New Nation Quiz

Under the Articles of Confederation, ______________________ had very little power.

• States

• Congress

• Citizens

• The president

Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• The president could enforce laws.

• The Congress collected taxes to pay its debts.

• The Legislative Branch did not have the power to tax citizens.

• There was a national court system.

Why did farmers, led by Daniel Shays, rebel against the government in 1786?

• Many had not been paid for their service in the American Revolution.

• They felt taxes on their land were too high.

• They were losing their farms and some were thrown in jail for not paying taxes.

• All of the previous choices.

______________________ was the leader of the Constitutional Convention because he was trusted as the person who ___________________________.

• Alexander Hamilton; smuggled goods during the Revolution

• James Madison; wrote the Constitution

• George Washington; won the American Revolution

• Thomas Jefferson; wrote the Declaration of Independence

Which statement best describes the original mission of the Constitutional Convention?

• Declare independence from Great Britain.

• Elect a president for our new nation.

• Revise the Articles of Confederation.

• Write a new constitution.

At the Constitutional Convention, which problem was solved by the Great Compromise?

• The method of electing a president

• Control of interstate commerce (trade)

• Creating the federal court system

• The formula for representation in Congress

Much of what we know today about the debates and drama of the Constitutional Convention is thanks to this individual who took detailed notes on the proceedings, wrote the Bill of Rights, and is known as the Father of the Constitution.

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

• James Madison

• Alexander Hamilton

The________________, proposed by James Madison, called for a two-house legislature with representation according to each state’s population and 3 branches of government (large state plan).

• Virginia Plan

• New Jersey Plan

• 3/5th Compromise

• Massachusetts Plan

Under which plan would all states have an equal number of votes, regardless of population?

• Virginia Plan

• 3/5th Compromise

• New Jersey Plan

• Bicameral Plan

The 3/5 Compromise stated:

• Slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation.

• Slavery would be abolished.

• Slaves could be elected as representatives in 3/5 of the states.

• Slavery was allowed only in the 5 southern states.