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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What deliberative body created a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?
(a) The Senate.
(b) The Supreme Court.
(c) The Congress.
(d) A grand committee.

2. What did William Paterson offer the convention?
(a) The Virginia Plan.
(b) The Great Compromise.
(c) The New Jersey Plan.
(d) The Missouri Compromise.

3. What must the government use its power to protect the people from, in James Madison's opinion?
(a) Foreign influence.
(b) The government itself.
(c) Corruption.
(d) Big businesses.

4. What did James Madison support?
(a) A strong federal government.
(b) Strong state governments.
(c) A system of checks and balances.
(d) A government of businesses.

5. Who was particularly concerned about the Virginia Plan?
(a) Southern states.
(b) Large states.
(c) Populous states.
(d) Small states.

6. What subject were the delegates debating in Chapter 6?
(a) Whether the executive should be singular or plural.
(b) Whether the federal government should oversee state laws.
(c) Who should be eligible to vote in elections.
(d) Whether government officers should receive pay.

7. What kind of rulers did James Madison believe the country needed?
(a) Old world aristocrats.
(b) Leaders with frontier experience.
(c) Innocent, smart individuals.
(d) Wise, virtuous individuals.

8. What power was missing from the Articles?
(a) The power to conduct war.
(b) The power to regulate foreign trade.
(c) The power to amend the Articles.
(d) Executive power.

9. What did the delegates debate concerning state laws?
(a) Whether the federal government could control state laws.
(b) Whether state laws could govern inter-state trade.
(c) Whether the states could allow the death penalty.
(d) Whether state laws could set precedent for federal laws.

10. What did Alexander Hamilton want to protect the executive from?
(a) Assassination.
(b) Foreign influence.
(c) Popular sentiment.
(d) Corruption.

11. Why did delegates argue for a small senate?
(a) They thought it would give the large states fair representation.
(b) They thought it would make Senators more intimate and therefore more willing to compromise.
(c) They thought it would make for debate that is more dignified.
(d) They thought it would limit the influence of the executive.

12. What did a legitimate government require, in James Madison's opinion?
(a) Direct democracy.
(b) Freedom from debt.
(c) Aristocrats.
(d) A strong military.

13. What thoughts did Mr. Madison express on the topic of elections during debate at the convention?
(a) He said that elections are essential for free government.
(b) He said that elections are a step in dissolving government.
(c) He said that elections are too important to trust to the people.
(d) He said that elections could be bought too easily to be trusted.

14. What did George Mason argue in the debate of June 4?
(a) He argued for an elected executive.
(b) He argued for a unified executive.
(c) He argued against a unified executive.
(d) He argued for an appointed executive.

15. What was Mr. Wilson's feeling about the compromise?
(a) He felt that elections were not accurate indications of the country's needs.
(b) He felt that popular participation would weaken government.
(c) He felt that majority rule alone could legitimize government.
(d) He felt that appointed leaders were better suited for the work of governing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Madison and Jefferson want to do about judges?

2. What was the objection to constitutional monarchy at the constitutional convention?

3. What did Mr. Paterson argue about the New Jersey Plan?

4. What were Americans and Britons discussing a great deal during the 1770s?

5. What did Madison stress in his letter to George Washington?

(see the answer keys)

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