Creating the Constitution

In the period after independence, 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 colonizing 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.

What land was affected by the Land Ordinance of 1785?

• land north and south of the colonies
• land of the 13 original colonies
• land bound by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the Great Lakes
• land between the Mississippi River and Rocky Mountains

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

• It was the beginning of a civil war.
• It led to the Constitutional Convention.
• It showed the strength of the Massachusetts militia.
• D. It highlighted government power under the Articles.

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

• to write the U.S. Constitution
• to weaken states' rights under the Articles
• to revise the Articles of Confederation
• to give Congress the right to impose taxes

Why is James Madison known as the “Father of the Constitution”?

• He wrote the first draft of the Constitution.
• He knew more about government than anyone else present.
• He was the oldest delegate to the Constitutional Convention.
• He was well prepared to lead the discussion at the convention.

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