Civics Review Quiz

Who was a major influence on the founding fathers with his ideas on natural rights?

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Voltaire

• John Locke

• Thomas Hobbes

What principle did Montesquieu advocate for that influenced the U.S. Constitution?

• Direct democracy

• Separation of powers

• The divine right of kings

• Absolute monarchy

What was the significance of the Magna Carta?

• It established the first democratic government.

• It limited the power of the king for the first time.

• It was the first written constitution.

• It abolished the monarchy.

What did the Mayflower Compact establish?

• A new monarchy in the New World

• The first form of self-government in the colonies

• A trade agreement with Native Americans

• The first English university in America

What was the main argument of Thomas Paine's Common Sense?

• To promote a peaceful resolution with Britain

• That it was logical for the colonies to be independent from Britain

• For the colonies to maintain loyalty to the British crown

• That the colonies should have their own form of monarchy

What led to the Declaration of Independence?

• The colonists' desire for representation in the British Parliament

• British refusal to address colonists' complaints

• The end of the French and Indian War

• A declaration of war from Britain

What was a key grievance listed in the Declaration of Independence?

• Lack of a national currency

• Inability to declare war

• Taxation without representation

• Lack of a standing army

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?

• Inability to levy taxes

• Too strong a central government

• All states had too much power

• Lack of a judicial system

What does 'We the People' signify in the Constitution?

• The division of power among states

• A new monarchy being established

• The authority of the government comes from the citizens

• The establishment of the federal court system

What is the purpose of checks and balances?

• To ensure one branch of government does not become too powerful

• To provide checks to government employees

• To balance the budget of the federal government

• To check the accuracy of legal documents