Founding Ideas and the Declaration of Independence Quiz

What was the Enlightenment?

• A period of time when the American colonies were established

• A movement that emphasized reason and individualism

• A war fought between the British and American colonists

• A document that declared the independence of the United States

Which Enlightenment thinker argued that governments should be strong enough to protect people but not so powerful that they take away individuals' rights?

• John Locke

• Thomas Hobbes

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• None of the above

Which Enlightenment thinker explored ideas about creating a fair government that protects people's rights and freedoms?

• John Locke

• Thomas Hobbes

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• None of the above

Which Enlightenment thinker argued that governments should exist to serve the people - not the other way around?

• John Locke

• Thomas Hobbes

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• None of the above

Which event from the road to revolution came first?

• The American people were angry because they had to pay British taxes but didn't have any representatives in the British government.

• The British passed the Intolerable Acts to punish colonists for the Boston Tea Party.

• The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, officially creating the United States of America.

• The British king refused to let colonists live on newly claimed land in North America.

Enlightenment ideas led the Founders of the United States to create a government that:

• controlled the world's most powerful army.

• protected citizens' natural freedoms.

• made sure all citizens had equal wealth.

• would not force citizens to make a social contract.

Enlightenment ideas led the Founders of the United States to create a government that:

• had an extremely powerful military

• could never be destroyed by its citizens.

• gave people a voice in its actions

• had complete control over its people

The Founders of the United States believed in protecting freedoms for all citizens because of the Enlightenment idea of:

• separation of powers.

• the social contract.

• natural rights.

• popular sovereignty

The Founders of the United States believed that the government was created to serve the people because of the Enlightenment idea of:

• popular sovereignty.

• natural rights.

• separation of powers.

• the social contract.

The American colonists wrote the Declaration of Independence, in part, because the British government:

• refused to station enough troops in the colonies.

• believed in the concept of popular sovereignty.

• forced them to participate in a social contract.

• did not give the colonists political representation.