Question 1

The Constitution created what form of government?
A) republican
B) direct democracy
C) parliamentary
D) unicameral
E) democratic

Accepted Answer

The Constitution established a system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, known as a republican form of government. It is not a direct democracy because citizens do not directly vote on every decision, nor is it a parliamentary system because it has a separate executive branch.

Question 2

Why did England impose taxes on sugar, tea, and stamps during the colonial era?
A) to pay for the military protection against the Native Americans and their French allies
B) to raise an army to put down Shays's Rebellion
C) to pay for raising an army to protect England against the French in Europe
D) to prove the king's power over the colonists
E) to pay for the protection of the colonies against the Spanish invaders in the South

Accepted Answer

The taxes on sugar, tea, and stamps were imposed by England to help cover the costs of military protection against Native Americans and their French allies, especially following the expenses incurred during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in North America).

Question 3

How did the framers intend to make tyranny unlikely or impossible?
A) by electing government leaders
B) by limiting the power of the government
C) by placing roadblocks in the path of the majority
D) by fragmenting governmental power
E) All of the above are correct.

Accepted Answer

The framers intended to make tyranny unlikely or impossible by using a combination of measures that included electing government leaders, limiting the power of the government, placing roadblocks in the path of the majority, and fragmenting governmental power. By doing so, they aimed to prevent any one person or group from seizing too much power or becoming a tyrant.

Question 4

Why do the authors argue that the Constitution is the basic rule book for the game of American politics? Do you agree or disagree with their observation? Substantiate your answer with current and past examples.

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

Shays's Rebellion was a resounding success against the governor of Massachusetts.

Accepted Answer

Shays's Rebellion was ultimately suppressed by the state militia and did not result in any significant gains for the rebels. The governor of Massachusetts, John Hancock, condemned the rebellion and advocated for a stronger federal government to prevent similar uprisings in the future.

Question 6

Discuss the ratification process of the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Imagine that you are charged with writing a new Constitution. Thinking about aspects of the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution, which aspects would you include and why? Which provisions of either document would you exclude? In your opinion, which document would be stronger today, and why?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

How was the concept of liberty originally perceived in pre-Revolutionary America?
A) The ability to ensure Americans' traditional rights against the intrusions of a distant government.
B) The creation of a separate country apart from England.
C) The abolishing of all taxes imposed by England and the states.
D) The right to create an American military unit to protect against Native Americans and the French.
E) The right to decide which states would allow slavery.

Accepted Answer

In pre-Revolutionary America, the concept of liberty was primarily perceived as the ability to safeguard traditional rights against a distant government, especially in the context of England's intrusions. This included the right to trial by jury, the right to tax oneself, and the right to freedom of speech and religion. The American colonists believed that they had the same rights as Englishmen, and that these rights were being violated by the British government. The concept of liberty therefore meant the right to retain these rights and freedoms against government encroachment.

Question 9

Why were defects in the Articles of Confederation difficult to correct?
A) Any changes required the unanimous approval of the states.
B) Any changes required the signature of the president and the House of Representatives.
C) Any changes were difficult to implement because there was no standing army.
D) Any changes required communication between thirteen very geographically distant states, and so the process was unwieldy.
E) It wasn't difficult to amend the Articles of Confederation.

Accepted Answer

The Articles of Confederation required unanimous approval of all 13 states for any amendments to be made, making the process of correcting defects extremely difficult.

Question 10

Where were most important decisions made under the Articles of Confederation?
A) in the state legislatures
B) in the House of Representatives
C) in the Senate
D) in the White House by the president
E) in town hall meetings

Accepted Answer

Under the Articles of Confederation, most important decisions were made in the state legislatures. The central government was weak and did not have significant power or authority to make important decisions. The state legislatures held the most power and could make decisions that affected their own states.

Question 11

During the American Revolution, what was the Constitution that the colonists wanted to preserve?
A) the English Constitution
B) the Articles of Confederation
C) the Bill of Rights
D) the American Constitution
E) the Magna Carta

Accepted Answer

During the American Revolution, colonists wanted to preserve the English Constitution, as they believed it protected their rights as Englishmen. However, they also sought to make changes to it through the Declaration of Independence and eventually the creation of the United States Constitution. The Articles of Confederation came after the Revolution and were quickly replaced by the American Constitution. The Bill of Rights was added to the American Constitution after its creation. The Magna Carta was an important document in the development of English constitutional law, but it predates the American Revolution by several centuries.

Question 12

The electoral college is
A) based on the total number of representatives in Congress (House and Senate) from each of the states.
B) the method used to select federal judges.
C) no longer in existence, since the Twenty-Eighth Amendment provides for the direct election of the president.
D) the select group of enlightened voters envisioned by the founders who appoint the members of the United States Supreme Court.
E) a term for the portion of the American population that is eligible to vote.

Accepted Answer

The electoral college is the group of electors selected by each state who are responsible for electing the president and vice president of the United States. The number of electoral votes a state receives is based on the total number of representatives in Congress (House and Senate) from each of the states.

Question 13

One of the freedoms that republicans wanted to protect against the intrusions of a tyrannical government was the right of the people
A) to acquire and enjoy private property.
B) to practice their own religions.
C) to vote.
D) to privacy.
E) to own slaves.

Accepted Answer

The protection of private property was a key concern for many of the Founding Fathers and Republicans, as they saw it as a fundamental right that needed to be safeguarded against government infringement. This is reflected in several of the founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, which recognize the importance of property rights and provide various protections for them.

Question 14

The creators of the Articles of Confederation believed that, given the great geographic expanse of the colonies, along with their varied ways of life and economic interests, the formation of a single, unified republic seemed unworkable.

Accepted Answer

The creators of the Articles of Confederation believed that a single, unified republic was unworkable given the geographic expanse of the colonies, their varied ways of life, and economic interests.

Question 15

Which traditional rights were threatened by British policies on trade and taxation in the colonial era?
A) the rights to life, liberty, and property
B) the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
C) the rights to life, liberty, and freedom of expression
D) the rights to freedom of expression, life, and property
E) the rights to the freedom of expression and the pursuit of happiness

Accepted Answer

The British policies on trade and taxation during the colonial era threatened the colonists' traditional rights to life, liberty, and property. These rights were foundational to the colonists' understanding of their entitlements under British law and were a significant source of contention leading up to the American Revolution.

Question 16

In the late eighteenth century, most societies in the world were ruled by
A) kings with authority purportedly derived from God.
B) constitutional monarchs.
C) parliamentary systems.
D) presidents.
E) bicameral legislatures.

Accepted Answer

In the late eighteenth century, most societies in the world were ruled by kings with authority purportedly derived from God. This was the prevailing political system in Europe, as well as in many other parts of the world, such as Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The notion of constitutional monarchs, parliamentary systems, and presidents was not yet widespread at this time.

Question 17

What ideas of Locke did Jefferson include in the Declaration of Independence? What did the Declaration leave unsettled?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

The framers of the Constitution were attempting to create a form of government that existed nowhere else during the late eighteenth century.

Accepted Answer

The framers of the Constitution were aiming to establish a federal form of government with a separation of powers, checks and balances, and protection of individual rights. This type of government was a unique creation at the time and did not exist elsewhere in the world.

Question 19

What were the Federalist Papers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What were the Federalist Papers?...

Question 20

Compare and contrast Locke's ideas of limited government and Jefferson's application of these in the Declaration of Independence. How are they the same and how are they different? In the grand scheme of things, whose ideas or application of ideas were more influential?

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 2: The Constitution

The Constitution created what form of government?

Why did England impose taxes on sugar, tea, and stamps during the colonial era?

How did the framers intend to make tyranny unlikely or impossible?

Why do the authors argue that the Constitution is the basic rule book for the game of American politics? Do you agree or disagree with their observation? Substantiate your answer with current and past examples.

Shays's Rebellion was a resounding success against the governor of Massachusetts.

Discuss the ratification process of the U.S. Constitution.

How was the concept of liberty originally perceived in pre-Revolutionary America?

Why were defects in the Articles of Confederation difficult to correct?

Where were most important decisions made under the Articles of Confederation?

During the American Revolution, what was the Constitution that the colonists wanted to preserve?

The electoral college is

One of the freedoms that republicans wanted to protect against the intrusions of a tyrannical government was the right of the people

The creators of the Articles of Confederation believed that, given the great geographic expanse of the colonies, along with their varied ways of life and economic interests, the formation of a single, unified republic seemed unworkable.

Which traditional rights were threatened by British policies on trade and taxation in the colonial era?

In the late eighteenth century, most societies in the world were ruled by

What ideas of Locke did Jefferson include in the Declaration of Independence? What did the Declaration leave unsettled?

The framers of the Constitution were attempting to create a form of government that existed nowhere else during the late eighteenth century.

What were the Federalist Papers?

Compare and contrast Locke's ideas of limited government and Jefferson's application of these in the Declaration of Independence. How are they the same and how are they different? In the grand scheme of things, whose ideas or application of ideas were more influential?