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Quiz about History of the Bill of Rights

History of the Bill of Rights Trivia Quiz

The Bill of Rights is an important cornerstone of US Government. How well do you know the history of this legislation?

A multiple-choice quiz by kmarti14. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
kmarti14

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
355,777

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
383

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which future president introduced legislation that became the Bill of Rights? Hint

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

John Quincy Adams

Franklin Pierce

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Question 2 of 10

2. Where did the author of the Bill of Rights expect his legislation to go once it was passed into law? Hint

As completely separate federal laws

In the body of the Constitution

As Amendments to the Constitution

As laws passed by individual states at their discretion

3. How many separate points did the author of the Bill of Rights initially suggest, before it was reduced and refined by the House and the Senate to the amendments that make up the Bill of Rights today? Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. One of the two amendments initially proposed with the Bill of Rights but not ratified by the States in 1791 was later added as the 27th Amendment. What year was this passed? Hint

1963

1865

1918

1992

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Question 5 of 10

5. Although not explicitly outlined in the text, which group of people was the Bill of Rights initially drafted to protect? Hint

Everyone except slaves

Everyone in America

White men

White men and women

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Question 6 of 10

6. What percentage of the states had to ratify the Bill of Rights for it to come into effect? Hint

All

Two-thirds

One-half

Three-fourths

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which state was the first to ratify the Bill of RIghts? Hint

Virginia

New York

New Jersey

Massachusetts

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many handwritten copies of the Bill of Rights were initially prepared? Hint

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which Washington, D.C. site has one of the original copies of the Bill of Rights on display to the public? Hint

National Archives and Records Administration

The Capitol Building

The Smithsonian

The House of Representatives

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which Enlightenment philosopher inspired much of the basis of the Bill of Rights? Hint

Immanuel Kant

Adam Smith

Rene Descartes

John Locke

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which future president introduced legislation that became the Bill of Rights?

Answer: James Madison

James Madison, who served as 4th President of the United States from 1809 - 1817, introduced the legislation that became the Bill of Rights in 1789. The idea for a Bill of Rights had been discussed years earlier, and Madison drafted the legislation to address certain flaws or omissions (as many saw it) in the Constitution.

2. Where did the author of the Bill of Rights expect his legislation to go once it was passed into law?

Answer: In the body of the Constitution

Madison initially wanted this new legislation be incorporated into the recently ratified Constitution, but the House of Representatives denied this and instead proposed that it be attached to the Constitution as Amendments.

Answer: 20

Madison initially proposed 20 amendments, divided into 9 main articles. The House refined these points to 17, and the Senate further condensed this to 11, and also included a new point not proposed by Madison for a total of 12 points that were put to the states. In 1791, 10 of these amendments were ratified by the states and became the Bill of Rights.

4. One of the two amendments initially proposed with the Bill of Rights but not ratified by the States in 1791 was later added as the 27th Amendment. What year was this passed?

Answer: 1992

The 27th Amendment was proposed in 1789 but not ratified until 1992 - it took 203 years! This Amendment states that any increases or decreases in Congressional salaries shall not take effect until the next term of Representatives are elected.

5. Although not explicitly outlined in the text, which group of people was the Bill of Rights initially drafted to protect?

Answer: White men

In practice, the Bill of Rights applied only to white males, as women, Native Americans, African-Americans, and many other groups of people were implicitly discriminated against.

6. What percentage of the states had to ratify the Bill of Rights for it to come into effect?

Answer: Three-fourths

A three-fourths majority was required for the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and this was achieved on December 15, 1791.

7. Which state was the first to ratify the Bill of RIghts?

Answer: New Jersey

New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights on November 20, 1789. New Jersey rejected Article II, and since that article only received 6 of 14 votes, it was not passed with the Bill of Rights. Article II later became the 27th Amendment and was finally ratified in 1992.

8. How many handwritten copies of the Bill of Rights were initially prepared?

Answer: 14

There were 14 original copies - one for each of the 13 existing states, and one additional copy for Congress.

9. Which Washington, D.C. site has one of the original copies of the Bill of Rights on display to the public?

Answer: National Archives and Records Administration

The National Archives is home to one of the few remaining copies of the Bill of Rights. It also has original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution on display.

10. Which Enlightenment philosopher inspired much of the basis of the Bill of Rights?

Answer: John Locke

John Locke's works, including his "Two Treatises of Government", were influential in the formation of the Bill of Rights. Madison discussed one of Locke's theories, that natural rights are inherent to all people, in his speech to Congress

Source: Author kmarti14

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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