Unit 6 Assessment: Early America

Read the following paragraph about Jamestown: "Jamestown was started in 1607. It was the first successful English settlement in North America. The settlers built Jamestown near the James River. The river gave them fresh water and made it easier to move supplies. The river and nearby ocean also helped protect the settlement. Enemy ships were easier to see before they reached the land. The area around Jamestown had many forests. The settlers used the trees to build homes and ships. Nearby islands helped block strong storms and kept boats safe. These details show that the settlers chose this location because it gave them both safety and the resources they needed." Which statement best explains why colonists chose Jamestown as a settlement?

• Jamestown was ideal for growing crops because it had warm summers and mild winters.

• Jamestown was open for settlement because no Native Americans lived in or around Jamestown.

• Jamestown was surrounded by several colonies that helped provide new colonists with resources and protection.

• Jamestown was near the ocean, which provided transportation and resources, but far enough away to be protected from attack by European nations.

What was the main reason people became indentured servants in the colonies?

• It was the fastest way to learn a new skill to use in a job.

• Indentured servants earned more money than other workers.

• Merchants became indentured servants to help sell their goods in the Americas.

• Passage to the Americas was too expensive for most people to afford on their own.

Read the following passage about the Growth of the Colonies: "In the early 1600s, England began sending people to live in America. These people were called colonists. They came for different reasons, but all hoped to have a better life. After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, things changed between Britain and the colonies. King George III of England gained new land in North America. He also wanted to pay for the war. To do this, he began taxing the colonists. These taxes made life harder for them. Events like the Boston Massacre and the Battle of Bunker Hill made many colonists want to be free from British rule." Which event caused the British to heavily tax the colonists?

• The Battle of Bunker Hill

• The Boston Massacre

• The Boston Tea Party

• The French and Indian War

Read the following statement from Captain Thomas Preston, commander of British troops, about what he thinks happened during the Boston Massacre in 1770: "On Monday night, two soldiers were attacked. I was between the soldiers and the mob (a large, angry crowd) of colonists, trying to convince them to leave peacefully. On asking the soldiers why they fired without orders, they said they heard the word ‘fire’ and supposed it came from me. But I assured the men that I gave no such order." Which statement best describes the viewpoint of Captain Thomas Preston?

• He supported the American colonists.

• His forces attacked without his commands.

• He thought people in the town were helping his soldiers.

• He thought the British government was being unfair to the Americans.

Read the following statement from Captain Thomas Preston, commander of British troops, about what he thinks happened during the Boston Massacre in 1770: "On Monday night, two soldiers were attacked. I was between the soldiers and the mob (a large, angry crowd) of colonists, trying to convince them to leave peacefully. On asking the soldiers why they fired without orders, they said they heard the word ‘fire’ and supposed it came from me. But I assured the men that I gave no such order." What evidence from his testimony supports the claim that his forces attacked without his commands?

• “On Monday night about 8 o’clock two soldiers were attacked.”

• “I was between the soldiers and the mob.”

• “...they said they heard the word ‘fire.’”

• “But I assured the men that I gave no such order.”

Read the following paragraph: "In the years before the Declaration of Independence was written, the American colonies had many problems with Great Britain. The British government began charging the colonists new taxes, such as the Stamp Act and the Tea Act. The colonists were angry because they did not have a voice in the British government. They believed in the idea of “no taxation without representation,” which means people should not be taxed without having a say in government decisions. To show their anger, the colonists protested and stopped buying British goods. These protests led to events like the Boston Massacre. In 1775, fighting began between British soldiers and the colonists at places like Lexington and Concord. In 1776, leaders such as Thomas Jefferson worked together to write the Declaration of Independence. This document explained that the colonies wanted to be free from British rule and become their own country." What is one reason that the colonists decided to write the Declaration of Independence? Use evidence from the paragraph.

Read the following passage: "After the French and Indian War, problems grew between the colonists and the British government. Some colonists were called Loyalists. They believed the colonies should stay part of England and follow British rule. Other colonists were called Patriots. They believed it was time for the colonies to become independent and rule themselves." How are Patriots and Loyalists similar?

• They both wanted the colonies to become independent from England.

• They both believed England should stay in control of the colonies.

• They both lived in the American colonies.

• They both felt England treated them unfairly.

The Stamp Act of 1765 was a tax on:

• Postage stamps only

• Legal papers and documents

• Tea and sugar

• British stamps

Which act allowed British officers to search colonists' homes without permission?

• The Sugar Act

• The Stamp Act

• The Townshend Acts

• The Intolerable Acts

What were the Intolerable Acts?

• Laws that gave colonists more freedom

• Punishment for the Boston Tea Party

• New taxes on sugar

• Rules about selling tea