Unit 6: Constitution and Bill of Rights

Which crisis under the Articles of Confederation led many people to believe the United States needed a new constitution?

• Pontiac's Rebellion

• Shays' Rebellion

• French & Indian War

• Boston Tea Party

Answer explanation

Shays' Rebellion was a significant uprising in 1786-1787 where farmers protested economic injustices. It highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, leading many to believe a stronger federal constitution was necessary.

Our system of government is very influenced by the British system of government and its guiding documents. What was the purpose of the Magna Carta (1215) in English history?

• to give rights to the poorer, common people

• to promote peace with France

• to limit the power of the British monarch

• to expand the king's ability to tax

Answer explanation

The Magna Carta (1215) was primarily aimed at limiting the power of the British monarch, establishing the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law.

At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, one major disagreement concerned representation in the new national legislature. What settled the dispute between states with large populations and states with small populations?

• The Olive Branch Petition

• The Great Compromise

• The 3/5 Compromise

• Treaty of Paris - 1783

Answer explanation

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, resolved the conflict between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

What part of the Three-fifths Compromise pleased Southern States?

• Every 3 out of 5 of the slave population would be counted for representation in the House.

• Southern states would pay more taxes to the U.S. government.

• 3/5 of all slaves were required to be given their freedom.

• Northern states would abolish slavery altogether.

Answer explanation

The Three-fifths Compromise allowed Southern states to count 3 out of every 5 slaves for representation in the House, increasing their political power without granting them full rights.

Where was the Constitutional Convention held?

• Washington, D.C.

• Philadephia, PA

• New York City, NY

• Boston, MA

Answer explanation

The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, PA, in 1787. This city was chosen for its central location and its historical significance, making it the ideal venue for the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

What do we call the form of government in which citizens vote for representatives to govern for them and make the laws?

• monarchy

• republic

• direct democracy

• oligarchy

Answer explanation

The form of government where citizens elect representatives to create laws is called a republic. In a republic, elected officials represent the interests of the people, unlike direct democracy where citizens vote on laws directly.

Which plan, proposed at the Constitutional Convention, is shown by the House of Representatives and proposed a bicameral legislature?

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

• Connecticut Plan

• Maryland Plan

Answer explanation

The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature, which influenced the structure of the House of Representatives. It called for representation based on population, contrasting with the New Jersey Plan's equal representation.

In which part of our Congress were the concerns of the small states addressed by the writers of the Constitution?

• Senate

• House of Representatives

• Presidency

• Supreme Court

Answer explanation

The concerns of small states were addressed in the Senate, where each state, regardless of size, has equal representation with two senators. This structure was part of the Great Compromise to balance power between large and small states.

Which people were against the ratification of the Constitution, because they wanted more power to stay in the states and thought individual rights needed more protection?

• Loyalists

• Anti-federalists

• Federalists

• Patriots

Answer explanation

The Anti-federalists opposed the Constitution because they believed it concentrated too much power in the federal government and did not adequately protect individual rights, preferring more power to remain with the states.

Which of these demonstrates a bicameral legislature established in 1787?

• Mayflower Compact

• U.S. Congress

• Second Continental Congress

• House of Burgesses

Answer explanation

The U.S. Congress, established in 1787, is a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The other options do not represent a bicameral system or were established at different times.