Influences on our Founding Fathers

Which Enlightenment thinker argued that all people were born equal and had natural rights to life, liberty, and property?

• Thomas Paine
• Baron de Montesquieu
• Thomas Hobbes
• John Locke

Why did the Founding Fathers separate the power to make, enforce, and interpret laws between different branches of government?

• to prevent one branch of government from becoming to powerful
• to make the national government more efficient
• to increase the power of the presidency
• to ensure that Congress would act according to the will of the people

What are natural rights?

• agreements among people relating to their government
• freedoms people possess such as life, liberty and property
• ideas about freedoms that were first discussed in the American colonies
• rights reserved only for kings and queens

Baron de Montesquieu's view of separation of powers greatly influenced the Founding Fathers.  In what way is Montesquieu's view of separation of powers demonstrated in the U.S. Constitution?

• Federal authority is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
• The citizens of each state are entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.
• Titles of nobility cannot be granted by the United States.
• A citizen must be at least 30 years old in order to be a United States senator.

According to John Locke, which agreement did individuals enter into to form their own society?

• Constitution
• Social Contract
• English Bill of Rights
• Common Sense

Which documents influenced the Founding Fathers?

• Magna Carta, Common Sense, Emancipation Proclamation
• Mayflower Compact, Bill of Rights, Common Sense
• Common Sense, Articles of Confederation, Emancipation Proclamation
• Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Common Sense

What did many American colonists use Thomas Paine's Common Sense to justify?

• Acts of sabotage against British merchants
• Declaring independence from Britain
• Joining the army instead of the militia
• Supporting the British monarchy

Which document established that not even the king or queen was above the law?

• Magna Carta
• House of Burgesses
• U.S. Constitution
• Mayflower Compact

Which influential document limited the power of the king and protected certain rights of nobles?

• Mayflower Compact
• Magna Carta
• Common Sense
• Article of Confederation

What influential English document listed citizens rights such as the right to bear arms in defense?

• Magna Carta
• Mayflower Compact
• English Bill of Rights
• Common Sense