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Benchmark Review

Total questions: 71

Worksheet time: 59mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

(2016)Which colony correctly completes this diagram?

a)

Maryland

b)

Virginia

c)

South Carolina

d)

Georgia

2.
Why does the Declaration of Independence use the word "unalienable" to describe the rights listed in the preamble?
a)
The writers wanted to communicate they felt they were not recognized as British citizens.
b)
These rights were thought of as basic rights given to any human being.
c)
These rights can only be establish by loyalty to their local governing body.
d)
These rights should not be transferred to anyone else who did not live in the American colonies.
3.
Royal decision that prohibited settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
a)
Declaration of Independence
b)
Proclamation of 1763
c)
Stamp Act
d)
Mercantilism
4.
Document declaring the American colonies to be free from British rule.
a)
Declaration of Independence
b)
Declaration of Rights and Sentiments
c)
Magna Carta
d)
U.S. Constitution
5.
Punishment established as a result of the Boston Tea Party
a)
Intolerable Acts
b)
Stamp Act
c)
Tea Act
d)
Navigation Acts
6.
Created first US government structure without executive or judicial branches.
a)
Magna Carta
b)
Articles of Confederation
c)
Confederate States of America
d)
U.S. Constitution
7.
Turning point in the American Revolution in which France became allies
a)
Battle of Yorktown
b)
Battle of Lexington/Concord
c)
Battle of Saratoga
d)
Battle of Gettysburg
8.
Document that established the three branches of government and the rights of citizens in 1787
a)
U.S. Constitution
b)
Articles of Confederation
c)
Magna Carta
d)
Mayflower Compact
9.

(2016)Which statement explains the significance of this colonial institution?

a)

The assembly served as a model for other colonial legislatures.

b)

Colonists used the assembly to overrule decisions of the royal governor.

c)

The assembly sent delegates to Parliament to represent Virginia.

d)

The king revoked Virginia’s charter because the assembly became too powerful.

10.

(2017)The colonies in this list were founded primarily to offer settlers a greater degree of —

a)

freedom of debts

b)

religious freedom

c)

economic freedom

d)

freedom of speech

11.

(2018)Which American colony’s economy was based primarily on shipbuilding and fishing?

a)

Virginia

b)

Maryland

c)

Georgia

d)

Massachusetts

12.

When was the Declaration of Independence approved by congress?

a)

July 2nd 1776

b)

July 4th 1776

c)

July 4th 1775

d)

July 24th 1775

13.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Jefferson Davis

c)

George Washington

d)

Alexander Hamilton

14.
Why did the Puriatns leave England?
a)
They wanted a fresh start
b)
They were  searching for riches
c)
They were facing religious persecution 
d)
They were hoping to find a home 
15.
Which  compromise provided for a Senate and House of Representatives to settle the debate about representation between the small and large states?
a)
Missouri Compromise
b)
Compromise of 1850
c)
Great Compromise
d)
Kansas-Nebraska Act
16.
What is the year 1776 famous for?
a)
Thomas Jefferson drafting the Declaration of Independence.
b)
The first battle of the American Revolution.
c)
Jamestown was founded. 
17.

He was the commander of the Continental Army?

a)

George Washington

b)

Paul Revere

c)

Alexander Hamilton

d)

Lord Cornwallis

18.
Which document came first, the US Constitution or the Article of Confederation?
a)
Article of Confederation
b)
Constitution
19.

Which colonial region is described by this: cash crops, small farms, plantations, slavery, organized into counties?

a)

Southern

b)

Mid-Atlantic

c)

New England

d)

Mid Western

20.
Small farms, rocky soil, cold winters, short growing season describes
a)
New England colonies
b)
Middle colonies
c)
Southern colonies
d)
Western colonies
21.
To run large plantations, planters relied mostly on the work of _________________.
a)
apprentices
b)
free African-Americans
c)
enslaved African-Americans
d)
artisans
22.

People who lived in the New England colonies most likely had which of the following jobs?

a)

Farming

b)

Raising livestock

c)

Ship building and fishing

23.

What was the Mayflower Compact?

a)

A document that set up an organized government for the Pilgrims

b)

A list of religious rules the Pilgrims had to follow

c)

A map that later showed the hidden fort at Jamestown

d)

A document that kept the colonies from trading with other countries

24.

Which is true about the colonial government in the Virginia colony?

a)

Virginia had a king similar to the monarchy in England.

b)

There was no colonial government in Virginia.

c)

Virginia had a representative government similar to Parliament in England called the House of Burgesses.

25.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
a)
To rewrite the Declaration of Independence
b)
To rewrite the Articles of Confederation
c)
To write the Treaty of Paris
d)
To elect the first president
26.
What two issues did the Great Compromise settle?
a)
Slaves being counted towards representation
b)
Population versus equal votes for state representation
c)
Virginia Plan will be the plan used to determine representation
d)
New Jersey Plan will determine representation
27.

Roger Williams left the Massachusetts Bay Colony becuase...

a)

he believed that church and state should be separate.

b)

he felt the Puritan leaders had too much influence over the colonial government.

c)

he wanted more religious freedom.

d)

all of the above.

28.

poor soil, cold winters, subsistence farming and fishing are characteristics of the ...

a)

New England Colonies

b)

Breadbasket Colonies

c)

Southern Colonies

d)

Middle Colonies

29.

Cash crops such as wheat, oats, and rye; centers of shipping and trade, moderate climate.

These are characteristics of the

a)

the New England Colonies

b)

the Middle Colonies

c)

the Southern Colonies

d)

All of the above

30.

Long growing season, warm climate, coastal plains and plantations are characteristics of the

a)

New England Colonies

b)

Middle Colonies

c)

Southern Colonies

d)

None of the above

31.

Which of the following was an argument made against slavery in the Thirteen Colonies?

a)

Manufacturers argued that slavery discouraged the development of industry.

b)

Farmers argued that using slave labor was expensive and inefficient.

c)

Quakers argued that slavery violated Christian principles.

d)

Puritans argued that the slave trade encouraged materialism.

32.

Which statement explains the significance of this colonial institution?

a)

The assembly served as a model for other colonial legislatures.

b)

Colonists used the assembly to overrule decisions of the royal governor.

c)

The assembly sent delegates to Parliament to represent Virginia.

d)

The king revoked Virginia’s charter because the assembly became too powerful.

33.

Which colony correctly completes this diagram?

a)

Maryland

b)

Virginia

c)

Georgia

d)

Rhode Island

34.

The Great Compromise proposed that in one house of Congress - the House of Representatives - the states would be represented according to the size of their

a)

acreage

b)

state banks

c)

trade income

d)

population

35.

What was written by Thomas Jefferson, and signed and ratified by the 13 colonies on July 4, 1776?

a)

Constitution

b)

Federalist Papers

c)

Magna Carta

d)

Declaration of Independence

36.

During this time, federalists believed in...

a)

a strong central (federal) government

b)

supported the idea of a national bank

c)

emphasized manufacturing of goods over farming and agriculture

d)

all of the possible answers are correct

37.

The three branches of government have relatively equal power and can prevent one branch from overstepping beyond its' powers. This is called...

a)

Judicial Review

b)

Checks and Balances

c)

Bicameral Legislature

d)

Supreme Powers of government

38.

In the system of federalism, who has supreme law making power?

a)

The States

b)

The People

c)

The National Government

d)

Confederations

39.

Which of the following battles was seen as a turning point for Americans in the Revolutionary War?

a)

Battle of Saratoga

b)

Battle of Yorktown

c)

Battle of Lexington

d)

Battle of Trenton

40.

The Anti-Federalists argued against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution because:

a)

they disagreed with the Great Compromise

b)

they wanted to keep the Articles of Confederation

c)

Anti-Feds wants a parliamentary system of government

d)

believe that states' rights were not being protected

41.

"We the People" in the opening lines of the U.S. Constitution reflects which government principle?

a)

federalism

b)

popular sovereignty

c)

checks and balances

d)

separation of powers

42.

The Mayflower Compact is a significant document in US History because it established the idea colonists would:

a)

remain loyal to the King of England

b)

govern themselves using agreed upon laws

c)

grant freedom to those who are working off debt

d)

live peacefully with the Native American tribes

43.

How did the French aristocrat, the Marquis de Lafayette, contribute to the American Revolutionary War?

a)

He spied on British troops for the colonists

b)

He negotiated the Treaty of Paris on behalf of the colonists

c)

He commanded troops for the colonists against British forces

d)

He provided funding from the French government for the colonists

44.

Which heading best completes the partial outline below?

I. ___________________________________

A. House of Burgesses

B. Mayflower Compact

C. New England town meetings

a)

British System of National Government in North America

b)

Colonial Responses to the Practice of Salutary Neglect

c)

British Attempts to Control Colonial Governments

d)

Colonial Efforts at Self-Government

45.

Which heading best completes the partial outline below?


I. __________________________________

A. Vast timber resources

B. Rocky soil

C. Rich ocean fishing grounds

D. Single-family farms

a)

Factors in the Economic Development of Colonial New England

b)

Reasons for the Development of Southern Plantations

c)

Features Contributing to Dutch Success in Colonial New Amsterdam

d)

Components of the British System of Mercantilism

46.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was important in United States history because it established a method for

a)

admitting new states to the Union

b)

promoting diplomatic relations with foreign nations

c)

funding internal improvements

d)

securing ports on the Pacifi c Coast

47.
When was America declared independent?
a)
June 6th, 1774
b)
June 6th, 1775
c)
July 4th, 1776
d)
July 4th, 1781
48.
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness were...
a)
Unalienable rights
b)
Bill of Rights
c)
Freedom to live
d)
Will Smith movie
49.
Which was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
a)
Congress couldn't collect taxes
b)
Weak central government
c)
Provided for no common currency
d)
All of the these
50.
What was added to the U.S.Constitution to guarantee that people's individual freedoms would be protected under the law?
a)
Bill of Rights
b)
Petition of Right
c)
Habeas Corpus
d)
Preamble
51.

Commander of the Continental Army

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

John Adams

c)

George Washington

d)

Benjamin Franklin

52.

Prohibited the colonists from living west of the Appalachian Mountains

a)

Intolerable Acts

b)

Proclamation of 1763

c)

Townshend Acts

d)

Quartering Act

53.

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the original US Constitution?

a)

To force people to follow laws and regulations

b)

To encourage people to become better citizens

c)

To allow people the freedom to do what they want

d)

To protect people from abusive government power

54.

Which geographic feature was most important for the development of commerce in New York, Boston, and Charleston?

a)

limited rainfall

b)

natural harbors

c)

long growing season

d)

mountainous terrain

55.

Which of the following describes one of the reasons for the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?

a)

the fear of a strong central government

b)

the Constitution granted only limited powers to the national government

c)

the people's lack of power to elect reliable leaders

d)

the Federalists strong campaign to add a Bill of Rights

56.
Who makes the laws in the United States? 
a)
Executive Brach
b)
Judicial Branch
c)
Legislative Branch
d)
Ms. Riehbrandt
57.
Why didn't the Articles of Confederation work? 
a)
The Amendment process was too easy. 
b)
Only had one branch of government. 
c)
Too much power was given to the President. 
d)
It was not as friendly as it could have been. 
58.

The written plan of government for the United States of America

a)

democracy

b)

Constitution

c)

monarchy

d)

Bill of Rights

59.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
a)
to create a bill of rights
b)
to make changes to the Articles of Confederation
c)
 to declare independence from Great Britain
d)
 to create an entirely new governing document for the new nation
60.
Why did some of the delegates refuse to sign the Constitution?
a)
because it didn’t include a bill of rights
b)
 because it didn’t give women the right to vote
c)
because it gave too much power to the states
d)
because it didn’t include the idea of checks and balances
61.
How does the system of Checks and Balance protect people?
a)
it keeps any of the branches from over powering the other so as not to destroy the rights of people
b)
it keeps any of the branches from fighting so the people are safe
c)
it keeps one branch in power and destroys the rights of people
d)
it keeps all branches in power so as to destroy the rights of  people
62.
Which president was also called the Father of the Constitution?
a)
George Washington
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
Alexander Hamilton
d)
James Madison
63.
Which compromise concerned how many representatives different sized states would have in Congress?
a)
The Great Compromise
b)
The 3/5 Compromise
c)
The Commerce Compromise
d)
The Intolerable Compromise
64.
Which Constitutional principle divides government power between the states and the federal government?
a)
Republicanism
b)
Popular sovereignty
c)
States rights
d)
Federalism
65.
This was the document that setup America's first government?
a)
New Jersey Plan
b)
The Great Compromise
c)
The Articles of Confederation
d)
The Virginia Plan
66.

Which of the following correctly lists two British colonies that were founded by colonists for religious purposes?

a)

Virginia and Rhode Island

b)

South Carolina and Connecticut

c)

Georgia and New York

d)

Massachusetts and Pennsylvania

67.

What was the significance of Shay’s Rebellion in American history?

a)

The rebellion proved how little people liked the Land Ordinance of 1785

b)

The rebellion showed how powerful the army was under the Constitution

c)

The rebellion proved that the Articles of Confederation was too weak

d)

The rebellion made Americans want to gain independence from Britain

68.

During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, delegates agreed to the “Great Compromise” which did which of the following?

a)

Allowed states to count every three of their five slaves towards population

b)

Created a Bill of Rights that protected liberty from a new, powerful national government

c)

Settled a dispute between large states like Virginia and small states like New Jersey

d)

Delayed any decision on the issue of slavery for 20 years in order to appease the South

69.

Which of the following best describes the Anti-Federalists?

a)

They participated in Shays’ Rebellion

b)

They argued against ratifying the Constitution as originally proposed

c)

Their main argument was to give the government the power to tax

d)

They supported the new Constitution as proposed in The Federalist Papers

70.

How did the Federalists get the Anti-Federalists to agree to ratify the Constitution?

a)

They added a president to the Executive Branch

b)

They added a Bill of Rights

c)

They limited Senators to six-year terms

d)

They agreed to the Articles of Confederation

71.

Which geographic feature was most important for the development of commerce in New York, Boston, and Charleston?

a)

limited rainfall

b)

natural harbors

c)

long growing season

d)

mountainous terrain