Quiz on British Colonial History

What was the main reason Parliament repealed the Stamp Act?

• The Boston Tea Party frightened the British

• Great Britain decided to grant the colonies freedom

• Parliament had earned enough money from the tax to pay Great Britain’s debts

• British business owners complained about the colonists’ boycotts to Parliament

Why was Great Britain in debt?

• It owed Spain money for building British ships

• It owed the colonists money for imports of raw materials

• It owed money it had borrowed to fight the French and Indian War

• It owed France money because France sent soldiers to help the British control the colonists

Why did Great Britain feel that it was fair to tax the colonists for the French and Indian War?

• All British citizens paid taxes

• Great Britain was defending the colonies against the French

• It was the job of British colonies to support the King and Parliament

• Parliament passed a law that all British citizens had to pay for the war effort

How did the Congress plan to become independent from Great Britain?

• They wrote a letter to the king to ask for their independence

• They declared war on Great Britain

• They voted on whether the colonies should be independent from Great Britain

• They wrote a document that would declare their reasons for independence

The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to -

• Let everyone know about all the ways the British King and Parliament had mistreated the colonists

• Explain why the colonists had a right to become independent and announce the creation of a new country

• Explain that British treatment of the colonists was not reasonable

• Describe how a government should be organized and run

Which statement best describes the ideas about government in the Declaration of Independence?

• The government would be run by white male landowners

• The government would be a monarchy like Great Britain and be run by a President

• The government would be based on freedom, equality, and protecting the people’s rights

• The government would be elected by votes from all citizens and would eliminate all British laws

What three unalienable rights did Thomas Jefferson include in the Declaration of Independence?

• No taxation, free trade, self rule

• Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• Education, land, defense

• Peace, equality, free speech

With what words does the Declaration of Independence announce the name of the new country?

• Our independent country will be named the United States of America

• We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America…

• These thirteen colonies will henceforth be known as the United States of America

• This United States of America will offer life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…

Which statement best describes the second section of the Declaration of Independence?

• An explanation of why the colonists were justified in forming a new government

• A list of grievances and complaints against King George and the British government

• A declaration that the new nation would be called the United States of America

• A description of the natural rights that all people are born with

What is the primary duty of the Supreme Court?

• To act as the main check on the executive branch

• To accept or overturn rulings made by other courts

• To create new laws according to the Constitution

• To decide whether laws follow the Constitution