History Mystery Message Challenge

Gather the history and government facts to solve this mystery message about the U. S. Constitution.
Enter the first letter of each answer in the message. The questions are in order left to right, top row then bottom row.
Word.doc worksheet | pdf | electronic

dashed lines to fill in with clues

1. The month the U.S. Constitution was signed by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

 

2. The Motto of the United States of America is

 

3. The 1787 Constitution replaced the Articles of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

 

4. According to the rules of the Constitutional Convention, no matter how many delegates a state sent,
each state was given only one vote. The state's delegates all had to agree on their one vote.

When everyone casts the same vote, the vote is said to be _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
(Hint 9 letters)

 

5. This state did not send delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention.

 

6. Article II of the US Constitution establishes this branch of the federal government.

Not a clue, just curious - Compare this to the constitution of your state or commonwealth.
Does its Article II serve the same purpose?

7. To express gratitude for the new Constitution, President George Washington
declared our first national
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
.

 

8. A militiaman during the Revolutionary War, he played a critical role in establishing the financial stability of the United States.
He advocated for the Constitution through a series of essays that are now called The Federalist Papers.
(first letter of last name)

 

9. The Fifth Amendment says, "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

The government's authority to take a citizen's land is known as _ _ _ _ _ _ _ space_ _ _ _ _ _. (two words)

10. They establish the rights of individual American citizens that the government must respect.

_ _ _ _ space _ _ space _ _ _ _ _ _.

11. During the Constitutional Convention discussions, the doors to the building were _ _ _ _ _ _ .

 

12. Amendment VIII, which was ratified on December 15, 1791,
protects citizens against the imposition of space
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ space _ _ _ _.

 

13. The Constitution was written in this building.

Pennsylvania space_ _ _ _ _ space_ _ _ _ _

14. This delegate from Connecticut proposed a two-house legislature, consisting of a Senate and
a House of Representatives (based on population).
(first letter of his last name)

_ _ _ _ _ space_ _ _ _ _ _ _

15. In 1776, a group of delegates, who had gathered in Philadelphia, approved the Declaration of

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

16. The Constitution became the law of the land on June 21, 1788, when this number of states had ratified it.

 

17. The fifth state to ratify the Constitution.

 

18. Supporters of the Constitution believed that the checks and balances system would allow a strong central government
and still preserve the rights of the _ _ _ _ _ _ .

 

19. On July 12, _ _ _ _ _ _ Ellsworth, of Connecticut, proposed that representation for the lower house be based on the number of free persons and three-fifths of "all other persons," (slaves). He participated in drawing up the first draft of the Constitution.

 

20. The last name of the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention.

 

21. Per the U.S. Constitution, all bills for raising Revenue start in this Federal government branch.

 

22. The Constitution specifies that the House of Representatives has the sole power to bring charges against an official.
This is called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

 

23. Anti-Federalist Samuel _ _ _ _ _ wrote his "Centinel" essays. He argued the Constitution
had created a new government that would become one controlled by the wealthy families and
the culturally refined. He believed the common working people would be left out.

 

24. This group elects the President. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ space _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

25. Patrick Henry, an ardent advocate for the Revolutionary War said, "Give me Liberty or give me death".
But he refused to attend the 1787 Constitutional Convention, saying he "smelt a _ _ _ ."

Why was he so concerned about the convention?

26. Over 11,000 amendments to the Constitution have been introduced in Congress.
Thirty-three amendments have gone to the states to be ratified.
How many have been approved by 2/3rds of the States and so became the law of the land?

 

27. The length of service for an elected officials is called a term. Terms are measured in _ _ _ _ _ .

 

28. When the President refuses to sign legislation it is called a _ _ _ _.

 

29. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. The nine Justices hear cases and deliver _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

 

30. According to the Constitution, each state has this number of Senators.

 

31. The process by which citizens select the individuals who represent them in the government or decide an issue.

 

Civics and Constitution Projects - Go to Essays | Voting & Elections | Go to Extras | Quotes | A Note on Freedom

US Flag Facts and History | Fourth of July Celebration Plan

Patriotic or National Song Photo Story | Youth Voter Campaign

51st State - What are the protocols for U.S. statehood?


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posted 9/2006 by Cynthia J. O'Hora Updated 9/2023

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