wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

1st Semester Review (8th Grade)

Total questions: 91

Worksheet time: 2hrs 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The House of Burgesses gave the colonists in Virginia the opportunity to control _______________
a)
their own government
b)
the First Americans
c)
the Royal Governor
d)
the King of England
2.
This was the first elected assembly in the colonies?
a)
Mayflower Compact
b)
Virginia House of Burgesses
3.
The House of Burgesses is important in history because it was the 
a)
the first time a council advised the Virginia Company
b)
only legislative body in England
c)
first election of women as leaders
d)
first elective legislative body in America
4.

Where did the Quakers decide to go?

a)

They went to the colony of Pennsylvania.

b)

They traveled to Roanoke.

c)

They went to Plymouth.

d)

They traveled to Canada.

5.
Who was the resident Trustee of the Georgia Colony and refered to as "father"?
a)
King George II
b)
James Oglethorpe
c)
Tomochichi
d)
Batman
6.
This was the first written form of self-government in the American colonies?
a)
Mayflower Compact
b)
Virginia House of Burgesses
7.

From the list below, select ALL of the examples of New England's economical sources:

a)

Merchants

b)

Fishing

c)

Shipbuilding

d)

Skilled Craftspeople

8.

The geography of Southern Colonies included:

a)

Uncleared Forests, Moderate Growing Season and Winters

b)

Fertile Soil, Warm Climate, Long Growing Season

c)

Harsh Winters, Rocky Soil, Jagged Coast

9.

What did the Mayflower Compact establish?

a)

a dinner menu

b)

a travel pattern

c)

a form of self-government

d)

a confirmed religion

10.

What cash crops did slaves produce on plantations in the Caribbean?

a)

Wheat, barley, and rye

b)

Pineapples, coconuts, and oranges

c)

Tobacco, sugar, and cotton

d)

Corn, squash, and beans

11.
Which best describes an important effect of the First Great Awakening?
a)
Followers put suspected witches on trial
b)
Puritans in England immigrated to settlements in the New World
c)
People became more emotionally engaged in religion
12.
To leave alone, not enforce laws of Magna Carta
a)
Salutary neglect
b)
mecantilism
c)
charter
13.

What was the main purpose of the Proclamation of 1763?

a)

To prevent colonist from talking about the King

b)

To help colonist trap fur in the Ohio River Valley

c)

To forbid colonist from moving across the Appalachian Mountains

d)

To give all colonist born in 1763 a free birthday dessert at their favorite restaurant

14.
Religious group in Pennsylvania (peacefully)
a)
Plantation
b)
House of Burgesses
c)
Quakers
15.
Why were the Intolerable acts created?
a)
To Kill everyone
b)
To punish the colonist for throwing tea in the boston harbor 
c)
to stop the boson massacure
16.

which Country had to give up most of their land after losing the French and Indian War?

a)

Britain

b)

France

c)

America

17.
Who won the French and Indian War?
a)
England
b)
France
c)
Indians
d)
Spain
18.
What war happened shortly after the Intolerable Acts?
a)
World War II
b)
Vietiam
c)
The Boston vs U.S War
d)
American Revolutionary War
19.

What is mercantilism?

a)

A system where a mother countries gains money and power from natural resources that come from its colonies.

b)

where colonies trade gold and silver with each other.

c)

Wars that start over money.

d)

Plantation colonies trading slaves for money.

20.
Complete the series of events....
        Boston Massacre
        Boston Tea Party
        Lexington and Concord
        Surrender at Yorktown
              ????????
a)
1st Continental Congress
b)
French and Indian War
c)
Treaty of Paris
d)
Declaration of Independence
21.
The Colonist responded to to the Intolerable acts by
a)
Declaring war on the British 
b)
Sending weapons to Georgia 
c)
Overthrowing the King 
d)
Meeting in the first Continental Congress 
22.
What are the three inalienable rights that all people have?
a)
Food, Shelter, and Clothing
b)
Life, Liberty and Death
c)
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
23.
According to the Declaration of Independence, what truth was "self-evident"?
a)
All men are created equal
b)
Rights are given by good kings
c)
Government exists to protect us from ourselves
d)
Only a democracy can protect our rights
24.

_____________________________________-members of the colonial army who were ready to fight at a minute's notice

a)

delegate

b)

casualties

c)

minutemen

d)

militia

25.
Which statement best describes the role of government according to the Declaration of Independence?
a)
“The main purpose of government is to expand and glorify the state”
b)
“The main purpose of government is to protect the unalienable rights of individuals”
c)
“The main purpose of government is to protect the rights and privileges of His Majesty, the King”
d)
“The main purpose of government is to promote the general welfare of the community by taking steps toward social equality”
26.
One weakness of the Articles of the Confederation was ____________. 
a)
The ability of Congress to tax.
b)
The inability of Congress to tax.
c)
The ability of Congress to declare war.
d)
The ability of Congress to create courts.
27.
The Articles of Confederation created a _________________ type of government.
a)
strong
b)
average
c)
weak
d)
federal
28.
What was the name Congress gave to the lands that were won from the British after the Revolution?
a)
Northwest Territory
b)
Indian Territory
c)
Canada
d)
Black Swamp
29.
What plan called for a unicameral (one house) legislature with equal representation for all states?
a)
Maine
b)
Florida
c)
Virginia
d)
New Jersey
30.
What was the 3/5ths Compromise?
a)
Slaves counted as 2/4ths of a person
b)
Slavery was outlawed
c)
Slaves counted as 3/5ths of a person
d)
Slaves in the South were set free
31.
Which plan only had one house and it was based on each state having equal amount of representatives?
a)
Virginia Plan
b)
New Jersey Plan
c)
The Great Compromise
d)
Three Fifth Compromise
32.
Which plan was not beneficial to the states with a small population?
a)
New Jersey 
b)
Three Fifth Compromise
c)
Virginia Plan
d)
The Great Compromise
33.

Which group wanted to ensure protection of individual rights and was therefore scared to ratify the Constitution?

a)

Anti-Federalists

b)

Federalists

34.
The Constitution replaced the ______ as the governing document of the country.
a)
Declaration of Independence
b)
Bill of Rights
c)
Emancipation Proclamation
d)
Articles of Confederation
35.

Which party supported the elites and a strong national government to control trade and support the economy?

a)

Democratic-Republicans

b)

Federalists

36.
The first ten amendments that went into effect in 1791.
a)
Incriminate
b)
Civil
c)
Bill of Rights
d)
Civil War Amendments
37.
Guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and the right to petition government.
a)
1st
b)
4th
c)
9th
d)
10th
38.
Guarantees the right to bear arms.
a)
1st
b)
2nd
c)
7th
d)
8th 
39.
Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
a)
2nd
b)
3rd
c)
4th
d)
7th
40.
Asserts that powers not delegated to the national government or denied to the states are reserved to the states.
a)
2nd
b)
8th
c)
9th 
d)
10th
41.
Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in homes in peacetime.
a)
1st
b)
3rd
c)
5th
d)
6th
42.

Who is the official leader of the Senate, but is rarely there.

a)

President Pro-Tempore

b)

President of the United States

c)

Speaker of the House

d)

Vice-President of the United States

43.
Name the 2 parts of Congress.
a)
President & Supreme Court
b)
House of Representatives & Senate
c)
Supreme Court & Senate
d)
House of Representatives & Supreme Court
44.

Rebels were angry in the Whiskey Rebellion because the Government...

a)

taxed only the selling of whiskey

b)

taxed whiskey really high to make revenue in order to pay off debt

c)

taxed the selling and making of whiskey

d)

taxed whiskey really high just show the farmers who's boss out of boredom

45.

How did the Shay Rebellion demonstrate the weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

a)

It revealed that the nation needed a stronger federal govt

b)

Proved that states needed more power

46.
Alexander Hamilton wrote the Federalist Papers, a series of newspaper essays that helped convince a skeptical public to ratify the Constitution, with:
a)
James Madison and Thomas Jefferson
b)
James Madison and John Jay
c)
George Washington and John Jay
d)
James Madison and William Duer
47.

Reaffirmed that when there is a conflict between the state's law and a federal statute, "the act of Congress . . . is supreme; and the law of the state...must yield to it."

a)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

b)

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

c)

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

48.
Why was Thomas Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana Territory seen as controversial? 
a)
Some polititians thought that the purchase was unconstitutional because the constitution does not give the president the power to buy land
b)
George Washington disagreed with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory 
c)
Sharing a new border with Spain could cause conflict
d)
It cost way too much money and was a bad deal
49.
How many square miles were in the Louisiana Purchase?
a)
827,987 square miles 
b)
600,000 square miles
c)
5 square miles
d)
1,700,000 square miles
50.

Led to federal government regulation of activities regulating anything that involves commerce between states such as railroads, pipelines, minimum wage regulation, and prohibition of child labor.

a)

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

b)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

c)

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

51.
Who said, "If you don't work, then you don't eat!"?
a)
Chief Powhatan
b)
Christopher Newport
c)
Lord De La Warr
d)
Captain John Smith
52.
What did the settlers build to protect themselves?
a)
adobe apartments
b)
tee pees
c)
longhouses
d)
a fort
53.

Roger Williams discovered what colony?

a)

Pennsylvania

b)

Rhode Island

c)

Virginia

54.

What was the name of the TRAIL that Daniel Boone blazed from Virginia to Kentucky?

a)

Winding Path

b)

Wilderness Road

c)

Forest Road

55.

In his pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine urged American colonists to

a)

establish their own nation

b)

pay their colonial taxes

c)

obey the laws of Parliament

d)

form an alliance with France

56.

Why did Marquis de Lafayette join the Continental Army?

a)

He wanted to help the Americans gain freedom.

b)

He wanted to oppose the intolerable acts.

c)

He was sent by the king.

57.

How did Baron von Steuben help the Continental Army?

a)

He gave them supplies.

b)

He allowed them to use cannons.

c)

He organized them, created drills, and a manual for them to use.

58.
Who won the first battle of Saratoga?
a)
British
b)
Minutemen
c)
Americans
d)
Horses
59.
What was the name of the British king during the American Revolution?
a)
Charles III
b)
George III
c)
William III
d)
James III
60.
Where were the first armed conflicts of the American Revolution?
a)
Yorktown
b)
Saratoga
c)
Lexington and Concord
d)
Bunker Hill
61.

Define CABINET

a)

a forced journey of Native American groups to Indian Territory

b)

a group of advisors to the president

c)

the goal of the movement that fought to end slavery

d)

someone who settles a new place before others

e)

pride in one's nation

62.

Define NATIONALISM

a)

the forced journey of Native American groups to Indian Territory

b)

a group of advisors to the president

c)

the goal of the movement that fought to end slavery

d)

someone who settles a new place before others

e)

pride in one's nation

63.

How did the new capital of Washington, D. C. symbolize the new nation?

a)

It was built in a large commercial city.

b)

It was located between the first two British colonies.

c)

It was a new city.

d)

It was named after its military leader.

64.

Why was Jefferson able to make the Louisiana Purchase?

a)

Congress had given him permission.

b)

The United States had captured the port of New Orleans.

c)

Napoleon wanted to sell the Louisiana territory to pay for a war with Britain.

d)

James Monroe was wealthy and could buy the land.

65.

Which of the following was one of the major outcomes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

a)

The explorers discovered a water route across the continent.

b)

The journey paved the way for settlers from the eastern United States.

c)

The expedition caused the Native Americans to rise up in rebellion.

d)

The explorers found no unique animals or plants.

66.

Why was it difficult for the United States to remain neutral in the war between Great Britain and France?

a)

Both Great Britain and France were threatening American shipping.

b)

Great Britain and France wanted to take back the Northwest Territory.

c)

The United States wanted to take over Canada, and knew it would have to fight for it.

d)

French and British soldiers had remained in the frontier after the Revolution.

67.

What event inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star-Spangled Banner"?

a)

the end of the War of 1812

b)

seeing the American flag flying above Fort McHenry

c)

the surrender of the British fleet

d)

the American victory at the Battle of New Orleans

68.

How did the War of 1812 change the way Americans viewed their nation?

a)

It showed that the United States was stronger than Great Britain.

b)

The victory over Great Britain doubled the United States' territory.

c)

The loss of the port of New Orleans was a major blow to American trade.

d)

It showed that the United States could stand up to the most powerful nation on Earth.

69.

What was the main message of the Monroe Doctrine?

a)

The United States would not wage war on Europe.

b)

North and South America were U. S. Territory.

c)

It warned European nations not to colonize in the Americas.

d)

It declared independence for all colonies in Latin America.

70.

Why did James Monroe order Andrew Jackson into Florida?

a)

to stop the Seminoles from attacking settlers in Georgia

b)

to recapture escaped African slaves

c)

to purchase Florida from the Spanish

d)

to meet with the ordinary people

71.
What was the first scandal during President Adam's term called?
a)
Whiskey Rebellion
b)
Embargo Act
c)
XYZ Affair
d)
Watergate 
72.
Other than America, what country was involved during the XYZ Affair?
a)
Great Britain 
b)
Spain 
c)
France 
73.
What act made it illegal to speak out or write against the American government?
a)
Sedition Act
b)
Alien Act
c)
Judiciary Act of 1789
d)
Tea Act 
74.
What power allows the US Supreme Court to determine if a law is unconstitutional?
a)
Judiciary Act of 1789
b)
Judicial Review
c)
The US Constitution 
d)
Sedition Act
75.
Who is considered "The Father of the Constitution."
a)
James Madison
b)
William Marbury
c)
George Washington
d)
Benjamin Franklin
76.
Marbury V. Madison gave the US Supreme court what power?
a)
to appoint federal judges
b)
Judicial Review
c)
to issue Writs of Mandamus
77.
What caused the Whiskey Rebellion?
a)
A lack of whiskey
b)
Washington's inaguration
c)
an increase on whiskey tax
78.
What political party did Thomas Jefferson belong to?
a)
Federalists
b)
Green Party
c)
Tea Party
d)
Democratic-Republicans 
79.

Why was there a crisis in the Electoral College in the election of 1800?

a)

The Electoral College voted separately for president and vice president, and they elected a Federalists for president and a Democratic-Republican for vice president.

b)

Two Democratic-Republican candidates got the same amount of votes in the Electoral College, so the House of Representatives had to vote to break the tie.

c)

The Electoral College voted separately for president and vice president, and they elected a Democratic-Republican for president and a Federalists for vice president.

d)

Two Federalists candidates got the same amount of votes in the Electoral College, so the Senate had to break the tie.

80.

What was significant change occurred in 1804 as a result of the issues in the election of 1800?

a)

Congress passed the 12th Amendment, which required the Electoral College to vote for only one candidate from a political party.

b)

The political parties signed an agreement about how to resolve disputed elections in the future.

c)

The political parties signed an agreement to unify, which led to President Jefferson to say: "We are all Republicans. We are all Federalists."

d)

Congress passed the 12th Amendment, which required the Electoral College to vote for president and vice president separately.

81.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed by John Adams

a)

John Marshall

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

William Clark

d)

Meritwether Lewis

82.

3rd President of the United States; author of the Declaration of Independence

a)

John Marshall

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

William Clark

d)

Meritwether Lewis

83.

When the territory in western United States purchased from France in 1803 for $15 million

a)

Election of 1800

b)

Louisiana Purchase

c)

Barbary War

d)

Embargo Act

84.

Conflict in which Jefferson follows the Adams's precedent of undeclared war by fighting the Barbary pirates.

a)

Election of 1800

b)

Louisiana Purchase

c)

Barbary War

d)

Embargo Act

85.

An act passed by Congress to stop all foreign trade with the United States (1807)

a)

Election of 1800

b)

Louisiana Purchase

c)

Barbary War

d)

Embargo Act

86.

A Shoshone woman whose language skills and knowledge of geography helped Lewis and Clark

a)

John Marshall

b)

Sacagawea

c)

Lewis and Clark

d)

Barbary Pirates

87.

The ______________________________ was an address to Congress on December 1823 that outlined a comprehensive foreign policy to protect U.S. independence by limiting European influences on North and South America.

a)

Monroe Doctrine

b)

Adams-Onis Treaty

c)

War of 1812

d)

Convention of 1818

88.

The ­­­­­­­­­­________________________________________ was a treaty between the United States and Britain that set the 49th parallel of latitude as the boundary between Canada (British) and the United States across the West.

a)

Treaty of Ghent

b)

Adams-Onis Treaty

c)

Embargo Act

d)

Convention of 1818

89.

______________________________________ was the Governor of the Indiana Territory who gained national fame following his defeat of Tenskwatawa and a Native American confederation at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Later became the 9th president of the United States.

a)

Andrew Jackson

b)

William Henry Harrison

c)

Marbury v. Madison

d)

Monroe Doctrine

90.

The ________________________ was between Britain and the United States, fought between 1812 and 1815. It began over alleged British violations of American shipping rights, such as the impressment of seamen. There was no clear winner in the war.

a)

Louisiana Purchase

b)

Embargo Act

c)

War of 1812

d)

Barbary Pirates

91.

The ___________________________ passed by Thomas Jefferson in 1807 forbid American ships from trading with Europe because of this act the American economy began to collapse.

a)

Marbury v. Madison

b)

Embargo Act

c)

Treaty of Ghent

d)

Monroe Doctrine