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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who was the "Federal Farmer"?
(a) James Madison.
(b) Melancton Smith.
(c) Horace DeWitt.
(d) Mr. Mason.

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

3. What was DeWitt arguing against in his essays?
(a) Taxation.
(b) Representation by state.
(c) An executive for life.
(d) Energetic central government.

4. How extensive were the changes the delegates made to the first draft of the Constitution?
(a) Not extensive at all.
(b) The draft was almost entirely rewritten.
(c) Revisions separated the branches of government.
(d) Revisions gave the Congress veto power over presidential appointments.

5. What did Rhode Island propose to ban?
(a) Political contributions from businesses.
(b) Restrictions on inter-state trade.
(c) Checks and balances.
(d) Standing armies in peacetime.

6. What did Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island propose during their ratification discussions?
(a) Abolition of slavery.
(b) Abolition of alcohol.
(c) Regulation of state laws.
(d) A bill of rights.

7. What reason did Alexander Hamilton give for ratification of the Constitution?
(a) Good government needs to be deliberative.
(b) Good government needs to be energetic.
(c) Good government cannot compete with subordinate governments.
(d) Good government needs to be representative.

8. Where else did the question of proposing limitations arise, besides the debate over suffrage?
(a) Qualifications for holding office.
(b) Requirements for serving in the military.
(c) Qualifications for traveling abroad.
(d) Qualifications for owning property.

9. What was Mr. Mason's fear regarding the House of Representatives?
(a) He feared that it would not be able to compete with the Senate.
(b) He feared that it would be run by illiterate farmers.
(c) He feared that it did not have enough power to combat the executive.
(d) He feared that it was not truly representative.

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

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

12. What did "Brutus" say about the danger of trying to govern a large area?
(a) It would require too many bureaucrats.
(b) It would create tyranny.
(c) It would lead to wars.
(d) It would be expensive and inefficient.

13. What powers did Mr. Mason argue the federal judiciary should not have?
(a) The power to amend executive orders.
(b) The power to oversee the executive.
(c) The power to change state laws.
(d) The power to amend taxes.

14. What did "Centinel" argue on the danger of a centralized government?
(a) The Constitution will threaten liberty.
(b) Taxation will be worse with a central tax collector.
(c) Class mobility will decrease, as the central government raises taxes.
(d) States will have to fend for themselves if they oppose the national government.

15. What was James Wilson calling for in his speech to the Pennsylvania legislature?
(a) Judiciary oversight of the executive.
(b) Revision of the Constitution.
(c) Ratification of the Constitution.
(d) States rights.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Massachusetts propose in its ratification process?

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

3. How many delegates signed the Constitution?

4. What did James Madison worry about concerning ratification in the states?

5. What method of ratification did Mason and Madison advocate?

(see the answer keys)

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