The Birth of a Nation: The U.S. Constitution Quiz

What was the main reason for the weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• Inability to tax or coordinate foreign policy

• Inability to enforce the peace treaty with Great Britain

• Lack of a powerful executive

• Lack of a national currency

Who was the chairperson of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?

• Benjamin Franklin

• Alexander Hamilton

• George Washington

• James Madison

What was the compromise known as that proposed a legislature split into two bodies, one based on population and the other treating states as equals?

• The Great Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise

• The Virginia Plan

• The New Jersey Plan

What was the compromise that counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for purposes of representation and taxation?

• The Virginia Plan

• The New Jersey Plan

• The Great Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise

Which state was the first to ratify the new Constitution in 1788?

• Virginia

• New Hampshire

• New York

• Delaware

Who was the most vocal opponent of ratification of the new Constitution in Virginia?

• James Madison

• Edmund Randolph

• Patrick Henry

• George Mason

What was the main concern of the Anti-Federalists regarding the new Constitution?

• Lack of a bill of rights

• Inability to enforce the peace treaty with Great Britain

• Lack of a powerful executive

• Inability to tax or coordinate foreign policy

Who was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789?

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• Benjamin Franklin

• James Madison

What is the U.S. Constitution known as today in terms of its age?

• The oldest constitution in the world

• The second oldest constitution in the world

• The third oldest constitution in the world

• The fourth oldest constitution in the world

What is the main theme of the U.S. Constitution?

• The protection of fundamental rights

• The protection of property

• The pursuit of happiness

• The pursuit of power