109 Questions
Which group of settlers authored the Mayflower Compact upon their arrival in North America?
English Separatists
What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact?
To establish a representative self-government in the Plymouth Colony
When did the American Revolution begin?
When American colonists felt threatened by the actions of Parliament and the King
Who is the most important political thinker that influenced American beliefs about government?
John Locke
What were the natural rights believed to be God-given rights to?
Life, liberty, and property
What is the significance of Magna Carta in relation to American beliefs about government?
It was a promise by King John to protect the lives, liberties, and property of English citizens
Magna Carta was originally intended to grant protections only to the English barons who were in revolt against King John in what year?
1215
Who described the concept of natural rights that had been granted by God and could never be abolished by human beings?
John Locke
Which document enumerated the rights of English citizens and explicitly guaranteed rights to life, liberty, and property?
English Bill of Rights
What did Locke theorize about the origins of government?
Human beings created government
Which of the following is true about American political ideas regarding liberty and self-government?
They had many roots and were influenced by European political thought
Who is considered the most important political thinker that influenced American beliefs about government?
John Locke
What were the natural rights believed to be God-given rights to?
Life, liberty, and property
Which group of colonists established legislatures to make laws for their fellow colonists?
The American colonists
What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact?
To govern themselves according to the laws created by the male voters
When did the American Revolution begin?
When American colonists felt that the longstanding tradition of representative self-government was threatened
Which document heavily influenced the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights?
The English Bill of Rights
What did Locke theorize about the origins of government?
Government was created by the people
What is the core tenet of American political thought rooted in?
The idea of representative government
What is the significance of Magna Carta in relation to American beliefs about government?
It influenced the American Revolution
Who is considered the most important political thinker that influenced American beliefs about government?
John Locke
What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact?
To establish a system of self-government
Which document heavily influenced the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights?
Magna Carta
According to Locke, what is the social contract?
An agreement between a people and their government
What is the core tenet of American political thought rooted in?
The belief that people should govern themselves
What did the English Bill of Rights guarantee?
Rights to life, liberty, and property
What did American colonists believe about property rights?
All free White males should have the right to acquire property
Which group of settlers established legislatures to make laws for their fellow colonists?
The American colonists
What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact?
To establish a representative self-government
Who described the concept of natural rights that had been granted by God and could never be abolished by human beings?
The American colonists
Which of the following powers were given to the Confederation Congress under the Articles of Confederation?
The power to declare war and coin currency
What was the requirement for the central government to act under the Articles of Confederation?
Unanimous approval of all thirteen states
Why did the Second Continental Congress call upon its delegates to create a new government?
To gain recognition and aid from foreign nations
Which of the following was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation?
The national government had no power to impose taxes
What was the purpose of creating a confederation under the Articles of Confederation?
To protect the sovereignty of the states
Why did the Articles of Confederation lead to the downfall of the central government?
The states had the power to impose taxes
What was one of the problems with the state banknotes issued during the time of the Articles of Confederation?
They were not accepted as currency by many people
What was one of the reasons for the economic woes of the young nation under the Articles of Confederation?
All of the above
What event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to a call for revision?
Shays' Rebellion
Why did the central government of the Articles of Confederation have no troops to assist the governor of Massachusetts during Shays' Rebellion?
It had no power to raise an army
Which of the following powers were given to the Confederation Congress under the Articles of Confederation?
The power to declare war and make treaties with foreign governments
What was the requirement for the central government to act under the Articles of Confederation?
Unanimous approval from all thirteen states
What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact?
To establish self-government and create laws for the colony
Which of the following was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation?
The national government had no power to impose taxes
Why did the British refuse to evacuate the land west of the Appalachians?
The U.S. government did not have the funds to compensate loyalists for their property losses
Why were foreign governments reluctant to loan money to the new nation?
The new nation did not have the ability to tax its citizens
Which of the following was a consequence of the state banks issuing their own banknotes during the time of the Articles of Confederation?
People refused to accept the banknotes as currency
Why were American producers negatively affected by the lack of power to impose tariffs on foreign imports under the Articles of Confederation?
British merchants flooded the U.S. market with low-priced goods
Why did the central government of the Articles of Confederation lack the power to raise an army or navy?
Fears of a standing army led to defense being left to the states
What event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to a call for revision?
Shays' Rebellion
According to Article VI of the Constitution, which of the following is true about the relationship between the states and the federal government?
The federal government has complete sovereignty over the states
What does the 'necessary and proper' clause in Article I of the Constitution allow Congress to do?
Make all laws necessary for the states and federal government to carry out their enumerated powers
According to the Constitution, who has control over all 'Territory or other Property belonging to the United States'?
The federal government
What issue arose as the United States expanded westward and the power of the northern states in Congress increased?
Expansion of slavery
Which of the following is NOT an example of an institute or study center focused on the Constitution and the founding of the republic?
American Founders' Institute
What is the purpose of the National Constitution Center?
To hold programs related to aspects of the enduring U.S. Constitution
What did the supremacy clause in Article VI of the Constitution proclaim?
The federal government has supreme power over the states
What did Article I of the Constitution provide for the expansion of?
Congressional powers
What did the 'necessary and proper' clause in Article I of the Constitution allow Congress to do?
Make all laws necessary for the states and federal government to carry out their enumerated powers
What did the Constitution give the federal government control over?
All 'Territory or other Property belonging to the United States'
According to Madison in Federalist No. 10, why did Americans need not fear the power of factions or special interests?
The republic was too big and the interests of its people too diverse to allow the development of large, powerful political parties.
According to Hamilton in Federalist No. 68, why was placing the leadership of the country in the hands of one person not dangerous?
Electors from each state would select the president, who would be free of corruption and beyond the influence of the voters.
Why did New York vote to accept the Constitution on July 26, 1788?
If it did not ratify the Constitution, it would be the last large state that had not joined the union.
Why did Rhode Island become the last state to ratify the Constitution?
It realized it could not hope to survive on its own.
Why did North Carolina become the twelfth state to approve the Constitution?
The government proposed by the Constitution was the best means of achieving union.
According to the Federalists, why should Americans not fear the power of factions or special interests?
All of the above
According to Hamilton in Federalist No. 68, why was placing the leadership of the country in the hands of one person not dangerous?
All of the above
According to Hamilton in Federalist No. 70, why was it easier to control one person than it was to control many?
All of the above
Why did New York vote to accept the Constitution on July 26, 1788?
All of the above
When did Rhode Island become the last state to ratify the Constitution?
Nearly two years after New York had done so
Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
Thirteenth Amendment
Which amendment granted citizenship to African Americans and equal protection under the law?
Fourteenth Amendment
Which amendment extended the right to vote to men regardless of race or color?
Fifteenth Amendment
Which amendment gave women the right to vote in 1920?
Nineteenth Amendment
Which amendment reduced the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen?
Twenty-Sixth Amendment
What was the purpose of the Thirteenth Amendment?
To abolish slavery in the United States
Which amendment granted citizenship to African Americans and equal protection under the law regardless of race or color?
The Fourteenth Amendment
Which amendment extended the right to vote to men regardless of race or color?
The Fifteenth Amendment
Which amendment finally gave women the right to vote in 1920?
The Nineteenth Amendment
Which amendment reduced the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen?
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment
Which constitutional development added direct democracy to California's representative system?
Progressive reforms of 1911
What was the purpose of the Constitution of 1879?
To serve as California's current governing law
What led to the Progressive reforms of 1911 in California?
Political corruption
Which of the following is NOT true about the California Constitution of 1849?
It reduced the size of California dramatically
When did California voters ratify the Constitution of 1849?
November 13, 1849
What marked the era in California that led to calls for a new Constitution in the 1870s?
Racial prejudices against Native Americans, African Americans, and Chinese Americans
What was one method used by rancheros to hold Native Americans as labor?
Requiring them to obtain employment and not allowing them to wander idle
What did the California legislature do in response to the treaties negotiated by the US government with Native Americans in 1850?
Attacked the treaties as taking good land from whites
What did the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution do in relation to Native American forced servitude?
Banned Native American forced servitude
Which group made up the majority of the delegates at the constitutional convention in Sacramento?
Democrats
What was the purpose of the constitutional reforms passed at the convention?
To safeguard the rights of workers and small farmers
Which article of the new Constitution specifically targeted the Chinese population?
Article XIX
Quin era l'objectiu de les reformes constitucionals aprovades a la convenció?
Establir el sistema de checks and balances
Quin document va influir en gran mesura en la Constitució dels Estats Units i la Declaració de Drets?
La Carta Magna
Per què els productors nord-americans van ser afectats negativament per la manca de poder per imposar aranzels sobre les importacions estrangeres sota els Articles de la Confederació?
Perquè no podien competir amb els preus més baixos dels productes estrangers
What were the three areas of reform sought by Governor Johnson and his progressive coalition?
Expansion of the role of the people in selecting candidates through primaries, expansion of direct democracy through the initiative, the referendum, and the recall, and regulation of private interests with monopoly power.
What did the Progressive Reforms of 1911 aim to end, according to Governor Johnson's inaugural address?
The power of the Southern Pacific Railroad to control California politics.
What are the three mechanisms of direct democracy added to the California Constitution through the Progressive reforms of 1911?
The initiative, the referendum, and the recall.
What advantage does a large republic have over a small republic in controlling the effects of faction?
The larger the republic, the greater the variety of parties and interests, making it less likely for one party to outnumber and oppress the rest
What is the advantage of the Union over the individual states in controlling the effects of faction?
The Union has greater obstacles to the concert and accomplishment of the secret wishes of an unjust and interested majority
What does the extent of the Union provide in terms of controlling the effects of faction?
A greater variety of parties, increasing security against one party outnumbering and oppressing the rest
What advantage does the representation of the Union have over the representation of the individual states?
The representation of the Union possesses enlightened views and virtuous sentiments
What is the advantage of a large republic over a small republic in controlling the effects of faction?
The larger the republic, the greater the variety of parties and interests, making it less likely for one party to outnumber and oppress the rest
What does the extent of the Union provide in terms of controlling the effects of faction?
A greater variety of parties, increasing security against one party outnumbering and oppressing the rest
What advantage does the representation of the Union have over the representation of the individual states?
The representation of the Union possesses enlightened views and virtuous sentiments
What is the advantage of the Union over the individual states in controlling the effects of faction?
The Union has greater obstacles to the concert and accomplishment of the secret wishes of an unjust and interested majority
What advantage does a large republic have over a small republic in controlling the effects of faction?
The larger the republic, the greater the variety of parties and interests, making it less likely for one party to outnumber and oppress the rest
What does the extent of the Union provide in terms of controlling the effects of faction?
A greater variety of parties, increasing security against one party outnumbering and oppressing the rest
What advantage does the representation of the Union have over the representation of the individual states?
The representation of the Union possesses enlightened views and virtuous sentiments
Test your knowledge of the historical roots of American political ideas and the factors that led to the colonists' revolt and the formation of a new nation. Explore the connections between European influences and the concepts of liberty and self-government in early America.
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