Question 1

Two of the original thirteen states initially refused to ratify the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Shays's Rebellion demonstrated to many leading Americans the need for a more central government to ensure private liberty.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which statement is true about the system of presidential election under the original Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  If no candidate received a majority of the electoral ballots, the winner would be chosen by the Senate. 
B)  The president was chosen by debate in the House of Representatives, where discussion would continue until the representatives were unanimous in their choice of president. 
C)  The president's length of term was directly related to the proportion of votes he received. 
D)  The president was chosen by direct vote of the people. 
E)  Each elector cast votes for two candidates for president, and the second-place finisher would become vice president. 
A)  If no candidate received a majority of the electoral ballots, the winner would be chosen by the Senate. 
B)  The president was chosen by debate in the House of Representatives, where discussion would continue until the representatives were unanimous in their choice of president. 
C)  The president's length of term was directly related to the proportion of votes he received. 
D)  The president was chosen by direct vote of the people. 
E)  Each elector cast votes for two candidates for president, and the second-place finisher would become vice president.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of how the U.S. government in the 1790s dealt with Native Americans?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the Constitution counted all Indians toward representation in Congress, Indians received all rights and privileges that other Americans did. 
B)  Because the Constitution stated that Indian tribes were "domestic dependent nations," the government treated them just as it treated nations like Great Britain and France. 
C)  Henry Knox, the first secretary of war, pursued policies designed to exterminate Native Americans. 
D)  The U.S. government made treaties with them mainly to transfer land to itself or to the states. 
E)  No American leaders believed that Native Americans could assimilate into American society, so the government largely ignored Indians. 
A)  Because the Constitution counted all Indians toward representation in Congress, Indians received all rights and privileges that other Americans did. 
B)  Because the Constitution stated that Indian tribes were "domestic dependent nations," the government treated them just as it treated nations like Great Britain and France. 
C)  Henry Knox, the first secretary of war, pursued policies designed to exterminate Native Americans. 
D)  The U.S. government made treaties with them mainly to transfer land to itself or to the states. 
E)  No American leaders believed that Native Americans could assimilate into American society, so the government largely ignored Indians.

Question 5

As designed by the Constitution,

Accepted Answer

A)  the president was elected by popular vote. 
B)  senators were to serve two-year terms. 
C)  federal judges were appointed by the president, not elected by the people. 
D)  the congressional representatives were to be appointed by state legislatures. 
E)  the Supreme Court justices were to serve ten-year terms. 
A)  the president was elected by popular vote. 
B)  senators were to serve two-year terms. 
C)  federal judges were appointed by the president, not elected by the people. 
D)  the congressional representatives were to be appointed by state legislatures. 
E)  the Supreme Court justices were to serve ten-year terms.

Question 6

Alexander Hamilton proposed in the Constitutional Convention that the president and senators serve life terms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The three-fifths clause in the U.S. Constitution

Accepted Answer

A)  required that all revenue bills receive a three-fifths affirmative vote in the U.S. House. 
B)  gave the white South greater power in national affairs than the size of its free population warranted. 
C)  explicitly declared that slaves were not fully human and were therefore undeserving of legal rights. 
D)  made it easier to amend the Constitution than it had been to amend the Articles of Confederation. 
E)  expired in the year 1808 because of a key sectional compromise at the Constitutional Convention. 
A)  required that all revenue bills receive a three-fifths affirmative vote in the U.S. House. 
B)  gave the white South greater power in national affairs than the size of its free population warranted. 
C)  explicitly declared that slaves were not fully human and were therefore undeserving of legal rights. 
D)  made it easier to amend the Constitution than it had been to amend the Articles of Confederation. 
E)  expired in the year 1808 because of a key sectional compromise at the Constitutional Convention.

Question 8

Identify the three major ways that the U.S. Constitution addressed the institution of slavery. Would you say the Constitution was a proslavery or an anti-slavery document? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution addressed the inst

Question 9

What did James Madison propose allowing Congress to do, but was ultimately shot down?

Accepted Answer

A)  deal with foreign nations 
B)  levy taxes 
C)  regulate commerce 
D)  veto state laws 
E)  declare war 
A)  deal with foreign nations 
B)  levy taxes 
C)  regulate commerce 
D)  veto state laws 
E)  declare war

Question 10

The national land policy established in the 1780s had the greatest benefit for

Accepted Answer

A)  individual settlers. 
B)  private land companies. 
C)  British officials. 
D)  Native Americans. 
E)  immigrants. 
A)  individual settlers. 
B)  private land companies. 
C)  British officials. 
D)  Native Americans. 
E)  immigrants.

Question 11

How did southern states react to the Constitution's provisions regarding slavery?

Accepted Answer

A)  South Carolina and Georgia immediately began importing increased numbers of Africans, because in twenty years the international slave trade could be constitutionally prohibited. 
B)  They refused to ratify the Constitution without assurances that a bill of rights would be added to protect their right to slave property. 
C)  The personal opposition of Jefferson and Madison to slavery prompted Virginia to oppose ratification at first. 
D)  They objected to the electoral college on the grounds that it ignored the number of slaves in their states and thereby reduced their power. 
E)  They were critical of the provision in Article I allowing African-Americans to be armed during wartime. 
A)  South Carolina and Georgia immediately began importing increased numbers of Africans, because in twenty years the international slave trade could be constitutionally prohibited. 
B)  They refused to ratify the Constitution without assurances that a bill of rights would be added to protect their right to slave property. 
C)  The personal opposition of Jefferson and Madison to slavery prompted Virginia to oppose ratification at first. 
D)  They objected to the electoral college on the grounds that it ignored the number of slaves in their states and thereby reduced their power. 
E)  They were critical of the provision in Article I allowing African-Americans to be armed during wartime.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of American national identity as envisioned by the Constitution of 1787?

Accepted Answer

A)  The document distinguished only between those defined as American citizens, who were entitled to constitutionally protected rights, and aliens, who were not so entitled. 
B)  The Constitution clearly states that persons of African descent could not be U.S. citizens, but that anyone of European or Asian descent could be. 
C)  The "people" were free Americans; Native Americans and "other persons," meaning African-American slaves, were not considered part of the political nation. 
D)  The Constitution expressly stated that only white men were entitled to the rights it delineated. 
E)  The Constitution made clear that only civic nationalism, not ethnic nationalism, defined American national identity. 
A)  The document distinguished only between those defined as American citizens, who were entitled to constitutionally protected rights, and aliens, who were not so entitled. 
B)  The Constitution clearly states that persons of African descent could not be U.S. citizens, but that anyone of European or Asian descent could be. 
C)  The "people" were free Americans; Native Americans and "other persons," meaning African-American slaves, were not considered part of the political nation. 
D)  The Constitution expressly stated that only white men were entitled to the rights it delineated. 
E)  The Constitution made clear that only civic nationalism, not ethnic nationalism, defined American national identity.

Question 13

The New Jersey Plan

Accepted Answer

A)  was mainly supported by the smaller, less populated states. 
B)  contained a gradual emancipation requirement that proved quite controversial. 
C)  was a thinly disguised attempt to resurrect monarchy in America. 
D)  found its greatest support from the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts delegations. 
E)  called for a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation in every way. 
A)  was mainly supported by the smaller, less populated states. 
B)  contained a gradual emancipation requirement that proved quite controversial. 
C)  was a thinly disguised attempt to resurrect monarchy in America. 
D)  found its greatest support from the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts delegations. 
E)  called for a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation in every way.

Question 14

When was the principle of "birthright citizenship" established?

Accepted Answer

A)  with the passage of the Naturalization Act of 1790 
B)  with the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 
C)  during the debate surrounding ratification of the Constitution 
D)  during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War 
E)  with the ratification of the Constitution 
A)  with the passage of the Naturalization Act of 1790 
B)  with the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 
C)  during the debate surrounding ratification of the Constitution 
D)  during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War 
E)  with the ratification of the Constitution

Question 15

In the 1780s, settlers in western areas such as Tennessee and Kentucky

Accepted Answer

A)  were especially attentive to what land belonged to Indians and purchased Indian land legally. 
B)  found that the soil was poor for growing cash crops such as tobacco or cotton and moved westward. 
C)  believed they had a right to take possession of western lands and use them as they saw fit. 
D)  were largely wealthy plantation owners who helped settle thriving trading towns along the rivers. 
E)  threatened civil war because they considered the Confederation Congress to be too powerful. 
A)  were especially attentive to what land belonged to Indians and purchased Indian land legally. 
B)  found that the soil was poor for growing cash crops such as tobacco or cotton and moved westward. 
C)  believed they had a right to take possession of western lands and use them as they saw fit. 
D)  were largely wealthy plantation owners who helped settle thriving trading towns along the rivers. 
E)  threatened civil war because they considered the Confederation Congress to be too powerful.

Question 16

By banning the importation of slaves by 1808 with the Constitution, what did critics of slavery hope to accomplish?

Accepted Answer

A)  They wanted accelerate the start of a civil war. 
B)  They wanted to weaken the shipbuilding industry in the United States. 
C)  They hoped cutting off the supply would eventually end slavery in the United States. 
D)  They hoped the national government would focus on developing manufacturing. 
E)  Their goal was to weaken the Quakers, who were critical of slavery. 
A)  They wanted accelerate the start of a civil war. 
B)  They wanted to weaken the shipbuilding industry in the United States. 
C)  They hoped cutting off the supply would eventually end slavery in the United States. 
D)  They hoped the national government would focus on developing manufacturing. 
E)  Their goal was to weaken the Quakers, who were critical of slavery.

Question 17

How did the Articles of Confederation compare to the Constitution in regard to sovereignty?

Accepted Answer

A)  Under the Articles, states had more autonomy, while the Constitution gave no powers to the states. 
B)  Under the Articles, states had more autonomy, while the Constitution gave some powers to the states. 
C)  Under the Articles, states had no power to run the country, while the Constitution gave more powers to the states. 
D)  Under the Articles, states had some power to run the country, while the Constitution gave more powers to the states. 
E)  Under both the Articles and the Constitution, the states and national government had equal power to run the country. 
A)  Under the Articles, states had more autonomy, while the Constitution gave no powers to the states. 
B)  Under the Articles, states had more autonomy, while the Constitution gave some powers to the states. 
C)  Under the Articles, states had no power to run the country, while the Constitution gave more powers to the states. 
D)  Under the Articles, states had some power to run the country, while the Constitution gave more powers to the states. 
E)  Under both the Articles and the Constitution, the states and national government had equal power to run the country.

Question 18

What does the omission of the word "slave" or "slavery" in the text of the original Constitution suggest about the founders?

Accepted Answer

A)  They wanted to end slavery as quickly as possible. 
B)  They felt a reference to slavery tainted American ideals of liberty and equality. 
C)  The institution of slavery was strictly an economic venture for them. 
D)  They did not want the Constitution to allow slavery. 
E)  They did not want slaves to see any references to themselves. 
A)  They wanted to end slavery as quickly as possible. 
B)  They felt a reference to slavery tainted American ideals of liberty and equality. 
C)  The institution of slavery was strictly an economic venture for them. 
D)  They did not want the Constitution to allow slavery. 
E)  They did not want slaves to see any references to themselves.

Question 19

As Benjamin Franklin left the room in which the Constitutional Convention was held, supposedly a woman asked him, "What have you men given us in there?" He replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." What do you think Franklin meant by that statement? Certainly think back to the idea of a virtuous citizenry that all the founding fathers believed was essential. Your response should pull from the writings of The Federalist as well.

Accepted Answer

Benjamin Franklin's statement, "A republ

Question 20

Approximately how many slaves were living in America by 1790?

Accepted Answer

A)  700,000 
B)  100,000 
C)  70,000 
D)  20,000 
E)  5,000 
A)  700,000 
B)  100,000 
C)  70,000 
D)  20,000 
E)  5,000

Exam 7: Founding a Nation, 1783-1791

Two of the original thirteen states initially refused to ratify the Constitution.

Shays's Rebellion demonstrated to many leading Americans the need for a more central government to ensure private liberty.

Which statement is true about the system of presidential election under the original Constitution?

Which of the following is true of how the U.S. government in the 1790s dealt with Native Americans?

As designed by the Constitution,

Alexander Hamilton proposed in the Constitutional Convention that the president and senators serve life terms.

The three-fifths clause in the U.S. Constitution

Identify the three major ways that the U.S. Constitution addressed the institution of slavery. Would you say the Constitution was a proslavery or an anti-slavery document? Explain your answer.

What did James Madison propose allowing Congress to do, but was ultimately shot down?

The national land policy established in the 1780s had the greatest benefit for

How did southern states react to the Constitution's provisions regarding slavery?

Which of the following is true of American national identity as envisioned by the Constitution of 1787?

The New Jersey Plan

When was the principle of "birthright citizenship" established?

In the 1780s, settlers in western areas such as Tennessee and Kentucky

By banning the importation of slaves by 1808 with the Constitution, what did critics of slavery hope to accomplish?

How did the Articles of Confederation compare to the Constitution in regard to sovereignty?

What does the omission of the word "slave" or "slavery" in the text of the original Constitution suggest about the founders?

Approximately how many slaves were living in America by 1790?

A New World

Beginnings of English America, 1607-1660

Creating Anglo-America, 1660-1750

Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire to 1763

The American Revolution, 1763-1783

The Revolution Within

Securing the Republic, 1790-1815

The Market Revolution, 1800-1840

Democracy in America, 1815-1840

The Peculiar Institution

An Age of Reform, 1820-1840

A House Divided, 1840-1861

A New Birth of Freedom: the Civil War, 1861-1865

What Is Freedom: Reconstruction, 1865-1877

Americas Gilded Age, 1870-1890

Freedoms Boundaries, at Home and Abroad, 1890-1900

The Progressive Era, 1900-1916

Safe for Democracy: the United States and World War I, 1916-1920

From Business Culture to Great Depression: The Twenties, 1920-1932

The New Deal, 1932-1940

Fighting for the Four Freedoms: World War II, 1941-1945

The United States and the Cold War, 1945-1953

An Affluent Society, 1953-1960

The Sixties, 1960-1968

The Conservative Turn, 1969-1988

From Triumph to Tragedy, 1989-2004

A Divided Nation

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