Civics Unit 4 Test - Study Guide

Who wrote Common Sense?

Thomas Paine - 1776

Why was it so influental?

It was written to make people think they were dumb if they supported the British

Purpose of DOI

To tell the world and the King they are independent

Different Parts of DOI

1. Basic Human Rights

2. List of complaints

3. Formal statement of independence

Fab 4

• Locke

• Hobbes

• Rousseau

• Montesquieu

Locke’s Ideas

emphasized natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, and the social contract theory.

Montesquieu’s Ideas

advocated for the separation of powers in government to prevent tyranny and promote liberty.

Rousseau’s Ideas

focused on the concept of the general will and believed that government should be based on the consent of the governed, emphasizing individual freedom and equality.

Hobbes’ Ideas

argued for a strong central authority to prevent chaos and ensure social order, emphasizing the need for a social contract.

How the Fab 4 influenced the American government

Caused the founding fathers to use some of their ideas

How and why the Articles of Confederation was organized

to create a loose alliance of states with limited central authority, primarily to manage wartime efforts and avoid tyranny.

Failures of the Articles of Confederation

Lack of a strong central government, inability to control the states

Successes of the Articles of Confederation

Successfully negotiated the Treaty of Paris, established the Northwest Ordinance for westward expansion, and managed western land claims.

Cause of Shays’ Rebellion

Economic hardship that led to angry farmers in MA

Impact of Shay’s Rebellion

Highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, leading to calls for a stronger central government and eventually contributing to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.