Foundations of American Government

The founding document that officially separated us from Great Britain was the

• Constitution

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• Bill of Rights

The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was

• Thomas Jefferson

• John Adams

• Thomas Paine

• George Washington

Which of the following terms means, an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits?

• Anarchy

• Natural Rights

• Democracy

• Social Contract

Whose ideas had the greatest impact on the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

• John Locke

• Aristotle

• Cesare Beccaria

• King George

Which of these was NOT one of the natural rights listed by John Locke?

• Life

• Liberty

• Property

• Happiness

The ______________ was the final attempt by the Continental Congress to avoid war with Great Britain.

• Olive Branch Petition

• Intolerable Acts

• Boycotting of goods

• Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

Thomas Jefferson borrowed many of his ideas from which Enlightenment Philosopher?

• John Locke

• Thomas Hobbes

• Thomas Paine

• John Adams

According to the Declaration of Independence who institutes or creates governments?

• The King

• The People

• The Pope

• The President

To Great Britain, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was

• an act of loyalty.
• an act of treason.
• an act of bravery.
• an act of insanity.

Which of the following is the central idea put forth in the Declaration of Independence?

• The American people will fight to the death to protect themselves from attacks by Britain.

• The American colonies are justified in rejecting British rule and setting up a new government.

• The people of Great Britain should claim their own independence from the rule of the current king.

• Americans who support the idea of independence from Great Britain greatly outnumber those who do not.