8th Grade Social Studies Benchmark

In 1608, Captain John Smith and 6 others explored what is now Virginia. This quote is from his account of the exploration. "In six days they arrived at a town called Powhatan that had 12 houses, all on a hill and many fertile fields to grow corn and other crops. The place is very pleasant and their prince is called Powhatan. The river is easy to navigate but about a mile down the river there are rocks and the passage would be too narrow for a small boat. Which question of a historian is answered by Smith's account?

• How did Europeans explore the interior of America?

• What did Europeans eat when they arrived in America?

• How did Europeans organize their government in America?

• What happened when Europeans and American Indians met?

Indentured servants had to?

• Return home

• Work forever for someone

• Attend religious services

• Work for a period of time to pay off a debt

Which of the following best defines the economic policy of mercantilism?

• An economic policy where the British took raw materials from her colonies and then sold the colonies manufactured goods.

• An economic policy where sellers and buyers must buy a license to use the title of merchant for their business cards.

• A political policy for the colony of Maryland that allowed indentured servants to buy their freedom at $400 a year.

• None of the above.

What is the significance of the Lost Colony?

• It encouraged England to continue settlement attempts in North America.

• It caused England to continue settlement attempts in North America.C

• It led to the rapid growth of the North Carolina economy.

• It caused them to fear Native Americans and abandon colonization attempts.

How were Native Americans affected by European exploration?

• Native Americans became healthier due to European medicine.

• Native Americans were treated as equals to the Europeans.

• Native Americans' religions were not respected by Europeans.

• Native Americans received food, supplies and support.

How was an indentured servant different from a slave?

• An indentured servant worked on a plantation for life.

• A slave usually came from Europe and was given a piece of land after being granted freedom

• An indentured servant worked for a specific amount of years for passage to the New World.

• A slave was under contract for a set period of time tro work off a debt.

Which of the following was a negative effect of the Columbian Exchange?

• Slaves were brought to the Americas from Africa.

• Disease, such as smallpox, killed millions of Native Americans.

• Many crops grown in the Americas were introduced into Europe.

• Horses were used by Native Americans in Europe to wage war.

We had nothing...after Captain Smith's departure, there remained only 60 men, women and children, most miserable and poor creatures. We tried to survive on roots, herbs, acorns, walnuts, berries and a few little fish. This was that time, which still to this day we called the "Starving Time"- a time that was horrible and hard to believe. Based on this excerpt, how did the harsh environmental conditions affect the Jamestown colonists?

• The harsh weather brought American Indians to help the colonists.

• The harsh weather reduced and destroyed the tobacco crops

• The harsh weather convinced the settlers to return to their homeland.

• The harsh weather decreased the quality of life for the settlers by making it difficult to obtain enough food

Native Americans believed that the land belonged to no one and that forests should be preserved in their natural state in order to provide food. European settlers believed that the land belonged to those who claimed it and trees should be cut down in order to make room for farms. Based on the above, which statement summarizes the origin of beliefs about land in North America?

• American Indians wanted to buy land from European settlers.

• American Indians and European settlers avoided each other.

• European settlers and American Indians used natural resources differently.

• European settlers and American Indians wanted to preserve the forests.

In the Colonial Era, developments such as the New England town meetings and the establishment of the Virginia House of Burgesses represented what?

• colonial attempts to build a strong national government.

• steps in the growth of representative democracy

• efforts by the British to strengthen their control over the colonies

• early social reform movements