Early Documents and Importance
This document was written in 1689 by the Parliament of Britain. It was intended to further limit the king and establish a list of right for all Englishmen. (12)
English Bill of Rights
What are the three natural rights according to social contract theory? (13)
Life, Liberty, Property
Why did the delegates from the 13 states go to Philadelphia in 1787? (18)
They went to suggest amendments to the Articles of Confederation, but ended up rewriting a new Constitution.
Which group would have been more likely to say the following?
"The Constitution is bad because it contains no Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties like freedom of speech, trial by jury, and the right against searches and seizures." (3)
Anti-Federalists
3rd President, 1st Secretary of State, Founder of University of Virginia
This document was written in 1620 aboard a ship carrying the pilgrims. It was intended to decide on a common government in the new world. (1)
Mayflower Compact
Who is the author of the Declaration of Independence? (22)
Thomas Jefferson
(21) Which of the following was NOT a grievance of the colonists against Britain?
1. seizing land from taxpayers
2. imposing undue taxes
3. quartering soldiers
4. dissolving legislatures
Seizing land from taxpayers
Why did the anti-federalists NOT support the new Constitution? (16)
It didn't include a Bill of Rights and they also wanted the states to have more power than the national government
1st Secretary of Treasury
Alexander Hamilton
This document was written in 1215 with the intent to limit the power of the king and protect the rights of the nobles. (4)
Magna Carta
According to social contract theory, what can the people do if the government fails to protect your rights? (17)
Revolt against and overthrow the government to create a new one
What was the primary concern among the colonists during the American Revolution? (19)
Taxation without representation
What was the main reason why Federalists supported the new Constitution? (23)
They wanted a stronger national government
What was Hamilton's view on the power of the central government?
We need a stronger central government.
What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact? (7)
It was one of the first forms of self-government in the colonies.
Describe what life is like without government, according to Thomas Hobbes. (24)
Life is "nasty, poor, brutish, and short."
Why were the Articles of Confederation considered weak? (2)
High bar to pass new laws or change them (7/13 or 13/13 respectively), no power to tax, not able to regulate interstate trade
“The new constitution in its present form is calculated to produce a cruel and oppressive government, slavery, and confusion…”
The ideas expressed in the excerpt above were most like the ideas expressed by which of the following groups? (6)
Anti-Federalists
What was Jefferson's view on the Economy?
We should be a nation of farmers.
What was the significance of the Magna Carta? (15)
It was one of the first examples of limiting the power of the king and creating a limited government.
This man was one of the most influential writers on the idea of the Social Contract. His ideas heavily influenced the founders, like Thomas Jefferson. (10)
John Locke
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union..." - Preamble to the Constitution
What is the phrase "in order to form a more perfect Union" a reference to? (25)
The Articles of Confederation
"The Constitution has no declaration of rights and the laws of the general government being paramount to (more powerful than) the laws of the several states, the declarations of rights in the states are no security." - George Mason
Based on this quote, what is Mason's major objection to the Constitution? (8)
The Constitution needs a Bill of Rights
What was Hamilton's views on human nature?
Humans are naturally greedy and selfish.