Ch 2 - Quiz 1

Question 1

3 Basic Concepts of government (taken from the British)

Answer 1

1) Ordered Government
- a gov. regulates the affairs of the people
- gov. maintains order
2) Limited Government
- gov. is restricted to what it can do
- people have rights the gov. can’t take away
3) Representative Government
- gov. should serve the will of the people
- people should have a voice in what the gov. does

Question 2

3 most important documents that led to American Freedom

Answer 2

1) Magna Carta (“The Great Charter”) - 1215 signed by King John
- established the principles that the monarchy was not absolute and the Rule of Law (there is a set of limits on gov. power)
2) Petition of Right (1628) - signed by King Charles I
- limited the kings power (no punishment w/out trial. no martial laws in time of peace, limited taxation, etc.)
3) English Bill of Rights (1688) - signed by William and Mary
- est. the idea that people had certain natural rights (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, fair trial, etc.)

Question 3

two bedrock principles Americans live by

Answer 3

1) No one is above the law
2) We all have rights the gov. must protect

Question 4

what is Law of the Land known as today

Answer 4

Due Process

Question 5

what was a revolutionary idea at the time of the Magna Carta

Answer 5

that law/power comes from the people to the king

Question 6

worst king in history

Answer 6

King John

Question 7

3 types of Colonial Government

Answer 7

1) Royal (direct control of the crown) 8/13 colonies
2) Proprietary (direct control of the proprietor/owner) 3/13 colonies
3) Charter (direct control of the people) 2/13 colonies

Question 8

Early attempts to unite the Colonies

Answer 8

1) Albany Plan of Union (1754) - attempt to address colonial trade and unite the colonies during the French and Indian War
2) Stamp Act Congress (1765) - fought to repeal the stamp tax (united them for a short time)
3) First Continental Congress (1774) - demanded a repeal of the Intolerable Acts
4) Second Continental Congress (1775) - first time all of the colonies united!
- first temporary national government during the war for independence (John Hancock as “president”)
5) Declaration of Independence (1776) - united to form our new nation!

Question 9

common features of the first state constitutions

Answer 9

1) Popular Sovereignty - people were the supreme source of power
2) Limited Government - states not all powerful
3) Civil Rights and Liberties - people had certain rights the states must recognize and protect
4) Separation of Powers + Checks and Balances - each of the 3 branches should check/restrain each other

Question 10

what were the years of The Critical Period

Answer 10

1783-1788

Question 11

first constitution of the USA (drafted during the Revolution) written in 1777 and adopted in 1781
- Benjamin Franklin wrote the final draft
- John Dickinson wrote the final draft
designed to have strong state government and a weak central government because they were scared of having another king/tyrant

Answer 11

Articles of Confederation

Question 12

major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Answer 12

the central gov. had no power to…
1) tax
2) coin money
3) regulate trade
4) enforce its own laws!
5) create an army
6) make Amendments (changes to the Articles) - only with the consent of all 13 states!

Question 13

what was a rebellion led by soldiers coming home to having no land/home because the government took it?

Answer 13

Shay’s Rebellion (1786)