The Constitution

How did the Articles of Confederation create political problems?

• by giving most power to the president

• by making it difficult to pass and enforce laws

• by giving states control over national courts

• by creating a strong central government

Answer explanation

The main problem with the Articles of Confederation was that there was a very WEAK central government and NO national courts.

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Which group was most harmed by the economic problems the country experienced after the American Revolution?

• manufacturers

• lawyers

• farmers

• bankers

Answer explanation

In Massachusetts, in 1786, about 1,200 farmers rose up in armed rebellion. Led by a man named Daniel Shays, they refused to pay their state taxes. They shut down the local courts. The national government was helpless to put down Shays’s Rebellion. Eventually, state troops ended the revolt.

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True or False:

The goal of the Constitutional Convention was to draft (write) a new constitution.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

On May 25, 1787, delegates from seven states met in Philadelphia with the goal of REVISING the Articles of Confederation.

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Which man is known as the "Father of the Constitution" because of his hard work at the Constitutional Convention?

• Benjamin Franklin

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• James Madison

Answer explanation

 James Madison of Virginia, known as the Father of the Constitution, worked harder for the convention than anyone.

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Which states favored the Virginia Plan?

• large states

• small states

Answer explanation

The Virginia Plan said the number of members each state sent to Congress should be based on the state’s population. Smaller states didn’t like this.

True or False:

The Great Compromise said that every state would send TWO senators to the Senate and the amount of representatives sent to the House of Representatives would be based on the state's population.

• False

• True

Answer explanation

In the Great Compromise, both sides agreed to give something up. Every state would send two senators to the Senate, but the number each would send to the House of Representatives would be based on the state’s population.

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How did the Constitution attempt to keep the central government from becoming too strong?

• It included an explanation on how to change the Constitution.

• It established different articles in the Constitution.

• It set up 3 branches of government and made sure that every branch had a check over the others.

• It included a description of the purpose of the Constitution.

Answer explanation

CHECKS AND BALANCES

The Constitution set up three branches of government: The legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The Constitution also makes sure that no one branch has too much power.

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Which articles of the Constitution include positions elected by the people?

• Article 1

  Congress

  and

  Article 2

  Executive Branch

• Article 5

  Amending the Constitution

  and

  Article 2

  Executive Branch

• Article 3

  The Supreme Court

  and

  Article 1

  Congress

• Article 4

  How the states deal with each other

  and

  Article 5

  Amending the Constitution

Answer explanation

Article I calls for a Congress made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. It explains how Congress shall be elected and organized.

Article II says that the president shall be elected by electors chosen by each state.

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How did the Federalists get the Anti-Federalists to support and ratify the Constitution?

• by promising to give more power to Congress

• by promising to give more power to the large states

• by promising the Bill of Rights

• by promising to allow slavery to continue

Answer explanation

To win the Anti-Federalists over, Federalists promised to push for a bill of rights once the Constitution was ratified.

Match the description of the right provided or suggested by the amendment with the number of the amendment.

• Amendment 1

• the right to own weapons

• Amendment 9

• the right to privacy from housing soldiers

• Amendment 3

• you have more rights other than what is outlined the Constitution

• Amendment 4

• the right to free from unreasonable searches

• Amendment 2

• the right to free speech

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