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8th Grade Civil War Test Topic 6

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

“[T]hat we here highly resolve [decide] that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”


Which best summarizes Lincoln's point in the Gettysburg Address?

a)

Soldiers should have more power

b)

Government of the people, by the people and for the people is no longer important

c)

Presidents should decide all important issues

d)

Americans can honor the dead soldiers by continuing our democratic government

2.

This document above freed enslaved African-Americans in

a)

The Union slave states

b)

The Confederate states in rebellion against the Union

c)

The Confederate states under Union control

d)

Both the Union and Confederate states

3.

The main reason the Confederacy eventually began drafting soldiers from ages 17 to 50 was because

a)

Many soldiers in the Confederacy had deserted in favor of the Union

b)

The rising death tolls forced the Confederacy to enlist more soldiers

c)

Confederate leaders thought to win they needed a large infantry

d)

Over half of Confederate soldiers were in Union prisoner of war camps

4.

As part of the Missouri Compromise _________________was admitted to the Union as a free state and ________________ was admitted as a slave state.

a)

Missouri; Maine

b)

Missouri; Kentucky

c)

Kentucky; Missouri

d)

Maine; Missouri

5.

What were the South's advantages during the Civil War?

a)

They had a large population and large farms producing food

b)

They had a superior transportation system and better trained officers

c)

They were fighting on their home territory and were defending their way of life

d)

They had more manufacturing and a large population

6.

Why did the Kansas-Nebraska act anger many northerners?

a)

They thought it went against the Missouri Compromise's promise to keep slavery from spreading.

b)

They suspected it was a political move enacted to increase property taxes in the West.

c)

They were convinced the new act would lead to violence in the West.

d)

They reasoned that it unfairly challenged the Compromise of 1850.

7.

What contribution to the war effort is shown in this image?

a)

Medical and surgical technique development

b)

Women accompanying their wounded husbands to a field hospital

c)

Women's involvement as nurses

d)

The creation of the American Red Cross

8.

According to Lincoln, why did the Constitution give him the right to suspend habeas corpus?

a)

During wartime, people were not guaranteed the right to a trial.

b)

Not enough judges were available to hear cases during the war.

c)

The draft riots were examples of rebellion that threatened the public safety.

d)

Confederate soldiers had committed treason against the United States.

9.

Why did the Confederates finally surrender at Appomattox?

a)

The Confederates had run out of their weapons and ammunition.

b)

Lee knew that the Union was outnumbered by the Confederates.

c)

The Confederates had lost every battle leading up to Appomattox.

d)

Lee knew the Confederates were no longer in a position to fight effectively.

10.

According to the chart, which state were the majority of Civil War battles fought?

a)

Tennessee

b)

Maryland

c)

Virginia

d)

Mississippi

11.

Why would Lincoln support the Wilmot Proviso?

a)

Because it allowed slavery in the Mexican Cession

b)

Because it banned slavery from spreading into the Mexican Cession

c)

Because Wilmot was one of his allies in the Republican party

d)

Because it agreed with the Dred Scott decision

12.

Despite southern protests, what gave the western territories the right to request to enter the Union as free states?

a)

The Wilmot Proviso

b)

Secession of states

c)

Popular sovereignty

d)

The Missouri Compromise

13.

Which of the following is most likely the reason for Brown’s lack of emotion during his sentencing?

a)

He accepted the fact that what he had done was wrong.

b)

He was confident the charges would be dropped by a federal court.

c)

He was sure his raid would lead to the immediate abolition of slavery.

d)

He knew his actions would bring national attention to the abolitionist movement.

14.

Read the following excerpt from a Confederate soldier’s letter home to his family in 1862.


“Our regiment did not have many wounded nor killed but a good many taken prisoners. . . . Pa, I want you to have me a pair of boots made. Those shoes you had made for me ripped all to pieces. Our regiment used everything we had. I have no blanket nor any clothes but what I have got.”


What aspect of war does this soldier’s letter exhibit?

a)

Many soldiers were killed or wounded in most battles.

b)

About 25 percent of Confederate soldiers deserted during the war.

c)

Soldiers suffered from poor conditions and inadequate supplies.

d)

Soldiers had to forage the countryside for food.

15.

How did the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 strengthen the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793?

a)

The new law required all citizens to help catch African Americans trying to escape slavery, and be subject to a fine or jail time if they refused and set up courts to judge runaway slaves

b)

You got a bonus with the new Slave Act if you captured slaves

c)

Northerners could opt out of capturing slaves if their views were anti-slavery

d)

The penalties for not capturing slaves were reduced

16.

New technology made the Civil War more deadly than any previous war.

a)

True

b)

False

c)

Inconclusive

17.

A military action to block or prevent supplies from coming in or out is a

a)

Blockade

b)

Siege

c)

Charge

d)

Using Guerilla Warfare

18.

What were the Northern advantages during the Civil War?

a)

They had more railroads, farmland and people

b)

They were fighting on their own land and had more railroads

c)

They had the top generals and more people

d)

They had better trained officers and more farmland

19.

Which attack formally started the Civil War?

a)

Attack of Gettysburg

b)

Attack at Shiloh

c)

Siege at Vicksburg

d)

Attack at Fort Sumter

20.

At this battle 51,000 soldiers died, making it the "bloodiest battle" of the Civil War; Lincoln gave a speech there later to commemorate the lives lost

a)

Vicksburg

b)

Fredericksburg

c)

Antietam

d)

Gettysburg

21.

The Confederates won this battle and the Union ran into "Stonewall" Jackson

a)

Bull Run

b)

Gettysburg

c)

Antietam

d)

Shiloh

22.

Which General was too cautious during the Civil War?

a)

McClellan

b)

Sherman

c)

Lee

d)

Grant

23.

What was the effect of the Civil War on the South?

a)

Their economy was devastated

b)

Their economy benefited

c)

They increased economic production

d)

They created more jobs

24.

How did African Americans help the Union during the war?

a)

As generals

b)

As doctors

c)

As soldiers

d)

As military advisors

25.

Which was a cause of the Civil War?

a)

Immigration

b)

Cotton production

c)

Foreign interference

d)

Slavery

26.

What were the effects of the Battle of Shiloh?

a)

North controlled a railroad center and the Mississippi River

b)

South controlled a railroad center and the Mississippi River

c)

Very few men were casualties

d)

The south gained morale

27.

Gen. Grant ordered his generals to practice "total war" which means

a)

All your troops must fight at once

b)

Destroy your enemy's army, resources and will to fight

c)

Fighting until all of your ammo is gone

d)

Using all of your available weaponry

28.

The "bloodiest day" of the Civil War happened at

a)

Antietam

b)

Gettysburg

c)

Vicksburg

d)

Shiloh

29.

A system of required military service is called

a)

A Draft

b)

Lottery

c)

Volunteering

d)

A Punishment

30.

What effect did the Civil War have on women?

a)

They had to stay home and cook

b)

They had little opportunities to help

c)

They had to assume the roles left by men

d)

They had to join the military

31.

Which battle did Grant use the tactic of a Siege to gain control of a strategic position on the Mississippi River?

a)

Vicksburg

b)

Shiloh

c)

Gettysburg

d)

Chancellorsville

32.

What were conditions like for prisoners of war?

a)

Comfortable and spacious

b)

Harsh, many died in the camps

c)

Surprisingly clean

d)

Great, they actually received medical care

33.

Which General led the "March to the Sea", destroying everything in his path?

a)

Grant

b)

Sherman

c)

Burnshide

d)

McClellan

34.

What was a huge mistake from General Lee?

a)

The Battle of Bull Run

b)

The Battle of Chancellorsville

c)

Pickett's Charge

d)

Battle of Fredericksburg

35.

Who was the President of the Confederate States of America?

a)

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

b)

Robert E. Lee

c)

Jefferson Davis

d)

James Longstreet