Origins & purposes of government
What is the institution through which leaders make and enforce laws?
Government
Which English document established that the king’s power was limited and that people had a right to lawful judgment?
The Magna Carta
What type of government gives one individual total control?
Dictatorship
Which war left Britain deeply in debt and contributed to increased taxation of the colonies?
The French and Indian War/7 Years War
What action did the First Continental Congress agree to continue against Britain?
Boycotting British goods
What term describes disorder caused by the absence of recognized government or authority?
Anarchy
Why was the Mayflower Compact important to the development of American government?
It was an early example of written self-government (Social Contract) in colonial America.
What type of government places power in the hands of a small group or political party?
Oligarchy
What did the Proclamation of 1763 prohibit colonists from doing?
Settling west of the Appalachian Mountains
Name one action that showed the Second Continental Congress was beginning to act like a national government.
It created the Continental Army under George Washington, created foreign alliances, declared independence.
Which theory claims that government developed as families grew larger and a leader emerged to rule them?
Evolutionary Theory
Name two protections included in the English Bill of Rights.
Any two: fair and speedy trial, right to petition, protection from cruel and unusual punishment, or Parliament’s involvement in governing
How does representative democracy differ from direct democracy?
In representative democracy, citizens elect leaders to make laws. In direct democracy, citizens vote on laws themselves.
What did the Stamp Act tax, and what goods were taxed by the Townshend Acts?
The Stamp Act taxed printed materials; the Townshend Acts taxed imports such as tea, glass, and paper.
Who wrote Common Sense, and how did it influence the independence movement?
Thomas Paine; it persuaded ordinary colonists that independence was necessary.
What are the four essential characteristics of a state?
Population, territory, sovereignty, and government
How did Hobbes and Locke differ about government power and the social contract?
Hobbes favored a strong government to maintain order and generally opposed rebellion. Locke believed government must protect natural rights and could be replaced if it violated them.
Describe the federal system of government?
A country divides authority between its national and state governments, with each controlling certain areas. What system does it use?
Why did John Adams defend the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre?
He believed in the right to legal counsel and that everyone deserved a fair trial.
Which leader formally proposed independence by introducing a resolution to Congress in June 1776?
Richard Henry Lee
How does Social Contract Theory explain both the government’s authority and the people’s responsibility?
People give government authority by agreeing to obey its laws in exchange for order, security, and protection. Government must fulfill its responsibility to serve and protect the governed.
Connect Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau to one feature of American government influenced by each philosopher.
Locke influenced natural rights and the right to replace an abusive government; Montesquieu influenced separation of powers; Voltaire influenced freedom of speech and religion; Rousseau influenced popular sovereignty.
What is the main difference between constitutional and authoritarian governments?
A constitutional government legally limits officials’ power and protects rights, while an authoritarian government exercises broad control with few effective limits.
Name three actions taken under the Intolerable Acts and explain how they affected colonial unity.
They closed Boston Harbor, restricted Massachusetts self-government, altered judicial authority, and expanded quartering requirements. The laws encouraged colonies to unite against Britain.
How did the Declaration of Independence use natural rights and the list of grievances to justify separation from Britain?
It argued that government exists to protect natural rights and receives power from the people. The grievances showed that the king repeatedly violated those rights, giving the colonists the right to replace his government.