8th Grade Mid-Term 23-24

What was one result of the French and Indian War?

• France lost land claims in North America while Britain gained Canada and most French lands east of the Mississippi River.

• Spain gained Canada and Britain gained New Orleans.

• Land east of the Mississippi River was divided equally between France and Britain.

• France began moving west to settle new lands.

The Louisiana Purchase was significant to the United States because it

• nearly doubled the size of the country.

• helped the United States challenge British power in North America.

• set an example regarding the purchase of territory without congressional approval.

• took New Orleans out of Spain’s control.

Why was the idea of “taxation without representation” so important to the revolutionary cause?

• Great Britain taxed the colonists only to force them into war.

• Colonists believed that Great Britain should tax only certain items.

• Great Britain would have ended taxation if colonists had kept the peace.

• Colonists believed King George III had abused his power by taxing them without their consent.

What was the main issue debated during the Second Continental Congress?

• whether to seek a peaceful or violent solution

• how to plan a surprise attack against Britain

• how to convert more colonists to the Patriot cause

• whether foreign allies would be beneficial

Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense led many colonial leaders to

• reject Enlightenment ideas.

• challenge British authority.

• understand the good sense of monarchy.

• agree to enforce British laws.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point for the Patriots?

• The Patriots gained the support of France and Spain.

• The Patriots saved the army from losing enlisted men.

• The Patriots got a Prussian to train the Continental Army.

• The Patriots realized they did not need foreign allies.

What was the significance of the Battle of Yorktown?

• It convinced colonists to follow British rule.

• It allowed the French to gain colonial territory.

• It showed the British that they could defeat the Patriots.

• It was the last major conflict of the American Revolution.

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was one of the earliest expressions of which basic principle of American government?

• equality of opportunity

• freedom of speech

• separation of church and state

• due process of law

The main cause of Shays’s Rebellion was the

• corruption of wealthy leaders, which divided the local government.

• collection of taxes on land to pay off war debts, which hurt farmers.

• overproduction of worthless paper money, which slowed the economy.

• inability of the Congress to regulate trade, which led to unemployment.

The framers of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances to

• outline the powers held by each branch of government.

• keep any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

• give the people an opportunity to control the branches of government.

• strengthen the powers held by each branch of government.