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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 powers did Mr. Mason argue the federal judiciary should not have?

2. What did Rhode Island propose in its ratification process?

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

4. How extensive were the changes the delegates made to the first draft of the Constitution?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the "Federal Farmer's" arguments regarding ratification?

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

3. What was James Madison's position on the election of the executive?

4. What were the proposals for the requirements for citizenship?

5. What was Mr. Gerry's objection to the Constitution?

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

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

8. What was dropped from the draft of the Constitution?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Which of the later amendments to the Constitution were anticipated by delegates and critics of the Constitution during the ratification process? Describe the political and historical context that finally brought about the amendment. Why was 1787 the wrong time for the amendment?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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