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Chapter 2 Review - Origins of American Government

Total questions: 62

Worksheet time: 2hrs 59mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The idea that government is RESTRICTED in what it can do is

a)

Restricted Government

b)

Limited Government

c)

Representative Government

d)

Democratic Government

2.

The Magna Carta of 1215 is important for establishing which of the following?

a)

the Virginia Company

b)

the principle of limited government

c)

the scientific discoveries of the Enlightenment

d)

an agreement for governing the colony of Plymouth

3.

This 1628 document prevented the monarch from collecting taxes without Parliament's consent

a)

Magna Carta

b)

The Petition of Right

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

Declaration of Independence

4.

Which document from 1688 influenced the ideas about the rights of the citizens?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Mayflower Compact

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

Declaration of Independence

5.

Each of the thirteen American colonies had

a)

its own government.

b)

complete control over its affairs.

c)

its own powerful army.

d)

equal voting rights for all colonists

6.

three branches of government that were formed so that no one part of the government became too powerful

a)

limited government

b)

natural rights

c)

separation of powers

d)

social contract

7.

the idea that power of the government can no longer be all-powerful rights and that the government cannot take away such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

a)

limited government

b)

natural rights

c)

separation of powers

d)

social contract

8.

a system in which the people choose their leaders to govern themselves - this is the type of gov't of the U.S.

a)

democracy

b)

direct democracy

c)

representative democracy

9.

1775 - 1781 The war of the American colonists against Britain to gain its freedom

a)

Enlightenment

b)

Magna Carta

c)

American Revolution

d)

separation of powers

10.
What is popular sovereignty?
a)
A government where the people have the power 
b)
A government that limits the power of the people 
c)
giving the most popular people power in society 
11.
Ensuring that one branch of government does not become more powerful than the others is the purpose of ___.
a)
Checks and Balances 
b)
Federalism 
c)
Separation of Powers 
12.

A government is

a)

the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

b)

a collection of people.

c)

always democratic.

d)

the organization representing farms and industries.

13.
Why was it hard to get laws passed under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
To pass a law, all states needed to agree.
b)
To pass a law, 9 of 13 states needed to agree.
c)
The President could veto a law before it was passed.
d)
The Supreme Court could rule any law unconstitutional
14.
Bicameral means there are ___ branches or houses
a)
one
b)
two
c)
three
d)
five
15.
Why style of government was established under the Articles?
a)
democracy
b)
republic
c)
confederation
d)
monarchy
16.
What plan called for a two house legislature with representation based on population?
a)
New York Plan
b)
New Jersey Plan
c)
Virginia Plan
d)
Georgia Plan
17.
How many branches of government were there under the Articles of Confederation?
a)
One
b)
Zero
c)
Two
d)
Three
18.

Shays's Rebellion was made up of which group of people?

a)
farmers and merchants
b)
bankers
c)
government leaders
d)
basketball players
19.
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
20.
What replaced the Articles of Confederation?
a)
Articles of Confederation
b)
Declaration of Independence
c)
United States Constitution
d)
The President of the United States
21.
According to John Locke, which agreement did individuals enter into to form their own society?
a)
constitution
b)
social contract
c)
Mayflower Compact
d)
English Bill of Rights
22.
According to John Locke, which rights were guaranteed by natural law?
a)
trial by jury and no cruel punishments
b)
freedom of speech and the press
c)
life, liberty, and property
d)
freedom of worship and the right to petition
23.
Which thinker introduced the idea of separation of powers for effective government?
a)
John Locke
b)
Baron de Montesquieu
c)
Thomas Paine
d)
Thomas Jefferson
24.
Which right was established by Magna Carta in 1215?
a)
The right to vote in elections.
b)
The right to choose the monarch
c)
The right to freedom of speech
d)
the right to trial by jury
25.
Which document confirmed the rights of English subjects after the overthrow of James II in the Glorious Revelution?
a)
Magna Carta
b)
Mayflower Compact
c)
English Bill of Rights
d)
Montesquieu's "Spirit of the laws"
26.

Which of the following was responsible for planning and funding the war effort of the American colonies, declaring independence, and was essentially the first government of the United States?

a)

Albany Plan of Union

b)

First Continental Congress

c)

Second Continental Congress

d)

Stamp Act Congress

27.

What was the main argument against the Constitution by Anti-Federalists?

a)

It lacked a Bill of Rights.

b)

It granted too much power to the president.

c)

The electoral college was too confusing and would cause problems during presidential elections.

d)

It gave the government too much power to tax.

28.

What document did the colonists write to share their concerns with England and to break away?

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Declaration of Independence

29.

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

a)

Separation of powers

b)

alien's rights

c)

Checks and balances

d)

unalienable rights

30.
John Locke's thinking most influenced what American Founding Father?
a)
George Washington
b)
Benjamin Franklin
c)
Alexander Hamilton
d)
Thomas Jefferson
31.
Which Enlightenment philosopher believed government works best when there is separation of powers?
a)
Hobbes
b)
Locke
c)
Montesquieu
d)
Rousseau
32.
Which of the following would NOT be an Enlightenment ideal?  
a)
one ruler should make laws
b)
the government should represent the people
c)
the government should be limited
d)
citizens should have their natural rights
33.
Which Enlightenment thinker believed in the "social contract"?
a)
Charles-Louis Montesquieu
b)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
c)
Adam Smith
d)
John Locke
34.
In the Glorious Revolution, William and Mary signed the _________, which forever limited the power of English kings and allowed Parliament to grow in power since they represented the people.
a)
English Bill of Rights
b)
Constitution
c)
Declaration of Independence
d)
Articles of Confederation
35.
Baron de Montesquieu established two ideas that helped mold today's government in the United States. Those two ideas were....
a)
reason and progress 
b)
Separation of Power and Checks and Balances 
c)
Laissee-faire and Supply & Demand
d)
General Will and Social Contract
36.

What did the Mayflower Compact establish?

a)

individual rights

b)

direct democracy

c)

economic freedom

d)

separation of powers

37.

How did the Mayflower Compact influence the colonists' view of government in 1620?

a)

The colonists declared their independence from English rule.

b)

The colonists declared their alliance with Parliament against the king.

c)

The king agreed not to collect new taxes without the approval of Parliament.

d)

The early colonists to America agreed to form their own community and to obey their own laws.

38.

According to John Locke, an agreement in which people agree to give up some of their freedom in exchange for the government's protection of the people's rights is known as?

a)

limited government

b)

a social contract

c)

separation of powers

d)

Common Sense

39.

How was Locke’s social contract theory related to his belief in natural law?

a)

He argued that whatever the king did was good according to natural law.

b)

He argued that natural law required the colonists to be given their independence.

c)

He argued people had the right to rebel against a ruler who acted against natural law.

d)

He thought people had the right to overthrow a king who did not protect their rights.

40.

Which Enlightenment thinker's beliefs influenced Thomas Jefferson to include the natural rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" into the preamble of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

John Locke

b)

Baron de Montesquieu

c)

George Washington

d)

King George III

41.

What impact did John Locke's natural rights have on the Founding Fathers?

a)

They chose to remain loyal to the King of England.

b)

They decided to rebel against the British government.

c)

They decided to create a system of checks and balances.

d)

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

42.

Which Enlightenment thinker introduced the idea of separation of powers for effective government?

a)

John Locke

b)

Thomas Paine

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

Baron de Montesquieu

43.

What most attracted the Founding Fathers to Montesquieu’s explanation of the separation of powers?

a)

Their separation could protect the rights of the nobility from the actions of the king.

b)

Their separation could preserve the privileges of the monarch and nobles from popular attack.

c)

Their separation raised judicial power to a level of equality with legislative and executive power

d)

Their separation could help prevent the government from becoming tyrannical and oppressive.

44.

What impact did the writings of Baron de Montesquieu have on the Founding Fathers of the American political system?

a)

They kept a monarchical system of government.

b)

They created a representative system of government.

c)

They guaranteed each citizen the right to a trial by jury.

d)

They separated the powers of government into three branches.

45.

What did the colonists of the 1770's believe about taxes and Parliament in England?

a)

Colonists believed the will of Parliament to tax was supreme.

b)

Colonists believed they were so heavily taxed that no new taxes could be justified.

c)

Colonists believed Parliament could not impose new taxes on them without their approval.

d)

Colonists believed every person was entitled to be taxed so that they could have life, liberty and property based on natural law.

46.

Who wrote the pamphlet "Common Sense"?

a)

John Locke

b)

Baron de Montesquieu

c)

Thomas Paine

d)

Thomas Jefferson

47.

What was the message that the pamphlet "Common Sense" gave to the American Colonists?

a)

They should put up with the mistreatment of King George III.

b)

They should break away from England.

c)

They should send representatives to England to speak on their behalf.

d)

They should ask that their taxes be raised.

48.

What impact did Thomas Paine's pamphlet, Common Sense, have on the colonists?

a)

It reconciled them with King George III of England.

b)

It established the framework for their later system of government.

c)

It persuaded the American colonists to declare their independence from Great Britain.

d)

It divided Northern and Southern colonists by calling for an end to slavery.

49.

Which document did the Founding Fathers write in 1776 to declare the reasons that America was separating from England?

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Mayflower Compact

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

Declaration of Independence

50.

What is the term used that the government can no longer be all-powerful?

a)

limited government

b)

social contract

c)

natural rights

d)

Common Sense

51.

n the United States, what occurs when state and national laws are in conflict?

a)
The state law is enforced.
b)
The national law is enforced.
c)
The state decides which law to enforce.
d)
The public holds a referendum to decide which law should be enforced.
52.
The Constitution requires that the President's nominations to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate. Which basic principle of the Constitution does this reflect?
a)
Judicial Review
b)
Limited Government
c)
Federalism
d)
Checks and Balances
53.
Shays’s Rebellion caused the new nation’s leaders to realize that
a)
a stronger national government was needed.
b)
the Articles did an inadequate job of protecting individual rights.
c)
the Articles did an inadequate job of protecting states’ rights.
d)
the nation needed to outlaw slavery.
54.
The Bill of Rights was created because the Anti-Federalists were concerned that
a)
The Constitution would not implement separation of powers
b)
the new national government could trample on individual rights
c)
representation in the Senate would be based on population.
d)
small states would have as much power as large states.
55.

First legislature in the colonies

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Virginia House of Burgesses

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

56.

America's first formal, written constitution

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Virginia House of Burgesses

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

57.

A colonial plan for self-rule signed by the Pilgrims in 1620

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Virginia House of Burgesses

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

58.

Established a limited government

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Virginia House of Burgesses

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

59.

This 1628 document prevented the monarch from collecting taxes without Parliament's consent

a)

Magna Carta

b)

The Petition of Right

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

Declaration of Independence

60.

This English thinker's ideas in Two Treatises of Government served as a textbook for the American Revolution.

a)

Benjamin Franklin

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

John Locke

d)

John Hancock

61.

Where did George Washington take the Oath of Office as the first President of the United States?

a)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

b)

Washington, D.C.

c)

New York City

d)

Mount Vernon, Virginia

62.

The Federalist Papers were successful primarily because they

a)
clearly explained the principles of American constitutional government.
b)
imited the power of the executive branch
c)
presented a way of solving the dilemma between the large and small states.
d)
set up a clear way of separating the powers of the three governmental branches