8th Grade U.S. History First Semester Exam

How did geography influence the early economic development of New York, Boston, and Charleston?

• Long coastlines offered abundant natural resources

• Proximity to flooding rivers limited development.

• Natural harbors provided access to markets.

• Extreme climates limited productive activity.

Which reason best completes this list?

• To spread democratic ideals

• To improve efficiency in manufacturing

• To lace potential military allies

• To claim new territory

Which of the following was a primary reason France sought to colonize North America?

• To reduce overpopulation in Europe

• To create communities founded on religious tolerance

• To profit from trading in furs and other goods

• To create joint ventures with other European powers

Which statement accurately describes the reasons for establishing Plymouth and Jamestown?

• Both colonies were established to bring wealth to stockholders.

• Plymouth's founders intended to produce raw materials, while Jamestown's founders expected to discover gold.

• Both colonies were established to limit the expansion of other European empires.

• Plymouth was founded as a refuge from religious persecution, while Jamestown was founded for commercial profit.

• Distance from Great Britain
• Mayflower Compact
• Town hall meetings

The factors listed above contributed most to the --

• creation of alliances between British colonists to Parliament

• election of British colonists to Parliament

• growth of representative government in the British colonies

• expansion of British trade in the Americas

From 1690 to 1760, Parliament and the king of England allowed colonists in America to exercise a great deal of control over local and regional matters. Historians have described this practice as "salutary neglect."

Which of the following happened as a direct result of this policy?

• The colonies developed a strong tradition of self-government.

• Many proprietary colonies were converted to royal colonies.

• The colonies refused to participate in a system of common defense.

• Many colonies sought economic aid from other countries.

Which statement best explains the significance of the Mayflower Compact?

• It limited the power of future colonial governments.

• It weakened the influence of religion in government

• It established a form of self-government based on a social contract

• It guaranteed liberties for colonists through local government

Which of the following was a major reason for the flow of the transatlantic slave trade shown on the map?

• The economic demands of the plantation system

• The construction needs of the railroad

• Increased textile manufacturing

• Increased western migration

Catholics immigrated to the Maryland colony in the seventeenth century primarily to --

• profit from natural resources

• avoid crop failures and famine

• produce cash crops to pay off debts

• escape persecution

The colonies in this list were founded primarily to offer settlers a greater degree of --

• freedom from debts

• religious freedom

• economic freedom

• freedom of speech