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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Paine say about the elderly in the workhouse in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe?
(a) They were underpaid.
(b) They were energized.
(c) They were exhausted.
(d) They were unemployed.

2. What were Paine's thoughts about the idea of nations flourishing on commerce alone?
(a) It should not and could not be done.
(b) It was possible, but should not be done.
(c) It should only be done in certain nations.
(d) It was possible and should be done.

3. What type of formal government did the frontier areas of America have before the American Revolution?
(a) None.
(b) More than they did after the Revolution.
(c) Very little.
(d) The same as they did after the Revolution.

4. In Paine's opinion, when did a society need government even less?
(a) When it had good moral character.
(b) When it had an established trade agreement.
(c) When it had vast resources.
(d) When it had an effective military.

5. How did Paine describe the picture of corporate towns in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe?
(a) Decay, chaos and oppression.
(b) Decay and chaos.
(c) Decay and oppression.
(d) Chaos and oppression.

6. How did the Peers become rich?
(a) Unfair laws.
(b) Illegal trade.
(c) Landed property.
(d) Inheritance.

7. Which event did Paine refer to in Of the Origin of the Present Old Governments as he discussed the formation of the English government?
(a) The Italian Wars.
(b) The Norman Conquest.
(c) The English Civil War.
(d) The Hundred Years' War.

8. How did Paine describe the society in small domains where government was necessary?
(a) Indifferent.
(b) Incomplete.
(c) Incompetent.
(d) Irrational.

9. According to Paine in Of Constitutions, how many representative bodies should a government have?
(a) Two.
(b) One.
(c) Three.
(d) Four.

10. Using history to support his opinion, what did Paine find unsurprising about how governments began?
(a) They began as murderers.
(b) They began as robbers.
(c) They began in chaos.
(d) They began in ignorance.

11. Which one of the following was not included in Paine's description of how America was prospering in Of Society and Civilization?
(a) The rich were not privileged.
(b) The taxes were low.
(c) The industry was extensive.
(d) The poor were not oppressed.

12. Why did Paine think that America was the only place in the world where Independence could be tried?
(a) It was free of history.
(b) It had the most to gain.
(c) It had the most creative people.
(d) It was the correct size.

13. What did the Declaration of Independence lead to for the representative government that prevailed?
(a) A sense of completion.
(b) A sense of goodness.
(c) A sense of power.
(d) A sense of cohesiveness.

14. Compared to previous Revolutions, what did Paine think future Revolutions would be like?
(a) Shorter.
(b) Less expensive.
(c) Longer.
(d) More expensive.

15. How did Paine describe the idea of bureaucrats managing trade properly?
(a) Optimistic.
(b) Irrational.
(c) Biased.
(d) Delusional.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Paine think the national debt should be paid off in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe?

2. What did Paine think should happen to every bill before it was voted on in a representative style of government?

3. What was Paine's opinion of Burke's new work when he wrote Part Two of Rights of Man?

4. How did Paine react to Burke's refusal to respond to Part One of Rights of Man?

5. In concluding Of the Old and New Systems of Government, what did Paine state was the basis for free governments?

(see the answer keys)

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