Quiz on American History

How many African Americans were there in the United States around 1850?

• 1 million

• 3.6 million

• 5 million

• 2 million

What did Harriet Powers use to illustrate her stories in her quilts?

• Modern abstract patterns

• Geometric shapes

• Animals and figures from Africa and the United States

• Only floral designs

What was a common perception of whites towards blacks in the mid-1800s in America?

• They valued their contributions

• They were indifferent

• They ignored their contributions

• They sought their advice

According to W. E. B. Du Bois, what were the three gifts that African Americans brought and mingled with those of the Pilgrims?

• Music, dance, and art

• Story, song, and physical strength

• Culture, traditions, and history

• Education, labor, and freedom

What was the primary difference between slaves and free blacks in the mid-1800s according to Frederick Douglass?

• Free blacks could own property and slaves could not.

• Slaves were allowed to work in factories, whereas free blacks were not.

• Free blacks were not allowed to live in cities.

• Slaves had the right to vote.

According to the text, what was a common job for free African Americans in the South during the mid-1800s?

• Factory owners

• Craftspeople or household servants

• Lawyers

• Plantation overseers

How did the legal status of slaves impact their personal rights in the mid-1800s?

• Slaves were allowed to sue for their freedom.

• Slaves had the right to own property and acquire possessions.

• Slaves were considered property and had almost no personal rights.

• Slaves were allowed to vote and participate in government.

What effect did racism have on the lives of African Americans, whether free or enslaved, in the mid-1800s?

• It ensured equal rights under the law.

• It led to widespread economic prosperity.

• It shaped their lives by asserting one race's superiority over another.

• It had no significant impact on their lives.

What was a common restriction placed on free blacks in the South according to South Carolina slaveholders?

• They were encouraged to own property

• They were allowed to travel freely

• They were forbidden to own guns

• They were required to vote

What issue did free blacks in the North face despite living freer lives compared to those in the South?

• They were often elected to political offices

• They were denied the right to vote

• They had high-paying jobs

• They faced no discrimination