Question 1

By far the most significant result of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was

Accepted Answer

The Annapolis Convention led to the call for the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia the following year, which ultimately produced the United States Constitution. This was a critical moment in American history, as it established the framework for the federal government and laid the foundation for the country's political system.

Question 2

The original stated purpose of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was

Accepted Answer

The original purpose of the Annapolis Convention was to discuss the issue of interstate commerce, which was a notable weakness under the Articles of Confederation. The Convention ultimately led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention the following year, which did result in the formation of a new government (not the original purpose of the Annapolis Convention). None of the other options provide an accurate depiction of the Annapolis Convention's original purpose.

Question 3

In opposition to the recommendations of the Virginia delegates during the Constitutional Convention, the New Jersey Plan advocated a single-chamber legislature with

Accepted Answer

The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral (single-chamber) legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population. This was in contrast to the Virginia Plan, which proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population. The New Jersey Plan was supported by smaller states who feared being dominated by larger states under the Virginia Plan, and ultimately led to the compromise of a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for each state.

Question 4

The Great Compromise provided for

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives elected by the people and the Senate chosen by state legislatures.

Question 5

The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 and had as its original purpose

Accepted Answer

The original purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to discuss and propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation to address its weaknesses.

Question 6

During the writing of the Constitution in 1787 some states had already abolished slavery while other states had large slave populations. Concerning slavery, the new U.S. Constitution

Accepted Answer

The new U.S. Constitution did not have any specific provisions about preserving or abolishing slavery. The issue was left up to individual states to decide.

Question 7

With the original Constitution completed on September 17, 1787, how many states were needed to ratify the new governmental structure in order for it to become operative?

Accepted Answer

Nine states were needed to ratify the new governmental structure in order for it to become operative. This ratification process took place from 1787 to 1790, with the Ninth State (New Hampshire) ratifying on June 21, 1788.

Question 8

The Great Compromise, (or the Connecticut Compromise) of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in essence saved the convention and created a new federal government. This compromise created a two-chamber legislature with

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature with one chamber, the House of Representatives, having representation based on each state's population and the other chamber, the Senate, having equal representation for each state. This compromise satisfied both the small and large states' concerns about fair representation in the new government.

Question 9

In the debates during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the Virginia Plan called for a two-chamber legislature. In allocating the number of representatives for each of the chambers, the Virginia delegation recommended

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Plan called for representation in Congress to be based on population, and the Virginia delegation recommended that this be the case for both chambers of the legislature. This was known as the "large state" plan, as it would give more power to the more populous states. The other options (A, B, D, and E) were not part of the Virginia Plan or the debates at the Constitutional Convention.

Question 10

Which of the 13 original states was so opposed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 that it refused to send a delegate, so the U.S. Constitution was written without its participation?

Accepted Answer

Rhode Island was the only state to not send a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The state was deeply suspicious of the proposed new government and feared that it would limit states’ rights and individual liberties. As a result, Rhode Island did not participate in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 11

When the call went out to all 13 state governments seeking their attendance at the Annapolis Convention in September 1786, how many states sent delegations?

Accepted Answer

Only five states sent delegations to the Annapolis Convention in 1786. These states were New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia.

Question 12

What was the significance of Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts in early 1787?

Accepted Answer

Shays's Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in dealing with internal conflicts and led to the realization that a stronger, more responsive federal government was necessary to maintain order and stability within the United States.

Question 13

The New Jersey Plan provided for

Accepted Answer

The answer of The New Jersey Plan provided for
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Question 14

The Articles of Confederation

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation relied on voluntary contributions from the states for funding, required a unanimous vote for any amendments to be made, and each state delegation only had one vote in the decision-making process. Therefore, options A, B, and C are all true.

Question 15

For the purpose of determining representation in the new Congress the slave-holding southern states

Accepted Answer

The slave-holding southern states wanted to count each slave as a whole person when determining representation in the new Congress. This would increase their representation and political power, despite the fact that slaves did not have voting rights. This issue was eventually resolved with the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation in the House of Representatives.

Question 16

Economic reasons for the Constitutional Convention included

Accepted Answer

All three options A, B, and C are true and were contributing economic factors for the Constitutional Convention. Option A refers to the impact of the Articles of Confederation on foreign trade, which led to a decrease in reputation and the inability to negotiate favorable trade deals. Option B refers to the Shays' Rebellion and other domestic economic uprisings that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation's ability to address economic issues. Option C refers to the economic downturn that followed the Revolutionary War and resulted in widespread debt and financial instability. All of these factors contributed to the push for a stronger federal government and the need for a new Constitution.

Question 17

The core principles of the Virginia Plan were

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Plan proposed a strong central government with a bicameral legislature, which included a House of Representatives elected by the population and a Senate elected by the House of Representatives. This plan sought to distribute power evenly between the national and state governments, while also ensuring that larger states had a greater say.

Question 18

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Accepted Answer

The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement made during the Constitutional Convention in which each slave was counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of taxation and representation in the House of Representatives. This compromise favored Southern states, as they had a larger enslaved population.

Question 19

The Virginia Plan provided for

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with the first house elected by the people and the second house selected by the first house, emphasizing representation based on population.

Question 20

A Founding Father who refused to attend the Constitutional Convention was

Accepted Answer

Patrick Henry believed that the convention would result in a government that would have too much power and restrict the rights of the people. He famously declared, "I smell a rat."

Quiz 2: The Founding and the Constitution