Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

White Americans, Megaquiz 2, Civil War to 1900.

Total questions: 59

Worksheet time: 34mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which 2 statements are correct with regards to how many in the North benefitted from slavery after 1800?

a)

The cheap cotton produced by slaves in the south provided jobs for many in the factories of the industrialised North

b)

There was still slaves in all of the Northern states after 1800

c)

The North still traded in slaves bringing them from overseas after 1800

d)

Many people in the North invested in and profited from slave plantations in the South

2.

For which 2 reasons was the South worried that were losing influence after the 1840's?

a)

In 1846, Congress had decreed that slavery should be banned in any new states or territories added in the West

b)

The profits from slavery were decreasing making slavery less profitable

c)

There was a large and increasing number of aboilitionists in the south

d)

The population in the North was growing more rapidly, giving them North more political representation and power

3.

Which 2 of the following was not part of the 'Clay Compromise' of 1850?

a)

California was to enter the Union as a slave State

b)

The sale of slaves was banned in the nation's capital, Washington DC

c)

Escaped slaves were allowed to settle in the North, if they could find employment

d)

All states had to agree to a 'Fugitive Slave Act', which decreed that all escaped slaves had to be returned to their owners

e)

Any new territories or States should be allowed to vote for themselves if they wanted slavery

4.

Which statement below is incorrect as regards to the Kansas-Nebraska Act

a)

This Act contradicted what had previously been agreed in the 'Missouri Compromise' of 1820

b)

This Act led to violence in the Houses of Congress, with Politicians attacking each other over the issue of slavery

c)

This Act led to peace in Kansas, as it was clear that Kansas was now going to be a free state, while Nebraska was going to be a slave state

d)

This Act led to the creation of a new political party, angry at the growing power of slave holders and slave states

5.

What was the name of the new political party formed in 1854, made of different groups angry at the growing power of slave holders

a)

The Democratic Party

b)

The Abolitionist Party

c)

The Anti-slavery Party

d)

The Republican Party

6.

What were the 2 main campaign promises of Abraham Lincoln, that won him the election in 1860?

a)

He promised to abolish slavery immediately in the whole of the United States

b)

He promised to give free land to settlers in the West and at the same time said that slavery would not be allowed in the western territories

c)

He promised that a new transcontinental railroad would be built, through Northern, rather than Southern States

d)

He promised slave holders that he had their interests at heart, and that he had no intention of abolishing slavery

7.

What was the correct name given to the term that said that States had a complete right to govern their own affairs without interference from National Government?

a)

'Manifest Destiny'

b)

'States' Rights'

c)

'Constitutional Rights'

d)

'Universal Declaration of Rights'

8.

Which of the following 2 states were not part of the Confederacy?

a)

California

b)

Mississippi

c)

Texas

d)

Florida

e)

Missouri

9.

Which of the following 2 states were slave owning border states that were part of the Union?

a)

California

b)

Mississippi

c)

West Virginia

d)

Florida

e)

Missouri

10.

Which state was the first to secede from the Union?

a)

Mississippi

b)

North Carolina

c)

South Carolina

d)

Virginia

11.

How many states formed the original Confederacy?

a)

7

b)

9

c)

11

d)

13

12.

How many states were there eventually in the Confederacy?

a)

7

b)

9

c)

11

d)

13

13.

Who was chosen to lead the Confederacy and where was its Capital located?

a)

Jefferson Davis; Austin in Texas

b)

Jefferson Davis; Montgomery in Alabama

c)

Robert E. Lee; Austin in Texas

d)

Robert E. Lee; Montgomery in Alabama

14.

The Confederacy made the first aggressive move, when it opened fire on which fort?

a)

Fort Laramie

b)

Fort Pillow

c)

Fort Lyon

d)

Fort Sumter

15.

What are the correct dates of the US Civil War?

a)

April 1860 to April 1864

b)

April 1861 to July 1864

c)

April 1861 to April 1865

d)

April 1862 to July 1866

16.

Why was the period between April 1861-December 1862 known as the period of 'Limited War'?

a)

Each side tried to limit the war, instead trying to reach an agreement on slavery

b)

Each side tried to limit where they fought the war, as they wanted to reduce damage to the nation

c)

Lincoln limited the number of attacks on the Confederacy, as he wanted to reduce and limit the impact of casualties and other damage

d)

Lincoln felt he was limited with what he could do as regards slavery, as he did not want to upset the slave owning border states that were still part of the Union

17.

What did the 'Confiscation Act', that Lincoln passed in December 1861, decree?

a)

It said slaves could be held as legally seized property of war, and did not need to be returned to their masters?

b)

It said that all freed slaves could join the US Army

c)

It said that all slaveholding land taken by the Union Army became free automatically

d)

It said that all lands in the South were now the confiscated property of the US Government

18.

What did the 'Second Confiscation Act', that Lincoln reluctantly passed in July 1862, decree?

a)

It said slaves could be held as legally seized property of war, and did not need to be returned to their masters?

b)

It said that all freed slaves could join the US Army

c)

It said that all slaveholding land taken by the Union Army became free automatically

d)

It said that all lands in the South were now the confiscated property of the US Government

19.

What was the name of the statement made by Lincoln that declared that a Union victory in the Civil War would end slavery in the US forever?

a)

'The Declaration of Independence'

b)

'The Declaration of Abolition'

c)

'The Abolition Proclamation'

d)

'The Emancipation Proclamation'

20.

What date did Abraham Lincoln issue the 'Emancipation Proclamation'?

a)

31st December 1861

b)

Ist January 1862

c)

31st December 1862

d)

Ist January 1863

21.

Why is the period of January 1863 to April 1865 known as the period of 'Total War'?

a)

Lincoln wanted to show that he was determined to win the war, by contributing the total budget of the Union to fighting it

b)

Both sides wanted to show that they were determined to win the war, by contributing their total budgets to fighting it

c)

Both sides realised they had to go all out to win the war; slavery would now either triumph or be destroyed completely, and there were to be no more compromises over slavery.

d)

It was called Total War as every single state had battles fought somewhere on its territory

22.

What was the name given to the term after the Civil War, where the aim was to rebuild the country?

a)

Rehabilitation

b)

Restitution

c)

Reconstruction

d)

Rebuilding

23.

Who took over after Lincoln's assassination?

a)

Andrew Jackson

b)

John Andrews

c)

Andrew Johnson

d)

John Jackson

24.

Who were the 'Radical Republicans'?

a)

They were politicians who failed to change things after the Civil War, as they were trying to be too Radical and changing things too much

b)

They were politicians who changed things dramatically after the Civil War, over-riding President Johnson who tried to limit these changes

c)

They were politicians who agreed with President Johnson as to what should be changed after the Civil War, working with the President to bring in massive changes

25.

Which President beat Andrew Johnson and replaced him as President in the election of November 1868?

a)

Ulysses S. Grant

b)

James Buchanan

c)

James Polk

d)

Andrew Jackson

26.

What was the correct name of the Act passed by Lincoln, that stated the aim for the Government to fund a Railroad that crossed the whole of the USA?

a)

The Transcontinental Railroad Act

b)

The United States Railroad Act

c)

The Pacific Railroad Act

d)

The Connected Coasts Railroad Act

27.

What date did Lincoln approve the Pacific Railroad Act?

a)

1862

b)

1863

c)

1864

d)

1865

28.

What were the names of the 2 companies that was awarded the contracts to build the transcontinentalrailroad?

a)

The Union Pacific Railroad Company

b)

The Eastern Pacific Railroad Company

c)

The Central Pacific Railroad Company

d)

The Union Atlantic Railroad Company

29.

What 2 things did the Government offer the railroad Railroad companies to build the transcontinental railroad?

a)

An initial $500 million dollars was made available to encourage the railroad companies to begin building

b)

An initial $50 million dollars was made available to encourage the railroad companies to begin building

c)

For every mile of railroad built the companies received 64 acres of the Plains

d)

For every mile of railroad built the companies received 640 acres of the Plains

e)

For every mile of railroad built the companies received 6400 acres of the Plains

30.

When and where was the transcontinental railroad completed?

a)

1868, meeting at Promontory Point in Utah

b)

1868, meeting at Pikes Peak in Colorado

c)

1869, meeting at Promontory Point in Utah

d)

1869, meeting at Pikes Peak in Colorado

31.

Which one of the following was not an impact of the railroads?

a)

Hundreds of Chinese migrants died from disease and also from construction accidents in building the railroads

b)

The railroads had a serious impact on the Plains Indians, increasing settlement onto the Plains and also disrupting the Buffalo

c)

The railroads helped the cattle industry develop on the plains, enabling cattle to be transported across the nation

d)

The railroads helped the early migrants, such as the Pioneers and Mormons cross the Plains

32.

Before the US Civil War, where was the centre of US cattle ranching?

a)

Texas

b)

Tennessee

c)

California

d)

Colorado

33.

How did the US Civil War affect the price of cattle in Texas?

a)

The price rose; there was a shortage as the cattle had died, due to there being nobody to look after them as cattlemen were away fighting in the Civil War

b)

The price rose as there was a shortage as cattle had been shot by Union forces in the Civil War to force the Confederacy to surrender

c)

The price fell as the cattle had increased hugely in numbers, with nobody to look after them, meaning there was an over-supply

34.

Who were the first ranchers that carried out a 'long-drive', driving herds og cattle to the Plains?

a)

Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving

b)

Charles Loving and Oliver Goodnight

c)

Charles Goodnight and Joseph Mccoy

d)

Oliver Loving and Joseph Mccoy

35.

Which of the following 2 towns were 'Cow Towns', where cattle were bought and loaded onto trains for transport around the country?

a)

Abilene

b)

San Francisco

c)

Denver

d)

Dodge City

e)

Dallas

36.

What did John Iliff do that helped to end the Cattle Drives?

a)

He was a homesteader who bought land that blocked the cattle trails which others copied him in doing

b)

He brought in laws that prevented the cattle drives from happening as they were crossing homesteaders land

c)

He brought in laws that closed down the cow towns as they were violent and lawless places

d)

He bought some cattle and set up a ranching business breeding on the Plains itself, which others followed

37.

What was the name for people who settled the Plains to grow crops?

a)

Homelanders

b)

Frontiersmen

c)

Ranchers

d)

Homesteaders

e)

Homesetters

38.

Which President passed the Homestead Act and when?

a)

Andrew Johnson, 1862

b)

Andrew Johnson, 1864

c)

Andrew Johnson,1866

d)

Abraham Lincoln,1860

e)

Abraham Lincoln,1862

39.

Which of the following are correct statements as regards to why people settled the Plains? (Tick any/all that apply)

a)

The Homestead Act encouraged people to move to the Plains

b)

The high price of land in the Eastern and Pacific coast states, meant people had to try settling the Plains

c)

The railroad had lots of cheap land that they sold on, and encouraged people to buy it with lots of advertisments

d)

Over time, the railroads crossed the Plains, making it easier to initially settle, and also to transport produce

40.

Which one of the following is the correct statement as regards to what Lincoln's Government offered in the Homestead Act

a)

It promised people 100 acres, for a small fee as long as they farmed the land for 5 years

b)

It promised people 160 acres, for a small fee as long as they farmed the land for 5 years

c)

It promised people 160 acres, for a small fee as long as they farmed the land for 10 years

d)

It promised people 240 acres, for a small fee as long as they farmed the land for 5 years

e)

It promised people 240 acres, for a small fee as long as they farmed the land for 10 years

41.

Which of the following were difficulties with settling the Plains? (tick any/all that apply)

a)

There was a lack of surface water for living and farming

b)

Locust swarms

c)

Lack of wood

d)

Disease

e)

Isolation

42.

Which 3 of the following were developments that helped Homesteaders farm the Plains?

a)

The 'sod-buster' plough

b)

The Cotton Gin

c)

Wind pumps

d)

Wet Farming

e)

Turkey Red Wheat

43.

What was the name of the commander of the 7th Cavalry whose decisions led to all of his men being killed?

a)

General William S. Sherman

b)

General Ulysses S, Grant

c)

General George Armstrong Custer

d)

General Phillip Sheridan

44.

Within which city was the world's first skyscraper built?

a)

San Francisco

b)

New York

c)

Denver

d)

Chicago

e)

Washington

45.

What size was Chicago in 1833, and what had it grown to by 1900

a)

200 inhabitants, growing to 300,000

b)

400 inhabitants, growing to 1,000,000

c)

200 inhabitants, growing to 1,500,000

d)

400 inhabitants, growing to 1,500,000

46.

What was the name of the island where the main US immigration centre was sited?

a)

Ellis Island

b)

Ennis Island

c)

Eddis Island

d)

Elvis Island

e)

Elders Island

47.

What was the 'American Protective Association'?

a)

It was a group set up in 1887 to help 'protect' Protestant Americans from the dangers of Native American culture.

b)

It was a group set up in 1887 to help immigrants settle into America.

c)

It was a group set up in 1887 to help 'protect Protestant Americans from the dangers of Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist immigrants.'

d)

It was a group set up in 1887 to help protect Native Americans and their culture.

48.

How many cities were there with populations over 100,000 in 1870, and what had this grown to by 1900?

a)

10 Cities in 1870, growing to 24 by 1900

b)

14 Cities in 1870, growing to 28 by 1900

c)

14 Cities in 1870, growing to 38 by 1900

d)

18 Cities in 1870, growing to 44 by 1900

49.

In the poorest neighbourhood of Chicago, what percentage of babies died before their first birthday?

a)

35%

b)

40%

c)

45%

d)

50%

e)

60%

50.

In the 1890's how many migrants came from Italy alone?

a)

300,000

b)

400,000

c)

500,000

d)

600,000

e)

700,000

51.

What law was passed in 1882 by the US Government?

a)

The Chinese Resettlement Act

b)

The European Exclusion Act

c)

The Chinese Exclusion Act

d)

The European Resettlement Act

e)

The American Protective Act

52.

In 1850 there were 5,300 manufacturing firms in the USA; despite the USA growing by over 3 times by 1900, how many corporations had absorbed these and controlled American industry?

a)

124

b)

334

c)

834

d)

1240

e)

3340

53.

What were the names of the large farms and ranches that were owned by large businesses, and aggressively bought out smaller farms

a)

Bonanza farms and rances

b)

Homesteads

c)

Megasteads

d)

Corporate Farms and Ranches

54.

Which two of the following statements is incorrect about Bonanza farms and ranches?

a)

Bonanza farms often had access to the best land and water and rail links, so they had a competitive advantage to smaller farms

b)

Bonanza farms realised that their businesses depended on a healthy environment, so they managed the land well for the benefit of all

c)

In their quest to make profits, Bonanza farms used farming techniques that caused environmental problems, such as the 'Dust Bowl' of the 1900's onwards

d)

Bonanza farms were keen to help small local farmers and ranchers, giving them help and assistance if they were struggling

55.

Within what industries did Andrew Carnegie make his fortune?

a)

Steel

b)

Telegraph

c)

Banking and Finance

d)

Railroads

56.

How did the 'robber barons' deal with Unions? (Tick the 3 that are correct)

a)

They brought in non-union immigrant workers to defeat the strikers

b)

They listened to the Unions and met their demands for reasonable pay and safe working conditions

c)

They asked the US Government to send troops to stop the strikes

d)

They ensured that any Union leaders were 'blacklisted' where their name on the list ensured they found it difficult to find work anywhere in the USA

e)

They lobbied the government to help the Unions bring in laws for a fair minimum wage and safer working practices

57.

How many strikers were killed when the US Government sent troops to help break the 'Pullman Railroad Strike' of 1893?

a)

8

b)

14

c)

18

d)

21

e)

26

58.

What is the correct term given to industrialists who were criticised that they seemed prepared to do almost anything to make money in the USA?

a)

Robber Tyrants

b)

Thieving Tyrants

c)

Thieving Barons

d)

Robber Barons

e)

Robber Lords

59.

What is the correct name for the organisations that dominated manufacturing and business in the USA by 1900

a)

Corporations

b)

Mega-companys

c)

Conglomerates

d)

Metropolis