The American Constitution Trivia Quiz

Answer: Shays' Rebellion

Daniel Shays reasoned that if the judges were unable to rule on their cases, they would be unable to take away their farms. Shays' mob grew to about 2,000 strong. Under the Articles of Confederation, states had much authority over themselves, but weak federal backing.

This left Massachusetts dealing with the rebellion on their own. The incident showed that the federal government was unable to act in crisis. This is when the "Constitutional Convention" was called.

Answer: False

This took place barely over a decade after the Revolutionary War. People attending the convention were suspicious of making the federal government stronger. Rhode Island initially refused to even send delegates.

Answer: James Madison

James Madison first wrote the constitution for his state of Virginia. He included a guarantee of religious freedom. Later, at the age of 36, James Madison earned the nickname "Father of the Constitution".

Answer: Committee of Style and Arrangement

These five men were Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Governor Morris. Morris, who wrote the preamble, later helped in the plan to use dollars as the currency.

Answer: Andrew Hamilton

Hamilton said that it was everyone's right to publish information, as long as it was true. He stated, "The laws of nature and of our country have given us a right - the liberty - both of exposing and opposing arbitrary power by speaking and writing the truth."

Answer: True

President George Washington submitted a list of 12 amendments to Congress in October 1789. They were written by James Madison. Two of these were eliminated, but in 1791 the other ten were added as the Bill of Rights.

Answer: Anti-federalist

The anti-federalists thought that a central government would take power away from the individual states. They also thought it would make the federal government too powerful and dominated by the rich.

Answer: False

Women did not gain the right to vote until 1920. As for slavery, the Constitution actually stated that for purposes of calculating population for the House of Representatives, a slave was to be counted as three fifths of a free person. The thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in 1865.

Answer: Hung out at the bar

They went to the bar, of course! Washington wrote in his journal, "The business being closed, the members adjourned to the City Tavern, dined together and took cordial leave of each other after which I returned to my lodgings and retired to meditate on the momentous work which had been executed."

Answer: In 1789, after a majority of the thirteen states voted for the Constitution

The Constitution became active after the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified the document on June 21, 1788. Virginia and New York followed soon after. In March 1789 the Congress met for the first time under the rules of the Constitution. On April 30, 1789, Washington took his oath of office.

When asked to swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, Washington replied, "I swear, so help me God!" North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last to ratify.