Question 1

According to Article 1 of the Constitution, which branch of government is authorized to declare war?"
A) the executive branch.
B) the legislative branch.
C) the judicial branch.
D) the military branch.

Accepted Answer

The legislative branch, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, is authorized to declare war according to Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. This was done to ensure that the decision to engage in warfare was not left solely to one person or branch of government.

Question 2

The first written agreement among the colonies to stand together in resistance to Great Britain was the result of:
A) the First Continental Congress.
B) the Second Continental Congress.
C) The Federalist Papers.
D) the Mayflower Compact.

Accepted Answer

The First Continental Congress, which met in 1774, resulted in the drafting of the Articles of Association, a written agreement among the colonies to boycott all British goods and seek redress of grievances. This was the first formal agreement among the colonies to resist Great Britain. The Second Continental Congress, which met in 1775, was responsible for organizing the Continental Army and declaring independence from Great Britain, but the first formal agreement to resist British rule was made during the First Continental Congress. The Federalist Papers were a series of essays published in support of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, and the Mayflower Compact was a legal agreement among the Pilgrims who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Question 3

How many of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence went on to become President of the United States?
A) zero
B) one
C) two
D) three

Accepted Answer

Two of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, went on to become President of the United States.

Question 4

The principle that government should have power distributed, and be limited by a system of laws that must be obeyed by those who rule, is known as:
A) constitutionalism.
B) confederalism.
C) capitalism.
D) communism.

Accepted Answer

The principle that the government should be limited by a system of laws and power should be distributed is known as constitutionalism. It is the foundation of many modern democracies, where power is separated among different branches of government and limited by the constitution. Confederalism refers to a political system where power is decentralized and states have more authority than a central government. Capitalism and communism are economic systems and not related to the distribution and limitation of governmental power.

Question 5

According to the first three articles of the Constitution, what are the three branches of American government?
A) legislative, judicial, and correctional
B) judicial, executive, and formative
C) legislative, judicial, and executive
D) formative, correctional, and legislative

Accepted Answer

The first three articles of the Constitution outline the three branches of American government as the legislative branch (Article I), the judicial branch (Article III), and the executive branch (Article II). Therefore, choice C, "legislative, judicial, and executive," is the correct answer. Choices A, B, and D are not accurate descriptions of the branches of American government as outlined in the Constitution.

Question 6

Pluralism refers to:
A) a society in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups coexist within one nation, each contributing to the society as a whole.
B) the combination of constitutional, statutory, and common law.
C) a single act being classified as both a crime and a tort.
D) a society in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups maintain their individual beliefs and form of government.

Accepted Answer

Pluralism refers to a society in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups coexist within one nation, each contributing to the society as a whole. It emphasizes diversity and respect for differences, while acknowledging the contribution of each group to the larger society.

Question 7

A union of independent states, in which each state maintains sovereignty, is known as:
A) an alliance
B) a league
C) a confederation
D) an amalgamation

Accepted Answer

A confederation is a union of independent states where each state maintains sovereignty. Examples of confederations include the Confederate States of America and the European Union. An alliance refers to a formal agreement between two or more countries to work together towards a common goal. A league is a group of people, teams, or countries that work together for a common purpose. An amalgamation refers to the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one.

Question 8

All of the following statements about constitutions are true, except:
A) constitutions are a system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribe the nature, functions, and limits of a government or other body.
B) constitutions are distinguished from ordinary acts of legislation, in that they are drafted by special assemblages and ratified by special conventions chosen by the people.
C) constitutions are supreme law and, therefore, can be annulled only by legislation.
D) constitutionalism is one of the most original, distinctive contributions of the American system of government.

Accepted Answer

Constitutions, being the supreme law of the land, cannot be annulled merely by ordinary legislation. They typically require a more rigorous process for amendment or repeal, such as a special convention or a supermajority vote in the legislature, distinct from the process for passing ordinary laws.

Question 9

Who of the following did not sign the U.S. Constitution?
A) George Mason
B) John Jay
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) James Madison

Accepted Answer

George Mason was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention but ultimately refused to sign the Constitution as he felt it lacked protections for individual rights. John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison all signed the Constitution.

Question 10

According to the text, pluralism challenged the colonists to:
A) strive to maintain their original culture.
B) exercise tolerance and respect for the opinions, customs, traditions, and lifestyles of others.
C) band together in self-defense.
D) combine English and Roman common law with Native American customary law.

Accepted Answer

Pluralism refers to the coexistence of different ethnic, cultural, and religious groups in one society. In such a society, individuals or groups may hold different opinions, customs, traditions, and lifestyles. To coexist peacefully, people need to exercise tolerance, respect and understanding for the diversity of others. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 11

While the opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence was issued to break political ties with Great Britain, the second paragraph declares that a government's right to rule is based on:
A) the will of the King.
B) the elected officials of the colonies.
C) the permission of the people who are governed.
D) equal representation throughout the colonies.

Accepted Answer

The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This clearly indicates that a government's right to rule is based on the permission of the people who are governed, which is option C.

Question 12

The Great Compromise was important because it:
A) allowed for a civil resolution to prisoner exchange after the Revolutionary War.
B) gave each state an equal vote in the Senate and a proportionate vote in the House.
C) settled the nearly 10-month debate on who would become the first President of the United States.
D) was the first time "freedom" was discussed in a formal document of the United States pertaining to slavery.

Accepted Answer

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, resolved the issue of representation in the newly proposed United States government. It established a bicameral legislature, with each state receiving an equal vote in the Senate and a proportionate representation in the House of Representatives. This compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans ensured that both small and large states had a say in the legislative process and paved the way for the eventual ratification of the United States Constitution.

Question 13

The Magna Carta was created:
A) to ensure that states maintained power apart from the national government.
B) to outline colonists' complaints against the British crown.
C) in England, to guarantee that the king could not put himself above the law.
D) by the British Parliament, in protest of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Accepted Answer

The Magna Carta was created in England in 1215 to guarantee that the king could not put himself above the law. It was a document that limited the power of the monarch and outlined the rights of the people.

Question 14

Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only two Presidents of the United States to be:
A) elected to a third term by executive order of Congress.
B) impeached.
C) the president, and then serve as a member of Congress years later.
D) assassinated in office.

Accepted Answer

Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only two Presidents to have been impeached by the House of Representatives. However, both were acquitted by the Senate and remained in office until the end of their terms.

Question 15

The Boston Tea Party was all of the following, except:
A) a demonstration of the unwillingness of the colonists to pay taxes to Great Britain without representation.
B) an act of protest against British rule over the colonies.
C) the culmination of growing resentment towards Parliament for the passage of laws such as the Stamp and Quartering Acts.
D) a formal meeting between British and colonial officials to establish a trade agreement.

Accepted Answer

The Boston Tea Party was not a formal meeting between British and colonial officials to establish a trade agreement. It was a protest against British policies, specifically the Tea Act, which the colonists saw as a violation of their rights. They believed that the British were trying to establish a monopoly on tea, and they saw the act as an attempt to force them to pay taxes without representation in Parliament. The Boston Tea Party played an important role in the lead-up to the American Revolution.

Question 16

Those colonists who bought British goods against the boycott were branded:
A) loyalists.
B) harbourers.
C) rebels.
D) patriots.

Accepted Answer

The colonists who bought British goods against the boycott were branded as loyalists because they were still showing support for British authority and were seen as traitors to the colonial cause.

Question 17

The famous Supremacy Clause, declaring the "Supreme Law of the Land," is contained in:
A) the Declaration of Independence.
B) the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights.
C) the Constitution (Article 6).
D) the Great Compromise.

Accepted Answer

The Supremacy Clause is contained in Article 6 of the Constitution, which establishes the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties as the supreme law of the land. It establishes the authority of the federal government over state governments and is a fundamental principle of the American legal system.

Question 18

The Proclamation of 1763, signed by King George III, was significant to the colonies because:
A) it ended the reign of King George III as ruler of Britain.
B) it ended westward expansion of the colonies and placed them under military rule.
C) it began westward expansion of the colonies, eventually leading to the demise of Native Americans.
D) it led to the appointment of George Washington to his first political post in the colonies.

Accepted Answer

The Proclamation of 1763 banned colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, angering many who felt entitled to the land. It also placed the newly acquired territory under military rule. This significantly impacted the colonies' ability to expand and further strained their relationship with Britain.

Question 19

Formal ties between Great Britain and the United States were severed when:
A) the American Declaration of Independence was signed.
B) the colonists boarded British ships and threw tea overboard.
C) the Magna Carta was drafted.
D) the colonists met at the First Continental Congress.

Accepted Answer

The American Declaration of Independence marked the official and formal severing of ties between Great Britain and the United States, declaring the United States an independent nation.

Question 20

The Second Continental Congress resulted in all of the following, except:
A) the naming of George Washington as Commander of the Continental Army.
B) the battles at Lexington and Concord.
C) the instruction to each colony to assume the powers of independent states.
D) the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Accepted Answer

The battles at Lexington and Concord occurred before the Second Continental Congress convened on May 10, 1775. Therefore, it could not have been a result of the Congress.

Quiz 1: An Historical Overview

According to Article 1 of the Constitution, which branch of government is authorized to declare war?"

The first written agreement among the colonies to stand together in resistance to Great Britain was the result of:

How many of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence went on to become President of the United States?

The principle that government should have power distributed, and be limited by a system of laws that must be obeyed by those who rule, is known as:

According to the first three articles of the Constitution, what are the three branches of American government?

Pluralism refers to:

A union of independent states, in which each state maintains sovereignty, is known as:

All of the following statements about constitutions are true, except:

Who of the following did not sign the U.S. Constitution?

According to the text, pluralism challenged the colonists to:

While the opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence was issued to break political ties with Great Britain, the second paragraph declares that a government's right to rule is based on:

The Great Compromise was important because it:

The Magna Carta was created:

Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only two Presidents of the United States to be:

The Boston Tea Party was all of the following, except:

Those colonists who bought British goods against the boycott were branded:

The famous Supremacy Clause, declaring the "Supreme Law of the Land," is contained in:

The Proclamation of 1763, signed by King George III, was significant to the colonies because:

Formal ties between Great Britain and the United States were severed when:

The Second Continental Congress resulted in all of the following, except: