Name: 
 

Historical Documents Leading to the Constitution



Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 

The Declaration of Independence states that among our inalienable rights are
a.
freedom of Religion
c.
the right to private property
b.
“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”
d.
independence from Tyranny
 

 2. 

Which term from the preamble of the Constitution refers to the idea of popular sovereignty?
a.
We the People
c.
Promote the general welfare
b.
For ourselves and our posterity
d.
Establish justice
 

 3. 

What is the term for a detailed, written plan of government?
a.
confederation
c.
bicameral
b.
constitution
d.
compact
 

 4. 

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as the
a.
Articles of Confederation.
c.
Constitutional Convention.
b.
Great Compromise.
d.
Bill of Rights.
 

 5. 

Which agreement satisfied both the large states and samall states by establishing a Congress that would have a Senate with equal representation and a House of Representatives with membership based on population?
a.
Three-Fifths Compromise
c.
Great Compromise
b.
Articles of Confederation
d.
New Jersey Plan
 

 6. 

Which document created a stonger central American government with powers to put down rebellions, raise armies, and tax the states to provide services.
a.
The Declaration of Independence
c.
The English Bill of Rights
b.
The US Constitution
d.
The Articles of Confederation
 

 7. 

Which document guaranteed that not even the king was above the law by making sure the monarch would follow the charter that he signed?
a.
Constitution
c.
Magna Carta
b.
Mayflower Compact
d.
House of Burgesses
 

 8. 

The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom was every important in the development of which other important written document?
a.
the Mayflower Compact
c.
The Gettysburg Address
b.
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
d.
The First Amendment
 

 9. 

The form of government, illustrated below, has power divided and shared between the national government and the states?
mc009-1.jpg
a.
Federalism.
c.
Confederation.
b.
Patriotism.
d.
Anti-federalism.
 

 10. 

In the image, we see Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin presenting a certain document to John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress. Which document is he presenting to the President for his signature?


mc010-1.jpg
a.
The Magna Carta
c.
The US Constitution
b.
The Great Compromise
d.
The Declaration of Independence
 

 11. 

From which part of the Declaration of Independence is the following section taken?
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

a.
The Statement of Natural Rights
c.
The Statement of Political Separation
b.
The Crimes of the King
d.
The Preamble
 

 12. 

When colonists decided to refuse to buy British goods, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act. What is another word for this form of protest?
a.
steal
c.
destroy
b.
blockade
d.
boycott
 

 13. 

The ____ was the first constitution of the United States of America.
a.
United States Constitution
c.
Articles of Confederation
b.
Mayflower Compact
d.
Declaration of Independence
 

 14. 

Which event is being shown in the image below:
mc014-1.jpg
a.
Writing the Bill of Rights
c.
Writing the Declaration of Independence
b.
The Great Compromise
d.
Signing the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
 

 15. 

Which document of American history acted as a major source for Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration of Independence?
a.
The Northwest Ordinance (1786)
c.
The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (1786)
b.
The US Bill of Rights (1791)
d.
The Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)
 

 16. 

What part of the Constitution deals with how the legislative branch will work?
a.
Article I
c.
the First Amendment
b.
Preamble
d.
Bill of Rights
 

 17. 

Which branch of government took the form of a bicameral lawmaking body once the US Constitution  was written?
a.
Judicial
c.
Legislative.
b.
Federal
d.
Executive.
 

 18. 

What event marked the beginning of self-government in colonial America?
a.
the Boston Tea Party
c.
the First Continental Congress
b.
the signing of the Mayflower Compact
d.
King George signs the Magna Carta
 

 19. 

Which of the following ideas is the notion that governmental power lies with the people, who can make decisions on major issues through the democratic process?
a.
Separation of powers
c.
Consent of the Governed
b.
Federalism
d.
The rule of law
 

 20. 

From which 1776 document would this excerpt most likely be taken?
XIV That the people have a right to uniform government; and therefore, that no government separate from, or independent of, the government of Virginia, ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
a.
The US Constitution
c.
The Virginia Declaration of Rights.
b.
The Articles of Confederation.
d.
The Declaration of Independence
 

 21. 

Which idea is NOT a true statement about the Declaration of Independence?
a.
It stated that “The Colonies ought to be considered free and independent states.”
c.
The Declaration is a plan of government for the US.
b.
It contains the idea that all humans have ceratin basic rights that cannot be taken away.
d.
It states that all people are created equal in the sight of their Creator
 

 22. 

Which historical document, important in the establishment of Virginia as a colony, is described below:

We would vouchsafe unto them our License, to make Habitation, Plantation, and to deduce a colony of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called VIRGINIA, and other parts and Territories in America,
We would vouchsafe unto them our License, to make Habitation, Plantation, and to deduce a colony of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called VIRGINIA, and other parts and Territories in America...

a.
The Virginia Plan
c.
The Charter of Freedom
b.
The Great Charter
d.
The First Virginia Charter
 

 23. 

The Boston Tea Party caused Parliament to pass the Coercive Acts, which Americans called the
a.
Intolerable Acts.
c.
Townshend Acts.
b.
Tea Acts.
d.
Declaratory Acts.
 

 24. 

Which form of government is made up of elected leaders rather than an inherited king or queen?
a.
Monarchy
c.
Dictatorship
b.
Totalitarian
d.
Republic
 

 25. 

Who led an armed uprising of about 1,200 Massachusetts farmers in 1786, which led to the strengthening of the central government through the revision of the Articles of Confederation?
a.
John Locke
c.
George Washington
b.
Thomas Paine
d.
Daniel Shays
 

 26. 

Which group opposed the Constitution because a bill of rights was missing, thereby lacking way to provide protection for certain basic liberties?
a.
Whigs
c.
Liberals
b.
Abolitionists
d.
Anti-Federalists
 

 27. 

Which historical document reads...
III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other...
a.
The Articles of Confederation
c.
The Mayflower Compact
b.
The English Bill of Rights
d.
The US Constitution
 

 28. 

When Jefferson complained that King George was guilty of  “imposing Taxes on us without our Consent,“ to which concept of democracy was he referring?
a.
Innocent Until Proven Guilty.
c.
Equality in Society.
b.
Rule of Law.
d.
Consent of the Governed.
 

Matching
 
 
a.
The Magna Carta
d.
The Articles of Confederation
b.
The Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty
e.
The Mayflower Compact
c.
The US Constitution
 

 29. 

Clause 18: Congress shall have the power to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
 

 30. 

Which document is symbolized by the editorial cartoon shown below?
ma030-1.jpg
 

 31. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever... nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess... their opinion in matters of religion....
 

 32. 

In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."
 

 33. 

Both we and the barons have sworn that all this shall be observed in good faith and without deceit. Witness the abovementioned people and many others.
Given by our hand in the meadow that is called Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines, on the fifteenth day of June in the seventeenth year of our reign (i.e. 1215: the new regnal year began on 28 May).
 

Short Answer
 

 34. 

Extra credit:

Which historical event is depicted in the image below?

sa034-1.jpg
 



 
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