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WorksheetsOrigins of American Government
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 25mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
In a direct democracy, people vote on issues themselves rather than electing representatives to decide for them.
a)
True
b)
False
2.
The ancient Greek city-state of Athens created the world's first republic.
a)
True
b)
False
3.
The Magna Carta had little effect on the monarchs that ruled after King John.
a)
True
b)
False
4.
In Thomas Hobbes' idea of a social contract, people agree to give up all freedoms in exchange for the order provided by government rule.
a)
True
b)
False
5.
The Mayflower Compact established a direct democracy, meaning the colony of Plymouth directly elected representatives who would govern them.
a)
True
b)
False
6.
A legislature is . . .
a)
an agreement among the people in a society.
b)
an assembly of judges.
c)
a lawmaking body.
d)
the principle that a ruler or government is not all powerful.
7.
The colony of Jamestown chose an assembly of representatives known as . . .
a)
the House of Burgesses.
b)
the Magna Carta.
c)
the Mayflower Compact.
d)
Parliament.
8.
The Magna Carta is important for establishing which of the following?
a)
an agreement for governing the colony of Plymouth
b)
the principle of limited government
c)
the scientific discoveries of the Enlightenment
d)
the Virginia Company
9.
Thomas Hobbes wrote a book entitled _________ in which he explained his views on government.
a)
"Sense and Sensibility"
b)
"Common Sense"
c)
"Pilgrim's Progress"
d)
"Leviathan"
10.
Who wrote "Common Sense"?
a)
Thomas Jefferson
b)
Thomas Hobbes
c)
Thomas Paine
d)
Thomas Aquinas
11.
__________ is the idea that the power of a government can be limited.
a)
democracy
b)
limited government
c)
Representative democracy
d)
natural rights
12.
A __________ is a group of representatives who makes laws.
a)
republic
b)
limited government
c)
democracy
d)
legislature
13.
Rights that government cannot take away are called . . .
a)
social contract.
b)
limited government.
c)
direct democracy.
d)
natural rights.
14.
An agreement in which the people agree to give up some freedom in exchange for the government's protection of people's rights
a)
social contract
b)
republic
c)
natural rights
d)
legislature
15.
Rule by the people
a)
legislature
b)
republic
c)
democracy
d)
natural rights
16.
A system in which the people govern themselves
a)
representative democracy
b)
direct democracy
c)
legislature
d)
social contract
17.
A system in which the people choose leaders to govern
a)
legislature
b)
direct democracy
c)
representative democracy
d)
social contract
18.
A country with a representative democracy
a)
colony
b)
dictatorship
c)
monarchy
d)
republic
19.
People who oppose official or commonly held views
a)
indentured servants
b)
slaves
c)
dissenters
d)
representatives
20.
To be useful or profitable to
a)
obnoxious
b)
dissenter
c)
benefit
d)
indentured
21.
A large estate is called . . .
a)
a farm.
b)
a garden.
c)
a plantation.
d)
a vineyard.
22.
Workers who contracted with American colonists for food and shelter in return for their labor
a)
indentured servants
b)
slaves
c)
representatives
d)
monarchs
23.
English leaders believed the main purpose of the colonies was to . . .
a)
become a rival of England.
b)
develop a government independent of England.
c)
grow to become an equal trading partner with England.
d)
prosper enough to benefit England.
24.
What best characterizes the geography of the Middle Colonies?
a)
a climate suited to growing wheat and other cash crops
b)
a cold climate and a long growing season
c)
a cold climate and poor soil
d)
year-round warm weather, a long growing season, and rich soil
25.
Why were the Puritans considered dissenters?
a)
Their religious practices differed from most of England.
b)
They thought people of all religions should worship together.
c)
They wanted to cause political unrest in the colonies.
d)
They wanted to overthrow England's government.
26.
Name two main reasons people chose to come to the American colonies.
a)
To benefit from the colonies' long summers and short winters
b)
To benefit from the colonies' short summers and long winters
c)
To escape political unrest and a poor climate in England
d)
To seek religious freedom and economic opportunity
27.
Which condition in the Middle Colonies encouraged the growth of Philadelphia and New York as busy ports?
a)
An ideal location for fishing
b)
A large population of enslaved Africans
c)
Soil and climate suited to cash crops
d)
A large supply of wood to use for shipbuilding
28.
Why did colonists dislike how governors were chosen in many colonies?
a)
They did not understand the process.
b)
Since governors were appointed by the King, they favored the King.
c)
The colonists did not trust the colonial leaders.
d)
They preferred a system of direct democracy.
29.
In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson showed that he was greatly influenced by the ideas and writings of the Enlightenment thinker ______________.
a)
Thomas Paine
b)
Thomas Hobbes
c)
Baron de Montesquieu
d)
John Locke
30.
Because King George did not want fighting with Native Americans to start again, he enacted the Proclamation of 1763 which forbid the colonists to settle lands beyond _______________.
a)
the Mississippi River.
b)
the Appalachian Mountains
c)
the Ohio River Valley
d)
the Grand Canyon
31.
______________ was a religious movement that urged the colonists to question the traditional religious authority of the church.
a)
The Enlightenment
b)
The Glorious Revolution
c)
The Great Awakening
d)
The Great Divide
32.
The Second Continental Congress had to decide whether to continue working toward peace or to __________.
a)
align with France.
b)
go to war with the Native Americans.
c)
return to England.
d)
separate from Britain.
33.
How did the Second Continental Congress respond to British policies?
a)
They started the French and Indian War.
b)
They chose a committee to write the Declaration of Independence explaining why the colonies should be free.
c)
They passed the Tea Act, allowing a British company to import tea.
d)
They hired Thomas Paine to write "Common Sense."
34.
The colonists responded to the Stamp Act by . . .
a)
boycotting British goods.
b)
boycotting stamps.
c)
purchasing enough stamps to create a shortage.
d)
taxing British goods.
35.
Which legislation by Parliament stated its right to pass laws and make decisions for the colonies?
a)
The Declaratory Act
b)
The Proclamation of 1763
c)
The Stamp Act
d)
The Coercive Acts
36.
One purpose of the First Continental Congress was . . .
a)
to ask King George to respect the colonists' rights as British citizens.
b)
to declare the colonies' independence from Britain.
c)
to declare war on Britain.
d)
to pass laws concerning the colonies.
37.
A colonial protest against the Tea Act of 1773 became known as the . . .
a)
East India Uprising.
b)
Boston Tea Party.
c)
Glorious Revolution.
d)
Great Awakening.
38.
In his pamphlet, "Common Sense", Thomas Paine . . .
a)
begged the colonists to show common respect to King George.
b)
called for a religious movement similar to the Great Awakening.
c)
made a case for independence by drawing on the ideas of John Locke.
d)
told colonists to revel against those who wanted to split from Britain.
39.
A tax on imported goods
a)
boycott
b)
duty
c)
delegate
d)
proclamation
40.
Personal freedom
a)
proclamation
b)
boycott
c)
duty
d)
liberty
41.
Representative
a)
proclamation
b)
duty
c)
delegate
d)
boycott
42.
Moving goods illegally in or out of a country
a)
duty
b)
smuggling
c)
boycotting
d)
repeal
43.
An official announcement
a)
liberty
b)
duty
c)
proclamation
d)
repeal
44.
To refuse to buy or use
a)
repeal
b)
duty
c)
liberty
d)
boycott
45.
To cancel
a)
duty
b)
smuggling
c)
boycott
d)
repeal
46.
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
a)
Thomas Hobbes
b)
Thomas Paine
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Bilbo Baggins
47.
Wrote "Common Sense"
a)
Thomas Hobbes
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
Tony Stark
d)
Thomas Paine
48.
Believed people agree to be ruled because their ruler pledges to protect their rights.
a)
Thomas Paine
b)
Thomas Hobbes
c)
Larry, Moe & Curly
d)
George Washington
49.
The economic policy that only allowed the colonists to trade with England was called . . .
a)
gerrymandering.
b)
transplanting.
c)
mercantilism.
d)
policy-making.
50.
Which of our Founding Fathers was also a colonel in the
British army during the French and Indian War?
British army during the French and Indian War?
a)
Thomas Jefferson
b)
John Adams
c)
Ben Franklin
d)
George Washington
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