Topic 3 Practice Test

Which idea in the Declaration of Independence did John Locke inspire?

• right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• right to a speedy trial with a jury of one’s peers

• separation of powers

• freedom of speech

Answer explanation

John Locke's philosophy emphasized natural rights, including life, liberty, and property. The Declaration of Independence reflects this by listing the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Which weakness of the Articles of Confederation was corrected by the authors of the Constitution?

• no state governments

• no national court system

• no elected representatives

• no relations with foreign nations

Answer explanation

The Articles of Confederation lacked a national court system.

How did the ideas in this passage influence the Founding Fathers?

• They chose to remain loyal to the King of England.

• They decided to rebel against the British government.

• They decided to create a system of checks and balances.

• They decided to separate the powers of government among three branches.

Which statement summarizes the main ideas of this passage?

• Since people create governments to protect their rights, they can change governments that abuse their rights.

• The only safe government is one with a system of checks and balances between its different branches.

• Without the government to restrain us, every society would become a struggle of every person against every other person.

• Although people create governments to protect their rights, once they give power to a government they cannot take it back.

Why did the colonists object to these measures?

• They no longer respected the rule of law.

• They wanted to elect their own representatives to Parliament.

• They objected to taxes that were imposed without their consent.

• They were already taxed more heavily than people living in Britain.

Answer explanation

The colonists objected to taxes imposed without their consent, as they believed in the principle of 'no taxation without representation.'

Why didn’t the Articles of Confederation include a chief executive?

• Its authors rejected the ideas of the baron de Montesquieu.

• Its authors wished to preserve constitutional monarchy.

• Its authors feared strong central government.

• Its authors established a parliamentary form of government.

Answer explanation

The Articles of Confederation did not include a chief executive because its authors feared it could lead to tyranny.

Which sentence completes the chart?

• Congress can raise an army.

• Congress has the power to tax.

• The President has the power to tax.

• The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review.

Answer explanation

Copy the chart, but replace ? with Congress has the power to tax.

What was the Anti-Federalists’ main reason for opposing the U.S. Constitution?

• It weakened the states’ power.

• It did not protect property rights.

• It didn’t allow self-government.

• It didn’t have a president.

Answer explanation

The main reason Anti-Federalists opposed the U.S. Constitution is that they believed it weakened the power of the states.

Which sentence summarizes Clinton’s views in this passage?

• The Constitution should be approved because it will unite the country.

• The best form of government is a republican one with elected representatives.

• The United States has too many separate interests to form a single uniform republic.

• The Constitution gives too much power to the state governments for the republic to last.

According to the Declaration of Independence, how did George III’s actions affect American colonists?

• Shays’s Rebellion occurred.

• Colonists were unable to participate in their own government.

• Colonists chose to obey George III’s measures.

• The Boston Massacre happened.

Answer explanation

George III's actions made colonial self-government impossible.