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8th Grade U.S. History Pre-Test

Total questions: 126

Worksheet time: 2hrs 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who was the president of the United States during the Civil War?

a)

Jefferson Davis

b)

Robert E. Lee

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

John Wilkes Booth

2.

Who was the president of the Confederate states of America?

a)

Abraham Lincoln

b)

William Sherman

c)

Morgan Freeman

d)

Jefferson Davis

3.

In 1863 this declared all slaves in the rebelling states were free.

a)

Declaration of Independance

b)

Emancipation Proclamation

c)

Gettysburg Address

d)

Battle of Bull Run

4.

The single bloodiest DAY in the Civil War took place here:

a)

Appomatox

b)

Bull Run

c)

Antietam

d)

Gettysburg

5.

The capital of the United States of America during the Civil War was:

a)

Washington D.C.

b)

Richmond

c)

Philadelphia

d)

Charleston

6.

The capital of the Confederate states of America during the Civil War was:

a)

Charleston

b)

Washington, D.C.

c)

Richmond

d)

Philadelphia

7.

The Union army ...

a)

represented the northern states and wore grey

b)

represented the southern states and wore grey

c)

represented the northern states and wore blue

d)

represented the southern states and wore grey

8.

The Confederate army...

a)

represented the northern army and wore grey

b)

represented the southern army and wore grey

c)

represented the northern army and wore blue

d)

represented the southern army and wore blue

9.

The commanding general of the Union army was

a)

Ulysses Grant

b)

Robert E. Lee

c)

William Sherman

d)

John Wilkes Booth

10.

The commanding general of the Confederate army was

a)

Ulysses Grant

b)

Robert E. Lee

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

William Sherman

11.

Which of these was NOT a border state during the Civil War?

a)

Maryland

b)

Kentucky

c)

Vermont

d)

Virginia

12.

Who was John Brown?

a)

He assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

b)

He wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin.

c)

He planned a slave rebellion and was hanged for treason.

d)

He was a presidential candidate in 1860.

13.

Why was the attack on Fort Sumter significant?

a)

It was the bloodiest day of the Civil War.

b)

The Confederacy surrendered.

c)

The first shots of the Civil War were fired.

d)

General Pickett charged the Union line.

14.

The Confederacy surrendered to the Union army at this courthouse in Virginia.

a)

Appomattox

b)

Antietam

c)

Manassas

d)

Richmond

15.

Strengths of the North during the Civil War were all but:

a)

85% of the factories in the country were located in the north

b)

The north had the most experienced military generals

c)

The north had more soldiers

d)

There was double the length railroad in the north

16.

Dred Scot v Sanford was ...

a)

a law that helped slave owners capture runaway slaves.

b)

when the Supreme Court decided blacks were not citizens and could not sue in court, slaves who lived in free territory could not become free.

c)

when the Supreme Court decided blacks were citizens and could sue in court, slaves who lived in free territory could become free.

d)

when the Supreme Court decided to allow Texas to secede from the Union.

17.

When Missouri entered the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state it was known as the

a)

The Missouri Proclamation

b)

The Compromise of 1850

c)

The Missouri Compromise

d)

Bleeding Kansas

18.

Define : Precedent.

a)

A position of supreme power in the U.S.

b)

An example that becomes standard practice.

c)

Head of the State

d)

Forced military service.

19.

A government's interaction in dealing with other countries or nations.

a)

Foreign Policy

b)

Domestic Policy

c)

State Policy

d)

Local Policy

20.

George Washington’s goodbye letter to the American people warning them of foreign alliances, political parties and sectionalism.

a)

Presidential good-bye speech.

b)

The Farewell Address.

c)

President's Exit letter.

d)

Presidential End of Term.

21.

Which answer choose has the first 5 presidents in the correct order?

a)

Washington, Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Clinton, Bush.

b)

Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Monroe, Madison.

c)

Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe.

d)

Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Monroe.

22.

The British Navy would capture American sailors and force them to join their military. Forced military service is called _________.

a)

Impressment.

b)

Impeachment.

c)

Improvising.

d)

Impoverishing.

23.

A set of laws that allowed the government to arrest and deport you if you were seen as "dangerous" to the country. The Government can also fine and arrest you for criticizing your country.

a)

Alien & Retribution Acts.

b)

Alien & Sedition Acts.

c)

1st Amendment.

d)

Intolerable Acts.

24.

The event where 3 secret French agents demanded money from the U.S in order to stop the attacks on U.S Ships Is known as… ___________.

a)

X,Y,Z Affair.

b)

A,B,C Affair.

c)

1,2,3 Affair.

d)

Z,Y,X Affair

25.

The president appointed a group of advisors to help do his job, what is this called?

a)

Cabinet.

b)

The Avengers.

c)

Board of Presidency.

d)

Secretary of State.

26.

President Jefferson hires two explorers to carry out an expedition of the new Louisiana Territory. This expedition led to finding new resources, exploiting the fur trade and pushing out the Native Americans towards the West.

a)

Lewis & Clark.

b)

Miles & Clark.

c)

Louise & Kent.

d)

Johnson & Johnson.

27.

Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed by President Adams.

a)

John Marshall.

b)

John Adams.

c)

Thomas Jefferson.

d)

James Madison.

28.

Famous landmark Supreme Court case during President Jeffersons time in office that establishes the principle of Judicial Review.

a)

Marbury V. Madison

b)

Brown V. Board of Education

c)

McCulloh V. Maryland

d)

Dred Scott V. Sandford

29.

The Federalist Party was led by ___________.

a)

Alexander Hamilton.

b)

Thomas Jefferson.

c)

George Washington.

d)

George Mason.

30.

The leader of the Democratic-Republican Party was __________.

a)

Thomas Jefferson.

b)

Alexander Hamilton.

c)

George Washington.

d)

Abraham Lincoln.

31.

What body of water did the Jamestown Colonists cross when traveling from England?

a)

Atlantic Ocean

b)

Pacific Ocean

c)

Gulf of Mexico

d)

Southern Ocean

32.

When the Colonists landed in Jamestown, what Native American tribe was living in the area?

a)

Cahokians

b)

Hohokam

c)

Anasazi

d)

Powhatan

33.

Which cash crop was introduced to the area that led to Jamestown's success as a colony?

a)

Tobacco

b)

Cotton

c)

Corn

d)

Wheat

34.

What issues did the settlers of Jamestown face when it came to geography?

a)

Located in a swamp with unclean water and disease-carrying mosquitoes.

b)

Located far from the coast, which made farming difficult.

c)

Located in the mountains, which made it very difficult to get to.

d)

Located in a dry, arid place that made farming difficult.

35.

What was the name of the joint stock company that sent the settlers to Jamestown?

a)

The London Company

b)

The Virginia Company

c)

The Massachusetts Bay Company

d)

The Outer Banks Company

36.
This picture shows colonists being shot and killed during the:
a)
Boston Massacre
b)
Boston Tea Party
c)
Bloody Sunday
d)
The Great Fire of Boston
37.
Which tax was the direct cause of the Boston Tea Party?
a)
Tea Tax
b)
Sugar Tax
c)
Intolerable Acts
d)
Stamp Act
38.
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
a)
Benjamin Franklin
b)
Samuel Adams
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Paul Revere
39.
The first ten Amendment to the Constitution are called the  _______.
a)
Bill of Rights
b)
Preamble
c)
Articles
d)
Naturalization
40.
Which branch makes the laws?
a)
Executive
b)
Judicial
c)
Appellate
d)
Legislative
41.
Which branch of government does the President belong to?
a)
judicial
b)
legislative
c)
executive
42.
This amendment guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and the right to petition government.
a)
1st
b)
4th
c)
9th
d)
10th
43.
What is Federalism?
a)
Federal & state govt. share power
b)
Federal govt has more power than states
c)
Federal & state govt. have no power
d)
States have more power than Federal
44.
What are the 3 branches of government?
a)
Federalism, State, & Local
b)
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
c)
President, Vice President, Governor
d)
Supreme Court, Senate, House of Reps
45.
This house of Congress has 435 members with the number of members based on each state's population
a)
House of Representatives
b)
Senate
c)
President
d)
Supreme Court
46.

Which Amendment gave United States citizens of all races the right to vote?

a)

13th

b)

14th

c)

15th

d)

5th

47.

What was the Underground Railroad?

a)

A train that took people to freedom.

b)

A tunnel where people could buy slaves.

c)

A group of people who helped slaves escape to freedom.

d)

A home where Harriet Tubman grew up.

48.
How did Jefferson double the size of the United States in 1803?
a)
The Louisiana Purchase
b)
The purchase of California
c)
The Treaty of Ghent
49.
Francis Scott Key wrote the words to a famous song during the War of 1812,  What was the song?
a)
Yankee Doodle Dandy
b)
The Star Spangled Banner
c)
America the Beautiful
50.
Who was the US President during the War of 1812?
a)
Thomas Jefferson
b)
James Madison
c)
John Adams
d)
George Washington
51.

Who founded Pennsylvania as a safe place for Quakers to settle?

a)

John Smith

b)

Anne Huthinson

c)

William Penn

d)

John Winthrop

52.

As part of the ____________, Boston Harbor was closed until colonists paid for tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party.

a)

Intolerable Acts

b)

Tea Acts

c)

Townshend Acts

d)

Boston Massacre

53.

What did Thomas Paine write to encourage the colonists to declare independence?

a)

Common Sense

b)

The Declaration of Independence

c)

The Articles of Confederation

d)

The Federalist Papers

54.

The signing of what document ended the Revolutionary War?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

The Articles of Confederation

c)

Treaty of Paris 1763

d)

Treaty of Paris 1783

55.

What do we call a set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government?

a)

Resolution

b)

Amendment

c)

Constitution

d)

Declaration

56.

What does the word ratify mean?

a)

To approve

b)

To deny

c)

To support

d)

To destroy

57.

What did the Great Compromise create?

a)

A bicameral (two house) legislature

b)

A unicameral (one-house) legislature

c)

The Supreme Court

d)

The New Jersey Plan

58.

What is the terms for a system that keeps any branch of government from becoming too powerful?

a)

sectionalism

b)

federalism

c)

checks and balances

d)

feudalism

59.

All of the following people wrote the "Federalists Papers" except -

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

George Mason

c)

John Jay

d)

James Madison

60.

What do we call a change made to the Constitution?

a)

A correction

b)

An amendment

c)

An editorial

d)

A judicial review

61.

What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?

a)

The Discovery

b)

The Mayflower

c)

The Speedwell

d)

The Godspeed

62.

How many colonies were there originally?

a)

50

b)

24

c)

13

d)

10

63.

How does someone become President?

a)

They become president when their dad dies

b)

Members of Congress vote on the person they like best

c)

The people of the U.S. vote to elect a person every four years

d)

A person's name is drawn out of a hat

64.

Which two countries border the U.S.?

a)

Mexico and Canada

b)

Mexico and Spain

c)

Great Britain and France

d)

Canada and Brazil

65.

Which invention was created by Eli Whitney that increased slave labor?

a)

The steam locomotive

b)

The cotton gin

c)

The reaper

d)

The steamboat

66.

If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

a)

the Vice-President

b)

the Secretary of State

c)

the President Pro Tempore

d)

Speaker of the House

e)

I'm not sure

67.

What are 2 ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

a)

Vote and join a civic group

b)

give an elected official your opinion on an issue and join a community group

c)

write to a newspaper and call Senators and Representative

d)

All of the above

e)

I'm not sure

68.

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

a)

because the stripes represent the number of signatures on the U.S. Constitution

b)

because the stripes represent the members of the Second Continental Congress

c)

because it was considered lucky to have 13 stripes on a flag

d)

because the stripes represent the original colonies

e)

I'm not sure

69.

Soldiers cannot be forced to live in your home is the basic idea of which amendment in the US

Constitution?

a)

5th

b)

2nd

c)

3rd

d)

1st

e)

I'm not sure

70.

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

a)

Some states have a larger population than others.

b)

Some states have chosen to allow other states to have more.

c)

Every state has an equal number of Representatives.

d)

Some states have more eligible people to run for office.

e)

I'm not sure

71.

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

a)

the House of Lords and the House of Commons

b)

the Senate and the courts

c)

the Senate and the House of Representatives

d)

the House of Representatives and the courts

e)

I'm not sure

72.

We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

a)

2

b)

8

c)

4

d)

6

e)

I'm not sure

73.

How many U.S. Senators are there?

a)

52

b)

50

c)

435

d)

100

e)

I'm not sure

74.

The US Congress has the power to do all of the following except

a)

Deny treaties made by the President

b)

Regulate the money supply

c)

declare war

d)

nominate judges for the Supreme Court

e)

I'm not sure

75.

One of Lincolns most trusted generals as a result of his performance during the war in the "West".

a)

William Tecumseh Sherman

b)

Robert E. Lee

c)

Stonewall Jackson

d)

William Carney

76.

Sectionalism is a cause of the Civil War because...

a)

Northerners & Southerners were loyal to their local customs and way of life.

b)

Settlers in the West refused to participate in the War.

c)

The Southerners believed in Abolition.

d)

The North wanted Slavery.

77.

Which was an advantage for the Union during the Civil War.

a)

The Union had more manufactured goods.

b)

The Union had Better Leaders.

c)

The Union knew the the battlegrounds in the south well.

d)

The Union had better fighters.

78.

This agreement led to the addition of California into the U.S as a Free State but also introduced the Fugitive Slave Act to please the Southern States.

a)

Compromise of 1850

b)

Missouri Compromise

c)

The Great Compromise

d)

Bleeding Kansas

79.

This landmark court case came to the decision that slaves are property and are not legally allowed to sue for their Freedom. This case also led to the Missouri Compromise to be ruled unconstitutional.

a)

Marbury v. Madison

b)

Dred Scott v. Sanford

c)

Brown v. Board of Education

d)

Plessy v. Ferguson

80.

This person wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and was nicknamed "The little lady who started the Civil War" by Abraham Lincoln.

a)

Harriet Tubman

b)

Harriet Beecher Stowe

c)

Rosa Parks

d)

Sojourner Truth

81.

Isabella Baumfree said the Lord named her this because she "was to declare the truth to the people":

a)

Miss To-Tell-the Truth

b)

Isabella Tru-Dat

c)

Little Ms. Truth-be-Told

d)

Sojourner Truth

82.

This woman graduated first in her medical class after having been initially turned down by more than 20 other schools:

a)

Sojourner Truth

b)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

c)

Elizabeth Blackwell

d)

Angela Grimke

83.

These sisters grew up in a Southern, slave-holding family, and eventually freed their former slaves:

a)

Harriet and Catherine Stowe

b)

Isabelle and Sophia Hartunian

c)

Olivia and Madison Rooney

d)

Angela and Sarah Grimke

84.

A utopia is:

a)

a dessert at Dairy Queen

b)

a Disney movie

c)

a perfect society

d)

a type of flower

85.

Which of the following people was a leader in educational reform?

a)

Horace Mann

b)

Lyman Beecher

c)

Isabella Baumfree

d)

Dorothea Dix

86.

Oberlin College of Ohio was the first college to:

a)

admit only white women

b)

admit only men

c)

admit both women and African Americans

d)

admit all women, regardless of race

87.

William Lloyd Garrison was the first white abolitionist to call for this:

a)

the immediate employment of recently emancipated slaves

b)

the immediate and complete emancipation of enslaved people

c)

the immediate and complete relocation of enslaved people

d)

the immediate sale of enslaved people

88.

Seneca Falls, New York was the location of the first:

a)

LGBT parade

b)

Abolitionist rally

c)

Ku Klux Klan rally

d)

Women's Rights convention

89.

The Temperance Movement called for the use of little to no:

a)

drugs

b)

alcohol

c)

soap

d)

tobacco

90.

She was the most famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad:

a)

Sojourner Truth

b)

Isabella Baumfree

c)

Harriet Tubman

d)

Dorothea Dix

91.

Hernan Cortes is mainly known for...

a)

Defeating the Spanish Armada

b)

Conquering the Aztec Empire

c)

Conquering the Inca Empire

d)

His life as a pirate

92.

The Triangle Trade focuses on which three parts of the world?

a)

Asia, India, and the 'New World'

b)

Europe, Africa, and Japan

c)

Europe, Africa, and the 'New World'

d)

England, France, and Spain

93.

What was the name of England's first attempt of a colony in North America?

a)

Jamestown

b)

Louisiana

c)

Roanoke

d)

Croatoan

94.

In the Triangle Trade system, what was transferred from Africa to the Americas?

a)

Enslaved people

b)

Finished Products

c)

Raw Materials

d)

Donuts

95.

In the Triangle Trade system, what was transferred from the Americas to Europe?

a)

Enslaved people

b)

Finished Products

c)

Raw Materials

d)

Hot Cheetos

96.

In the Triangle Trade system, what was transferred from Europe to Africa?

a)

Enslaved people

b)

Finished Products

c)

Raw Materials

d)

Takis

97.

What was a major cause of the civil war?

a)

Northerners and Southerners disagreed over the spread of slavery.

b)

Southerners wanted John Brown to receive a fair trial.

c)

Northerners and Southerners belonged to different political parties.

d)

Northerners wanted Stephen Douglas to win the election of 1860.

98.

“ . . . The Constitution grants to Congress the power of imposing a duty on imports for revenue; which power is abused by being converted into an instrument for rearing up the industry of one section of the country on the ruins of another.”

John C. Calhoun


Calhoun’s comments reflect a growing difference between the North and the South over the issue of

a)

spread of slavery

b)

tariffs

c)

nullification

d)

secession

99.

Which of the following statements is true about the Northern and Southern economies?

a)

The Northern economy was agricultural while the Southern economy was based on manufacturing.

b)

Jobs on plantations attracted more immigrants to the South than to the North.

c)

Transportation systems were more developed in the North than in the South.

d)

The Southern economy was more diversified than the Northern economy.

100.

Which of the following were the two major turning point battles of the Civil War?

a)

Vicksburg and Fredericksburg

b)

Gettysburg and Bull Run

c)

Vicksburg and Gettysburg

d)

Bull Run and Shiloh

101.

Most all of the military action during the Civil War occurred in which region?

a)

Texas

b)

Midwest

c)

Southeast

d)

Northeast

102.

“No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges of citizens…nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or poverty without due process of law.”


The main purpose of the 14th Amendment was to

a)

limit the power of the federal government.

b)

expand the rights of women.

c)

maintain peace in the world.

d)

provide the right of citizenship to African Americans.

103.

The 15th Amendment was necessary because

a)

the Republican Party wanted to abolish the 13th Amendment.

b)

voting rights had not been guaranteed for African American males.

c)

President Johnson wanted to eliminate the Reconstruction Act.

d)

the 14th Amendment had not been ratified by the states.

104.

Which of the following was a requirement for the South to reenter the Union as part of the Radical Reconstruction Plan?

a)

Enact voting rights for women

b)

Bring charges of impeachment against Lincoln

c)

Write new state constitutions

d)

Pass Jim Crow laws

105.
What did the US do after the Civil War ended?
a)
The united states had to reintegrate both a formerly slave population.
b)
Fight AGAIN !!
c)
Went out for lunch.
d)
Signed a Treaty and Got a new presedent
106.
Which of the following was not a goal of Reconstruction?
a)
Reunite the North and the South
b)
Rebuild the South
c)
Develop the system of sharecropping
d)
Determine what to do with African Americans
107.
Laws passed by southern states soon after the Compromise of 1877.  These laws legalized segregation whites and blacks to use separate facilities. 
a)
Jim Crow Laws
b)
Black Codes
c)
Freedman's Bureau
d)
Reconstruction
108.
What problem did many farmers have under the sharecropping system?        
a)
They were forced to grow cash crops instead of food.
b)
 They often were trapped in a cycle or circle of debt.
c)
 Many sharecroppers were forced to buy goods on credit. 
d)
   All choices are true.
109.
Northerners who went south after the Civil War to make large profits from the destruction in the south were called
a)
Scalawags
b)
Ku Klux Klan
c)
Carpetbaggers
d)
Sharecroppers
110.
The process of rebuilding the South after the Civil War. 
a)
Reconstruction
b)
Freedman's Bureau
c)
Black Codes
d)
Jim Crow Laws
111.
What group gained control of Congress after Lincoln's assassination?
a)
Southern Democrats
b)
Former Confederates
c)
Radical Republicans
d)
Communists 
112.
Southern whites passed laws restricting the rights of African Americans called--
a)
Black codes
b)
Slave Laws
c)
Confederate Rights
d)
Merica Laws
113.
Who was the first African American to serve in the US senate?
a)
Frederick Douglass
b)
Harriet Tubman
c)
Hiram Revels
d)
Barack Obama
114.
The white terrorist group that attacked Blacks and white republicans to restore Democratic control in the South was the--
a)
Kappa Kappa Kappa
b)
Redeemers
c)
Pure Race Fraternity 
d)
Ku Klux Klan
115.
Hayes agreed to remove federal troops from the South in order to win the Presidency in the Election of 1876. This--
a)
started Reconstruction
b)
got him impeached
c)
made Southern Democrats angry
d)
ended Reconstruction
116.
Which law was an Indian policy that broke reservations into individual land plots and harmed the communal structure of Native tribes?
a)
The Morrill Act
b)
The Dawes Act
c)
The Reservation  Reorganization Act
d)
The Homestead Act
117.
What act initiated the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad for both military and settlement purposes?
a)
Railorad Act
b)
Pacific Railway Act
c)
Transcontinental Act
d)
Military Transport Act
118.
The federal government encouraged settlement in westward lands by passing the--
a)
Land-Grab Act
b)
The Dawes Act
c)
The Morrill Act
d)
Homestead Act
119.
How was the President’s Reconstruction Plan different from Congress’ Plan?
a)
The President's plan tried to make it easier for the South to rejoin the Union
b)
Congress' plan tried to make it easier for the South to rejoin the Union
c)
President's plan did not want the south to rejoin the Union
d)
Congress' plan wanted all Southerners to be sent to Mexico
120.
Which of these was NOT used to try to stop African Americans from voting?
a)
A reading test
b)
the "Grandfather Clause"
c)
The Ku Klux Klan
d)
The Freedmen's Bureau
121.
Sharecropping often kept African American farmers poor because
a)
The farmers owed more money than they made each year
b)
the landowners would not sell them land
c)
only those who voted could own land
d)
Most African Americans did not want to work anymore
122.

As white southerners regained control of state governments, they began to

a)

refuse to pay war debts.

b)

join the Republican Party.

c)

reverse Reconstruction era reforms.

d)

compensate former slaves.

123.

Reconstruction came to end when

a)

President Johnson was impeached.

b)

federal troops were removed from the South.

c)

the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified.

d)

the Freedmen’s Bureau was dismantled.

124.

The Freedmen’s Bureau succeeded in

a)

electing African Americans to southern state governments.

b)

keeping ex-Confederate supporters out of office.

c)

redistributing formerly white-owned land to black southerners.

d)

providing clothing, medical care, food, and education to many freed people.

125.

The goal of the Freedmen’s Bureau was to

a)

prevent African Americans from voting.

b)

force African Americans to move north.

c)

help former slaves adjust to freedom.

d)

abolish slavery.

126.

A major failure of Reconstruction was that

a)

racist attitudes continued in the North and South.

b)

the South’s cotton production never recovered.

c)

war debts remained unpaid.

d)

no African Americans were voted into Congress.