A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution

Which document told King George III that the colonies wanted to rule themselves?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Constitution

• The Articles of the Confederation

• The Mayflower Compact

Which of the following was NOT a problem in the first decade after the Revolutionary War?

• Many people were poor.

• The thirteen states were not cooperating with each other.

• Other countries started attacking the United States.

• There was no President.

In which city did the leaders meet to discuss the problems of the new country?

• Boston

• Philadelphia

• New York City

• Washington, D.C.

Which of the following people attended the convention?

• George Washington

• Abraham Lincoln

• Thomas Jefferson

• Theodore Roosevelt

Why was the convention delayed? (Choose two answers.)

• The delegates' flights were delayed.

• It took longer than usual to travel there because the weather was bad.

• The roads were blocked off by the British.

• Most of the delegates hadn't arrived yet.

What was special about the State House where the delegates met?

• It was the home of George Washington.

• It was also where the Declaration of Independence had been signed.

• It was the oldest building in the country.

• It had been destroyed during the Revolutionary War.

Why is James Madison called the "Father of the Constitution"?

• He was the leader of the convention.

• He was the only delegate who signed the Constitution.

• It was his idea to make a Constitution.

• He wrote everything down at the meetings.

What is does the phrase "a majority would rule" mean?

• If one idea got more than half the votes, then it would win.

• Every person in the United States is responsible for working in the government.

• If one idea got less than half the votes, then it would win.

• Only James Madison's ideas counted.

Which of the following was NOT a rule of the convention?

• Each state would have one vote.

• In order to win, you needed more than half the votes.

• All the delegates needed to stay at the same inn.

• Everything that happened at the meetings would be kept secret until after the convention was over.

True or False? Many of the delegates were surprised by the Virginia Plan because they thought they were going to try to fix the old government, not make a new one.

• True

• False