STAAR US History Test: Foundations

When citizens can only meet in public for certain purposes, they regard such meetings as a strange proceeding of rare occurrence, and they rarely think at all about it. When they are allowed to meet freely for all purposes, they ultimately look upon public association in the universal, or in a manner the sole, means which men can employ to accomplish the different purposes they may have in view.

-Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1840

Which value is best reflected in this excerpt?

• Egalitarianism

• Laissez-faire

• Populism

• Liberty

The ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence helped –

• encourage new settlers in South America to assimilate native populations

• motivate European rulers to establish new colonies

• inspire people in other countries to question the authority of their government

• persuade religious leaders in other countries to stop the persecution of non-

  Christians

Which civic action demonstrates the most fundamental responsibility of citizens in a democracy?

• Registering with the Selective Service

• Signing a petition on a college campus

• Volunteering at a community food bank

• Voting in a presidential elections

What was one of the effects of the Declaration of Independence?

• allowed foreign governments to recognize the United States as an independent

  nation

• established monarchs as head of government

• required the payment of housing allowances to British soldiers

• reduced the rights of citizens

The U.S. Constitution principle of popular sovereignty means

• the sharing of power between the national government and the states

• citizens elect their representatives

• the power of the government is divided into three branches

• the people hold the final authority in government

Why did the United States adopt the motto In God We Trust in 1956?

• To honor the financial and societal contributions of various religious organizations

• To distinguish the nation from countries that restricted religious practices

• To commemorate the social changes introduced by Christian leaders

• To encourage the growth of religious institutions throughout the country

The unalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence are rights that

• are guaranteed only to natural-born citizens

• cannot be taken away by a government without due process of law

• are enumerated in the Magna Carta

• are limited by a bill of rights

Which document written in 1787 contains the purposes of government listed above?

• Declaration of Independence

• Northwest Ordinance

• Articles of Confederation

• U.S. Constitution

What is the meaning of the U. S. motto “E Pluribus Unum” adopted in 1776?

• Out of many, One

• From the greater to the smaller

• From one, learn all

• For one’s own use

Which important principle of U. S. government is reflected in the diagram?

• Individual rights

• Popular sovereignty

• Separation of powers

• Federalism