Lesson 15: The Baptism of Fire 

Reading Assignment: The Making of America, pages 223-230 

Pre-lesson questions for homework study and review: 

1. On what day was the Constitution signed? Where did it go then? (Page 223) 

2. What was the initial public reaction to the Constitution? 
Did this reaction surprise members of the Constitutional Convention? (224) 

3. What were the five reasons George Mason gave for refusing to sign the Constitution? (224- 25) 

4. What important things were accomplished in the state ratifying conventions? (226) 

5. What are the Federalist papers? Who wrote them? What did they accomplish? (226-27) 

6. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were overseas on diplomatic assignments during the ratification debates. 
How did they contribute to the adoption of the new Constitution? (227) 

7. Which state was the first to ratify the Constitution? 
Which state was the ninth, and why was this important? 
Which state was last? (227-29) 

8. Describe the major developments in the organization of the new government in 1789. (229- 30) 

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