Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention Practice

1. The Articles of Confederation are best described as a

• a. statement of principles justifying the Revolutionary War

• b. plan of union for the original thirteen states

• c. set of arguments supporting ratification of the Constitution

• d. list of reasons for the secession of the Southern States

2. The authors of the Articles of Confederation established a decentralized political system mainly to

• a. cancel state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War

• b. assist the southern states in their efforts to gain a manufacturing base

• c. promote the common goal of national sovereignty

• d. prevent the abuses of power that had existed under British rule

3. Which statement best describes governmental power under the Articles of Confederation?

• a. Power was shared equally by the central government and the states.

• b. A balance of power existed between the three branches of the central government.

• c. A strong chief executive headed a unified central government.

• d. The states had much greater power than the central government.

4. The United States Government under the Articles of Confederation could be considered a success because it

• a. established a strong, widely respected foreign policy

• b. created an open market that fostered interstate trade

• c. set the nation on a sound financial base

• d. provided a system for governing the Western territories that aided the nation's expansion

5. Shays' Rebellion of 1786 was significant because it

• a. showed that the English still had influence after the American Revolution

• b. convinced many Americans of the need for a stronger national government

• c. revealed the increased threat from rebellious Native American Indians

• d. endangered the lives of many recent immigrants

6. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Great Compromise was concerned mainly with

• a. representation of the states in Congress

• b. the powers of the executive

• c. the question of slavery

• d. control of interstate commerce

7. "Weak leadership implies weak government. And weak government is but another phrase for bad government." Which idea is most strongly suggested by this statement?

• a. More people must be given the opportunity to participate in the operation of government

• b. The executive branch must be prevented from becoming too dictatorial

• c. The activities of political parties must be restricted

• d. The President must be given enough power to rule effectively

8. "We should consider we are providing a constitution for future generations of Americans, and not merely for the particular circumstances of the moment." - Delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 The writers of the Constitution best reflected this idea when they provided that

• a. Senators should be elected directly by the people

• b. three-fifths of the slaves should be counted as part of the total population

• c. Congress shall make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its constitutional powers

• d. political parties should be established to represent various viewpoints

9. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, serious differences about representation were resolved by creating

• a. a judicial system

• b. an electoral college

• c. a bicameral legislature

• d. encourage economic expansion

10. Which issue discussed at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 continues to be a major concern in the United States?

• a. relationship of states to each other

• b. power to regulate foreign trade

• c. balance of power between state and national governments

• d. location of the national capital