Free Printable Benchmark 2 practice

1.

What was the first battle of the American Revolution?

a)

Battle of Saratoga

b)

Battle of Yorktown

c)

Battle of Lexington

d)

Battle of Trenton

2.

Before the Revolutionary War, colonists organized boycotts against Great Britain. What group used violence and threats to enforce these boycotts?

a)

Sons of Liberty

b)

Massachusetts Militia

c)

Second Continental Congress

d)

Imperial Policy

3.

"No taxation without representation" was a protest against

a)

Colonial Boycotts

b)

Laws like the Stamp Act

c)

The Second Continental Congress

d)

The signing of the Declaration of Independence

4.

During the Boston Tea Party,

a)

colonists raided British ships and threw crates overboard.

b)

Native Americans threw tea at British Troops.

c)

Americans celebrated their victory at Trenton.

d)

the cost of the tea was very expensive.

5.

The flatland area that runs along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean is the

a)

Great Plains.

b)

Continental Divide.

c)

Great Basin.

d)

Atlantic Coastal Plain.

6.

?What war led to the American Revolution

a)

The war of 1812

b)

The French and Indian War

c)

The Civil War

d)

The Cumberland Gap War

7.

The dumping of 342 chests of beverage leaves into Boston Harbor was the colonists showing they opposed which of the following?

a)

Sugar Act

b)

Quebec Act

c)

Tea Act

d)

Stamp Act

8.

Who was the British king who lost all of the 13 colonies during the American Revolutionary War?

a)

King William III

b)

King Henry VII

c)

King Edward VI

d)

King George III

9.

This act required colonists to pay for a stamp on all paper goods (newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards, birth certificates)

a)

Quartering Act

b)

Stamp Act

c)

Townshend Act

d)

Tea Act

10.

What did Patrick Henry disagree with?

a)

Representation without elections

b)

Representation without taxation

c)

Taxation without representation

d)

Taxation without government

11.

Why did the founding fathers split the government into 3 separate branches?

a)

With tree branches, new laws could be ratified 3 times faster.

b)

If one branch became too powerful, the other 2 branches could keep it balanced.

c)

If one branch became too powerful, the other 2 branches could start a new government.

d)

With 3 branches, the president could keep complete control of the country

12.

What officially ended the American Revolution?

a)

The signing of the Treaty of Paris

b)

The signing of the Declaration of Independence

c)

The Battle of Yorktown

d)

The Battle of Trenton

13.

The U.S. Congress is divided into 2 houses. Which house consists of 2 representatives from each state, no matter what the population of the state?

a)

House of Representatives

b)

The Senate

c)

The president's cabinet

d)

Judicial branch

14.

Why are there checks and balances?

a)

to write checks

b)

to give one branch more power

c)

to make power more equal

d)

to make power less equal

15.

Who became known as a traitor during the American Revolution?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Benedict Arnold

c)

James Madison

d)

Benjamin Franklin

16.

The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution begins with the words

a)

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"

b)

"We the people"

c)

"Faith and credit shall be given to each state"

d)

"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied"

17.

Read the list below and answer the question - What does the following describe?

`freedom of religion

`freedom of speech

`freedom of press

`freedom of assemble

`freedom to petition the government

Choose the best heading for this list:

a)

rights under the Articles of Confederation

b)

rights protected by the 12th amendment

c)

rights protected by the 1st amendment

d)

rights mentioned in the Preamble to the Constitution

18.

Which branch of government is responsible for the for making sure that people follow the rules?

a)

legislative

b)

executive

c)

judicial

d)

congress

19.

The writers of the Constitution believed that the people should

a)

elect leaders to represent them

b)

not to have a voice in government

c)

govern themselves without elected leaders

d)

be allowed to live and act however they choose

20.

The route that many settlers followed west was called

a)

the California Path

b)

the Oregon Trail

c)

Little Bighorn

d)

the Underground Railroad

21.

What war led up to the American Revolution?

a)

The War of 1812

b)

The French and Indian War

c)

The Civil War

d)

The Cumberland Gap War

22.

In 1849, large numbers of people rushed to California because

a)

they were looking for oil

b)

they were hiding from Native Americans

c)

they wanted to get rich from gold

d)

they were forced to leave the South because of the drought

23.

In the early 1700, the Appalachian Mountains, the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains were

a)

home to many colonial settlements

b)

obstacles to expansion

c)

easy to navigate and cross

d)

owned by the U.S.

24.

Much of the Midwest is covered by a flat land prairie region called the

a)

Great Plains

b)

Atlantic Coastal Plains

c)

Great Lakes region

d)

Continental Divide

25.

The Declaration of Independence states that people have natural rights. Natural rights are rights that

a)

guarantee happiness

b)

come with owning property

c)

people are born with and the government can't take away

d)

give the government its power to rule

26.

Read the following passage and answer the question.

Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key

Oh, Say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O! say, does that star spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

The National Anthem was written during wich famous war?

a)

The war of 1812

b)

the Civil War

c)

the American Revolution

d)

Battle of Little Big Horn

27.

Which of the following was NOT an effect of Westward expansion?

a)

more settlers in the West

b)

increase in mining towns

c)

the railroad

d)

Native Americans having more land

28.

Who of the following is known as the "Father of the Constitution"?

a)

George Washington

b)

James Madison

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

Benjamin Franklin

29.

The Great Basin is a

a)

dry bowl-shaped region covering parts of Utah, Nevada, and California

b)

flat area that covers a lot of Midwest

c)

flatland area that runs along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean

d)

region in the South that is known for being very hot

30.

Who of the following was NOT a president of the U.S.?

a)

George Washington

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

John Adams

d)

Benjamin Franklin

31.

Read the passage and answer the question.

Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation and the Need for Change

The new nation ratified (accepted) its fist set of national laws in 1781. It was called the Articles of Confederation. Unfortunately, the Articles of Confederation failed. It did not give enough power to the national government. It required at least nine of the thirteen states to agree before the law would pass. Such agreement was rare. Also, the national government had no authority to tax citizens. This made it very difficult to raise money. It was hard to fund an army or carry out government duties. The national government had to rely on the willingness of the states to cooperate. If the states did not want to contribute money or support, then there was little the national government could do. By 1787, most agreed that change was necessary.

Part A: List 2 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

4 lines

32.

Read the passage and answer the question.

Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation and the Need for Change

The new nation ratified (accepted) its fist set of national laws in 1781. It was called the Articles of Confederation. Unfortunately, the Articles of Confederation failed. It did not give enough power to the national government. It required at least nine of the thirteen states to agree before the law would pass. Such agreement was rare. Also, the national government had no authority to tax citizens. This made it very difficult to raise money. It was hard to fund an army or carry out government duties. The national government had to rely on the willingness of the states to cooperate. If the states did not want to contribute money or support, then there was little the national government could do. By 1787, most agreed that change was necessary.

Part B: Why did the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation lead to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America?

4 lines

33.

Who led the Continental Army and later became the first president of the United States?

a)

George Washington

b)

John Adams

c)

Benedict Arnold

d)

Patrick Henry

34.

Which battle ended the American Revolution?

a)

Lexington

b)

Yorktown

c)

Saratoga

d)

Concord

35.

The image above is most likely depicting

a)

Paul Revere

b)

George Washington crossing the Delaware

c)

a ride to Valley Forge

d)

the Boston Tea Party

36.

The figure above was known as an inventor, writer, he helped secure the French alliance during the American Revolution. He is also a Founding Father. Who is the man in the painting?

a)

George Washington

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

Patrick Henry

d)

Benjamin Franklin

37.

Based on the image above, the Burning of Washington is connected to which war?

a)

the Civil War

b)

American Revolution

c)

The War of 1812

d)

the Battle of Little Bighorn

38.

The Trail of Tears is the name for

a)

George Washington crossing the Delaware

b)

people travelling to Oregon

c)

The Alamo

d)

The Indian removal to Oklahoma

39.

Whom does the following list describe?

Great inventor, scientist, and writer

Helped convinced France to support America during the revolution

a)

King George III

b)

John Adams

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

Benedict Arnold

40.

Which of the following is not a right guaranteed under the first amendment?

a)

Jamie can practice his own religion

b)

Jennifer can say anything she wants to as long as it does not harm anyone

c)

Melissa must be allowed to attend any school she wants

d)

Mark can complain about the president

41.

Based on the image above, the Burning of Washington is connected to which war?

a)

The Civil war

b)

American Revolution

c)

The war of 1812

d)

The battle of Little Bighorn

42.

Which event during the American Revolution involved people throwing tea off boats?

a)

The Stamp Act

b)

The Sugar Act

c)

The Boston Massacre

d)

The Boston Tea Party

43.

Before the Constitution, the United States Government used the

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Articles of Confederation

c)

Emancipation Proclamation

d)

Bill of Rights

44.

George Washington trapped General Cornwallis between Yorktown and what body of water?

a)

St. Laurence

b)

Pacific Ocean

c)

Mississippi River

d)

Atlantic Ocean

45.

Which battle convinced the French to become America's ally during the revolution?

a)

Lexington and Concord

b)

Yorktown

c)

Bunker Hill

d)

Saratoga

46.

During which war the "Star-Spangled Banner" written?

a)

the Civil War

b)

American Revolution

c)

Indian Removal Act

d)

The War of 1812

47.

Which amendment protects a citizen's right to bear arms?

a)

1st

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

7th

48.

Who wrote most of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Patrick Henry

b)

Benjamin Franklin

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

John Adams

49.

What was the main reason the Articles of Confederation failed?

a)

It gave too much power to the national government

b)

It did not give enough power to the national government

c)

It did not give enough power to local and state governments

d)

It gave too much power to the judicial branch of government

Benchmark 2 practice

Total questions: 49

Worksheet time: 30mins

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