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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 was James Wilson calling for in his speech to the Pennsylvania legislature?

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

3. Who was "Brutus"?

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

5. What did "Brutus" say was the danger of a standing army?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Mr. Mason's objection to the Constitution?

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

3. Describe James Wilson's speech.

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

5. What was John DeWitt's argument regarding the will of the people?

6. What was DeWitt's position on ratification?

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

8. What positions did the delegates take on the election of the executive?

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

10. What was the Constitutional Convention's debate over the slave trade, and how was it resolved?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Describe the opposition to the ratification of the Constitution. What were the objections to the ratification of the Constitution? How unified were the opponents of ratification?

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