Constitutional Compromises

Which of the following quotes would have most likely been said by a Federalist?

• We need a document that will list the rights of the people and the states

• the states do not need to sacrifice sovereignty to a centralized government

• the southern states should not be responsible for paying off the debts of our northern brothers

• the policy of federalism will prevent states from losing power by instead sharing it with the central government

Which plan called for representation based on the states' population, benefited the small states?

• Treaty of Ghent

• Fugitive Slave Act

• Articles of Confederation

• New Jersey Plan

"Among the most formidable of the obstacles which the new Constitution will have to encounter may readily be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which my hazard a diminution of the power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold under the State establishments;" - Alexander Hamilton

Which of the following best explains the point of view in the quote above?

• problems would erupt because under the new government states are giving up their powers

• under a new government the federal government will have all the control over the legislative branch

• according to the Constitution the state governments would share power with the federal government

• Conflicts would arise over the organization of the judicial branch of the new government

At the Constitutional Convention the delegates debated for several weeks on the organization of the legislative branch. James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan, while William Patterson countered with the New Jersey Plan. Finally the delegates agreed to a compromise put forth by Roger Sherman which -

• created a two house Congress with representation based on the population in house and equality in the other house

• believed in extending voting rights to all white men, thus eliminating the previous property requirements

• kept the previous organization set forth in the Articles of Confederation which allowed for one vote per state

• allowed California to join the new country as a free state but gave the South the Fugitive Slave Act

Which of the following quotes would have been said by an "Anti-Federalist"?

• the system safeguards such as federalism and separation of powers protect the citizens

• no Bill of Rights is needed under the new government because the people will be protected by the states

• the economy of our country should be focused on industry, manufacturing, and trade

• the rights of the people and the states will be trampled upon by another tyrannical government

Anti-Federalist, such as George Mason, refused to ratify the new Constitution, but after much debate they agreed to approve it with the addition of the -

• Declaration of Independence

• Bill of Rights

• Emancipation Proclamation

• Declaration of Sentiments

One of the major issues debated at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was -

• proposing a new strategy to proceed with the abolition of slavery

• creating a plan for representation of both large and small states

• whether or not to remain neutral in the French Revolution

• if Missouri should be allowed to join the country as a free state

Which of the following best explains why the Anti-Federalists were opposed to ratification of the US Constitution?

• the federal government wouldn't become too powerful because it would share power with the states and individuals

• the system of checks and balances would keep one branch of government from becoming too strong

• the new central government would take too much power away from the states and people

• under the new government slaves would only count at three-fifths of a person for representation

Which plan called for equal representation of the states regardless of population?

• Treaty of Ghent

• Fugitive Slave Act

• Great Compromise

• Virginia Plan

During the Constitutional Convention, James Wilson and Roger Sherman proposed the Three-Fifths Compromise which dealt with how

• the government would pass protective tariffs in order to help northern businesses prosper

• Maine and Missouri would be crated as slave and free states to keep the balance of power

• slaves would be counted as population for representation and taxation purposes

• women would be represented in the newly created legislative branch