SS8A Lessons 3 and 4

What statement best explains where the US Constitution came from?

• It was directly copied from Britain’s system of government without any major changes.

• It was fully enforced and imposed on the new nation by France after the war ended.

• It was carefully written and designed entirely by future president George Washington.

• It emerged from the Articles of Confederation and subsequent Constitutional Convention.

Why did the Anti-Federalists fight against the Constitution at first?

• They believed it gave too much power to the government.

• They wanted a stronger national government.

• They wanted the king to stay in power and make decisions.

• They disagreed with the Bill of Rights.

Why was the US Constitution created?

• The purpose was to replace the Declaration of Independence.

• The goal was to fix the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

• The aim was to end the American Revolution.

• The plan was to give power only to state governments.

Which idea from the Enlightenment influenced the Framers of the Constitution?

• Kings and queens should rule a country.

• Governments should protect people's natural rights.

• Laws should never change.

• The government should be controlled by one person.

The US Constitution created three branches of government. This system helps ensure checks and balances. Which statement best explains how this structure fulfills a key purpose of the Constitution?

• It gives state governments complete control over federal decisions.

• It allows each branch to operate independently without any oversight.

• It prevents a branch from becoming too powerful by dividing authority.

• It centralizes all government power in the executive branch.

Match each part of the Constitution with its role.

• It introduces the Constitution's goals.

• Articles

• It lists the changes and additions to the Constitution.

• Preamble

• It describes how the government works.

• Amendments

Match each Article of the US Constitution with the branch of government it establishes. Move one answer to each box.

• Executive branch (president)

• Article I

• Judicial branch (courts)

• Article III

• Legislative branch (Congress)

• Article II

Which statement best describes the function of the Bill of Rights?

• It explains how laws are made.

• It protects the freedoms and liberties of citizens.

• It allows Congress and the president to veto laws.

• It establishes the Supreme Court.

Which part of the US Constitution states its purpose and explains why it was written?

• the Preamble

• the Amendments

• the Articles

• the Bill of Rights

Why did the Anti-Federalists ask for the Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution?

• They feared the Constitution would allow the government to restrict personal rights.

• They believed the Constitution empowered citizens to overthrow the government.

• They wanted to create a stronger federal government to be in charge of the states.

• They wanted state governments to have more power than the federal government.