WorksheetsSTAAR REVIEW REVOLUTION TO CONSTITUTION 2
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
That all Men are . . . equally free & independent, & have certain . . . Rights, of which they cannot by any Compact, deprive or divest [remove] their Posterity [future generations]; among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.—Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
In this excerpt, the authors of the Virginia Declaration of Rights are describing rights they consider —
granted to citizens by their government
natural and possessed at birth
protected under religious doctrine
defined by the courts
Which speaker is in favor of ratifying the Constitution?
Speaker 1: A strong central government will provide order and stability.
Speaker 2: We have just left the control of one tyrant; let us avoid an American tyrant.
Speaker 3: The strength of our union lies in the independence of our states. We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.
Speaker 4: We were led into a war by a minority who desired independence.
Speaker 1
Speaker 2
Speaker 3
Speaker 4
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States—U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 1
This provision is a response to which grievance from the Declaration of Independence?
“For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever”
“For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government”
"He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records”
“He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners”
And excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects; And excessive fines have been imposed; And illegal and cruel punishments inflicted —English Bill of Rights, 1689
Which U.S. document guarantees protection against these injustices?
The Constitution
The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation
The Mayflower Compact
Which of the following correctly describes the Three-Fifths Compromise?
A portion of the slave population was counted for legislative representation
federal law enforcing A the return of fugitive slaves was passed.
The census bureau was established to help apportion representation
The election of senators was delegated to state legislatures
The President . . . shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur. — U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2
This excerpt provides one example of which constitutional principle?
Federalism
Checks and balances
Popular sovereignty
Individual rights
The sequence of events (below) resulted in the adoption of the —
June
**The Continental Congress appoints a committee to prepare a document.
**The committee selects Thomas Jefferson to compose a draft.
**The draft is reviewed and revised by the committee.
July
**Congress debates and revises the document.
**Congress officially approves the document.
Articles of Confederation
Bill of Rights
Treaty of Paris
Declaration of Independence
Here in the autumn of 1777, American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender. This crucial American victory in the Battle of ___________ renewed patriots’ hopes for independence, secured essential foreign recognition and support, and forever changed the face of the world. “A Crucial American Victory,” U.S. National Park Service,
Which of the following best completes this excerpt?
Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Concord
Battle of Trenton
Battle of Yorktown
Your President may easily become king. Your Senate is so imperfectly constructed that your dearest rights may be sacrificed by what may be a small minority. . . . Your strongholds will be in the hands of your enemies. . . . —Patrick Henry, speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788
Patrick Henry was criticizing which aspect of the Constitution in this excerpt?
The eligibility requirements for congressional office
The power granted to the central government
The establishment of a separate judicial branch
The difficulty of the amendment process
Which excerpt from the Declaration of Independence best explains why colonists were unhappy about their lack of representation in the British parliament?
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people.”
“For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.”
“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
“For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences.”
Why did the Anti-Federalists demand that a bill of rights be added to the U.S. Constitution?
To strengthen the authority of the federal government
To improve the organization of the judiciary
To give each state an equal amount of power
To protect individual freedoms from the federal government
It is essential to the freedom and security of a free people, that no taxes be imposed upon them but by their own consent, or their representatives. —The Sons of Liberty, address to the public, New York, December 15, 1773
The excerpt above reflects the dissatisfaction of American colonists with the —
political debates that took place at the Albany Convention
interference of Great Britain in the slave trade
economic consequences of the Great Awakening
economic policies imposed by Great Britain following the French and Indian War
With which of the following arguments would the authors of The Federalist Papers most likely have agreed?
A bill of rights should be included in the Constitution before it is ratified
Having a stronger central government will make the country more stable and prosperous.
The Three-Fifths Compromise will result in fair and equal representation
Universal suffrage should be constitutionally guaranteed.
The rights listed below were —
Unalienable Rights Life • Liberty • Pursuit of happiness
established by a series of Supreme Court decisions
defined by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence
established by the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
defined by President George Washington in his Farewell Address
The Constitution describes two ways to propose an amendment. Which of the following gives an example of one way?
The president officially requests that Congress propose the amendment
Three-fourths of state governors sign a petition in favor of proposing the amendment.
A majority of citizens vote in favor of proposing the amendment
Two-thirds of both congressional houses vote in favor of proposing the amendment
