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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which delegate is vehemently opposed to the clause in the Virginia Resolves that gives the national legislature authority to veto laws they judge improper?

2. What is the Society of the Cincinnati?

3. Which delegate is the oldest?

4. Which delegate opens the Convention's "main business"?

5. How does Hamilton get named as a delegate to the Convention?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Convention remove the word "national" from the first Virginia Resolve?

2. How does the report of the Annapolis Commission lead to the meeting of the Convention?

3. What does the Virginia Resolves propose?

4. What are considered to be the disadvantages to having a single executive?

5. What is the difference between the European view of the forest and the American view of the forest?

6. What evidence does Bowen provide to show that the Convention delegates do not intend to reform society, but to create a government for society as it existed?

7. Why is there a secrecy rule at the Convention?

8. In Chapter Five, which Resolves are postponed for later discussion?

9. What are the terms of Hamilton's plan for a republican government?

10. What arguments do James Madison present in his rebuttal of the New Jersey plan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Where does the power reside in the relationship between the people and the government? In a well-crafted essay, compare the way the Articles of Confederation, the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Constitution all answer that question. What are the reasons for the different responses? How is the final choice for the Constitution made?

Essay Topic 2

George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin are all well-known figures in American history. Choose two of these men and write a well-crafted essay that describes their role or roles at the Convention and their impact on the final Constitution. Include a discussion of how each man is viewed by his contemporaries, being careful to support your work with evidence from Bowen's book or contemporary source.

Essay Topic 3

Convention delegates find many topics that cause controversy. In several instances, the best solution is a compromise. Identify three controversial topics, describe the source of the controversy, and explain how the delegates compromise to resolve the issue. Which compromise do you believe to be the most important? Provide evidence to support your answer.

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