Q 01/05

The US Bill of Rights consists of how many amendments to the Constitution?

A) Twelve

B) Fifteen

C) Five

D) Ten

Answer · why

D) Ten

Congress actually sent twelve articles to the states in 1789; the last ten were ratified as the Bill of Rights.

Q 02/05

Which representative drafted the Bill of Rights and steered it through the First Congress?

A) James Madison

B) Alexander Hamilton

C) George Mason

D) Thomas Jefferson

Answer · why

A) James Madison

Historian Gordon Wood wrote that there might have been a Constitution without him, but certainly no Bill of Rights.

Q 03/05

Bill of Rights Day is observed each year on which date, the anniversary of the 1791 ratification?

A) July 4

B) September 17

C) December 15

D) March 4

Answer · why

C) December 15

Franklin Roosevelt declared the day in 1941 for the 150th anniversary; one state's vote that day pushed the amendments over the three-quarters line.

Q 04/05

The Bill of Rights answered objections raised by which group during the ratification debates?

A) The Loyalists

B) The Anti-Federalists

C) The Whig Party

D) The Abolitionists

Answer · why

B) The Anti-Federalists

Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams and Richard Henry Lee were among the leaders who feared a strong national government would trample individual rights.

Q 05/05

Which founder wrote to Madison urging a bill of rights: 'Half a loaf is better than no bread'?

A) Thomas Jefferson

B) George Washington

C) Benjamin Franklin

D) John Adams

Answer · why

A) Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was serving as minister to France during the whole debate and never attended the Constitutional Convention.