A Practice Test On Political History! Trivia Quiz
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America is seen as one of the most powerful countries on earth, and this is due to how secure the political system is. Do you know the changes it has undergone throughout history? How about you take a shot at this practice test on the political history of America and see how conversant you actually are with it. You might actually learn something new!
- 1.The French and Indian War led to
- A.
A massive migration to Canada.
- B.
A weakening of colonial loyalty to Britain.
- C.
The end of Britain's involvement in colonial affairs.
- D.
An increased colonial dependence on Britain.
- 2.The Sugar and Stamp Act are examples of how the
- A.
British continued to leave the colonies alone.
- B.
British tried to raise money in the colonies.
- C.
Colonists eagerly sacrificed to pay their war debts.
- D.
British tried to stimulate colonial economies.
- 3.The colonists protested the Stamp Act because the believed in
- A.
One man, one vote.
- B.
No taxation without representation.
- C.
Liberty, equality, and fraternity.
- D.
Freedom of speech.
- 4.The First Continental Congress voted to
- A.
End the boycott of imports from Britain.
- B.
Call for the formation of colonial militias.
- C.
Imprison all British tax collectors.
- D.
Adopt the Declaration of Independence.
- 5.The idea of natural rights is best defined as
- A.
Individuals' duties to their government.
- B.
The economic interests of the people.
- C.
A government's powers over its citizens.
- D.
Rights belonging to all people because they are human.
- 6.According to Locke, people formed governments
- A.
To sheild their money from taxes.
- B.
To wage war against other countries.
- C.
To protect their natural rights.
- D.
To control native populations.
- 7.The Revolutionary War began with the
- A.
Battle of Saratoga.
- B.
Battle of Trenton.
- C.
Battle of Lexington and Concord.
- D.
Battle of Bunker Hill.
- 8.In their attitudes toward the Revolutionary War, John Adams estimated that colonists were split
- A.
One half Patriots and one half Loyalists.
- B.
One third Patriots, one third Loyalists, and one third neutral.
- C.
Two thirds Patriots and one third Loyalists.
- D.
Two third Loyalists and one third Patriots
- 9.The Americans won the Revolutionary War mainly because
- A.
Their armies were better trained and disciplined than the British.
- B.
British arms were inferior to American arms.
- C.
They had the determination to outlast the British.
- D.
The American navy was superior to the British navy.
- 10.The Battles of Trenton and Princeton were important because they
- A.
Destroyed the entire Brioche army.
- B.
Boosted Patriot morale.
- C.
Convinced the British to surrender.
- D.
Led the British to believe that the Patriots could be quickly defeated.
- 11.According to the Treaty of Paris, the new United States would control
- A.
New England and all the lands west of the Mississippi River.
- B.
All the land from New England to the Mississippi River and north to the Great Lakes.
- C.
Florida and all the lands west.
- D.
British Canada and the Spanish territory.
- 12.Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
- A.
Only Congress had the power to tax.
- B.
There was no legislative branch of government.
- C.
States governments had no authority.
- D.
There was no national court system.
- 13.How did the Nationalists regard Shay's Rebellion?
- A.
As proof that the states had too little power
- B.
As an example of how governments abuse their power
- C.
As proof that only a strong national government could prevent social disorder
- D.
As a demonstration of the Americans' commitment to democracy
- 14.What issue did the Great Compromise resolve?
- A.
Representation in the legislature
- B.
Abolition of slavery
- C.
The veto power of the executive
- D.
Whether taxes were to be paid in specie or paper money
- 15.The Three-Fifths Compromise resolved the issue of
- A.
How enslaved people were to be counted in the population.
- B.
Whether larger states could have more representatives in Congress.
- C.
Whether Congress would have one or two houses.
- D.
How many representatives each state would have in the Senate.
- 16.Which of the following was designed to ensure that the President would not gain dictatorial powers over government?
- A.
The system of checks and balances
- B.
The elastic clause
- C.
The electoral college
- D.
The Cabinet
- 17.The anti-Federalists argued against the Constitution because they felt
- A.
It gave too much power to the people.
- B.
It created a weak executive branch.
- C.
It made the national government too strong.
- D.
The Articles of Confederation did not need to be reformed.
- 18.The electoral college was created to
- A.
Limit the people's power to elect a President directly.
- B.
Provide training for newly e;ected officials.
- C.
Explain presidential candidates' positions on the issues.
- D.
Produce a clear majority for one candidate.
- 19.Which of the following was a major goal of George Washington as President?
- A.
To go to war with Britain again
- B.
To gain respect for the United States among the nations
- C.
To see that the Articles of Confederation were reformed
- D.
To repay the French for their help during the American Revolution
- 20.Thomas Jefferson regarded the new government with
- A.
Complete approval.
- B.
Disapproval of its checks and balances.
- C.
Distrust of its power.
- D.
Contempt for its grand style.
- 21.Alexander Hamilton supported
- A.
Declaring tariffs illegal.
- B.
Establishing the nation's capital in Philadelphia.
- C.
Having the federal government take on the states' debts.
- D.
Ending the tax on whiskey.
- 22.As President, John Adams supported
- A.
Decreasing the size of the army.
- B.
The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions.
- C.
The Whiskey Rebellion.
- D.
The Alien and Sedition Acts.
- 23.Jefferson's election as President in 1800 demonstrated that
- A.
The country could peacefully transform powers from one party to another.
- B.
The Constitution needed to be reformed.
- C.
There was no need for a two-party system.
- D.
Washington was no longer seen as a hero.
- 24.The power of Judicial review allows federal courts to decide
- A.
Who will be President if the electoral college is tied.
- B.
If state and federal laws are constitutional.
- C.
If legislative acts should be signed into law.
- D.
On the size of the military.
- 25.A major goal of the Lewis and Clark expidition was to
- A.
Gather information about natural resources west of the Mississippi.
- B.
Gain control over the Native Americans living west of the Mississippi.
- C.
Drive the Spanish out of the lands of the Southwest.
- D.
Drive the French out of fur trading forts along the Mississippi.
- 26.After the War for Independence, the Miamis, Delawares, and Shawnees were able to
- A.
Fight successfully against American expansion.
- B.
Negotiate fair treaties that allowed them to keep their ancestral lands.
- C.
Relocate to rich lands west of the Ohio River.
- D.
Convince the American government to limit westward expansion.
- 27.To deal with the United States, Native American leader Tecumseh called for
- A.
Accepting white culture and living in peace.
- B.
Blending Indian and American cultures.
- C.
Returning to Indian religious traditions.
- D.
Taking military action against the expansion of the United States.
- 28.The War of 1812 ended with
- A.
A clear victory for the United States.
- B.
A clear victory for Britain.
- C.
The removal of all British claims to land in North America.
- D.
A return to prewar boundaries between the United States and British territories.
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