US History
The Founding Fathers believed that all people are born with "natural rights." Which line from the Declaration of Independence BEST represents the idea of "natural rights"?
"... all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..."
Which items were part of the Magna Carta? 1. Protection of the church 2. Council to manage the King 3. Males were able to vote for King 4. No taxes without approval from Council 5. Protection from illegal imprisonment
1, 2, 4, and 5
(Beginning of Standard 1.3) Which of these was a major philosophy expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
A belief in the natural rights of citizens
According to the passage, which of these choices would have been ILLEGAL in the late 1600s?
A merchant in the Maryland Colony unloads fur from a Spanish ship in exchange for corn
In 1636, Roger Williams was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and founded Rhode Island, because he supported
A separation of church and state
The economic activities of the English colonies during the late-17th and early-18th centuries could BEST be described as
Agricultural in both north and south
Why did American colonists resent British taxes?
Americans did not elect representatives to Parliament as people who lived in Great Britain did
(Beginning of Standard 1.4) The first government of the United States was the
Articles of Confederation
The post-colonial distrust of strong, national governmental power can most clearly be seen in the creation of the
Articles of Confederation
"A ______ is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, & what no government should refuse, or rest on inference." - Thomas Jefferson, 1787 Thomas Jefferson is referring to what part of U.S. government?
Bill of Rights
"Joint stock companies" were organizations meant to establish colonies in the Americas by people from
Britain
"TO WHAT expedient then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necesary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is ..... the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places." - James Madison, Federalist Paper #51 Which of the ideas incorporated in the United States Constitution is expressed in the question above?
Checks and Balances
The Congress may pass laws and they go into effect if the President signs the law. However the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional. This is an example of
Checks and Balances
The Senate has the power to confirm presidential appointments to the Supreme Court. This is an example of what principle of United States government?
Checks and Balances
Which statement BEST describes the reason why the American colonies developed a separate culture from Great Britain during the era of colonization?
Colonists and Britain were geographically separated by a great distance
Which sentence describes the power to tax given to the U.S. Congress by the Articles of Confederation?
Congress could not tax
Which nation provided the foundation for the concept of limited government that is embodied in the U.S. Constitution?
England
The document signed as a result of the Glorious Revolution is the
English Bill of Rights
Which shows an accurate relationship between these English and American political doctrines in terms of structure and purpose? · English Bill of Rights ⇒ U.S. Bill of Rights · Petition of Rights ⇒ U.S. Constitution · Magna Carta ⇒ Articles of Confederation · Magna Carta ⇒ Petition of Rights
English Bill of Rights ⇒ U.S. Bill of Rights
The Declaration of Independence and the "Social Contract Theory" both arose from which philosophical movement?
Enlightenment
(Beginning of Standard 1.5) This movement was characterized by a belief that the U.S. national government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak, and that a stronger central government was needed.
Federalism
The division of governing power between the national and state/local governments is called
Federalism
The British policy of enforcing the writs of assitance on colonial citizens resulted in the passage of which amendment in the Bill of Rights?
Fourth
The differences in the economic development of the mid-Atlantic, New England, and Southern colonies can BEST be attributed to the
Geographic conditions there
Which of these played a role in the decision of the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from Great Britain?
George III's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition
What event led to the creation of the English Bill of Rights?
Glorious Revolution of 1688
After the Glorious Revolution, England became a constitutional monarchy when William and Mary recognized Parliament as their partner in governing. How does a constitutional monarchy differ from an absolute monarchy?
In a constitutional monarchy, laws limit the ruler's powers
The Magna Carta is most important for which reason?
It put limits on the monarch's powers
Why was the Declaration of Independence a key factor in the American colonists' ability to receive wartime aid from other countries?
It showed that the colonists no longer recognized the English king
The first permanent English settlement in North America was
Jamestown
"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." - from The Declaration of Independence This phrase from The Declaration of Independence and its primary author Thomas Jefferson can be used to justify which statement?
Jefferson knew that the colonists' actions would have an international impact
"He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass [sic] our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power" - from The Declaration of Independence To whom does "He" refer in this passage?
King George III
In the Declaration of Independence, whom did the Americans indict for "repeated injuries and usurpations"?
King George III, because of the crown's apparent intention to establish despotism
Which of these is an example a concurrent power?
Levying taxes
• Checks and Balances • Separation of Powers • Rights of the Accused All of these are characteristics of which type of government?
Limited government
The development of the shipbuilding and cod fishing industries during the colonial era would have had the GREATEST impact on which colony?
Massachusetts
Which of these was the FIRST example of a written agreement for colonial self-government in the British colonies in North America?
Mayflower Compact
All of these terms are associated with what colonial North American region? (Quakers, Catholics, Religious Tolerance, and Flexible Social Structure)
Mid-Atlantic Colonies
The fact that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" illustrates which aspect of our government?
National Supremacy
In which of these regions was religion a unifying feature in the colonial era?
New England
"For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury...." - From The Declaration of Independence Each phrase from this section of the Declaration of Independence begins with the word 'for', which is referring to the actions of
Parliament
Which colony was home to the largest number of Quakers?
Pennsylvania
Which statement BEST describes why the United States government can be called a representative democracy?
People elect members of Congress to make laws
"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good." - The Declaration of Independence This passage of the Declaration of Independence BEST refers to which principle of government that would later be part of the U.S. Constitution?
Popular Sovereignty
Which of these BEST describes the term enumerated powers?
Powers given to the Federal government
Which was a major concern for southern farmers of the Colonial era when choosing land to settle and cultivate?
Proximity to the market place
It can be said that, since Americans elect people to make the laws of the country, the United States is actually a
Republic
Which of these was a reason the American colonies were fighting a war for independence in 1776?
Restrictions on colonial trade
Controversies in the British colonies in North America involving their elected officials being manipulated and controlled by Parliament was later an influence in the incorporation of what principle into the Constitution?
Separation of Powers
French political thinker Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) was one of the Enlightenment's most important thinkers. He is famous for saying that "when the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty."
Separation of Powers
One reason why the Constitution was adopted over the Articles of Confederation was
Shay's Rebellion revealed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Which of these would have been MOST likely to be a significant part of the Middle colonies' economy in 17th century North America?
Shipbuilding
The political theory that people form governments for their mutual protection and that government rules only with the consent of those people is known as
Social Contract Theory
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." - from The Declaration of Independence What is the best definition of the word unalienable in this passage?
Something that cannot be taken away
In what century was the Jamestown colony founded?
The 17th century
"We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on his statement?
The American colonies should all sign the Declaration of Independence
Which document became the foundation of the first government of the United States?
The Articles of Confederation
The ideas of Locke and Rousseau are found MOST easily in which of these documents?
The Declaration of Independence
The concept that the people of a nation have a right to overthrow a government that acts against their common interests is known as
The Right of Revolution
This revenue law of the British parliament succeeded in angering the colonists, but failed to raise a single penny in taxes.
The Stamp Act
Which federal document limits the power of the government while guaranteeing freedoms to the American people?
The US Constitution
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. " - Declaration of Independence According to this passage from the Declaration of Independence, who gives government the power to exist?
The people
Which statement BEST describes the power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation?
The states had more power than the national government
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was different from the Plymouth Colony because in Massachusetts,
There was a more prosperous economy
Articles of Confederation Weakness >Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Congress could not tax. >All states had to agree to amend the document. >The government had no executive branch. >???????? Which statement should go in the box with the question marks?
There was no national court system
Which best explains a major dissatisfaction of the merchant class with the Articles of Confederation?
There was no provision for a uniform currency
Which of these accurately reflects a WEAKNESS in the Articles of Confederation?
There was no separation of powers
What was the purpose of the English Bill of Rights?
To limit the power of the British monarch
Why was it hard to get laws passed under the Articles of Confederation?
To pass a law, 9 of 13 states needed to agree
(Beginning of Standard 1.1) What product was instrumental in bringing about economic stability in the early years of the Virginia colony?
Tobacco
The cities of New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia began to become wealthy in the late-1600s because of what economic activity?
Trading
Charles Pinckney (Representative of South Carolina) Speech at Ratification Convention May 14, 1788: I trust that when we proceed to review the system by sections, it will be found to contain all those necessary provisions and restraints, which while they enable the general government to guard and protect our common rights as a nation, to restore to us those blessings of commerce and mutual confidence which have been so long removed and impaired, will secure to use those rights which as the citizens of a state will make us happy and content at home as the citizens of the Union respectable abroad. Base on this excerpt, which document was Charles Pinckney supporting?
U.S. Constitution
(Beginning of Standard 1.2) In English history, the Magna Carta (1215) and the English Bill of Rights (1689) both reinforced the concept of
a limited monarchy
The Articles of Confederation represented the Americans' distrust of
a strong central government
The "Rule of Law" states that
all people, including those who govern, must obey the law
The earliest large cities in Colonial North America were located
along bodies of water
"What do we mean by the Revolution? The war? That was not part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760-1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington." - John Adams, 1815 Based on this quotation about the American Revolution, Adams was probably
connecting the revolution to people's individual rights and freedoms
The rebellions started by Daniel Shays in 1786 were a protest against
debts and businesses' refusal to accept paper currency
The Articles of Confederation were important MAINLY because they
held the country together prior to the implementation of the Constitution
A major failing of the United States Government under the Articles of Confederation was its
inability to regulate commerce among the states
Although the Three-Fifths Compromise helped Northern and Southern states reach an agreement that allowed for ratification of the Constitution, in the long run it had a negative effect on the nation because
it was only a temporary solution to the argument between "free" and "slave" states
Under the ORIGINAL U.S. Constitution, the people voted directly for
members of the House of Representatives
House Senate Table House >435 Members >Members organized into 22 permanent committes >All members elected every 2 years >Headed by Speaker >Elected from districts in States Senate >100 members >Members organized into 16 permanent committes >1/3 of members elected every 2 years >Headed by Vice President >Elected from entire States According to the chart, how are the House and Senate similar?
members represent geographical areas
The U.S. Constitution establishes a federal system of government. Which statement best describes a federal system of government?
power is divided between national and state governments
Congress called for a convention to be held in Philadelphia in 1787 in order to
revise the Articles of Confederation
In Federalism, the power to govern is
shared between the national and state governments
The Virginia Plan would have granted more power to
states with large population
Limited government is the concept that a government's power over its citizens should have limitations. Which of these is MOST closely associated with the idea of limited government?
the Bill of Rights
"For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us...." -from The Declaration of Independence This line of The Declaration of Independence refers to the Quartering Act of 1774, which was enacted by Parliament in response to
the Boston Tea Party
Both John Locke and Thomas Jefferson wrote about the natural rights of man. In what document are these "unalienable rights" specifically mentioned?
the Declaration of Independence
The people who came to the American colonies in the 17th century had already been exposed to the idea of limited government thanks mainly to
the Magna Carta
Which situation could NOT have occurred under the Articles of Confederation?
the President could be removed from office
What role does the Executive Branch play in checking the power of Congress?
the President may veto Congressional legislation
The ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence were MOST influenced by
the Social Contract Theory
Which of these pieces of information would most likely appear in a state Constitution, rather than in the US Constitution?
the date of the gubernatorial election
Loyalty to WHICH governing model was displaced by ideas advanced in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution?
the monarchy, or rule by divine right of a king
Which of these is an example of a "check and balance" power of Congress?
the power to impeach public officials
The primary goal of the people who instigated the American Revolution was
to achieve the rights they felt the British had been denying them
The mid-Atlantic colony of Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn PRIMARILY because of his
wish to found a logical, well-planned, religiously tolerant colony