Question 1

What term best describes the form of government currently found in Russia?

Accepted Answer

Russia is best described as an oligarchy, where power is held by a small group of individuals, often with significant influence from wealthy business magnates and political elites.

Question 2

James Madison was the author of many of the essays known as __________.

Accepted Answer

James Madison, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, wrote the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays written to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Question 3

In __________, kings and queens head the government, but their role is largely ceremonial.

Accepted Answer

In constitutional monarchies, the monarch (king or queen) serves as the head of state within the parameters of a constitution, which limits their powers and often allocates significant governance responsibilities to elected bodies, making their role largely ceremonial.

Question 4

Denmark and Japan represent a form of government called __________.

Accepted Answer

Denmark and Japan are constitutional monarchies, where a monarch acts as the head of state within the parameters of a constitution.

Question 5

In __________ regimes, leaders have no real limits on how they proceed or what they do.

Accepted Answer

Totalitarian regimes are characterized by the concentration of power in the hands of a single leader or a small group, with no effective limits on their authority. They control all aspects of public and private life, leaving no room for political pluralism or opposition.

Question 6

In __________, government policies are kept in check by informal limits, the military, and social institutions. Leaders face real limits, but they are not imposed through formal political or legal processes.

Accepted Answer

In an authoritarian regime, government policies and the actions of leaders are often constrained by informal limits rather than through formal political or legal processes. These informal limits can include the influence of the military, social institutions, and unwritten societal norms.

Question 7

Which Compact set up the laws for the new settlement at Plymouth, Massachusetts?

Accepted Answer

The Mayflower Compact was the agreement signed by the passengers of the Mayflower in 1620, establishing self-governance for their new settlement at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Question 8

What did the Great Squeeze represent?

Accepted Answer

The Great Squeeze refers to Britain's efforts to raise revenue from the American colonies to pay for the debts incurred during the French and Indian War. This involved implementing various taxes and measures that ultimately contributed to colonial discontent and the American Revolution.

Question 9

Which of the following best reflects the thought of Thomas Hobbes?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Hobbes believed that the state of nature was a state of war of every man against every man, where life was "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To escape this state, individuals consent to an autocratic government that can enforce peace and security.

Question 10

What was supported by the outcome of the trial of Peter Zenger?

Accepted Answer

The trial of Peter Zenger in 1735 was a landmark case that supported the freedom of the press. Zenger was acquitted of libel charges for publishing articles critical of the colonial governor, establishing a precedent for the protection of journalistic freedom.

Question 11

During the Great __________, Parliament passed a number of taxes on the colonies.

Accepted Answer

During the Great Squeeze, Parliament passed a number of taxes on the colonies, a term reflecting the economic pressures and policies imposed on the American colonies.

Question 12

Before laws, humans lived in _______.

Accepted Answer

Before laws were formally established, humans lived in what is often referred to as "a state of nature," a concept in moral and political philosophy used in social contract theories to describe the hypothetical conditions of what the lives of people might have been like before societies came into existence.

Question 13

__________ argued that all legitimate governing authority is based on the consent of the governed and that all individuals have "natural rights."

Accepted Answer

John Locke argued that all legitimate governing authority is based on the consent of the governed and that individuals have natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property.

Question 14

Which of the following persuaded many of the importance of American independence from Britain?

Accepted Answer

"Common Sense," written by Thomas Paine in 1776, played a crucial role in persuading American colonists of the need for independence from Britain. Its clear and compelling arguments for self-governance and the critique of monarchy resonated widely, significantly influencing public opinion towards supporting the revolutionary cause.

Question 15

Social contract theory states that __________.

Accepted Answer

Social contract theory posits that individuals agree, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler or to the decision of a majority, in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Question 16

Who was pivotal in obtaining French support for America's revolution?

Accepted Answer

Benjamin Franklin played a crucial role in securing French support for the American Revolution through his diplomatic efforts in France, which were instrumental in obtaining military aid and an alliance.

Question 17

What was the underlying cause for the starvation and deplorable conditions during the Continental Army's famed winter encampment at Valley Forge in 1777-1778?

Accepted Answer

Local farmers often sold their produce to the British army because the British could pay in gold, whereas the Continental Congress paid in rapidly depreciating paper currency. This economic incentive led to a scarcity of food and supplies for the Continental Army.

Question 18

The colonists' name for the __________ Acts of 1774 was "Intolerable Acts."

Accepted Answer

The colonists referred to the Coercive Acts of 1774 as the "Intolerable Acts" because they found these laws to be harsh and unbearable, particularly in response to the Boston Tea Party.

Question 19

Which theory holds that individuals give up certain rights in return for receiving certain protections from the state?

Accepted Answer

The social contract theory posits that individuals consent, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler (or to the decision of a majority) in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Question 20

Which of the following is one of the three major events that helped turn a faltering revolt into the successful American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The support of the French government was crucial in turning the American Revolution into a success. France provided military aid, supplies, and financial support, significantly contributing to the American victory over the British.

Quiz 2: Early Governance and the Constitutional Framework