Unit 3 Lesson 8 - The Constitution

1. Following the American Revolution, 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

2. One weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that Congress could not

• declare war
• set up a postal system
• impose taxes

3. What was the long-term effect of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

• Territories eventually became states.
• The farmers of Massachusetts rebelled.
• Slavery was expanded in the United States

4. 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

5. 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

6. What was the original purpose of the convention in May 1787?

• to write the U.S. Constitution
• to end the conflict in Massachusetts
• to revise the Articles of Confederation

7. Why is James Madison known as the “Father 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.

8. Which of these was the greatest challenge for the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

• how to balance the interests of large and small states
• how to address the concerns of farmers and ranchers
• how to respond to the interests of foreign countries

9. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention agreed to establish a republic. Which of these describes a republic?

• a country led by a president
• a country led by elected representatives
• a parliamentary form of government

10. Which of these did both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans include?

• an end to slavery
• an elected president
• three branches of government