Unit 1: US History Honors
The ___ Amendment was later used to make the most of the Bill of Rights apply to all states.
14th
When did the Puritans land in North America?
1620
This is the year that saw both the Louisiana Purchase and the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison.
1803
Members of the House of Representatives serve terms that last ___ years, while a Senate term lasts ___ years.
2; 6
When the Articles of Confederation was in effect, how many states needed to be in agreement for a law to pass?
9
What was a major philosophy expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
A belief in the natural rights of citizens was one of the major philosophies expressed in the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was, in actuality, a "break up letter," with the colonists telling the King why they did not want to live under his rule anymore. No mention was made of their plans for a new government or economic system.
In English history, the Magna Carta (1215) and the English Bill of Rights (1689) both reinforced the concept of
A limited monarchy reinforced the concept of the Magna Carta (1215) and the Bill of Rights (1689). King John was forced by wealthy barons to sign the Magna Carta limiting his control over them. Similarly, the Glorious Revolution resulted in the creation of the English Bill of Rights which limited the monarch's ability to ignore acts of Parliament.
Which sentence describes the power to tax given to the U.S. Congress by the Articles of Confederation?
A major weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that Congress could not tax. Congress could only request that taxes be submitted. This is a big weakness because tax money IS needed to do things like fund a military and provide much-needed services for the country.
According the Declaration of Independence, who gives government the power to exist?
According to the Declaration of Independence, the people give the government the right to exist. Most of this passage deals with this topic. The exact line is, "... Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...."
Which situation would MOST LIKELY be checked by other branches of the government?
According to the rules of the Separation of Powers, the Judicial branch is mainly responsible for dealing with laws and deciding whether they are constitutional. A case in which the judiciary tried to declare a state of emergency would be beyond its authority. That action would be checked by other branches of government.
Economically, what was the most common way of life in the Southern Colonies?
Agriculture
This is a method by which the Constitution may be changed or added to.
Amendment Process
This series of articles was written in 1787 urging Americans to oppose the ratification of the proposed United States Constitution
Anti-Federalist
The fact that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" illustrates which aspect of our government?
Article VI of the Constitution establishes national supremacy, meaning that state laws can not take precedence over or contradict laws of Congress or rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Which of these was NOT a part of the English Bill of Rights? A. People could bear arms, B. Monarchs could create taxes, C. Monarchs could not suspend laws, D. Free speech was ok in Parliament
B. Monarchs could create taxes
This was a printer, scientist and inventor who helped write both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin
In which famous incident did the Sons of Liberty play a key role?
Boston Tea Party
The French and Indian War was fought between what two colonial powers?
Britain and France
Unlike British society, the cultural background of the Sons of Liberty proved that __________.
Class did not matter
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
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.
This was a 1857 Supreme Court decision that a slave, because he was not a citizen, could not sue for his freedom.
Dred Scott Decision
The "Social Contract Theory" originated in the __________.
Enlightenment Era
What BEST describes the term enumerated powers?
Enumerated Powers are those given to the Federal government. These powers are listed in several places within the U.S. Constitution.
In the Declaration of Independence, whom did the Americans indict for "repeated injuries and usurpations"?
For much of the document, the Declaration of Independence cites, 'He has:.' This "He" is King George III, because of the crown's apparent intention to establish despotism. He was a convenient target, though Parliament shared much of the blame.
Battles between France and England in the new world resulting in the loss of all French possessions.
French and Indian war
As a result of the Treaty of Paris (1763) who gained control of Canada and Florida?
Great Britain
A Spanish explorer and conquistador of North and South America. He is the first explorer to document his discovery of the Mississippi River on his search for a route to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean for trade to the East.
Hernando De Soto
Name TWO of the writers mentioned in the video that helped to create the "Social Contract Theory."
Hobbes and Rousseau
In American democracy, why is the principle of checks and balances important?
In American democracy, the principle of checks and balances is important because no one branch can have too much power. Checks and balances helps to prevent abuse of power by one branch; for example, Congress has to approve certain presidential appointments.
Which statement BEST summarizes the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Gibbons v Ogden?
In Gibbons v Ogden, the Supreme Court decided that Congress has the sole authority to regulate interstate commerce. States retained the right to regulate trade within their borders. Thus, the state license that granted Ogden a monopoly on ferryboat travel between New York City and Elizabethtown, New Jersey was unconstitutional.
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. In an absolute monarchy, the ruler has unlimited power. To limit the powers of the monarch, Parliament created the English Bill of Rights.
Which statement BEST describes the power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation?
In an attempt to be unlike the British government, the Second Continental Congress created a government in which there was no one person 'in charge' (no King or President). This fear of a national government caused them to create a nation in which the states had more power than the national government. It was doomed to fail.
Which philosopher believed that ALL men were entitled to equal rights and that government should be built around the will of ALL people?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
This was the "Great Chief Justice," he presided over the case of Marbury v. Madison and was remembered as the principal founder of the U.S. system of constitutional law.
John Marshall
He was an English soldier and sailor, who is now remembered helping to establish Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America.
John Smith
Which branch of the federal government is responsible for interpreting the laws of the United States?
Judicial
The case of Marbury v. Madison established the right of the Supreme Court's right to declare laws unconstitutional, which is also known as
Judicial review means that federal courts have the ability to, if asked, rule on whether or not a law violates the Constitution. This is a vital part of the checks and balances of our government.
What American literary classic was set in the French and Indian War?
Last of the Mohicans
The first proprietor of the Maryland colony.
Lord Baltimore (Cecilius Calvert)
Which nation provided the foundation for the concept of limited government that is embodied in the U.S. Constitution?
Many features of the American political system, especially in terms of limited government and due process, can be directly traced back to the government of England. Many of the ideas expressed in the U.S. Constitution find their basis in the Magna Carta, the Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights.
This was the first decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review.
Marbury v. Madison
What colony was founded by Cecilius Calvert?
Maryland
This Supreme Court case upheld the Federal government's use of "implied powers," those that are necessary to keep the government running and are not expressly listed in the Constitution.
McCulloch v. Maryland
Religious tolerance and diversity were a characteristic of the _________ colonies.
Middle
"Federalism" is the division of power between the __________ governments.
National and State
The _________ colonies included Conneticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and Puritans and Pilgrims settled here.
New England
What was the unofficial motto of the Sons of Liberty?
No taxation without representation!
This was an Act of Continental Congress which initially organized the first United States territory and was to be the basis for governing how the United States would expand westward.
Northwest Ordinance
This is the name given to the lands that would eventually become all or parts of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Northwest Territory
Why was it hard to get laws passed under the Articles of Confederation?
Passing a law under the Articles of Confederation was extremely difficult. To do so required 9 of 13 states needed to agree., meaning that very few laws ever got passed. But remember a few things: 1) the founders of the Articles of Confederation did not want Congress to have much power and 2) there was no President and no Judicial Branch under the Articles.
What is a role of congress
Passing the federal budget is an important duty of Congress. The President and the Executive Branch can make suggestions and submit their own budget proposal, but it is the Congress that must prepare the final budget. The President can veto legislation and nominate Cabinet members and the Supreme Court and other federal courts interpret the Constitution.
The "Social Contract Theory" is
People give up some sovereignty to form a government that will protect everyone's life, liberty, and property. If government fails, the contract is voided and people can form a new government
This was a 1787 meeting called by Congress to amend the Articles of the Confederation.
Philadelphia Convention
Radical protestant followers of John Calvin seeking purity of church and doctrine. Many emigrated to North America from 1620-1640s to separate themselves from the Church of England and its tolerance of Roman Catholic practices.
Puritans
"Society of Friends" founded in England in the 17th century by George Fox. They find elaborate church organizations unnecessary and that each individual is responsible to God.
Quakers
English theologian with unique beliefs in colonial America. He was an advocate for the separation of church and state and Native American rights. He is also the founder of Providence, Rhode Island and the first Baptist church in America.
Roger Williams
This convened in May of 1775, drafted the "Olive Branch Petition" two months later, and eventually drafted the Declaration of Independence over a year later
Second Continental Congress
The rebellions started by Daniel Shays in 1786 were a protest against
Shays' Rebellion began because of both debts and businesses' refusal to accept paper currency. Farmers were forced to pay their debts in gold rather than paper currency, even though they could rarely get their hands on gold. This uprising was one of the things that led to the Constitutional Convention.
The second part of the Declaration of Independence BEST exemplifies the __________.
Social Contract Theory
What colony's roots can be traced to 1670?
South Carolina
The "Rule of Law" states that
The "Rule of Law" is an underpinning of U.S. law, and holds that all people, including those in the government, must obey the law. This can be seen in the Constitution's power of impeachment of federal officials.
"We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." What is an accurate conclusion based on Benjamin Franklin's statement regarding the Declaration of Independence?
The American Colonies should all sign the Declaration of Independence
What was used as our framework of government before the ratification of the Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation
When representatives met in Philadelphia in May of 1785, they were to revise what document?
The Articles of Confederation
Which document became the foundation of the first government of the United States?
The Articles of Confederation became the first "law of the land" for the United States in 1781, 4 years after it was created. However, it was not very effective. In 1787 plans were made to revise it, but politicians decided to do away with the Articles, creating the The U.S. Constitution, instead.
Which situation could NOT have occurred under the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation created a rather weak national government. Of the choices shown here, the one that could NOT have happened was "the President could be removed from office." This was not because the unicameral Congress lacked the authority. This was because the office of President did not even exist under the Articles of Confederation.
The post-colonial distrust of strong, national governmental power can most clearly be seen in the creation of the
The Articles of Confederation created such a weak national government that some critics wondered if the United States really consisted of 13 countries instead of one. This was not without reason, though, for the men who drafted this first government of the United States did not want to create a system that would be like the one they had just rebelled against.
What is a WEAKNESS of the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation was a a weak document for a number of reasons, but one glaring one what that there was no separation of powers. The government consisted only of a unicameral congress: there was no president, executive branch, or court system. This actually helped to make the national government too weak and the state governments very powerful.
The first government of the United States was the
The Articles of Confederation was the first government in the United States. It failed to be strong enough to establish a strong, federal government, so it was scrapped and replaced by the Constitution we still use today. While the Mayflower Compact was the first instance of European-styled self government in North America, it predates the United States by over 150 years.
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because Anti-federalists wanted citizens to have guarantees of protection from government tyranny. As the Constitution was originally approved by the Constitutional Convention in 1787, there were no guarantees in it that individual liberties would be protected. However, the Anti-Federalists threatened to campaign against the ratification of the document unless a 'Bill of Rights' was added. Federalists agreed to add one, and, eventually, both became the framework of our current government.
It has been said that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land." By this we mean
The Constitution is the highest form of law in the United States. No law (federal,state, or local) can violate the Constitution. For example, Georgia could not pass a law outlawing the Methodist Church, for that would clearly violate the First Amendment.
The Declaration of Independence and the "Social Contract Theory" both arose from which philosophical movement?
The Declaration of Independence and the "Social Contract Theory" both arose from the Enlightenment. The "Social Contract" theory was popularized by the philosophers Thomas Hobbes, John Lock, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and incorporated into the Declaration by Thomas Jefferson.
Which act gave Parliament the right to create any law and any tax on the colonies?
The Declaratory Act
The document signed as a result of the Glorious Revolution is the
The English Bill of Rights was signed in 1689. It created limits on the monarchs and was used as an inspiration for the United States' Bill of Rights.
England increased taxes in the colonies to help pay for the debt that resulted from __________.
The French and Indian War
The Magna Carta is most important for which reason?
The Magna Carta did not create democracy, but it did put limits on the monarch's (King John's) powers. This concept of "limited monarchy" applies to the United States in that the President, while not a king, still must follow the rules like any other citizen.
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 was signed in 1215 by King John of England, limiting his rights. The Council of Trent was a Catholic response to the Protestant Reformation, while the final two choices come after the colonists arrive in North America.
The Senate has the power to confirm presidential appointments to the Supreme Court. This is an example of what principle of United States government?
The Senate having the power to confirm presidential appointments to the Supreme Court is an example of the checks and balances principle of United States government. If the President attempts to appoint someone to a job who is poorly qualified or has ulterior motives then the Senate can prevent this.
This revenue law of the British parliament succeeded in angering the colonists, but failed to raise a single penny in taxes.
The Stamp Act succeeded in angering the colonists, but failed to raise a single penny in taxes because the British agents hired to collect this tax were so badly threatened by the colonists.
The __________ had the greatest impact on imported goods such as tea, paper, and glass.
The Townshend Acts
The Virginia Plan would have granted more power to
The Virginia Plan would have granted more power to states with large population. It was the New Jersey plan which would have given increased power to states with smaller populations.
The Whiskey Rebellion was significant in U.S. history MAINLY because
The Whiskey Rebellion (1791-1794) was an early challenge to the authority of the government created by the U.S. Constitution. The use of national military troops to quell the insurrection showed that the federal government would use force to execute the laws of the land. The supremacy of the national government is guaranteed in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution.
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
The correct answer is "English Bill of Rights and the U.S. Bill of Rights." Both documents preserve and protect citizens' rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and due process, for example.
A major failing of the United States Government under the Articles of Confederation was its
The correct answer is the inability to regulate commerce among the states. The Articles left unclear the role of the federal government in trade between the sovereign states, which could have led to tariffs, trade wars, etc between the states. It did, however, regulate the expansion of the country (into the Great Lakes region) and allow the government to establish embassies in foreign countries.
The ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence were MOST influenced by
The ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence were MOST influenced by the Social Contract Theory. The work of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu all played major roles in the thoughts expressed by Thomas Jefferson in his foundational document.
The Articles of Confederation were important MAINLY because they
The main importance of the Articles was that they held the country together prior to the implementation of the Constitution.. The laws of the country were rewritten in the Constitution, but the Articles of Confederation were helpful in keeping order before the Constitution.
Congress called for a convention to be held in Philadelphia in 1787 in order to
The original purpose of the convention on Philadelphia in 1787 was to revise the Articles of Confederation. Because of this, they kept all proceedings private: if their actions had been known they could have been tried for overthrowing the government (which they were doing, albeit kindly and peacefully).
The principle of judicial review, in which the U.S. Supreme Court became the final arbiter on the constitutionality of a law, was established by which of these cases?
The principle of judicial review was established by Marbury v Madison. Marbury v Madison. , in which district judge William Marbury sued the government to secure his appointment, established the U.S. Supreme Court as the final arbiter on the constitutionality of law. The other cases occurred later in American history.
What was the purpose of the English Bill of Rights?
The purpose of the English Bill of Rights was to limit the power of the British monarch. For example, as a result of the English Bill of Rights, no British ruler could levy taxes without the consent of Parliament.
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
The social contract theory is an Enlightenment ideal that has been incorporated into the US government. Free elections of the citizenry ensure that the "social contract" between the people and their government is consistently upheld.
The primary goal of the people who instigated the American Revolution was
The thought of a democracy was not the primary motivation for those who began the Revolution. They yearned to regain the rights they felt the British had been denying them , and they hoped to start a new government based mainly on the British style of government, but with a few obvious changes.
The title "Commander-in-Chief" belongs to
The title "Commander-in-Chief" belongs to the President. This title is found in Article II of the Constitution.
The Articles of Confederation represented the Americans' distrust of
The very reason the Articles of Confederation were made with a weak federal government was because the framers of it feared a strong central government. This enabled to states to have so much authority that the safety of the country was put at risk.
The ideas of Locke and Rousseau are found MOST easily in which of these documents? A. The Declaration of Independence B. The Communist Manifesto C. The Gettysburg Address D. The United Nation's Charter
The works of John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau both had a profound influence on A. The Declaration of Independence. Their ideas of popular sovereignty and a separation of powers in government let first to the creation of the The Declaration of Independence, then to drafting of the U.S. Constitution the following decade.
The British policy of enforcing the writs of assitance on colonial citizens resulted in the passage of which amendment in the Bill of Rights?
The writs of assistance allowed British officers to arbitrarily search colonial homes for evidence, without documentation. American citizens later insisted on the inclusion of the Fourth Amendment to prevent illegal searches and seizures without a search warrant by officers.
"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...." Each phrase from this section of the Declaration of Independence begins with the word 'for', which is referring to the actions of
This section of the The Declaration of Independence singles out the British Parliament for their role in the series of events which lead to strife in the colonies. The section of the document that begins with "He has..." refers to the actions of King George III.
Who wrote Leviathan, detailing his ideas about a "State of Nature"?
Thomas Hobbes
What kind of Chesapeake plantations were not only profitable but also created a need for inexpensive labor?
Tobacco
Constitutionally, the __________ is the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Vice President
The House of Burgesses is associated with what colony?
Virginia
The _________ Plan favored states with large populations.
Virginia
The settlers have to make the Mayflower Compact because the previous governing document applied to ___, not where they were forced to land.
Virginia
What states comprise the Chesapeake Colonies?
Virginia and Maryland
Anti-Federalists refused to ratify the Constitution unless __________.
a bill of rights was added
The English Bill of rights created __________.
a limited monarchy
The Bill of Rights was designed to alleviate fears about
a strong central government
This portion of the U.S. Constitution deals exclusively with the establishment and powers of the Judicial Branch of government.
article 3
This person is the head of Supreme Court and may be called upon to officiate over the impeachment trial of the President of the United States.
chief justice
The British Constitution __________.
consisted of multiple documents
According to the video, ONE of the strengths of the Articles of Confederation was it gave Congress the ability to __________.
declare war
Powers specifically given to the government by the Constitution.
delegated powers
This is the name given to the written decision of a case authored by Justices of the Supreme Court that did not agree with the final decision.
dissenting opinion
These are powers given to the federal government by the terms of the U.S. Constitution.
enumerated powers
True or False: The barons were not expected to pay higher taxes.
false
Delegated Powers are those possessed by which level of government?
federal
Concurrent Powers are those possessed by whom?
federal and state
This was the group of representatives from twelve North American Colonies who met in 1774 in response to the Intolerable Acts.
first continental congress
Enslavement and indentured servitude were forms of __________ used by Southern plantation owners.
forced labor
In this 1824 case, the Supreme Court upheld the power of the Federal government to regulate commerce between states.
gibbons vs. ogden
How did the Supreme Court rule regarding the Judiciary Act of 1789?
it was unconstitutional
Which President appointed 58 Federal judges as he was leaving office?
john adams
The power to declare a law "unconstitutional" is given to the ___ branch.
judicial
Marbury v. Madison established what constitutional principle?
judicial review
The Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of
judicial review
Taking action against King John, the Pope excommunicated the ___ and banned all church services in England.
king
The Rule of _________ is a society in which the laws are codified for everyone.
law
The ___ branch has the power to impeach Federal judges.
legislative
The principle of ____ ____ is found in the Constitution and refers to the fact that the power of the government comes from the people.
limited government
This is a form of government in which the power to rule is significantly restrained by a strong Constitution or other document
limited government
This is the name given to the written decision of a case that has been agreed to by more than half of the Supreme Court.
majority opinion
The purpose of the House of Burgesses was to __________ the colony.
make laws for
The Rule of _________ is a society governed by one person or a small group of people.
man
This is the form of government with one ruler, such as a king or queen
monarchy
Did Marbury ever receive his commission and become Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia?
no
This is the name given to a legislative body such as that in Great Britain that is usually led by a Prime Minister.
parliament
Petition of Right
passed in 1628, no martial law in time of peace, mandates writs of habeas corpus, and no forced quartering of troops
English Bill of Rights
passed in 1689, allowed for the possession of arms, was heavily influenced by John Locke, and citizens had freedom to petition the monarch without worry of punishment
Locke believed that the duty of government was to protect people's Life, Liberty, & ________.
property
Which principle of the Constitution refers to the fact that citizens can vote government officials into- or out of- office?
republicanism
The original purpose of the delegates in Philadelphia in 1787 was to _________ the Articles of Confederation.
revise
The Roman Republic is an early example of "__________."
rule of law
This refers to the unofficial British policy of enforcing few of the restrictions legally placed on their North American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries.
salutary neglect
The Mayflower Compact set the precedent for the rest of colonial North America of the concept of __________.
self-governance
The principle of the Constitution known as __________ refers to the fact that the government is divided into branches, each with specific duties.
separation of powers
What concept is described by the phrase "each branch of the government has different duties"?
separation of powers
Magna Carta
signed in 1215, no arbitrary imprisonment, and required jury trials
This is the absolute power of a government within its own territory.
sovereignty
The part of Article VI, Clause 2 establishes the Constitution as the "Supreme Law of the Land."
supremacy clause
A sum of money demanded by a government (local, state, or federal) for the support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales, etc.
tax
Gubernatorial
the state governor or pertaining to the governor's office
True or False: Membership to the House of Burgesses was only available to white, male, land owners.
true
True or False: The Magna Carta influenced English law, which would be an influence in later US law.
true
The term "bicameral" means "__________."
two houses
This 1832 Supreme Court case, with a majority opinion given by John Marshall, held that Cherokee Native Americans had federal protection from the action of state governments. Although considered influential, it did not prevent the forcible relocation of the Cherokees in what became known as the Trail of Tears.
worcester v. georgia
