Crash Course: Constitutional Compromises

What was the name of the first American government that was in place during the Revolutionary War and for almost 10 years afterward?

• The United States Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Bill of Rights

Which of the following was a significant weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation?

• It had a strong executive branch but no judiciary.

• It had the power to levy taxes on states.

• It lacked the power to levy taxes and had no executive or judicial branches.

• It allowed states to have proportional representation in Congress.

What notable accomplishment did the government under the Articles of Confederation achieve regarding western territories?

• It established a national currency for all states.

• It created a powerful federal army to protect settlers.

• It set up rules for settlement and forbade slavery in the Northwest Territory.

• It negotiated a peace treaty with Native American tribes.

What was the primary outcome of the Great Compromise proposed by Roger Sherman?

• It established a powerful executive presidency.

• It created a unicameral legislature with equal state representation.

• It led to a bicameral legislature with both proportional and equal representation.

• It resolved the issue of counting slaves for representation.

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise imply about how enslaved people were viewed under the Constitution? What does the phrase “counted but not free” reveal about their status?

• They were recognized as full citizens with equal rights.

• They were considered property, and worth less than free people

• They were excluded equal to all freed persons

How did the Three-Fifths Compromise impact the representation of states in the U.S. Congress?

• It ensured equal representation for all states regardless of population.

• It allowed states to count three-fifths of their enslaved population for both representation and taxation.

• It granted enslaved people three-fifths of a vote in federal elections.

• It only counted free persons for representation, excluding enslaved individuals entirely.

What was the process for ratifying the U.S. Constitution after it was drafted?

• It was immediately put into effect after being signed by the Constitutional Convention delegates.

• It required a unanimous vote from all thirteen state legislatures.

• It had to be ratified by at least nine of the thirteen states through special conventions.

• It was ratified by a direct popular vote of all citizens.

What was a core belief of the Federalists regarding the new U.S. Constitution?

• They believed a strong central government would lead to tyranny and suppress individual liberties.

• They advocated for stronger state governments to protect the rights of the people.

• They thought a strong central government would benefit the country as a whole, especially commercial interests.

• They opposed any form of national taxation.

What was a significant concern of the Anti-Federalists that led to a crucial compromise during the Constitution's ratification?

• They feared a weak central government would be unable to pay its debts.

• They worried about the lack of protection for individual liberties and state rights in the original document.

• They believed the Constitution gave too much power to the states.

• They wanted stronger economic ties with England.