Topic 4: A Constitution for the United States

What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation?

• to establish state governments in the colonies

• to establish a government in lands west of the Appalachians

• to reduce land claims of larger states

• to unite the colonies under one national government

Who was in charge of enforcing the laws that Congress passed under the Articles of Confederation?

• the states

• the Continental Army

• the central government

• the leader of the Congress

Shays' Rebellion involved a group of farmers who were angry about

• being ignored after fighting for the Patriot cause.

• not being able to ship their products from New Orleans.

• more rights being given to settlers in the Northwest Territory.

• losing their farms due to low crop prices and high state taxes.

Why were the laws that Congress passed relating to the Northwest Territory considered a success?

• The laws discouraged the creation of new states.

• The laws granted essential rights and civil liberties to settlers.

• The laws required basic education to help settlers gain employment.

• The laws allowed Congress to give away land to settlers free.

What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

• to write a new constitution

• to revise the Articles of Confederation

• to decide who the leaders of the country should be

• to decide between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans

What was the main subject of debate among delegates to the Convention?

• how the legislature would be structured

• whether there would be a chief executive

• how many branches of government to have

• who should be the head of the executive branch

Why was the Great Compromise so important?

• It settled the slavery debate.

• It was an extremely popular plan.

• It created a legislative system everyone could accept.

• It established James Madison as a leader.

Some delegates refused to sign the Constitution because they thought that it

• was unfair to the smaller states in the Union.

• was the result of too many compromises.

• gave too much power to the national government.

• would affect trade agreements between states.

What essential idea in the Magna Carta influenced the U.S. government?

• People have basic rights.

• Property should be equally distributed.

• Government should have three branches.

• Every citizen is entitled to vote.

The English Bill of Rights influenced the U.S. government with its emphasis on

• the powers granted to a king.

• elections and fair trials.

• freedom of speech.

• the benefits of public property.