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1.7, 1.8, 1.9

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Which event made the delegates to call a meeting of the Constitutional Convention because they realized that the Articles of Confederation were too weak?
a)
The Boston Tea Party
b)
The Second Continental Congress
c)
The Confederation Congress
d)
Shay's Rebellion
2.
At the Constitutional Convention, it was proposed that the national government be divided into three branches; the legislative, executive, and judicial. Who first proposed this separation of powers?
a)
James Madison
b)
Baron de Montisquieu
c)
Ancient Rome
d)
John Locke
3.
Why did the committee of the Second Continental Congress intentionally create a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
to encourage more trade between states
b)
to preserve the powers of the individual states
c)
to promote national security against foreign invasion
d)
to permit the taxation of citizens to pay the nation's debts
4.
Why did Shay's Rebellion send a wave of fear among the wealthy landowners?
a)
Officers worried about losing their back pay.
b)
Shays planned to take money from the rich and give it to the poor.
c)
There was no national army to put down domestic unrest if it spread.
d)
Bankers and other lenders feared the loss of their loans to the national government.
5.

Which weakness of the Articles of Confederation was addressed by the Constitution?

a)

the lack of a national court system

b)

the continuation of slavery

c)

the absence of a balanced budget

d)

the need to strengthen the power of the states.

6.

Under the Articles of Confederation, who held most of the power?

a)

People

b)

State governments

c)

Federal government

d)

Local governments

7.

What was the only branch of government contained in the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Legislative

b)

Executive

c)

Judicial

d)

Senate

8.

Which is NOT a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Congress had no power to tax

b)

All states belonged to a unified government

c)

Congress had no power to enforce its laws

d)

There was no central leader

9.

Which document led to the writing of the US Constitution?

a)

Articles of Confederation

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Common Sense

10.

The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution lists six goals, including which of the following?

a)

to separate from Britain

b)

to form a more perfect Union

c)

to decide who can be a Supreme Court justice

d)

to decrease the power of the central government

11.

What does the phrase "to ourselves and our posterity" suggest about the Founding Father's goals for government?

a)

They wanted to create a lasting government that future Americans would benefit from.

b)

They are willing to sacrifice their liberty for the benefit of their children.

c)

They aimed to create a strong government, independent of the will of the people.

d)

They wanted to create a social contract that future americans could not break.

12.

According to the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution, which of the following are the basic purposes of government?

a)

provide services, provide laws and guarantee freedom

b)

establish justice, ensure tranquility, provide for common defense

c)

ensure life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

d)

collect taxes, print money and establish and army

13.

Which of the following means "at home, our own country"?

a)

posterity

b)

domestic

c)

foreign

d)

tranquility

14.

Which term means "for future generations"?

a)

tranquility

b)

justice

c)

welfare

d)

posterity

15.

In the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, what is the meaning of the phrase, "We the People?"

a)

The people express their will through political parties

b)

The people express their will by directly creating laws

c)

Government receives taxes from the people and exists to support them

d)

Government receives its power from the people and exists to serve them

16.

If our government decides to increase funding for our military and send troops to a country to fight , what purpose of government is being met?

a)

establish justice

b)

provide for the common defense

c)

insure domestic tranquility

d)

promote the general welfare

17.

Which of of the following terms means, "peace"?

a)

tranquility

b)

peace

c)

justice

d)

welfare

18.

Which part of the U.S. Constitution establishes the goals and purposes of the government?

a)

the Articles

b)

the Amendments

c)

the Preamble

d)

the ending

19.

What Enlightenment idea is reflected in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

a.    All men and women are created equal.

b)

b.    The government’s power comes from the people.

.

c)

c.    Power should be divided among the three branches.

d)

d.    A system of checks and balances is necessary

20.

The ability of one branch of government to limit the power of the other branches of government is known as what?

a)

Executive Order

b)

Checks and balances

c)

Amendment Process

d)

Separation of Powers

21.

Who was the Enlightenment thinker to first suggest the separation of powers & checks and balances in government?  

a)

Voltaire

b)

John Locke

c)

Baron de Montesquieu

d)

Diderot

22.
  1. What is the main purpose for the separation of powers?

a)

to make it easier for ordinary citizens to fill government posts

b)

to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful

c)

to limit the government’s powers to those delegated to it by the Constitution

d)

to prevent government leaders from becoming so powerful that they threaten individual liberties