Name ________________________

American Government History: Pre-assessment

Read the question and circle the best answer choice.
1. Who ruled the American colonies before the Revolutionary War?
a. Europe
c. England
b. France
d. The United States
2. What document allowed the colonies to be free from British rule?
a. The Declaration of Independence
c. The Constitution
b. The Articles of Confederation
d. None of the Above
3. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
a. It wasn't long enough, so people didn't listen. c. It didn't fail.
b. It created a weak government.
d. The people wanted to rebel.
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.

What is the Preamble?

The end of the Declaration of the Independence
A book about the American colonies
The introduction to the Constitution
A song they used to sing in the 1770s

5. Which of the following was not considered a founding father?

a. Thomas Jefferson
c. Ben Franklin
b. George Washington
d. Albert Einstein
6. Who is the head of the Executive branch of government?
a. The President
c. The Congress
b. The Supreme Court Justices
d. The Senate
7.
a.
b.
c.
d.

What is a check and balance?

A way to balance your check book
A form of money the Founding Fathers used to use
The system that makes sure no branch of government is too powerful
None of the Above

8. What does the Liberty Bell stand for?

a. Freedom
b. Independence

c. The End of Slavery

d. All of the Above

9. What is an amendment?
a. An addition or change to the original text
b. The signatures at the end of a document

c. The introduction to a paper

d. None of the Above

10. What was the Great Compromise?

a. When the president and vice president agreed to work together
b. The agreement to have a two-house legislature
c. George Washington's promise to be a great president
d. The decision to have a one-house legislature