Name:_________________
New Nation Test KEY
Multiple Choice: Circle the answer choice that best answers each question.
1. What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
a. Congress could not force states to obey their laws, control trade, set up an army, or
create taxes or raise money.
b. Congress could not make peace treaties, control trade, set up an army, or create taxes or
raise money.
c. Congress could not force states to obey their laws, print or borrow money, set up an army,
or create taxes or raise money.
d. Congress could not force states to obey their laws, make treaties with other nations,
declare war, or create taxes or raise money.
2. What problems did the Articles of Confederation create for the states in the New Nation?
a. The Articles of Confederation could not make the states work together.
b. Each state had its own currency so trading was difficult.
c. Congress couldn’t pay its debts from the Revolutionary War.
d. All of the above.
3. The southern delegates wanted slaves to be counted as part of the states’ population so that
they would have more representatives in Congress. The other delegates said this wasn’t fair
because slaves were treated as property, not citizens. They delegates resolved this issue with
the Three Fifths Compromise. What did the Three Fifths Compromise say?
a. 5 slaves would be counted as 3 free people, and slave trade was allowed to continue until
1808.
b. Congress would be divided into three parts.
c. Slaves would be counted as part of the states’ population.
d. Representatives would not be given to the states based on the states’ population.
4. What had to be included in the constitution about states’ rights before the delegates would
ratify the constitution?
a. All rights of the states have to be included in the Bill of Rights.
b. Any state is allowed to separate from the union at any time if they ever want to, and any
rights not specifically given to the federal government in the Constitution belong to the
states.
c. Delegates in the states have the right to meet and ask the government to change things
they don’t like.
d. All of the above.
5. At the Constitutional Convention, who took a stand against slavery, thought that the power of
running the whole nation was too much for one person and that the power should be split up and
given to a group of people instead of one person, and wrote a speech that convinced the delegates
to sign the Constitution?
a. James Madison
b. George Washington
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. Thomas Jefferson
6. Who burned the White House, the Capitol, and other important buildings during their attack on
Washington D.C. in August of 1814 during the War of 1812?
a. The American Indians
b. The Americans
c. The British
d. Both a and c
7. Why was the War of 1812 important?
a. It warned other nations that the U.S. might attack if North or South America were
invaded.
b. It showed that the United States could stand up to Britain and act as a major power in the
world.
c. It showed that Americans were devoted to their country.
d. It showed that the British and the Americans had finally learned how to get along.
8. What are the first 10 Amendments called?
a. The Constitution
b. Natural Rights
c. The Amendments
d. The Bill of Rights
Matching: Put the duties and people in the branch of government where they belong. Write the letter
next to the person or duty in the appropriate box for the branch of government it goes with. Cross out
each answer choice as you use it.
Branch of
Government
Who is in the
branch?
What are the
duties of the
branch?
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
B
A
C
I, F, L
K, D, H, E
G, M, J
A. Congress: the Senate and the
House of Representatives
People
B. The President, the Vice
President, and other heads of
government departments.
D. Raises money by collecting taxes or borrowing
money
Duties
F. Makes treaties with other countries
H. Approves the printing of money
J. Resolves conflicts between citizens and the
states
L. Leads the military
C. The Supreme Court and other
courts
E. Can declare war
G. Decides whether laws follow the guidelines of
the constitution
I. Proposes, approves, and enforces laws made
by congress
K. Makes laws
M. Decides what laws mean
Short Answer: Write the answers to the questions below. Make sure your answers are detailed and
specific.
9. The articles of Confederation created a weak central government.
a. Who did they leave most of the power to? The states
b. Why did most Americans want a weak central government? America fought the war for the
right to self-government so they did not want to give up power to a strong central
government.
10. A) What issue did The Great Compromise resolve? Representation in the states
B) What was the solution to this issue? Be specific. Congress was divided into the House of
Representatives and the Senate
C) How did the solution resolve the issue? Be specific. In the Senate, states were given an equal
number of representatives. In the House of Representatives, the number of representatives each
state has is based on the state’s population.
11. Our federal system of government today is based off of James Madison’s Virginia Plan.
a. Because of this, James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution.
b. What is a federal system of government? A system where the national government is
divided into 3 parts or branches.
12. Our government is split into three parts and has a system of checks and balances. Explain:
a. What are checks and balances? powers that the 3 branches of government have that
require the decisions each branch makes to be approved by at least one other branch
b. Why do we need checks and balances in our government? So that all branches have an
equal amount of power and the power each branch has is limited.
13. The Legislative branch has the power to create and pass laws. The Executive branch checks this
power. Explain how one branch’s power is checked by the other branch. You may use the chart
above to help you. The Legislative branch makes the laws and the Executive branch proposes,
approves, and enforces the laws made by congress. The Executive branch can veto a whole bill or
part of a bill.
14. A. What is a Bill of Rights? a written document that defines the rights of citizens that cannot
be taken away.
B. Why did we need to include a Bill of rights in the Constitution? A strong central government
would be a threat to liberty without a Bill of Rights. It guarantees people their rights and lets
people know what their rights are.
15. Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Sara, an eighteen-year-old college student, is arrested for stealing a classmate’s term
paper and selling it on the Internet. When she appears before a judge, she asks for a lawyer to
help defend her. The judge tells her if she is smart enough to be in college, she knows enough to
defend herself. Besides, she is not being charged with a felony, so the stakes are not very high.
a. What number amendment does this violate? 6th
b. In your own words, what does that amendment say? People accused of a crime have the
right to a speedy, public trial by a jury. Accused people also have the right to a lawyer, to
be told what crime they are accused of, and to question witnesses.
c. How do you know that this scenario violates that amendment? Sara is being denied the
right to have a lawyer.
Name:_________________
New Nation Test
Multiple Choice: Circle the answer choice that best answers each question.
1. What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
a. Congress could not force states to obey their laws, control trade, set up an army, or
create taxes or raise money.
b. Congress could not make peace treaties, control trade, set up an army, or create taxes or
raise money.
c. Congress could not force states to obey their laws, print or borrow money, set up an army,
or create taxes or raise money.
d. Congress could not force states to obey their laws, make treaties with other nations,
declare war, or create taxes or raise money.
2. What problems did the Articles of Confederation create for the states in the New Nation?
a. The Articles of Confederation could not make the states work together.
b. Each state had its own currency so trading was difficult.
c. Congress couldn’t pay its debts from the Revolutionary War.
d. All of the above.
3. The southern delegates wanted slaves to be counted as part of the states’ population so that
they would have more representatives in Congress. The other delegates said this wasn’t fair
because slaves were treated as property, not citizens. They delegates resolved this issue with
the Three Fifths Compromise. What did the Three Fifths Compromise say?
a. 5 slaves would be counted as 3 free people, and slave trade was allowed to continue until
1808.
b. Congress would be divided into three parts.
c. Slaves would be counted as part of the states’ population.
d. Representatives would not be given to the states based on the states’ population.
4. What had to be included in the constitution about states’ rights before the delegates would
ratify the constitution?
a. All rights of the states have to be included in the Bill of Rights.
b. Any state is allowed to separate from the union at any time if they ever want to, and any
rights not specifically given to the federal government in the Constitution belong to the
states.
c. Delegates in the states have the right to meet and ask the government to change things
they don’t like.
d. All of the above.
5. At the Constitutional Convention, who took a stand against slavery, thought that the power of
running the whole nation was too much for one person and that the power should be split up and
given to a group of people instead of one person, and wrote a speech that convinced the delegates
to sign the Constitution?
a. James Madison
b. George Washington
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. Thomas Jefferson
6. Who burned the White House, the Capitol, and other important buildings during their attack on
Washington D.C. in August of 1814 during the War of 1812?
a. The American Indians
b. The Americans
c. The British
d. Both a and c
7. Why was the War of 1812 important?
a. It warned other nations that the U.S. might attack if North or South America were
invaded.
b. It showed that the United States could stand up to Britain and act as a major power in the
world.
c. It showed that Americans were devoted to their country.
d. It showed that the British and the Americans had finally learned how to get along.
8. What are the first 10 Amendments called?
a. The Constitution
b. Natural Rights
c. The Amendments
d. The Bill of Rights
Matching: Put the duties and people in the branch of government where they belong. Write the letter
next to the person or duty in the appropriate box for the branch of government it goes with. Cross out
each answer choice as you use it.
Branch of
Government
Who is in the
branch?
What are the
duties of the
branch?
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
A. Congress: the Senate and the
House of Representatives
People
B. The President, the Vice
President, and other heads of
government departments.
D. Raises money by collecting taxes or borrowing
money
F. Makes treaties with other countries
H. Approves the printing of money
J. Resolves conflicts between citizens and the
states
L. Leads the military
Duties
C. The Supreme Court and other
courts
E. Can declare war
G. Decides whether laws follow the guidelines of
the constitution
I. Proposes, approves, and enforces laws made
by congress
K. Makes laws
M. Decides what laws mean
Short Answer: Write the answers to the questions below. Make sure your answers are detailed and
specific.
9. The articles of Confederation created a weak central government.
a. Who did they leave most of the power to? ____________________________________
b. Why did most Americans want a weak central government? _______________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
10. A) What issue did The Great Compromise resolve? __________________________________
B) What was the solution to this issue? Be specific. __________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
C) How did the solution resolve the issue? Be specific. ________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
11. Our federal system of government today is based off of James Madison’s Virginia Plan.
a. Because of this, James Madison is known as the _________________________.
b. What is a federal system of government? ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
12. Our government is split into three parts and has a system of checks and balances. Explain:
a. What are checks and balances?____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
b. Why do we need checks and balances in our government?_________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
13. The _______________ branch has the power to create and pass laws. The ________________
branch checks this power. Explain how one branch’s power is checked by the other branch. You
may use the chart above to help you. _____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
14. A. What is a Bill of Rights? ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
B. Why did we need to include a Bill of rights in the Constitution? _______________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
15. Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Sara, an eighteen-year-old college student, is arrested for stealing a classmate’s term
paper and selling it on the Internet. When she appears before a judge, she asks for a lawyer to
help defend her. The judge tells her if she is smart enough to be in college, she knows enough to
defend herself. Besides, she is not being charged with a felony, so the stakes are not very high.
a. What number amendment does this violate? _______
b. In your own words, what does that amendment say? _____________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
c. How do you know that this scenario violates that amendment? _____________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________