Foundations of American Government
Test Study Guide
Terms
Define the following terms:
MonarchyTyrannyOligarchyAristocracyAnarchyDirect DemocracyRepublic-
Questions
Answer the following questions:
1. What are the pros and cons of the different forms of governments?
2. What are the 5 principles of Democracy, and what do they mean?
3. Summarize the basic ideas of each of the following Enlightenment Philosophers:
*Descartes-
*Rousseau-
*Montesquieu-
*Locke-
*Voltaire-
*Hobbes-
4. In what way did the Ancient Hebrews influence American government?
5. In what way did the Greeks influence American government?
6. In what way did the Romans influence American government?
7. In what way did the Magna Carta influence American government?
8. In what way did the English Bill of Rights influence American government?
9. Why did Hobbes believe that people needed a strong government?
10. Explain Hobbes’ idea of a Social Contract.
11. By the 13th century, whom did the British king have to seek approval from, as required by the Magna
Carta, when making decisions?
12. What were the main concepts that the English colonists brought with them to the New World?
13. In his book “The Republic”, Plato tells what story (hint: “invisible”)
14. According to the “Forms of Government” video, what is the most common form of government
today?
15. What are the three powers that all governments possess?
16. In a direct democracy, what is the problem with “majority rules”?
17. What types of government are located on the far left of the political spectrum, in regards to
government power?
18. What are the main ideas featured in the Declaration of Independence?
19. In which document did the American colonists first declare that they had the right to abolish an
abusive and unresponsive government?
20. According to the video “John Adams”, who convinced Jefferson to write the Declaration of
Independence?
21. According to the political spectrum chart in your notes, a Republic is rule by __________.
22. The idea of limited government was first expressed in which English document in 1215?
23. Did British colonial policies become more relaxed or stricter in the later 1700’s?
24. What were the reasons for the American colonists rebelling against Britain?
25. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
26. What are the five main themes of the Declaration of Independence?
27. Which Enlightenment Philosopher’s ideas are featured in the Constitution?
28. Which Enlightenment Philosopher’s ideas are featured in the first amendment of the Bill of Rights?
29. Be familiar with the Declaration of Independence. There are 7 true/false questions at the end of the
test about the Declaration. (A copy of the Declaration is attached to the test, but it will help to read it
beforehand. A copy of the modern translation is available under the “Declaration of Independence”
section of this unit.)