Constitutional Convention

Question 1

How many states were represented at the convention?

Answer 1

12 States

Question 2

Who was the oldest delegate to attend?

Answer 2

Benjamin Franklin

Question 3

What state did not attend and why?

Answer 3

Rhode Island because they feared a strong national gov’t

Question 4

Which delegates didn’t attend the constitution and why?

Answer 4

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson didn’t attend because they were representing the U.S in Great Britain and France. Sam Adams, John Hancock and Patrick Henry didn’t attend because they feared a strong gov’t would endanger the rights of the states

Question 5

How many delegates attended the convention?

Answer 5

55 Delegates

Question 6

What was the conventions first action?

Answer 6

To elect Washington as president of the convention.

Question 7

When and where did the convention meet for the first time?

Answer 7

May 25, 1787 in Philadelphia, PA

Question 8

What did the Virginia delegates surprise the convention members with?

Answer 8

The proposal of a new plan of gov’t.

Question 9

Who drafted and created the Virginia Plan?

Answer 9

Drafted by James Madison and proposed by Edmund Randolph

Question 10

How does the Constitution begin?

Answer 10

“We the People”

Question 11

Where does the power to rule the government come from?

Answer 11

Regular citizens, this is called popular sovereignty

Question 12

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer 12

A compromise to count the slaves in order to be used for population purposed for the House of Representatives.

Question 13

Who proposed the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Answer 13

James Madison

Question 14

What did the Virginia Plan call for?

Answer 14

Three branches of gov’t, legislative branch with two houses, where delegates are elected by population size, executive branch and a judicial branch

Question 15

What did the New Jersey Plan call for?

Answer 15

Three branches of gov’t, legislative branch with one house with set number of delegates, executive branch and judicial branch.

Question 16

How does the NJ Plan differ from the VA Plan?

Answer 16

The VA Plan calls for two houses with delegate size based on population. The NJ Plan calls for one house with set number of delegates.

Question 17

What was Shay’s rebellion?

Answer 17

Daniel Shay led a group of farmers to shut down MA court houses to prevent them from ordering the farmers to sell their land and animals.

Question 18

What was the effect of Shay’s rebellion?

Answer 18

Shocked Congress and caused them to call a convention to review the situation. Disturbed citizens because they were losing faith in the power of the gov’t.

Question 19

What does “Form a more perfect Union” mean?

Answer 19

They wanted the states to cooperate with each other.

Question 20

What does “establish justice” mean?

Answer 20

They wanted to be ruled by laws and not soldiers or a king.

Question 21

What does “ensure domestic tranquility” mean?

Answer 21

Keep peace and order within the country.

Question 22

What does “provide for the common defence” mean?

Answer 22

National government is responsible for protection against enemies.

Question 23

What does “promote the general welfare” mean?

Answer 23

Government is to support an economy in which people can prosper.

Question 24

What does “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity?

Answer 24

The government will protect freedom and preserve it for future generations of Americans to enjoy,

Question 25

How many Houses does the Great Compromise call for?

Answer 25

Two houses.

Question 26

How is each state represented in the legislative branch based on the Great Compromise?

Answer 26

The House of Representatives is based on population (VA Plan) and the Senate is represented equally (NJ Plan).

Question 27

How did secrecy play a role in the convention?

Answer 27

Everything happening in the convention had to be kept a secret so that the delegates were free to discuss openly.

Question 28

What was the Land Ordinance Act of 1785?

Answer 28

The act divided the land given to American after the War into small parts to be sold to citizens.

Question 29

What was the Northwest Territory?

Answer 29

The land west of the colonies, but east of the Mississippi River.

Question 30

How did the new towns become states?

Answer 30

When their population reached 60,000 they were able to apply for statehood.