Chapter 3 - The Story of Our Constitution (SSUSH5)

SSUSH 5a - Which statement identifies an important strength of the Articles of Confederation?

• The Articles created a powerful national executive

• The Articles established a single national currency

• The Articles established a central government during the American Revolution

• The Articles announced the reasons why the colonists separated from England in 1776

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that the Articles of Confederation established a central government during the American Revolution, which was crucial for coordinating efforts against British forces and maintaining unity among the states.

SSUSH 5b - How did Shay's Rebellion contribute to the desire to revise the Articles of Confederation?

• Poor farmers felt they were not being treated fairly by the states

• Debtors wanted a stronger national government that would create a stable currency

• Property owners feared the national government was not strong enough to put down a rebellion

• Veterans from the Continental Army wanted a stronger national government that could pay their back pay

Answer explanation

Shay's Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, as property owners feared the national government lacked the power to suppress uprisings, leading to calls for a stronger federal authority.

SSUSH 5c - Which of the following is the BEST example of limited government?

• The approval of the Senate is needed to ratify treaties

• The federal government has three separate branches

• Two-thirds of Congress can override a Presidential veto

• Congress cannot impose any taxes on exports

Answer explanation

The federal government having three separate branches exemplifies limited government by ensuring that power is divided and no single branch can dominate, thus protecting individual liberties and preventing tyranny.

SSUSH 5b - Why did many Americans feel a need to revise the Articles of Confederation in 1787?

• They wanted to give more power to the upper classes

• They wanted to provide the right to vote to all citizens

• They wanted to provide better safeguards for individual rights of life, liberty, and property

• They wanted to create a stronger national government to protect Americans from invasion or domestic unrest

Answer explanation

Many Americans felt the Articles of Confederation were too weak, leading to issues like invasions and domestic unrest. They sought a stronger national government to ensure stability and security.

SSUSH 5a -Why did the Continental Congress create a weak central government in the Articles of Confederation?

• Former Loyalists demanded a weak government to protect their property

• Wealthy former colonists wanted a weak government that they could control

• The Treaty of Paris of 1783 had defined structures of a new national government

• Its members feared that a strong central government would threaten individual rights

Answer explanation

The Continental Congress created a weak central government because its members feared that a strong government would threaten individual rights, reflecting their experiences under British rule.

SSUSH5a: How did passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 demonstrate a strength of the Articles of Confederation?

• It showed that the Confederation Congress could sometimes act to meet national needs

• It showed that the Confederation Congress had the power to resist British demands

• It showed that several of the original states would be able to make claims on western lands

• It showed that the Confederation Congress had the power to extend slavery to settlements in the west

Answer explanation

The passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 demonstrated that the Confederation Congress could effectively address national needs by establishing a framework for governing new territories, showcasing its ability to legislate for the country's expansion.

SSUSH5e: Which BEST explains why Anti-Federalists insisted a bill of rights be added to the Constitution?

• They fear in a democracy the majority would threaten minority rights

• They were used to the English Bill of Rights, enacted by Parliament

• They feared a strong government would trample on individual rights

• They did not want to pay any new taxes to the federal government

Answer explanation

Anti-Federalists feared that a strong central government could infringe upon individual rights, which is why they insisted on a bill of rights to protect those rights from potential government overreach.

SSUSH5d: Which statement BEST summarizes the debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists over ratification of the Constitution?

• They argued over the question of establishing a national bank

• They disagreed over whether slavery should continue in the new nation

• They disagreed over whether the national executive should be a single person or a group

• They disagreed over the distribution of power between the federal and state governments

Answer explanation

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists primarily debated the distribution of power between the federal and state governments, with Federalists favoring a stronger central government and Anti-Federalists advocating for states' rights.

SSUSH5c: Which disagreement led to the "Three-Fifths Compromise"?

• Delegates at the Constitutional Convention argued over whether to tax trade

• Delegates at the Constitutional Convention discussed whether to include women in determining a state's representation in Congress

• Delegates at the Constitutional Convention debated whether to count enslaved people in calculating a state's representation in Congress

• Delegates at the Constitutional Convention discussed how each state should be represented in Congress

Answer explanation

The "Three-Fifths Compromise" arose from debates at the Constitutional Convention about whether to count enslaved people for representation in Congress, leading to the decision that each enslaved person would count as three-fifths of a person.

SSUSH5b: Use the list to answer the question.

How did these weaknesses affect the delegates to the Annapolis Convention in 1786?

• They decided to give greater power to state governments

• They asked the states to send representatives to revise the Articles

• They drafted a bill of rights to protect the liberties of individual citizens

• They encouraged groups of states to enter into their own separate arrangements

Answer explanation

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led delegates at the Annapolis Convention to recognize the need for reform, prompting them to ask states to send representatives to revise the Articles for a stronger federal government.