Ch. 2 Test: Origins of American Government

Colonists valued limited government because they

• believed monarchs should have absolute power over their people

• did not accept the concept of representative government

• thought people should be protected form punishment by an unjust government

• thought that order could be maintained without a government

Which of John Locke's beliefs had a major influence on the colonists?

• All people have certain "natural" or inalienable rights such as the right to liberty.

• Monarchs are appointed by God and should have supreme power.

• People need government to maintain order and prevent conflict.

• The power of government must be separated.

By 1776, the colonial governments

• accepted the king as head of the church.

• had significant experience in representative government.

• primarily practiced direct democracy for all citizens.

• were virtually identical to one another.

After considerable discussion, the First Continental Congress

• decided to go to war against the British.

• established a central government and chose John Hancock as its president.

• imposed an embargo on Britain.

• instructed the colonies to create written constitutions.

When the Declaration of Independence states it is drawing on "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God" it is expressing the idea that primarily originated with

• George Washington

• John Locke

• Richard Henry Lee

• Samuel Adams

The Declaration of Independence states that governments

• can establish standing armies without the consent of the legislatures

• derive their powers from the consent of the governed

• do not have the right to tax those they govern

• have divine rights that set them above the people they govern

As the Articles of Confederation were written, a major debate centered around whether

• slavery should be legal

• the government should have both an executive and legislative branch

• the national government or state and local governments should be stronger

• there should be an army under the control of the national government

A serious problem following the Revolutionary War was that

• many states refused to pay off the extensive war debt

• the national government could not regulate affairs with Native Americans

• the national government was unable to coin money

• the states refused to give the central government the right to make treaties

An important accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation was that it

• created fair policies for settling lands west of the Appalachian Mountains

• developed a national court system

• stopped the ability of states to charge tariffs on imported goods

• strengthened the national governments ability to levy and collect taxes

A major reason for Shays Rebellion was that

• citizens were upset about farm foreclosures

• Congress wanted more power over the states

• legislators thought the central government should provide better security

• states could not agree on how western lands should be settled