Instructions: Answer each question. When you finish, click the "submit" button. Your answers will then be sent directly to your instructor. A score for the multiple choice questions will be calculated automatically and sent to you by email. Short answer and essay questions will be graded by your instructor and posted later. When you are finished with the assignment it would be a good idea to print yourself a copy for your own records (using Ctrl-p).
Please make sure that you enter the above information correctly. If you do not, the assignment will not be submitted and you will have to do it again to get a score for the multiple choice.
You are strictly on your honor to make this a closed-book quiz.
1. The term human predicament is used in your text to describe
a. the nature of man, which most Enlightenment philosophers thought of as self-interested and corrupt b. the inability of man to govern himself c. John Locke's description of man in a "state of nature" d. the choice people have had to make throughout history between tyranny and anarchy
2. The Puritans' original conception of their "errand in the wilderness" was that they were to
a. build a "city on a hill" in the Promised Land and never to return to England b. convert the heathen c. get rich in the New World, for one sign of God's elect was economic success d. show by example the kind of community God's elect could build; then, after that example had transformed England, they were to return home in triumph
3. Chapter 2 of the textbook includes an extensive discussion of "classical republicanism." Which of the following statements is an accurate reflection of some aspect of that discussion?
a. After the Glorious Revolution in England, the Commonwealth was based on classical republican ideology. b. Republican ideologists in England drew a distinction between "court" and "country," with "country" representing the gentry and property owners. c. In America, the lower houses of the colonial assemblies were deeply influenced by commonwealth ideology. d. All of the above are true. e. None of the above are true.
4. How did the Founders feel about democracy? a. Most of them envisioned a fully democratic republic, because they agreed with the Book of Mormon concept that "it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right" (Mosiah 29:26). b. They were almost evenly divided over support for democracy and support for some kind of aristocratic government. c. Most of them were deeply suspicious of democracy. d. Gee, I don't know. The text said nothing about this!
5. What was the significance of the "social contract" idea in the thinking of John Locke? a. Locke believed that in a "state of nature" everyone had the right to protect his or her life, liberty, and property, and the "social contract" was the means by which people agreed to form a government for the purpose of protecting these rights. b. Locke believed that people were usually motivated by civic virtue, and the "social contract" was the general understanding virtuous people had with each other to respect each other's natural rights. c. The "social contract" was the responsibility a government, including a monarchy, had to provide for the general welfare of the people. d. None of the above are true, because Locke considered the idea of a mere "social contract" to be just the opposite of what was needed for strong, responsible government.
6. What happened in the year 1763 that makes this an important date in early American history? a. The so-called French and Indian War came to an end. b. A proclamation by the king of England made it illegal for anyone to settle west of the Appalachian mountains. c. The British government began to make it more difficult for Americans to avoid paying the duties imposed on imports by the navigation acts. d. None of the above are true. e. Answer a, b and c are all true..
7. Which statement accurately represents one or more of the ideas inherent in Thomas Paine's Common Sense? a. Monarchy is still viable in England, and good for that country, but America has no use for it. b. English society is both corrupt and corrupting, and Americans must have no more to do with it. c. The English Constitution is fatally flawed. d. There is no asylum of liberty left anywhere in the world, not even in America. e. b and c f. b, c, and d g. a, c, and d
8. Under the Articles of Confederation a. each of the thirteen former colonies surrendered it's sovereignty to the central government in order to achieve a "perpetual union" b. there was a strong national judiciary as well as a strong national executive c. Congress could levy taxes on the states, and it could provide an income for the central government by levying duties on certain imports d. Congress developed a responsible policy with respect to western lands, and this policy was later adopted by the new government under the Constitution e. None of the above happened. f. All of the above happened.
9. Which of the following came closest to providing a model for the Constitution of the United States? a. the Pennsylvania Constitution b. the Massachusetts Model Constitution c. John Locke's Second Treatise on civil government d. the Articles of Confederation e. England's common law
10. In the United States, the federal government may control interstate commerce, but state governments have full responsibility and authority over such matters as elections, public education, and law enforcement. This is an example of a. an oversight on the part of the Founders b. the principle of divided sovereignty c. a compromise during the Constitutional Convention d. the principle of checks and balances e. b and c f. c and d
You must write a 1,200 to 2,000-word essay. This essay is not closed book, but any ideas you draw from the text or elsewhere must be expressed in your own words. Please see the statement on plagiarism under "Course Organization" at the beginning of this syllabus.
Choose one of the following questions:
A. Comment on the nature of the classical Greek republics, emphasizing their successes and failures, as well as the ways in which they may be compared or contrasted with the kind of government and society envisioned by the American Founders. (You will need to review more than one lesson to deal effectively with this question.)
or
B. Explain why the U. S. Constitution has sometimes been called a "bundle of compromises." Look at the Constitution itself, identify what parts of it were among the most important compromises, and then comment on why those compromises were so important. Looking at the way the Constitution operates today, do those compromise provisions work well or not? (You must use sound reasoning and factual information to support your opinion.)
C. Explain the five basic principles expounded by John Locke in his Second Treatise on civil government, as summarized in your text, then comment on how those principles are relevant to the American Founding. (Be sure to include a discussion of Locke's view of human nature, which is implicit in his treatise.)
NOTE: If for any reason you resubmit this assignment, please see the resubmission policy in the "How to Succeed in This Course" section of this course manual.
Essay Instructions: Prepare an answer to one of the questions with your word processor. Save your answer. Now copy the entire answer to your clipboard (Ctrl-C on a windows machine) and paste it into the input box below (Ctrl-V on a windows machine). Submit your assignment.
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