wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

U.S. History First Semester Final Review

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 54mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following was not a motivation for European exploration?

a)

Create political allies

b)

Spread Christianity

c)

Expand empires

d)

Economic development

2.

The primary reason for the establishment of the colony of Maryland was to -

a)

establish a safe haven for English debtors

b)

function as a buffer between English and Spanish territories

c)

develop trade relations with various Native groups

d)

serve as a refuge for Catholics to avoid persecution

3.

The Mayflower Compact was significant in establishing the principle of -

a)

Mercantilism

b)

Religious freedom

c)

Self-government

d)

Civic virtue

4.

American colonists felt it necessary to establish their own representative institutions due to -

a)

The right of the people to keep slaves.

b)

The belief in separation of church and state.

c)

The desire to maintain mercantilist policies.

d)

The distance between the colonies and Great Britain.

5.
  1. Which of the following describes the New England colonies economy? 

Select TWO correct answers.

a)

Settlers grew staple crops like wheat, barley, and oats to provide for the colonies.

b)

The abundance of lumber in the region allowed settlers to build and sell ships.

c)

Many colonists grew indigo and shipped it back to England to use on fabrics.

d)

A robust fishing industry developed due to access to the Atlantic coast.

6.

The settlement of Jamestown was founded in the year -

a)

1607

b)

1619

c)

1620

d)

1634

7.
  1. Which of the following reasons led to the outbreak of the American Revolution? 

Select TWO correct answers.

a)

Colonists did not feel they should be taxed for the French and Indian War debt.

b)

Colonists wanted to expand their fur trade and Great Britain was in the way.

c)

Colonists wanted limitations set on religious freedom in the colonies.

d)

Colonists were angered by the acts and taxes imposed on them without their consent.

8.

Which geographic feature is connected to the Proclamation Line of 1763?

a)

Boston Harbor

b)

Mississippi River

c)

Great Lakes

d)

Appalachian Mountains

9.

Which statement BEST represents the king's viewpoint regarding the issuance of the Proclamation of 1763?

a)

“I do not have enough money to grow crops on my land.”

b)

“It’s overcrowded in far too many cities, and I need to move west.”

c)

“War with American Indians will be inevitable, resulting in more debt.”

d)

“The French will end up losing all claim to land in North America.”

10.

Which of the following best describes the Intolerable Acts?

a)

Closed Boston Harbor until money was paid back from the Boston Tea Party incident

b)

Taxed all newspapers, magazines, and legal documents

c)

Taxed imported British goods such as glass, lead, paper, and tea

d)

Tarred and feathered all tax collectors

11.

Which of the following is a grievance included in the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Colonists were required to house soldiers in their homes.

b)

Colonists were forced to follow the teachings of the Church of England.

c)

Colonists were only allowed access to newspapers printed in England.

d)

Colonists were prohibited from owning slaves.

12.

What is the significance of the Battle of Yorktown?

a)

Turning point of American Revolution

b)

End of American Revolution

c)

Beginning of American Revolution

d)

Encouraged writing of The Crisis

13.
  1. The interaction between the minutemen and the British troops at Lexington and Concord was significant because -

a)

it allowed for peaceful negotiations to end the war.

b)

it signaled the beginning of fighting in the American Revolution.

c)

it led to French involvement in the American Revolution.

d)

it signaled the end of fighting in the American Revolution.

14.

Which event completes the timeline?

a)

Intolerable Acts

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Battle of Yorktown

d)

Treaty of Paris

15.

Why would slave states be in favor of counting slaves as part of their total population?

a)

to be required to pay less in taxes

b)

to have more representation in the Legislative Branch

c)

to gain more military presence in their areas

d)

to charge lower prices for their goods

16.

The Northwest Ordinance was an act that provided rules for governing the Northwest Territory and paved the way for -

a)

admission of new states to the Union

b)

ratification of the U.S. Constitution

c)

expansion of slavery to northern states

d)

industrialization of the northern U.S.

17.
  1. "I’d rather be a free citizen of the small republic of Virginia, than an oppressed subject of the great American empire." 

Why would an Anti-Federalist have supported the above statement?


a)

Anti-Federalists believed in a strong central government.

b)

Anti-Federalists wanted a great American empire.

c)

Anti-Federalists believed in a strong state government.

d)

Anti-Federalists were loyal to the King of England.

18.

Which of the following represents a protection guaranteed under the First Amendment?

a)

Probable cause needed to obtain a search warrant

b)

Excessive bail and fines cannot be imposed

c)

Right to trial by jury in civil cases

d)

Freedom of choice regarding religious membership

19.
  1. Which of the following BEST describes religious freedom under the First Amendment? 

Select TWO correct answers.

a)

Americans are required to follow a national religion.

b)

Americans have the right to pray in public places.

c)

Americans can be fined for not exercising their religious freedom.

d)

Americans have the right to practice whatever religion they choose.

20.

 Which Supreme Court case gave judges the power described above?

a)

Marbury v. Madison

b)

McCulloch v. Maryland

c)

Dred Scott v. Sandford

d)

Gibbons v. Ogden

21.

Which of the following statements BEST reflects a key belief of the Democratic-Republican Party?

a)

“The Supreme Court must have the freedom to interpret the Constitution as it sees fit.”

b)

“Unless we take steps to encourage manufacturing, our national economy will fail.”

c)

“The growing power of the central government is a threat to the rights of the states.”

d)

“The United States must strengthen its economic bond with Great Britain.”

22.

What economic issue did George Washington face when he took office?

a)

High debt from the American Revolution

b)

Implementing protective tariffs

c)

Lack of manufacturing centers in the U.S.

d)

Fending off the British for aiding Natives

23.

Which of the following describes the impacts of ruling in Marbury v. Madison? 

        Select TWO correct answers.

a)

The Supreme Court had the ability to declare a law unconstitutional.

b)

Congress had the power to regulate interstate commerce.

c)

The power of the judicial branch was strengthened.

d)

Slaves were viewed as property and had no rights.

24.

What was President Adams’ response to the XYZ Affair?

a)

Declared war on France in order to put an end to the situation more quickly

b)

Sent over more ambassadors in order to try to improve relations with France

c)

Showed the U.S. would not be taken advantage of by refusing to pay the bribe

d)

Joined forces with Great Britain’s Navy in order to start impressing French sailors

25.

Which of the following completes the diagram?

a)

Move the U.S. capital south

b)

Combine state and national debt

c)

Create a national bank

d)

Re-establish trade with Natives

26.

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

a)

John Smith

b)

Anne Hutchinson

c)

William Penn

d)

John Winthrop

27.

_____________ are items that are always needed, such as wheat and barley.

a)

Cash crops

b)

Staple crops

c)

Survival crops

d)

Holy crops

28.

Which of these answers was not a direct cause of the American Revolution?

a)

Boston Massacre

b)

Boston Tea Party

c)

Intolerable Acts

d)

Pontiac's Rebellion

29.

What is the name of the Virginian who commanded the Continental Army?

a)

Benedict Arnold

b)

Samuel Adams

c)

John Adams

d)

George Washington

30.

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

31.

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

32.

What was the name of the Prussian military officer who trained the Continental Army?

a)

Marquis de Lafayette

b)

Baron von Steuben

c)

John Paul Jones

d)

Bernardo de Galvez

33.

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

34.

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

35.

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

36.

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

37.

"The Constitutional Convention shouldn't have formed a new government."

"The Constitution is invalid because it doesn't contain a section that guarantees individual rights."

People who belonged to which group would have said these quotes?

a)

Loyalists

b)

Patriots

c)

Antifederalists

d)

Federalists

38.

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

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

George Mason

c)

John Jay

d)

James Madison

39.

What is federalism?

a)

A king or monarch ruling over a country

b)

A loose confederation of states that governs a nation

c)

Power is distributed equally among all people in the government

d)

The sharing of power between a central government and the states

40.

What do we call a change made to the Constitution?

a)

A correction

b)

An amendment

c)

An editorial

d)

A judicial review