Christmas Break Take-Home Test

Name:______Date:______

Period:______

Christmas Break Take-home Test

1. In the Colonial Era, developments such as the New England town meetings and the establishment of the Virginia House of Burgesses represented

1. colonial attempts to build a strong national government
2. efforts by the British to strengthen their control over the colonies
3. steps in the growth of representative democracy
4. early social reform movements

1. The Mayflower Compact is important to the concept of a democratic society because it represents

1. an effort by the colonists to use force to resist the King
2. an early attempt to establish universal suffrage
3. an attempt by the colonists to establish freedom of religion
4. a clear step toward self-government

1. Court decisions in the trial of John Peter Zenger (1735) and the case of New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) strengthened

1. freedom of religion
2. freedom of the press
3. due process rights
4. the right to counsel

1. In which area did good harbors, abundant forests, rocky soil, and a short growing season most influence the colonial economy?

1. Southern colonies
2. Middle Atlantic region
3. Northwest Territory
4. New England colonies

5. In its economic relationship with its North American colonies, Great Britain followed the principles of 18th-century mercantilism by

1. outlawing the African slave trade
2. limiting the colonies’ trade with other nations
3. encouraging the development of manufacturing in the colonies
4. establishing laws against business monopolies

6. The British system of mercantilism was opposed by many American colonists because it

1. placed quotas on immigration
2. discouraged the export of raw materials to England
3. placed restrictions on trading
4. encouraged colonial manufacturing

7. The Mayflower Compact, House of Burgesses, and Fundamental Orders of Connecticut are all examples of the efforts of colonial Americans to

1. use democratic practices in government
2. protest British land policies
3. establish religious freedom
4. overthrow British royal governors

8. “It is not the cause of one poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No! It may in its consequence affect every free man that lives under a British government on the main [continent] of America. It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty. . . . Nature and the laws of our country have given us a right to liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power (in these parts of the world at least) by speaking and writing the truth.” — Andrew Hamilton, 1735 This courtroom summation helped establish which democratic principle in colonial America?

1. trial by jury
2. equal voting rights
3. protection of private property
4. freedom of the press

9. Because of the fertile land and a long growing season, plantations in the thirteen colonies developed in

1. New England
2. the Middle Atlantic region
3. the South
4. the upper Mississippi River valley

10. “The only representatives of the people of these colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves; and that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them but by their respective legislatures.”

-Statement by the Stamp Act Congress, 1765

What is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from this quotation?

1. The colonial legislatures should be appointed by the English King with the consent of Parliament.
2. Only the colonists’ elected representatives should have the power to levy taxes.
3. The English King should have the right to tax the colonists.
4. The colonists should be opposed to all taxation.

11. During the Revolutionary War period, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was important because it

1. described a military plan for the defeat of England
2. convinced many Americans who had been undecided to support independence
3. contained a detailed outline for a new form of government
4. argued for the addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution

12. According to the Declaration of Independence, the people have the right to alter or abolish a government if that government

1. is a limited monarchy
2. violates natural rights
3. becomes involved in entangling alliances
4. favors one religion over another

13. One of the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence is that government should

1. guarantee economic equality among citizens
2. have unlimited power to rule the people
3. be based upon the consent of the governed
4. be led by educated citizens

14. The Declaration of Independence (1776) has had a major influence on peoples throughout the world because it

1. guarantees universal suffrage
2. establishes a basic set of laws for every nation
3. provides justification for revolting against unjust governments
4. describes the importance of a strong central government

15. "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; . . ."
This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were

1. limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the 1700’s.
2. adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.
3. adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire.
4. reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment.

16. Which heading best completes the partial outline below?

I. ______

A. Committees of Correspondence

B. Non-importation Agreements

C. Boston Tea Party

D. First Continental Congress

1. Protests Against Slavery in the American Colonies
2. British Parliamentary Actions to Punish Colonial Americans
3. Colonial Responses to British Mercantile Policies
4. Colonial Attempts to End the British Policy of Salutary Neglect

17. In the 1780’s, many Americans distrusted a strong central government. This distrust is best shown by the

1. lack of debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution
2. plan of government set up by the Articles of Confederation
3. development of a Federal court system
4. constitutional provision for a strong President

Base your answers to number 17 and 18 on the chart below and your knowledge of Social Studies

18. Which important reason for the American victory in the Revolutionary War is missing from the chart?

A. England had few advantages in a war with her American colonies.

B. The thirteen colonies had more advantages than disadvantages upon entering the war.

C. England did not believe that the thirteen colonies were worth the expense of a war.

D. The thirteen colonies had few, but important advantages in the war with England.

19. Which conclusion about the American Revolutionary War is most clearly supported by information in this chart?

1. England had few advantages in a war with her American colonies.
2. The thirteen colonies had more advantages than disadvantages upon entering the war.
3. England did not believe that the thirteen colonies were worth the expense of a war.
4. The thirteen colonies had few, but important advantages in the war with England.

20. "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; . . ."
This quotation is evidence that some of the basic ideas in the Declaration of Independence were

1. limitations of the principles underlying most European governments of the 1700’s.
2. adaptations of the laws of Spanish colonial governments in North America.
3. adoptions of rules used by the Holy Roman Empire.
4. reflections of the philosophies of the European Enlightenment.

21. Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects the idea that the people are the

source of government?

1. “. . . that all men are created equal,...”
2. “. .. all men are . . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights
3. “. . . deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .“
4. “. . . governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes . . .

22. In the United States, the use of implied powers, the amending process, and Supreme Court interpretations

have resulted in

1. a general loss of individual rights
2. a strengthening of the principle of separation of powers
3. the Constitution being adapted to fit changing times
4. the limiting of Presidential power in domestic affairs

23. Which quotation from the United States Constitution provides for a Federal system of government?

1. “He shall have power . . . with the advice and consent of the Senate, . . . and . . . shall appoint . . .“
2. “Every bill . . . shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; . . ."
3. “The powers not delegated to the United States . . . are reserved to the states . . .“
4. “Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.”

24. The system of checks and balances is best illustrated by the power of

1. the President to veto a bill passed by Congress
2. Congress to censure one of its members
3. a governor to send the National Guard to stop a riot
4. state and Federal governments to levy and collect taxes

25. One way in which the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation was that the

Constitution

1. created a national government having three branches
2. provided for the direct election of the President by the voters
3. made the amendment process more difficult
4. increased the powers of the states

26. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from the small states most strongly supported the idea

of

1. establishing a strong national executive
2. levying taxes on exports
3. popular election of Senators
4. equal representation for the states in the national legislature

27. One way in which the authors of the Constitution tried to create “limited government” was by providing for

1. a loyal opposition through a two-party system
2. a division of power between the national and state governments
3. the establishment of naturalization laws
4. the popular election of Federal judges

28. The elastic clause, the amending process, and judicial review are all methods by which

1. Congress may check the power of the executive branch
2. the wording of the original Constitution may be altered
3. state governments may limit the power of the Federal Government
4. the Constitution may be adapted to meet changing conditions

29. The United States Government is considered a federal system because

1. the people elect national officials
2. both national and state governments exist within the nation
3. foreign policy is handled by state governments
4. each state has equal represen-tation in the United States Senate

30. The flexibility of the original United States Constitution is due mainly to

1. its provision for the amending process and judicial interpretation
2. its guarantees of freedom and justice for all people
3. the ability to create new branches of government as needed
4. the willingness of the states to accept Federal control

31. Anti-federalists criticized the United States Constitution primarily because governing power was concentrated in the

1. State legislatures
2. President’s Cabinet
3. delegates to the Constitutional Convention
4. National Government

32. “In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this, you

must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”
This passage from the Federalist Papers refers to the need for

1. a strong executive
2. a system of checks and balances
3. an independent military
4. a national education system

33. Which document is best described as a statement of democratic principles rather than a framework for

government?

1. Albany Plan of Union
2. Articles of Confederation
3. Declaration of Independence
4. United States Constitution

34. The United States Constitution grants certain powers only to the Federal Government. For example, only

Congress can declare war. These powers are called

1. police powers
2. reserved powers
3. delegated powers
4. concurrent powers

35. In the United States Government, members of the Cabinet are directly responsible to the

1. Congress
2. Senate
3. Supreme Court
4. President

36. The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review is a result of

1. an order by the President
2. the Court’s own interpretation of the Constitution
3. a provision in the Bill of Rights
4. the Court’s decision to hear appeals regarding taxation

37. During the debates over the ratification of the United States Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists

disagreed most strongly over the

1. division of powers between the national and state governments
2. provision for admitting new states to the Union
3. distribution of power between the Senate and the House of Representatives
4. method of amending the Constitution

38. Which constitutional provision was intended to give the people the most influence over the Federal

Government?

1. President’s duty to give Congress information about the state of the Union
2. electoral college system for choosing the President
3. direct election of members of the House of Representatives for two-year terms
4. process for proposing and ratifying amendments to the Constitution

39. The Articles of Confederation are best described as a

1. statement of principles justifying the Revolutionary War
2. plan of union for the original thirteen states
3. set of arguments supporting ratification of the Constitution
4. list of reasons for the secession of the Southern States

40. When the United States Constitution was written, which compromise was reached by the authors to gain the

support of the states with small populations?

1. Congress would consist of both a House of Representatives and a Senate.
2. Five enslaved persons would be counted as three free persons for the purpose of taxation
3. The President would be selected by the direct vote of the people.
4. Exported goods could not be taxed, but imported goods could be taxed.

41. Which document was being written when this discussion most likely occurred?

1. Declaration of Independence
2. United States Constitution
3. Covenant of the League of Nations
4. Charter of the United Nations

42. Which action illustrates the president’s power as commander in chief ?

1. ordering American troops into a foreign country
2. appointing the secretary of state
3. entertaining a foreign leader at the White House
4. delivering the State of the Union address

Speaker A:"States must be represented in the national government solely on the basis of population. It is indeed the only fair situation."
Speaker B:"The national legislature must be based on equal representation of the states to protect the interests of the small states."
Speaker C:"States must accept the supremacy of the national government on all issues; otherwise, the system will fail."
Speaker D:"The national Congress should consist of two houses: one in which representation is based on population, and one in which states are equally represented."

43. The major reason the Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution was to

1. limit the power of state governments
2. protect individual liberties against abuse by the Federal Government
3. provide for equal treatment of all people
4. separate powers between the three branches of government

44. Which statement best explains why critics have called for a change in the electoral college system?

1. A person who did not receive the largest percentage of popular votes can be elected President.
2. The system is a threat to the two-party system.
3. Electors often vote for candidates not listed on the ballot.
4. States with small populations have greater influence on Presidential elections than more populated states do.

45. The significance of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison is that the decision

1. advanced civil rights for minorities
2. upheld the constitutionality of a national bank
3. limited Presidential control of foreign policy
4. established the power of judicial review

46. Speaker A:"We must take action even if we are not sure it will work. To do nothing to stop them would be a repeat of the Munich mistake."
Speaker B:"We must recognize the increasing interdependence of nations and join the United Nations."
Speaker C:"Stopping the spread of communism can and must take several forms. We must be willing to do whatever is necessary."
Speaker D:"Involvement in European affairs would be a mistake. We should not jeopardize our peace and prosperity over issues that Europe’s ambitions and rivalries control."
Which speaker best describes the basic foreign policy of the United States until the late 1800’s?

1. Speaker A
2. Speaker B
3. Speaker C
4. Speaker D

47. Alexander Hamilton urged Congress to pass a protective tariff to encourage the growth of

1. labor unions
2. manufacturing
3. agriculture
4. slavery

48. “It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. . . .” — Marbury v. Madison, 1803 This statement expresses the Supreme Court’s claim that

1. courts must abide by a strict interpretation of the Constitution
2. federal laws must be approved by the courts before they can take effect
3. the judicial branch must have a role in the amendment process
4. the power of judicial review belongs to the courts

49. "Our true policy is to steer clear of permanent alliances . . . ."

-George Washington

President Washington made this statement to warn against United States involvement in

1. European military conflictsC. international trade
2. the race for overseas coloniesD. westward expansion

50. Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan helped to establish the credit of the United States government by

1. providing for the payment of the nation’s debts
2. taxing only the people most able to pay
3. favoring agriculture over industry
4. encouraging spending for national defense

51. What was the result of many of the Supreme Court decisions made under Chief Justice John Marshall between 1801 and 1835?

1. The system of slavery was weakened.
2. The federal government was strengthened.
3. The rights of workers were supported.
4. Antitrust laws were upheld.

52. A major reason the Antifederalists opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution was because the Constitution

1. created a national bank
2. lacked a provision for a federal court system
3. failed to provide for the direct election of members of the House of Representatives
4. changed the balance of power between the state and national governments

53. One major reason that Alexander Hamilton proposed a national bank was to