New Government: Constitution & Bill of Rights — Practice Quiz
A US History cheat sheet for New Government: Constitution & Bill of Rights — every key formula with its symbols defined — plus a medium-level practice quiz to test recall.
Formulas & key concepts
First US constitution; created a weak central government with no power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws
Where: States held most power; "League of Friendship"
Armed uprising of farmers in Massachusetts protesting high taxes and debt; exposed weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
Where: Led by Daniel Shays; convinced leaders of need for stronger central government
Meeting in Philadelphia to revise Articles of Confederation; resulted in drafting of new US Constitution
Where: Presided over by George Washington; held in secrecy
Proposal for strong central government with bicameral legislature based on population; favored large states
Where: Proposed by James Madison
Proposal for unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state; favored small states
Where: Proposed by William Paterson
Agreement creating bicameral legislature: House of Representatives (population-based) and Senate (equal representation)
Where: Proposed by Roger Sherman
Agreement that 3/5 of enslaved population would count for taxation and representation purposes
Where: Addressed conflict between Northern and Southern states over slavery
System of government dividing power between national (federal) government and state governments
Where: Delegated powers (federal), Reserved powers (states), Concurrent powers (shared)
Division of government into three branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial) to prevent tyranny
Where: Concept from Enlightenment thinker Montesquieu
System where each branch of government can limit powers of others (e.g., veto, impeachment, judicial review)
Where: Ensures no single branch becomes too powerful
Supporters of ratification of Constitution; favored strong central government
Where: Leaders: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
Opponents of ratification; feared strong central government would threaten individual rights and state sovereignty
Where: Leaders: Patrick Henry, George Mason; demanded Bill of Rights
Series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay arguing for ratification of Constitution
Where: Key source for interpreting original intent of Constitution
First 10 amendments to Constitution; guaranteed individual rights and limited federal power
Where: Drafted by James Madison to satisfy Anti-Federalist demands
Guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
Where: Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause
Right to keep and bear arms
Where: Context of "well-regulated militia"
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; requires warrants based on probable cause
Where: Right to privacy
Rights of accused: due process, protection against self-incrimination (right to remain silent), double jeopardy
Where: "I plead the Fifth"
Powers not delegated to federal government are reserved to states or people
Where: Basis of states' rights
First US President; established precedents like Cabinet, two-term limit, and neutrality in foreign affairs
Where: Unanimously elected
First Secretary of Treasury; architect of US financial system (National Bank, assumption of state debts)
Where: Leader of Federalist Party
First Secretary of State; opposed Hamilton's financial plans; favored agrarian republic and strict interpretation of Constitution
Where: Leader of Democratic-Republican Party
Proposals to stabilize economy: assume state debts, create National Bank, protective tariffs, excise tax on whiskey
Where: Aim: establish credit and encourage manufacturing
Uprising of farmers in Pennsylvania against whiskey tax; crushed by federal troops led by Washington
Where: Demonstrated strength of new federal government to enforce laws
Washington's declaration that US would remain neutral in conflict between Britain and France
Where: Set precedent for US foreign policy
Treaty with Britain to settle post-Revolutionary issues; unpopular but maintained peace and trade
Where: British agreed to leave frontier forts but continued impressing sailors
Treaty with Spain granting US navigation rights on Mississippi River and right of deposit at New Orleans
Where: Vital for western farmers
Warned against "entangling alliances" (foreign entanglements) and dangers of political parties (factions)
Where: Published in newspapers; guided US policy for generations
Second US President; Federalist; faced Quasi-War with France and domestic political unrest
Where: First president to live in White House
Diplomatic incident where French officials demanded bribe from US negotiators; led to Quasi-War
Where: Slogan: "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute"
Laws passed by Federalists restricting rights of immigrants and critics of government; targeted Democratic-Republicans
Where: Violated First Amendment; led to Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Statements drafted by Jefferson and Madison arguing states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws
Where: Response to Alien and Sedition Acts; asserted states' rights
Jefferson defeated Adams; "Revolution of 1800" marked peaceful transfer of power between political parties
Where: Exposed flaw in Electoral College (tie between Jefferson and Burr)
Practice quiz
What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
- It created a strong executive branch with veto power.
- It established a powerful national court system.
- It lacked the power to tax or regulate interstate trade.
- It allowed states to form their own independent foreign policies.
Answer: It lacked the power to tax or regulate interstate trade.
Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787) primarily highlighted which of the following issues with the Articles of Confederation?
- The need for a national Bill of Rights.
- The inability of the federal government to effectively respond to domestic unrest.
- The excessive power of the judicial branch.
- The lack of a clear process for admitting new states.
Answer: The inability of the federal government to effectively respond to domestic unrest.
The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention resolved the debate over:
- The abolition of slavery.
- The method of electing the President.
- Representation in the national legislature.
- The establishment of a national bank.
Answer: Representation in the national legislature.
The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed the issue of:
- How to count enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation.
- The division of power between the executive and judicial branches.
- The process for amending the Constitution.
- The regulation of interstate commerce.
Answer: How to count enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation.
The principle of 'checks and balances' in the US Constitution is designed to:
- Ensure that states retain more power than the federal government.
- Prevent any single branch of government from becoming too powerful.
- Allow for direct democracy in legislative decisions.
- Guarantee equal representation for all states in Congress.
Answer: Prevent any single branch of government from becoming too powerful.
A primary concern of the Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the US Constitution was that it:
- Did not adequately protect individual rights from a strong central government.
- Gave too much power to the individual states.
- Failed to establish a national currency.
- Would lead to an immediate war with Great Britain.
Answer: Did not adequately protect individual rights from a strong central government.
The Bill of Rights (1791) was added to the Constitution primarily to:
- Establish a national banking system.
- Define the powers of the President.
- Protect individual liberties and satisfy Anti-Federalist concerns.
- Create a system of federal courts.
Answer: Protect individual liberties and satisfy Anti-Federalist concerns.
Which of the following was a key component of Alexander Hamilton's financial plan for the United States?
- Eliminating all federal taxes.
- Establishing a national bank and assuming state debts.
- Promoting an agrarian economy over manufacturing.
- Forming permanent alliances with European powers.
Answer: Establishing a national bank and assuming state debts.
The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was significant because it:
- Led to the immediate repeal of the excise tax on whiskey.
- Demonstrated the weakness of the new federal government under the Constitution.
- Showed the federal government's ability to enforce its laws and maintain order.
- Resulted in a major diplomatic crisis with France.
Answer: Showed the federal government's ability to enforce its laws and maintain order.
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798-1799) were a direct response to which federal legislation?
- Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey.
- The Proclamation of Neutrality.
- The Alien and Sedition Acts.
- Jay's Treaty.
Answer: The Alien and Sedition Acts.
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