8. Why would there be no security?

Because they would depend upon the will of one man, whose will might change at any moment.

9. Is government by the people necessarily a free government?

Not necessarily; for the people, or a majority of them, may construct a government which will not secure liberty.

10. Have the people a right to govern themselves? It is both their right and duty to govern themselves wisely and righteously.

11. How have governments often originated?

In fraud and force, and not in the consent of the people governed.

12. May such governments become legitimate? They may.

13. How may they become legitimate?

Only by becoming good governments, and receiving either the express or the tacit consent of the people.

14. What do you mean by a legitimate government? A lawful government.

15. May it be the duty of a people to obey a military despot?

It may be the duty of a people to obey a despot for a time.

16. How does that appear?

Christ taught the duty of obedience to Cæsar, who was a military despot.

17. On what ground may it be our duty to obey a military despot?

On the ground that any government is better than anarchy, or lawlessness.

18. How long may it be the duty of a people to obey a military despot?

Till they can overthrow his government, and establish a better one in its place.

19. What is meant by the divine right of kings?

The claim put forth by some monarchs that they received their power directly from God, and not from the people.

20. What doctrine was founded upon this claim? The doctrine of passive obedience and non-resist

ance.

21. What did that doctrine teach?

It taught that implicit, unquestioning obedience should be given to the government, and that no resistance should be made even to the most oppressive acts. 22. Are the people infallible in matters of government?

No individual is infallible; hence no collection of individuals is infallible.

23. Can an ignorant and vicious people establish and maintain a free government?

Reason and experience show that they cannot. 24. What are the greatest safeguards of freedom? Intelligence and morality on the part of the people.

CHAPTER IV.

COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS.

1. When did the Pilgrims land at Plymouth?

December 22, 1620.

2. In what ship did they cross the ocean ? The May Flower.

3. Before leaving the May Flower, what provision did they make for government?

They drew up and signed a compact binding themselves to obey the laws which should be made by the majority.

4. What officers did they choose?

A governor and an assistant.

5. Who made the laws?

The people of the colony.

6. How long did this state of things continue? Until 1639-nineteen years.

7. What change then took place?

The settlements had become so widely extended that it was inconvenient for the people to assemble and make laws.

8. What measures were then taken?

The people elected representatives to meet and make laws for them.

9. Did the representatives thus elected constitute the first legislative assembly in America?

No; the first representative legislature sat in Virginia in 1619.*

10. In what respect were the governments of all the colonies similar?

Each colony had a governor, a council constituting the upper house of the legislature, and representatives chosen by the people, constituting the lower house.

*Previous to 1619, the people of Virginia had been governed by a governor and council appointed by the king of Great Britain. The people then claimed the right, as British subjects, to be represented in the government. Sir George Yeardley, the governor, permitted the various plantations to elect representatives, who formed the lower house of the legislature, the council forming the upper house.

11. How were the governors appointed?

In most of the colonies, they were appointed by the king.

12. What powers had the colonial legislatures?

They had power to make laws for their respective colonies, provided the laws made were not contrary to the laws of Great Britain.

13. What power had the governors?

They had power to veto any and every act of the legislatures; that is, to prevent the act from becoming a law.

14. What powers had the governor and council acting together?

They had power to establish courts and appoint judges, to raise troops and proclaim martial law in cases of invasion or rebellion.

15. Had the colonists much liberty?

They had the forms of liberty, without the substance. 16. Who possessed the political power?

All real power was possessed by the king, or by those holding office at his will.

17. Were the colonies united under one general government?

They were united only in a common relation to the crown and to the mother country.

18. On what ground did the colonists claim that they should not be taxed without their consent?

On the ground that they were entitled to all the privileges of Englishmen, especially that of representation. 19. What led to the revolution?

The attempt of the Parliament of Great Britain to raise a revenue in the colonies while denying them representation in Parliament.

20. What act of Parliament was passed for that purpose?

The Stamp Act, which required the colonists to use stamped paper for all legal documents.

21. What state took the lead in opposition to the measures of the British government?

Massachusetts recommended that a Congress of deputies from all the colonies should assemble to deliberate on the state of affairs.

22. When and where did this Congress meet? In Philadelphia, September 4, 1774.

23. How were the delegates to this Congress appointed?

In some colonies by the lower branches of the legislatures, and in others by conventions of the people held for that purpose.

24. When and where did the second Congress meet? In May, 1775, in Philadelphia.

25. What were some of the acts of this Congress? They appointed George Washington commanderin-chief of the troops of the colonies, and declared independence July 4, 1776.

CHAPTER V.

THE CONFEDERATION.

1. When did Congress appoint a committee to prepare Articles of Union between the states?

On the 11th of June, 1776, the same day on which they appointed a committee to prepare the Declaration of Independence.