SS.8.CG.1.5 (Assessment #s)

Which document addressed colonial concerns about English policies?

• Declaration of Independence

• Mayflower Compact

• U.S. Constitution

• Bill of Rights

Answer explanation

The Declaration of Independence listed the colonists’ concerns about English policies and the impact of those English policies on the lives of the colonists.

B is incorrect becaue the Mayflower Compact is a colonial document that focuses on the importance of forming civil governments.

C is incorrect because the U.S. Constitution was written long after the British colonists declared independence from Great Britain.

D is incorrect because the Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which were added to the U.S. Constitution in 1791.

Which colonial concern led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

• The king imposed taxes on the colonists.

• The king required the colonists to elect a governor.

• The British government denied the colonists the right to petition.

• The British government denied the colonists 

  representation in the 

  legislature.

  
  

Answer explanation

The colonists believed their concerns were not being fairly addressed in part because there was no colonial representation in government, and the British government had suspended colonial legislatures in some colonies.

A is incorrect because it was the Parliament that established the taxes, with the blessing of the king.

B is incorrect because the colonists would not have seen this as a significant issue.

C is incorrect because the colonists petitioned the British government to address their concerns. They just didn’t listen.

Which principle formed the basis for colonial complaints against

taxes levied following the French and Indian War?

• Rule of law

• due process of law 

• separation of powers 

• consent of the governed 

Answer explanation

Colonists were denied representation in Parliament even though they had petitioned previously.

A is incorrect because while the rule of law was a significant concern, it was not applicable in this context as it did not involve placing one group above another in the eyes of the law.

B is incorrece because due process applies to the legal procedures of citizens accused of committing a crime, not taxation.

C is incorrect because while separation of powers would be an area of concern, Parliament imposing these taxes was within their powers and not a violation of this principle within this context.

This diagram describes a cause that led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Which action completes this diagram?

• A) Colonial agricultural trade increases.

• B) Colonial religious devotion increases.

• C) Colonial demand for political change increases.

• Colonial demand for 

  military assistance 

  increases.

  
  

Answer explanation

Colonial demand for political change increased as a result of the colonists’ concerns with British policies related to taxation, representation, and individual rights. This option correctly completes the flowchart because the colonists reacted to the British policies that limited their rights by expressing their grievances and demanding political change. The colonists’ grievances were ignored which led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

A is incorrect because the colonists would not have grievances about gaining economic freedom.

B is incorrect- The colonists would not have grievances about gaining religious rights.

Correct-

D is incorrect- The colonists would not have asked for more military assistance from the same government that used the military to limit their rights.

This image is a political cartoon that was published in the Boston Gazette in 1765. Which statement describes the significance of this image?

• It demonstrated that Parliament controlled the colonists’ publications.

• It demonstrated that Parliament ignored the colonists’ petitions.

• It represented the colonists’ opposition to British tax policies.

• It represented the colonists’ fulfillment of British tax policies.

Answer explanation

The colonists opposed British tax policies, which included the requirement that stamps be placed on the front of the newspaper in order for that newspaper to be eligible to be sold.

A is Incorrect- There is no reference to Parliament in the stamp or its control over publications.

B is Incorrect- There is no reference to Parliament in the stamp or its role in responding to the colonists’ media communications.

D is Incorrect- The use of the skull and crossbones suggests opposition to the requirement that the stamp be attached to the newspaper in order for it to be sold.

This diagram describes a cause that led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Which action completes this diagram?

• Colonial agricultural trade increases.

• Colonial religious rights are restricted.

• The British enact a series of taxes in the colonies.

• The British grant the 

  colonists representation in Parliament.

Answer explanation

Colonial protests and demand for political change began as a result of the colonists’ concerns with British policies related to taxation, representation, and individual rights. This option correctly completes the flowchart because the colonists reacted to the British policies that limited their rights by expressing their grievances and demanding political change. The colonists’ grievances were ignored, which led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

A is Incorrect- The colonists would not have protested about gaining economic freedom.

B is Incorrect- Most of the British policies that the colonists protested were related to taxation, representation, and individual rights unrelated to religion and religious rights.

D is Incorrect- The British never granted the colonists representation in Parliament.

This image is a political cartoon that was published in the Boston Gazette in 1765. 

Which statement describes the significance of this image?

• declaring independence from the British monarchy

• declaring loyalty to the British monarchy

• dissolving colonial 

  legislatures

• dissolving colonial charters 

Answer explanation

The cartoon is encouraging the colonists in each state to join together to declare 

independence and afterward form an independent nation (the Articles of Confederation)

B is Incorrect- The “joining” described in the cartoon represents the colonies to join together, but not for the colonies to join with the British monarchy.

C is Incorrect- The “joining” described in the cartoon represents the colonies joining together and not for the colonial legislatures to dissolve.

D is Incorrect- The “joining” described in the cartoon represents the colonies joining together and not for the colonial charters to dissolve.

These excerpts are from historical documents. 

Declaration of Independence

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent 

Article I Section 7 U.S. Constitution

All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the 

House of Representatives… 

Which statement describes the relationship between the ideas expressed in these two excerpts?

• Both declare to the world why the colonists wanted freedom from Britain.

• Both represent actions 

  taken by the colonists to enforce British policies.

• Both show how Britain dealt with the actions of the colonists.

• Both respond to British policies imposed upon the colonists.

Answer explanation

Both quotes reflect policies imposed on the colonists by the British, including taxes enacted without the consent of the colonists. The House of Representatives (elected directly by the people) is responsible for introducing tax bills.

A is Incorrect- The statement from the Declaration of Independence focuses on why the colonists wanted freedom from Britain, although the statement from Article I does not.

B is Incorrect- No actions taken by the colonists to enforce British policies is reflected in either concept.

C is Incorrect- Both statements focus on the responses of the colonists to British policies; neither quote represents how Britain responded to colonial actions.

Why did Parliament eventually repeal the Stamp Act?

• The colonists established a blockade against British goods.

• The colonists were able to produce their own goods.

• The colonists started 

  destroying British goods.

• The colonists began 

  boycotting British goods.

Answer explanation

The colonists boycotted British goods, which eventually led Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act.

A is incorrect- The colonists did not establish a blockage against British goods, although they took other actions to show their opposition to British policies.

B is incorrect- The colonists needed goods beyond those that they were able to produce.

C is incorrect- The colonists destroyed certain British goods (such as the Boston Tea Party), but Parliament did not repeal the Stamp Act because of the Boston Tea Party.

This statement was expressed by colonists in the 1750s and 1760s. 

No taxation without representation! 

How does the modern political system in the United States uphold the principle expressed in this statement?

• by requiring federal tax bills to be voted on by all citizens

• by requiring federal tax bills to be introduced in one house of Congress

• by making local 

  governments responsible for enforcing federal tax laws

• by requiring federal tax bills to be proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury

Answer explanation

For Congress to create a new tax, one house of Congress must propose such a bill (see Article I, Section 7). Since the people directly elect members of Congress, their perspective and support for a new tax can be communicated by the people who represent them.

A is Incorrect – The U.S. Constitution requires that all federal tax bills must be proposed by the House of Representatives, although a member of the Senate may concur (see Article I, Section 7).

C is Incorrect – Local governments are not 

responsible for enforcing federal laws; instead, local governments are responsible for enforcing laws in the towns/cities/counties/communities within their jurisdictions.

D is Incorrect – The U.S. Constitution requires that all federal tax bills must be proposed by the House of Representatives, although a member of the Senate may concur (see Article I, Section 7).