wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Early Colonial History and Founding Documents

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 29mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Look at the categories of each founding document(s) and determine which idea, person, or detail belongs in each category.

Categorize the following

Written by Thomas Paine

Year: 1776

Influenced the Declaration of Indepdence

Written by King John

Year: 1215

Created Limited Government

Created the fire for revolution

Established self government

Year: 1620

Created Rule of Law

Established Due Process and Trial by Jury

Written by the Pilgrims

Created a civil-body politik

This gave rights to the Baron and Nobles

Common Sense
Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights
Mayflower Compact
2.

Match the following documents to the correct definition or idea

a)

Magna Carta

1.

Created limited government

b)

Common Sense

2.

Inspired the Declaration of Independence

c)

Mayflower Compact

3.

Established self government

d)

English Bill of Rights

4.

Established Due Process

e)

Declaration of Independence

5.

Thomas Paine's document inspired this

3.

This is one of the most quoted passages from Common Sense, which became a best seller in the American colonies early in 1776. How did Paine's argument affect the colonists' opinions about how they ought to be governed?

a)

It led some Americans to believe that their colonies needed new constitutions.

b)

It convinced many Americans that they should seek independence from Britain.

c)

It convinced many Americans that they should be represented in Parliament.

d)

It led some Americans to believe that their colonies needed elected governors.

4.

The Mayflower Compact, drawn up by the Pilgrims in 1620, establishes a form of government based on

a)

democratic ideas that were first found in the U.S. Constitution.

b)

electing a new king to preside over the colonies.

c)

a shared system of rule between the colonists and the King of England.

d)

the will of the colonists rather than on that of the King of England.

5.

Reorder the Founding Documents from earliest date to latest date

a)

Magna Carta

b)

Mayflower Compact

c)

English Bill of Rights

d)

"Common Sense"

e)

Declaration of Independence

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6.

Match the correct principle to the correct document

a)

Thomas Paine

1.

Based on wanting to separate from England

b)

The Pilgrims

2.

Set up a self government in Massachusett

c)

King John

3.

Signed the Magna Carta establishing limited government

d)

Parliament

4.

Established the English Bill of Rights and right to bear arms

e)

Magna Carta

5.

Established the idea of Rule of Law

7.

Which right is listed in the Magna Carta guaranteeing a "lawful judgement of one's peers"

a)

No taxation without representation

b)

Freedom of speech

c)

Trial by jury

d)

Freedom of religion

8.

Parliament is England's?

a)

Monarchy

b)

Lawmaking body

c)

President

d)

Barons and Nobles

9.

Plymouth Colony was originally founded by a group of people called Pilgrims. Since Plymouth did not have an official charter from England, its government was based on which document?

a)

Mayflower Compact

b)

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

c)

Cato's Letters

d)

The English Bill of Rights

10.

What year was the Mayflower Compact created in?

(a)  

11.

What year was "Common Sense" created in?

(a)  

12.

Match the group or person involved with each document

a)

Thomas Jefferson

1.

Declaration of Independence

b)

Thomas Paine

2.

Common Sense

c)

Pilgrims

3.

Mayflower Compact

d)

Barons

4.

Magna Carta

e)

King James

5.

English Bill of Rights

13.

When was the Magna Carta created?

(a)  

14.

Categorize the ideas, places, details into Rome or Greece categories

Categorize the following

Has a republic form of government

Has a Direct Democracy

The citizens participate in government directly

The citizens elect representatives

Has an assembly that consists of 500 people

The U.S. based their government off of their ideals

Created the first written constitution

Created the Laws of the Twelve Tables to ensure people were equal

Established the concept of Separation of Powers

Established the concept of Rule of Law

Were known as Athenians

Rome
Greece
15.

The Founders policies of being influenced by having good character and morals were based on the teachings of... ​ (a)  

Choose from the below words
Judeo-Christian ethical ideas
the Greeks
the Romans
John Locke
Baron de Montesquieu
The Twelve Tables
the Rule of Law
16.

No one is above the law, not even the king is known as the concept of... ​ (a)  

Choose from the below words
rule of law
limited government
constitutional monarchy
the state of nature
due process
natural rights
separation of powers
checks and balances
17.

The ​ (a)   were influenced by many ideas of government. The idea of a(n) ​ (b)   comes from the Athenians in Greece. The idea of separation of powers and ​ (c)   comes from the Romans. The Romans have a ​ (d)   or a representative democracy just like the ​ (e)   .

Choose from the below words
Founding Fathers
written constitution
electing representatives
republic
United States
checks and balances
direct democracy
Greeks
written sermon or plays
civic participation
18.

The Founders were influenced by the Greeks and Romans when creating their new government. They were also inspired by ​ (a)   from the Bible. These ideas created a strong sense of ​ (b)   . They were based off of the teachings of​ (c)   of Judaism and ​​ (d)   .

Choose from the below words
Judeo-Christian ethical ideas
good character and morals
the Old Testament
Christianity
Natural law
the Enlightenment
reason
the Bill of Rights
community and civil participation
God
19.

Which democratic idea comes from Rome? Select TWO choices.

a)

Electing representatives

b)

Allowing only the rich to vote

c)

Paying taxes

d)

Separating powers into an assembly, senate, and council

e)

Having a written constitution

20.

​ (a)   has a Representative Democracy or ​ (b)   this means they are ruled by representatives that are elected. ​ (c)   has ​ (d)   where people direct participate in government themselves. The United States has (e)   which is based on Rome's form of government.

Choose from the below words
Rome
a republic
Greece
a direct democracy
a constitutional republic
democracy
a limited government
the rule of law
America
protected rights
21.

What was the primary purpose of the Mayflower Compact signed by the Pilgrims in 1620?

a)

To establish a democratic government independent of the King of England.

b)

To elect a new king for the colonies.

c)

To create a shared system of rule with the King of England.

d)

To lay the groundwork for the U.S. Constitution.

22.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine was a significant influence on the American colonies in 1776. What was the main argument presented in this work?

a)

The colonies should seek independence from Britain.

b)

The colonies needed new constitutions.

c)

Americans should be represented in the British Parliament.

d)

The colonies needed elected governors.

23.

What was the primary purpose of the Magna Carta when it was originally created in 1215?

a)

To establish the principle of 'no taxation without representation'

b)

To limit the power of the English monarch and protect the rights of the nobility

c)

To establish the principle of freedom of speech

d)

To establish the principle of freedom of religion

24.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine was a pivotal document in 1776. What was the primary reason for its significant influence on the American colonies?

a)

It advocated for the colonies to seek independence from Britain.

b)

It suggested that the colonies needed new constitutions.

c)

It argued for American representation in the British Parliament.

d)

It proposed the need for elected governors in the colonies.

25.

The Plymouth Colony, founded by the Pilgrims, did not have an official charter from England. What document served as the basis for its government?

a)

The Mayflower Compact

b)

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

c)

Cato's Letters

d)

The English Bill of Rights

26.

What was the primary purpose of the Mayflower Compact?

a)

To establish a new monarchy in the New World.

b)

To declare independence from England.

c)

To set up a government for the Plymouth Colony.

d)

To outline the rules for a new religious sect.