US History Unit 3 Quiz

Read the excerpt written by Samuel Adams in 1788 and answer the question. [Let the Constitution] be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; or to raise standing armies, unless when necessary for the defence of the United States, or of some one or more of them; or to prevent the people from petitioning, in a peaceable and orderly manner, the federal legislature, for a redress of their grievances: or to subject the people to unreasonable searches and seizures. Adams wrote this during the debates surrounding the ratification of the US Constitution. How did the Constitutional Convention address these concerns?

• by ratifying the Constitution and adopting the Bill of Rights

• by postponing the convention and writing a new constitution

• by rejecting the Constitution for failing to protect people's natural rights

• by amending the Articles of Confederation to protect individual rights

Read the excerpt from the US Constitution and answer the question. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. — Article I, § 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution This section of the Constitution was the result of the Three-Fifths Compromise. Which states supported the compromise and why?

• states with large populations who wanted all states to have the same tax burdens

• southern states seeking to gain more influence in the House of Representatives

• states with small populations who wanted a bicameral federal legislature

• northern states seeking to gain more state electors in the Electoral College

Shays' Rebellion exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation that (a)   .

• The national economy was vulnerable
• State governments could not raise e
• The growing strength of the nationa
• The country did not have a federal

Which of the following correctly describes perspectives of Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

• A. Federalists: The Constitution must be opposed or the nation may once again succumb to despotism. Anti-Federalists: States should ratify the Constitution as it is the best path forward for the nation.

• B. Federalists: Government power should be concentrated in the national government. Anti-Federalists: States must be empowered to prevent abuses of authority by federal leaders.

• C. Federalists: A bill of rights is essential for protecting citizens from abuses of power by the government. Anti-Federalists: A bill of rights is unnecessary because power not delegated to the government is kept by the people.

• D. Federalists: The legislative branch should be more powerful than the executive branch to prevent tyranny. Anti-Federalists: A strong executive is necessary to ensure the proper defense of the nation.

Why does the US Constitution divide the federal government into three branches?

• to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

• to make the government run more efficiently

• to simplify the procedure of electing government officials

• to make the passing of laws easier

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

• They encouraged states to approve the new Constitution.

• They argued in favor of more rights for states and less federal power.

• They highlighted the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

• They justified the American Revolution against England.

Match the following historical events with their significance.

• The Northwest Ordinance's role in state admission and country expansion.

• It established a lasting peace between settlers and American Indians.

• The peace treaties between settlers and American Indians.

• It created the process for admitting states and expanding the country.

• The spread of slavery and its impact on state relations.

• It increased conflict between the states by allowing slavery to spread.

• The introduction of federal income tax legislation.

• It set the precedent that the federal government can directly tax income.

The Founding Fathers created the Constitution in response to the fears and failures of the preceding years, including the weak government created by the Articles of Confederation and the fear of tyrannical governments such as the British monarchy. These factors led the Framers to draft a constitution that created which of the following?

• a participatory democracy to empower the citizens of the United States

• a limited government to protect the rights of the people from oppression by the government

• a specific constitution that set out the exact powers of the government

• an unlimited government with a strong federal government to unify the states

Match the following statements with the correct perspective regarding the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.

• Supported the idea of a strong central government and believed the national government should have authority over the states.

• A federalist because it establishes the power of the central government when it came to national laws.

• States can't override national laws.

• A federalist because it establishes the authority of the national government over the states.

• Opposed a strong central government and was concerned about the national government having too much power over the states.

• An antifederalist because it establishes the authority of the national government over the states.

• Feared that a strong national government would undermine state authority and preferred states to have the power to reject national laws.

• An antifederalist because it establishes the power of the states to reject national laws.

The Bill of Rights was meant to preserve a number of key rights valued by the people and demonstrates the great care taken by the Founders to ensure that (a)  

• government power would always remain limited
• the United States would be viewed as tyrannical
• the people would have more power to make laws
• no one branch would ever have dominance