Question

1. in colonial america, under english common law a married woman (a) could not own property (b) had more legal rights then unmarried women (c) had legal authority over her children (d) could earn wages greater than her husband
2. following the american revolution, as the republic took shape in the 1780s, greater social importance was attached to women in the role of (a) wives (b) feminists (c) citizens (d) mothers
3. post - revolution american trade commerce was strengthened by (a) favorable trade agreements with england (b) and english desire to protect american vessels (c) the closing of british ports to american trade (d) british abandonment of impressments
4. for most revolutionary american political thinkers, the concept of equality meant (a) there should be equality of opportunity (b) that all people should live as equals (c) both a and b (d) neither a nor b
5. during the 1780s, in every new state constitution (a) state legislatures were to be chosen by a direct popular vote (b) governors were prevented from holding a seat in the legislature (c) property requirements for voting were relaxed or eliminated (d) women were denied the right to vote
6. during the 1780s most state governments (a) moved to limit popular power (b) were notable for their stability (c) found it difficult to revise their constitutions (d) remained strongly elitist
7. in 1780, massachusetts sought to revise the power of the governor by (a) allowing the legislature to set his salary (b) having him elected directly by the people (c) taking away his authority to veto legislation (d) permitting him to sit in the legislature

Explanation:

1. Under English common law in colonial America, married women had limited property - rights and generally could not own property independently.
2. After the American Revolution, the concept of Republican Motherhood gave greater social importance to women as mothers to raise virtuous citizens.
3. Favorable trade agreements with England strengthened post - Revolution American trade.
4. Most Revolutionary American political thinkers focused on equality of opportunity rather than complete social equality.
5. In the 1780s, women were uniformly denied the right to vote in new state constitutions.
6. During the 1780s, many state governments took steps to limit the power of the general public.
7. In 1780, Massachusetts revised the governor's power by having the governor elected directly by the people.

Answer:

1. A. could not own property
2. D. mothers
3. A. favorable trade agreements with England
4. A. there should be equality of opportunity
5. D. women were denied the right to - vote
6. A. moved to limit popular power
7. B. having him elected directly by the people