1. Which future US President submitted a plan to change the Articles of Confederation, which led to creating the US Constitution?

a. George Washington

b. Thomas Jefferson

c. James Madison

d. Abraham Lincoln

2. In the summer of 1787, 55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia for what purpose?

a. Write the Declaration of Independence

b. Amend the Articles of Confederation

c. Write the Pledge of Allegiance

d. Abolish state laws

3. On what date did the Constitutional Convention sign the Constitution?

a. September 17, 1787

b. October 17, 1800

c. July 4, 1776

d. January 1, 1790

4. Which state was the first to ratify the Constitution?

a. Virginia

b. Delaware

c. Florida

d. California

5. The new Congress first conducted business under the Constitution on April 6, 1789. What also happened on that day?

a. Capitol opened in D.C.

b. Thomas Jefferson was elected President

c. White House opened

d. George Washington was elected President

6. What is the name for the beginning of the Constitution?

a. Preamble

b. The Bill of Rights

c. Introduction

d. Article 3

7. Which one of these was not a reason for drafting the Constitution?

a. Provide for the common defense

b. Insure domestic tranquility

c. Keep the old system

d. Promote the general welfare

8. What is the Bill of Rights?

a. First Ten Amendments to the Constitution

b. Last Ten Amendments to the Constitution

c. The first paragraph of the Constitution

d. The main ideas in the Declaration of Independence

9. How many states must ratify an amendment to the Constitution?

a. One half

b. Two thirds

c. Three fourths

d. All of them

10. The Constitution divides the government into three branches. Which one of these is not a branch?

a. Legislative

b. Executive

c. Judicial

d. Commercial

—Answers—

1. C (James Madison wrote a plan to change the Articles of Confederation. Called the Virginia Plan, Madison’s ideas influenced the writing for a new Constitution); 2. B (Unhappy with the Articles of Confederation, the delegates of the Constitutional Convention gathered to improve the existing system, which led to the creation of the US Constitution.); 3. A; 4. B (Delaware, on December 7, 1787); 5. D (The first day Congress was able to conduct business under the Constitution was April 6, 1789. On this day, members of Congress counted the votes of the electors, who unanimously elected George Washington as the nation’s first President); 6. A (The Preamble outlines the reasons for establishing the Constitution); 7. C (The desire to change, not keep, the old system led to the drafting of the US Constitution. Objectives of the Constitution include providing for the common defense, insuring domestic tranquility and promoting the general welfare); 8. A (The Bill of Rights, provide the foundation for the nation’s basic freedoms, such as freedom of speech); 9. C (Three fourths of all states must vote in favor of adding an amendment to the Constitution before it becomes law); 10. D.