WorksheetsRoots of American Democracy
Total questions: 38
Worksheet time: 1hrs 19mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
This document restricted the King's power
a)
English Bill of Rights
b)
Magna Carta
c)
Constitution
d)
Treaty of Paris
2.
What group established the idea that the ruler's power can be limited by the people
a)
Congress
b)
Legislature
c)
English Parliament
d)
Common Lords
3.
Who gave America the idea of representative government?
a)
Greece
b)
Rome
c)
England
d)
Spain
4.
What does the English Bill of Rights promise to protect
a)
property
b)
taxes
c)
a list of freedoms
5.
Locke, Rousseau and Montesquieu belonged to which group?
a)
the Protestant Reformation
b)
British Parliament
c)
Renaissance scientists
d)
Enlightenment Thinkers
6.
John Locke said that life, liberty and property are examples of...
a)
the social contract
b)
separation of powers
c)
natural rights
d)
human thought and experience
7.
Rousseau's social contract theory states that when a government abuses its power, the people...
a)
must obey and live with it
b)
should be punished
c)
should pay their taxes
d)
have the right to replace it
8.
The earliest example of self-government in the 13 colonies was...
a)
the Mayflower Compact
b)
the Magna Carta
c)
the English Bill of Rights
d)
the Declaration of Independence
9.
Direct democracy in the 13 colonies was evident in the development of...
a)
New England Town Meetings
b)
Virginia House of Burgesses
c)
Massachusetts Assembly
d)
Parliament
10.
In 1215, the tyrant King John had to sign which document that limited his power as king?
a)
Mayflower Compact
b)
Magna Carta
c)
English Bill of Rights
d)
Declaration of Independence
11.
The term democracy means
“rule by __________ .”
“rule by __________ .”
a)
the mob
b)
the monarch
c)
the president
d)
the people
12.
The first legislature in Colonial America, open to landowners only
a)
Town Meeting
b)
House of Burgesses
c)
Social House
d)
Salvation Landowners
13.
Created the idea of a separation of powers within government
a)
Montesquieu
b)
Benjamin Franklin
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Denis Diderot
14.
Which of the following quotes did Voltaire say?
a)
"I think, therefore, I am."
b)
"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
c)
"Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him."
d)
"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."
15.
This was the first English colony in North America
a)
Plymouth
b)
Jamestown
c)
Jimtown
d)
New Jersey
16.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what are our natural rights?
a)
Equal protection under the law
b)
Freedom of religion, speech, and assembly
c)
Property
d)
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
17.
What was the purpose of the Declaration?
a)
to declare independence from France.
b)
to declare independence from Germany.
c)
to declare independence from Cuba.
d)
to declare independence from England
18.
Which of the following describes the social contract theory as advanced by John Locke?
a)
It is an agreement in which the government promises to provide a minimum standard of living to citizens.
b)
It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people.
c)
It is an agreement between economic elites to maintain a stable economy.
d)
It is an agreement in which the government outlines socially acceptable norms of political behavior.
19.
The passage below comes from the Declaration of Independence (1776). “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures….” Which section of the Declaration contained this passage?
a)
Its list of colonial grievances
b)
Its justification of the conduct of the colonists
c)
Its theory of government based on social contract
d)
Its announcement of American Independence from Britain
20.
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 to the colonies without paying taxes.
d)
They hired Thomas Paine to write Common Sense.
21.
Which came first?
a)
the beginning of the American Revolution
b)
the Declaration of Independence
22.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were committing a treacherous act and could have been put to death.
a)
TRUE
b)
FALSE
23.
In 1776, the Second Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House in __________________.
a)
Philadelphia
b)
Sugar town
c)
Fort Madison
d)
Burlington
24.
What two acts did the British Parliament make that put very high taxes on paper and sugar?
a)
Stamp Act and Sugar Act
b)
Tea Act and Trade Act
c)
Cookie Act and Cake Act
d)
Letter Act and Molasses Act
25.
Colonists protested the Stamp Act because they believed in what phrase?
a)
Live free or die
b)
All men are created equal
c)
Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
d)
No taxation with representation
26.
In response to the Tea Act, the colonists threw tea from the British ships into the Boston Harbor. This event is known as:
a)
Boston Tea Party
b)
Boston Riots
c)
Boston Massacre
d)
Boston Market
27.
Why did the king begin to tax the colonists?
a)
He wanted more money to make England look better
b)
He needed money to pay off war debts from the French and Indian War
c)
He needed money to pay for Boston soldiers
d)
He hated the colonists' guts
28.
Who were the two Nations that fought in the French and Indian War?
a)
Indians and French
b)
Colonists and Britain
c)
Britain and Spain
d)
Britain and France
29.
The Quartering Act was a tax that forced the colonists to give shelter and food to British troops who were stationed in their town.
a)
True
b)
False
30.
The ________________ was a meeting of leaders from the colonies to discuss problems with England in 1774.
a)
The First Continental Congress
b)
The Boston Tea Party
c)
The Second Continental Congress
d)
Town Hall Meeting
31.
The Continental Congress set up the Northwest Ordinance to sell _______ to pay off the debt from the war.
a)
crops
b)
land
c)
slaves
d)
none of these
32.
Under the Articles of Confederation, most of the power was where?
a)
Legislative branch
b)
the president
c)
the states
d)
national government
33.
How many branches of government were there under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
One
b)
Zero
c)
Two
d)
Three
34.
Under the Articles of Confederation, how many votes did each state get when voting on a new law?
a)
Zero
b)
One
c)
Two
d)
Three
35.
Who led the farmers against the government of Massachusetts?
a)
Daniel Shays
b)
the Government
c)
all of the farmers were leaders
d)
Thomas Hobbes
36.
Which of the following was NOT a power of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
Create a plan for the Northwest Territory
b)
Negotiate treaties
c)
Levy taxes
d)
Declare war and peace
37.
The Articles of Confederation created a ________ central government
a)
weak
b)
strong
38.
Because of the Articles the government could NOT regulate ______ among the states.
a)
food quality
b)
laws
c)
travel
d)
commerce (trade)
100 %
