Federalists vs. Anti-Federalist Reading questions

Which sentence BEST summarizes how western expansion affected the debate about the Constitution?

• It added to the number of people who voiced distrust of a strong central

  government.

• It made it more difficult for leaders to represent the interests of all Americans.

• It created concern among leaders who represented urban regions of the country.

• It strengthened the role that western states played in the debate.

According to the article, each of the following contributed to the debate about the Constitution EXCEPT:

• concern about separate branches of government

• objections to strong central government

• adequate representation in the legislature

• rules about the election of a president

Why does the author include the following selection that quotes George Mason? "George Mason, a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention who refused to support the Constitution, explained the plan was "totally subversive of every principle which has hitherto governed us. This power is calculated to annihilate totally the state governments."

• to provide an example of a strong anti-Federalist delegate who attended the convention

• to illustrate the anti-Federalist conviction that the Constitution would eliminate state power

• to describe the heated disagreements that were exchanged at the convention

• to show how Mason believed the plan would undermine central power

Which option MOST accurately summarizes two main opposing perspectives in the article?

• The Federalists believed an elite leadership should maintain power in a strong, centralized government; the anti-Federalists wanted common people to play an active role working against oppressive taxes and a standing national army.

• The Federalists were primarily concerned with security threats against the country and believed national defense required a strong central government; the anti-Federalists believed Americans were better served by state governments.

• The Federalists wanted to strengthen the power of the national government through a structure that relied on three separate branches; the anti-Federalists distrusted a powerful central government and wanted to retain strong state powers.

• The Federalists thought individual rights could best be protected through a Constitution that included a bill of rights; the anti-Federalists opposed any effort to consolidate power in the central government.

Fill in the blank.

The author MAINLY explains the role of the Federalists and anti-Federalists at the Philadelphia Convention by _______________.

• emphasizing the contributions of individual leaders

• providing the leaders' questions and arguments

• showing who wrote parts of the Constitution

• describing each group's beliefs and fears

Which answer choice accurately characterizes the Federalists' reaction to Shays' Rebellion?

• The rebellion led Federalists to believe the central government needed a bigger army so it could more easily handle protests.

• The rebellion led Federalists to believe other groups might also challenge the central government if it were not more powerful.

• The Federalists blamed the Articles of Confederation for giving farmers enough power to fight the government over taxes.

• The Federalists blamed the anti-Federalists for convincing farmers in Massachusetts that the government was corrupt.

According to the article, which person and group MOST supported protection of individual rights?

• George Washington; anti-Federalists

• George Mason; anti-Federalists

• Benjamin Franklin; Federalists

• Patrick Henry; Federalists

What is the purpose of the following statement from the article? "The new legislature would also have more power over money, especially the right to raise taxes. Because of this, the anti-Federalists feared that Congress would soon pass unfair taxes, and then use its national army to threaten people who didn't pay the taxes."

• It shows how anti-Federalists were sympathetic to the concerns of common people and farmers.

• It explains why the anti-Federalists did not want to have a strong national army.

• It reflects the leaders' concerns about future rebellions and protests

• It describes how the leaders dismissed the fears of farmers.