Deck 2: The Founding and the Constitution

Question 1

What did the British Parliament do in response to the colonists' Declaration of Rights and Grievances?

A) They gave more power to the colonies.
B) They removed all oppressive taxes.
C) They passed the Declaratory Act.
D) They allowed the colonists' their freedom.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Where did the American Revolution begin?

A) Lexington and Concord
B) Boston
C) Philadelphia
D) New York City

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What was the significance of the Stamp Act Congress that met in 1765?

A) It was the meeting at which the Declaration of Independence was drafted.
B) It allowed the colonists to meet with one another to plot an attack.
C) It served as a way for the colonists to discuss concerns with the British.
D) It was the first instance of coordinated intercolonial resistance to Britain.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Suppose the federal government has grown significantly large and has stripped the states of most of their power due to a loose interpretation of the scope of Congress's powers in the Constitution. As a result, many American citizens feel that their basic rights have been infringed upon and do not believe that the federal government is upholding its end of the social contract. Which document can the American citizens use to justify the removal of the current government?

A) the Declaration of Independence
B) Common Sense
C) the Federalist Papers
D) the Articles of Confederation

Question 5

It is the late 1780s, and James is an elite colonist who has been involved with local politics and has studied political science for most of his life. He is highly regarded by his peers and has been invited to a committee to discuss the issue of interstate commerce under the Articles of Confederation. Which meeting has James been invited to attend?

A) the Annapolis Convention
B) the First Continental Congress
C) the Stamp Act Congress
D) the Constitutional Convention

Question 6

Suppose you are a member of Congress under the Articles of Confederation. George Washington has appealed to you and your colleagues several times for funding to provide improved weapons and clothing for soldiers fighting in the Continental Army. Even though you wish to do so, why are you unable to help George Washington?

A) You cannot levy taxes to support the army and cover the costs of clothes and weapons.
B) Your inability to regulate commerce has stalled the import of clothes and weapons.
C) You must get approval from all the other states before giving money to the army.
D) You do not have the ability to command an army or outfit it in any way.

Question 7

The Declaration of Independence is based on the theories of natural law and social contract, which were the ideas of which philosopher?

A) Benjamin Franklin
B) John Locke
C) Baron de Montesquieu
D) Thomas Paine

Question 8

Suppose you are a colonial leader in the late 1700s and are tired of Great Britain's oppressive taxation. You have suffered financially and have decided to meet with fellow colonists to denounce the British policies and organize a boycott of British goods. Which organization have you most likely joined?

A) the Sons of Liberty
B) the Constitutional Convention
C) the Stamp Act Congress
D) the First Continental Congress

Question 9

What was the outcome of the Second Continental Congress?

A) a declaration of grievances by the colonists
B) an organized boycott of British goods
C) the first draft of the Constitution
D) the Declaration of Independence

Question 10

Why did the British impose heavy taxes on the colonists in the late 1700s?

A) to help pay for the costs of governing the colonies
B) to cripple the economy of neighboring French colonies
C) to demonstrate how much power it had over the colonies
D) to try to get the colonists to move back to Britain

Question 11

What was the primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation?

A) to dictate how states could interact with one another
B) to formally declare independence from Great Britain
C) to establish a government to guide the colonies through the war
D) to appeal to foreign nations for assistance during the war

Question 12

Which regulation imposed import duties on textiles, coffee, indigo, and other goods?

A) the Stamp Act
B) the Sugar Act
C) the Tea Act
D) the Intolerable Acts

Question 13

What was a result of the First Continental Congress?

A) a rough draft of the Constitution
B) the buildup of an arsenal in Concord, Massachusetts
C) the Declaration of Independence
D) the Boston Tea Party

Question 14

Which concern did the delegates hope to address at the Constitutional Convention?

A) The Articles of Confederation had allowed the federal government to grow too strong.
B) States were beginning to recover economically from the war, and taxation had to be considered.
C) The government was powerless to address the economic depression that had set in.
D) Shays's Rebellion was growing too large and had spread from Massachusetts to other states.

Question 15

Imagine you are an American colonist living in New Jersey in 1776. You have always considered yourself a loyal subject of Britain, but the conflicts over taxation and the fighting at Lexington and Concord have left you unsure as to whether peaceful coexistence can be reestablished between Britain and the colonies. However, you have recently begun to read Thomas Paine's recently published Common Sense. What effect would this pamphlet most likely have on you?

A) It would cause you to reaffirm your past loyalties to Great Britain.
B) It would lead you to blame Parliament for the recent turmoil.
C) It would persuade you to turn to the cause of independence.
D) It would help you understand the idea of natural rights and the social contract.

Question 16

Which act passed in 1767 imposed taxes on a variety of items that were imported into the colonies?

A) the Townshend Acts
B) the Stamp Act
C) the Sugar Act
D) the Coercive Acts

Question 17

How did the colonists respond to the Stamp Act?

A) by throwing stamps overboard as they came into port
B) by paying the high rates with little protest
C) by boycotting British goods
D) by launching an attack on British soldiers

Question 18

What was the function of the Intolerable Acts passed by Britain?

A) to place import duties on wine, coffee, and sugar
B) to increase the cost of almanacs, newspapers, and legal documents
C) to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party
D) to impose an income tax on the colonists

Question 19

Why were the theories of John Locke so important during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence?

A) Locke's theories were based on the need for war to obtain true liberty and independence.
B) The delegates knew the king and Parliament were admirers of Locke's theories.
C) Locke's theories justified the colonists' decision to separate from Britain.
D) His writing was plain and simple, which made it easier for the average colonist to understand.

Question 20

What was the primary goal of the Constitutional Convention?

A) to discuss interstate commerce under the Articles of Confederation
B) to amend the Articles of Confederation to address several concerns
C) to formally declare independence from Great Britain
D) to appeal to various nations for financial support after the war

Question 21

If Rhode Island had attended the Constitutional Convention, which plan would they have most likely supported?

A) the Virginia Plan
B) the Anti-Slavery Plan
C) the New Jersey Plan
D) the Annapolis Plan

Question 22

A bicameral legislature in which one house would be based on proportional representation and the other house would feature equal representation was a feature of the ______.

A) New Jersey Plan
B) Annapolis Compromise
C) Connecticut Compromise
D) Virginia Plan

Question 23

Which was one feature of the New Jersey Plan?

A) a one-house legislature
B) a single executive
C) representation based on population
D) a central government with extensive authority

Question 24

Which state introduced a plan to change the Articles of Confederation in a way that would benefit large, more populous states?

A) Massachusetts
B) New York
C) Virginia
D) South Carolina

Question 25

Under the Virginia Plan, who had the power to check the power of the legislative branch?

A) the President of the United States
B) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
C) the House of Representatives
D) the Council of Revision

Question 26

Why were Northerners opposed to the Southern states counting slaves as free people in their population?

A) They did not want slaves to feel as though they were free persons in any way.
B) Doing so would boost the Southern representation in the legislature.
C) It would mean the North would be taxed at a higher rate than the South.
D) Doing so would signal the end of slavery and a likely economic collapse.

Question 27

Which statement best summarizes the Three-Fifths Compromise?

A) Five slaves would be counted as three free persons.
B) Slaves would only be considered three-fifths of a human being.
C) Three-fifths of the Southern states would be represented in Congress.
D) Three out of five Southern delegates would get to cast a vote in Congress.

Question 28

Why would a less-populous state like Maryland oppose the Virginia Plan?

A) It would give a single executive too much power.
B) It would keep the institution of slavery intact.
C) It would allow for large states to tax the small states.
D) It would give larger states more lawmaking power.

Question 29

Which statement best summarizes the concept of popular sovereignty?

A) The people retain ultimate power over the government.
B) The authority of the central government is divided into separate branches.
C) The federal government shares certain powers with the states.
D) Each branch of government checks the power of the others.

Question 30

Which feature of the New Jersey Plan made it more appealing and beneficial to smaller, less-populous states?

A) the unicameral legislature
B) a strong single executive
C) separation of powers
D) equal representation in Congress

Question 31

Thomas is a wealthy shipping merchant who is part of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Because of his profession, he is mostly concerned with how the new form of government will improve interstate and foreign commerce and wants to ensure that the plan that is adopted will benefit his interests. Which plan will Thomas likely favor?

A) the Great Compromise
B) the Virginia Plan
C) the New Jersey Plan
D) the Delaware Plan

Question 32

Which is an example of the core principle of popular sovereignty at work?

A) delegating certain authorities to Congress and other authorities to the president
B) the legislative branch checking the authority of the president
C) the establishment of the right to vote in the Constitution, but giving states power to control voting
D) free and regular elections of members of the House of Representatives

Question 33

The preamble, which begins with the phrase "We the People," embodies which core principle?

A) federalism
B) separation of powers
C) checks and balances
D) popular sovereignty

Question 34

Suppose you are a delegate at the Constitutional Convention as part of Virginia's representation. You have just proposed a plan to change the American system of government that includes ______.

A) a bicameral legislature
B) equal representation of states
C) a strong single executive
D) a single branch of government

Question 35

How did the Great Compromise address the concerns delegates had about a central government's power of taxation?

A) It implemented a different tax rate for different states based on a state's physical land size and general population.
B) It capped the percentage that citizens could be taxed at 10 percent for low-income citizens and 25 percent for wealthy citizens.
C) It prohibited the collection of property taxes and income taxes but permitted Congress to levy a payroll tax.
D) It required that all revenue bills originate in the legislative chamber that includes proportional representation.

Question 36

Suppose you are a delegate representing the state of New York at the Constitutional Convention. You recognize a need for a change in the Articles of Confederation, but want to be sure your states' interests are well-represented at the federal level. As such, you are likely to favor which plan?

A) the Annapolis Plan
B) the Virginia Plan
C) the New Jersey Plan
D) the Philadelphia Plan

Question 37

Which state proposed a plan that would counter the Virginia Plan?

A) Rhode Island
B) Connecticut
C) New Jersey
D) Maryland

Question 38

How does the principle of popular sovereignty align with John Locke's theory of a social contract?

A) The people, not the government, have the power to infringe upon their own rights.
B) The people may vote out any government officials who they feel violate their rights.
C) The government has the ability to determine if it is in the interest of the people to violate their rights.
D) The government has the power to violate the social contract only in matters of national security.

Question 39

Suppose a delegate from the North at the Constitutional Convention is trying to convince his fellow Northern delegates to allow the South to count slaves as free persons. Which point should this delegate make to support his argument?

A) Allowing slaves to count as free persons is only fair to the Southern states.
B) Doing so would lead to the quick abolition of slavery in all the states.
C) Counting slaves as free persons would increase the amount of taxes Southern states would pay.
D) The health of the economy depends on exports from the Southern states.

Question 40

Under the Virginia Plan, how would states be represented in the legislature?

A) Each state would receive one delegate to represent them.
B) Each state would receive a number of delegates based on that state's population.
C) Each state could send up to ten delegates to represent their interests.
D) Each state would receive two delegates in each house of Congress.

Question 41

Why did the Founders feel that it was critical to implement a system of separation of powers within the federal government?

A) Doing so would ensure that there would be no taxation without representation.
B) Americans would not accept a new form of government without clearly-defined roles of government.
C) Separation of powers would safeguard against abuses of power and tyranny at the federal level.
D) Establishing this system would hopefully inspire other nations to adopt a similar structure.

Question 42

Under which framework of government is power divided between the state and national levels of government?

A) separation of powers
B) checks and balances
C) federalism
D) popular sovereignty

Question 43

What are enumerated powers?

A) powers that are reserved for the states
B) powers that are granted to the president only
C) powers that are specifically listed in the Constitution
D) powers that are available only to the people

Question 44

In order for the Constitution to have any chance at being ratified to replace the Articles of Confederation, how many states were required to approve it?

A) seven
B) nine
C) ten
D) thirteen

Question 45

It is 1787, and Henry is a citizen of Rhode Island who is just now hearing about a new form of government political elites have been working on that would replace the Articles of Confederation. Henry is highly skeptical of this new form of government and does not see why the Articles of Confederation need to be completely overhauled. Henry is likely a(n) ______.

A) Federalist
B) Confederate
C) Republican
D) Anti-Federalist

Question 46

Which philosopher served as the inspiration for the separation of powers?

A) John Locke
B) Thomas Hobbes
C) Alexis de Tocqueville
D) Baron de Montesquieu

Question 47

What was the main reason the delegates conducted the Constitutional Convention under a strict code of secrecy?

A) to ensure that delegates could significantly expand the scope of government
B) to best establish a government that would benefit the delegates' personal interests
C) to prevent public opinion from pressuring delegates to avoid certain issues
D) to avoid being targeted by everyday citizens, most of whom supported the Articles of Confederation

Question 48

In 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. The Constitution grants the Senate the right to confirm presidential appointments to the Supreme Court during a process of advice and consent. The Senate narrowly confirmed Kavanaugh in a 50-48 vote. This is an example of which principle of American government?

A) federalism
B) popular sovereignty
C) checks and balances
D) social contract

Question 49

Under the system of checks and balances, what must happen in order for policies to work effectively?

A) A bill must successfully pass through both houses of Congress.
B) The legislative and executive branches must work with one another.
C) The judicial branch must approve policies that appear on its docket.
D) The states must unanimously approve a proposed policy.

Question 50

Under the Constitution, Congress is given the power to make rules and regulations, but it is the responsibility of the president to enforce those rules and regulations once they become law. This is an example of ______.

A) popular sovereignty
B) separation of powers
C) federalism
D) reserved powers

Question 51

The Constitution establishes the right to vote for all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. However, each state is responsible for determining its own systems of voting and who is on the ballot. What is this an example of?

A) popular sovereignty
B) federalism
C) separation of powers
D) checks and balances

Question 52

How did the structure of government under the new Constitution differ from the structure of government in Great Britain at the time?

A) The Constitution separated the powers of the government, while Parliament combined them.
B) The powers under Parliament were clearly defined, while those under the Constitution were not.
C) The Constitution granted the federal government more power than Parliament had.
D) It did not, many of the structures of government were either nearly identical or very similar. Please confirm whether this reads fine.

Question 53

The division of federal power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches is known as ______.

A) federalism
B) popular sovereignty
C) checks and balances
D) separation of powers

Question 54

The ability of states to handle concerns that are local to that state, while the federal government handles national concerns that affect society as a whole, is the basis for which system of the American government?

A) separation of powers
B) enumerated powers
C) checks and balances
D) federalism

Question 55

Which option best describes the Federalist position?

A) favorable to the newly proposed Constitution
B) in favor of altering, but not replacing, the Articles of Confederation
C) strongly opposed to the new Constitution
D) strongly in favor of the Articles of Confederation as-is

Question 56

Suppose Nathaniel was a delegate who represented Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention. The draft of the Constitution has been finished and is now being slowly made available to the states and the public for consideration and potential ratification. Nathaniel is proud of what he and his other delegates have done and is hopeful for ratification. Nathaniel can be classified as a(n) ______.

A) loyalist
B) Anti-Federalist
C) Federalist
D) Democratic-Republican

Question 57

Why were the ratification conventions held in the dead of winter?

A) It was mid-winter when the Constitutional Convention ended and they wanted to move quickly toward ratification.
B) Doing so would limit the participation of poor farmers who were resistant to a strong government.
C) Winter was when each state's legislatures met for the last time and they wanted a quick decision.
D) The delegates were concerned with the economic depression and the health of citizens during winter.

Question 58

What is the primary function of a system of checks and balances within the federal government?

A) to hold Congress accountable to their constituents who voted them in
B) to ensure that no one branch of government can grow too powerful
C) to alleviate the stress of governing at the federal level of government
D) to ensure that the states retain some of their powers

Question 59

What was the underlying belief informing the enumeration of powers in the Constitution?

A) The enumerated powers would serve as a bare minimum for the scope of power for Congress.
B) The enumerated powers would be available to both the states and the federal government.
C) The federal government would have the ability to expand its powers to carry out its duties.
D) The federal government would be limited to only those powers listed in the Constitution.

Question 60

Popular sovereignty under the Constitution reaffirmed the promise that ______.

A) only the wealthiest would be subject to taxation
B) the government would not grow too powerful
C) there would be no taxation without representation
D) all Americans, regardless of race or gender, could vote

Question 61

What was the main argument against the Constitution that the Anti-Federalists made during the ratification debates?

A) The Constitution would not be as effective as the Articles of Confederation.
B) The Articles of Confederation were a sufficient structure of government.
C) The new government would not have enough power to carry out the authorities listed.
D) The government would infringe upon citizens' rights since it lacked a bill of rights.

Question 62

How did those who were opposed to the Constitution during the ratification debates respond to the Federalist papers?

A) by boycotting pro-Federalist newspapers
B) by launching a media campaign of their own
C) by refuting each point during public debates
D) by conceding to ratification

Question 63

Why was the Anti-Federalist argument in favor of a bill of rights so effective?

A) Several states already had a bill of rights in their own constitutions.
B) The inclusion of a bill of rights was supported by most Federalists, as well.
C) The argument drew upon the only good aspect of the Articles of Confederation.
D) The Constitution otherwise lacked any real limits on the federal government.

Question 64

If an amendment to the Constitution is not successfully proposed in Congress, what is another way the amendment can be proposed?

A) a ballot measure in the next presidential election
B) direct proposal to the president by a group of interested individuals
C) formal presentation by the president to the Supreme Court's consideration
D) a national convention of states called by state legislatures

Question 65

The rights included in the bill of rights can be classified as ______.

A) only applying to men who owned property
B) rights that all people should be entitled to
C) temporary and capable of being rescinded
D) arbitrary and thus illegitimate in some respects

Question 66

During the period of initial settlement in the colonies, many of those who came over did so to escape religious persecution. America welcomed those from various religions, including Quakers, Lutherans, and Puritans. This tradition of religious acceptance continued after the Constitution was ratified through the passage of which amendment?

A) the First Amendment
B) the Fourth Amendment
C) the Sixth Amendment
D) the Tenth Amendment

Question 67

Abigail is a colonist in the late 1780s and has been hearing a variety of things, good and bad, about the proposed Constitution. While she is not necessarily a fan of the Articles of Confederation, she is also unsure of a strong central government and does not want a repeat of the tyrannical Great Britain. Which Federalist Paper should Abigail read to best alleviate her fears?

A) Federalist No. 10
B) Federalist No. 15
C) Federalist No. 46
D) Federalist No. 78

Question 68

Suppose an amendment that would place limits on immigration and only admit applicants based on merit and skill has been successfully proposed by Congress. What must happen next for the amendment to be ratified to the Constitution?

A) It must be presented to the president to sign into law.
B) It must be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures.
C) It must be approved by one-half of the Senate.
D) It must be voted upon by the people during the next election.

Question 69

What role do the states play in the formal amendment process?

A) State legislatures have the power to repeal an amendment with a unanimous vote.
B) State legislatures are the only institutions that are involved in both the proposal and ratification process.
C) The state legislatures are able to propose an amendment with a simple majority vote.
D) Since Congress was granted lawmaking authority, state legislatures are responsible for passing amendments.

Question 70

Why is the formal amendment process so long and difficult?

A) to protect the Constitution from being changed with every whim of the people
B) to ensure that the Constitution would remain essentially unchanged
C) to prevent the government from infringing upon the rights of the people
D) to encourage the people to consider other methods of change first

Question 71

How were the supporters of the Constitution able to alleviate the fears and state the benefits of the Constitution so effectively during the ratification debates?

A) by holding the Constitutional Convention publicly
B) by touring to each state to answer questions
C) by publishing a series of persuasive essays
D) by stoking fears of a renewal of British rule

Question 72

In order for an amendment to be ratified, how many special ratification conventions held in the states must approve the amendment?

A) one-half
B) two-thirds
C) three-fourths
D) all 50 states

Question 73

How did James Madison initially feel about adding a bill of rights to the Constitution?

A) He believed it would be incomplete and allow for infringement of other rights.
B) He was one of the few Federalists who strongly favored a bill of rights.
C) He did not see how it would keep a government from infringing on individual rights.
D) He was only in favor of protecting certain rights under the Constitution.

Question 74

How did Thomas Jefferson justify the addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution to James Madison?

A) He stated that they should do whatever necessary to secure ratification.
B) He explained that it was critical to secure whatever rights they could.
C) He argued that not adding a bill of rights would lead to certain anarchy.
D) He suggested that the bill of rights could always be removed later.

Question 75

The argument that a bill of rights would be incomplete and therefore invite the government to infringe upon any rights not listed in it was central to which of the Federalist Papers?

A) Federalist No. 10
B) Federalist No. 46
C) Federalist No. 51
D) Federalist No 84

Question 76

How many votes are required in Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution?

A) half of both the Senate and the House of Representatives
B) two-thirds of the Senate and the House of Representatives
C) three-quarters of the Senate and the House of Representatives
D) a unanimous vote of the Senate and the House of Representatives

Question 77

Imagine a new amendment lowering the voting age to 16 has been proposed and has secured the necessary votes in the House of Representatives. How many votes must be secured in the Senate for the amendment to proceed to the ratification stage?

A) 33
B) 50
C) 67
D) 100

Question 78

According to the Constitution, how many state legislatures must call for a national convention for an amendment to be proposed?

A) a simple majority
B) two-thirds
C) three-quarters
D) all of them

Question 79

James Madison addressed the issue of factions in which Federalist Paper?

A) Federalist No. 10
B) Federalist No. 46
C) Federalist No. 51
D) Federalist No. 69

Question 80

How did James Madison support the claim that the Constitution would protect against government abuses of power in Federalist No. 51?

A) by reassuring citizens that states will retain sovereignty under federalism
B) by outlining the government's division into separate branches and levels
C) by pointing out the many failures of the Articles of Confederation
D) by describing the nature of the executive and how it differs from Britain