Unit 1 Test
1. Where is power concentrated in a unitary system of government?
A. central government
B. state government
C. individual states
D. military
2. How is a federal system similar to a confederal system?
A. in both systems, the federal government has all the power
B. in both systems, a monarch holds power
C. in both systems, there is only one level of government
D. in both systems, the states have power
3. What was John Locke’s theory of natural rights?
A. that it is natural for the government to give people their rights
B. that people have a right to choose their leaders
C. that there is an agreement between people in a society and the government
D. that all people have certain rights that cannot be taken away
4. Which Founding Father was most influenced by the idea of natural rights?
A. Benjamin Franklin
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. John Hancock
D. James Madison
5. John Locke believed that governments should
A. become republics.
B. cease to exist.
C. serve the people.
D. strengthen the monarchy
6. Which of the following was a long-term result of the Founding Fathers being influenced by John Locke?
A. a president at the head of the executive branch
B. A federal government separated into 3 branches
C. the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution
D. becoming allies with other countries
The statements below are from the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights.
1) That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man hath a right to demand . . .
evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury . . .
2) That the legislative, executive, and judiciary department shall be separate and
distinct . . .
3) That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can
never be restrained . . .
4) That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms,
is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state . . .
7. Which statement reflects the Enlightenment ideas of government as expressed by Montesquieu?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
8. How did the people of England benefit from the signing of the Magna Carta?
A. it ended the power of the monarchy
B. it established a democracy
C. it granted some of them rights
D. it gave them land
9. What effect did the signing of the English Bill of Rights have on the American colonies?
A. it displayed the weaknesses of a republic form of government.
B. it extended rights to them as English citizens.
C. it angered the colonists against Parliament.
D. it demonstrated the principle of separation of powers
The diagram below shows how the colonists formed some of their political views from historical documents.
Magna Carta
Limited
Government
Mayflower
Compact
?
Glossary
Political views- ideas about
government
10. Which phrase completes the diagram?
A. Separation of powers
B. Economic freedom
C. Self-government
D. Individual rights
11. The 1776 publication of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense,
A. caused Parliament to sympathize with the American colonies.
B. had little effect on the attitudes of colonists.
C. moved the colonies closer to declaring independence.
D. occurred just after the Declaration of Independence.
The following is a quote from Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense:
“Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their
care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.”
12. What argument was he making?
A. That the King used common sense when ruling the colonies.
B. That the colonists used common sense in being loyal to England.
C. That it was common sense for the colonies to rule themselves.
D. That it was common sense for England to rule the colonies.
The diagram below describes a cause that led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
British policies
limit colonial
rights
?
British ignore
colonial
complaints
Declaration of
Independence
approved
13. Which action completes the diagram?
A. Colonial agricultural trade increases.
B. Colonial religious devotion increases.
C. Colonial demand for rights increases.
D. Colonial demand for military assistance increases.
14. The quotes below are from historical documents.
“For imposing Taxes on
us without our Consent”
Source: Declaration of Independence
“All bills for raising Revenue shall originate
in the House of Representatives…”
Source: Article I Section 7 U.S. Constitution
What is the relationship between these concepts?
A. Both declare to the world why the colonists wanted freedom from England.
B. Both represent actions taken by the colonists to enforce English policies.
C. Both are in response to English policies imposed upon the colonists.
D. Both are responses by England to the actions of the colonists.
The stamp below is from the front page of a 1765 newspaper.
15. What was the significance of the stamp on the newspaper?
A. It demonstrated that Parliament ignored the colonists’ media communications.
B. It demonstrated that Parliament controlled the colonists’ press.
C. It represented the colonists’ opposition to English tax policies.
D. It represented the colonists’ obedience to English tax policies.
The statements below are from a historical document.
He has refused Assent to His Laws
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people
16. In which documents are these statements found?
A. Magna Carta
B. Mayflower Compact
C. Declaration of Independence
D. the U.S. Constitution
17. How did the opinions expressed in these statements help influence the American political system in the United
States?
A. Citizens believed legislators should be elected.
B. Citizens believed an executive branch should be created.
C. Voters believed laws should be publicly debated.
D. Voters believed equality should be legally assured.
18. How does the modern political system in the United States uphold the principles expressed in these statements?
A. by requiring voter registration laws for local elections
B. by causing elected officials to be responsible to citizen needs
C. by allowing federal judges to be appointed by elected officials’
D. by making local governments responsible for monitoring elections
Below is a diagram.
People are endowed by
their creator with
certain unalienable
rights
The role of the
government is to protect
the rights of the people
=
?
19. Which statement completes the diagram?
A. It is the role of government to determine natural rights.
B. The people have right to alter or abolish abusive government.
C. People establish natural rights.
D. Equality is an ideal of the Declaration of Independence.
20. What type of government did the Articles of Confederation create?
A. a democracy with a strong federal government
B. a Roman-style republic
C. a constitutional monarchy similar to that of Great Britain
D. a group of individual states that unite together for a common purpose
21. Which of the following was NOT a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
A. Congress had no power to regulate trade
B. No single leader to direct public policy
C. There was no way to admit new states to the Union
D. The Articles could not be changed without the agreement of all 13 states
22. How did the U.S. Constitution solve a problem created by the Articles of Confederation?
A. It avoided the issue of states’ rights.
B. It allowed the states to elect representatives.
C. It prevented the amendment of federal laws.
D. It enabled the federal government to collect taxes.
23. Which statement demonstrates the Anti-Federalist view in the struggle over ratification of the U.S.
Constitution?
A. The Constitution should limit state government.
B. The Constitution should protect fundamental rights.
C. The Constitution should create a strong national government.
D. The Constitution should prevent the election of amateur politicians.
The statement below appeared in a 1787 essay by James Winthrop.
It is impossible for one code of laws to suit
Georgia and Massachusetts.
24. What does this statement reflect?
A. Federalist views
B. Anti-Federalist views
C. A cause of Shay’s rebellion
D. A cause of the Great Compromise
The passage below was written by James Madison.
In framing a government which is to be administered
by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you
must first enable the government to control the
governed; and in the next place oblige it to control
itself.” – James Madison
25. How does this passage demonstrate Madison’s opinion about government?
A. Madison wants the government to overpower the people.
B. A weak central government is needed to prevent abuse of power.
C. Without restraints, governments will deny the rights of the people.
D. Governments should not be allowed to control the people.