Enlighten Me!..nt
Colonial Documents
Articles of Confederation
The Great Debate
The Constitution
Miscellaneous
100

According to John Locke's natural law theory, which three rights are people born with?

- life
- liberty
- property

100

Which document lists the grievances against King George III and announced the American colonies' separation from Great Britain?

Declaration of Independence

100

What was the first government of the new United States (1781 - 1789)?

Articles of Confederation

100

Delegates at the Convention needed to ratify a new plan of government. 

Define ratify.

(also known as "ratification")

to approve

100

Which part of the U.S. Constitution states the reasons for writing the document and lists the goals of government?

A) Preamble
B) Bill of Rights
C) Articles I, II, III
D) Supremacy Clause

A) Preamble

100

Define civil liberties

rights/freedoms of citizens

200

This Enlightenment philosopher is known for the separation of powers, which divides the powers of government into different parts.

Montesquieu

200

Which colonial document established the idea of self-government in the colonies?

A) Magna Carta
B) Mayflower Compact
C) English Bill of Rights
D) Thomas Paine's Common Sense

B) Mayflower Compact

200

A major problem of the Articles of Confederation is that the __________ government(s) had the majority of power.

WORD BANK
- state
- national
- central
- federal

state

200

At the Constitutional Convention, this group of people supported the new Constitution and a stronger national government.

Federalists

200

Which of the following is an example of a freedom protected by the First Amendment?

A) wearing an inappropriate shirt to school
B) copying another artist's work
C) gathering signatures and marching at a protest
D) making threats against an official

C) gathering signatures and marching at a protest

Freedom of Assembly
Freedom of Petition

"...the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances..."

200

This government department was created after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Department of Homeland Security

300

John Locke's Enlightenment idea that government gets its power from the people, and the government exists to protect natural rights.

social contract theory

300
Written in 1689, this colonial document granted specific rights to English citizens; and would later influence the U.S. Constitution

English Bill of Rights

300

List 3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

- national government had no power to tax***
- national government couldn't regulate trade***
- state governments had too much power***
- no national court system
- no executive branch
- no national military
- each state had only 1 vote
- the Articles were too hard to change

300

At the Constitutional Convention, this group of people opposed the new Constitution and a weaker national government.

Anti-Federalists

300

As stated in the 5th Amendment, what does it mean to not "be a witness against himself?"

the right to remain silent

or 

the right to not testify against yourself

300

List the three unalienable rights stated in the Declaration of Independence

- Life

- Liberty
- Pursuit of Happiness

(influenced by John Locke's natural rights theory)

400

Which would John Locke and Montesquieu agree with?

A) Government power should be unrestricted.
B) Government power should be limited.
C) Government power should be held by one person.

B) Government power should be limited.

400

What was said by the American colonists to show that they were unhappy and wanted more participation in Britain's government?

"no taxation without representation"

400

This meeting was held in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, but they eventually drafted a new U.S. Constitution instead.

Constitutional Convention

400

Why did the Anti-Federalists oppose the new Constitution?

It did not have a Bill of Rights

400

List four protections in the U.S. Constitution that establish justice.

(THINK: 5th and 6th Amendments)

- right to a speedy trial
- right against self-incrimination (remain silent)
- right to legal counsel (lawyer)
- right against double jeopardy
- right to confront witnesses
- right to an impartial jury

400

Which words at the end of the Declaration of Independence are used to describe the American colonies?

"free and Independent states"

500

Which modern government document includes Montesquieu's ideas?

U.S. Constitution

(separation of powers; legislative, executive, judicial)

500

What impact did Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense have on the American colonies?

Persuaded them to declare independence from Great Britain.

500

Which power(s) did the U.S. Constitution give to the national government to "fix" problems created by the Articles of Confederation?

- power to tax
- power to trade
- power to enforce laws
- created a President (executive branch)
- created a court system (judicial branch)

500

Who would've said the following?

A) "I'd rather be a citizen of an small state than a giant country."

B) "The Constitution is necessary to create a stronger government."

C) "Support the Constitution for a better future!"

D) "We need a list of individual rights!"

E) "The states should be unified together, not separate."

A) Anti-Federalist

B) Federalist

C) Federalist

D) Anti-Federalist

E) Federalist

500

Match the goals of the Preamble to the scenarios below.

A) healthier food options in school lunches
B) police enforcing the law in a community
C) a national military
D) a national court system
E) voting in elections

1) establish justice
2) insure domestic tranquility
3) provide for the common defense
4) promote the general welfare
5) secure the blessings of liberty

A4 - general welfare

B2 - insure domestic tranquility

C3 - provide for common defense

D1 - establish justice

E5 - secure blessings of liberty

500

List the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

R - Religion

A - Assembly

P - Press

P - Petition

S - Speech

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