Social Studies (MillinerSS)
Name:_____________________________________________
Date:________________________
1. One of the most important rights and privileges for United States citizens is voting. How could voting lead to
political change?
A. Voting raises money for the government.
B. Voting ensures that people belong to a political party.
C. Voting keeps the same people in office for life.
D. Voting leads to putting new and different people in office.
2. The Bill of Rights lists basic freedoms of citizens. One is freedom of assembly. Which of the following is an
example of freedom of assembly?
A. Marshall can attend a town meeting.
B. Wendy can vote in an election.
C. Hans can place Christmas decorations on his house.
D. Bishop can write a letter supporting lower taxes.
3. The national government of the United States divides the powers between three branches. Which branch is
responsible for making the laws?
A. the international branch
B. the executive branch
C. the judicial branch
D. the legislative branch
4. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. This was an
example of
A. freedom of religion.
B. freedom of speech.
C. freedom of petition.
D. freedom of the press.
5. The right of people to say what they believe is protected in the Bill of Rights. Which of the following is an example
of freedom of speech?
A. The government decides which church people can attend.
B. People can travel freely from one state to another.
C. The government decides when people can gather to protest.
D. People can state their views on candidates for elected office.
6. Thomas Paine was famous for his writings during the struggle for independence from Great Britain. Today, his
writings would be protected by
A. freedom of religion.
B. freedom of the press.
C. freedom of petition.
D. freedom of assembly.
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Social Studies (MillinerSS)
7. The Bill of Rights lists certain basic freedoms guaranteed to Americans. One is freedom of the press. Which is an
example of freedom of the press?
A. Mary writes articles in the paper about city government.
B. Brenda moves to another city.
C. Blake helps in a clean-up campaign.
D. Jose attends one of the state universities.
8. During the Vietnam War, many people gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest the war. This was an example of
A. freedom of the press.
B. freedom of assembly.
C. freedom of religion.
D. freedom of petition.
9. The right of people to publish newspapers, magazines, and books is protected in the Bill of Rights. Which of the
following is an example of freedom of the press?
A. People can travel freely from one state to another.
B. People can choose whether or not they want to vote.
C. People can gather in groups to protest high food prices.
D. People can write articles criticizing the government.
10. Who chooses the governor of a state?
A. the mayors
B. the county commissioners
C. the voters
D. the state legislators
11. For citizens of the United States, voting is a
A. law.
B. rule.
C. right.
D. privilege.
12. Who carries out the laws for the state?
A. a judge
B. a mayor
C. the governor
D. the congress
13. One of the most important rights and privileges for citizens of the United States is voting. Why is voting so
important?
A. Citizens who vote do not have to pay as many taxes.
B. It gives citizens the right to decide if they will obey a law.
C. Citizens who do not vote are breaking the law.
D. It gives citizens the right to choose people to represent them.
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Social Studies (MillinerSS)
14.
Citizen participation is an important part of self-government. Which of the following is an example of citizen
participation in government?
A. attending a school
B. driving a car
C. owning a business
D. running for elected office
15. Why is democracy referred to as self-government?
A. The government runs itself.
B. People pay for the government themselves.
C. People choose representatives who make decisions.
D. The citizens are free to do whatever they want.
16. The United States government is divided into three branches__executive, legislative, and judicial. The main job of
the legislative branch is to
A. carry out the laws.
B. veto laws that have been passed.
C. make the laws.
D. decide the meaning of laws.
17. The United States government is divided into three branches__executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch can
check the other branches, keeping a balance of power among them. Which of the following is an example of the
executive branch checking the legislative branch?
A. The President vetoes a bill from Congress.
B. The President states that a law is unconstitutional.
C. The Congress overrides the President's veto.
D. The Supreme Court states that a law is unconstitutional.
18. During the 1700s, people in the American colonies had to grow or make most of the products that they used.
There were also people who were skilled as blacksmiths, gunsmiths, or silversmiths. These people were called
A. farmers.
B. artisans.
C. large landowners.
D. indentured servants.
19. The President of the United States vetoes a bill from Congress. This example of checks and balances shows the
A. judicial branch checking the legislative branch.
B. executive branch checking the legislative branch.
C. judicial branch checking the executive branch.
D. legislative branch checking the judicial branch.
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Social Studies (MillinerSS)
20. Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773. This led to some colonists taking action, such as the Boston Tea Party.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
A. Colonists gave dinners to support the sale of tea.
B. Colonists dressed as Indians destroyed the tea.
C. Colonists bought tea from other countries.
D. Colonists started growing their own tea.
21. The Southwest Indians lived in deserts where only a few plants and animals could survive. Which of the
following types of houses were built from materials in this environment?
A. tepees made from bison skins
B. brick houses made of cement
C. adobe houses made of clay and stone
D. longhouses made of wood from trees
22. In 1776, the Continental Congress approved a statement that said governments do not have the right to take away
a citizen's "Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness." What was this called?
A. Constitution
B. Common Sense
C. Articles of Confederation
D. Declaration of Independence
23. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was started by the Pilgrims and the Puritans. They started settlements because
they wanted to worship as they pleased. Which of the following BEST describes their ideas of worship?
A. Only people who believed as they do would be welcome.
B. Any person of any religious belief would be welcome.
C. Only white people who believed would be welcome.
D. Any person who had Christian beliefs would be welcome.
24. The English who settled in North America started colonies that stretched all along the Atlantic Coast. Which of
the following lists would BEST fit the Southern Colonies?
A. shipbuilding, cold winters, fish
B. tobacco, hot summers, rice
C. furs, Puritans, shipbuilding
D. Philadelphia, corn, Quakers
25. In 1765, the Parliament of Great Britain passed the Stamp Act. The purpose of this act was to
A. get rid of colonists who were willing to support the king.
B. raise money by passing a tax on tea, sugar, molasses, and rum.
C. get rid of French colonists in the Northern colonies.
D. raise money by passing a tax on newspapers and other paper documents.
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Social Studies (MillinerSS)
26. At the beginning of the American Revolution Benedict Arnold was a general in the American Army. But during
the war he switched sides, joining the British army. Which group of people would have thought Benedict Arnold was
right to switch sides?
A. Patriots
B. Quakers
C. Loyalists
D. Mercenaries
27. During the 1700s, more and more women came to the British colonies in North America. Which statement BEST
describes women at this time?
A. Women could not vote.
B. Women could not have servants.
C. Women were involved in politics.
D. Women had the same rights as men.
28. There were many reasons why the Revolutionary War took place between Great Britain and the colonies in North
America. Some of the colonists were unhappy with "no taxation without representation." What did they mean by this?
A. The colonists should not be taxed unless they were represented in Parliament.
B. The colonists should not be taxed because they could not vote for the King.
C. The colonists should not be taxed unless the taxes were used in the colonies.
D. The colonists should not be taxed because no one should be taxed.
29. In 1777, the Articles of Confederation was a plan to unite the states. Problems with the Articles of Confederation
led to the writing of the
A. Declaration of Independence.
B. Constitution of the United States.
C. Mayflower Compact.
D. Monroe Doctrine.
30.
What was the purpose of the Preamble to our Constitution?
A. The Preamble was a famous speech given by President Lincoln about our Constitution.
B. The Preamble was a newspaper written about the need to free slaves.
C. The Preamble was written to explain the purpose of the Declaration of Independence.
D. The Preamble was written to explain the purpose of the Constitution.
31.
Which answer explains a provision of a federal type of government?
A. powers are only given to the President
B. powers are for the state government only
C. powers are for the national government only
D. powers are to be shared between states and the national government
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Social Studies (MillinerSS)
32.
Which branch of the government decides if a law is constitutional?
A. the Executive Branch
B. the Judicial Branch
C. the Legislative Branch
D. the Presidential Branch
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Social Studies (MillinerSS)
Answer Key
1. D) Voting leads to putting new and different people in office.
2. A) Marshall can attend a town meeting.
3. D) the legislative branch
4. B) freedom of speech.
5. D) People can state their views on candidates for elected office.
6. B) freedom of the press.
7. A) Mary writes articles in the paper about city government.
8. B) freedom of assembly.
9. D) People can write articles criticizing the government.
10. C) the voters
11. C) right.
12. C) the governor
13. D) It gives citizens the right to choose people to represent them.
14. D) running for elected office
15. C) People choose representatives who make decisions.
16. C) make the laws.
17. A) The President vetoes a bill from Congress.
18. B) artisans.
19. B) executive branch checking the legislative branch.
20. B) Colonists dressed as Indians destroyed the tea.
21. C) adobe houses made of clay and stone
22. D) Declaration of Independence
23. A) Only people who believed as they do would be welcome.
24. B) tobacco, hot summers, rice
25. D) raise money by passing a tax on newspapers and other paper documents.
26. C) Loyalists
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Social Studies (MillinerSS)
27. A) Women could not vote.
28. A) The colonists should not be taxed unless they were represented in Parliament.
29. B) Constitution of the United States.
30. D) The Preamble was written to explain the purpose of the Constitution.
31. D) powers are to be shared between states and the national government
32. B) the Judicial Branch
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