Unit 3: Foundations of American Government

Declaring Independence

100

In 1776, the American colonists decided to declare independence from which European superpower?

Great Britain (England).

200

What was the title of the pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to convince colonists that they should declare independence?

Common Sense.

300

Name one reason why colonists wanted to declare independence.

Taxation without representation, forced to host soldiers, unfair military presence, frustration with distant ruler.

400

Which historical document, created in 1215, was the first to place limit on a ruler's power, promoting the idea that not even the King was above the law?

The Magna Carta.

500

Which document legally created the United States as its own country?

The Articles of Confederation.

Enlightenment Thinkers & Ideas

100

Name one Enlightenment thinker or idea.

John Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, individual rights, tolerance, freedom of religion/speech, separation of powers, etc.

200

Which Enlightenment thinker came up with the idea that every human had "Natural Rights" that could not be taken away from them?

John Locke.

300

Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu spoke about the importance of separation of powers in government. What 3 branches is our government separated into?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.

400

The author of the Declaration of Independence was very inspired by Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas. Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson.

500

How did the Enlightenment movement and its ideas inspire revolutions like the American Revolution?

It encouraged people to demand change from their government and to want independence from oppressive rulers.

The Articles of Confederation

100

Under the Articles of Confederation, where was most of the power-- the national level, the state level, or the international level? 

The state level.

200

Why was it a problem that the Articles of Confederation had no ability to levy taxes?

Without taxes, there is no way to pay for roads, militaries, government services, etc.

300

Of the three branches of government we have today, the Articles of Confederation only set up one. Which branch that they failed to include left us without a President (or any leader) for the first years of our country's existence?

The Executive branch.

400

Why was it nearly impossible to make any changes to the Articles of Confederation?

You had to have a unanimous vote (all 13 states agree).

500

During Shays' Rebellion, why was the government unable to send the military or a coordinated response when Shays and other rebels attacked an armory?

They had no executive power, no ability to tax in order to raise money for a military, and was unprepared to deal with domestic issues.

Constitutional Decisions

100

Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?

Philadelphia, PA.

200

What is the belief called in which you want there to be LESS power in the "Big" national government, and MORE power given to the States?

Anti-Federalism.

300

Which plan proposed that the legislature be split into two houses, both of which would use State's population to determine how many representatives they would have?

The Virginia Plan.

400

What does it mean to set up a UNICAMERAL legislature?

There is only ONE house.

500

How did The Great Compromise combine concerns and ideas from both The Virginia Plan and The New Jersey Plan?

It made representation in one house be based on each State's population and representation in the other house be equal for every state (2 per state).