1.
The Articles of the Confederation gave the Confederation Congress all of the following powers EXCEPT the power to:
Correct Answer
B. Impose taxes.
Explanation
The Articles of Confederation granted the Confederation Congress the authority to declare war, raise armies, and sign treaties. However, it did not provide them with the power to impose taxes. This limitation on taxation was a significant weakness of the Articles, as it hindered the Congress's ability to generate revenue for the functioning of the government and to pay off the war debts. This eventually led to the adoption of the Constitution, which addressed this issue by granting the federal government the power to levy taxes.
2.
Amending the Constitution requires:
Correct Answer
A. Proposal and ratification.
Explanation
The correct answer is "proposal and ratification." This is because the process of amending the Constitution involves two steps. First, a proposal must be made, which can be done by either Congress or a national convention called by Congress. Then, the proposed amendment must be ratified, or approved, by either three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. Therefore, both proposal and ratification are necessary for amending the Constitution.
3.
News of Shays' Rebellion and unrest elsewhere convicted the Congress to:
Correct Answer
B. Call a convention of the states to revise the Articles of Confederation.
Explanation
The correct answer is to call a convention of the states to revise the Articles of Confederation. This is because Shays' Rebellion and other instances of unrest highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, such as the lack of a strong central government and the inability to effectively deal with rebellions. As a result, Congress recognized the need for a stronger national government and called for a convention to revise the Articles and create a new Constitution.
4.
What cause resulted in the effect shown in the diagram above?
Correct Answer
B. The Confederation Congress was not allowed to regulate commerce.
Explanation
The effect shown in the diagram above is that the Confederation Congress was not allowed to regulate commerce. This means that the Congress did not have the power to control or oversee trade between the states or with foreign nations. This lack of regulation likely resulted in trade disputes, inconsistent trade policies, and potentially hindered economic growth and stability.
5.
Shays' Rebellion started because:
Correct Answer
C. The government of Massachusetts decided to raise taxes to pay off its debts instead of issuing paper money.
Explanation
Shays' Rebellion started because the government of Massachusetts decided to raise taxes to pay off its debts instead of issuing paper money. This decision angered many farmers and small landowners who were already struggling financially. They believed that raising taxes would further burden them and make it even more difficult for them to pay off their debts. As a result, they rebelled against the government, leading to the uprising known as Shays' Rebellion.
6.
The delegate chosen as presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention was:
Correct Answer
A. George Washington.
Explanation
George Washington was chosen as the presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention because of his reputation as a respected military leader and statesman. His leadership qualities, impartiality, and ability to command respect from the delegates made him the ideal choice for this important role. Additionally, Washington's presence helped to lend credibility and legitimacy to the Convention, ensuring that the proceedings would be taken seriously and that the resulting Constitution would have widespread acceptance.
7.
The __________ Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
Correct Answer
Eighth
eighth
8
8th
eigth
Explanation
The correct answer is "Eighth". The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. This amendment ensures that individuals are protected from excessive or disproportionate punishments that would violate their rights. It is an essential safeguard that promotes fairness and justice in the criminal justice system.
8.
The "Three-Fifths Compromise" stated that every five _______ counted as three ________.
Correct Answer
D. Slaves, Free men
Explanation
The "Three-Fifths Compromise" was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It stated that for the purposes of representation in the House of Representatives and taxation, every five slaves would be counted as three free men. This compromise was a controversial decision that reflected the political and social tensions surrounding the issue of slavery in the United States at that time.
9.
What did the Federalists promise to add to the Constitution after retification?
Correct Answer
C. A bill of rights
Explanation
The Federalists promised to add a bill of rights to the Constitution after ratification. This was done in response to the concerns raised by the Anti-Federalists, who feared that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual rights. The addition of a bill of rights was seen as a necessary safeguard to ensure that the new government would not infringe upon the rights and liberties of the people.
10.
The Confederation Congress was not given power to:
Correct Answer
D. Impose taxes.
Explanation
The Confederation Congress was not given the power to impose taxes. This limitation was one of the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States. The Congress could declare war, raise armies, and sign treaties, but it lacked the authority to levy taxes on the states. This meant that the Congress had to rely on voluntary contributions from the states, which often led to financial difficulties and inability to fund essential government functions. This weakness eventually led to the creation of a stronger central government under the Constitution of the United States.
11.
People with greater income saw Shays' Rebellion as a sign that:
Correct Answer
D. The republic itself was at risk.
Explanation
The people with greater income saw Shays' Rebellion as a sign that the republic itself was at risk. This is because the rebellion, led by Daniel Shays, was a violent uprising by farmers in Massachusetts who were protesting against high taxes and debt. The rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the governing document of the United States at the time, and raised concerns about the stability and effectiveness of the newly formed republic. People with greater income feared that if the government was unable to maintain order and address the grievances of the citizens, it could lead to further unrest and potentially threaten the existence of the republic.
12.
Popular soverignty is/means:
Correct Answer
B. Rule by the People
Explanation
Popular sovereignty refers to the principle that the authority of a government is derived from the consent of the people. It means that the ultimate power and decision-making authority lies with the citizens of a country. In this context, "Rule by the People" accurately captures the essence of popular sovereignty, as it signifies that the people have the right to govern themselves and participate in the decision-making processes of their government. It emphasizes the idea that the government exists to serve the people and should act in their best interests.
13.
___________ divided government power between the federal, or national, government and the state governments.
Correct Answer
Federalism
federalism
Federal
federal
Explanation
Federalism is the correct answer because it refers to a system of government where power is divided between a central or federal government and regional or state governments. This division of power allows for a balance of authority and autonomy between the different levels of government, ensuring that neither the federal government nor the state governments have absolute control. The use of both "Federalism" and "federalism" in the answer options indicates that the correct answer can be written in either uppercase or lowercase, highlighting the flexibility in spelling conventions.
14.
The President can _______ acts of Congress he does not approve of.
Correct Answer
D. Veto
Explanation
The President can veto acts of Congress he does not approve of. Veto is the power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming a law. This power serves as a check on the legislative branch and allows the President to influence the lawmaking process. By exercising the veto power, the President can express disagreement with the proposed legislation and potentially force Congress to make changes or abandon the bill altogether.
15.
The Philadelphia Delegates created a clear system for making changes to the Constitution if needed. This process is know as _________.
Correct Answer
D. Amending
Explanation
The Philadelphia Delegates created a clear system for making changes to the Constitution if needed. This process is known as amending.
16.
The Virginia Plan would benefit:
Correct Answer
B. Large states with many people.
Explanation
The Virginia Plan would benefit large states with many people because it proposed a bicameral legislature where representation in both houses would be based on population. This means that states with a larger population would have more representatives and therefore more influence in the government. Small states with few people would not benefit from this plan as they would have less representation and less power. The plan also did not specifically benefit wealthy planters and merchants or Southern slave-holding states, as its main focus was on population-based representation. Military families are not mentioned in relation to the Virginia Plan, so they would not directly benefit from it either.
17.
People pushing for ratification of the Constitution called themselves:
Correct Answer
C. Federalists.
Explanation
The people pushing for ratification of the Constitution called themselves Federalists. The term "Federalist" refers to those who supported the idea of a strong central government and the ratification of the Constitution. They believed that a strong federal government was necessary to maintain stability and protect the rights of the people. The Federalists were led by prominent figures such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, and they argued for the adoption of the Constitution through a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers.
18.
Which was not a compromise reached during the Constitutional Convention?
Correct Answer
D. The Virginia Compromise
Explanation
The Virginia Compromise was not a compromise reached during the Constitutional Convention. The correct answer is the Virginia Compromise because it is not a historically recognized compromise that took place during the Constitutional Convention. The other options, such as the Connecticut Compromise, the Great Compromise, and the Three-Fifths Compromise, are all well-known compromises that were reached during the convention.
19.
Which present-day state was not part of the Northwest Territory in the 1780s?
Correct Answer
B. Missouri
Explanation
Missouri was not part of the Northwest Territory in the 1780s. The Northwest Territory was a region in the United States that included the present-day states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and a portion of Minnesota. Missouri was not included in this territory because it was part of the larger Louisiana Territory, which was acquired by the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
20.
After the Revolutionary War, the taxes and restrictions the states imposed on imported goods caused British merchants to:
Correct Answer
D. Land their goods at states that had the lowest taxes or fewest restrictions.
Explanation
After the Revolutionary War, British merchants faced taxes and restrictions imposed by the states on imported goods. To counteract this, they chose to land their goods at states that had the lowest taxes or fewest restrictions. This allowed them to continue trading in the United States while minimizing the financial burden imposed by the taxes and restrictions.