Defining Government REVIEW

What was the first form of government for the United States after gaining independence?

• The Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Bill of Rights

What was a key feature of the government established by the Articles of Confederation?

• A strong president with veto power

• A two-house legislature with proportional representation

• A one-house body of delegates where each state had one vote

• A powerful judicial branch to interpret laws

How many of the thirteen congressional votes were required for a decision to be made under the Articles of Confederation?

• All 13 votes

• 7 votes

• 9 votes

• A simple majority

What important power did the national government lack under the Articles of Confederation?

• The ability to declare war

• The power to conduct foreign affairs

• The authority to make treaties

• The power to collect taxes

Why was the government under the Articles of Confederation deliberately designed to be weak?

• To encourage states to be more independent

• To prevent the rise of a tyrannical government

• Because the states couldn't agree on a stronger structure

• To save money on government expenses

What significant policy was established by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

• It created a national bank.

• It established a process for creating new states and outlawed slavery in those states.

• It imposed tariffs on imported goods.

• It granted universal suffrage to all citizens.

What did Shay's Rebellion highlight as a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• The lack of a strong military to defend against foreign invasion.

• The inability of the national government to effectively address economic crises and maintain order.

• The problem of states printing their own currency.

• The difficulty in amending the Articles.

What was the overarching goal of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

• To establish a direct democracy.

• To create a government that would protect against both government tyranny and tyranny by the people.

• To ensure that states retained all power.

• To elect the first president of the United States.

Which proposal at the Constitutional Convention suggested a single legislative house where each state would have equal representation, similar to the Articles of Confederation?

• The Virginia Plan

• The New Jersey Plan

• The Great Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise

What was the main outcome of the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention?

• A single legislative house with equal representation for all states.

• A single legislative house with representation based on population.

• A two-house legislature with one house based on population and the other with equal state representation.

• The abolition of slavery in all states.