American Government Chapter
Study Guide
Name: _____KEY__________________
1. List the Southern Colonies
List the Middle Colonies
List the New England Colonies
Maryland, VA, NC, SC, and Georgia
NY, Penn. NJ, and Delaware
Mass, New Hampshire, Conn., Rhode Island
2. List the Southern Colonies economy
List the Middle Colonies economy
List the New England Colonies economy
Fertile Land/ Agricultural – rice, tobacco, indigo
Rocky terrain, natural resources, small businesses
Shipbuilding, lumber, fishing,
3. Why was the Articles of Confederation
replaced?
The government was too weak, gave the states too much power, could not
enforce its laws
4. Discuss the New Jersey Plan
Discuss the Virginia Plan
What was the “Great Compromise”?
Favored smaller states, unicameral with equal representative, 3 branches
Favored larger states, bicameral with proportional rep., 3 branches
Bicameral with three branches, congress one equal and one proportional
representatives.
5. What was the Tea Act?
Put a tax on tea, Boston tea party, final spark that helped begin the Revolution
6.
Power is shared between the national and state government
What is Federalism?
7. What did the case Brown v. Board of Education
decide?
8. What was the Magna Carta? Why was it
written?
9. What were the view points of the Federalists?
Anti- Federalists?
What was added to make both sides happy?
Ruled that segregation in public schools is against the Constitution
10. What is a public interest group? Example?
Tries to influence the government to take actions that will benefit large numbers
of people—environmental
11. What was the House of Burgesses in
Jamestown?
Assembly of elected representatives to run Jamestown, first legislative body in
U.S. history
12. How is the Senate set up?
How is the House of Representatives set up?
Equal representation for each state (2)
Proportional representation (state population size)
13. Why is random sampling beneficial?
Fair and unbiased representation of the general population’s opinion
14. What was Montesquieu idea that inspired the
U.S. Government?
15. What is popular Sovereignty?
Separation of Powers- 3 branches of government—checks and balances
16. What is print media with an example? Electronic
media with an example?
Written- book, magazine, newspaper
Electronic- email, internet, video, TV
17. What was the Townshend Act?
Taxes on various items that were imported on goods from overseas- angered
colonists
18. What is an opportunity cost? Example?
Choosing one opportunity over another- playing video game instead of studying
19. Which branch has the power to declare war?
Legislative Branch
20. Why do people Lobby?
Influence government policy
21. What is scarcity?
A limited of calculating supply in the production. Choices all societies must
make about production.
1215, document written in England, list the rights of free men
Federalist papers- wins support of the Constitution (pro constitution and
stronger government
Anti-Federalists- wanted Bill of rights (individual freedoms) stronger
government threatened states’ rights (weaker gov’t)
Bill of Rights was added to the constitution that limited govt
Power is held in the hands of the people. If the government isn’t doing what we
want them to do we have the power to reject and replace representatives.
American Government Chapter
Study Guide
Name: _____KEY__________________
22. What was the Stamp Act?
What was the Intolerable Act?
-Tax on any written document
- Series of laws passed after tea-act to regain control of the colonies used to
punish Mass. Especially Boston for Resisting British Rule
23. Why is it important for your employees to have
skills and continue their education?
Skilled and educated workers can do more demanding and valuable work.
Make goods better and faster. (human resource)
24. What is a need? What is a want?
What is a good? A service?
Something needed for survival
Anything that is not a need
Product
An action
25. What did the philosopher John Locke write?
What did he write that inspired some of the
writing in the Declaration of Independence?
26. Why was it difficult to amend the Articles?
Two Treaties of Government- concerning natural rights
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, inspired freedoms
27. What is total revenue?
Profit- money earned- money spent
28. What did the First Continental Congress
accomplish?
What did the Second Continental Congress
accomplish?
29. What were the federalist papers? Why were they
important?
30. Who was Thomas Paine? What did he write?
Why was that document influential?
31. What does laissez-faire mean and how does this
influence the government?
One state could block a change
-
Boycott intolerable acts and tried to appeal intolerable acts (failed)
Declaration of Independence /American Revolution
Series of essays that promoted the ratification of the Constitution. Persuasive
Common Sense- 1776, moved the colonies closer to declaring independence
Little government involvement in the economy, keeps government out of the
market place
32. What is the GDP? If GDP increases what is
happening with the economic growth?
Gross domestic product- how much a country depends on the new goods/
services. Economic growth is taking place when GDP increases. Quantity of
goods and services produced
33. What was the Proclamation Line of 1763? Why
is this important?
Did not allow settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists just
fought for the land against France and they were not allowed to move west
34. What is Capitalism?
Free Market enterprise?
Economic system where trade/industry are controlled by the people (citizens
own all of the production)
Economics where there is little government interference. Allowed to compete
for profits
*circular flow
(write this on a separate sheet of paper)
35. What does the amendment say… 1st , 2nd. 3rd, 4th,
5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 19th, 24th, and 26th,
*Veto powers- wanted to keep one branch from becoming too powerful
*Shay’s Rebellion- Attacking a federal arsenal