1.  TRUE or FALSE.  The Articles of Confederation's Congress provided a weaker national government than the United States Constitution.
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TRUE
FALSE
2.  TRUE or FALSE.  The Articles of Confederation provided a more democratic government than the one formed by the United States Constitution.
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TRUE
FALSE
3.  Which of the following was the government under the Articles of Confederation responsible for?
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The Congress mismanaged the Continental Army, and the United States lost the Revolutionary War.
The Congress was unable to negotiate treaties with any foreign powers during the Revolutionary War.
The Congress negotiated American independence and took all English territory east of the Mississippi.
The Congress was able to sell all of the land to the west of the Appalachians to the Spanish to pay off all debts.
4.  How many states were eventually carved out of the Northwest Ordinance?
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Three: Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky
Five: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin
Seven: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Kentucky
Four: West Virginia, Vermont, Tennessee, and Indiana
5.  Which of the following statements about the Northwest Ordinance is NOT TRUE?
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States which entered the United States from the west would be equal members, not colonies.
All states were required to write a constitution, create a republican democracy, and have a bill of rights.
No slavery was allowed in the Northwest Ordinance.
Most of the men and women who populated the Northwest Ordinance were former Loyalists.
6.  Which three nations did the United States of America owe money to in the years immediately after the Revolutionary War?
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France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
The Netherlands, Portugal, and the Barbary Coast.
England, Poland, and Russia.
Russia, Germany, and Italy.
7.  The reason it was so difficult for the Congress to collect taxes under the Articles of Confederation is because -
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Americans were desperately poor in the years following the American Revolution.
The English navy raided all trade along the American coastline, preventing trade.
If any state - Rhode Island or Virginia for instance - voted against a tax, it was not allowed.
There was not enough land in the West to sell for Americans to make any revenue.
8.  Why did former soldiers in the Continental Army and many contractors lose so much of their money to bankers and wealthy or elite merchants during and immediately after the Revolutionary War?
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They owed money on their mortgages in the aftermath of the war.
Bankers and elite merchants charged interest on all of their loans during the war.
Money speculators had purchased most of their paper money for less than face value in specie.
Soldiers were fined large amounts for failing to keep up with their bills during the war.
9. What was the name of the taxpayers rebellion which took place in Western Massachusetts in 1786?
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Fries Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion
Demark Vesey's Revolt
Shays' Rebellion
10.  The Founding Fathers were alarmed by Shays Rebellion because the rioting promoted chaos, disorder, and rebellion AND BECAUSE -
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the rioting had been inspired by English agents involved in espionage.
Americans took advantage of the disorder to attack and dispossess local Indian tribes.
democratically elected legislators passed "debt forgiveness laws" afterwards to cancel financial debts.
slaves held by elite merchants and traders were encouraged to join the angry rioters and freed.
11.  Where and when did the Constitutional Convention take place?
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Annapolis, MD, 1786
Philadelphia, PA, 1787
New York City, 1787
Williamsburg, VA, 1787
12.  Which two Founding Fathers did the most to give the Constitutional Convention legitimacy?
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Benjamin Franklin and George Washington
Elbridge Gerry and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine and the Marquis de Lafayetter
James Madison and Patrick Henry
13.  Which two Founding Fathers brought the most complicated and complete plans for government to the Constitutional Convention?
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Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin
James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
George Wythe and George Mason
14.  Which two Founding Fathers engaged in dissent when they refused to sign the Constitution and argued against its ratification the following year?
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Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
Benjamin Franklin and John Adams
George Washington and James Madison
Elbridge Gerry and George Mason
15.  The principle of government in the constitution which promotes majority rule and suggests that the people must give their consent - via direct vote or via their representatives to government policies - is called:
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Pluralism
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty
Libertarianism
Checks and Balances
16.  In 2016, current President Donald J. Trump lost the popular vote by close to 2.9 million votes to Hillary Clinton; yet, he won the Presidency by a large margin.  What feature of the Constitution allows the President to be selected without factoring in the popular vote in the national election?
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Pluralism
Federalism
The Electoral College
The 22nd Amendment
17.  TRUE or FALSE.  The words "slave" and "slavery" were not used in the United States Constitution when it was ratified in 1788.
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TRUE
FALSE
18.  This compromise resulted in Southern States receiving greater representation in Congress because they owned enslaved people.  (They also got a 40% reduction in their taxes.)
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The Great Compromise
The Compromise of 1850
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The Missouri Compromise
19.  Which of the following principles of American government is a result of having three branches of the government?
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limited power
separation of powers
checks and balances
All of the above result from having three branches of government.
None of the above are a result of having three branches of government.
20.  Which of the following is a "check" held by CONGRESS over the other branches of the government?
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The Ability to Impeach the President of the United States
Lifetime Appointments to Office
Judicial Review
The Veto
21.  Which of the following is a "check" held by THE SUPREME COURT (SCOTUS) over other branches of the government?
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Judicial Review of Congressional legislation and executive orders.
The Veto
The Override
The Power to Impeach
22.  Which of the following is a "check" held by THE PRESIDENT of the United States over the other branches of the government?
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The Veto
The Override
Judicial Review
Executive Amnesty as Commander in Chief
23.  Woody Harrelson goes to Denver, Colorado, an visits a dispensary.  While there, he purchases  half an ounce of "widow-maker" marijuana, a carton of twenty joints, and three boxes of weed brownies.  He uses these products throughout his week-long visit to Colorado, openly and without consequence.  No police officers bother him, and he is not arrested or fined while in Colorado.  He got really stoned.  At the end of the week - and still pretty baked -  he packs what remains of his marijuana products in his luggage, and heads to the Denver International Airport.  While he is standing in line at the TSA security checkpoint entering the terminal, an adorable floppy-eared dog sits down next to him, silently alerts on his bags.  Woody Harrelson is arrested within minutes for possession of a controlled substance - marijuana - by federal agents from the DEA.   They go on to fine and temporarily imprison him.  What feature of the Constitution could explain what happened in this fictional account?
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The arrest is unconstitutional, because Harrelson's liberty has been restricted.
In federalism, the national government shares power with the states, but it's the supreme law of the land.
Pluralism allows multiple laws to be enforced by multiple agencies, leading to confusion.
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid test allowed the federal government to carry out drug tests on citizens.
24.  What system of government can emerge from failing democracies when the rights of minority groups ARE NOT PROTECTED and "tyranny of the majority" is used to rob people of inalienable rights?
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communism
aristocracy
fascism
parliamentary systems
25.  Did the Founding Fathers believe that political parties, or factions, were  a positive or a negative factor for the development of American government?
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Factions were a positive characteristic.
Factions were a negative characteristic.
26.  How many states were required to ratify the Constitution in order for the government to become the "supreme law of the land?"
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7
9
11
13
27.  The ratification process was essential to establishing the Constitution because, according to Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, no government is legitimate without -
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bipartisan cooperation
the consent of the governed
a Bill of Rights
the unanimous consent of all political factions
28.  Which of the men listed below WAS NOT AN AUTHOR of the Federalist Papers, written in support of the Constitution's ratification?
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John Jay
George Mason
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
29.  Individuals like Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and John Hancock, who opposed the ratification of the Constitution for various reasons including the desire for a Bill of Rights and a fear of too much consolidation of power by the executive branch, were known as:
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Federalists
Whigs
Antifederalists
Republicans
30.  Individuals like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, who were in favor of ratifying the Constitution exactly as it was written, were known as -
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Federalists
Antifederalists
Whigs
Democrats
31. What was the first capital of the United States of America under the Constitution?
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Annapolis, MD
Philadelphia, PA
New York City, NY
Washington, D.C.
32.  Which law was passed to create the federal court system and establish rules for the Supreme Court of the United States?
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The Bill of Rights
The Judiciary Act of 1789
The Northwest Ordinance
The Judiciary Eponymous Act
33.  Which of the Founding Fathers was most responsible for the passage and ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791?
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James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
34.  Which of the following rights IS NOT GUARANTEED by the Bill of Rights, since it is reserved to the states?
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freedom of speech
freedom of religious expression
the right to bear arms
the right to vote
the right to due process of law
35.  Which of the following is forbidden by the Bill of Rights?
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unlawful searches and seizures of property
the quartering of soldiers in people's homes
requiring self-incrimination during a trial
cruel and unusual punishments
All of the above are forbidden by the US Constitution.
Both the quartering of soldiers in people's homes and cruel and unusual punishments, but not all.
36.  During which rebellion did President George Washington demonstrate the power of the new federal government by personally leading a military expedition to Pennsylvania in order to enforce tax laws in that state?
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Shays' Rebellion
Fries Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion
37.  Which political party did future President Thomas Jefferson establish and lead during the late 18th Century and Early 1800s?
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The Whig Party
The Federalist Party
The Democratic-Repubicans
The Know Nothing Party
38.  Which political party was led by Alexander Hamilton, who was doomed to be killed in a duel by the notorious Aaron Burr?
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The Democratic Party
The Whig Party
The Free Soil Party
The Federalist Party
39.  In his Farewell Address, George Washington encouraged all Americans to -
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support the formation of alliances with European nations.
attempt to influence the outcomes of European wars by militarizing and participating in conflicts.
pursue a foreign policy of isolationism with North America and restrict trade dramatically.
expand trade and avoid foreign entanglements; focus on civic virtue and good citizenship.
40.  Which of the following statements describes a precedent established by President George Washington during his terms in office?
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Presidents should serve only two terms in office.
The term "Mr. President" is used to address the officeholder.
Slaves would be allowed in the White House and future Presidents could own slaves.
During the oath of office, the President would place his hand over a Bible; stating after the oath "so help me God."
All of the above are precedents established by President George Washington.
41.  Who was the first African-American appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States?
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Sandra Day O'Connor
Clarence Thomas
Thurgood Marshall
Earl Warren
42.  Identify the woman selected by President Donald Trump who was confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States in 2020 - replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg - "The Notorious RBG":
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Sandra Day O'Conner
Amy Coney Barrett
Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan
43.  Who was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights - and an opponent of the US Constitution until the ratification of the Bill of Rights?
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Patrick Henry
James Monroe
George Mason
Thomas Jefferson
44.  Who was the author of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom?
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George Mason
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
Patrick Henry
45.  By visiting a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island and giving a speech in which he promoted religious toleration, this President established religious toleration as a bedrock principle of US government: 
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Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
James Monroe
George Washington
46. Who was the author of the nation's first Financial Plan, which assumed all state debts, taxed the people and the states, and established a national bank to promoted industry and commerce? 
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Thomas Jefferson
Robert Morris
Alexander Hamilton
Henry Knox
Edmund Randolph
47.  George Washington's closest advisors were Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph - collectively known as: 
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The Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Cabinet
The Supreme Court
The Freemasons
Washington's Presidential Court
48.  Which of the following rights IS NOT PROTECTED BY the First Amendment to the Constitution?
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Religious Freedom
Freedom of Speech
The Right to Petition the Government
The Right to Run for Elected Office
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom to Petition the Government
49.  Which of the following lists places the documents below in their correct chronological order?
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(1) The US Constitution (2) The Articles of Confederation (3) The Bill of Rights (4) The Declaration of Independence
(1) The Articles of Confederation (2) The Declaration of Independence (3) The Bill of Rights (4) The Constitution
(1) The Declaration of Independence (2) The Articles of Confederation (3) The Constitution (4) The Bill of Rights
(1) The Bill of Rights (2) The Articles of Confederation (3) The Constitution (4) The Declaration of Independence
50.  Which of the following documents influenced James Madison while he was composing the Bill of Rights?  You must choose two (2) answers.
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The Virginia Declaration of Rights by George Mason
Common Sense, by Thomas Paine
The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom by Thomas Jefferson
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances by John Adams
The Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, by Thomas Hooker