1. Who is widely recognized and referred to as the 'Father of the Constitution'?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: James Madison
Explanation:
James Madison earned this title because of his pivotal role in drafting the document, his comprehensive Virginia Plan, and his detailed note-taking during the Constitutional Convention.
James Madison earned this title because of his pivotal role in drafting the document, his comprehensive Virginia Plan, and his detailed note-taking during the Constitutional Convention.
2. In which city and building was the U.S. Constitution drafted and signed?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Explanation:
The Constitutional Convention met at the Pennsylvania State House, which is now famous as Independence Hall, from May to September 1787.
The Constitutional Convention met at the Pennsylvania State House, which is now famous as Independence Hall, from May to September 1787.
3. Who was the oldest delegate to sign the U.S. Constitution, and how old was he?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Benjamin Franklin, 81 years old
Explanation:
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate. Due to his poor health and advanced age, he needed help to sign the final document.
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate. Due to his poor health and advanced age, he needed help to sign the final document.
4. Who was the youngest delegate at the Constitutional Convention, and how old was he?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Jonathan Dayton, 26 years old
Explanation:
Jonathan Dayton, a delegate from New Jersey, was the youngest person to sign the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Jonathan Dayton, a delegate from New Jersey, was the youngest person to sign the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
5. Which Founding Father did not attend the Constitutional Convention because he was serving as a minister to France?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Thomas Jefferson
Explanation:
Thomas Jefferson was in Paris serving as the American minister to France during the summer of 1787, though he kept up with the proceedings via correspondence.
Thomas Jefferson was in Paris serving as the American minister to France during the summer of 1787, though he kept up with the proceedings via correspondence.
6. Which Founding Father skipped the Constitutional Convention because he was serving as a minister to Great Britain?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: John Adams
Explanation:
John Adams was serving as the U.S. envoy to Great Britain in London during the convention, meaning neither he nor Jefferson signed the document.
John Adams was serving as the U.S. envoy to Great Britain in London during the convention, meaning neither he nor Jefferson signed the document.
7. Which state famously boycotted the Constitutional Convention and sent zero delegates?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Rhode Island
Explanation:
Rhode Island was suspicious of a powerful federal government and weak state sovereignty, refusing to participate until it was practically forced to ratify it in 1790.
Rhode Island was suspicious of a powerful federal government and weak state sovereignty, refusing to participate until it was practically forced to ratify it in 1790.
8. Who was chosen to serve as the President of the Constitutional Convention?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: George Washington
Explanation:
George Washington was unanimously elected to preside over the convention, lending immense prestige and legitimacy to the secret proceedings.
George Washington was unanimously elected to preside over the convention, lending immense prestige and legitimacy to the secret proceedings.
9. Who actually penned the physical, calligraphed copy of the Constitution (engrossed on parchment)?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Jacob Shallus
Explanation:
Jacob Shallus, an assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, was paid $30 (equivalent to roughly several hundred dollars today) to engross the document.
Jacob Shallus, an assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, was paid $30 (equivalent to roughly several hundred dollars today) to engross the document.
10. Which delegate is credited with writing the famous preamble, including the phrase 'We the People'?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Gouverneur Morris
Explanation:
Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania was the head of the Committee of Style and did much of the actual literary drafting of the final document.
Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania was the head of the Committee of Style and did much of the actual literary drafting of the final document.
11. How many delegates actually signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: 39 delegates
Explanation:
Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, only 39 actually signed the document. Three refused, and others had left early.
Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, only 39 actually signed the document. Three refused, and others had left early.
12. What spelling error famously appears in the original text of the U.S. Constitution?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: The word 'Pensylvania' is spelled with only one 'n'.
Explanation:
Above the signers' names, the scribe Jacob Shallus misspelled Pennsylvania as 'Pensylvania', which was a common variant spelling at the time.
Above the signers' names, the scribe Jacob Shallus misspelled Pennsylvania as 'Pensylvania', which was a common variant spelling at the time.
13. Which delegate proposed the 'Virginia Plan', which heavily favored large states with proportional representation?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Edmund Randolph
Explanation:
Though heavily drafted by James Madison, the Virginia Plan was formally introduced to the floor by Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph.
Though heavily drafted by James Madison, the Virginia Plan was formally introduced to the floor by Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph.
14. Which delegate introduced the 'New Jersey Plan', advocating for equal representation for all states regardless of size?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: William Paterson
Explanation:
William Paterson introduced the New Jersey Plan to protect the political power of smaller states against the population-heavy large states.
William Paterson introduced the New Jersey Plan to protect the political power of smaller states against the population-heavy large states.
15. What was the name of the compromise that resolved the debate between large and small states, creating a bicameral legislature?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: The Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise)
Explanation:
Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, it created a Senate with equal representation and a House of Representatives based on population.
Proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, it created a Senate with equal representation and a House of Representatives based on population.
16. What was the original purpose of the 1787 Convention in Philadelphia?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: To revise the Articles of Confederation.
Explanation:
The delegates were initially authorized only to amend the existing Articles of Confederation, but they quickly decided to scrap them and create a brand-new system.
The delegates were initially authorized only to amend the existing Articles of Confederation, but they quickly decided to scrap them and create a brand-new system.
17. Which three delegates refused to sign the Constitution on the final day, earning them the nickname 'The Dissenters'?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry
Explanation:
They refused to sign primarily because the original Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights protecting individual and state liberties.
They refused to sign primarily because the original Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights protecting individual and state liberties.
18. Who famously stated 'I smell a rat' and refused to attend the convention as a delegate for Virginia?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Patrick Henry
Explanation:
The famous orator Patrick Henry was an ardent Anti-Federalist who feared the convention would create a monarchy-like centralized government.
The famous orator Patrick Henry was an ardent Anti-Federalist who feared the convention would create a monarchy-like centralized government.
19. Under what collective pseudonym were The Federalist Papers written to urge ratification of the Constitution?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Publius
Explanation:
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the 85 essays under the pen name 'Publius' to honor Roman consul Publius Valerius Publicola.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the 85 essays under the pen name 'Publius' to honor Roman consul Publius Valerius Publicola.
20. Which author wrote the vast majority of The Federalist Papers essays?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Alexander Hamilton
Explanation:
Out of the 85 essays, Alexander Hamilton wrote 51, James Madison wrote 29, and John Jay wrote 5.
Out of the 85 essays, Alexander Hamilton wrote 51, James Madison wrote 29, and John Jay wrote 5.
21. Where are the original, physical pages of the U.S. Constitution permanently displayed today?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: The National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Explanation:
The Constitution, alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights (collectively the Charters of Freedom), is displayed in the National Archives Rotunda.
The Constitution, alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights (collectively the Charters of Freedom), is displayed in the National Archives Rotunda.
22. What unique physical feature did Benjamin Franklin notice on George Washington's chair during the convention?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A carved sun (which Franklin noted was a 'rising' rather than a 'setting' sun).
Explanation:
Franklin poetically remarked at the end of the convention that he finally had the happiness to know that it was a rising sun for the new nation.
Franklin poetically remarked at the end of the convention that he finally had the happiness to know that it was a rising sun for the new nation.
23. How many words (roughly) make up the original, unamended U.S. Constitution, making it famously concise?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Approximately 4,400 words
Explanation:
The U.S. Constitution is the shortest and oldest written constitution of any major sovereign nation today, taking only about half an hour to read.
The U.S. Constitution is the shortest and oldest written constitution of any major sovereign nation today, taking only about half an hour to read.
24. Which state was the very first to ratify the U.S. Constitution, earning its nickname 'The First State'?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Delaware
Explanation:
Delaware unanimously ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787, ahead of all other states.
Delaware unanimously ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787, ahead of all other states.
25. What safety measure did the delegates enforce during the hot summer of 1787 to keep the proceedings confidential?
Check Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: They kept the windows nailed shut and guards at the doors.
Explanation:
To speak freely without public pressure or media leaks, the delegates swore themselves to secrecy and kept the building closed up tightly despite the sweltering heat.
To speak freely without public pressure or media leaks, the delegates swore themselves to secrecy and kept the building closed up tightly despite the sweltering heat.
Post a Comment
Feel free to leave comments about factual accuracy. We will be grateful.