Question 1

In 1781,the thirteen colonies adopted the ________ as the basis of their government.

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the thirteen colonies in 1781 as the basis of their government. The Constitution was not adopted until 1787, the Treaty of Paris was a peace treaty signed in 1783 to end the American Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 declaring independence from Great Britain, and the New Jersey Plan was a proposal for the structure of the US government that was ultimately rejected in favor of the Virginia Plan.

Question 2

One of the Articles of Confederation's greatest weaknesses was that it

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation did not establish a strong central government, which led to difficulties in governing and maintaining unity among the states.

Question 3

The Committee on Unfinished Portions was tasked with ironing out problems concerning

Accepted Answer

The Committee on Unfinished Portions was primarily responsible for resolving issues related to the executive branch, including the method of electing the president.

Question 4

Why did southern states want slaves to be counted as part of their population?

Accepted Answer

The Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of determining representation in the House of Representatives, gave the southern states an advantage in terms of political power. By counting slaves as part of their population, southern states were able to gain more seats in the House of Representatives and therefore have a greater say in matters such as taxation and legislation.

Question 5

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a deal to

Accepted Answer

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a deal made between the northern and southern states during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to count slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining a state's population for representation in the House of Representatives. This compromise helped to settle the differences between slave-holding and non-slave-holding states and was a key factor in the adoption of the new Constitution.

Question 6

The division of authority among the three branches of government is called

Accepted Answer

The division of authority among the three branches of government in a system of checks and balances is known as separation of powers. This concept ensures that no one branch becomes too powerful and that each branch has its own specific responsibilities.

Question 7

Some delegates to the Constitutional Convention believed that the new nation was in such dire straits that they were willing to

Accepted Answer

Some delegates were willing to risk potential charges of treason because they believed that creating a stronger national government was necessary for the survival of the new nation. They saw the Articles of Confederation as inadequate and feared that the country could fall apart without a stronger central government.

Question 8

Pennsylvania and Virginia actually went to war with one another due in large part to the lack of _________ in the Articles of Confederation.

Accepted Answer

The lack of a judiciary to resolve conflicts between states under the Articles of Confederation led to disputes that could escalate to the point of conflict, as there was no national court system to adjudicate interstate issues.

Question 9

Under the Articles of Confederation,the national government had the power to do all of the following EXCEPT
I.control a post office.
II.directly elect members of Congress.
III.negotiate peace treaties.
IV.ratify constitutional amendments.

Accepted Answer

Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government had the power to control a post office and negotiate peace treaties, but it did not have the power to directly elect members of Congress or ratify constitutional amendments. Members of Congress were appointed by state legislatures, and amendments to the Articles required unanimous consent from all thirteen states.

Question 10

Debate among political historians continues over the motives of the Framers.Charles Beard argues that the men in Philadelphia were

Accepted Answer

Charles Beard, in his book "An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States," argued that the Framers were primarily concerned with protecting the economic interests of the wealthy business class. According to Beard, the Constitution was written to establish a stronger central government that would better protect property rights and promote economic growth.

Question 11

Advocates of the Tea Party movement,who advocate strongly for states' rights,would MOST likely support which of the following types of government?

Accepted Answer

Advocates of the Tea Party movement strongly support states' rights and limiting the power of the federal government. A confederation system of government would be the most likely to align with their beliefs, as it grants certain powers to the states while limiting the power of the central government.

Question 12

Larger states,such as Virginia and Pennsylvania,advocated for

Accepted Answer

Larger states such as Virginia and Pennsylvania believed in a strong national government as they feared that smaller states might dominate the government with equal representation in Congress. They particularly advocated for proportional representation in the national legislature, which would give them more influence.

Question 13

The principles of separation of powers and checks and balances originated with

Accepted Answer

The principles of separation of powers and checks and balances are famously associated with the French philosopher Montesquieu, who discussed them extensively in his book "The Spirit of Laws." While ideas from all of the listed philosophers may have influenced the development of these principles, Montesquieu is most directly associated with them.

Question 14

Montesquieu urged that governments should include a system of ________ to give the three branches some degree of oversight and control of each other.

Accepted Answer

Montesquieu advocated for a system of checks and balances where each branch of government had powers that can check the authority of the other branches. This was to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and to ensure that no one could abuse their power.

Question 15

The bicameral U.S.Congress is a byproduct of which of the following proposals?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The bicameral U.S.Congress is a byproduct of...

Question 16

The sole responsibility to try a president or vice president on charges of "treason,bribery,or other high crimes and misdemeanors" falls to the

Accepted Answer

According to the US constitution, the responsibility to try a president or vice president on charges of "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" falls under the Senate. The House of Representatives has the power to impeach the president, but the Senate conducts the trial and decides whether to convict and remove from office. Therefore, the best choice is E, Senate.

Question 17

Under the Articles of Confederation,the executive branch was

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation did not establish an executive branch, so the answer is "nonexistent."

Question 18

Of the following components of the Great Compromise,which concept is derived from the Virginia Plan?
I.A bicameral legislature
II.Three branches of government
III.Supremacy of the national government
IV.Giving the U.S.House of Representatives the power to originate spending bills

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Plan proposed a strong national government with three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) and a bicameral legislature, where representation in both houses would be based on state population or financial contributions to the central government. This plan emphasized the supremacy of the national government, aligning with options I, II, and III.

Question 19

The smaller states presented a plan at the Constitutional Convention basically advocating the strengthening of the Articles of Confederation.The plan was presented by

Accepted Answer

The plan presented at the Constitutional Convention advocating for the strengthening of the Articles of Confederation was known as the New Jersey Plan, which was presented by the state of New Jersey.

Question 20

The most serious disagreement in the debate between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention was over the issue of

Accepted Answer

The most serious disagreement between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention was over the issue of representation in Congress. The large states wanted representation based on population, while the small states wanted equal representation for all states. This was resolved with the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for all states.

Quiz 2: The Constitution