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8th Grade Social Studies Review Part I

Total questions: 45

Worksheet time: 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which president is linked to the "trickle-down theory" of economics?

a)

George H. W. Bush

b)

Jimmy Carter

c)

Bill Clinton

d)

Ronald Reagan

2.

In 1803, the United States purchased an area on this map from France. This purchase motivated the United States to organize the Lewis and Clark expedition. Which number marks the area that was purchased?

a)

1

b)

3

c)

4

d)

2

3.

Which group from North Carolina fought the colonial government in the mid-1700s because they were angry over high taxes?

a)

Whigs

b)

Regulators

c)

Patriots

d)

Federalists

4.

The Declaration of Independence states that governmental powers come from the "consent of the governed." What does this mean in the U.S. system of government?

a)

The power of the government rest in a monarch

b)

The power of the government outweighs the power of the people

c)

The government receives its authority to act from the people

d)

The government can force the people to do whatever it commands

5.

How did the invention of the cotton gin affect the number of slaves needed for labor in the South?

a)

It increased the number of slaves needed

b)

It increased the number of slaves sent north

c)

It decreased the number of slaves needed

d)

The number of slaves stayed the same

6.

Four students in Greensboro, North Carolina, participated in which event in 1960?

a)

Speeches to Congress

b)

Non-violent sit-in

c)

March on Washington

d)

Violent riots

7.

Which constitutional principle is illustrated by the below information?

Legislative Branch: Makes the Laws

Executive Branch: Enforces the Laws

Judicial Branch: Interprets the Laws

a)

Concurrent powers

b)

Popular sovereignty

c)

Separation of powers

d)

Federalism

8.

Why did the book Uncle Tom's Cabin increase tension between the North and South over the issue of slavery?

a)

It caused many slave owners in the South to free their slaves.

b)

It described the cruelty and suffering experienced by slaves.

c)

It caused people in the South to improve the treatment of slaves.

d)

It was read by many slaves and caused them to revolt against their owners.

9.

Which conflict resulted in the United States gaining more southwestern territory, including California, Nevada, and Utah?

a)

War of 1812

b)

Spanish-American War

c)

Revolutionary War

d)

Mexican American War

10.

After rejecting the Treaty of Versailles, which country negotiated its own peace agreement with Germany?

a)

France

b)

Belgium

c)

United States

d)

Soviet Union

11.

In the United States government, citizens elect representatives who make laws and govern the nation. This concept is best described as what?

a)

Federalism

b)

Individual rights

c)

Socialism

d)

Republicanism

12.

Which of these established schools for former slaves during Reconstruction?

a)

Carpetbaggers

b)

Scalawags

c)

Freedmen's Bureau

d)

Southern Democrats

13.

Which of these factors contributed most to the outbreak of the Civil War?

a)

Disagreements between Federalists and Anti-federalists

b)

The secession of the Confederate states from the Union

c)

The increase of factories and industry in the North

d)

The Native Americans attacking smaller towns

14.

Under the concept of mercantilism, what did England expect of its New World colonies?

a)

A strong, healthy relationship among the colonists

b)

A deep and meaningful tie to religion

c)

A means of controlling land and sea routes

d)

The colonies to purchase only British goods instead of goods from other European countries

15.

The actions listed below are all ways for American citizens to participate in election campaigns. Which of the following would also be a way to participate in a campaign?


· Serve as a candidate's campaign manager

· Give money to a chosen political party

· Display a candidate's election sign

___________________________

a)

Bake a batch of cookies and take them to the voting polls

b)

Write a letter to a newspaper editor in support of a candidate

c)

Stay at home on election day instead of voting

d)

Read the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights

16.

Which battle is considered a turning point for the North in the Civil War?

a)

Fort Sumter

b)

Shiloh

c)

Gettysburg

d)

Bull Run

17.

Which of the following is one reason why Europeans immigrated to North America?

a)

Great education system in America

b)

Civilized society in America

c)

Lack of natural resources in America

d)

Religious intolerance in England

18.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans to migrate to reservations in Indian Territory in order to?

a)

Provide Native Americans with land that would give them better agricultural opportunities

b)

Make room for expanding white settlement in the eastern United States

c)

Take advantage of ranching and mining opportunities in the West

d)

Hunt the growing number of buffalo herds that blanketed the plains

19.

Which of these court cases ruled that no African American could claim U.S. citizenship and that the U.S. Congress could not prohibit slavery?

a)

Brown v. Board of Education

b)

Marbury v. Madison

c)

Dred Scot v. Sandford

d)

McCulloch v. Maryland

20.

Which of the following terms best describes the information on this chart?

a)

Checks and balances

b)

Popular sovereignty

c)

States’ rights

d)

Limited government

21.

What is the Trail of Tears the name for?

a)

What is the Trail of Tears the name for?

b)

The forced removal of American Indians from their homelands.

c)

The areas controlled by American Indians who fought whites.

d)

The route settlers traveled on their way over the Rocky Mountains.

22.

What effect did industrialization and the factory system have on the United States?

a)

It made it hard for uneducated people to find work.

b)

It made the U.S. economy rely on foreign goods.

c)

It made many jobs available in cities.

d)

It made railroad transportation the most used method of transportation in the nation.

23.

Which New Deal program greatly affected North Carolina farmers during the Great Depression?

a)

Public Works Administration

b)

Agricultural Adjustment Administration

c)

Civilian Conservation Crops

d)

Works Progress Administration

24.

Which of these was a result of the French and Indian War?

a)

The Dutch gave up New Netherlands to England.

b)

Canada became a colony of Spain.

c)

Americans won their independence from the British.

d)

France lost most of its colonies in North America.

25.

Which era ended with the reunification of Germany and the collapse of the Soviet Block?

a)

Industrialization

b)

Cold War

c)

Reconstruction

d)

Progressive Era

26.

Delegates of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 adopted the Great Compromise to settle differences over?

a)

Slavery

b)

Interstate trade

c)

Representation in Congress

d)

Taxation

27.

The Mayflower Compact is important to the concept of a democratic society because it represents?

a)

An effort by the Pilgrims to use force to resist the king

b)

A clear step toward self-government

c)

An early attempt to establish universal suffrage

d)

An attempt by the colonists to establish freedom of religion

28.

During the early 1800’s, the United States placed few restrictions on immigration because?

a)

The Constitution forbid immigration restrictions

b)

Southern landowners needed additional workers

c)

Labor unions welcomed the new workers

d)

The industrial economy was creating new jobs

29.

The Louisiana Purchase has geographic significance for the United States because it?

a)

Reduced British control of North America

b)

Focused the United States on westward expansion

c)

Extended United States control over Mexico

d)

Decreased tensions with Native American Indians

30.

The Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution to?

a)

Provide the president with the power to enforce laws

b)

Establish a presidential cabinet

c)

Protect individuals’ civil rights

d)

Guarantee voting rights to all citizens

31.

One effect of industrialization in the United States in the late 19th century was?

a)

A decrease in child labor

b)

An increase in demand for handcraft goods

c)

A decrease in immigration to the United States

d)

An increase in urbanization

32.

Why was the formation of labor unions an effect of U.S. industrialization in the late 1800’s?

a)

Unions were needed to guarantee a steady supply of workers

b)

Union membership was required for employment in new industries

c)

Factory owners set up labor unions in order to control their large workforce

d)

Unions organized industrial workers to protest unsafe working conditions and long workdays

33.

As part of the garment industry, adults and children worked in small, crowded rooms called sweatshops marking new clothes. Their hours were long, their pay was little and often the rooms were dark. What advantage were sweatshops to the textile industry?

a)

They eliminated textile factories

b)

They kept the cost of production low

c)

They employed only women and children

d)

The helped families create their own small businesses

34.

Why did workers in the late 1800’s workers tolerate poor wages?

a)

They believed it had to get worse before it got better

b)

They thought the government would protect them

c)

They could be replaced easily by other workers

d)

They were tricked by employers into taking dangerous jobs

35.

Which innovation extended the number of hours in a day that Americans could work and play?

a)

Bessemer process

b)

Telegraph technology

c)

Refrigeration

d)

Electricity

36.

Which industry spurred economic growth and innovation in related industries?

a)

Oil

b)

Railroads

c)

Steel

d)

Textiles

37.

What describes the exchange of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Americas, Europe, and Africa?

a)

Triangular Trade

b)

Mercantilism

c)

Columbian Exchange

d)

European Expansion

38.

What happened to Native Americans due to the discovery of the New World by Europeans?

a)

They taught the colonists how to plant crops and they shared the land

b)

They lost their land, and many died from diseases

c)

They fought battles over land and religion

d)

They died from starvation and became dependent on the colonists for survival

39.

What was the importance of the House of Burgesses to the English Colonies?

a)

They were the elected representative of the colonists

b)

They supervised the building of houses in the colonies

c)

They represented the King of England

d)

They negotiated contracts with other colonies.

40.

What was the first permanent English settlement in America?

a)

Roanoke

b)

Plymouth

c)

New Netherlands

d)

Jamestown

41.

Which of these could be a benefit to investing money as opposed to putting it in a savings account?

a)

You would no longer be required to pay income tax

b)

Credit card companies could not charge you interest

c)

You could potentially earn more money in the long run

d)

Banks would be more likely to give you a loan

42.

Explain President Jefferson’s purposes for establishing the Lewis and Clark expedition.

a)

Explore the land formations and map out good locations to build cities

b)

Find water routes connected to the Mississippi River and set up trading posts

c)

Find a water route to the Pacific Ocean and explore the Louisiana Territory

d)

Negotiate land treaties with the Native Americans and hire guides to help explore the Louisiana Territory

43.

What is the definition of Industrial Revolution?

a)

Scientific discoveries that simplify and speed up work

b)

The integration of technology into factories to speed up production

c)

System bringing manufacturing steps together in one place to increase efficiency

d)

The change from a farming society to one based on industry

44.

When someone does not pay back a loan, what can happen to them?

a)

They can be issued more credit to pay the debt

b)

They can be sued for the amount owed

c)

They can purchase more items

d)

Their credit goes from bad to good

45.

What was the impact of the War of 1812?

a)

United States gained land from Britain

b)

United States was permitted use of British ports in their Caribbean colonies

c)

United States gained new respect from other nations

d)

United States received 1 million dollars to repair damages in Washington D.C.