8th Grade STAAR Practice Session 1

How did this invention contribute to the expansion of the plantation system?

• By reducing the number of slaves needed for growing cotton

• By increasing the time needed to cultivate cotton

• By increasing the profitability’s of slavery

• By reducing the demand for raw cotton

The innovation shown in this photograph most affected the U.S. economy by --

• decreasing the need for canals

• allowing more efficient movement of goods

• reducing the costs of settling in western territories

• transporting workers from southern states to northern states

The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling--

• clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast

• interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agriculture goods from west to east

• Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West

• railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the est

Which box lists some results of improved steamboat technology in the United States as of the mid-1830's?

• *The price of fares decreased.

  *The tourist industry developed.

  *The cost to transport goods decreased.

• *The price of coal increased.

  *Roads were built to connect rivers.

  *The need for Conestoga wagons was eliminated.

• *Traffic on the Mississippi River increased.

  *Canals stopped being built in the Northeast.

  *More goods were shipped from the North to the South.

• *New states were added to the Union.

  *The population of major cities decreased

  *Support for Manifest Destiny grew stronger.

_____________________(Title)________________________

_________________________________________________________

*The potential for new markets

*An abundance of inexpensive farmland

*The discovery of gold

_________________________________________________________

Which title best completes this list?

• Economic Motives for Passing the Northwest Ordinance

• Reasons for Issuing the Monroe Doctrine

• Economic Motives for Manifest Destiny Policies

• Reasons for the Gadsen Purchase

Which of the following occured as a result of these events?

• The president of Mexico refused to withdraw troops from Texas.

• Parts of southern Texas were returned to Mexico.

• The United States acquired several territories from Mexico.

• Mexico was forced to sell Florida to the United States.

Which of the following was most responsible for the revolution described in the excerpt?

• Expanded public education

• Rapid technological innovation

• Increased government spending

• Rapid territorial expansion

How did the growth of the railway system during the nineteenth century affect the U.S. economy?

• By helping expand the commercial markets of U.S. companies

• By making it easier for people in rural areas to work in urban factories

• By helping strengthen the economic ties betwenn U.S. and British companies

• By permiting faster communication between corporate leaders and their employees

What was the fundamental question addressed in each of these congressional acts?

• Should the U.S. expand westward?

• Should states be allowed to nullify federal laws?

• Should slave labor be allowed in new states?

• Should states be able to secede from the Union?

This painting shows artist Thomas Nast's interpretation of General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, which ended the Civil War.

_____________________________________________________________

Where did the events shown in this painting occur?

• A private home in Appomattox County, Virginia

• The U.S. Capitol building

• A public church near Ford's Theatre

• The Governor's mansion in Richmond, Virginia