Question 1

Under the Articles of Confederation the

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation gave Congress the power to request funds from the states, but it did not have the power to directly lay or collect taxes. This lack of taxation power weakened the central government and made it difficult to fund national projects or respond to crises.

Question 2

The Articles of Confederation were adopted in

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1777 by the Continental Congress, serving as the first constitution of the United States until it was replaced by the current Constitution in 1787.

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes British rule of the American colonies during the first half of the eighteenth century?

Accepted Answer

The British ruled with a light hand during the first half of the eighteenth century, allowing the colonies a significant degree of self-government. However, they did exert a strong influence in the largest colonial cities, such as Boston and Philadelphia, through the presence of British troops and the appointment of royal governors. Therefore, option C is the most accurate description of British rule during this time period.

Question 4

Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time?

Accepted Answer

The Declaration of Independence helped bring together colonists who had differing views and interests by identifying shared grievances and principles. It did not convince southern states to abolish slavery, persuade the British government to give back tax revenue, or end the Revolutionary War.

Question 5

What was the most common form of taxation during the colonial era?

Accepted Answer

During the colonial era, the most common form of taxation was taxes on commercial products and activities, such as import and export duties, stamp taxes, and taxes on specific goods. Income tax was not a common form of taxation at the time. The animal head tax and taxes for use of governmental services and lands were not widespread or prominent forms of taxation during the colonial era.

Question 6

The Boston Tea Party was largely a response to the

Accepted Answer

The Boston Tea Party was a response to the British government's decision to grant the East India Company a monopoly on the export of tea from Britain. This monopoly allowed the company to sell tea at a lower price than colonial merchants, which threatened their business and led to protests, including the dumping of tea into Boston Harbor.

Question 7

A ________ is a system of government in which member states retain almost all of their sovereign authority and delegate limited powers to a weak central body.

Accepted Answer

A confederation is a system of government in which member states retain almost all of their sovereign authority and delegate limited powers to a weak central body. Republic refers to a form of government in which power resides in the people or their elected representatives, while bicameral state refers to a system of government in which the legislature is divided into two separate assemblies or chambers. Unitary state refers to a system of government in which power is centralized in the hands of a strong central government, with little or no power given to local governments.

Question 8

The Stamp Act was a

Accepted Answer

The Stamp Act was a tax on commerce, specifically on all paper products in the American colonies. It required that all legal documents, newspapers, and pamphlets be printed only on paper stamped with an official seal, which had to be purchased from British authorities.

Question 9

The United States' first written constitution was called the

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation were the United States' first written constitution, drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781. It established a loose alliance of thirteen states with a weak central government.

Question 10

The First Continental Congress was

Accepted Answer

The First Continental Congress was a meeting of colonial delegates held in 1774 in Philadelphia. This gathering was in response to the British government's passage of the Intolerable Acts, which were designed to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The Congress called for a boycott of all British goods until the Acts were repealed, and began to lay the groundwork for greater colonial unity and resistance to British rule.

Question 11

Who orchestrated the Boston Tea Party?

Accepted Answer

Samuel Adams was a key figure in organizing the Boston Tea Party. He was a member of the Sons of Liberty and played a crucial role in rallying public support for the event. While other individuals like John Hancock and Paul Revere were involved in the protests leading up to the Boston Tea Party, it was Samuel Adams who was most responsible for organizing and orchestrating the event itself.

Question 12

Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around which slogan?

Accepted Answer

The slogan "no taxation without representation" became a rallying cry for colonial protesters against the Stamp Act and Sugar Act. They believed that they should not be taxed by the British government because they had no say in the making of those laws. This slogan became a symbol of their resistance to British authority and their demand for greater political representation.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about national defense under the Articles of Confederation is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The president did not serve as commander in chief of the nation's armed forces under the Articles of Confederation. There was no national executive branch established under the Articles, and therefore no designated commander in chief. The states maintained control over their own militias, and Congress could request troops from the states but had limited control over them.

Question 14

The Boston Massacre occurred when

Accepted Answer

The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770, when British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists who were protesting outside of the Custom House, the seat of the colonial government in Boston. Five colonists were killed and several more were injured in the incident.

Question 15

The events that led to the Revolutionary War were triggered by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The British Parliament passed a series of laws, including the Stamp Act, the Townsend Acts, and the Tea Act, all of which raised revenue by imposing taxes on the colonies. This sparked outrage among American colonists who believed they were being taxed unfairly without their consent, leading to colonial resistance and eventually to the American Revolutionary War.

Question 16

How was political power in the Continental Congress divided under the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had an equal vote in the Continental Congress. This meant that a smaller state had the same political power as a larger state, which led to issues of representation and decision-making.

Question 17

________ defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.

Accepted Answer

John Adams was a lawyer who believed in the principle of a fair trial and representation for all, including the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. As a result, he agreed to defend them in court despite opposition from the colonists. This decision ultimately hurt his reputation among his fellow patriots but demonstrated his commitment to upholding the law.

Question 18

Under the Articles of Confederation, it was left to the ________ to execute laws passed by the Continental Congress.

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government where most powers were reserved for the states. While the Continental Congress could pass laws, it lacked the power to enforce them. Therefore, it fell to the individual states to execute and enforce the laws passed by the Continental Congress. There was no president or executive branch under the Articles of Confederation.

Question 19

According to the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution, which of the following is one of the purposes of government?

Accepted Answer

The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution specifically mentions promoting justice and securing the "blessings of liberty" as one of the purposes of government. The other choices (B, C, and D) are not mentioned in the Preamble.

Question 20

Which of the following sectional interests was considered unimportant in the politics of the colonial period?

Accepted Answer

Slaves were considered property and not citizens with rights, and therefore their interests were not considered relevant in the politics of the colonial period. The other choices (New England merchants, royalists loyal to Britain, and southern planters) all represented significant sectional interests that played a role in colonial politics.

Quiz 2: The Founding and the Constitution