The postage stamp shows a committee of the Second Continental Congress drafting the Articles of Confederation.

Why did this committee create a weak central government? (1.7)

• to encourage more trade between the states

• to preserve the powers of the individual states

• to promote national security against foreign invasion

• to permit the taxation of citizens to pay the nation's debts

Why did members of the Constitutional Convention decide to create a national government with three separate branches? (1.7)

• This system made it easier for government officials to specialize

• This was as a compromise since some delegates wanted four branches

• Having separate branches gave the government greater flexibility in wartime.

• This structure would prevent any one branch of government from becoming too strong.

The illustration on the left, from a popular almanac in 1787, shows Captain Daniel Shays.

Why did his rebellion send a wave of fear among wealthy merchants and landowners? (1.7)

• Officers worried about losing their back pay.

• Shays palled to take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

• There was no national army to put down domestic unrest if it spread.

• Bankers and other lenders feared the loss of their loans to the national government.

Why did the Preamble to the Constitution begin with the phrase, "We the People"? (1.8)

• to indicate that the national government had limited powers

• to indicate that the states had been associated in a confederation

• to indicate that federal power was separated among three branches

• to indicate that the American people were the ultimate source of its authority

Which identifies one of the goals of government listed in the Preamble? (1.8)

• to expand the nation westward

• to establish justice

• to establish independence from Great Britain

• to guarantee employment to all citizens

When the President nominates an individual to serve as Secretary of State, the Senate must confirm the appointment. Which feature of the Constitution, limiting the power of government, does this illustrate? (1.9)

• Separation of powers
• Checks and balances
• Federalism
• Popular sovereignty

The chart shows the organization of the government of the United States, based on the Constitution.

In which way does this chart illustrate the limited power of government? (1.9)

• Bill of Rights
• Federalism
• Separation of powers
• Checks and balances

Which example illustrates the system of checks and balances? (1.9)

• The President vetoes legislation proposed by Congress.

• The President confers with the members of Cabinet.

• The Supreme Court interprets the application of a law passed by Congress.

• A state sets its own learning standards while Congress relegates trade between states.

What was one of the Anti-Federalists strongest arguments against the Constitution? (1.10)

• It did not create a national executive

• It did not include a list of protected rights for individuals

• The new central government would be too dependent on the states

• The new central government would be too weak to protects American interests abroad

What was one outcome of the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the Constitution? (1.10)

• The establishment of a second house of Congress.

• The state governments won the right to secede.

• The adoption of a parliamentary system.
• The addition of the Bill of Rights.