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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which part of the English Constitution did Paine cite as a significant achievement?

2. Using his own life experiences as proof of his expertise, what did Paine think the young people of Europe needed?

3. What did Paine think the English's reliance on law by precedence led to?

4. What concern did many people in the states have about the newly ratified Constitution?

5. In Paine's opinion, when did a society need government even less?

Short Essay Questions

1. What particular problem in London did Paine address in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe?

2. How did Paine define the old governments and the new governments in Chapter 3?

3. Which taxes and regulations did Paine think should be reduced or abolished in England?

4. Which changes would Paine make to the revenue distribution system of the monarchy?

5. Why did Paine think that America was the only country that could have tried the new form of government he supported?

6. What was Paine's definition of Constitution in Of Constitutions?

7. Why did Paine support commerce and universal trade in Ways and Means of Improving the Conditions of Europe?

8. How did Paine describe Republicanism as a response to Burke at the end of Chapter 3?

9. What was the purpose of Congress' original meetings in 1774 and 1775, and what effect did the Declaration of Independence have on America?

10. What was the difference in the opinions of Sieyes and Burke and the monarchies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe in detail the origin of the natural rights that Paine wrote about. Include an explanation of what the rights were, where they came from, the differences between natural and civil rights and how those rights should be represented in government and society.

Essay Topic 2

Explain three examples of mistakes that Burke made in his description of the French Revolution, Paine's correction of the mistakes, and what their inaccuracy showed about Burke's opinions.

Essay Topic 3

Of Constitutions chronicled America's path to Independence and the forming of the Constitution.

1) Describe at least three key events that led to the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

2) Explain Paine's objection to the Articles of Confederation and if they seem valid in your opinion.

3) Analyze the ratification of the Constitution and how the concerns the people had back then about the document could be applied to current times.

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This section contains 871 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample