Early U.S. Vocabulary

Who primarily wrote the Declaration of Independence?

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• Benjamin Franklin

• John Adams

What year was the Declaration of Independence signed?

• 1775

• 1776

• 1781

• 1787

Which document is considered the supreme law of the United States?

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Constitution

• The Bill of Rights

Who were the authors of the Federalist Papers?

• Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin

• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

• George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Patrick Henry

• John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere

What is the Bill of Rights?

• The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution

• The preamble to the Constitution

• The list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence

• The articles of the Confederation

What type of government is established by the Founding Fathers in the United States?

• Monarchy

• Oligarchy

• Republic

• Dictatorship

What is the purpose of checks and balances in the U.S. government?

• To ensure the President has all the power

• To make sure no branch of government becomes too powerful

• To allow Congress to override the Supreme Court

• To give the military control over the government

What does the separation of powers refer to?

• The division of government responsibilities into three branches

• The separation of church and state

• The division of power between state and federal governments

• The separation of military and civilian powers

What was the role of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution?

• To draft the U.S. Constitution

• To govern the American colonies and declare independence

• To negotiate peace with Native American tribes

• To establish the first American bank

What does ratification mean in the context of the U.S. Constitution?

• The rejection of a legal document

• The formal approval process by the states

• The drafting of a new amendment

• The signing of a peace treaty