Name:
World History
The Birth of the United States of America: Quiz Review
Directions: Use your notes, readings, and worksheets from the last few lessons to respond to the
questions below.
Why did English people
colonize parts of North
America in the 1600s? What
were they looking for?



In search of gold and silver
In search of a waterway to Asia
Some in search of religious freedom (the Pilgrims)
Why did the British colonies
in North America set up their
own governments? Why did
the British let them?

They set up their own governments because Great Britain was
too far away to actually help them…they had no easy and fast
way to communicate with the King and Parliament in London
By the 1600s, England had
developed a tradition of
electing representatives to
voice the concerns of the
people. What was this group
called? What power did this
group have by the 1700s?


Group = Parliament
By the 1700s they ruled Great Britain with the King
Why did England start trying
to tax the 13 colonies in the
mid-1700s?

To pay off debts from the French and Indian War
What was the first major tax?
Why were colonists so upset
about the taxes?


The first major tax was the Stamp Act
Colonists were upset because they had no say or
representation in the passage of this tax
What other acts and taxes did
the British attempt to impose
on the colonies?

When did the colonists
Declare their independence?

July 4, 1776 (the day that the final wording of the Declaration of
Independence was approved)
Who was the main author of
the Declaration of
Independence?

Thomas Jefferson
What does the Declaration of
Independence have to say
about human rights?


All people are created with rights that shouldn’t be taken away
The Declaration names the rights of life, liberty (freedom), and
the pursuit of happiness
What does the Declaration of
Independence have to say
about the purpose and role of
government?

It says that governments are formed by the peoples “consent”
or agreement…governments come from the power of the
people
They are made to protect peoples basic rights
The people have the authority to change or get rid of
governments that don’t protect basic rights
What are the parts of the
Declaration of
Independence?

Preamble, Arguments, Complaints against the King, Conclusion
Why did America’s first plan
of government fail?


First plan = Articles of Confederation
The plan gave central government no real powers…it couldn’t
tax the states, solve disputes between the states, etc.
Each state acted like its own independent country (states even
made separate peace treaties with foreign nations)
Other countries didn’t respect or treat us well because we
were not united





The Declaratory Act, the Quartering Act, the Townshend
Revenue Act, the Intolerable Acts
The colonist again considered these acts unjust and unfair
because they had no representation in the passing of these laws