3rd Grade Benchmark 1

Using Source 1, who were the first inhabitants of North America?

• English colonists

• French explorers

• Native Americans

• Spanish soldiers

Using Source 2, how did John Smith describe life in the early American colony of Jamestown?

• Life in Jamestown was easy because the Native Americans helped the colonists grow the food they needed to survive.

• Life in Jamestown was difficult because the colonists had to clear the land of trees to build their homes and grow food to survive.

• Life in Jamestown was easy because the English settlers traded with Native Americans for everything they needed.

• Life in Jamestown was dangerous because settlers had to fight with pirates.

Based on Source 2, Source 3, and Source 4, which of the following best describes the economic activities of the Jamestown colony in Virginia?

• Jamestown colony made money from fishing in the Atlantic Ocean.

• Jamestown colony made money from trading fruit and vegetables with Native Americans.

• Jamestown colony made money from enslaved Africans, who were forced to work without pay.

• Jamestown colony made money from shipbuilding and logging.

Based on all of the sources, which statement best explains how geography and climate impacted the economies of the colonies?

• The geography and climate of the colonial regions made the Northeast region rich and the Southeast region poor.

• The geography and climate of the colonial regions made farming difficult in the Southeast region but easy in the Northeast region.

• The geography and climate of the colonial regions impacted the resources that colonists could grow, trade, and sell.

• The geography and climate of the colonial regions led to the rapid growth of slavery in the Northeast and the slow growth of slavery in the Southeast.

Using Source 2 and Source 4, what is the best explanation why Africans were enslaved and forcibly brought to the colonies?

• To increase the wealth of plantation owners.

• To teach American colonists new farming practices.

• To work in coal mines in the Appalachian Mountains.

• To start work on the Underground Railroad.

Based on Source 1, which of the historical documents below was written at the Constitutional Convention?

• Declaration of Independence

• Letters of Valley Forge

• Treaty of Paris

• U.S. Constitution

How does Source 3 best show the form of government that the United States adopted with its Constitution?

• It shows the flags of different colonies.

• It shows people electing a king.

• It shows the start of a political party.

• It shows representatives working for the people.

Based on Source 2, what best explains the reason why the snake in the picture is saying “Don’t tread [walk] on me?”

• The colonists were more afraid of snakes than the King of England.

• It’s a warning that if you step on a snake you might get poisoned.

• It’s making fun of the King of England by comparing him to a snake.

• The colonists are warning the King of England: If you tax us without representation, we will bite you like a snake!

Based on Source 4, which of the following best describes the purpose of the Preamble to the Constitution?

• The Preamble declares America’s independence from Great Britain.

• The Preamble explains the goals of the new government.

• The Preamble explains why men who own property would be able to vote.

• The Preamble explains the reasons why Americans won the Revolutionary War.

Based on all the sources and your knowledge of social studies, describe one way the writers of the Constitution fixed the problems Americans had with the British monarchy when they wrote the US Constitution.

• By establishing a monarchy with limited powers

• By creating a system of checks and balances

• By allowing the President to have absolute power

• By giving more power to the states than the federal government