wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Unit 3 (CH 6-8) (AOC & US Constitution)

Total questions: 89

Worksheet time: 3hrs 47mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
a)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
b)
Washington, DC
c)
Richmond, Virginia
d)
Paris, France
2.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
a)
To rewrite the Declaration of Independence
b)
To rewrite the Articles of Confederation
c)
To write the Treaty of Paris
d)
To elect the first president
3.
The three branches of government are ________________
a)
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
b)
Legislative, Judicial, and National
c)
Executive, Principle, and Judicial
d)
Judicial, National, and Legislative
4.
How were slaves counted as part of the population when deciding the number of representatives for a state?
a)
All slaves were counted.
b)
Three-fifths of the number of slaves was added to the population.
c)
Slaves were not counted at all.
d)
Slaves were allowed to vote and be elected to represent each state.
5.
A major weakness under the Articles of Confederation was-
a)
Congress could not negotiate treaties
b)
Congress could print money
c)
Congress did not have the power to raise money or enforce laws
d)
Congress established the Northwest Ordinance
6.

We supported removing some power from the states & giving more to a national government.

a)

Federalists

b)

Anti-Federalists

7.

We thought the Constitution needed a list of protected rights for U.S. citizens.

a)

Federalists

b)

Anti-Federalists

8.

What is the introduction to the Constitution called?

a)

The Declaration Proclamation

b)

The Preamble

c)

The Declaration of Independence

d)

The Articles of the Confederation

9.

What is the only court mentioned in the U.S. Constitution?

a)

The Supreme Court

b)

Court of Appeals

c)

City Courts

d)

Tax Court

10.

What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

Britain still controlled America.

b)

There was no federal government.

c)

The states were given so much power and autonomy that the federal government had too little authority over states to address national problems.

d)

The federal government was too powerful and limited the authority and autonomy of states

11.

The principle of Limited Government states that the

a)

government branches can limit each branch’s power.

b)

federal government limits each state’s power.

c)

the president can limit the power of the American people.

d)

American people can limit the government's power.

12.

This picture best describe which Constitutional Principle?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Federalism

c)

Popular Sovereignty

d)

Checks and Balances

13.

This picture best describe which Constitutional Principle?

a)

Separation of Powers

b)

Federalism

c)

Checks and Balances

d)

Popular Sovereignty

14.

What is the U.S Constitution?

a)

A declaration of war

b)

A document that says how the U.S government runs. It is the highest law of the land.

c)

A peace deal

d)

Is a document that says how mayors and governors should act.

15.

What is an amendment?

a)

An amendment is a change in the Constitution. It takes a lot for Congress to make a change or add to the constitution.

b)

An amendment declares war.

c)

It is a peace deal.

d)

The Constitution can never be changed.

16.

Why did the founders of the Constitution create a separation of powers between the three branches?

a)

So that one branch of government would not have too much power.

b)

So that everyone could be equal.

c)

So that people could vote.

d)

So that the president could have all the power

17.

What are the first 10 amendments to the U.S Constitution called?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

The First 10 Amendments

d)

Preamble

18.

Who makes up the Judicial Branch?

a)

Congress

b)

President

c)

The Supreme Court-9 Judges chosen by the President

d)

Vice president

19.

What are the 2 houses of the Legislative Branch

a)

The Senate and House of Representatives

b)

The Senate and Supreme Court

c)

House of Representatives and President

d)

Senate and President

20.

The executive branch of government is run by...

a)

Congress

b)

The President

c)

Supreme Court

d)

House of Representatives

21.

What is the job of the Supreme Court

a)

To decide if laws or court case decisions are unconstitutional

b)

To decide who should be president

c)

To decide who is elected in Congress

d)

To make new laws

22.

The​ (a)   Branch Makes the Laws

Choose from the below words
Legislative
Judicial
Executive
23.

Which branch of the U.S. government interprets the laws?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

d)

Theocratic

24.

Congress makes up the ​ (a)   or lawmaking body of the government

Choose from the below words
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Electoral College
25.

The counting of enslaved people for the purposes of determining representation was the main issue of which compromise?​ (a)  

Choose from the below words
3/5 Compromise
Great Compromise
Slavery Reduction Act
abolition
26.

The three-fifths compromise sought to prevent

a)

states with high slave population fro domination the House of Representatives

b)

the Senate from becoming too powerful within the bicameral system

c)

the Constitution from ultimately being ratified

d)

Antifederalists from winning the debate over federalism

27.

Which principle of U.S. government is illustrated in the sequence shown?

a)

Judicial Review

b)

Checks and Balances

c)

Popular Sovereignty

d)

Federalism

28.

the system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other two branches

a)

federalism

b)

checks and balances

c)

limits and supports

d)

constitutionality

29.

This document provided individual rights for Americans -

a)

Process of Ratification

b)

Separation of Power

c)

Preamble

d)

The Bill of Rights

30.

1st Amendment- "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

What does the first amendment do?

a)

Outlaws religion and exercise

b)

Establishes freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom to peacefully protest and petition the government

c)

protects citizens rights to carry a firearm and vote

d)

It prevents Congress from passing any laws

31.

Who are the Federalists?

a)

People who supported the Constitution

b)

People who were against the Constitution

c)

People who wanted to add the Bill of Rights to the Constitution

d)

People who supported the Articles of Confederation

32.

Federalists wanted....

a)

a weak central (national) government

b)

a strong central (national) government

c)

a Bill of Rights

d)

strong state government

33.

The Antifederalists wanted

a)

a strong central (national) government

b)

weak state government

c)

weak central (national) government

d)

to deny the Bill of Rights

34.
Who would say: I believe that laws should come from a Centralized government.
a)
Federalist
b)
Anti-federalist
35.
Who would say: A strong President is necessary to protect the country against foreign attack and make sure laws are carried out properly.
a)
Anti-Federalist 
b)
Federalist
36.

Which party fought to protect the common man's rights and insisted on the Bill of Rights be added?

a)

Federalists

b)

Anti-federalist

37.

Wanted strong, centralized government. Proponents of "BIG GOVERNMENT"

a)

Federalists

b)

Anti-federalists

38.

Americans initally believed that the central government needed to be extremely...

a)

strong

b)

neutral

c)

weak

39.

Under the AOC, the central government did have the power to declare war.

a)

True

b)

False

40.

Under the AOC, the central government could NOT tax the states.

a)

True

b)

False

41.

Under the AOC, the central government could NOT control trade bewteen the states.

a)

True

b)

False

42.

In order to amend (change) the Articles of Confederation, all 13 states had to agree.

a)

True

b)

False

43.
Under the Articles of Confederation, which government had the MOST power?
a)
Legislative branch
b)
the president
c)
the state governments
d)
national government
44.
Under the Articles of Confederation, how many votes did each state get?
a)
Zero
b)
One
c)
Two 
d)
Three
45.
Which of the following is an example of a weakness in the Articles of Confederation?
a)
Congress couldn't collect taxes
b)
Weak national government
c)
Provided no common currency/money for all 13 states
d)
All of the  above
46.

Why was this first U.S. government so weak?

a)

King George III was still in charge of USA

b)

Americans were afraid to give their new government too much power

c)

The American army did not win their independence from Great Britain and King George III

d)

Because of the Declaration of Independence

47.
The Articles of Confederation created a ________ national government.
a)
weak
b)
strong
c)
both strong and weak
d)
neither  strong nor  weak
48.

What is the name of the first written plan of government for the new United States

a)

Constitution

b)

Treaty of Paris

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

49.

Because of the Articles of Confederarion the national government could NOT control ______ among the states.

a)

food quality

b)

animals

c)

travel

d)

commerce (trade)

50.

What is one reason Americans wanted to change the Articles of Confederation?

a)

They opposed the Land Ordinance of 1785.

b)

They didn't want the government to have only 1 branch.

c)

States were not working together and there was no leader.

d)

State government was weak and unsuccessful.

51.

States were still independent under the Articles.

a)

True

b)

False

52.
In order to change (amend) the Articles of Confederation,  __________ out of 13 states had to agree. 
a)
9
b)
10
c)
13
d)
15
53.
Congress never had any money because under the Articles they did NOT have the power to ____.
a)
print money
b)
sell items to other countries
c)
tax
d)
spend money
54.
Which branch of government existed when the Articles of Confederation was created?
a)
Legislative (congress)
b)
Judicial (Supreme court)
c)
Executive (President)
d)
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
55.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government consisted of _______________ branch of government.
a)
3
b)
2
c)
1
d)
4
56.

Farmers rebelled and shut down the courts because

a)

they did not want to lose their farms

b)

they wanted to rewrite the constitution

57.

One result of the Shay rebellion was the realization that the federal government needed more control over the states

a)

true

b)

false

58.
What did Shays' Rebellion help Americans realize they needed?
a)
A strong national government
b)
A stronger militia
c)
A common currency
d)
The ability to sign peace treaties
59.

Why were farmers in Massachusetts so upset in 1786 and 1787?

a)

The US was getting ready to go to war with France and they'd have to be soldiers again

b)

The national government kept raising taxes on farmers to pay off the war debt

c)

They were losing their farms because they could not afford the taxes on them because they were not paid

d)

No one would buy their crops because they were over priced

60.

to give official approval or vote yes on something

a)

repeal

b)

ratify

c)

confederate

d)

appeal

61.

a group united in an alliance

a)

ratify

b)

division

c)

confederate

d)

confederation

62.

The USA's first plan for the government that was ratified by all 13 colonies in 1781.

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

US Constitution

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)

Magna Carta

63.

Under the Articles of Confederation, who had more power?

a)

State Government

b)

Federal Government

c)

president

d)

governors

64.

Which event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

the first presidential election

b)

the Boston Tea Party

c)

the 2nd gathering of the Continental Congress

d)

The Lost State of Franklin

65.

Which event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

the second presidential election

b)

the Boston Tea Party

c)

The Ratification of Land Ordinance of 1784

d)

Shays' Rebellion

66.

After congress denied their request for statehood, they essentially became their own nation with their own set of laws and constitution. Eventually the nation-state failed...

a)

North Carolina

b)

Tennessee

c)

State of Franklin

d)

Northwest Territory

67.

a farmer who fougth for the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. He retired from the military in 1780 but was never paid for his military service and was saddled with debts and taxes he couldn't pay.

a)

Daniel Shays

b)

George Washington

c)

Alexander Hamilton

d)

John Franklin

68.

What was the reason for Shays' Rebellion?

a)

they revolted because their presidential candidate wasn't elected

b)

their request for statehood was denied by congress

c)

American Revolution veterans weren't paid for their service and were being imprisoned for not paying taxes and debts

d)

they wanted the federal government to have more power than the states.

69.

Where was the lost state of Franklin?

a)

In an unclaimed and unexplored region west of the Northwest Territory

b)

North Carolina and Tennessee

c)

South Carolina and North Carolina

d)

Northwest Territory

70.

an order or decree, usually legally binding and referring to a law or body of laws

a)

repeal

b)

ratify

c)

ordinance

d)

confederation

71.

Mostly unsettled land bordered by the Ohio River, Appalachian Mountians, and Mississippi River.

a)

Ohio River Valley

b)

Northwest Territory

c)

Proclamation Line

d)

Florida

72.

How did Alexander Hamilton feel about the Articles of Confederation?

a)

he believed it gave too much power to the federal government

b)

he believed it gave too little power to the federal government

c)

he thought British Rule was a better form of government

d)

he believed it did an excellent job of balancing state and federal powers

73.

Why did George Washington create cabinet member positions?

a)

to serve as advisors to the president

b)

to help form political parties

c)

to create a design for Washington D.C.

d)

to weaken the central government

74.

How did the First National Bank that was established during the Washington administration help stabilize the economy?

a)

It paid off the government’s debts from the Articles of Confederation period

b)

It used tax dollars to pay for items citizens needed that were not provided by the government

c)

It made loans to the government and provided a place for the government to deposit tax dollars.

d)

It created a new currency that could be used across the nation.

75.

Why was Thomas Jefferson against the bill that established the First National Bank?

a)

He thought that the government should be providing economic services rather than a bank.

b)

He thought that Alexander Hamilton gave too much power to the states to run the bank.

c)

He thought it would hurt the economy since it did not have enough power to provide the services needed.

d)

He thought it would expand the powers of the national government beyond the limits outlined in the Constitution.

76.

Why did the Whiskey Rebellion begin?

a)

Wealthy Easterners felt that a prohibition against drinking whiskey was unfair.

b)

Farmers in Western Pennsylvania felt that a tax on whiskey was unfair.

c)

Farmers in Western Pennsylvania felt that a prohibition against drinking whiskey was unfair.

d)

The government seized shipments of whiskey from Pennsylvania merchants and distributed amongst American soldiers.

77.

How did Washington set a precedent in his response to the Whiskey Rebellion?

a)

He used federal troops to aid those in rebellion.

b)

He refused to pass a law that many people disliked.

c)

He refused to involve the national government in local matters

d)

He used federal troops to enforce the law.

78.

How did Washington set a precedent when he left office?

a)

He stated in his farewell address that he would start a new political party.

b)

He stated in his farewell address that the United States should build permanent foreign alliances.

c)

He only served two terms and refused to run again.

d)

He only served four terms and refused to run again.

79.

More sympathetic to Great Britain than France because the United States had a strong trade relationship with Great Britain

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

both

80.

Believed the United States should remain neutral in war between Great Britain and France

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

both

81.

Supported a strong central government

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

both

82.

Thought state governments should have more power

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

both

83.

More sympathetic to France than Great Britain because the United States had a prior treaty with France and it was moving toward democrac

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

84.

Was part of Washington’s cabinet

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

both

85.

Why did France seize and search U.S. ships in the Caribbean during the Adams administration?

a)

France was at war with Great Britain and thought the United States had spies called X, Y, and Z who were working for the British.

b)

France was at war with Great Britain and was angry at the United States because it supported Great Britain in the XYZ Affair.

c)

France was at war with Great Britain and was angry that this war caused the United States to refuse to meet with their diplomats

d)

France was at war with Great Britain and was angry that the United States had signed a trade treaty with Britain during the Washington administration.

86.

Why did the United States and France fail to reach agreement in the XYZ Affair?

a)

The French diplomats refused to meet with the United States.

b)

The French diplomats refused to pay a bribe to the United States.

c)

The United States refused to meet with the French diplomats.

d)

The United States refused to pay a bribe to the French diplomats.

87.

Why did John Adams support the Alien and Sedition Acts?

a)

He feared the United States would be in a war with Great Britain soon and wanted to eliminate any internal threats.

b)

He feared the other political party was out to get him after they passed the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions and wanted to eliminate any internal threats

c)

He feared the United States would be in a war with France soon and wanted to eliminate any internal threats.

d)

He feared the other political party would attack him for his handling of the XYZ Affair and wanted to eliminate any internal threats

88.

Why did the Democratic-Republicans oppose the Alien and Sedition Acts? (Choose 2)

a)

The Sedition Act was used to arrest those who disagreed with Adams’ policies toward France.

b)

Some of the Acts targeted those from France and Ireland who tended to support Democratic-Republicans.

c)

The Sedition Act was used to target those who had been part of the XYZ Affair.

d)

The Acts made it illegal to support Democratic-Republican candidates

e)

The Acts were a response to the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.

89.

Why would the Sedition Act be harmful and unconstitutional?

a)

It directly went against first amendment rights like freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

b)

It essentially made it a crime to criticize the government and the sitting president

c)

It targeted Adam's political opponents and suppressed their speech

d)

It took away the voting rights of Democratic-Republicans