American Constitution Quiz

First American Constitution- passed in 1777, which created an alliance of the 13 independent states

• seperation of powers

• Articles of Confederation

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch

Which of these statements best describes the government of the United States under the Articles of Confederation?

• It was successful and gained a lot of respect for the new nation

• It provided for better relations with Native Americans

• The people did not like it because the government was too powerful

• The states held too much power, leaving the central government too weak to solve many problems

What power did the national government under the Articles of Confederation lack that weakened the nation’s economy?

• power to borrow money

• power to run a postal service

• power to collect taxes

• power to issue money

Why did Congress pass the Land Ordinance of 1785?

• To settle new lands acquired as a result of the Revolution

• To prohibit movement into the Northwest

• To regulate trade with the West

• To allow the English to stay in the Northwest territories

For what purpose did Congress pass the Northwest Ordinance in 1787?

• To spread slavery into all new territories

• To create what would become the Oregon Trail

• To establish a government for and procedures for admitting new states into the Northwestern Territories

• To establish land claims of Native Americans west of Ohio

What did Shay's Rebellion prove about the government?

• The Articles of Confederation did not work to solve the problems of the new nation.

• The French were putting demands on the new government.

• Rebels in the army were overthrowing the federal government.

• Massachusetts has a system to reward veterans of the Revolutionary War

Why was the Constitutional Convention of 1787 assembled?

• To write the Declaration of Independence

• To revise the Articles of Confederation

• To write the Northwest Ordinance

• To write the Bill of Rights

During the Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia, I was able to take careful notes of the proceedings and assist in the settling of many disputes that came up. Afterward, I became known as the "Father of the Constitution" because of my contributions during the convention. Who am I?

• James Madison

• Alexander Hamilton

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

What is a settlement in which each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement?

• Depression

• Convention

• Constitution

• Compromise

Why did small states favor the New Jersey Plan?

• It banned slavery in the southern states

• The plan was similar to their state constitutions.

• All states had equal representation in the legislature.

• Representatives in the legislature were selected according to population