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Social Studies STAAR Practice I

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

BLACK CODES was a name given to laws passed by southern governments established during the presidency of Andrew Johnson. These laws imposed severe restrictions on freedmen, such as prohibiting their right to vote, forbidding them to sit on juries, and limiting their right to testify against white men. They were also forbidden from carrying weapons in public places and working in certain occupations.

—National Archives and Records Administration, http://www.archives.gov (accessed July 14, 2010)

Southern states passed the codes described in this excerpt in order to —

a)

limit the effects of the Reconstruction Amendments

b)

increase the labor supply for factory jobs in the North

c)

decrease the number of northern representatives in Congress

d)

improve relations with the Democratic Party

2.

Which problem did George Washington encounter when he became president?

a)

Southern states were threatening to secede from the Union.

b)

The United States had large debts from the American Revolution.

c)

Great Britain was refusing to trade with the United States.

d)

The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced with a stronger constitution

3.

How did geography influence the early economic development of New York, Boston, and Charleston?

a)

Long coastlines offered abundant natural resources.

b)

Proximity to flooding rivers limited development.

c)

Natural harbors provided access to markets.

d)

Extreme climates limited productive activity.

4.

During the early 1800s many young women in New England were employed outside their homes as —

a)

crew members on cargo ships

b)

cloth weavers in textile mills

c)

staff reporters for local newspapers

d)

legal counselors in state courts

5.

After the end of the Revolutionary War, states were eager to expand into newly available territory. The states of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia argued over competing claims to land west of the Appalachian Mountains. This conflict was addressed by the —

a)

Missouri Compromise

b)

Wilmot Proviso

c)

Northwest Ordinance

d)

Kansas-Nebraska Act

6.

• In 1844, Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail sent the first telegraph message between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland.

• In 1861, Western Union laid the first transcontinental telegraph line.

• In 1866, the first permanent telegraph cable was laid across the Atlantic Ocean.


What impact did this innovation have on daily life?

a)

It increased the regional differences among various groups of people across the country.

b)

It became a major method of long-distance communication for many years.

c)

It allowed people to sign legal documents from across the country.

d)

It was the government’s only method to negotiate with foreign leaders.

7.

The geographic factors in this table led primarily to the —

a)

founding of trade schools in some colonies

b)

development of different economies in the two regions

c)

establishment of import taxes in some colonies

d)

pattern of religious differences in the two regions

8.

How did southern states respond to the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment?

a)

By creating a segregated public education system

b)

By shutting down all remaining offices of Freedmen’s Bureau

c)

By imposing requirements designed to deny African Americans the right to vote

d)

By forcing African Americans to work as tenant farmers and sharecroppers

9.

Which outcome best completes this diagram?

a)

American Revolution

b)

Popular Sovereignty

c)

Manifest Destiny

d)

Civil War

10.

Which of the following best completes this excerpt?

a)

equal pay

b)

own property

c)

a public education

d)

vote

11.

Which chart correctly identifies reasons for and against ratification of the proposed U.S. Constitution?

a)
b)
c)
d)
12.

Which of these describes the primary reason for French colonization?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

13.

The economic growth demonstrated by this recruitment letter was primarily a result of —

a)

the passage of strict federal labor laws

b)

the abolition of the slave trade

c)

the expansion of the cottage industry system

d)

the new production methods of industrialization

14.

For what reason did a group of colonists agree to this compact?

a)

To declare independence from all European nations

b)

To form a social contract among themselves

c)

To demonstrate goodwill toward local American Indians

d)

To establish trade relations with other colonies

15.

Which phrase best represents the U.S. principle of republicanism?

a)

The creation of a Congress to carry out the will of the people

b)

The establishment of courts to interpret laws and government actions

c)

The division of power between a federal government and state governments

d)

The power of a court to declare a law unconstitutional

16.

This author is expressing her opinion about —

a)

recalling members of Congress

b)

impeaching the President

c)

disobeying the Supreme Court

d)

amending the Constitution

17.

Which reason best completes the diagram?

a)

Requirements of an alliance with France

b)

Interest in conquering territories in South America

c)

British impressment of U.S. sailors

d)

Abolition of state militias

18.

This excerpt supports the conclusion that Jefferson disagreed with —

a)

the congressional power of impeachment

b)

the presidential power to veto bills

c)

the states’ power to amend the Constitution

d)

the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review

19.

How did opposition to this system affect the economy of the early republic?

a)

The government prevented taxes on domestic goods.

b)

Cottage workers needed governmental assistance.

c)

Interstate trade taxes were forbidden.

d)

A free enterprise system was adopted.

20.

Which action is one part of the official path to U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process?

a)

Attending college in the United States

b)

Being employed in the United States

c)

Passing a U.S. civics exam

d)

Working for the U.S. government

21.

Which inference about the Know-Nothing Party is supported by the excerpt above?

a)

Its members blamed Irish immigrants for taking away jobs.

b)

The party encouraged western migration of settlers.

c)

Its members opposed enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act in the Northeast.

d)

The party was in favor of universal suffrage.

22.

What is one reason this song has endured for so many years?

a)

The song was inspired by religious revivals.

b)

The song celebrates a patriotic act from the past.

c)

The song is about protecting the rights of people.

d)

The song was a theme for civil rights activism.

23.

Which human geographic factor most likely prompted this observation?

a)

The number of Quakers living in British colonies

b)

The Caribbean slave trade with British colonies

c)

The number of religious sects in the British colonies

d)

The Spanish land claims close to the British colonies

24.

How did the Supreme Court decision in Worcester v. Georgia affect American Indians?

a)

The ruling gave the state authority over relations with American Indians.

b)

The state ignored the ruling and distributed Cherokee lands to white settlers.

c)

More American Indian tribes decided to grant licenses to missionaries to live on tribal lands.

d)

Reservation policies were overturned and replaced with land grants to individuals.

25.

What is the “great act” referred to by Senator Sumner in this excerpt?

a)

The Senate’s readmission of the last Confederate state

b)

The addition of Hiram Rhodes Revels to the U.S. Senate

c)

The Senate’s acquittal of President Andrew Johnson

d)

The election of the first woman to the U.S. Senate

26.

Which term best completes this excerpt?

a)

Second Great Awakening

b)

temperance movement

c)

Era of Good Feelings

d)

abolitionist movement

27.

Why did slavery become a widespread practice in the United States during the early nineteenth century?

a)

The system of indentured servitude was banned.

b)

The need for agricultural labor increased as a result of expanded cotton production.

c)

Improved transportation systems made it easier for workers to migrate.

d)

Advancements in technology led to the need for skilled workers.

28.

Which leadership quality does President Lincoln best demonstrate in this address?

a)

Inspiration — He wants the Union to be a model of democracy for all nations.

b)

Compassion — He wants to help those who suffered during the Civil War.

c)

Persistence — He believes the Union must surrender in order to have peace.

d)

Confidence — He believes history would prove him correct to fight in the Civil War.

29.

Which statement best explains why this resolution was adopted?

a)

Colonists were upset by the punishment imposed after the Boston Tea Party.

b)

Colonists created this in order to address the causes of the Boston Massacre.

c)

Colonists were opposed to colonial laws being created only by Parliament.

d)

Colonists wanted to expand powers given to governors appointed by King George III.

30.

According to the Northwest Ordinance, which condition did a U.S. territory have to meet in order to apply for statehood?

a)

Have a population of sixty thousand free settlers

b)

Hold a vote on whether to become a free or slave territory

c)

Establish one public school per district

d)

Have a territorial governor appointed by the president