Question 1

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were,for the most part

Accepted Answer

The answer of  The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were,for...

Question 2

The Great Compromise finally allocated representation on the basis of

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. Representation in the House was based on population, while each state had equal representation in the Senate regardless of population. This compromise was necessary to satisfy both larger and smaller states and ultimately led to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Option A incorrectly implies both houses have population-based representation, while options B and D incorrectly imply both houses have equal representation. Option E is incorrect because C is the correct choice.

Question 3

The state of affairs in Pennsylvania seemed to suggest that

Accepted Answer

The passage highlights the chaos and instability within Pennsylvania's government, indicating that democracy and tyranny may not be too far apart from each other. This suggests that the state of affairs in Pennsylvania is not reflective of a successful state constitution or a secure confederation. The passage does not provide enough information to support choices A, B, C, or E.

Question 4

The "state of nature" refers to

Accepted Answer

The state of nature refers to a theoretical condition in which there is no government or societal structure. This concept is often used in political philosophy to consider the nature of humanity and what type of government is necessary for societal order.

Question 5

The New Jersey Plan was a reaction by some states primarily to the fear that

Accepted Answer

The New Jersey Plan was proposed by smaller states who were concerned that the Virginia Plan gave too much power to larger or more populous states. This fear is reflected in option D, which states that the Virginia Plan gave too much power to populous states. Therefore, D is the best choice.

Question 6

The Constitutional Convention delegates' defense of liberty as a natural right was derived from the writings of the philosopher

Accepted Answer

John Locke's writings, particularly his Second Treatise on Government, greatly influenced the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in their belief in individual natural rights, including life, liberty, and property. Locke argued that government's role was to protect these fundamental rights, and the American founders incorporated this idea into the framework of the Constitution.

Question 7

The Great Compromise refers to the

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was an agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It proposed a bicameral legislature, with the creation of both the Senate (representing the states equally) and the House of Representatives (based on population). This compromise helped to resolve the issue of representation in the newly-formed United States government.

Question 8

The Massachusetts constitution adopted in 1780 was

Accepted Answer

The Massachusetts constitution adopted in 1780 was weak and undemocratic. It gave the governor and the legislature too much power, and it did not protect the rights of the people.

Question 9

The Pennsylvania constitution adopted in 1776 was

Accepted Answer

The Pennsylvania constitution adopted in 1776 was considered strong and democratic for its time, as it included features like a unicameral legislature and a form of executive council rather than a single governor, aiming to distribute power more evenly among the people.

Question 10

Pennsylvania's government was considered "radically democratic" because it featured no

Accepted Answer

Pennsylvania's government was considered "radically democratic" because it featured no governor, which was a significant departure from the more centralized forms of government seen in other colonies at the time. This lack of a central executive figure meant that power was more evenly distributed among the legislature and the people, making it more democratic in nature.

Question 11

Which of the following is a key difference between the Virginia Plan and the present-day American government?

Accepted Answer

In the Virginia Plan, the president was not elected by the people, but rather by the legislature.

Question 12

This plan presented at the Constitutional Convention called for a bicameral legislative body with states' representation in each house based on population.

Accepted Answer

The plan described is the Virginia Plan, which was proposed by Edmund Randolph and supported by James Madison. It called for a two-house legislature, with representation in both houses based on population. This plan was eventually modified and combined with the New Jersey Plan to create the Great Compromise.

Question 13

This rebellion occurred in January 1787 when a group of ex-Revolutionary War soldiers,fearful of losing their property to creditors and tax collectors,forcibly prevented the courts in western Massachusetts from sitting.

Accepted Answer

This rebellion is known as Shays's Rebellion, named after its leader, Daniel Shays. The rebellion was a response to high taxes and debt that the farmers in western Massachusetts were facing. In an attempt to block debt collection and foreclosures, Shays and his followers went on to attack courthouses and prevent judges from carrying out their duties.

Question 14

The central issue in the framing of the U.S.Constitution was that of

Accepted Answer

While all of the options listed were considerations during the framing of the Constitution, the central issue was how strong to make the national government. The Articles of Confederation created a weak national government, and the founders recognized the need for a stronger central government to address issues such as national defense and commerce. The debate over the balance of power between the states and the federal government was a key issue in the Constitutional Convention.

Question 15

The Philadelphia Convention deviated from its stated task when it

Accepted Answer

The Philadelphia Convention deviated from its stated task of amending the Articles of Confederation when they began debating and creating a new plan of government, known as the Virginia Plan. The Virginia Plan proposed a strong national government with three branches and a bicameral legislature, which was a departure from the more decentralized structure of the Articles of Confederation.

Question 16

The final report of the Constitutional Convention was approved on September 17,1787 by

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Question 17

This delegate at the Constitutional Convention suggested that the president be elected directly by the people.

Accepted Answer

James Wilson suggested that the president be elected directly by the people, rather than having Congress or state legislatures choose the president. This idea was included in the final draft of the Constitution as the Electoral College system.

Question 18

Each state would have had an equal number of votes in the legislature under the

Accepted Answer

The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of the state's population, which contrasts with the Virginia Plan that suggested representation based on population.

Question 19

The importance of the Great Compromise was that it

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a proposal at the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate where each state would have equal representation. This compromise ensured support for a strong national government from both small and large states. Therefore, the correct answer is E.

Question 20

The effect of Shays's Rebellion on attendance by delegates at the planned Constitutional Convention of 1787 was to

Accepted Answer

Shays's Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, particularly in dealing with internal unrest, which alarmed many leaders about the potential collapse of state governments. This concern motivated a greater number of delegates to attend the Constitutional Convention to address and rectify these weaknesses.

Quiz 2: The Constitution the Constitution