Origins of American Government

Which British document first established limited government or the idea that the monarch's power was not absolute?

• Magna Carta

• Petition of Right

• Two Treatise of Government

• English Bill of Rights

Which British document did the colonists believe protected their right to a fair and speedy trial and cruel and unusual punishment?

• Magna Carta

• English Bill of Rights

• Treatise of Two Governments

• The Social Contract

Which group served as the acting government of the colonies throughout the war?

• Articles of Confederation

• Committee of Correspondence

• First Continental Congress

• Second Continental Congress

Which event made the colonists realize the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation?

• French and Indian War

• Shay's Rebellion

• Northwest Ordinance

• American Revolution

Which plan from the Constitutional Convention called for representation based on population?

• Connecticut Plan

• Virginia Plan

• New Jersey Plan

• Great Compromise

The Declaration of Independence states that governments:

• can establish standing armies without the consent of the legislatures

• derive their power from the consent of the governed

• do not have the right to tax those they govern

• have divine rights that give them the power to govern

The Founders created a federal system because

• they knew the central government needed to be stronger

• they believed representation in Congress should be based entirely on population

• they wanted power to be split between the national and state governments

• they did not want the president to have more power than the legislative branch

How many Federalist papers were written?

• 51

• 85

• 30

• 100

One way the English Bill of Rights expanded on the Magna Carta was by:

• stating that the monarch must have Parliament's consent to levy taxes

• re-establishing the supremacy of the monarchy

• stating that people had the right to a fair and speedy trial

• establishing an independent judiciary

The purpose of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence was to: 

• describe the wrongs that the King had committed

• list the reasons the colonists believed they deserved independence 

• establish the source of the rights of all Americans

• emphasize the importance of social contracts