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WorksheetsEarly American History/Gilded Age/ Western Expansion Mastering the TEKS
Total questions: 80
Worksheet time: 1hrs 2mins
What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
to state that all men are created equal
to explain the role of government in the American colonies
to announce the separation of the American colonies from England
to outline the colonists’ complaints against the British government
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
From Which document is this excerpt taken from?
the Declaration of Independence
the Articles of Confederation
the U.S. Constitution
the Bill of Rights
What important principle is expressed by the opening words of the U.S. Constitution, “We the People”?
limited government
popular sovereignty
separation of powers
federalism
What historical events resulted from the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and it approved a boycott of British goods.
Great Britain levied heavy taxes on the American colonists and tightened trade laws and customs.
Great Britain punished the American colonists for their defiance and the colonists protested with the Boston Tea Party.
The thirteen American colonies became calling itself the United States of America for the remainder of the Revolutionary War.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” —The United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendment I
Why is the First Amendment Important to all Citizens of the United States?
It establishes the right of all citizens to keep and bear arms
It prevents government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
It protects citizens’ basic freedoms of speech, religion, the press, of assembly, and the right to petition.
It gives all citizens the right to equal protection of the laws in all states.
Which Founding Father was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
John Hancock
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington
“A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking….”
Why did Founding Father James Madison argue for a federal republic in governing the nation?
A federal republic is a representative system of government
A federal republic is essential to the preservation of liberty in the nation.
A federal republic promotes the unequal distribution of property among citizens.
A federal republic promises a smaller form of government made up of different classes of society.
“Among the novel objects that attracted my attention during my stay in the United States, nothing struck me more forcibly than the general equality of condition among the people.” —
Alexis de Tocqueville, from Democracy in America, 1835–1839
In this excerpt, which attribute of American society did Tocqueville find most striking?
liberty
egalitarianism
individualism
populism
What did Alexis de Tocqueville believe was crucial to America’s success as a democracy?
the development of capitalism
the advantage of a vast frontier and natural resources
the lack of an elite aristocracy even among wealthy individuals
the values of liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire economics
Which of the following provisions of the Constitution establishes a federal system of government?
Power is divided between the national and state governments
The federal government is divided into three branches
The power of the federal government is limited.
State governments are given less power than the national government.
Which value identified by Tocqueville differs from those nations with a ruling elite?
populism
liberty
laissez-faire
individualism
“I soon perceived that the influence of [equality of condition among the people] extends far beyond the political character and the laws of the country, and that is has no less effect on civil society than on the government; it creates opinions, gives birth to new sentiments, founds novel customs, and modifies whatever it does not produce. The emigrants who colonized the shores of America in the beginning of the seventeenth century somehow separated the democratic principle from all the principles that it had to contend with in the old communities of Europe and transplanted it alone to the New World. It has there been able to spread in perfect freedom and peaceably. . . .” —
Alexis de Tocqueville, from Democracy in America, 1835–1839
What aspect of American society is most striking to Tocqueville?
its ability to replicate the systems of Europe in the New World
the lack of success that colonists experienced in a new land
its emphasis on equality
the new American reliance on the European economic system
Which idea attracted entrepreneurs to invest in American businesses?
liberty
egalitarianism
populism
laissez-faire
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” —from The Declaration of Independence
What do these words from the Declaration of Independence express about American citizens?
American citizens believe that religion guarantees our right to life.
American citizens endow their trust in government to protect their rights.
American citizens share a common bond in the belief of equality and liberty.
American citizens place the pursuit of happiness above all other unalienable rights.
What is the meaning and historical significance of the motto “E Pluribus Unum”?
The motto means “Liberty for One and All” and refers to American independence from Britain.
The motto means “Freedom for All” and refers to the American Declaration of Independence.
The motto means “A New Order” and refers to the idea of the United States as a democratic republic.
The motto means “Out of Many, One” and refers to the creation of the nation from thirteen separate colonies.
When did Congress approve the phrase “In God We Trust” for use on U.S. coins?
after the American Revolution
after the Civil War
during World War II
during the Cold War
Which time period occurred prior to the Progressive Era?
The Roaring 20s
The Great Depression
The Industrial Era
World War II
Why did the artist of this political cartoon portray The People’s Party, also known as the Populist Party, as a patchwork balloon?
The Populist Party was “on the rise” in popularity as it appealed to many kinds of voters.
The Populist Party and its goals for organized labor appealed to urban voters.
The Populist Party convinced Democrats to switch their traditional party allegiances.
The Populist Party was made up of assorted movements and political ideologies.
Political machines provided new city dwellers with necessities such as jobs, housing, and police protection in exchange for
graft.
votes.
kickbacks
wages
The Indian Peace Commission proposed the creation of two large reservations for the Plains Indians. Why did this proposal fail to end conflict with Native Americans on the Great Plains?
The Indian Peace Commission failed to have Native American leaders sign treaties agreeing to the proposed reservations.
Native American warriors refused to give up their land and way of life, so the conflicts escalated.
Life on the reservations did not solve the problems of poverty, despair, and corruption that had driven Native Americans on the Great Plains to violence.
The Indian Peace Commission’s plan failed because it did not assimilate Native Americans into American culture.
Why was the growth of industrialization successful in the United States after the Civil War?
Why was the growth of industrialization successful in the United States after the Civil War?
The United States had vast natural resources and a large workforce.
The United States discovered resources of petroleum from Pennsylvania to Texas.
The United States had created a great demand for consumer goods overseas.
In 1869, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads joined to form the Transcontinental Railroad. How did the Transcontinental Railroad contribute to economic and industrial growth in the United States?
The Transcontinental Railroad made it easier and more efficient to transport materials needed by the growing steel industry.
The Transcontinental Railroad increased the value of land, which spurred economic and industrial growth.
The Transcontinental Railroad linked the nation and increased the number of markets and the efficient movement of goods.
The Transcontinental Railroad brought great wealth to
entrepreneurs who invested their money in the nation’s economy
How was the industrialist John D. Rockefeller able to take control of the oil industry?
He used the strategy of horizontal integration to buy out other oil companies and create a monopoly.
He reduced the cost of manufacturing oil by increasing oil production at refineries.
He created a holding company, which owned the majority of stock in other oil companies.
He employed the strategy of vertical integration to consolidate all parts of the oil industry process.
What was the primary reason millions of immigrants settled in major U.S. cities in the late nineteenth century?
They wanted the modern conveniences of electric lights and running water.
They could not afford to buy expensive land in rural areas of the United States.
They wanted to enjoy music, theaters, and other cultural attractions.
They could find jobs in rapidly expanding factories and industries.
This photograph shows a working-class family living in a tenement apartment. How would you describe the housing conditions in which most urban working-class families lived?
clean and comfortable
dark and crowded
spacious and bright
charming and cozy
“I did not understand what the lady said to me, but she showed me how to cook, wash, iron, sweep, dust, make beds, wash dishes, clean windows, paint and brass, polish the knives and forks, etc., by doing the things herself and then overseeing my efforts to imitate her…. In six months I had learned how to do the work of our house quite well, and … I had also learned English…. I worked two years as a servant … and I was now ready to start in business.” —Chinese immigrant Lee Chew, reflecting on his first years in America
Which word best describes this immigrant’s outlook regarding his new life in America?
cautious
optimistic
discouraged
unhappy
Why did many immigrants feel a sense of possibility after arriving in the United States?
Many immigrants were wealthy and enjoyed an easy life in the United States.
Most native-born Americans welcomed the new immigrants and helped them to succeed.
The Immigration Act of 1882 ensured that each new immigrant received land for farming.
Life in America offered immigrants opportunities that they never had in their homelands.
Some Chinese immigrants opened their own businesses in part because
native-born Americans kept them out of many businesses.
they settled mainly in Western cities.
demand for railroad workers increased in the 1860s
they lived in city neighborhoods separated by ethnic group.
What pushed the United States to become a world power in the 1800s?
the Treaty of Kanagawa signed with Japan
the risk of war with Germany
the search for new overseas markets
the annexations of Samoa and Hawaii
What did Alfred Thayer Mahan argue was critical to the economic success of the United States?
a strong navy
the annexation of Cuba
the Panama Canal
a treaty with Latin America
The discovery of which natural resource led to westward expansion in the United States?
petroleum
petroleum
gold
coal
What does the map suggest about the impact the Transcontinental Railroad had on economic growth in the late nineteenth century?
It had a negative impact on economic growth because the distance between the two coasts was too vast.
It had a positive impact on economic growth because it increased railroad lines across the West and linked the country.
It had a positive impact on economic growth because a tremendous labor force was needed to build the railroad.
It had a negative impact on economic growth because railroad routes only passed through existing towns.
Which of the following contributed to the close of the frontier in the nineteenth century?
Homestead Act
New Deal
Great Depression
Open Door Policy
What was one of the great benefits of the laissez-faire approach to economics in the later half of the 1800s?
anti-trust acts
organization of labor unions
freedom to form a corporation
wage regulation
“Two pounds of ironstone … one pound and a half of coal, mined, manufactured into coke … one-half pound of lime,… [and] a small amount of manganese ore, … these four pounds of materials manufactured into one pound of steel, for which the consumer pays one cent.” —Andrew Carnegie, from Triumphant Democracy, 1893
In this quote, industrialist Andrew Carnegie boasts about how inexpensively his steel mill could produce steel. Which benefit of the laissez-faire approach to economics does this describe?
economies of scale
monopoly
cost regulation
entrepreneurship
How did the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 change the relationship between government and business?
It gave businesses the right to pass the increased costs of safe manufacturing processes onto the consumer.
It decreased the U.S. government’s role in regulating the safety and cost of food and drugs manufactured by private companies.
It authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect products for safety before being sold to the public.
It required the federal government to impose taxes on the manufacture, sale, and interstate shipment of food and drugs.
Which philanthropist funded the creation of public libraries in cities across the United States?
Andrew Mellon
Bill Gates
Warren Buffet
Andrew Carnegie
“Some Americans had long opposed the mistreatment of Native Americans. In her 1881 book A Century of Dishonor, Helen Hunt Jackson detailed the years of broken promises and injustices. Her descriptions of events such as the Sand Creek Massacre sparked new debate on the issue. Some Americans believed the solution was Americanization. They thought that Native Americans should be encouraged to abandon their traditional tribal culture and assimilate into American society by learning English, adopting American culture and values, and eventually becoming American citizens."
What was the purpose of the Americanization movement?
to persuade immigrants to apply for American citizenship
to encourage cultural identity and diversity among immigrant groups
to help provide equal education opportunities for immigrants
to assimilate immigrants and Native Americans into American society
At Indian boarding schools created by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1880s, why were Indian students required to speak English and choose an English name?
to promote literacy and bilingualism
to teach discipline and vocational skills
to encourage them to abandon their traditional tribal culture
to prepare them to become teachers when they returned to their reservations
What law did Congress pass in 1887 to encourage Native Americans to abandon the reservation system and assimilate into American society on homesteads?
Dawes Act
Citizenship Act
Indian Reorganization Act
Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act
Robber Barons used this theory to justify their actions in business
Social Darwinism
conspicuous consumption
Gospel of Wealth
nativism
The law created to prevent monopolies, and break up large companies like Standard Oil
Interstate Commerce Act
Homestead Act
Dawes Act
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
What was an entity that runs several companies as one large corporation? (Standard Oil)
Trust
Merger
Corporation
Monopoly
The leader of the union known as the American Federation of Labor
Samuel Gompers
Terrence Powderly
John P. Morgan
Henry Bessemer
Name for entrepreneurs who use ruthless tactics to destroy competition or to keep wages low
Captain of Industry
Robber Baron
Philanthropist
Consolidator
Described as a time marked by gross income inequality and corrupt practices by corporations and abuse of workers, the term "Gilded Age" was coined by what writer?
Upton Sinclair
Andrew Carnegie
Mark Twian
Henry George
The Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act were efforts by the federal government to –
regulate aspects of business
expand the positive features of the trusts
favor big businesses over small companies
move toward government ownership of key industries
What does Laissez Faire mean?
Little government interference in business
private property in business with strict regulations
a land grant
What was the Pullman Strike?
when the Pullman company slashed workers wages without lowering rent
when the Pullman car company fired workers for stealing their products
a riot leaving dozens of people dead for looting the company
How many acres could you get from the Homestead act?
50
100
160
How did people move west?
Horse and Wagon
Railroad
Steamship
all of the above
The Battle of Little Bighorn is also called
Custer's Last Stand
Battle of Wounded Knee
Massacre at Wounded Knee
Battle of the Breadbasket
Why is the Battle at Wounded Knee important?
It marked the end of the conflicts with American Indians
Sitting Bull was victorious
General Custer died
Geronimo and Chief Joseph teamed up and beat the US Army
Who invented the Cotton Gin?
Thomas Jefferson
George Walton
Eli Whitney
Nancy Hart
What act divided up Indian reservations into plots of land to be given to the Indian families?
Hayes Act
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Bland-Allison Act
Dawes Act
The Sandcreek Massacre occurred when...
Colorado militia ignored orders and attacked the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians as they slept.
General Custer led an attack at Sand Creek.
The Dakota Indians were attacked.
Cheyenne were forced to leave their reservation.
"Kill the Indian, Save the Man" is a quote that describes the government's policy of...
Manifest Destiny
Assimilation-making them more like us
Migration
Treaties
Native Americans were pushed off their land and on to
Western Land
Canada
Mexico
Reservations
Phrase for cowboys taking cows on a long trail?
Cow herd
Cattle Call
Cattle Switch
Cattle Drive
Who was the leader of the corrupt Tammany Hall, New York Political Machine?
Andrew Carnegie
Henry Ford
John D. Rockefeller
William "Boss" Tweed
Legislation to reform the spoils system.
Chinese Exclusion Act
Blue Laws
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Political Machine
Men such as Andrew Carnegie believed in giving money to libraries, musuems and schools to help benefit people who wanted to move up in the social ladder.
geopolitical
political bosses
anthropolgy
philanthropy
This man was known for his success in consolidating the railroads
John D. Rockefeller
Andrew Carnegie
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Gustavus Swift
believed in giving his money back under his 'Gospel of Welath" policy
Andrew Carnegie
John Rockefeller
Eugene Debs
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Which one of these men was not a robber baron with a monopoly and ruthless business tactics?
Andrew Carnegie
JP Morgan
John D. Rockefeller
Thomas Edison
_______ is when workers refuse to work in order to force an employer to meet their demands.
labor unions
party
strike
sweatshop
Who wrote Democracy in America?
Hector St. John deCrevecoeur
Alex de Tocqueville
George Washington
Patrick Henry
Which of the following words represent EPILL? Check all that apply
Liberty
Populism
Laissez faire
Individualism
eqalitarianism
What is the best definition of the govenment term "check and balance?"
each branch can check the power of another branch
each branch has has some powers over the other branches
each branch can denounce other branches
Where are your (the people) individual rights located in the constitution
Amendments 10-15
Amendments 1-27
Amendments 1-10
only amendments 17 and 18
Which of the following people considered to be Founding Fathers? Check all that apply
People who wrote the Treaty of Paris
People who wrote or signed the Declaration of Independence
People who attended the constitutional convention
People who attended the First and Second Continental Congresses
John Jay was a very famous person, writer and negotiator during the Colonial Period. Which of the following did he NOT have an important role?
French and Indian War Treaty of Paris
Federalist Paper author
Declaration of Independence signer
American Revolution Treaty of Paris negotiator
What is the best definition of "Pluribus Unum?'
out of many--one
In God We Trust
one of many
When was Reconstruction?
186121865
1865-1877
1870-1875
1866-1880
What is the best definition of "Reconstruction?"
reconstruct the North
reconstuct the South
reconstruc the West
When was the CivilWar?
1861-1865
1865-1870
1860-11869
1858-1865
What presidential election ended Reconstruction?
Lincoln
Johnson
Grant
Hayes
John Locke influenced the Colonial and Revolutionary Periods. His fame came from a phrase adapted by Thomas Jefferson. Please identify the phrase.
life , liberty and pursuit of Happiness
life, liberty, and property
life, liberty and wealth
Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?
Frank Sinatra
Willie Nelson
Francis Scott Key
Chuck Norris
Patrick Henry is famous for which of the following quotations.
"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes."
"All men are created equal"
"These are the times that try men's souls"
"Give me liberty or give me death."
