Understanding the Constitution

What was one difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?

• Under the Articles of Confederation, the government had only one branch.

• Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government was strong.

• Under the Constitution, all states had to approve laws.

• Under the Constitution, the government could not pass laws to collect taxes.

What problem did war debts pose for the new nation?

• The American people did not want to repay the debts.

• The American people did not believe that the country owed money.

• The government could not collect taxes to repay the debts.

• The government could not get good terms for repaying the debts.

What caused Shays’ Rebellion?

• The federal government taxed the income farmers earned.

• One state raised taxes that people paid on their property.

• The federal government jailed people who could not pay their taxes.

• One state refused to pay the taxes it owed the federal government.

What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

• to decide whether a king should lead the government

• to form a stronger government by revising the Articles of Confederation

• to get delegates to sign the new Constitution

• to name a leader for the country’s army

By issuing this warning, the speaker of the passage above reveals that he or she is a

• supporter of a strong central government

• supporter of George Washington as the first president

• supporter of the Declaration of Independence

• supporter of the Articles of Confederation

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise do?

• It included three-fifths of the enslaved people in population counts.

• It required three-fifths of the states to ratify a law.

• It put three-fifths of the Articles of Confederation into the Constitution.

• It gave small states three-fifths as many representatives as large states.

Why did states with large populations favor the Virginia Plan?

• It had the legislature choose judges.

• It had the legislature choose the executive.

• It based representation on population.

• It based representation on land area.

Which of the following can ONLY the national government do?

• collect taxes

• print money

• manage elections

• set up courts

Why did some states hesitate to ratify the Constitution?

• They thought it needed a Bill of Rights.

• They did not want to be part of the new country.

• They wanted to abolish slavery.

• They were hoping for a better document.

Which of the following is a civic responsibility?

• free speech

• voting

• due process

• assembling