did the Articles of Confederation finally go into effect?

• March 1, 1781

• July 4, 1776

• September 17, 1787

• December 15, 1791

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What type of government did the Articles set up?

• Monarchy

• Republican democracy

• Dictatorship

• Oligarchy

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Who elects the representatives in the government set up by the Articles?

• The President

• The Congress

• Citizens

• The Supreme Court

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What kind of central government did the Articles create?

• Strong central government

• Weak central government

• Military government

• Authoritarian government

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What power did the states have under the Articles?

• No power

• Limited power

• A lot of power over their own affairs

• Total control over the central government

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Why were Americans scared of giving too much power to the central government?

• They wanted a monarchy.

• They had just fought for independence from a powerful government.

• They preferred a dictatorship.

• They wanted to join another country.

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What did Americans want to avoid by not giving too much power to the new government?

• Becoming a monarchy.

• Losing their hard-won independence.

• Forming a new empire.

• Joining another confederation.

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What type of government structure did Americans prefer after independence?

• A strong central government.

• A loose confederation of states.

• A monarchy.

• A dictatorship.

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What was the main concern of Americans regarding the new government?

• It would be too weak.

• It would become another tyrant.

• It would be too democratic.

• It would be too isolated.

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What could the new U.S. government do according to the document?

• Declare war and sign treaties

• Collect taxes and build infrastructure

• Create laws and enforce them

• Regulate trade and commerce

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What was lacking in the national government according to the document?

• A strong military

• A leader in charge

• A system of taxation

• A judicial branch

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What issue did the states face despite having a lot of power?

• They could never all agree on anything

• They lacked resources

• They had no military

• They were unable to trade

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What was a major problem with the new U.S. government?

• No strong national government

• Too much power in the executive branch

• Excessive taxation

• Overregulation of trade

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What was one weakness of the new U.S. government regarding the military?

• It could establish a national army without any permission.

• It could establish a national army with the permission of some states.

• It could not establish a national army without the permission of all the states.

• It could establish a national army with the permission of the president.

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What financial power did the new U.S. government lack?

• The power to levy taxes.

• The power to print money.

• The power to borrow money.

• The power to regulate banks.

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What was the government's limitation regarding trade?

• It could regulate trade among the states.

• It could not regulate trade among the states.

• It could impose tariffs on foreign goods.

• It could control international trade.

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What branches of government were missing in the new U.S. government?

• Legislative and executive branches.

• Judicial and legislative branches.

• Judicial and executive branches.

• Executive and military branches.

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What type of legislative branch did the new U.S. government have?

• Two-house legislative branch.

• One-house legislative branch.

• Three-house legislative branch.

• No legislative branch.

Multiple Choice

What was one weakness of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

• Congress could enforce laws on states.

• Congress could make laws but not force states to comply.

• Congress could tax states directly.

• Congress could regulate interstate commerce.

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How many votes did each state receive under the Articles of Confederation?

• 2 votes

• Votes based on population

• 1 vote

• 3 votes

Multiple Choice

What was required for a law to be approved under the Articles of Confederation?

• Approval by 7 states

• Approval by 9 states

• Approval by all 13 states

• Approval by the majority of states

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Under the Articles of Confederation, what did each state have that was unique?

• Its own military

• Its own currency

• Its own postal service

• Its own flag

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Which of the following was NOT a power of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

• Making laws

• Enforcing laws

• Declaring war

• Signing treaties

Multiple Choice

Why did the Articles need to be revised?

• The national government was too strong.

• The national government was just too weak.

• The states were too cooperative.

• The economy was booming.

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What issue did the states argue over that Congress had no power to stop?

• Education and healthcare

• Borders and trade

• Military and defense

• Technology and innovation

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How did foreign governments view the United States under the Articles?

• As a single unified country

• As 13 different ones

• As a powerful empire

• As a single powerful state

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What happened to the country's economy under the Articles?

• It improved significantly.

• It remained stable.

• It worsened.

• It became the strongest in the world.

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What was one of the main reasons the Articles were considered ineffective?

• They provided too much power to the national government.

• They allowed states to have too much independence.

• They created a strong central military.

• They improved international relations.

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Why did the founders realize the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised?

• They were too strong

• They were too weak

• They were too detailed

• They were too modern

Multiple Choice

In what year did delegates meet in Philadelphia to discuss changes to the Articles of Confederation?

• 1776

• 1787

• 1800

• 1790

Multiple Choice

How many states sent delegates to Philadelphia in May 1787?

• 10

• 12

• 13

• 15

Multiple Choice

What was the main intent of the meeting in Philadelphia in 1787?

• To declare independence

• To draft a new constitution

• To change the Articles of Confederation

• To elect a president

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What was the main issue with the Articles of Confederation according to the founders?

• They were too expensive

• They were too weak to govern effectively

• They were too popular

• They were too lengthy

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What did the members end up doing with the Articles?

• Revising them

• Discarding them and writing a completely new document

• Keeping them unchanged

• Expanding them

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What was the meeting known as where the new document was written?

• The Articles Convention

• The Constitutional Convention

• The Legislative Convention

• The Federal Convention

Multiple Choice

How many delegates did Georgia select for the Constitutional Convention?

• Four

• Six

• Eight

• Ten

Multiple Choice

How many Georgia delegates did not attend the Constitutional Convention?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

Multiple Choice

Who were the two Georgia delegates that signed the U.S. Constitution?

• James Madison and George Washington

• Benjamin Franklin and John Adams

• Abraham Baldwin and William Few

• Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton

Multiple Choice

How many Georgia delegates left the Constitutional Convention early?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

Multiple Choice

During the Constitutional Convention, what issue was Baldwin involved in debating?

• Taxation

• States' representation in Congress

• Military funding

• Trade regulations

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What concern did small states have during the Constitutional Convention?

• Lack of military power

• Outvoted by large states

• High taxes

• Trade restrictions

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Who was involved in debates over states' representation in Congress?

• Washington

• Jefferson

• Baldwin

• Adams

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What was the main topic of concern for small states at the Constitutional Convention?

• Economic policies

• States' representation

• Foreign alliances

• Judicial appointments

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When was the new U.S. Constitution signed?

• July 4, 1776

• September 17, 1787

• December 25, 1789

• January 1, 1800

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What does the U.S. Constitution establish?

• The national anthem

• The framework for America's government

• The state boundaries

• The official language

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What was settled before the new Constitution was signed?

• The Revolutionary War

• The delegates' debate

• The Civil War

• The election results

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Which document is considered the written plan for America's government?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Bill of Rights

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

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What significant event took place on September 17, 1787?

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

• The signing of the U.S. Constitution

• The end of the Civil War

• The first presidential election

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What does the U.S. Constitution describe about the country's government?

• How the government is funded

• How the government is organized and how power is divided

• How the government is elected

• How the government communicates with other countries

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What does the U.S. Constitution specify about government actions?

• What the government may or may not do

• What the government must always do

• What the government should avoid doing

• What the government can do internationally

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What type of government does the U.S. Constitution establish?

• Monarchy

• Oligarchy

• Democracy

• Dictatorship

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What does the U.S. Constitution limit?

• The power of the military

• The power of the government

• The power of the media

• The power of the economy

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Which document describes how power is divided in the U.S. government?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Bill of Rights

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Federalist Papers

Multiple Choice

In a democracy, who holds the power of the government?

• The military

• The people

• The president

• The judiciary

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What do citizens do to decide issues and choose representatives in a democracy?

• Protest

• Vote

• Pay taxes

• Write letters

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What protects the basic rights of America's citizens?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Bill of Rights

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Federal Reserve

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Why do people hold the power in a democracy?

• Because they can vote

• Because they pay taxes

• Because they own property

• Because they serve in the military

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What is one of the main functions of voting in a democracy?

• To increase taxes

• To decide issues and choose representatives

• To enforce laws

• To appoint judges

Multiple Choice

By 1787, what type of government did most Georgians support?

• Weak central government

• Strong central government

• No central government

• Local government only

Multiple Choice

Who was Georgia's other delegate to the convention mentioned in the text?

• James Madison

• William Few

• Alexander Hamilton

• Thomas Jefferson

Multiple Choice

What action did William Few take at the convention?

• Voted against the national government

• Voted in favor of the national government

• Abstained from voting

• Proposed a new government

Multiple Choice

What was William Few's role in the ratification of the Constitution?

• He opposed it

• He ignored it

• He worked diligently to ensure it was ratified

• He delayed it

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In what year did most Georgians support a strong central government?

• 1776

• 1787

• 1800

• 1790

Multiple Choice

On what date did Georgia become the 4th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

• January 2, 1788

• July 4, 1776

• March 15, 1781

• December 7, 1787

Multiple Choice

What was one reason many Georgians favored a strong national government?

• To increase taxes

• To protect them from American Indians and the Spanish in Florida

• To expand their territory

• To reduce military spending

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What did Georgians in coastal regions hope a strong central government would improve?

• Education systems

• Trade regulations

• Healthcare services

• Transportation infrastructure

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Which state was the 4th to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

• Virginia

• New York

• Georgia

• Pennsylvania

Multiple Choice

Who were Georgians seeking protection from with a strong national government?

• British and French

• American Indians and the Spanish in Florida

• Canadians and Mexicans

• Pirates and smugglers