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US Government Unit I Assessment

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 52mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What do both a monarchy and a dictatorship have in common?

a)

They both give power to the citizens

b)

They are both a democracy

c)

They are both an autocracy

d)

They are both anarchy

2.

The citizens in the United States choose leaders to make decisions on our behalf. Which type of government does the United States have?

a)

Direct democracy

b)

Representative Democracy

c)

United Democracy

d)

Republic Democracy

3.

Who makes most of the important government decisions in an oligarchy?

a)

The king

b)

The legislature

c)

The people

d)

A small group of powerful rulers

4.

Enlightened thinkers based their philosophical beliefs on what two things?

a)

power and privilege

b)

money and fame

c)

good looks and charm

d)

reason and logic

5.

According to John Locke, why are governments created?

a)

God gives monarchs a divine right to rule over their people

b)

People are naturally selfish and need a strong ruler to create order

c)

People set up governments to protect their lives and property

d)

Civil government must be established to offset the power of the church

6.

The ability of one branch of government to limit the power of the other branches is called ___.

a)

a natural law

b)

checks and balances

c)

a social contract

d)

laissez-faire

7.

According to Baron de Montesquieu, a republican government should be created with.

a)

A social contract

b)

Divine Right

c)

Separation of Powers

d)

Natural Law

8.

The Declaration of Independence states, “That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it.” Which Enlightened idea do these words describe?

a)

need to ensure a representative government

b)

social contract between the government and the people

c)

right of the people to overthrow a bad government

d)

return to a society that has no central authority.

9.

According to the Declaration of Independence- What are the unalienable rights that all people have?

a)

Food, Shelter, and Clothing

b)

Life, Liberty and Property

c)

Death and taxes

d)

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

10.

Which statement best describes the role of government according to the Declaration of Independence?

a)

The main purpose of government is to expand and glorify the state

b)

The main purpose of government is to protect the unalienable rights of individuals

c)

The main purpose of government is to protect the rights and privileges of His Majesty, the King

d)

The main purpose of government is to promote the general welfare of the community by taking steps toward social equality

11.

Shays’ Rebellion helped prove that

a)

the federal government needed to be stronger.

b)

the states powers were too weak.

c)

the Articles of Confederation were powerful.

d)

George Washington was a great leader.

12.

Which of the following best describes the reasons citizens of the United States wanted to change the Articles of Confederation?

a)

They opposed the Land Ordinance of 1785.

b)

They did not want the government to have only one branch, the national government was weak, and state governments had too much power.

c)

States were not working together, and there was no clear leader.

d)

State government was weak and unsuccessful.

13.

The Anti-Federalists wanted to see the ____________ added to the Constitution

a)

English Bill of Rights

b)

Common Sense

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Magna Carta

14.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on government?

a)

Federalist: Favored a weak central government and strong state governments | Anti-Federalist: Favored a strong central government and weak state governments

b)

Federalist: Believed the creation of a bill of rights was necessary | Anti-Federalist: Believed the creation of a bill of rights was not necessary

c)

Federalist: Favored the legislative branch having more power than the executive | Anti-Federalist: Favored increasing the power of the national judiciary over the states

d)

Federalist: Believed a large republic ensured the best protection of individual freedoms | Anti-Federalist: Believed only a small republic could best ensure protection of individual freedoms

15.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution?

a)

Articles of Confederation: Contained a Bill of Rights | Constitution: Does not contain a Bill of Rights

b)

Articles of Confederation: Argued for by Federalists | Constitution: Argued for by Anti-Federalists

c)

Articles of Confederation: Was never the Constitution of the United States | Constitution: Has been the only Constitution of the United States

d)

Articles of Confederation: Created a weak central national government with most powers reserved to states | Constitution: Created a strong central government with some powers reserved to states

16.

The term 'Social Contract' refers to which of the following?

a)

An agreement among people to form a society and abide by its rules, such as citizens agreeing to follow laws in exchange for protection.

b)

A contract signed between two companies for business purposes.

c)

A written agreement between two friends to share their belongings.

d)

A law passed by the government without public input.

17.

The term 'Enlightenment' refers to which of the following, and which example best explains the word?

a)

A period in history emphasizing reason and individualism, such as the 18th-century European movement.

b)

A time when people focused on religious faith over science, like the Middle Ages.

c)

A movement that promoted absolute monarchy, such as the reign of Louis XIV.

d)

A period known for the decline of education and learning, like the Dark Ages.

18.

Representative Democracy is a system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Which of the following is an example of Representative Democracy?

a)

A country where people vote for leaders to make laws for them.

b)

A country where all citizens vote directly on every law.

c)

A monarchy where a king makes all decisions.

d)

A dictatorship where one person holds all power.

19.

Popular Sovereignty is best defined as which of the following?

a)

The idea that the authority of government comes from the people, as seen when citizens vote in elections.

b)

A system where a king or queen has absolute power over the people.

c)

A government in which only elected officials have all the power, regardless of the people's wishes.

d)

The belief that laws should be made only by judges in courts.

20.

Which Enlightenment ideas and thinkers are reflected in the following excerpt from the Declaration of Independence: "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...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."?

a)

Natural Rights and Consent of the Governed, as described by John Locke and Rousseau

b)

Separation of Powers and Divine Right, as described by Montesquieu and Hobbes

c)

Absolute Monarchy and Social Contract, as described by Hobbes and Rousseau

d)

Checks and Balances and Popular Sovereignty, as described by Montesquieu and Locke

21.

Enlightenment Idea #1: The thinker associated with this Enlightenment Idea is:

a)

John Locke

b)

Thomas Hobbes

c)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

d)

Voltaire

22.

Which of the following is a direct quote from the Declaration of Independence that relates to Enlightenment ideas?

a)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

b)

"Give me liberty, or give me death!"

c)

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people."

d)

"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

23.

Enlightenment Idea #1: Which of the following best explains the Enlightenment Idea?

a)

A movement emphasizing reason and individualism over tradition.

b)

A period focused on religious dogma and superstition.

c)

A time when monarchs increased their absolute power.

d)

A movement that discouraged scientific inquiry.

24.

Which of the following best describes what a major Compromise during the founding of the United States involved?

a)

Each side had different beliefs, and a compromise was reached to resolve the issue.

b)

Both sides agreed completely from the start, so no compromise was needed.

c)

One side forced the other to accept their view without negotiation.

d)

The issue was ignored and not addressed at all.

25.

Which of the following best describes the result of the Great Compromise and the 3/5th Clause at the Constitutional Convention?

a)

The Great Compromise created a bicameral legislature, and the 3/5th Clause counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation.

b)

The Great Compromise abolished slavery, and the 3/5th Clause gave all states equal representation.

c)

The Great Compromise established a monarchy, and the 3/5th Clause ended the slave trade immediately.

d)

The Great Compromise allowed only large states to vote, and the 3/5th Clause counted enslaved people as full citizens.

26.

Which two issues could you choose to write about when debating the ratification of the Constitution from either the Federalist or Anti-Federalist perspective?

a)

Rights of the people and State Power

b)

Economic Policy and Foreign Affairs

c)

Taxation and Trade Regulations

d)

Military Service and Education