Creating the Constitution Quiz

According to the article, what was a primary fear of the members of Congress after declaring independence?

• That the states would go to war with each other.

• That a strong central government would threaten their rights.

• That a strong central government would threaten their rights and That the states would refuse to cooperate on any issue.

• That the states would refuse to cooperate on any issue.

What document created the 'firm league of friendship' described in the article?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The United States Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Treaty of Paris

What was the most significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation, according to the article?

• The inability of Congress to impose taxes.

• The inability of Congress to declare war.

• The inability to print money.

Match each phrase with the historical context or description it is associated with regarding the Articles of Confederation.

• Preamble phrase from the U.S. Constitution, not the Articles of Confederation

• A 'firm league of friendship'

• The phrase used in the Articles to describe the relationship among the states

• A 'rope of sand'

• James Madison's phrase for the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation

• A 'shaky foundation'

• Describes the weak and unstable basis of the Articles of Confederation

• A 'more perfect Union'

What was the initial goal of the meeting in 1787 that James Madison and other leaders attended?

• To declare war on Great Britain again.

• To form a new alliance with France.

• To revise the Articles of Confederation.

• To elect a new president for the country.

Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had in Congress.

• One vote per state.
• Two votes per state.
• Votes based on its population.
• Votes based on its size and wealth.

Why did James Madison feel worried about the future of the United States after the war for independence ended?

• Because he feared a return to British rule.

• Because he had failed to get the states to cooperate easily.

• Because he thought the Articles of Confederation were too strong.

• Because the nation was in a great deal of debt.

What was the result of the states frequently ignoring Congress’s requests for funds?

• The states were no longer allowed to print their own money.

• The national government was unable to effectively use its powers.

• The states all decided to create their own armies and navies.

• The Articles of Confederation were immediately thrown out.

A country governed by elected representatives

The 'Age of Reason' in 17th- and 18th-century Europe. Enlightenment thinkers emphasized using rational thought to discover truths about nature and society.