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Quiz about American Politics History and Basic Ideas

American Politics - History and Basic Ideas Quiz

This quiz deals with American Government, Politics and the founding of the nation. Hope you guys can answer these questions, (You should be able to if you have had any history classes)!

A multiple-choice quiz by wvdej. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
wvdej

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
40,137

Updated
Apr 05 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
5701

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (11/15), polly656 (12/15), Carouser (12/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Who was the first President of the United States following the adoption of the Constitution in 1787? Hint

George Washington

Samuel Adams

John Adams

Alexander Hamilton

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Question 2 of 15

2. What are the three branches of the U.S. Government? Hint

Judicial, Legislative and Executive

Executive, Pluralist and Sovereignty

Judicial, Legislative and Presidential

Executive, Judicial, Confederation

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Question 3 of 15

3. The principal author of the US Declaration of Independence was which future president?

Answer: (Two words - first and last names)

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Question 4 of 15

4. What was our first written document that established our colonial government, in 1777? Hint

Declaration of Independence

The Virginia Plan

Federalist Papers

Articles of Confederation

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Question 5 of 15

5. Alexander Hamilton was shot by _____
_____. Hint

John Jay

Samuel Adams

John Adams

Aaron Burr

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Question 6 of 15

6. 'The power of U.S. courts to invalidate actions undertaken by the legislative and executive branches of Government.' This statement defines what term? Hint

Legislative Law

Checks and Balances

Judicial Review

Executive Agreements

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Question 7 of 15

7. Who was the first African-American Supreme Court Justice? Hint

Clarence Thomas

Thurgood Marshall

Jesse Jackson

Sojurner Truth

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which philosopher is said to have influenced Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence? Hint

John Locke

Montesquieu

Descartes

Voltaire

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Question 9 of 15

9. Who attended EVERY meeting of the Constitutional Convention? Hint

James Madison

George Washington

John Adams

Ben Franklin

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Question 10 of 15

10. The 16th President was _________
________.

Answer: (Two words - first and last names)

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which US president was assassinated in 1963? Hint

Johnson

Nixon

Roosevelt

Kennedy

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Question 12 of 15

12. 'Bi-cameral' refers to what? Hint

Two branches of Government

Two houses of legislature

Two houses the President can live in

Two judges allowed to retire per year

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Question 13 of 15

13. How many cabinet departments are there as of May 2001? Hint

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Question 14 of 15

14. Slander is a false written statement.

True

False

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Question 15 of 15

15. Nowhere in the body of the original Constitution were the words 'slavery' or 'slave' mentioned.

True

False

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 14 2024 : Guest 174: 11/15
Dec 07 2024 : polly656: 12/15
Nov 26 2024 : Carouser: 12/15
Nov 20 2024 : RobertLee_1964: 12/15
Nov 20 2024 : Guest 98: 14/15
Nov 17 2024 : sadiem: 8/15
Nov 16 2024 : Guest 24: 11/15
Nov 16 2024 : RicD: 14/15
Nov 15 2024 : Guest 71: 10/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the first President of the United States following the adoption of the Constitution in 1787?

Answer: George Washington

Washington was an interesting President, he was very non-political. He might have been the only President in history that didn't WANT to be President - at least at the start of their tenure!

2. What are the three branches of the U.S. Government?

Answer: Judicial, Legislative and Executive

3. The principal author of the US Declaration of Independence was which future president?

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was an interesting man. He was actually very quiet and chose to express his political ideas mainly in writing.

4. What was our first written document that established our colonial government, in 1777?

Answer: Articles of Confederation

This document didn't work correctly for the young nation. For starters, the states would have been basically separate nations with no strong central government. The U.S. Government would not be able to raise taxes, control the economy or solve problems between the states.

5. Alexander Hamilton was shot by _____ _____.

Answer: Aaron Burr

Hamilton and Burr disagreed on MANY issues, namely the basic form a Government should take; should it be a strong central government or more of a confederacy?

6. 'The power of U.S. courts to invalidate actions undertaken by the legislative and executive branches of Government.' This statement defines what term?

Answer: Judicial Review

This is an important part of the U.S. system!

7. Who was the first African-American Supreme Court Justice?

Answer: Thurgood Marshall

8. Which philosopher is said to have influenced Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence?

Answer: John Locke

'Life, liberty, and property' was what Locke said. 'Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' was what Jefferson said.

9. Who attended EVERY meeting of the Constitutional Convention?

Answer: James Madison

That must have been really hard summer in Philadelphia, 50 delegates in a hot room during a time when cleanliness was not emphasized and they were arguing over legal matters. Madison's diary tells of these proceedings; its a great look at history as it happened.

10. The 16th President was _________ ________.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

He was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth. (He was shot on the 14th and died on the 15th, to be more specific.)

11. Which US president was assassinated in 1963?

Answer: Kennedy

John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald. There are a ridiculous number of conspiracy theories surrounding this event.

12. 'Bi-cameral' refers to what?

Answer: Two houses of legislature

Another important aspect of our system.

13. How many cabinet departments are there as of May 2001?

Answer: 14

State, Treasury, Interior, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Defense (formerly War), Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Health and Human Services, Education and Veteran Affairs.

14. Slander is a false written statement.

Answer: False

Slander is a false spoken statement. Libel is a false written statement.

15. Nowhere in the body of the original Constitution were the words 'slavery' or 'slave' mentioned.

Answer: True

It used 'other person' or something to that effect. They basically put off the Civil War for another 80 years, by not completely addressing this issue. The word slavery was later used in the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.

Source: Author wvdej

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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