Unit 4 Constitution Origins Quiz

Before the Constitution could become official, it had to be ratified. What does ratify mean?

• To compromise

• To debate

• To disagree

• To approve

Why did the Anti-Federalists want a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

• They wanted to preserve states’ rights over a strong federal government.

• They wanted to limit Congress’ ability to raise taxes.

• They wanted a guarantee that individual freedoms would be protected.

• They wanted to make sure there were checks and balances in government.

Popular sovereignty is expressed in which of the lines from the constitution?

• We the People

• Promote the General Welfare

• Secure the Blessings of Liberty

• Provide for the Common Defense

Why was it a weakness that Congress could not regulate commerce (trade)?

• Not having an executive branch made it difficult to enforce laws.

• Not having a judicial branch made it difficult to punish crimes.

• Congress imposing taxes put an unequal burden on the poor.

• Each state could impose its own duties (tariffs) which resulted in decreased trade.

Why did the Founders include the phrase, "To provide for the common defense"?

• The Founders wanted to limit the use of a military

• The Founders wanted to improve national security

• The Founders wanted to establish rules for the nation's military

• The Founders wanted to engage in foreign wars

The Bill of Rights addressed which concern of the Anti-Federalists?

• that the Constitution gave power to a federal government

• that there was no guarantee that individual freedoms would be protected

• that the legislative and executive branch had too much power

• that the country was too large to have a central government

Which two answers best describe weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?

• State representatives could only serve for a limited amount of time.

• The entire legislature had to agree for new taxes to be collected.

• All thirteen states needed to agree on amendments in order for them to pass.

• The national government was not able to collect taxes

What was a weakness that Shays' Rebellion revealed about the Articles of Confederation?

• The central government could not handle a crisis

• Each state had its own currency

• None. The central government was able to handle the rebellion.

• There was no national court system

Which was NOT a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• All 13 states had to agree to amend the Articles

• The central government could not tax

• The central government could not regulate trade

• There was a strong executive branch that could enforce laws

Who wrote 87 letters that were published in newspapers as an effort to gain support to ratify the Constitution?

• The Anti-Federalists

• The central government

• The people

• The Federalists