Question 1

Martin Luther King was one of the founders and the president of which of the following organizations?

Accepted Answer

Martin Luther King was the president and one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which played a major role in the American civil rights movement. He was not a founder or president of the NAACP, SNCC, or SPLC.

Question 2

A government that acts on behalf of all workers in a society by controlling all of the means of production and distribution is best described as having a

Accepted Answer

A government that controls all means of production and distribution on behalf of all workers is characteristic of a communist system.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the term "laissez faire"?

Accepted Answer

Laissez faire is a French term that means "let it be" or "leave it alone." In economics, it refers to a system in which the government does not regulate or control private enterprise, allowing market forces to determine prices, production, and distribution of goods and services. Therefore, choice D, "a system that has no regulation or control of private enterprise," best describes the term "laissez faire."

Question 4

What did fellow clergymen want Dr.King to do following his punishment for Birmingham protests?

Accepted Answer

Fellow clergymen wanted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to withdraw from protesting, believing that the protests were unwise and untimely and that the battle against segregation should be fought in the courts, not the streets.

Question 5

The United States of America is, institutionally and fundamentally, a ______.

Accepted Answer

The United States is a constitutional republic because it operates under a written constitution that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the government and its citizens, and it is a republic because citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. While citizens have the right to vote and participate in the democratic process, the government is limited by the constitution and the rule of law. Therefore, it is not a direct democracy where all citizens have a say in every decision, nor is it a pure democracy because it relies on elected officials to represent the will of the people.

Question 6

As Ms.Mergens's case proceeded, there was a high degree of certainty that the Court would affirm her assertions against her school.

Accepted Answer

The outcome of Ms. Mergens's case (Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens, 1990) was uncertain as it proceeded, as it involved complex issues of religious freedom and equal access in public schools, making the Supreme Court's decision difficult to predict.

Question 7

Communist and socialist systems can best be differentiated based who controls the ______.

Accepted Answer

In communist and socialist systems, the means of production and distribution are controlled by the government or the community as a whole, rather than by private individuals or corporations. This is in contrast to capitalist systems, where these resources are controlled and owned by private entities. The governmental and economic decision-making processes may also be different in communist and socialist systems, but they are largely informed and influenced by who controls the means of production and distribution. The behavior of individual citizens may also be affected by the social and economic structures in place, but it is not the defining characteristic of communist and socialist systems.

Question 8

Religious liberty is presented as a fundamental right in the Declaration of Independence.

Accepted Answer

The Declaration of Independence primarily focuses on the colonies' right to self-governance and does not specifically enumerate individual rights such as religious liberty. The concept of religious liberty is more directly addressed in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 9

Politically, one of the most important passages in the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" pointed to

Accepted Answer

In the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King Jr. wrote about the white moderate as an obstacle to justice, who preferred "a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice." This passage is politically significant as it highlights the issue of complacency and lack of action among the white moderate, who are not actively challenging the status quo and thus perpetuating systemic racism. King emphasized the importance of nonviolent protest and direct action in bringing about change, while also noting the need for allies to speak out and support the cause of justice.

Question 10

Dr.King's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" had arguments that centered around which of the following?

Accepted Answer

In "Letter From a Birmingham Jail," Dr. King's arguments focused on the theory of natural rights, specifically the idea that all people are entitled to certain basic human rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom and equality. He argued that these rights were being denied to African Americans in the United States, and that nonviolent civil disobedience was a necessary means to bring about social change and ensure that these rights were protected for all. There is no justification for violent protest, call to end civil rights protests, or radical government overthrow in his letter.

Question 11

What happened to Dr.King and his followers as a result of protests in Birmingham?

Accepted Answer

Dr. King and his followers were incarcerated in a Birmingham jail as a result of the protests.

Question 12

According to the text, the most important institution in American political life is

Accepted Answer

The text states that "the most important institution in American political life" is the United States Constitution. This implies that the Constitution plays a central role in shaping American politics and government, as it establishes the framework for the federal government, outlines the powers and limitations of the different branches, and guarantees certain rights and freedoms to citizens. While the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and Bill of Rights are important documents in American history, they are not the primary institution that governs American political life.

Question 13

The American political culture is based upon the principles of equal social and economic outcomes.

Accepted Answer

The American political culture is based upon the principles of individualism, liberty, and limited government, not equal social and economic outcomes.

Question 14

Today, some observers of American politics question the accessibility of the American Dream.

Accepted Answer

Some people believe that the American Dream, which traditionally represents the idea that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination, is no longer easily accessible due to factors such as economic inequality, racial and gender discrimination, and the rising cost of education and housing.

Question 15

The systems and organizations through which a society produces and distributes goods and services can best be described as a/n ______.

Accepted Answer

The term "economy" refers to the overall system or structure through which a society produces and distributes goods and services. This includes everything from the types of industries, technologies, and methods of production, to the ways in which goods are exchanged and prices are determined. While government policies and regulations play an important role in shaping the economy, the economy itself is a distinct entity that operates according to its own laws and principles. The other answer choices (government, marketplace, bureaucracy) may all play important roles within an economy, but they do not fully capture the complexity and diversity of economic systems.

Question 16

A government that allows private firms to operate but with significant intervention by the government, which may include controlling ownership of sectors of the economy, is best described as having a ______ system of economy.

Accepted Answer

A socialist system allows for private firms to operate but with significant intervention by the government in order to promote social and economic equality. This may include controlling ownership of certain sectors, regulating prices and wages, and implementing social welfare programs.

Question 17

A system of government in which citizens select elected officials who then vote on matters of public policy for them could best be described as ______ democracy.

Accepted Answer

Representative democracy is a system of government in which citizens elect officials to represent them and vote on their behalf on matters of public policy. Indirect democracy is another term for representative democracy, while direct democracy involves citizens directly voting on all matters of public policy. Limited democracy refers to a system in which only certain people are allowed to participate in the democratic process, such as those who own property or belong to a specific social class.

Question 18

A system in which economic activity is structured to allow private firms to make most or all of the decisions involving production and distribution of goods and services is best described as

Accepted Answer

Capitalism is a system in which private firms have control over the production and distribution of goods and services. It is characterized by a free market and competition, with individuals making choices based on their self-interest. The government's role in capitalism is typically limited to regulating the market and ensuring fair play among businesses.

Question 19

While Thomas Jefferson attempted to address the slave trade in his first draft of the Declaration of Independence, the irony is that he was a major slave owner himself.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Jefferson owned over 600 slaves during his lifetime and only freed a small portion of them in his will.

Question 20

In Dr.King's Project C, the C stood for

Accepted Answer

Dr. King's Project C was designed to confront the segregation and injustice present in Birmingham, Alabama. The C stood for confrontation.

Quiz 1: American Political Stories