US History STAAR Vocabulary

Which reason best completes the diagram?

• Requirements of an alliance with France

• Interest in conquering territories in South America

• British impressment of US sailors

• Abolition of state militias

Which inference about the Know-Nothing Party is supported by the excerpt above?

• Its members blamed Irish immigrants for taking away jobs

• The party encouraged western migration of settlers

• Its members opposed enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act in the Northeast

• The party was in favor of universal suffrage

Which human geographic factor most likely prompted this observation?

• Then number of Quakers living in British colonies

• The Caribbean slave trade with British colonies

• The number of religious sects in the British colonies

• The Spanish land claims close to the British colonies

This list provides information about religious changes in the United States in the early 1800s. - 1800 Major religious revivals in Kentucky are popular and spread east. - 1816 The African Methodist Episcopal Church is established. - 1830 Joseph Smith founds the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). - 1832 The Disciples of Christ is established. Which conclusion can be made about why these groups were created?

• Local governments gave people the right to freely practice their beliefs.

• The Northwest Ordinance provided an outline to expand the number of churches.

• The federal government provided money to encourage the growth of churches.

• Passage of the First Amendment gave people the freedom to practice their beliefs.

This excerpt is from a political address made by a politician in the 1800s. "The [wise], penniless beginner in the world, labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land, for himself; then . . . hires another new beginner to help him. This, say its advocates, is . . . the just and generous, and prosperous system, which opens the way for all—gives hope to all, and energy, and progress, and improvement of condition to all. —Abraham Lincoln, September 30, 1859 Which economic principle does Lincoln describe in this address?

• The value of free enterprise to earn a profit

• The significance of scarcity in business

• The importance of equal pay for equal work

• The need for competition in the market

Which action led the United States into the War of 1812?

• American warships were captured at sea and forced to fight for Britain.

• American merchant sailors smuggling goods to Europe were imprisoned in Britain.

• American merchant sailors were impressed into naval service to fight for Britain.

• American warships sailing from European ports were boarded and impounded in Britain.

Which statement describes a reason for the development of the transatlantic slave trade?

• Colonial governments wanted to use enslaved labor to build needed canals.

• Plantation owners in southern colonial states were increasing profits by using enslaved labor.

• Many colonists relied on enslaved labor to do the difficult work on their ranches.

• Textile production in northern colonial factories was increasingly dependent on enslaved labor.

Which characteristics MAINLY describe either the era of European colonization or the era of westward expansion? Select the correct answers for each box.

• Construction of the railroad connected different regions.

• Settlers migrated to seek religious freedom.

• Principles of self-governance were established.

• Settlers sought individual wealth through minerals or ranching.

This excerpt is from a song written in 1875. Oh! times are tough, amazing rough, Expenses are alarming, I will go West, it’s far the best, Try my luck at farming. For the idea, of staying here To just earn your gruel, Makes me feel sad and sometimes mad ’Tis so awful cruel. —sheet music by J. P. Barrett, "I Will Go West!" Based on the excerpt and your knowledge of U.S. history, which aspect of American life during this time is indicated by this song?

• Unfair working conditions due to industrialization inspired artists to begin a protest movement.

• The nation’s economy shifted away from industrialization in order to focus on agriculture.

• Difficult conditions in industrial cities encouraged people to seek opportunities elsewhere.

• A dramatic increase in the inflation rate at this time raised the cost of living in industrial cities.

Based on the map and your knowledge of U.S. history, which outcomes resulted from the Compromise of 1850? Select TWO correct answers.

• California was admitted into the union as a free state.

• A parallel was designated as the boundary between free and slave states.

• Southern state legislators failed to get a new fugitive-slave law passed.

• New territories were given the power to decide the issue of slavery.

• The Florida territory was purchased from Spain and admitted as a free state.