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Worksheets8th grade US History 1st Semester Review
Total questions: 65
Worksheet time: 34mins
Why were joint-stock companies appealing to many Europeans?
Joint-stock companies offered 100 acres of free land to settlers
Joint-stock companies were a low-risk, high-reward way of investing and making money
Joint-stock companies offered people free passage to the New World in exchange for years of labor
Joint-stock companies offered people freedom of religion
Describe conditions in 17th-18th century European cities that caused many Europeans to leave.
European cities struggled to employ their surplus population, and were often overcrowded
European cities were suffering under the Black Death, and many people wanted to leave
European cities were highly advanced, and people wanted to leave to re-start a farming way of life elsewhere
European cities were under strict Puritan control
What was the Virginia Company’s intent/purpose for settling the New World?
The Virginia Company intended to establish churches in the New World
The Virginia Company intended to become an ally of Spain in the New World
The Virginia Company intended to create a new England in the New World
The Virginia Company intended to find gold and create a profitable colony
How did the leadership of John Smith benefit the Jamestown Colony?
John Smith was a strong leader who had good trade relations with the Natives and forced the settlers to work
John Smith was able to locate all the gold in Jamestown
John Smith established the first Church of Jamestown
John Smith became King of Jamestown, appointed by King James
Describe the “starving time” at Jamestown.
The “starving time” was the summer of 1609 when there was a bad drought in Jamestown
The “starving time” was when the colonists starved out the Natives in the area
The “starving time” was a time when the colonists became disconnected from the Church
The “starving time” was the winter of 1609-10 when 80% of the settlers died of starvation
What crop allowed Jamestown to be successful?
Cotton
Tobacco
Corn
Indigo
What was the purpose of the House of Burgesses?
The House of Burgesses was the name of the Church of Jamestown
The House of Burgesses was the group of miners who found gold in Jamestown
The House of Burgesses made laws for the Jamestown Colony
The House of Burgesses was the location of tobacco storage in Jamestown
Why is the House of Burgesses significant in American history?
The House of Burgesses was the first representative form of government in America
The House of Burgesses was the first Church in Jamestown
The House of Burgesses was the location where King James would visit the colony
The House of Burgesses was the location of gold storage in Jamestown
What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact?
It was America’s first written Constitution
The Mayflower Compact was an agreement between the colonists to follow the laws they created and submit to the authority of their government.
It established 13 colonies along the East Coast.
It established a theocracy in Massachusetts Bay
Why is the Mayflower Compact significant?
It was America’s first written Constitution
It allowed the colonists to take over all Native lands in America
It gave all gold in America to King James
The Mayflower Compact was one of the first forms of democracy in America
Why were town hall meetings an important part of American history?
Town hall meetings allowed women and children to voice their opinions openly without backlash
Town hall meetings were an important form of entertainment for bored Puritans
Town hall meetings were an early form of democracy in America
Town hall meetings were a great time for Puritans to play music and have parties
What were the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, and why were they significant?
It was a large order of food for the second annual Thanksgiving for the Natives to fulfill
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first written plan of government in America, and it allowed citizens to elect their own leaders
It was a map which detailed the location of gold in the colonies
It was a code of Puritan laws that applied to all 13 colonies
Describe William Penn’s relationship with the Native Americans.
Penn was nice to the Natives and paid them for land
Penn was terrible to the Natives and killed many
Penn stole all the Natives’ gold
Penn converted the Natives to Christianity and they became Dutch citizens
Why was Penn’s Charter of Privileges important in American history?
It gave women the right to vote in all the colonies
It gave all the gold in America to the Dutch government
It allowed citizens to elect their leaders (early form of democracy)
It expanded Dutch control of the New World all the way to the West Coast
What was England’s main purpose for establishing the Georgia colony?
Georgia would serve as a “buffer colony” to keep the Spanish and French out of the wealthy Carolinas
Georgia would be the main place where gold was found in America
Georgia would serve as the political headquarters for English control in the colonies
Georgia would become a haven for those seeking religious freedom in America
What was the main reason why people settled in the New England colonies?
Religious freedom
Excellent fertile soil in the region
Gold was found in the region
To expand England’s political dominance
What types of economic activities did people do in the Middle Colonies?
Gold and silver mining
Fishing and whale hunting
Iron working and blacksmithing
Farming, trade, logging, ship-building
What was the main economic activity in the Southern colonies?
Gold mining
Fishing and hunting
Agriculture (farming)
Logging and ship-building
Where did the English mainly colonize in America?
Along the Atlantic Coast
Along the Pacific Coast
In the Rocky Mountains
In Louisiana
Why did the French choose to befriend the Natives?
The French wanted access to the Natives’ gold
The French wanted access to the fur trade
The French wanted to make the Natives into French citizens
The French wanted to convert the Natives to French polytheism
Describe the Middle Passage.
Terrible trans-Atlantic journey for slaves coming to America
It was the transport of gold from the New World to England
A time when the English brought hundreds of Natives to Europe to live there
It was the time period between colonization and the Civil War
What is an abolitionist, and who were two famous abolitionists?
Abolitionists were famous gold miners; John Smith and John Rolfe were famous abolitionists
Abolitionists were Southern politicians and leaders; Jefferson Davis and Isham Harris were famous examples
Abolitionists wanted to end slavery; two famous examples are Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman
Abolitionists were famous preachers; William Penn and James Oglethorpe were famous abolitionists
Why was the Great Awakening a significant event in colonial history?
It unified the colonies with a similar experience and grew religious tolerance in the colonies
It allowed the colonists to see past their racism and befriend all the Natives and free the slaves
It showed the colonists that the New World was not meant for them, and they all left.
It was a time when all the great American documents were written, like the Declaration of Independence
Describe the system of mercantilism.
The colonies were self-sufficient with production and manufacturing
Colonies grow the raw materials, England buys the cheap raw materials, turns them into expensive finished products and sells back to the colonies
The colonies traded with all European countries and made lots of money
England relinquished control of the colonies and they became independent
Name the Southern Colonies.
Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
Name the Middle Colonies.
Virginia, Maryland, North & South Carolina, Georgia
Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island
Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey
Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma
Name the New England Colonies.
Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana
Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey
Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, North & South Carolina
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine
In what fields did Ben Franklin have an impact on American history?
Science, Writing and Literature, and Politics
Politics, Weather Prediction, Classical artwork
Newspaper writing, Sports Journalism, Plans for early schools
Radio journalism, Invention of lightbulb, Competitive kite flying
Why is The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin so important?
Most American literature (even modern) is modeled after Franklin’s writing.
It was an insightful look into the life of the first American President.
It gave important details about the turn of the century going into the 1800s.
It was an excellent primary source of early American history.
How did the English government try to regain all of the money they had spent on the French and Indian War?
The English government passed various taxes on the colonists.
The English government set up colonies in Australia and India and extracted their resources for wealth.
The English government sold Native American slaves to other European countries.
France was forced to pay a settlement of $30 million to King George III.
What legacy did the Join, or Die cartoon carry into the American Revolution?
The colonies refused to join together and thereby lost the war.
The colonies re-joined forces with England and defeated France.
The colonies had to join together to defeat England
The cartoon was a popular battle flag during the Revolution
Why did the English government create the Proclamation Line of 1763?
To keep English settlers from destroying the old forests of the Appalachian Mts.
To keep English settlers on the east side of the Appalachians out of Native American territory, so English soldiers wouldn’t have to defend settlers from Native attacks
To keep Native Americans from crossing into the fertile regions on the seacoasts of the colonies.
All of the above
Why did colonists oppose the various British taxes from 1765-1776?
The colonists were extremely poor due to Indian raids and smallpox plagues.
The colonists felt they were being taxed without any representation in British government.
The colonists did not feel British after their militias had defeated the French.
Only poor colonists were being taxed and rich colonists were making lots of money.
What effect did the Boston Massacre (1770) have on the colonies as a whole?
It united many colonies with anger and resentment against the presence of British soldiers in the colonies.
It caused the Battles of Lexington and Concord only a month later.
It caused the colonists in Boston to throw all the British tea in Boston Harbor.
The Boston Massacre targeted Loyalists and made the Patriots very happy.
How did many colonial leaders openly defy the British government in 1776?
The Constitution was signed into law.
Colonial leaders created factories to build automatic weapons that had been forbidden by the English king
The Declaration of Independence was created and signed.
Colonial leaders hired the Hessians to fight for the Americans.
What are the 4 main ideas of the Declaration of Independence?
Government must give to its people: Jobs, Security, Peace, Happiness.
Government must create money, provide food, welfare, and housing for its people.
All men are created equal; Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; Government must protect our safety and happiness; If the government fails to do its job, the people can change/abolish it.
None of the above
How did Loyalists and Patriots differ in their beliefs about government?
Loyalists wanted to elect Benjamin Franklin as king, but Patriots wanted George Washington to be king.
Loyalists were anarchists (anti-government), and Patriots wanted a strong central government.
Loyalists wanted to remain under the control of England, but Patriots wanted to rule themselves independently.
Loyalists preferred a tax-free government, but Patriots believed government should tax the rich heavily.
Besides gathering more supplies, why was the Battle of Saratoga important to the Americans?
France joined the war as an American ally after the victory at Saratoga
Americans killed over 5,000 enemy soldiers there
Americans were able to sneak across the Delaware River and capture 1,000 enemy soldiers
Spain joined the war as an American ally after the battle
Despite the hardships of Valley Forge, describe the American Army in the spring of 1778.
The American Army almost collapsed in the spring of 1778
They emerged as a strong fighting force after training in early 1778.
The American Army won battles at Lexington and Concord after Valley Forge.
The Army won the Battle of Bunker Hill in the spring of 1778
Why did the colonists need to use guerrilla warfare tactics against the British?
The colonists had a policy of never being seen by the enemy
The Americans were outnumbered by the British
The colonists forced Native Americans to fight in their place, and that is how they fought
None of the above
Describe the Siege of Yorktown.
The Americans and French surrounded the British at Yorktown and shot at them for two weeks until the British surrendered.
The British surrounded the Americans and shot at them until the Americans surrendered.
The British were massacred by Native Americans at Yorktown
All of the above
Why was the Treaty of Paris (1783) significant in American history?
It gave California to America
It put England under the control of America
It was the first time in history that America was recognized as a free and independent country
It put America under the control of France.
Why is James Madison called the “Father of the US Constitution”?
He organized the Convention, arrived early to set up, wrote down every speech, etc.
He was the main author and creator of ideas in the Constitution
He was President of the Convention
He created the name “Constitution”
Name the three branches of government created at the Constitutional Convention.
Parliament, Prime Minister, and High Court
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Representatives, Senators, and Speaker of the House
Senate, President, and Circuit Court
The Great Compromise proposed a legislative branch with two groups of representatives in Congress—the ________________ and ___________________________________.
House of Burgesses and Parliament
Senate and House of Representatives
Town Hall and Fundamental House of Connecticut
Virginia House and New Jersey Senate
How many senators represent each state?
Four (4)
Two (2)
Ten (10)
Based on each state’s population
What determines the amount of representatives each state gets in the House of Representatives?
The state’s population
The amount of taxes that state is willing to pay
The size of the state (the more land the more representatives)
A combination of all of these factors
Name at least 3 powers that the legislative branch has.
Decide important legal issues, sign bills into law, and command the military
Interpret the law, enforce the law, and punish criminals
Make laws, declare war, borrow and issue money
All of the above
Name at least 3 of the President’s powers.
Decide important legal issues, sign bills into law, and write new laws
Interpret the law, enforce the law, and punish criminals
Commander of military, appoint ambassadors, and negotiate treaties
All of the above
Under the idea of popular sovereignty, the ______________ hold supreme power
People
President
Supreme Court
Congress
______________ is the sharing of power between National and State governments.
Checks and Balances
Great Compromise
Three-fifths Compromise
Federalism
The idea of ___________ and ____________ was created to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
Senate and House of Representatives
New Jersey Plan and Virginia Plan
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Checks and balances
Why did Anti-Federalists oppose the Constitution (what were they worried about)?
An overly powerful federal government taking away the rights of the states and the people
England taking back over America
The government charging too many taxes
A weak government like the Articles of Confederation
What did Federalists add to the Constitution to please the Anti-Federalists, and thereby pass the Constitution?
Bill of Rights
Articles of Confederation
Great Compromise
New Jersey Plan
The __________________________ is intended to protect the most basic rights of the citizens.
Articles of Confederation
Bill of Rights
Constitution
Declaration of Independence
The amendments that make up the Bill of Rights are different than the other amendments because they cannot be ___________________ or repealed.
Destroyed
Changed
Misinterpreted
None of these
The first amendment gives citizens the freedom of _________________, religion, press, petition, and assembly.
Speech
Money
Guns
Soldiers
_______________ and seizure says the government cannot search your property or take what is yours without reasonable cause.
Search
Speech
Warrant
Probable cause
The ninth amendment says that rights not listed in the Constitution are retained by the _________________.
President
People
Congress
Supreme Court
The tenth amendment delegates powers to the ________________ which are not kept by the federal government.
President
Congress
States
Supreme Court
Describe 3 problems that existed between the US and England before Jay’s Treaty.
British taxes, Quartering of soldiers, No taxation without representation
British forts on American soil, British encouraged Native American attacks, British ships attacked American ships
England owed the American government lots of money
All of these
Jay’s Treaty helped the US avoid going to _________ with England (again).
Spain
France
War
None of these
Why did the US government create the Whiskey Tax?
To begin re-paying the national debt
To stop people from drinking so much whiskey
To promote large whiskey brands like Jack Daniel’s
To keep farmers from making dangerous illegal whiskey
What did farmers compare the Whiskey Tax to?
Torture
Pre-Revolutionary British taxes
Corruption
None of these
How has Washington’s Farewell Address left a legacy on American History?
Many Presidents have used Washington’s advice to make important decisions.
Washington’s Farewell Address is printed on the dollar bill.
Students are required to memorize Washington’s Farewell Address
All of these
