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Declaration of Independence/Articles of Confederation

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The Declaration of Independence was a _________ letter to ________.

a)

breakup... England

b)

love.... England

c)

breakup.... France

d)

love... France

2.
What is the name of the first written plan of government in America?
a)
Constitution
b)
Treaty of Paris
c)
Declaration of Independence
d)
Articles of Confederation
3.
Under the Articles of Confederation, most of the power was where?
a)
Legislative branch
b)
the president
c)
the states
d)
national government
4.
Americans were afraid that a __?__ would lead to tyranny, or oppressive rule.
a)
strong state government
b)
weak government
c)
strong central government
d)
legslature
5.
How many branches of government were there under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
One
b)
Zero
c)
Two
d)
Three
6.
Which is a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
a)
Congress couldn't collect taxes
b)
Weak central government
c)
Provided for no common currency
d)
All of the these
7.

Thomas Jefferson based his ideas in the Declaration of Independence on the beliefs of philosopher John Locke, who stated that all people have natural (inherent) rights to ____________.

a)

life, liberty, and the pursuit of anger

b)

life, liberty, and property

c)

life, liberty, and the pursuit of inquiry

d)

life, liberty, and the pursuit of hunger

8.

What document stated that citizens have a right and duty to change a government that violates their rights?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

U.S. Constitution

d)

Virginia Constitution

9.

Shay's Rebellion led directly to the —

a)

Intolerable Acts

b)

Constitutional Convention

c)

Revolutionary War

d)

Declaration of Independence

10.

What made farmers rebel in Pennsylvania when America became a new nation?

a)

They were refusing to accept the new taxes that were placed on farm goods.

b)

They were upset with Congress for creating new laws that costed them their farmers.

c)

They were angry about their economic situation and lack of representation.

d)

They were dissatisfied with having to specialize in the growth of new crops.

11.

Shays' Rebellion made many Americans believe that a stronger central government would have--

a)

overruled the Articles of Confederation and elected a stronger executive

b)

improved foreign relations and gained military support against the rebellion

c)

provided farmers with the supplies and money they needed for future harvesting

d)

prevented confrontations such as the rebellion if there was a national guard

12.

… 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,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,…

— Thomas Jefferson

​The purpose of this statement was to...

a)

Urge support for the Albany Plan of Union

b)

Provide justification for declaring independence

c)

criticize the Articles of Confederation

d)

advocate obedience to Great Britain

13.

Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

John Adams

c)

John Hancock

d)

Benjamin Franklin

14.

What does it mean when the government receives its powers from "the consent of the governed"?

a)

citizens give governments permission to govern them

b)

citizens must list their grievances with the King

c)

government has absolutely no power

d)

politicians give citizens permission vote

15.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what truth was "self-evident"?
a)
All men are created equal
b)
Rights are given by good kings
c)
Government exists to protect us from ourselves
d)
Only a democracy can protect our rights