AP US Government and Politics - Unit 1 Quiz

How did the Magna Carta impact politics in England?

It introduced the idea of limited government to English politics.

It was the first time a king voluntarily limited his own power.

It consolidated the king's power and reinforced the idea of the Divine Right of Kings.

It increased the influence of the Catholic Church in England.

It introduced the idea of limited government to English politics.

Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the Constitution?

to provide for the common defense

to secure the blessings of liberty for posterity

to define the reasons for which a people may rebel against their government

to promote the general welfare

to define the reasons for which a people may rebel against their government

In the Declaration of Independence, the grievances listed against the British government can be best summarized by which statement?

They have created social inequality among the colonists.

They have infringed on the political liberties of American colonists.

They have permanently damaged the American economy.

They have given the military too much power over the colonists.

They have infringed on the political liberties of American colonists.

What did Noah Webster most likely mean when he said "our pretended union is but a name, and our confederation, a cobweb"?

He felt the new government had outlived its usefulness and it was time to return to the British Empire.

He believed that the American states ought to go their separate ways and be thirteen separate, independent countries.

He believed that the thirteen states were too independent and needed a stronger government to unify them.

He believed people had forgotten the original intent of the authors of the Articles of Confederation.

He believed that the thirteen states were too independent and needed a stronger government to unify them.

The Scientific Revolution had an indirect influence on political theory in the 1700s and 1800s because ________.

advances from the Scientific Revolution allowed political ideas to spread more rapidly

scientific discoveries about the mind led many to question the idea that all people are created equal

people used scientific principles to reinforce traditional ideas about government and politics

people began to believe that the natural laws that govern the universe also govern human nature and behavior

people began to believe that the natural laws that govern the universe also govern human nature and behavior

The Federalist Papers were written by ________.

Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry

Hamilton, Madison, and Jay

Benjamin Franklin and George Washington

George Washington

Hamilton, Madison, and Jay

In which of the following scenarios would John Locke LEAST likely support rebellion against the government?

The government raises taxes on a group of people without allowing them any representation in the government.

The government begins using weapons of mass destruction on its own people.

The government consistently imprisons people who are innocent of any crime, without giving them a trial.

The government invades a neighboring country to gain greater access to natural resources.

The government invades a neighboring country to gain greater access to natural resources.

The Anti-Federalists made it clear that the Constitution would not be ratified without at least the promise of ________.

a stronger federal court system

the abolition of slavery

a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties

female suffrage

a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties

What did Jefferson mean by "unalienable rights" when he wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Rights given by nature or by Providence.

Rights accepted by social custom and tradition.

Rights established by legal precedent.

Rights given by governments and spelled out in written Constitutions.

Rights given by nature or by Providence.

Why was compromise such an important part of the Constitutional Convention?

Each state had its own interests to worry about, and there was not yet a strong sense of national unity.

While each state was willing to sacrifice for the greater good, they had trouble deciding which sacrifices of state power would be most helpful.

Virginia dominated the Convention; there was actually very little compromise.

The delegates from Virginia originally threatened to leave the convention if major changes were made to the Articles of Confederation, so the changes needed to be made slowly, with lots of compromises.

Each state had its own interests to worry about, and there was not yet a strong sense of national unity.

According to the Constitution, who holds the ultimate power in American government?

The Judicial branch, because they interpret the laws.

The people, because they determine whether elected officials will remain in office.

The President, because he or she chooses how to enforce laws.

The Congress, because they make the laws.

The people, because they determine whether elected officials will remain in office.

Which of the following is likely the BEST explanation for why the Articles of Confederation made the national government so weak?

Those who wrote it were not familiar enough with political theory to create a strong government.

The states fought so much among themselves they could not agree on a real government.

They tried to create a stronger central government, but the larger states opposed it.

The members of the Continental Congress feared giving too much power to a central government.

The members of the Continental Congress feared giving too much power to a central government.

Which of the following is true of the Federalist Papers?

They were written at the Constitutional Convention to outline the debates there in a neutral way.

They were articles published in various newspapers supporting ratification of the Constitution.

They were composed before the Constitutional Convention.

They were adopted as a substitute for the Bill of Rights.

They were articles published in various newspapers supporting ratification of the Constitution.

What decision was reached about the slave trade in the United States at the Constitutional Convention?

Slavery was banned throughout the United States.

Slavery would continue in the United States until 1865.

Importing slaves from outside the United States would end in 1808.

Slavery would remain legal throughout the nation.

Importing slaves from outside the United States would end in 1808.

Why did supporters of the Articles of Confederation fear creating anything stronger?

They wanted the American government to be modeled as closely as possible on the British model of government.

They were afraid a stronger government would be a threat to neighboring nations and cause war.

They felt that freedom was best preserved in a small republic rather than a large nation.

They wanted to see America taken over by either France or Spain.

Which of the following is an example of the expanding role of the federal government?

the creation of boards of education at the state level

the creation of a Bill of Rights to appease Anti-Federalists

the passage of the ninth and tenth amendments

the creation of the federal department of Education

Why was Congress powerless to deal with the growing national debt under the Articles of Confederation?

The nation's creditors refused to renegotiate the terms of the nation's loans.

Congress raised taxes, the people responded with rebellion, as in the case of Daniel Shays.

Congress had no power to raise taxes under the Articles.

The states could not come to a unanimous decision on a tax rate

Congress had no power to raise taxes under the Articles.

What was the effect of the 3/5 Compromise?

It ensured that small states would have at least 3/5 the representation of large states.

It counted 3/5 of all slaves in each state for the purposes of direct taxation and representation, and enshrined the idea of slavery into the original U.S. Constitution.

It stipulated that the number of slaves in the United States would be reduced by 3/5 each year, until slavery would be abolished in 1808.

It caused the Southern states to boycott the Convention; they only returned when it was dropped.

It counted 3/5 of all slaves in each state for the purposes of direct taxation and representation, and enshrined the idea of slavery into the original U.S. Constitution.

The Virginia plan would have had what effect on Congress, and the Federal Government as a whole?

It would have made no significant changes to the Articles of Confederation.

It would have given equal representation to each state in Congress.

It would have strengthened state governments.

It would have based representation on population and strengthened the federal government.

It would have based representation on population and strengthened the federal government.

According to the theory of popular sovereignty, in order for a government to have legitimate power, it must be supported by ________.

written laws that limit government power

the Church or other religious authority

natural law

the people

the people