STAAR G-2

In 1787 the United States was at a crossroads. Farmers in western Massachusetts had rebelled the year before over property taxes. The state struggled to end the rebellion. Events such as this one contributed to the decision to -

• sign the Treaty of Paris
• repeal the Intolerable Acts
• declare an embargo on imported goods
• restructure the federal government

Speaker  1 - A strong central government will provide order and stability.
Speaker 2 - We have just left the control of one tyrant;let us avoid an American tyrant.
Speaker 3 - The strength of our union lies in the independence of our states.
Speaker 4 - We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.
Which speaker is in favor of ratifying the Constitution?

• Speaker 1
• Speaker 2
• Speaker 3
• Speaker 4

In the debate over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution,which point would have been made by a Federalist?

• "The existing national government lacks the ability to add new states to the union."
• The states are in danger of losing the ability to raise revenue."
• "The existing national government lacks the power to perform essential functions.
• :The states are unable to protect the rights of the people.

Why did  the Anti-Federalists demand that a bill of rights be added to the U.S. Constitution?

• to strengthen the authority of the federal government
• to improve the organization of the judiciary
• to give each state an equal amount of power
• to protect individual freedoms from the federal government

Patrick Henry opposed ratifying the U.S. Constitution because he believed that under it -

• the states would surrender too much power to the federal government
• alliances could not be formed with other countries
• the courts would not be able to hold government officials accountable
• individuals would exercise too much power over the federal government

Boston and New Orleans were both founded as -

• port cities
• farming communities
• industrial centers
• military outposts

How did geography influence the early economic development of New York, Boston and Charleston?

• long coastlines offered abundant natural resources
• proximity to flooding rivers limited development
• natural harbors provided access to markets
• extreme climates limited productive activity

With which of the following arguments would the authors of The Federalist Papers most likely have agreed?

• A bill of rights should be included in the Constitution before it is ratified
• Having a stronger central government will make the country more stable and prosperous.
• The Three-Fifths Compromise will result in fair and equal representation.
• Universal suffrage should be constitutionally guaranteed

This information was included in a slide-show presentation to a high school history class.
 
  Strengths
  Ability to declare war
 Ability to make treaties
 Authority to operate post offices
Which document was the focus of this presentation?
 

• Mayflower Compact
• Articles of Confederation
• Virginia Declaration of Rights
• Declaration of Independence

The Articles of Confederation allowed each state only one vote in Congress. Which question reflects a major concern states had about this arrangement?

• Should states attempt to resolve conflicting claims to territory?
• Should states change their procedure for selecting representatives?
• Should unanimous state approval for national laws be required?
• Should more populous states receive greater representation?