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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. What did the draft of the Constitution contain concerning slavery?

2. What did the convention call for on July 26?

3. What did Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island propose during their ratification discussions?

4. What did "Publius" argue regarding the fear of a centralized government?

5. What did the Pennsylvania dissenters recommend to the Constitutional Convention?

Short Essay Questions

1. What position did "Centinel" take regarding the ratification of the Constitution?

2. What did "Brutus" argue on the problem of representation in a large country?

3. Who objected to the Constitution and why did they object?

4. What was at issue as delegates debated the qualifications for suffrage?

5. What was added to the draft of the Constitution?

6. What did the dissenters say after losing the ratification vote in the Pennsylvania convention?

7. Describe Patrick Henry's first speech to the Virginia legislature.

8. How did Publius respond to Anti-Federalist concerns about tyranny in the Constitution?

9. Describe James Wilson's speech.

10. Describe Patrick Henry's second speech to the Virginia legislature.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. What are the main differences? What similarities survived the Constitutional Convention, and why did they survive?

Essay Topic 2

As the delegates were ready to sign the Constitution, Mr. Gerry and Mr. Mason both made objections and predicted dire consequences if the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government. Have their predictions come true? Have their concerns been borne out?

Essay Topic 3

What values and what practical considerations were written into the Constitution regarding the election of government officials? How did the current electoral system evolve from the first debates through the draft Constitution and then the ratification process? What were the dominant arguments on either side of the debate, and whose values were ultimately written into the Constitution?

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