View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the original proposal for the residency requirement for citizenship?
(a) 14 years residence.
(b) 2 years residence.
(c) American birth.
(d) 7 years residence.

2. What did "Federal Farmer" say the framers of the Constitution ultimately wanted?
(a) To tax the rich.
(b) To create monarchy.
(c) To abolish the states.
(d) To subdue slavery.

3. What method of ratification did Oliver Ellsworth advocate?
(a) Ratification by state legislature.
(b) Ratification by special conventions in each state.
(c) Ratification national referendum.
(d) Ratification by straw poll.

4. What did Benjamin Franklin say about supporters of the residency requirement for citizenship?
(a) He said that delegates were exaggerating the threat of European immigration.
(b) He said that delegates were opening the floodgates to a tide of poor workers by opening restrictions on immigration.
(c) He said that delegates were understating the ease with which people assimilate into American culture.
(d) He said that delegates were cutting off sources of new talent by limiting immigration.

5. What limitation did delegates try to place on suffrage?
(a) Race restrictions.
(b) Landowner restrictions.
(c) Literacy restrictions.
(d) National origin restrictions.

6. How did Patrick Henry describe fear?
(a) As the passion of slaves.
(b) As the enemy to reason.
(c) As the paralyzing emotion.
(d) As the restraint of the wise.

7. What was the vote tally when the Pennsylvania Convention voted on the Constitution?
(a) 51-18.
(b) 35-34.
(c) 36-33.
(d) 46-23.

8. What did "Publius" argue regarding the fear of a centralized government?
(a) He argued that a central government would be more efficient than a number of state governments.
(b) He argued that checks and balances would lead to government paralysis.
(c) He argued that large nations are less dangerous than quarrelling small states.
(d) He argued that a centralized government would distribute the wealth more effectively.

9. What symbol did Benjamin Franklin remark on, on the President's chair?
(a) An eagle on the seat.
(b) An ocean and a ship.
(c) A sun painted on the back.
(d) A pine tree.

10. What did James Wilson argue regarding the abolition of trial by jury at the federal level?
(a) He said that there would not be many cases where this applied.
(b) He said that trial by military tribunal was just as fair.
(c) He said it was not a general problem.
(d) He said that it would be compensated by strong protections at the state level.

11. What fear kept the delegates from approving the Constitution draft and going home?
(a) Fear that slavery will divide the nation.
(b) Fear that Britain will ally with Spain against America.
(c) Fear that the states are conspiring against the federal government.
(d) Fear that the federal government has too much power.

12. What did Madison advocate concerning the election or appointment of the executive?
(a) Appointment by the Supreme Court would be best.
(b) Appointment by an electoral college would be best.
(c) Election by the people would hurt the public interest.
(d) Election by Congress would hurt the public interest.

13. Who was DeWitt in reality?
(a) A New York Anti-Federalist.
(b) A Massachusetts Anti-Federalist.
(c) A Rhode Island Federalist.
(d) A Virginian Anti-Federalist.

14. What imbalance gave James Madison cause for worry about ratification in the states?
(a) The disparity between East Coast states and frontier territories.
(b) The disparity between landowners and laborers.
(c) The disparity between Northern and Southern state interests.
(d) The disparity between national and state interests.

15. What was the Pennsylvania dissenters' primary objection to the Constitution?
(a) The lack of a bill of rights.
(b) The strength of the federal government.
(c) A free government cannot govern so large and disparate an area.
(d) The lack of restrictions on the government's ability to tax the people.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does James Madison argue on the question of suffrage?

2. Who was "Brutus"?

3. What compromise did the Northeast states reach with Georgia and South Carolina over slavery?

4. What did "Federal Farmer" see as a danger in the Constitution?

5. What did "Centinel" argue on the danger of checks and balances?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 811 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample