Early Ideas & Philosophical Foundations
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Based on early democratic principles, where does a legitimate government derive its power?
From the consent of the governed
Which British law forced American colonists to lodge and feed British soldiers in their homes?
The Quartering Act
What was the primary purpose of writing and publishing the Declaration of Independence in 1776?
To formally announce to the world that the 13 colonies were separating from Great Britain and to explain the reasons why.
What was the name of America's first governing constitution, and what type of government system did it establish?
Articles of Confederation with a confederal system of government
Which constitutional faction favored a strong national government and a weaker set of state powers?
The Federalists
According to the Declaration of Independence, what are the three unalienable natural rights that all people are born with?
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
hat famous slogan did colonists use to oppose tax laws like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts passed without local representatives?
"No taxation without representation!"
Which section of the Declaration outlines the core philosophy of government based on natural rights and human equality?
Declaration of Natural Rights
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Under the Articles of Confederation, where was the majority of governmental power held?
Power stayed in the individual states
What key document was added to the U.S. Constitution to satisfy Anti-Federalist concerns about individual liberties?
A Bill of Rights
What was Thomas Paine's main argument in his pamphlet titled Common Sense?
What were the two main methods colonists used to respond to the majority of British policies?
Protests and Boycotts
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What is the longest section of the Declaration of Independence, and what does it contain?
The Grievances section; it lists 27 specific complaints/concerns against the British King and Parliament.
What national problem was caused by the Articles of Confederation lacking a central executive branch?
The central government lacked an official head/leader to enforce national laws.
Which faction would say: "A national government needs sufficient authority to protect the country, maintain order, and manage trade."?
A Federalist
What type of government did Thomas Paine argue against in Common Sense?
How did Parliament respond to major colonial political protests such as the Boston Tea Party?
By passing harsher and stricter legislation
According to the principles of 1776, are natural rights granted by a king or government?
No; people possess natural rights naturally at birth, and the main reason government is created is to protect those rights.
Why did the newly independent states intentionally create such a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation?
They feared creating a tyrannical central government similar to the British monarchy they had just fought against.
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What type of governmental system did the U.S. Constitution establish to resolve the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
A Federal System
What can/should citizens do if a government systematically violates their basic rights according to John Locke?
Alter or abolish the government
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Why were political cartoons and protest notices significant during the colonial era?
They rallied colonial opposition against English policies
Which section of the Declaration of Independence serves as the introduction and explains why the Continental Congress wrote the document?
The Preamble
What 1786 armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers highlighted the central government's inability to maintain law and order or raise a national army?
Shays' Rebellion
How did Federalists counter the Anti-Federalist claim that the central government under the new Constitution would abuse its power?
They argued that dividing power among three distinct branches (checks and balances / separation of powers) created built-in safeguards to prevent abuse.