STAAR REVIEW REVOLUTION TO CONSTITUTION 2

That all Men are . . . equally free & independent, & have certain . . . Rights, of which they cannot by any Compact, deprive or divest [remove] their Posterity [future generations]; among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.—Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776

In this excerpt, the authors of the Virginia Declaration of Rights are describing rights they consider —

• granted to citizens by their government 


• natural and possessed at birth

• protected under religious doctrine

• defined by the courts

Which speaker is in favor of ratifying the Constitution?

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. We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.

Speaker 4: We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.

• Speaker 1

• Speaker 2

• Speaker 3

• Speaker 4

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States—U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 1

This provision is a response to which grievance from the Declaration of Independence?

• “For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever”

• “For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government”

• "He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records”

• “He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners”

And excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects; And excessive fines have been imposed;
And illegal and cruel punishments inflicted —English Bill of Rights, 1689

Which U.S. document guarantees protection against these injustices?

• The Constitution 


• The Declaration of Independence

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Mayflower Compact

Which of the following correctly describes the Three-Fifths Compromise?

• A portion of the slave population was counted for legislative representation

• federal law enforcing A the return of fugitive slaves was passed.

• The census bureau was established to help apportion representation

• The election of senators was delegated to state legislatures

The President . . . shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur. — U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2

This excerpt provides one example of which constitutional principle?

• Federalism

• Checks and balances

• Popular sovereignty

• Individual rights

The sequence of events (below) resulted in the adoption of the —

June

**The Continental Congress appoints a committee to prepare a document. 


**The committee selects Thomas Jefferson to compose a draft. 


**The draft is reviewed and revised by the committee. 


July

**Congress debates and revises the document. 


**Congress officially approves the document.

• Articles of Confederation

• Bill of Rights

• Treaty of Paris

• Declaration of Independence

Here in the autumn of 1777, American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender. This crucial American victory in the Battle of ___________ renewed patriots’ hopes for independence, secured essential foreign recognition and support, and forever changed the face of the world. “A Crucial American Victory,” U.S. National Park Service,

Which of the following best completes this excerpt?

• Battle of Saratoga

• Battle of Concord

• Battle of Trenton

• Battle of Yorktown

Your President may easily become king. Your Senate is so imperfectly constructed that your dearest rights may be sacrificed by what may be a small minority. . . . Your strongholds will be in the hands of your enemies. . . . —Patrick Henry, speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Patrick Henry was criticizing which aspect of the Constitution in this excerpt?

• The eligibility requirements for congressional office

• The power granted to the central government

• The establishment of a separate judicial branch

• The difficulty of the amendment process

Which excerpt from the Declaration of Independence best explains why colonists were unhappy about their lack of representation in the British parliament?

• He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people.”

• “For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.”

• “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.” 


• “For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences.”