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HUGE 8th GRADE REVIEW!!!!

Total questions: 68

Worksheet time: 3hrs 51mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with 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. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities. . . . Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice.


George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796


In his farewell address, how did George Washington attempt to influence the foreign policy of the United States?

a)

He advised the nation to favor those countries with commercial ties to the United States

b)

He encouraged politicians to promote a foreign policy of imperialism

c)

He recommended a policy of neutrality with other nations

d)

He advocated for an alliance with European nations

2.

It shall be lawful for the President of the United States . . . to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States . . . to depart out of the territory of the United States . . . The Alien Friends Act, June 25, 1798


If any person shall write, print, utter, or publish . . . scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States . . . they shall be punished by a fine . . . and by imprisonment. The Sedition Act, July 14, 1798


How did the XYZ Affair and the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts affect American politics?

a)

Legislation was passed that limited U.S. citizens′ First Amendment rights

b)

Legislation was passed that increased the power of the state governments

c)

Legislation was passed that limited the power of the president during wartime

d)

Legislation was passed that expanded voting rights to newly immigrated citizens

3.

The British Empire drove the French out of nearly all of North America with its victory in the Seven Years′ War, 1756–1763, also known as the French and Indian War. Tensions remained between the British and the American Indians on the frontier following the war. As an attempt at compromise, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763, forbidding the settlement of British colonists west of the Appalachian Mountains.


How did this proclamation contribute to colonial unrest leading up to the Revolutionary War?

a)

Colonists wanted to settle in the Ohio Valley and lands farther west

b)

Colonists felt that the British had abandoned them in North America

c)

Colonists who had fought with the French were angry over their defeat

d)

Colonists were unhappy with British aggression toward American Indians

4.

That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, 1863


How did the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation affect U.S. relations with Britain and France?

a)

Britain and France became more reluctant to formally help the Confederacy

b)

Britain and France became involved in supporting the Underground Railroad to Canada

c)

Britain and France offered to allow all former slaves to immigrate to their countries

d)

Britain and France sent their navies to blockade Southern ports to stop the slave trade

5.

How did the end of the War of 1812 affect American society?

a)

Reform movements demanding the return of American Indian lands sprang up around the United States

b)

Americans celebrated their British heritage and looked to British culture for inspiration in the arts and sciences

c)

Americans expressed national pride and a sense of victory during the Era of Good Feelings

d)

New social welfare programs to aid war veterans initiated broader movements to improve the lives of the urban poor

6.

The distinction between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders, [is] no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American.

Patrick Henry, 1774 speech during the First Continental Congress


What conclusion can be drawn from Patrick Henry’s speech regarding the perspective of colonial Americans?

a)

By 1774, a growing number of Colonists viewed themselves as being part of a unique social and political entity different from Britain.

b)

By 1774, the majority of Colonists viewed themselves as citizens of the whole British Empire, making differences between the colonies insignificant

c)

By 1774, Colonists recognized that a powerful centralized national government must be created with three branches in order to gain independence

d)

By 1774, the political and social values of Colonists became so similar that establishing a set of national values regarding institutions such as slavery became necessary.

7.

It is impossible that the allied powers should extend their political system to any portion of either continent without endangering our peace and happiness; nor can anyone believe that our southern brethren, if left to themselves, would adopt it of their own accord.

Address to Congress by James Monroe, December 2, 1823


How did the Monroe Doctrine set the direction of U.S. foreign policy?

a)

The United States vowed to boycott all goods from nations that were at war.

b)

The United States became more involved in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere

c)

The United States vowed to no longer support leaders that violated human rights

d)

The United States committed itself to intervene in conflicts between European and African nations

8.

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.

Second Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1865


How did President Abraham Lincoln plan to support Reconstruction when he delivered his second inaugural address?

a)

by prohibiting former Confederates from participating in the government

b)

by punishing the Southern secessionists who became traitors

c)

by allowing slavery to remain in the states where it already existed

d)

by hastening the restoration of the Union without harsh punishments

9.

That if any person shall write, print, utter. . . any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government . . . then such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.

The Sedition Act of 1798


Based on the excerpt, which statement explains an effect of passage of the Sedition Act?

a)

Public criticism of government was prohibited

b)

It became more difficult for new immigrants to vote

c)

The president gained new powers to deport foreigners

d)

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was protected

10.

How did the U.S. government respond to conflicts over slavery before the Civil War?

a)

by granting the right to vote to all citizens

b)

by granting all residents of a state citizenship

c)

by passing a series of compromises to appease citizens

d)

by protecting privacy rights and preventing illegal searches

11.

How did the Great Migration affect American society?

a)

African-American people created a new urban culture in the North.

b)

The South promoted progressive laws and economic opportunities.

c)

Racism and prejudice were less prevalent across the United States

d)

The African-American population increased in southern coastal cities

12.

What does the chart indicate about unemployment and economic stability in North Carolina, compared to the United States, from January 2007 to October 2011?

a)

Unemployment rates were higher in North Carolina than in the United States, while state and national economies were unstable.

b)

Unemployment rates were the same in both North Carolina and the United States, while state and national economies were stable

c)

Unemployment rates decreased more quickly in North Carolina than in the United States, while state and national economies were stable.

d)

Unemployment rates steadily increased in North Carolina and steadily decreased in the United States, while state and national economies were unstable.

13.

A Declaration of Rights made by the Representatives of the Freemen of the State of North Carolina.

Section I. That all political power is vested in and derived from the People only.

Section II. That the people of this State ought to have the sole and exclusive Right of regulating the internal Government and Police thereof.

North Carolina Declaration of Rights, December 17, 1776 Courtesy of Documenting the American South, UNC Library


Which democratic ideal summarizes this excerpt from North Carolina’s original constitution?

a)

federalism

b)

rule of law

c)

separation of powers

d)

popular sovereignty

14.

All bills shall be read three times in each house and shall be signed by the presiding officer of each house before being presented to the Governor. If the Governor approves, the Governor shall sign it and it shall become a law; but if not, the Governor shall return it with objections, together with a veto message stating the reasons for such objections, to that house in which it shall have originated, which shall enter the objections and veto message at large on its journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration three-fifths of the members of that house present and voting shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections and veto message, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered; and if approved by three-fifths of the members of that house present and voting, it shall become a law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor.

North Carolina Constitution, Article 2, Section 22


Which democratic ideal is represented in this excerpt?

a)

limited government

b)

separation of powers

c)

popular sovereignty

d)

trial by jury of peers

15.

Always remember that your father never sold his country. You must stop your ears whenever you are asked to sign a treaty selling your home. A few years more, and white men will be all around you. They have their eyes on this land. My son, never forget my dying words. This country holds your father’s body. Never sell the bones of your father and your mother.

“A Voice from the Old World” by Nez Perce Chief Joseph, The Dublin University Magazine, May 1879


Based on the excerpt, how did the values and beliefs of American settlers affect the lives of the Nez Perce?

a)

The Nez Perce and other settlers made enduring treaties to share the land with American settlers

b)

The Nez Perce and other residents of the land accepted the policies of peace with American settlers

c)

American settlers believed in the private ownership of land and resources and took property from the American Indians

d)

American settlers advocated sharing resources and established a long-lasting communal relationship between all cultures

16.

The Committee are already receiving urgent appeals from women all over the United States to send them our publications. . . . a large printing fund will therefore be needed by the Committee, and we appeal first to the men of this country, who control so large a part of its wealth, to make liberal donations toward this great educational work. We also ask every thoughtful woman to send her name to the Secretary to be inserted in the Pledge Book, and if she is able, one dollar.

“An Appeal to the Women of the United States,” 1871 Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection


According to the excerpt, how did supporters of women’s suffrage campaign for change?

a)

They created pamphlets to bring awareness to women’s voting rights

b)

They relied on female representatives in the legislature to promote the issue

c)

They waited for the United States to pass the Nineteenth Amendment.

d)

They appealed only to wealthy women for financial and political support

17.

We had nothing . . . after Captaine Smith’s departure, there remained not past sixty men, women and children, most miserable and poor creatures; and those were preserved for the most part, by roots, herbs, acornes, walnuts, berries, now and then a little fish. This was that time, which still to this day we called the starving time; it were too vile to say, and scarce to be believed, what we endured. . . .


Generall Historie of Virginia, John Smith, 1624


Based on the excerpt, how did the harsh environmental conditions affect the Jamestown Colonists?

a)

The harsh weather brought American Indians to help the Colonists

b)

The harsh weather both reduced and destroyed the tobacco crops

c)

The harsh weather convinced the settlers to return to their homeland.

d)

The harsh weather decreased the quality of life for the settlers by making it difficult to obtain enough food

18.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• only one branch of government - the legislative

• one vote per state

• no authority to regulate foreign and interstate commerce

• lack of standard currency

• no executive branch to enforce laws

• no national court system to protect individual rights

• no power to raise an army

• unanimous vote required for amendments to the Articles


How did conflicts that developed from weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation affect the political development of the United States?

a)

They increased the power of the state governments

b)

They accelerated the possible development of a monarchy

c)

They prevented the government from developing a republic

d)

They required the creation of a stronger national government.

19.

How did migration to the Western Territory help to develop the United States?

a)

Westward migration helped American Indians preserve their cultural identity.

b)

Westward migration created densely populated urban and suburban areas

c)

Westward migration encouraged civil rights legislation for slaves

d)

Westward migration expanded industry and the national economy

20.

I beg you to let me be one to proceed to Federal Point, and frighten Lincoln out of his [wits], if possible and if the Governor’s prediction should prove untrue and war should actually be necessary, I should be happy to bear a part, humble though it be, in defense of my country. The flag raised today contained nine stars, the last two in honor of Virginia and North Carolina. This is probably the first flag raised, on which North Carolina has been numbered with the [seceding] states.


Letter from Edward H. Armstrong to Thomas G. Armstrong, April 20, 1861 Courtesy of Documenting the American South, UNC Library


According to Armstrong’s letter, what was the primary debate occurring among the citizens of North Carolina in 1861?

a)

whether to start a draft or not

b)

whether to secede from the Union or not

c)

whether to create a new flag or not

d)

whether to abolish slavery or not

21.

In 1830, the U.S. government forced American Indians to leave their homes in the Southeast for new territory in the West. How did this forced migration, called the “Trail of Tears,” affect the development of the United States?

a)

At the expense of American Indians, more territory became available for white settlement

b)

Trade increased between American Indians and the United States

c)

There was a lasting peace between American Indians and the United States

d)

Land disputes between the U.S. government and American Indians were resolved

22.

FIRST — That the king is not to be trusted without being looked after, or in other words, that a thirst for absolute power is the natural disease of monarchy.

SECONDLY — That the commons, by being appointed for that purpose, are either wiser or more worthy of confidence than the crown.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine,1776

What was Thomas Paine’s main point in this excerpt from Common Sense?

a)

He recommended that Colonists remain loyal to the king.

b)

He thought the Colonists should rule themselves

c)

He believed there should be multiple kings

d)

He wanted Colonists to crown a new king

23.

During the colonial period in British North America (1500s-1700s), the major geographic barrier to westward expansion was the

a)

Ohio River

b)

Great Plains

c)

Rocky Mountains

d)

Appalachian Mountains

24.

The United States purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803 was geographically important because it

a)

assured sole ownership of the Great Lakes

b)

ended Spanish control of the Southwest

c)

provided full access to the Mississippi River

d)

allowed completion of the first railroad in California

25.

The Mayflower Compact (1620) and the Virginia House of Burgesses (1619) are early examples o

a)

restrictions on religious freedom

b)

steps toward representative government

c)

resistance to British rule

d)

economic systems in the colonies

26.

In writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was most directly influenced by the social contract theory of

a)

Benjamin Franklin; Albany Plan of Union

b)

James Madison; US Constitution

c)

John Locke; Enlightenment

d)

Baron de Montesquieu; Monarchy Rights

27.

One way in which the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the original United States Constitution (1789) are similar is that both documents

a)

include a specific bill of rights

b)

guarantee voting rights to all persons

c)

list grievances against the British monarchy

d)

state that government receives its power from the people

28.

To what expedient [method], then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places. . . .

— The Federalist No. 51, 1788

Which principle of the United States Constitution is most directly described in this passage?

a)

States rights

b)

checks and balances

c)

the elastic clause

d)

federalism

29.

Most of the amendments to the United States Constitution have dealt with

a)

expanding the powers of the presidency

b)

setting immigration restrictions

c)

strengthening the authority of state governments

d)

guaranteeing civil and political rights

30.

Alexander Hamilton believed that creation of the Bank of the United States would help the nation’s economy by

a)

loaning money to monopolies

b)

prohibiting foreign investment in United States businesses

c)

reducing tariffs on foreign imports

d)

providing for a stable currency

31.

What was one result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)?

a)

Sectional tension increased

b)

The slave trade was abolished

c)

Northern states were more willing to compromise

d)

Southern states immediately seceded from the Union

32.

A major goal of the Monroe Doctrine (1823) was to

a)

encourage immigration from Latin American nations

b)

strengthen the national commitment to Manifest Destiny

c)

prevent further European colonization in the Western Hemisphere

d)

improve trade opportunities with Asian nations

33.

Which event most directly contributed to the growth of New York City as the nation’s leading trade center

a)

use of steamboats on the Mississippi River

b)

opening of the Erie Canal

c)

construction of the National Road

d)

passage of the Pacific Railway Act

34.

In the late 1800s, major industrialists formed trusts as a way to

a)

secure government loans

b)

negotiate more effectively with labor unions

c)

influence lawmakers to lower taxes

d)

limit competition

35.

What was a goal of Progressive Era reforms such as recall, referendum, and the direct primary?

a)

supporting third-party candidates

b)

increasing citizens’ control of their government

c)

establishing term limits for congressmen

d)

reducing campaign spending

36.

One major goal of President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points (1918) was to

a)

collect war reparations for the United States

b)

maintain United States naval superiority

c)

punish the nations that started World War I

d)

create a League of Nations to prevent future wars

37.

Which United States foreign policy was most often used to carry out the actions shown on the map?

a)

Roosevelt Corollary and Big Stick Policy to the Monroe Doctrine

b)

Wilson's Fourteen Points

c)

Kellogg-Briand Pact

d)

Open Door

38.

Which development was a major result of the 1956 Interstate Highway Act?

a)

revitalization of family farms

b)

migration to the suburbs

c)

population shift to the Northeast

d)

higher unemployment for the nation’s autoworkers

39.

Which statement best expresses a common belief among nativists in the late 1800s and early 1900s?

a)

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.”

b)

“The streets are paved with gold.”

c)

“All immigrants strengthen America.”

d)

“America is for Americans.”

40.

In the period from 1860 to 1890, which experience was shared by most Native Americans living in western states?

a)

They maintained control of their traditional lands.

b)

They benefited economically from government policy.

c)

They became farmers and small business owners.

d)

They were forced to live on reservations.

41.

Which Progressive Era muckraker’s book led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act?

a)

Jacob Riis’s How the Other Half Lives

b)

Lincoln Steffens’s The Shame of the Cities

c)

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

d)

Frank Norris’s The Octopus

42.

“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of

gold.”

– William Jennings Bryan


What was Bryan’s message in his famous “Cross of Gold” speech during the Election of 1896?

a)

The United States should adopt the gold standard.

b)

The United States should adopt a laissez-fair attitude about backing its money.

c)

The United States should use crosses to back its money.

d)

The United States should adopt bimetallism.

43.

“The growth of a large business is merely survival of the fittest. The American beauty rose can be produced in the

splendor and fragrance which bring cheer to its beholder only by sacrificing the early buds which grow up around it. This is not an evil tendency in business. It is merely the working out of a law of nature and a law of God....”

— John D. Rockefeller, Jr.


Which concept is described by this passage?

a)

communism

b)

Populism

c)

utopian socialism

d)

Social Darwinism

44.

What was a guiding principle of the New Deal economic policies?

a)

Pro-business tax breaks would solve the problems associated with urban poverty.

b)

Antitrust legislation would destroy the free market economy of the United States.

c)

Rugged individualism must be allowed to solve social inequality.

d)

Government must assume more responsibility for helping the poor.

45.

Which initiative was part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society program?

a)

providing medical care to the poor and elderly

b)

reducing federal aid to education

c)

increasing foreign aid to the Soviet Union

d)

opposing civil rights legislation

46.

Which is an accurate statement concerning the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education?

a)

It was rejected by the vast majority of Northern States.

b)

It created the legal precedent that segregation, by its very nature, was unequal.

c)

It showed that the judicial branch was less powerful than the other branches of government.

d)

It had little impact on United States customs and traditions.

47.

Which two philosophies dominated the thinking of most political and business leaders during the late 19th century in the United States?

a)

social Darwinism and laissez-faire

b)

utopian socialism and the social gospel

c)

populism and pragmatism

d)

communism and anarchism

48.

The purpose of these headlines was to build public support for

a)

efforts to defend the Panama Canal

b)

the annexation of Cuba

c)

an end to the policy of imperialism

d)

the war against Spain

49.

The Patriot Act, monitoring American citizens, was a direct result of which event?

a)

Oklahoma City bombing on April 17, 1995

b)

terrorist actions on September 11, 2001

c)

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

d)

Vietnam War

50.

Which event most influenced President Woodrow Wilson’s decision to enter World War I?

a)

defeat of Russia by Germany

b)

assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

c)

raids by Mexico on the southwestern United States

d)

renewal of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany

51.

Who was president during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

a)

Nixon

b)

Kennedy

c)

Ford

d)

Reagan

52.

What was a major result of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill)?

a)

Millions of veterans received a college education.

b)

Women kept their factory jobs after World War II.

c)

Jobs were created by the Manhattan Project.

d)

Veterans were exempted from gasoline rationing.

53.

Which of the following is true about the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

a)

extended free speech protections for students while in school

b)

increased the number of eligible voters

c)

helped overcome discrimination against certain groups

d)

slowed down the construction of public buildings

54.

Which department of the federal government would deal with terrorist threats made against the United States?

a)

Department of Labor

b)

Department of Secruity

c)

Department of Homeland

d)

Department of Agriculture

55.

Which statement is best supported by information in the chart?

a)

The candidate selected by a majority of the population won the presidency.

b)

The popular vote is not the deciding factor in winning the presidency.

c)

Candidates must campaign in all states to win a presidential election.

d)

The Electoral College system was abolished after this election.

56.

What could the Congress do to help the economy recover from an economic recession?

a)

Decrease taxes and lower interest rates

b)

Increase interest rates and decrease money supply

c)

Decrease the money supply and increase interest rates

d)

Increase government spending and decrease taxation

57.

What is the impact of agreements such as NAFTA and the European Union?

a)

Barriers are reduced to encourage trade.

b)

Barriers are eliminated to discourage trade.

c)

Barriers are increased to discourage trade.

d)

Barriers remain the same to encourage trade.

58.

The United Nations was created mainly to

a)

prevent globalization

b)

work for international peace

c)

stop the spread of disease

d)

establish democratic governments

59.

Which is not a cause of the Dust Bowl?

a)

high winds

b)

severe drought

c)

over-cultivated land

d)

overuse of machines

60.

For American farming, the years 1921 to 1929 were a period of:

a)

Increase in the size of the farming population

b)

Rapid inflation in the price of farmland

c)

Low prices for agricultural products

d)

Increased government subsidization

61.

The assembly-line production of Henry Ford’s Model T automobile resulted in which of the following by the end of the 1920s?

a)

A sharp decrease in railroad passenger traffic

b)

The federal government’s abandonment of research on air travel

c)

The development of a large international market for American automobile

d)

Widespread purchase of automobiles by average American families

62.

Which amendment gave women the right to vote?

a)

13th

b)

18th

c)

19th

d)

21st

63.

Which heading would be most appropriate for the partial outline below?

1. Wages lagging behind the cost of living

2. Overproduction of consumer goods

3. Excessive buying on credit

a)

Mercantilist Economic Theory

b)

Causes of World War I

c)

Monopolistic Business Practices

d)

Causes of the Great Depression

64.

What region was most affected by the Dust Bowl?

a)

Midwest

b)

Northeast

c)

Pacific NorthWest

d)

Southeast

65.

Which statement best illustrates a basic idea of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal?

a)

Communism provides the only real solution to economic problems

b)

Unemployed workers should rely on the states rather than the federal government for help

c)

The United States reached its economic peak in the 1920s and is now a declining industrial power

d)

The economy sometimes needs public money to encourage business activity

66.

All of the following concerns were addressed during the “Hundred Days” of the New Deal EXCEPT:

a)

Banking regulations

b)

Unemployment relief

c)

Court restructuring

d)

Agricultural adjustment

67.

New Deal programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) were primarily intended to help:

a)

Farmers

b)

Homeowners

c)

Businesses

d)

Unemployed workers

68.

What ended the Great Depression?

a)

New Deal

b)

World War II

c)

Korean War

d)

Vietnam War