Name:_________________________________________
Date:_________________
Period:_______
Christmas Break Take-home Test
11. During the Revolutionary War period, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was important because it
A.
B.
C.
D.
described a military plan for the defeat of England
convinced many Americans who had been undecided to support independence
contained a detailed outline for a new form of government
argued for the addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution
12. According to the Declaration of Independence, the people have the right to alter or abolish a government if that
government
A.
B.
C.
D.
is a limited monarchy
violates natural rights
becomes involved in entangling alliances
favors one religion over another
13. One of the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence is that government should
A.
B.
C.
D.
guarantee economic equality among citizens
have unlimited power to rule the people
be based upon the consent of the governed
be led by educated citizens
14. The Declaration of Independence (1776) has had a major influence on peoples throughout the world because it
A.
B.
C.
D.
guarantees universal suffrage
establishes a basic set of laws for every nation
provides justification for revolting against unjust governments
describes the importance of a strong central government
15. "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; . . ."
This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were
A.
B.
C.
D.
limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the 1700’s.
adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.
adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire.
reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment.
16. Which heading best completes the partial outline below?
I. ____________________________________
A. Committees of Correspondence
B. Non-importation Agreements
C. Boston Tea Party
D. First Continental Congress
A.
B.
C.
D.
Protests Against Slavery in the American Colonies
British Parliamentary Actions to Punish Colonial Americans
Colonial Responses to British Mercantile Policies
Colonial Attempts to End the British Policy of Salutary Neglect
17. In the 1780’s, many Americans distrusted a strong central government. This distrust is best shown by the
A.
B.
C.
D.
lack of debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution
plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation
development of a Federal court system
constitutional provision for a strong President
Base your answers to number 17 and 18 on the chart below and your knowledge of Social Studies
18. Which important reason for the American victory in the Revolutionary War is missing from the chart?
A.
B.
C.
D.
England had few advantages in a war with her American colonies.
The thirteen colonies had more advantages than disadvantages upon entering the war.
England did not believe that the thirteen colonies were worth the expense of a war.
The thirteen colonies had few, but important advantages in the war with England.
19. Which conclusion about the American Revolutionary War is most clearly supported by information in this chart?
A.
B.
C.
D.
England had few advantages in a war with her American colonies.
The thirteen colonies had more advantages than disadvantages upon entering the war.
England did not believe that the thirteen colonies were worth the expense of a war.
The thirteen colonies had few, but important advantages in the war with England.
20. "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; . . ."
This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were
A.
B.
C.
D.
limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the 1700’s.
adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.
adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire.
reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment.
21. Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects the idea that the people are the
source of government?
A.
B.
C.
D.
“. . . that all men are created equal,...”
“. .. all men are . . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights
“. . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .“
“. . . governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes . . .
22. In the United States, the use of implied powers, the amending process, and Supreme Court interpretations
have resulted in
A.
B.
C.
D.
a general loss of individual rights
a strengthening of the principle of separation of powers
the Constitution being adapted to fit changing times
the limiting of Presidential power in domestic affairs
23. Which quotation from the United States Constitution provides for a Federal system of government?
A.
B.
C.
D.
“He shall have power . . . with the advice and consent of the Senate, . . . and . . . shall appoint . . .“
“Every bill . . . shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; . . ."
“The powers not delegated to the United States . . . are reserved to the states . . .“
“Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every
other state.”
24. The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of
A.
B.
C.
D.
the President to veto a bill passed by Congress
Congress to censure one of its members
a governor to send the National Guard to stop a riot
state and Federal governments to levy and collect taxes
25. One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the
Constitution
A.
B.
C.
D.
created a national government having three branches
provided for the direct election of the President by the voters
made the amendment process more difficult
increased the powers of the states
26. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea
of
A.
B.
C.
D.
establishing a strong national executive
levying taxes on exports
popular election of Senators
equal representation for the states in the national legislature
27. One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create “limited government” was by providing for
A.
B.
C.
D.
a loyal opposition through a two-party system
a division of power between the national and state governments
the establishment of naturalization laws
the popular election of Federal judges
28. The elastic clause, the amending process, and judicial review are all methods by which
A.
B.
C.
D.
Congress may check the power of the executive branch
the wording of the original Constitution may be altered
state governments may limit the power of the Federal Government
the Constitution may be adapted to meet changing conditions
29. The United States Government is considered a federal system because
A.
B.
C.
D.
the people elect national officials
both national and state governments exist within the nation
foreign policy is handled by state governments
each state has equal represen-tation in the United States Senate
30. The flexibility of the original United States Constitution is due mainly to
A.
B.
C.
D.
its provision for the amending process and judicial interpretation
its guarantees of freedom and justice for all people
the ability to create new branches of government as needed
the willingness of the states to accept Federal control
31. Anti-federalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the
A.
B.
C.
D.
State legislatures
President’s Cabinet
delegates to the Constitutional Convention
National Government
32. “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.”
This passage from the Federalist Papers refers to the need for
A.
B.
C.
D.
a strong executive
a system of checks and balances
an independent military
a national education system
33. Which document is best described as a statement of democratic principles rather than a framework for
government?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Albany Plan of Union
Articles of Confederation
Declaration of Independence
United States Constitution
34. The United States Constitution grants certain powers only to the Federal Government. For example, only
Congress can declare war. These powers are called
A.
B.
C.
D.
police powers
reserved powers
delegated powers
concurrent powers
35. In the United States Government, members of the Cabinet are directly responsible to the
A.
B.
C.
D.
Congress
Senate
Supreme Court
President
36. The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review is a result of
A.
B.
C.
D.
an order by the President
the Court’s own interpretation of the Constitution
a provision in the Bill of Rights
the Court’s decision to hear appeals regarding taxation
37. During the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists
disagreed most strongly over the
A.
B.
C.
D.
division of powers between the national and state governments
provision for admitting new states to the Union
distribution of power between the Senate and the House of Representatives
method of amending the Constitution
38. Which constitutional provision was intended to give the people the most influence over the Federal
Government?
A.
B.
C.
D.
President’s duty to give Congress information about the state of the Union
electoral college system for choosing the President
direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms
process for proposing and ratifying amendments to the Constitution
39. The Articles of Confederation are best described as a
A.
B.
C.
D.
statement of principles justifying the Revolutionary War
plan of union for the original thirteen states
set of arguments supporting ratification of the Constitution
list of reasons for the secession of the Southern States
40. When the United States Constitution was written, which compromise was reached by the authors to gain the
support of the states with small populations?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Congress would consist of both a House of Representatives and a Senate.
Five enslaved persons would be counted as three free persons for the purpose of taxation
The President would be selected by the direct vote of the people.
Exported goods could not be taxed, but imported goods could be taxed.
41. Which document was being written when this discussion most likely occurred?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Declaration of Independence
United States Constitution
Covenant of the League of Nations
Charter of the United Nations
42. Which action illustrates the president’s power as commander in chief ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ordering American troops into a foreign country
appointing the secretary of state
entertaining a foreign leader at the White House
delivering the State of the Union address
Speaker A:"States must be represented in the national government solely on the basis of population. It is indeed the only
fair situation."
Speaker B:"The national legislature must be based on equal representation of the states to protect the interests of the small
states."
Speaker C:"States must accept the supremacy of the national government on all issues; otherwise, the system will fail."
Speaker D:"The national Congress should consist of two houses: one in which representation is based on population, and
one in which states are equally represented."
43. The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to
A.
B.
C.
D.
limit the power of state governments
protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government
provide for equal treatment of all people
separate powers between the three branches of government
44. Which statement best explains why critics have called for a change in the electoral college system?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President.
The system is a threat to the two-party system.
Electors often vote for candidates not listed on the ballot.
States with small populations have greater influence on Presidential elections than more populated states do.
45. The significance of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison is that the decision
A.
B.
C.
D.
advanced civil rights for minorities
upheld the constitutionality of a national bank
limited Presidential control of foreign policy
established the power of judicial review
46. Speaker A:"We must take action even if we are not sure it will work. To do nothing to stop them would be a repeat
of the Munich mistake."
Speaker B:"We must recognize the increasing interdependence of nations and join the United Nations."
Speaker C:"Stopping the spread of communism can and must take several forms. We must be willing to do whatever is
necessary."
Speaker D:"Involvement in European affairs would be a mistake. We should not jeopardize our peace and prosperity over
issues that Europe’s ambitions and rivalries control."
Which speaker best describes the basic foreign policy of the United States until the late 1800’s?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Speaker A
Speaker B
Speaker C
Speaker D
47. Alexander Hamilton urged Congress to pass a protective tariff to encourage the growth of
A.
B.
C.
D.
labor unions
manufacturing
agriculture
slavery
48. “It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. . . .” — Marbury v.
Madison, 1803 This statement expresses the Supreme Court’s claim that
A.
B.
C.
D.
courts must abide by a strict interpretation of the Constitution
federal laws must be approved by the courts before they can take effect
the judicial branch must have a role in the amendment process
the power of judicial review belongs to the courts
49. "Our true policy is to steer clear of permanent alliances . . . ."
-George Washington
President Washington made this statement to warn against United States involvement in
A. European military conflicts
B. the race for overseas colonies
C. international trade
D. westward expansion
50. Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan helped to establish the credit of the United States government by
A.
B.
C.
D.
providing for the payment of the nation’s debts
taxing only the people most able to pay
favoring agriculture over industry
encouraging spending for national defense
51. What was the result of many of the Supreme Court decisions made under Chief Justice John Marshall between 1801
and 1835?
1.
2.
3.
4.
The system of slavery was weakened.
The federal government was strengthened.
The rights of workers were supported.
Antitrust laws were upheld.
52. A major reason the Antifederalists opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution was because the
Constitution
A. created a national bank
B. lacked a provision for a federal court system
C. failed to provide for the direct election of members of the House of Representatives
D. changed the balance of power between the state and national governments
53. One major reason that Alexander Hamilton proposed a national bank was to
A.
B.
C.
D.
improve the economic position of the United States government
help state governments collect taxes
make loans available to owners of small farms
reduce foreign investment in the United States
54. One factor that led to the formation of the first two political parties in the United States in the 1790s was the conflict
over the
A.
B.
C.
D.
distribution of power between the federal and state governments
spread of slavery into the western territories
control of interstate commerce
acquisition of lands from France and Spain
55. The Louisiana Purchase had great geographic significance for the United States because it
A.
B.
C.
D.
reduced British control of North America
focused the United States on westward expansion
extended United States control over Mexico
decreased tensions with Native American Indians
56. The Louisiana Purchase initially presented a dilemma for President Thomas Jefferson because he believed it would
A.
B.
C.
D.
lead to war with Great Britain
bankrupt the new nation
force Native American Indians off their lands
violate his strict constructionist view of the Constitution
57. Which of the following was not a cause of the War of 1812?
A.
B.
C.
D.
British Impressments of US sailors
British interference with US Shipping
Native American’s using British weapons on US soldiers
Washington getting involved in European Affairs
58. The Whisky Rebellion took place because
A.
B.
C.
D.
Farmers were upset Whiskey was outlawed
Farmers were upset about the tax on whiskey
Farmers were upset they were forced to turn their grain into whiskey
Farmers were upset they had to drink whiskey
59. Which geographic advantage did the United States gain by purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803?
A.
B.
C.
D.
warm-water ports on the Atlantic coast
rich fishing areas in the Great Lakes
full control of the Mississippi River
vast coal reserves in the region west of Pennsylvania
60. This Christmas break assignment
A. is the best, thank you!
B. is terrible, you’re a monster!
C. is…whatever