U.S. Government Unit 1 Pre-Test

Match each historical document to its correct description.

• A series of essays supporting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

• The Bill of Rights

• A 1215 English charter that limited the power of the king.

• The Magna Carta

• The first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781.

• The Articles of Confederation

• Contains the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

• The Federalist Papers

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.A

What is the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

• To establish the first U.S. government

• To declare the colonies' separation from Britain

• To outline the structure of Congress

• To create the Bill of Rights

Answer explanation

The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence is to declare the colonies' separation from Britain, asserting their right to be free and independent states.

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.A

Which principle is most clearly reflected in the U.S. Constitution’s system of checks and balances?

• Popular sovereignty

• Separation of powers

• Judicial review

• Federalism

Answer explanation

The principle of separation of powers is most clearly reflected in the U.S. Constitution’s system of checks and balances, as it divides government responsibilities among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.A

Which event best demonstrates the application of the principle of “freedom of speech” from the Bill of Rights?

• The Boston Tea Party

• A newspaper publishing criticism of the government

• The signing of the Treaty of Paris

• The election of George Washington

Answer explanation

The principle of 'freedom of speech' is best demonstrated by a newspaper publishing criticism of the government, as it reflects the right to express dissenting opinions without fear of censorship.

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.B

Match each compromise with the issue it resolved at the Constitutional Convention or in U.S. history.

• Resolved the issue of slavery's expansion into new territories

• The Compromise of 1850

• Resolved the issue of how enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation

• The Missouri Compromise

• Resolved the issue of admitting California as a free state and included a stricter Fugitive Slave Law

• The Great Compromise

• Resolved the issue of representation in Congress

• The Three-Fifths Compromise

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.E

Which of the following best describes the intent of the Bill of Rights?

• To outline the powers of the President

• To protect individual liberties from government overreach

• To establish the Supreme Court

• To create a national bank

Answer explanation

The Bill of Rights was created to protect individual liberties from government overreach, ensuring that citizens have fundamental rights that cannot be infringed upon by the government.

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.A

Explain how the principle of federalism is applied in the U.S. Constitution.

• By dividing power between the national and state governments

• By allowing the President to veto laws

• By establishing a bicameral legislature

• By granting Congress the power to declare war

Answer explanation

The principle of federalism in the U.S. Constitution is applied by dividing power between the national and state governments, ensuring a balance that allows both levels to govern effectively.

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.A

Match each historical event with the principle or outcome it best illustrates from the Bill of Rights.

• An executive order that abolished slavery in Confederate states

• The impeachment of President Andrew Johnson

• A colonial protest that escalated into violence, influencing calls for rights protections

• The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation

• A Supreme Court case that established the requirement to inform suspects of their rights, illustrating due process of law

• The Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court decision

• An example of the use of the impeachment process outlined in the Constitution

• The Boston Massacre

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.B

How did the Three-Fifths Compromise affect representation in Congress?

• It allowed all states to have equal representation in the Senate

• It counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation

• It banned the importation of enslaved people

• It established the Electoral College

Answer explanation

The Three-Fifths Compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person, impacting representation in Congress by increasing the number of representatives for slaveholding states while also affecting taxation.

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.E

Which founding principle was most directly challenged during the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II?

• Freedom of religion

• Right to bear arms

• Due process of law

• Freedom of the press

Answer explanation

The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II violated the due process of law, as individuals were detained without fair trials or legal representation, undermining their legal rights.

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TX.SOC.9-12.1.B