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WorksheetsTopic 3 Practice Test
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 23mins
Which idea in the Declaration of Independence did John Locke inspire?
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
right to a speedy trial with a jury of one’s peers
separation of powers
freedom of speech
Which weakness of the Articles of Confederation was corrected by the authors of the Constitution?
no state governments
no national court system
no elected representatives
no relations with foreign nations
The passage below is from the writings of John Locke.
(1) The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property . . . (2) Whenever the legislators [try] to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves in a state of war with the people, who are thereupon [freed] from any further obedience . . . (3) [T]he people who have a right to resume their original liberty, and by the establishment of a new legislative, provide for their own safety and security.
Source: John Locke, An Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent and End of Civil Government, XIX, Section 222
How did the ideas in this passage influence the Founding Fathers?
They chose to remain loyal to the King of England.
They decided to rebel against the British government.
They decided to create a system of checks and balances.
They decided to separate the powers of government among three branches.
The passage below is 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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Which statement summarizes the main ideas of this passage?
Since people create governments to protect their rights, they can change governments that abuse their rights.
The only safe government is one with a system of checks and balances between its different branches.
Without the government to restrain us, every society would become a struggle of every person against every other person.
Although people create governments to protect their rights, once they give power to a government they cannot take it back.
Why did the colonists object to these measures?
They no longer respected the rule of law.
They wanted to elect their own representatives to Parliament.
They objected to taxes that were imposed without their consent.
They were already taxed more heavily than people living in Britain.
Why didn’t the Articles of Confederation include a chief executive?
Its authors rejected the ideas of the baron de Montesquieu.
Its authors wished to preserve constitutional monarchy.
Its authors feared strong central government.
Its authors established a parliamentary form of government.
Which sentence completes the chart?
Congress can raise an army.
Congress has the power to tax.
The President has the power to tax.
The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review.
What was the Anti-Federalists’ main reason for opposing the U.S. Constitution?
It weakened the states’ power.
It did not protect property rights.
It didn’t allow self-government.
It didn’t have a president.
The passage below was written by George Clinton, an Anti-Federalist, in 1788.
Whoever considers the immense extent of territory comprehended within the limits of the United States … will [see] that … a republican form of government can never be formed therein … [C]omposed of interests opposite and dissimilar … [such a government] … would be like a house divided against itself.
Which sentence summarizes Clinton’s views in this passage?
The Constitution should be approved because it will unite the country.
The best form of government is a republican one with elected representatives.
The United States has too many separate interests to form a single uniform republic.
The Constitution gives too much power to the state governments for the republic to last.
According to the Declaration of Independence, how did George III’s actions affect American colonists?
Shays’s Rebellion occurred.
Colonists were unable to participate in their own government.
Colonists chose to obey George III’s measures.
The Boston Massacre happened.
Which statement best describes this system?
Independent states gave very little power to the central government.
The states had only the powers given to them by the central government.
The states gave up all their powers to the central government.
The central government replaced the states.
Which statement best describes the federal system of government established by the U.S. Constitution?
Neither the states nor the national government has exclusive powers.
The states are more powerful than the central government.
The federal government controls the states.
Power is divided and shared between the states and the central government.
What do all constitutional governments have?
Legal limits on political power
A President as the head of government
A bill of rights
Separation of church and state
Based on this passage, why did Hamilton believe the Constitution should be ratified?
The United States needed a large army to expand into nearby territories.
The government of the United States created by the Articles of Confederation was too weak to defend the country.
The United States needed a treasury to buy additional territory from its neighbors.
The United States needed a stronger government to promote the interests of wealthy Americans.
Why did the Federalists believe individual liberties were not threatened by the Constitution?
State governments would protect individual liberties.
Elected officials could be trusted to protect individual liberties.
The federal government was given only limited powers by the Constitution.
The federal government would use its powers to protect, not threaten individual liberties.
What major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation does the passage above show?
The power of the states to write their own constitutions.
The power to create a judicial branch more powerful than the legislative branch.
The power to collect taxes from all states and have them distributed evenly.
The power to amend the Articles of Confederation only when all states were in agreement.
Which phrase completes the chart?
regulate commerce
declare war
create national parks
appoint state governors
Which of the following might have caused people to oppose the Articles of Confederation?
Congress had the power to collect taxes.
Congress could not pay the soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Congress controlled trade between the states.
Congress granted too much power to the executive branch.
Which phrase completes the diagram?
The colonial theory of government
Grievances of the colonists against Britain
Montesquieu’s separation of powers
False rumors spread by colonial newspapers
Which step was taken in response to these events?
The Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation.
States sent representatives to Philadelphia, where they wrote the U.S. Constitution.
Congress proposed a bill of rights in the form of ten amendments to the Constitution.
The Congress of the Confederation appointed General George Washington as dictator.
Which group did Patrick Henry side with during the ratification debate?
the Loyalists
the Federalists
the Antifederalists
the Constitutionalists
Which conclusion can be drawn from the Declaration of Independence?
The 13 colonies declared independence because they were angered by British policies.
The 13 colonies declared independence because George III and Parliament would not stop violating their rights.
The 13 colonies declared independence because they were unhappy with British rule.
The 13 colonies decided against declaring independence because doing so would cause too much uncertainty.
How is this Anti-Federalist concern addressed by the Bill of Rights?
The 1st Amendment guarantees the right of citizens to petition the federal government.
The 2nd amendment guarantees the right of citizens to own, keep, and use firearms to defend their lives and their property.
The 9th Amendment protects rights not mentioned in the Bill of Rights.
The 10th amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states.
Who are the speakers and what are they afraid of?
Patriots; ineffective government
Federalists; the loss of liberty
Antifederalists; a strong national government
Loyalists; the loss of property rights
Which document completes the diagram?
Magna Carta
Mayflower Compact
Articles of Confederation
Bill of Rights
How are James Madison’s ideas in Federalist 51 applied today?
People are free to do whatever they like, without any limitations.
The chief executive makes laws and can change them at any time.
The states continue to hold the most important powers of government.
The federal government convicts individuals of crimes, but also upholds their rights.
How does the system of checks and balances reinforce the separation of powers?
by giving each branch of government powers to limit the other branches
by dividing the government duties among three branches
by defining the roles of each branch of government in three separate articles
by dividing power between the national and state levels of government
Use the excerpt from the Declaration of Independence to answer the question.
“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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . .”
According to this excerpt, how does the source of natural rights compare to the source of government power?
Natural rights come from the government; government power comes from the people.
Natural rights come from God; government power comes from the people.
Natural rights come from the government; government power comes from God.
Natural rights come from God; government power comes from God.
Use the excerpt from the Declaration of Independence to answer the question.
“To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Which Enlightenment idea is expressed in this statement?
Baron de Montesquieu’s theory of separation of powers
John Locke’s idea of the social contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s theory of divine right
James Madison’s view of individual liberty
According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the main purpose of government?
to provide for common defense and promote the general welfare
to create a strong national government
to protect the interests of the states
to protect citizens’ rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
What did Federalists and Antifederalists disagree most strongly about?
a strong national government
creating a system of checks and balances
protecting individual liberties
increasing the power of the confederation
Which phrase has come to mean that each person’s rights are as important as every other person’s rights?
“all men are created equal”
“to ensure domestic tranquility”
“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”
“We the People”
The Federalists
opposed ratification of the Constitution.
opposed a strong central government.
supported the division of the United States into 13 separate countries.
feared the Articles of Confederation could not keep the country united.
The passage below is from the Declaration of Independence.
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
Which conclusion can be drawn from the Declaration of Independence?
The 13 colonies declared independence because they were angered by British policies.
The 13 colonies declared independence because George III and Parliament would not stop violating their rights.
The 13 colonies declared independence because they were unhappy with British rule.
The 13 colonies decided against declaring independence because doing so would cause too much uncertainty.
Which phrase completes the table?
enumerated powers
implied powers
express powers
reserved powers
How does the system of federalism limit government power?
by giving only some powers to the central government
by allowing the national government to define its own powers
by making the state governments superior to the national government
by separating powers among the three branches of the national government
Which is an example of a reserved power?
the power to grant patents
the power to borrow money
the power to establish a navy
the power to issue driver licenses
Which statement completes the Venn diagram?
establish patents and copyrights
regulate naturalization of immigrants
maintain a court system
establish a navy
Which of the statements is true about reserved and concurrent powers?
They are both exercised by state governments.
Neither type is exercised by state governments.
They are both exercised by the federal government.
Neither type is exercised by the federal government.
What is guaranteed by the “Supremacy Clause” of the U.S. Constitution?
the supremacy of individual rights
the supremacy of federal over state law
the supremacy of Congress over the President
the supremacy of the people over their government
