Question 1

How many foundational government bodies, or branches, are described by the U.S. Constitution?
A) one
B) two
C) three
D) four
E) six

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution establishes three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Question 2

Which of the following chronological sequences of events is correct?
A) Boston Tea Party; First Continental Congress; Declaration of Independence
B) Shays's Rebellion; Annapolis Convention; Declaration of Independence
C) Declaration of Independence; Stamp Act; Philadelphia Convention
D) Articles of Confederation; Declaration of Independence; Annapolis Convention
E) First Continental Congress; Stamp Act; Articles of Confederation

Accepted Answer

The Boston Tea Party occurred in 1773, the First Continental Congress in 1774, and the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Question 3

In the two-tiered system of colonial government in the early eighteenth century, which group had authority over day-to-day matters?
A) local officials and assemblies
B) Parliament
C) governors appointed by royal authority
D) the king
E) the British cabinet

Accepted Answer

Local officials and assemblies had authority over day-to-day matters in the colonies, handling local governance and issues, while higher authorities like governors and the king dealt with broader colonial policies.

Question 4

According to the Constitution,
A) the legislature enforces the law.
B) the executive makes the law.
C) the Supreme Court interprets the law.
D) the bureaucrats make the law.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The Constitution assigns the role of interpreting the law to the judicial branch, specifically the Supreme Court. The legislature makes the law, and the executive enforces it. Bureaucrats do not make laws; they implement and administer them.

Question 5

Who formed the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence in 1772?
A) John Hancock
B) Paul Revere
C) Patrick Henry
D) Samuel Adams
E) Benjamin Franklin

Accepted Answer

Samuel Adams formed the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence in 1772 to coordinate communication and unify the colonies against British policies.

Question 6

After the Sugar and Stamp Acts were imposed by Britain's Parliament, what proved to be the colonists' "single and most valuable tool, short of war"?
A) protests
B) supplying the British soldiers
C) boycotting
D) women who provided homegrown or homespun textiles
E) None of these answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The colonists' most effective tool was boycotting British goods. By refusing to buy British products, the colonists hurt the British economy and demonstrated their unity and determination to resist British taxation. The colonists' most effective tool in response to the Sugar and Stamp Acts was boycotting British goods, as it directly impacted the merchant economy and created a sense of unity among the colonists in their resistance to British taxation. This method proved to be effective enough to eventually lead to the repeal of the Stamp Act.

Question 7

What repercussion followed the Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773?
A) passage of the Coercive Acts
B) closure of the port of Boston
C) imposition of martial law
D) prohibition of the colonial assembly and town meetings
E) All of these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The Boston Tea Party led to the British government enacting the Coercive Acts, which included closing the port of Boston, imposing martial law, and restricting colonial assemblies and town meetings.

Question 8

The assembled delegates at the Second Continental Congress
A) called for a truce in the hostilities with the British.
B) demanded participation in Parliament's policy-making processes.
C) empowered Congress to function as an independent government.
D) adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The Second Continental Congress empowered Congress to function as an independent government, eventually leading to the creation of the Continental Army and the appointment of George Washington as its commander.

Question 9

In 1772, which colony formed the first Committee of Correspondence, which called for rebellion and organized acts of resistance and protest toward the British?
A) New Hampshire
B) Virginia
C) Maryland
D) Massachusetts
E) All of these colonies were involved in creating the first Committee of Correspondence.

Accepted Answer

Massachusetts formed the first Committee of Correspondence in 1772, led by Samuel Adams, to coordinate resistance against British policies.

Question 10

Which of these features is contained within written constitutions?
A) mission statements
B) descriptions of foundational structures
C) identification of core bodies
D) details of essential operating procedures
E) All of these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Written constitutions typically include descriptions of foundational structures, identification of core bodies, and details of essential operating procedures, making all the options correct.

Question 11

Which of the following chronologies is correct?
A) Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Duties Act
B) Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Duties Act
C) Declaratory Act, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Duties Act
D) Sugar Act, Declaratory Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Duties Act
E) Stamp Act, Declaratory Act, Sugar Act, Townshend Duties Act

Accepted Answer

The correct chronological order is: Sugar Act (1764), Stamp Act (1765), Declaratory Act (1766), Townshend Duties Act (1767).

Question 12

Which of the following best represents the eighteenth-century colonists' desire for government by the people?
A) popular sovereignty
B) representational democracy
C) universal suffrage
D) government established to protect the people's liberties
E) a two-tiered system of government, with power split between Britain and the colonies

Accepted Answer

The concept of popular sovereignty, which emphasizes the idea that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, best represents the eighteenth-century colonists' desire for government by the people.

Question 13

In 1770, about how many British soldiers were quartered among the civilians living in Boston?
A) about thirty
B) a hundred or so
C) nearly five hundred
D) thousands
E) The number is unknown.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1770, about how many British soldiers...

Question 14

In the two-tiered system of colonial government in the early eighteenth century, which group had authority to enact laws that applied both to colonists and to people in Great Britain?
A) local officials and assemblies
B) Parliament
C) governors appointed by royal authority
D) the king
E) the British cabinet

Accepted Answer

Parliament had the authority to enact laws that applied to both the colonists and people in Great Britain, as it was the legislative body of the British government.

Question 15

In September 1774, all colonies sent delegates to the First Continental Congress EXCEPT
A) Delaware.
B) Georgia.
C) Rhode Island.
D) New York.
E) New Hampshire.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In September 1774, all colonies sent delegates...

Question 16

According to Thomas Paine's Common Sense, ________ was the only option that would ensure American liberty and religious freedom.
A) diplomacy
B) civil disobedience
C) parliamentary representation
D) popular protest
E) war

Accepted Answer

Thomas Paine argued in "Common Sense" that war, specifically independence from Britain, was the only way to ensure American liberty and religious freedom.

Question 17

Which of these countries employs an unwritten constitution?
A) the United States
B) Great Britain
C) France
D) Sweden
E) Germany

Accepted Answer

Great Britain employs an unwritten constitution, which is based on statutes, common law, and conventions rather than a single, formal written document.

Question 18

The Seven Years' War was fought between
A) Britain and Holland.
B) Britain and Russia.
C) Britain and France.
D) Britain and Spain.
E) Britain and Portugal.

Accepted Answer

The Seven Years' War was fought between Britain and France, with the conflict also involving various other European powers. The Seven Years' War was fought between Britain and France.

Question 19

Which group gained a monopoly over the tea trade after the passage of the Tea Act (1773)?
A) a shipping cartel led by John Hancock
B) the East India Tea Company
C) business interests connected to King George III
D) French and Dutch traders
E) Mohawk Indians

Accepted Answer

The Tea Act of 1773 granted the British East India Company a monopoly on the tea trade in the American colonies, allowing it to sell tea directly to the colonies without intermediary merchants.

Question 20

Indentured servants were those who worked for a number of years
A) for a master in America, then returned to Europe.
B) for a master in America who had paid for their passage.
C) for a master in America after being transported against their will.
D) in America, then gained access to land and other property.
E) for a master in America, then left for the Caribbean and Mexico.

Accepted Answer

Indentured servants worked for a master in America who had paid for their passage to the New World, typically for a period of 4-7 years, in exchange for eventual freedom and sometimes land or other benefits.

Quiz 2: The Constitution

How many foundational government bodies, or branches, are described by the U.S. Constitution?

Which of the following chronological sequences of events is correct?

In the two-tiered system of colonial government in the early eighteenth century, which group had authority over day-to-day matters?

According to the Constitution,

Who formed the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence in 1772?

After the Sugar and Stamp Acts were imposed by Britain's Parliament, what proved to be the colonists' "single and most valuable tool, short of war"?

What repercussion followed the Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773?

The assembled delegates at the Second Continental Congress

In 1772, which colony formed the first Committee of Correspondence, which called for rebellion and organized acts of resistance and protest toward the British?

Which of these features is contained within written constitutions?

Which of the following chronologies is correct?

Which of the following best represents the eighteenth-century colonists' desire for government by the people?

In 1770, about how many British soldiers were quartered among the civilians living in Boston?

In the two-tiered system of colonial government in the early eighteenth century, which group had authority to enact laws that applied both to colonists and to people in Great Britain?

In September 1774, all colonies sent delegates to the First Continental Congress EXCEPT

According to Thomas Paine's Common Sense, ________ was the only option that would ensure American liberty and religious freedom.

Which of these countries employs an unwritten constitution?

The Seven Years' War was fought between

Which group gained a monopoly over the tea trade after the passage of the Tea Act (1773) ?

Indentured servants were those who worked for a number of years