Civics-The Beginning of Our Governmentuntitled

Read the sentence.

Which phrase best completes the blank in the sentence?

• national army

• way to coin money

• strong central government

• legislative branch

Why were the Articles of Confederation designed to deliberately establish a weak national government?

• All Americans felt it was the most workable form of government and sought to re-establish a monarchy.

• American political leaders were fearful of a powerful central government like England’s.

• A national executive branch and judicial system provided for the needed governmental powers.

• The original thirteen states were functioning well together under their current systems of government.

Which document established the first national government in the United States of America?

• Declaration of Independence

• Olive Branch Petition

• Constitution of the United States of America

• Articles of Confederation

Which of these best completes the title to this diagram?

• Weaknesses of the Government Under the Articles of Confederation

• Factors That Led to the American Declaration of Independence

• Reasons for Tension Between the States Prior to the Civil War

• Problems With Great Britain That Led to the War of 1812

… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,…

— Thomas Jefferson

​The purpose of this statement was to...

• Urge support for the Albany Plan of Union

• Provide justification for declaring independence

• criticize the Articles of Confederation

• advocate obedience to Great Britain

Which two key principles of government are included in the Declaration of Independence?

• majority rule and minority rights

• universal suffrage and judicial independence

• direct democracy and equality for women

• consent of the governed and natural rights

Read the grievance from the Declaration of Independence below:

​"For imposing taxes on us without our consent."

​Explain the meaning of this grievance.

• The American colonists were forced to feed and house British soldiers and tax collectors.

• Under the authority of the King, colonists were taxed without representation

• Under the authority of the King, these is not a fair trial by jury.

• The Massachusetts legislature was dissolved by the King's Coercive Acts