Ohio Government/Constitution Practice Exam

Which Constitution had the state's debts grow out of control to almost $20 million?

1. 1802

2. 1851

3. Both

4. Neither

The correct answer is: 1802

During the time period of the 1802 Constitution, states in the United States were responsible for their own debts. This led to states such as New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania accumulating large amounts of debt, with New York's debt alone reaching $19 million. This ultimately resulted in their governments struggling to meet their financial obligations. In contrast, the 1851 Constitution included measures to limit state borrowing and provide oversight for state debts. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that both or neither constitutions had the state's debts grow out of control to almost $20 million, making option A the correct answer.