20 Questions
Why did some founders think that the Articles of Confederation were too weak?
They conferred too little power to the new, national American government.
Who urged Revolutionary leaders to reconvene and discuss the development of a stronger government?
Alexander Hamilton
When and where did the Constitutional Convention take place?
From May to September 1787 in Philadelphia
When were the Articles of Confederation first drafted and when were they ratified?
First drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781
What were three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
No taxing power, authority to resolve interstate disagreements, or methods for army drafts
What were the key debates at the Constitutional Convention?
Whether to strengthen the Articles or create a new system of government.
Who argued that the Articles needed to be redrafted?
Edmund Randolph and Charles Pinckney of South Carolina.
Why did delegates from New Jersey disagree?
They believed that the Articles only needed adjustments.
Why did the delegates eventually decide to draft a new constitution?
They recognized the problems inherent in the Articles of Confederation.
What was the key issue that nearly tore the convention apart?
Representation, specifically how many representatives each state would have.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
The New Jersey Plan was a proposal during the Constitutional Convention that called for one legislative body with equal representation and federal taxation based on population.
What was the Great Compromise?
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a solution proposed during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in one house (House of Representatives) and equal representation in the other (Senate).
What was the most important outcome of the Constitutional Convention?
The most important outcome of the Constitutional Convention was the approval of the Constitution, which created a federal, bicameral legislature and established a new form of government.
How did the Founders address the issue of ratification?
The Founders required only nine out of thirteen states to ratify the Constitution in order for it to become the supreme law of the land.
What was the purpose of the electoral college?
The electoral college was created to determine the winner of presidential elections by having state legislators select electors based on the state's total number of Congressional representatives.
What is the argument of historians in favor of immediate, government-enforced abolition of slavery?
The argument is that the end of slavery always required immediate, government-enforced abolition, which was only later achieved in the Emancipation Proclamation.
What did many historians acknowledge about the Founders and the issue of slavery?
Many historians acknowledge that the Founders did not fully tackle the issue of slavery but postponed it for later generations to confront during the Civil War.
Who suggested adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
George Mason and Thomas Jefferson suggested adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
How many states voted against the idea of adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
Ten states voted against the idea.
What did some argue about including a list of rights in the Bill of Rights?
Some argued that including a list of rights implied that people's rights were finite, or limited to those included in the bill.
What Did the New Jersey Plan Propose? - Test your knowledge on the New Jersey Plan and its implications for representation and taxation in early American government. Learn about the plan's proposal for a single legislative body with equal representation and the reactions of larger states. Challenge yourself with this quiz!
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