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Worksheets

Founding Documents

Total questions: 83

Worksheet time: 1hrs 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

I gave_______ for the police to search my house.

a)

fundamental

b)

consent

c)

governed

d)

principle

2.

We elected a new_______ to go to Congress and vote for us.

a)

consent

b)

representative

c)

U.S. Constitution

d)

fundamental

3.

The Bill of Rights are amendments to the __________.

a)

consent

b)

representative

c)

U.S. Constitution

d)

fundamental

4.

What is the Declaration of Independence?

a)

the laws of the government

b)

a letter to the king declaring our independence

c)

the rights of animals

d)

the rights of men

5.

What is the Constitution?

a)

the laws and principles of our government

b)

a written plan of government for Mexico

c)

a letter declaring our freedom

d)

the laws for Texas

6.

Which is a founding document of the United States of America?

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Bill of Rights

d)

All of the above

7.

What does Amendment 1 represent?

a)

Freedom of speech

b)

Freedom of the press

c)

freedom of religion

d)

all of the above

8.

The Bill of Rights make sure that....

a)

women have the right to vote

b)

all people were treated equally

c)

the rights of animals are protected

d)

all people have the right to vote

9.

What do all of the founding documents have in common?

a)

They are all laws of our land.

b)

They are events of the American Revolution

c)

They are documents used by all other countries in the world.

d)

The establish and protect our freedom and rights.

10.

Who wrote the Bill of Rights?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Benjamin Franklin

c)

James Madison

d)

George Washington

11.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence

a)

James Madison

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

George Washington

d)

Bill Clinton

12.

What are the three basic rights of people?

a)

Life, liberty, and food

b)

Life, speech, and religion

c)

Life, liberty, and happiness

d)

Religion, press, speech

13.

When were all of the founding documents written?

a)

1700s

b)

1900s

c)

1800s

d)

1600s

14.

In which document do you find these Unalienable Rights? -
Life, Liberty and happiness

a)
The VA Declaration of RIGHTS
b)
The Declaration of Independence
c)
The Preamble
d)
The Charters of the VA co of London
15.
The first ten amendments of The Constitution are called
a)
The declaration of rights
b)
The Bill of Rights
c)
The declaration of independence
d)
RAPPS
16.

What is the Constitution?

a)

the laws and principles of our government

b)

a written plan of government for Mexico

c)

a letter declaring our freedom

d)

the laws for Texas

17.

The Bill of Rights make sure that....

a)

women have the right to vote

b)

all people were treated equally

c)

the rights of animals are protected

d)

all people have the right to vote

18.

Who wrote the Bill of Rights?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Benjamin Franklin

c)

James Madison

d)

George Washington

19.

What is tyranny?

a)

oppressive government

b)

unfair rule

c)

power concentrated in one area (or person)

d)

all of the above

20.

What are the three branches of government?

a)

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

b)

Executive, Presidential, Supreme

c)

Military, Legislative, Judicial

d)

Presidential, Legal, Citizens

21.

What are the three branches of government?

a)

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

b)

Executive, Presidential, Supreme

c)

Military, Legislative, Judicial

d)

Presidential, Legal, Citizens

22.

Checks and balances are written into

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Articles of Confederation

c)

The Constitution

d)

The Mayflower Compact

23.

The president is part of which branch of government?

a)

Executive

b)

Judicial

c)

Legislative

24.

This document gives citizens the right to practice their own religion or no religion at all and the right to a trial by jury

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Bill of Rights

25.

This document was signed on July 4, 1776 and is the reason we celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July.

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Constitution

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)

Bill of Rights

26.

Definition of ratify

a)

to make it wrong

b)

put a stamp on a document

c)

to approve officially

d)

to sign a paper

27.

A document is a written form of communication.

a)

True

b)

False

28.

The picture shows a passage from Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Which statement shows this in our modern political system?

a)

absolute monarchy controls laws

b)

authoritarian governments restrict freedoms

c)

members of the Supreme Court are appointed

d)

legislative officials are elected by the people

29.

Why was the Declaration of Independence written?

a)

to explain why the colonies were separating from Great Britain

b)

the start the American Revolution

c)

to offer a peace settlement to Great Britain.

d)

to instruct how a county wins its freedom.

30.
Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
a)
George Washington
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
John Adams
d)
Benjamin Franklin
31.
What are the three inalienable rights that all people have?
a)
Food, Shelter, and Clothing
b)
Life, Liberty and Death
c)
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
32.
When was the Declaration of Independence written?
a)
September 11, 1789
b)
July 4, 1776
c)
June 25, 1778
33.

What are the first ten amendments of the Constitution called?

a)

A menu

b)

Bill of Rights

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)

Magna Carta

34.

What are the first 3 words of the Constitution?

a)

"We are people..."

b)

"We the people..."

c)

"We as people..."

d)

"We are the people..."

35.

Who was the "Father of the Constitution"?

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

George Washington

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

James Madison

36.

How many branches of government are there?

a)

0

b)

3

c)

2

d)

1

37.

How many branches of government are there?

a)

0

b)

3

c)

2

d)

1

38.
Power of the government is divided between state and national governments is ___________.
a)
Popular Sovereignty
b)
Federalism
c)
Checks and Balances
d)
Republicanism
39.

What is the first part of the Constitution and declaration of independence called?

a)

The Preamble

b)

Article I

c)

Amendment I

d)

Intorduction

40.

Which Founding Document is our written set of rules for America?

a)

Bill of Rights

b)

Constitution

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

41.

What Founding Document lays out the basic rights as an American Citizen?

a)

Bill of Rights

b)

Constitution

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

42.

What was the significance of the colonists stating at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence, "the unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America?"

a)

They are breaking away from Britain

b)

They are no longer a colony of Britain

c)

They are saying that they are united against Britain

d)

All of the above

43.

What are the "Unalienable Rights" in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Life, Liberty, and Property

b)

Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness

c)

Love, Land, and Power

d)

Life, Money, and Property

44.

Why were colonists afraid after the American Revolution?

a)

They didn't want to have another monarchy

b)

Nothing; they were free

c)

Going to war again

d)

Having Western Territory

45.

Which branch of government uses the Bill of Rights to examine the constitutionality of laws?

a)

Executive

b)

Legislative

c)

Judicial

d)

President

46.

What's the purpose of the Bill of Rights?

a)

It is the country's declaration

b)

explains the three branches of government

c)

to show what the government cannot do

d)

to show what the government can do

47.

What are the three branches of government?

a)

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

b)

Judicial, Preamble, Executive

c)

President, Vice President, Secretary of State

d)

Judicial, Lawyers, Judges

48.

Who was the Declaration of Independence written to?

a)

President Washington

b)

King George

c)

All Americans

d)

Queen Elizabeth

49.

Which of the following is NOT guaranteed by the First Amendment?

a)

religion

b)

speech

c)

peaceful assembly

d)

work

50.

Checks and balances are written in to

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Articles of Confederation

c)

The Constitution

d)

The Mayflower Compact

51.

The American Revolution was fought to gain independence from France.

a)

True

b)

False

52.

The Bill of Rights was written after World War II.

a)

True

b)

False

53.

The Constitution has only been amended 27 times.

a)

True

b)

False

54.

The Constitution is the framework for the United States.

a)

True

b)

False

55.

The Supreme Court decides whether laws are Constitutional or not.

a)

True

b)

False

56.

"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." Which founding document did this quote originate from?

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

c)

Declaration of Independence

d)

Articles of Confederation

57.

The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason in 1775, served what important purpose in U.S. history?

a)

Established a structure of government for the United States.

b)

Explained the need for independence due to the violation of rights by King John of England.

c)

Served as a model for the U.S. Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution.

d)

Established Virginia as a state within the United States and no longer just a colony.

58.

The U.S. Constitution accomplished all of the following things EXCEPT?

a)

Formed the first form of government for the United States.

b)

Provides the structure of the U.S. government today.

c)

Protected the freedoms of speech, press, petition, assembly, and religion.

d)

Established majority rule while protecting the rights of the minority.

59.
Unalienable Rights,
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness
a)
The VA Declaration of RIGHTS
b)
The Declaration of Independence
c)
The Preamble
d)
The Charters of the VA co of London
60.

Check off who we know were apart of writing the Constitution

a)

Barack Obama

b)

George Washington

c)

Ben Franklin

d)

Donald Trump

61.

A letter to the king of England announcing the colonists' desire to become a new country

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Bill of Rights

62.

The highest law in our country that explains how the government works

a)

The Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Bill of Rights

63.

This document serves as the main law of our country. It includes a preamble, seven articles and 27 amendments.

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Bill of Rights

64.

This document contains "Freedom of Speech" and "The right to bear arms"

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Bill of Rights

65.

This document was written by Thomas Jefferson and listed reasons why the colonies would become a new country.

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

The Constitution

c)

The Bill of Rights

66.

When was the Declaration of Independence was signed?

a)

1776

b)

1772

c)

1876

d)

1872

67.

Who was the main person that wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

George Washington

b)

John Hancock

c)

Ben Franklin

d)

Thomas Jefferson

68.

Who was the Declaration of Independence written to?

a)

Germany

b)

Great Britain

c)

France

d)

Canada

69.
Who earned the title Father of Our Country?
a)
James Madison
b)
George Washington
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
George Mason
70.
Who provided strong leadership for the young country and was a model of leadership for future presidents?
a)
George Mason
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
George Washington
d)
James Madison
71.

In a democracy, the true power comes from the...

a)

governors

b)

president

c)

citizens

d)

king

72.

According to the Declaration of Independence, the government's job is to protect _______________.

a)

people's rights

b)

people's wealth

c)

the government's power

d)

democracy

73.

What was the result of the Revolutionary War?

a)

America remained a colony of Great Britain

b)

America gained its independence

74.
The American Revolution was a conflict between the colonists and _____________.
a)
the French
b)

the Spanish

c)
the British 
75.

What happened at Independence Hall?

a)

Congress met to write a plan of government

b)

The first president was sworn into office

c)

The King of England was put on trial

76.

Where is Independence Hall?

a)

Philadelphia, PA

b)

Washington, DC

77.

What is an amendment?

a)

an error

b)

a change

78.

Based on the US Constitution, the government is run by _________.

a)

The President

b)

Congress

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

"The People"

79.

When was the Declaration of Indpendence signed?

a)

September 17

b)

4th of June

c)

4th of July

d)

August 2nd 1776

80.

Who was the first to sign the Declaration?

a)

John Hannacok

b)

Hannacok Jam

c)

Madison Jefferson

81.

The Delgates who wrote the Constitution are known as

a)

Sassy Pants

b)

The Framers

c)

Morning Glory

d)

Independence Fathers

82.

In what city was the Constitution and the Declaration written

a)

Philidephia

b)

NYC

c)

Little Rock

d)

Austin

83.

What is the nickname for the Constitution?

a)

Bill of Rights

b)

Supreme law of the land

c)

The law to end all laws

d)

A dying document