USHC EOC Review

Use the excerpt to answer the question

“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...”

—Declaration of Independence, 1776

Which Enlightenment principle is most clearly reflected in this excerpt?

• The need for a strong executive branch

• The belief that governments exist to protect individual rights

• The importance of separation of powers

• The idea that economic freedom should guide government policy

Answer explanation

Jefferson is applying Enlightenment philosophy—particularly Locke’s idea that governments are formed to protect natural rights, and they get their power from the people.

Which factor best explains the difference in economic activity between the northern and southern colonies?

• The North had limited access to the Atlantic Ocean

• The South lacked skilled laborers for manufacturing

• The North had better conditions for large-scale agriculture

• The South had fertile land and a warm climate suited for cash crops

Answer explanation

The southern colonies’ agricultural economy was shaped by geography: fertile soil and a longer growing season made plantation farming ideal.

Which conclusion best explains how this excerpt illustrates a major debate in early U.S. foreign policy?

• It shows Washington encouraging the United States to expand alliances with France and Britain to secure trade.

• It reflects early fears that alliances with foreign powers could drag the United States into unnecessary wars.

• It demonstrates Washington’s support for using the military to enforce American neutrality in global affairs.

• It promotes the idea that the U.S. should isolate itself economically from the rest of the world.

Answer explanation

Washington warned against permanent foreign alliances, fearing they would involve the young nation in costly conflicts. His advice marked a foundational principle in U.S. foreign policy debates through the early 1800s.

Which change in political thinking occurred in the American colonies between 1763 and 1800?

• Colonists increasingly believed their rights came from the king, not Parliament.

• Colonists accepted higher taxes in exchange for stronger British protection.
  

• Many colonists began to view government as a contract between the people and their rulers.

• Most colonists rejected Enlightenment ideas and returned to loyalty under the British crown.

Answer explanation

After 1763, British actions sparked a shift toward Enlightenment principles like the social contract, believing governments should protect rights and be accountable to the governed.

What does this cartoon reveal about early efforts to form a shared colonial identity?

• Colonists believed British alliances would solve internal problems

• The colonies already considered themselves a united political nation

• Colonists recognized that cooperation was necessary for mutual survival

• The image reflects colonial loyalty to the British Crown

Answer explanation

The cartoon uses fear of division to argue for unity—first against the French, then revived against Britain, showing growing inter-colonial awareness and identity.

Which best describes the shift in U.S. foreign policy between these two presidents?

• From imperial expansion to peaceful neutrality

• From support for British military to support for France

• From a commitment to neutrality to a willingness to engage in war

• From economic isolation to colonial conquest

Answer explanation

Washington urged the U.S. to avoid alliances and war, while Madison declared war against Britain for violating American neutrality, showing a shift in how the U.S. acted on the global stage.

How did Madison’s concern in this excerpt shape the U.S. Constitution?

• It caused the removal of all state power

• It resulted in a system of separated powers and checks and balances

• It led to the creation of a hereditary monarchy

• It inspired the elimination of the executive branch

Answer explanation

Madison believed in the need for a government strong enough to rule but restrained enough to prevent tyranny, leading to three branches and a system of checks and balances in the Constitution.

Which principles are reflected in Marshall’s statement? Select ALL that apply.

• Popular sovereignty

• Federal supremacy

• Government by consent

• States’ rights

• Right to alter or abolish government

Answer explanation

Marshall emphasizes that government power comes from the people which was a reflection of Enlightenment and Revolutionary ideals.

Which of the following are ways the U.S. Constitution increased the power of the federal government compared to the Articles of Confederation?

• Allowed Congress to collect taxes

• Created a national executive branch

• Gave states equal representation regardless of population

• Gave Congress the power to regulate trade

• Required unanimous consent to amend the Constitution

Answer explanation

The Constitution addressed major weaknesses of the Articles, especially related to federal revenue, enforcement, and interstate commerce.

What does this conflict reveal about early American government?

• That the Constitution was quickly rewritten after the election of 1800

• That the Bill of Rights eliminated all conflict between states and the federal government

• That debates over individual rights and federal power began early in U.S. history

• That state leaders supported strong immigration laws

Answer explanation

The Alien and Sedition Acts sparked a constitutional crisis about free speech and the limits of federal authority.