Founding America

The first written form of government and written laws in America were both contained in what 1620 document?

• The English Bill of Rights

• The Mayflower Compact

• The Magna Carta

• The U.S. Constitution

This English document created in 1689 gave the world's first governmental provision protecting free speech and right to bear arms while also requiring the consent of parliament for all new laws and taxes that were to be created. What is that document?

• The English Bill of Rights

• The Mayflower Compact

• The Magna Carta

• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

This document which means "Great Charter" was created to begin limiting the power of the Kings of England. King John, very unpopular during his reign, was forced to sign the document much to his disliking. What document did he sign in 1215?

• The English Bill of Rights

• The Mayflower Compact

• The Magna Carta

• A prenuptial agreement

One Enlightenment philosopher that had a tremendous amount of influence on the founding of America was mostly known for his ideas of the separation of powers within a government system. He believed the best government would separate powers between legislative, executive and judicial among different groups. Who was he?

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesquieu

• Voltaire

• Kanye West

What is the name of the Enlightenment Philosopher whose ideas on Natural Rights heavily influenced the writing included in the Declaration of Independence?

• John Locke

• Baron de Montesquieu

• Jean Jacques Rousseau

• Thomas Jefferson

What is the name of the pamphlet written by Englishman Thomas Paine that helped convince many colonists of the need for independence from Great Britain?

• The State of Nature

• The Declaration of Independence

• Common Sense

• The Social Contract

During the Revolutionary War the colonists had to make a form of government to rule themselves. The very first form of national government created in America is called what?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Bill of Rights

Why did America's first national government fail and need to be changed? Choose all that apply.

• Under the Articles of Confederation there was no power to collect taxes.

• It was too difficult to get anything passed because all states had to agree on any new changes.

• The states had all the power and didn't always work well with each other.

• The Federal government was too weak and couldn't stop British domination of American ports.

When delegates came together for what eventually became known as the constitutional convention, what was the purpose of their gathering in the spring and summer of 1787?

• Fashion.

• To declare George Washington King of America.

• To express their undying love for the Articles of Confederation.

• To Amend (change) the Articles of Confederation.

The Virginia Plan that was proposed at the Constitutional Convention was written by which convention delegate?

• Edmund Randolph

• James Madison

• Your Mom

• George Washington