American Revolution & Constitutional Foundations Review

The pamphlet Common Sense, authored by Thomas Paine urged American colonists to

• establish their own nation

• pay their colonial taxes

• obey the laws of Parliament

• form an alliance with France

The Boston Tea Party was a demonstration of the opposition of colonial merchants to

• a high tax on tea

• taxation without representation

• the British East India Company monopoly

• all of the above

Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation

• imposed unfair taxes on the states

• used a draft to raise a national army

• provided a strong system of federal courts

• placed too much power in the hands of the states

Why was Shays’ Rebellion (1786) a concern for many national leaders?

• indicated there would be future conflicts over the spread of slavery

• exposed fundamental weaknesses in government under the Articles of Confederation

• exposed the need for federal government regulation of interstate commerce

• showed the frontier settlements were vulnerable to raids by Native American Indians

Anti Federalists opposed ratification of the United States Constitution until they were assured that

• a bill of rights would be added to the original document to protect citizens from a too strong Federal government

• their supporters would receive a fair share of federal government jobs

• the president was given increased powers

• senators would be elected directly by the people

Which of the following choices would be the best topic of an outline with the following headings?

Outline Topic: ___________________________________________

I. A bicameral legislature is created in which states have equal representation in the Senate, but representation in the House depends on population

II. An enslaved person is counted as three-fifths of one person for purposes of both representation and taxation.

• grievances included in the Declaration of Independence

• provisions found in the Articles of Confederation

• compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention

• amendments included in the Bill of Rights

The 1735 The trial of John Peter Zenger most directly related to

• freedom of the press

• right to bear arms

• ban on unreasonable searches

• freedom from double jeopardy

Which option has these early America events in the correct chronological order?

• 1) inauguration of George Washington 2) passage of Stamp Act

  3) Battle of Saratoga 4) French and Indian War

• 1) Battle of Saratoga

  2) French and Indian War

  3) passage of Stamp Act

  4) inauguration of George Washington

• 1) French and Indian War

  2) passage of Stamp Act

  3) Battle of Saratoga

  4) inauguration of George Washington

• 1) passage of Stamp Act

  2) French and Indian War

  3) inauguration of George Washington 4) Battle of Saratoga

Which of the following actions are an example of the system of checks and balances?

• An individual pays both a state and a federal income tax

• New York State requires at least 180 school days per year

• The House of Representatives votes to expel one of its members

• The Senate approves a president’s nominee to the Supreme Court

Which issue was resolved by the Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention (1787)?

• method of electing the president

• power of Congress to tax exports

• Regulation of interstate commerce

• representation of states in Congress