Question 1

Probably the most alarming characteristic of the new Constitution to the antifederalists who opposed it was the

Accepted Answer

Many antifederalists were concerned that the new Constitution did not include a bill of rights. They feared that without specific protections for individual liberties, the new federal government would become too powerful and infringe upon the rights of the people. It was only through the promise to add a bill of rights that many antifederalists were ultimately persuaded to support ratification of the Constitution.

Question 2

The Constitutional Convention addressed the North-South controversy over slavery through the

Accepted Answer

The three-fifths compromise was a solution to the North-South controversy over slavery at the Constitutional Convention. It determined that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of taxation and representation in Congress, which satisfied both Northern states who opposed slavery and Southern states who relied on the institution for their economy and political power. The other options either did not address slavery directly or were unrelated to the North-South controversy over it.

Question 3

The antifederalist camp included all of the following groups except

Accepted Answer

The antifederalist camp opposed the ratification of the Constitution because they believed it would give too much power to the central government and threaten individual liberties. Therefore, supporters of a strong central authority would not have been part of this camp.

Question 4

The federalists believe that the sovereignty of the people resided in which branch of the central government?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The federalists believe that the sovereignty of...

Question 5

Antifederalists believe that the sovereignty of the people resided in which branch of the central government?

Accepted Answer

Antifederalists believed that the sovereignty of the people resided in the legislative branch of the central government, as it is the branch that represents the people directly and holds the power to make and pass laws on behalf of the people. They were concerned that a strong executive branch or an independent judiciary would lead to the concentration of power and undermine the democratic principles of the government.

Question 6

Identify the following statement that is false.

Accepted Answer

The statement that the U.S. Constitution can be described as an elaborate legal code, common to other foreign countries' constitutions, like India, is false. The U.S. Constitution is unique and not based on any foreign legal code.

Question 7

The one branch of the government elected directly by the people is the

Accepted Answer

The House of Representatives is the only branch of the government that is directly elected by the people.

Question 8

Under the Constitution, the president of the United States was to be elected by a majority vote of the

Accepted Answer

The Constitution established the Electoral College as the method for electing the president. Each state has a certain number of electors who cast their votes based on the popular vote in their state. The candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) becomes the president.

Question 9

​The "small-state plan" or New Jersey Plan presented at the Constitutional Convention included all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​The "small-state plan" or New Jersey Plan...

Question 10

By their actions, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention manifested their common beliefs in all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were not believers in manhood-suffrage democracy, as they believed that only property owning white males should have the right to vote. This is evident in the fact that the original Constitution did not grant universal suffrage, and it took several amendments (such as the 15th, 19th, and 26th) to expand voting rights to non-white males, women, and younger citizens. Therefore, C is the correct answer as it is the only choice that the delegates did not manifest their common beliefs in.

Question 11

One of the enduring paradoxes of American history is that

Accepted Answer

Both conservatives and radicals have celebrated the democratic roots of the American Revolution, even though they have different interpretations of what that means. Conservatives emphasize the limited government and individual rights established by the Constitution, while radicals emphasize the popular sovereignty and participatory democracy of the revolutionary era. Liberals, while not excluded from this paradox, are not the only ones who have supported democracy in American history.

Question 12

​Each of the following multiple choice questions has multiple correct responses. Select the correct responses for each of the following questions.
-During the Revolutionary War, many states

Accepted Answer

During the Revolutionary War, many states moved away from the British model of governance and sought to create a more democratic society. The elimination of inheritance laws like primogeniture allowed for greater land distribution and increased economic opportunities for those who had previously been excluded. The extension of voting rights to adult women was not a common occurrence at this time, though some states did reduce property requirements for voting, which allowed more men to participate in the political process. The disestablishment of the Anglican Church was also a significant reform, as it ended the special privileges of the Church of England and paved the way for religious freedom. The outlawing of the importation of indentured servants was not directly related to democratic reforms, but rather to the economic realities of the time.

Question 13

The "large-state plan," or Virginia Plan, put forward in the Constitutional Convention

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Plan proposed representation in the House and Senate based on population, which ultimately became the basis for the final congressional framework of the Constitution. The plan also favored large states over small states, as they would have more power and influence based on their higher population.

Question 14

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention stipulated that the new Constitution be ratified by

Accepted Answer

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention stipulated that the new Constitution be ratified by state conventions. This was a deliberate decision by the framers to bypass state legislatures, which were seen as potentially hostile to the new Constitution. By requiring ratification by state conventions, the framers ensured that the Constitution would be considered by specially elected representatives who were not beholden to the existing political establishment. This was seen as a way to increase the chances that the new Constitution would be accepted by the people and help establish a stable, lasting government.

Question 15

The new Constitution established the idea that the only legitimate government was one based on

Accepted Answer

The new Constitution established the idea of popular sovereignty, which means that the people are the ultimate source of authority in government. This is reflected in the phrase "We the People" in the preamble, and the concept of "consent of the governed" is a key feature of the Constitution. A strong central government was certainly a goal, but only in service of the larger principle of democratic rule. Control by wealthier people was a concern of some of the Founders, but these concerns were addressed in part through the division of power between various branches of government. State authority was also recognized, but always subject to the overarching authority of the national government.

Question 16

Among other views, The Federalist, written during the ratification debate, argued that it was

Accepted Answer

The Federalist, a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, argued in favor of ratifying the new constitution, and one of their key arguments was that a republic could be extended over a large territory. The authors believed that the checks and balances built into the Constitution would prevent tyranny and safeguard individual liberties.

Question 17

The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention worked out an acceptable scheme for

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, determined that there would be a bicameral legislature with representation in the House of Representatives based on population and equal representation in the Senate for each state. This compromise resolved the conflict between small states who wanted equal representation and large states who wanted representation based on population.

Question 18

The idea that all tax measures should start in the House was made to appease

Accepted Answer

The idea that all tax measures should start in the House was made to appease the larger states with the most people. This was due to the fact that the House of Representatives is allocated based on population, giving more weight and representation to larger states. Therefore, the idea of starting tax measures in the House gave more power to the states with more people, appeasing them.

Question 19

Which of the following represents a political compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that was incorporated into the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The compromise in question was the agreement that the foreign slave trade would continue for a short period of time before Congress could prohibit it. This compromise helped to achieve a consensus among Southern and Northern states during the Constitutional Convention.

Question 20

According to the framers of the Constitution, the ultimate guarantor of liberty and justice was

Accepted Answer

The framers of the Constitution believed that the ultimate guarantor of liberty and justice was the virtue or moral character of the people. In order for a democratic system to work, the citizens had to possess the virtues of self-restraint, honesty, and civic-mindedness. This would ensure that the government would be run by responsible citizens who would be able to make informed decisions for the public good.

Quiz 9: The Confederation and the Constitution, 1776-1790