wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Representative Government in Colonial America

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

2.
a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

3.

*Distance from Great Britain
*Mayflower Compact
*Town hall meetings
The factors listed above contributed most to the

a)

creation of alliances between British settlers and American Indians

b)

election of British colonists to Parliament

c)

growth of representative government in the British colonies

d)

expansion of British trade in the Americas

4.

Which of the following statements is a correct description of the Mayflower Compact?

a)

The men on board the Mayflower bound themselves into a “civic body politic.” 

b)

The Pilgrims practiced an early and pure form of democracy

c)

The Mayflower Compact applied just to the non-Pilgrims on board the Mayflower

d)

None of the above. 

5.

Representative government in colonial America

a)

provided that all members of the legislature be elected by the people

b)

allowed some citizens to have a voice in the laws directly affecting them

c)

answered only to the king of England

d)

strengthened the power of the king of England in the colonies

6.

In Southern colonial government, the representatives of the people were called (first Representative gov't in colonies)

a)

Colonial governors

b)

House of Burgesses

c)

Governor's Council

d)

House of Representatives

7.

- First Representative assembly in the colonies

- Established by the Virginia Company

- George Washington was a member

a)

Virginia House of Burgesses

b)

House of Representatives

8.

The Virginia House of Burgesses:

a)

Provided an example of representative government.

b)

Established the first army in the New World.

c)

Regulated what the people were allowed to eat.

d)

Determined who could leave the colony. 

9.

What was the purpose and function of the House of Burgesses?

a)

Established in 1619 so colonists could make their own laws. First Representative government in America.

b)

Established in 1691 so colonists could make their own laws. First Representative government in America.

c)

Established in 1916 so colonists could make their own laws. First Representative government in America.

d)

Established in 1619 so colonists could make their own laws. First Representative government in England.

10.

Why was the House of Burgesses (VA) important in the development of the United States?

a)

It was the first example of representative government in the colonies.

b)

It was the first time governmental powers were separated.

c)

It was the first time women were granted voting rights in the colonies.

d)

It was the first successful English colony in the U.S.

11.

A ​ (a)   is where people elect officials to make decisions for them.

Choose from the below words

representative government

free enterprise

religious tolerance

12.

FAST FACT: The House of Burgesses practice representative democracy

4 lines
13.

Fill in the different types of self- representative governments in the colonies. First written constitution in the colonies​ (a)  

The creation of a self- representative government ​ ​ (b)  

Jamestown, VA allowed a representative government ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

Mayflower Compact

House of Burgesses

14.

Match the following

a)

House of Burgesses

1.

Representative Government

b)

Mayflower Compact

2.

Social Contract

c)

Fundamental Orders

3.

Written Constitution

15.

In what way was Virginia's early government not truly representative?

a)

The legislature met to discuss bills, but did not create law.

b)

Only property owners could vote, so not all people were represented.

c)

The people were not allowed to voice their opinion on economic issues.

d)

The governor had the final say in all legislative actions.

16.

When was Mayflower Compact written?

a)

1410

b)

1492

c)

1655

d)

1620

17.

Which statement explains the significance of the House of Burgesses?

a)

the assembly served as a model for other colonial legislatures

b)

colonists used the assembly to overrule decisions of the royal governor

c)

the assembly sent delegates to Parliament to represent Virginia

d)

the king revoked Virginia's charter because the assembly became too powerful

18.

Important government document for the colony of Connecticut.

Established the principle of self-government.

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

US Constitution

c)

Fundamental Order of Connecticut

d)

US Bill of Rights

19.

Representative assembly in colonial Virginia; the first form of representative government in the 13 colonies

a)

Colonization

b)

Parliament

c)

Virginia House of Burgesses

d)

Mayflower Compact

20.

The Mayflower Compact showed that the Pilgrims were

a)

ready to begin a new way of life without strangers.

b)

aware of the need to make their own government

c)

aware of how different they were from other colonists.

d)

willing to follow the same laws as Virginia.

21.

What is the name of America's first colonial assembly?

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

House of Burgesses

c)

Fundamental Order of Connecticut

d)

Parliament

22.

Why did the Pilgrims write the Mayflower Compact?

a)

King didn't give them a charter

b)

To advance the Christian faith

c)

To honor their king and country

d)

Make an agreement to self-govern in order to survive

23.

Which of the following was a significant factor in the development of representative government in colonial America?

a)

A) The distance from Great Britain

b)

B) The influence of Native American governance

c)

C) The presence of large urban centers

d)

D) The abundance of natural resources

24.

What was the primary purpose of the Virginia House of Burgesses when it was established in 1619?

a)

A) To create a military alliance with Native American tribes

b)

B) To serve as a model for a royal government

c)

C) To provide a forum for colonists to have a voice in their own governance

d)

D) To regulate trade between the colonies and England

25.

How did the Mayflower Compact contribute to the development of representative government in the colonies?

a)

A) It established a direct democracy where all men could vote on every issue

b)

B) It created a legal framework for self-governance based on majority rule

c)

C) It allowed the Pilgrims to elect representatives to the English Parliament

d)

D) It was the first document to grant religious freedom in the colonies