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STAAR Practice - Part 2

Total questions: 55

Worksheet time: 1hrs 1mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are rights considered to be...

a)

transferable

b)

inherited

c)

unalienable

d)

legislated

2.

How did mercantilist policies create tension between Great Britain and the colonies?

a)

by introducing indentured servitude to the middle colonies

b)

by requiring colonists to enlist in the military

c)

by limiting the amount of farmland each colonist could have

d)

by preventing colonists from trading with other foreign countries

3.

Which factor encouraged more immigrants to settle in northern states rather than southern states during the mid-nineteenth century?

a)

northern states had lower population densities

b)

citizenship requirements in southern states were not as strict

c)

southern states had smaller industrial sectors

d)

governments in northern states were less corrupt

4.

The eighth amendments includes: no excessive fines, no excessive bail and ...

a)

cruel and unusual punishment cannot be inflicted

b)

people cannot be forced to be witnesses against themselves

c)

warrants cannot be issued unless probable cause is established

d)

a defendant cannot be denied a speedy trial

5.

The completion of the Erie Canal played a key role in which development?

a)

New York City becoming a vital commercial center with country's busiest sea port

b)

New Orleans becoming a leader in manufacturing and overseas trade

c)

Washington DC becoming the cultural and political center of the nation

d)

Boston becoming one of the country's largest transportation hubs

6.

The U.S. in the mid-1800's experienced the following:

1. the industrial revolution expanded

2.______________________________

3.overcrowding, pollution and crime became widespread, 4.reform movements were organized to address social problems

a)

cities grew rapidly

b)

demand for artisans increased

c)

farms experienced a shortage of labor

d)

government regulation of factories increased

7.

The Whiskey Rebellion challenged the idea that ...

a)

the federal govt. had the power to pass and enforce tax laws

b)

a national military was needed for dealing with foreign threats

c)

the federal govt. could raise tariffs to protect industries

d)

a national court system was need for resolving disputes between states

8.

Why did the siege of Vicksburg affect the balance of power during the Civil War?

a)

several important Confederate generals were killed

b)

Union troops were pushed back across the Ohio River

c)

the Confederate territory was divided in half

d)

several casualties were inflicted on the Union forces.

9.

Which argument would a Federalist make to support ratification of the Constitution?

a)

the Constitution will enable states to nullify laws that are harmful to citizens

b)

a strong federal govt. will be more stable than a loose confederation of states

c)

the Constitution will allow states to establish banks

d)

a republican system of govt. will better represent large states

10.

What was the primary question surrounding the 1832 Nullification Crisis?

a)

can the federal govt. regulate interstate commerce

b)

can a state regulate a federal agency

c)

can a state overturn a federal law

d)

can the federal govt. levy taxes on states

11.

President Hayes proposed a change in federal policy toward American Indians. He stated, "I see no reason why Indians who can give satisfactory proof of having by their own labor supported their families for a number of years, and who are willing to detach themselves from their tribal relations, should not be admitted to the benefit of the homestead act..." This new policy did which of the following?

a)

promoted individual land ownership among American Indians

b)

forced white settlers to leave reservation lands

c)

ended federal oversight of tribal governments

d)

granted American Indians the right to attend public schools

12.

One environmental consequence of the large scale cultivation of cotton in the South was ....

a)

widespread soil exhaustion caused by decades of farming

b)

drought caused by overuse of river water to irrigate farmland

c)

air pollution caused by the use of cotton gins

d)

widespread water contamination caused by fertilizer runoff

13.

John Hancock was one of the Founding Fathers committed to liberty. How did he demonstrate this commitment?

a)

by Writing the Articles of Confederation

b)

by serving as commander in chief of the Continental Army

c)

by organizing Committees of Correspondence

d)

by signing the Declaration of Independence

14.

Which of these was a primary reason Chinese immigrants came to the U.S. in the early 1850's?

a)

to seek gold

b)

to purchase inexpensive farmland

c)

to avoid the plague

d)

to escape religious persecution

15.

Which amendment prohibits federal and state govts. from the following:

1.passing laws to aid a religious institution

2.requiring individuals to attend religious services

3.punishing individuals for their religious beliefs

4. levying taxes to support religious institutions

a)

First Amendment

b)

Second Amendment

c)

Fifth Amendment

d)

Tenth Amendment

16.

How did advancements in industrial technologies affect businesses during the late nineteenth century?

a)

by making handcrafted goods more affordable

b)

by improving production methods and increasing competition

c)

by forcing producers to manufacture multiple products

d)

by causing an increase in wages for factory workers

17.

Why is the Battle of Saratoga considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War?

a)

the British victory extended the fighting for another year

b)

the American defeat led many soldiers to desert the Continental Army

c)

the British defeat marked the beginning of a steady decline in British military superiority

d)

the American victory convince France to ally with the U.S.

18.

What assurance did the following argument give to those who opposed ratifying the Constitution?

" In the...republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments...Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself."

a)

the amendment process would allow state govts. to nullify federal law

b)

making the federal govt. superior to state govts. would ensure greater stability

c)

the rights of the citizens would be better protected by having both federal and state levels of govt.

d)

giving greater power to the federal govt. would allow it to assist states in times of crisis

19.

Which of the following contributed most to the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade during the 1700's?

a)

a lack of skilled labor in the American colonies

b)

demand for slaves in the American colonies that produced cash crops

c)

a lack of protective tariffs in the American colonies

d)

demand for slaves in the industrialized American colonies

20.

The organization of the first U.S. political parties resulted in large part from disagreements over which issue?

a)

the purchase of the Louisiana territory from France

b)

the election of George Washington to a second term as president

c)

the establishment of the First Bank of the U.S.

d)

the attack on the Port of Tripoli in North Africa

21.

Who is the source of the following statement on foreign policy"

"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations to them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop."

a)

George Washington's Farewell Address

b)

The Monroe Doctrine

c)

Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address

d)

The Federalist papers

22.

Poll taxes, literacy tests and Grandfather clauses are examples of ways southern states weakened the effects off the ...

a)

Compromise of 1850

b)

Fifteenth Amendment

c)

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

d)

Dred Scott v Sandford decision

23.

Which reasons did the U.S. five for declaring war on Mexico in 1846?

a)

to overturn a corrupt Mexican govt.

b)

to defend U.S. territory from Mexican aggression

c)

to end a Mexican slave rebellion

d)

to respond to attacks on U.S. merchant ships by Mexican pirates

24.

Why were the following Union tactics effective during the Civil War? They included:

1.enforcement of an embargo of Confederate goods

2.enforcement of a naval blockade of Confederate ports

a)

Confederate states were unable to collect tariffs on manufactured goods

b)

Union forces were able to use the blockades to gain international support

c)

Confederate states were unable to use agricultural exports as a source of revenue

d)

Union forces were able to earn money for supplies by selling confiscated bales of cotton

25.

How did the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance affect U.S. expansion?

a)

by funding a transportation network in uninhabited regions

b)

by establishing a process for territories to govern themselves

c)

by promoting growth of southern plantation economies

d)

by creating a national bank to loan money to land investors

26.

Freedmen's Bureau provided the following:

1.provided food, shelter and clothing

2.negotiated and enforced labor contract

3._________________________________________

a)

established schools

b)

certified applications for political office

c)

granted small business loans

d)

provided funds for farming supplies

27.

Which factor contributed to the creation of the following documents:

1.the Mayflower Compact

2.the charter establishing the Virginia House of Burgesses

3.the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

a)

the opportunity to trade with American Indians

b)

the distance of the colonies from Great Britain

c)

the doctrine of the Church of England

d)

the economic system of mercantilism

28.

Why were southern delegates to the Continental Convention willing to accept the Three-Fifths Compromise?

a)

It increased the political influence of the South

b)

it allowed indentured servants in the South to become citizens

c)

it decreased the federal tax on property in the South

d)

it allowed the south to expand its industrial output

29.

In Marbury v Madison, the Supreme Court first stated the principle that ...

a)

only the courts may regulate interstate commerce

b)

the president may veto legislation

c)

the courts may declare a federal law unconstitutional

d)

only the president may issue an executive order

30.

Which of these is a grievance from the Declaration of Independence?

a)

colonists who were born in America were prohibited from holding an elected office

b)

colonists were forced to quarter troops in their homes

c)

colonists were not eligible to become officers in the British army

d)

colonists were required to serve a year in their colony's militia

31.

The headline from the Daily Star- September 18, 1850 read

"Congress Passes the Fugitive Slave Act." What was a direct result of this event announced in the headline?

a)

the abolitionist movement gained momentum in the North

b)

members of the US Senate sought to end Black Codes in the southern states

c)

the federal govt. allowed the expansion of slavery into all new western territories

d)

abolitionist moved to the south to avoid living under the new law

32.

A diary entry by a Mormon in 1846 stated " our enemies continued to harass us in the fall of 1845...They commenced burning houses, grain stacks and driving off cattle...The persecution became so general that for the sake of peace, _______________________________" What phrase correctly completes the excerpt?

a)

we joined the local congregation

b)

we agreed to leave

c)

we asked the federal govt. for aid

d)

we sued our tormenters

33.

Why was it difficult for Congress to fulfill its duties under the Articles of Confederation?

a)

any congressional action required executive approval

b)

congress lacked the power to declare war

c)

most congressional decisions required the approval of at least 9 states

d)

congress lacked the power to regulate foreign trade

34.

1.File an application

2.Be interviewed

3.Take language and civics test

4.Take the oath of allegiance

These are some of the steps in becoming...

a)

registered voter

b)

member of the US armed forces

c)

candidate for elected office

d)

naturalized U.S. citizen

35.

1.Establishment of the South's first state funded public school system

2.Implementation of a more equitable taxation system

3.Prohibition of racial discrimination in public transportation and accommodations


These reforms were instituted by...

a)

governors during the colonial era

b)

Reconstruction govts. after the Civil War

c)

Patriots during the American Revolution

d)

revivalists after the Second Great Awakening

36.

What was one result of industrialization in the U.S. during the mid-1800's

a)

sectional differences increased

b)

the federal govt. prohibited immigration

c)

job opportunities decreased

d)

fewer public lands were devoted to transportation

37.

The economies of the new western states were very different from those of the northeastern states in the mid-1800's. One major difference was that western states...

a)

relied on subsistence farming

b)

used natural harbors for shipping

c)

focused on mining and agriculture

d)

traded freely with other nations

38.

Reasons for European Exploration included

1.to find new sea routes to India and China

2.to find gold, silver and other treasure

3._______________________________________

a)

to spread democratic ideals

b)

to improve efficiency in manufacturing

c)

to locate potential military allies

d)

to claim new territory

39.

Some believe the assassination of Abraham Lincoln changed the course of Reconstruction. What was usually cited as an aspect of that change?

a)

Congress imposed taxes on cotton imports to pay war debts

b)

the 13th Amendment was approved by Congress

c)

Radical Republicans took control of Congress

40.

The 12th Amendment established a process for choosing a president and vice president. The purpose of the amendment was to...

a)

reduce the likelihood of disputed outcomes in presidential elections

b)

prevent the concentration of power in the executive branch

c)

ease the eligibility requirements for holding federal office

41.

One effect of the Dawes Act was that it...

a)

harmed the communal structure of American Indian Society

b)

limited the voting rights of American Indians

c)

caused many American Indian tribes to create written constitutions

42.

The newspaper headlines read, "Missouri Compromise Declared Unconstitutional" and "The Triumph of Slavery" refers to which Supreme Court Decision?

a)

McCulloch v. Maryland

b)

Gibbons v. Ogden

c)

Dred Scott v. Sandford

43.

What factors most encouraged growth of the Colonial Transatlantic Trade?

a)

invention of the steam engine

b)

profitability of cash-crop agriculture

c)

development of the factory system

44.

Ralph Waldo Emerson led what reform movement?

a)

Temperance

b)

Second Great Awakening

c)

Abolititonism

d)

Transcendentalism

45.

Some factors that contributed to early industrialization in the US were an abundance of laborers, the availability of capital and ...

a)

growth of labor union

b)

increased govt. regulation

c)

new transportation systems

46.

How did Samuel Morse's invention contribute to the US growth and development?

a)

boosted the speed of cross country mail

b)

enabled instantaneous long distance transmission of information

c)

allowed manufactured good to be produced at lower costs

47.

The Fifteenth Amendment was ratified in order to ...

a)

protect the voting rights of African American men

b)

establish legal requirements for the education of former slaves

c)

abolish the institution of slavery

48.

A direct result of building the national road was

a)

it cooperated closely by state governments to maintain road quality

b)

to become a major industry in the US

c)

to improve transportation to western states that expanded trade and settlement

49.

Boston and New Orleans were both founded as...

a)

port cities

b)

industrial centers

c)

farming communities

50.

What was one major effect of the Second Great Awakening?

a)

people were inspired to join reform movements to address social problems, and return to religion

b)

politicians were encouraged to promote states rights rather than federal unity

c)

religious leaders petitioned legislatures to extend suffrage to women

51.

The abolitionist movement achieved its goal with the passage of which of which amendment?

a)

Twelfth

b)

Thirteenth

c)

Fourteenth

d)

Fifteenth

52.

How did the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance affect the US expansion?

a)

by funding a transportation network in uninhabited regions

b)

promoting the growth of southern plantation economies

c)

establishing a process for territories to govern themselves

53.

The Freedmen's Bureau provided food, shelter, clothing, negotiated and enforced labor contracts as well as ...

a)

established schools

b)

provided funds for farming supplies

c)

granted small business loans

54.

Why did Congress honor this woman by putting her on a coin?

a)

because she was an influential First Lady

b)

because she designed the nation's first flag

c)

because she fought for women's suffrage

d)

because she was the first lady elected to Congress

55.

The US foreign policy illustrated in this cartoon was intended to ...

a)

prevent further European colonization in the Western Hemishphere

b)

deter Spain for inciting revolution in former US colonies

c)

encourage European powers to invest in Latin America

d)

keep the war between France and Spain from spreading to Latin America