Historic Documents
Which document limited the power of the English king for the first time?
A) English Bill of Rights
B) U.S. Constitution
C) Magna Carta
D) Mayflower Compact
C) Magna Carta
Who developed the concept of natural rights?
A) Montesquieu
B) Locke
C) Jefferson
D) Hobbes
B) Locke
What are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution called?
A) Federalist Papers
B) Declaration of Independence
C) Bill of Rights
D) Common Sense
C) Bill of Rights
What kind of government elects representatives to make laws?
A) Monarchy
B) Theocracy
C) Autocracy
D) Republic
D) Republic
What was America’s first form of government?
A) U.S. Constitution
B) Magna Carta
C) Articles of Confederation
D) Mayflower Compact
C) Articles of Confederation
What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?
A) It created the British monarchy
B) It established self-government
C) It banned taxation without representation
D) It declared independence from England
B) It established self-government
According to John Locke, what are natural rights?
A) Obedience, protection, law
B) Wealth, property, religion
C) Life, liberty, and property
D) Education, health, and safety
C) Life, liberty, and property
Which freedom is NOT protected by the First Amendment?
A) Speech
B) Religion
C) Bear arms
D) Press
C) Bear arms
In a monarchy, power is held by:
A) The people
B) The courts
C) A king or queen
D) Elected representatives
C) A king or queen
Why was it hard for Congress to raise money under the Articles?
A) States refused to help
B) Congress couldn’t collect taxes
C) There were no banks
D) There was no executive branch
B) Congress couldn’t collect taxes
Which idea is found in the English Bill of Rights?
A) Divine right of kings
B) Right to avoid taxes
C) No taxation without representation
D) Freedom from government entirely
C) No taxation without representation
Who is known for the idea of separation of powers?
A) Locke
B) Rousseau
C) Paine
D) Montesquieu
D) Montesquieu
Which amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment?
A) 6th Amendment
B) 5th Amendment
C) 8th Amendment
D) 1st Amendment
C) 8th Amendment
What is a government run by a few powerful people called?
A) Democracy
B) Oligarchy
C) Republic
D) Federalism
B) Oligarchy
Which branch of government was missing under the Articles?
A) Legislative
B) Executive
C) Military
D) Civil
B) Executive
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense encouraged:
A) Obedience to the king
B) Religious freedom in England
C) self-government and independence
D) A return to monarchy
C) self-government and independence
What is the social contract theory?
A) A legal agreement between states
B) A treaty with Britain
C) People agree to follow laws in exchange for government protection
D) A military alliance with France
C) People agree to follow laws in exchange for government protection
Which amendment gave women the right to vote?
A) 14th
B) 15th
C) 19th
D) 24th
C) 19th
Which principle is used to limit power in the U.S. Constitution?
A) Divine rule
B) Checks and balances
C) Unlimited government
D) Absolute monarchy
B) Checks and balances
Why was it nearly impossible to change the Articles of Confederation?
A) No one could read them
B) Congress didn’t want change
C) Unanimous approval was required
D) There was no leader to make changes
C) Unanimous approval was required
Which two ideas came from the Magna Carta?
A) Freedom of religion and press
B) Self-government and taxes
C) Due process of law and fair trial
D) Natural rights and popular sovereignty
C) Due process of law and fair trial
How did Enlightenment ideas influence the U.S. Constitution?
A) By encouraging monarchies
B) By promoting religious government
C) Through limited government and individual rights
D) Through feudal traditions
C) Through limited government and individual rights
A school punishes a student for peacefully protesting. Which right may have been violated?
A) Right to bear arms
B) Freedom of the press
C) Freedom of speech
D) Right to privacy
C) Freedom of speech
Which best compares a theocracy to a democracy?
A) Democracy has no leaders; theocracy has elected ones
B) Theocracy is led by religion; democracy is led by the people
C) Theocracy uses voting; democracy doesn’t
D) Theocracy is only used in ancient times
B) Theocracy is led by religion; democracy is led by the people
What two weaknesses of the Articles led to creating the Constitution?
A) No laws and no president
B) No courts and too many states
C) No power to tax and no national army
D) No voting and no amendments
C) No power to tax and no national army