Creating the Constitution

Following the American Revolution, what did Congress fear about a strong central government?

• states would have too much power

• rights for which people fought would be lost

• another war would occur between Great Britain and America

• laws would be passed to prevent people from settling in new territories

One weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that Congress could not

• declare war

• impose taxes

• set up a postal system

• create an army and navy

What was the long-term effect of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

• Territories eventually became states

• The farmers of Massachusetts rebelled

• George Washington was elected president

• Slavery was expanded in the United States

Why is Shays’ Rebellion an important event in U.S. history?

• It was the beginning of a civil war

• It led to the passage of a new Constitution

• It showed the strength of the Massachusetts militia

• It dramatized the power of the central government

What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention in May 1787?

• to write the U.S. Constitution

• to end the conflict in Massachusetts

• to revise the Articles of Confederation

• to rewrite the Declaration of Independence

Which of these was the greatest challenge for the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

• how to respond to the interests of foreign countries

• how to address the concerns of farmers and ranchers

• how to balance the interests of large and small states

• how to get agreement between the eastern and western states

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention agreed to establish a republic. Which of these describes a republic?

• a country led by a president

• a government led by a powerful few

• a parliamentary form of government

• a country led by elected representatives

Which of these did both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans include?

• an end to slavery

• an elected president

• two houses of Congress

• three branches of government

What did the Great Compromise decide?

• Creating Congress with two houses (Senate and House of Representatives)

• Slaves would count for three/fifths of the population

• Patriots and Loyalists would agree to stop fighting

• New York would be sold to Great Britain

The number of members of which of these is affected by state population?

• Senate

• Supreme Court

• president's cabinet

• House of Representatives