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Module 1: Prologue: American Beginnings

Total questions: 45

Worksheet time: 28mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the central idea behind Manifest Destiny as depicted in John Gast's painting "American Progress"

a)

The belief in the inherent superiority of American culture

b)

The divine mission to expand American territory from coast to coast

c)

The promotion of democracy and freedom worldwide

d)

The advocacy for the abolition of slavery in all states

2.

These were a group of British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America. Founded in the 17th and 18th centuries, they declared independence in 1776 and together formed the United States of America.

a)
Southern Colonies
b)
New England Colonies
c)
Thirteen Colonies
d)
Middle Colonies
3.

How did the Enlightenment affect the political attitudes of colonists?

a)
The Enlightenment promoted absolute monarchy among colonists.
b)
Colonists rejected all forms of government during the Enlightenment.
c)
The Enlightenment had no impact on the colonists' views on governance.
d)
The Enlightenment fostered a belief in individual rights and self-governance among colonists.
4.

This was our second government (US) which established a constitutional federation with checks and balances, the separation of powers, and a system of amendments.

a)
The Bill of Rights
b)
The Magna Carta
c)
The Articles of Confederation
d)
The United States Constitution
5.

This was the name of the document many of them signed officially separating the colonies from the British Empire.

a)
Declaration of Independence
b)
Articles of Confederation
c)
Treaty of Paris
d)
Bill of Rights
6.
What is the purpose of the United States Bill of Rights?
a)
To provide more power to the national government
b)
To protect individual rights of the people
c)
To grant powers to the states
d)
To establish the rule of law
7.

What did Federalists and Antifederalists disagree most strongly about?

a)

a strong national government

b)

creating a system of checks and balances

c)

protecting individual liberties

d)

increasing the power of the confederation

8.

Why did the Federalists urge ratification of the Constitution?

a)

They wanted to strengthen state governments.

b)

They wanted to increase the army to seize Canada from the British.

c)

They feared that individual liberties would be threatened if the national government were too strong.

d)

They wanted a stronger federal government to defend the country from foreign threats and domestic unrest.

9.

What was the result of the Great Compromise?

a)
The establishment of a federal court system.
b)
The abolition of slavery in the United States.
c)
A unicameral legislature with equal representation in both houses.
d)
The establishment of a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
10.

How did the Louisiana Purchase affect the United States?

a)
It led to the immediate independence of several states.
b)
The purchase resulted in a decrease in population density in the East.
c)
It caused the United States to lose its influence in North America.
d)
The Louisiana Purchase significantly expanded the territory of the United States, promoting westward expansion and increasing its resources and influence.
11.

How did the invention of the cotton gin affect the South?

a)
The cotton gin increased cotton production and reliance on slave labor in the South.
b)
The cotton gin had no significant impact on the economy of the South.
c)
The cotton gin led to the abolition of slavery in the South.
d)
The cotton gin decreased the demand for cotton in the South.
12.
Up until 1776, the Thirteen Colonies were controlled by what country?
a)
France
b)
Spain
c)
Great Britain
d)
Germany
13.

Which colony was founded primarily for religious freedom?

a)

Virginia

b)

Massachusetts

c)

New York

d)

Georgia

14.

Which of the following was NOT a reason for European colonization of America?

a)

To find new trade routes to Asia

b)

To spread Christianity

c)

To escape oppressive governments

d)

To establish communist societies

15.

What was the main cause of the Boston Tea Party during the American Revolution?

a)

The imposition of the Stamp Act

b)

The quartering of British soldiers in American homes

c)

The taxation of tea by the British government without colonial representation

d)

The closing of the Boston Harbor

16.

Who was the first President of the United States?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

George Washington

c)

John Adams

d)

Benjamin Franklin

17.

What was the primary cause of the Civil War?

a)

Taxation without representation

b)

The issue of slavery

c)

Territorial disputes

d)

Industrial vs. agricultural economic interests

18.

What were four main reasons (US) settlers moved west in the 1840s?

a)
1. Land for farming 2. Gold rush 3. Economic opportunities 4. Manifest Destiny
b)
Desire for luxury goods
c)
Escape from political unrest
d)
Access to better education
19.

What was the effect of manifest destiny?

a)
Manifest Destiny resulted in territorial expansion, increased conflict with Native Americans and Mexico, and heightened tensions over slavery.
b)
Manifest Destiny had no impact on U.S. territorial boundaries.
c)
Manifest Destiny resulted in the unification of Native American tribes.
d)
Manifest Destiny led to the abolition of slavery.
20.

What brought American settlers into conflict with the Mexican government?

a)
Shared agricultural practices
b)
Conflicts over land rights and cultural differences.
c)
Disputes over trade agreements
d)
Cultural exchanges and cooperation
21.
American policy of forcing American Indians to adopt American customs.
a)
Assimiliation
b)
Melting Pot
c)
Mingling
d)
Composing
22.
The Mexican-American War started over a ________________.
a)
missing naval vessel
b)
missing President
c)
stolen wagon
d)
border dispute
23.
The Treaty of ______________ offered that Mexico would cede half of its territory to the U.S.
a)
Juan-Pablo
b)
Guadalupe-Hidalgo
c)
Chihuahua-Rivera
d)
Lupe-Fiasco
24.
50,000 people "rushed" to ______________ in search of gold.
a)
New Mexico
b)
California
c)
Florida
d)
Texas
25.
Who did the United States buy the Louisiana Purchase from?
a)
Spain
b)
France
c)
Great Britain
d)
Mexico
26.
What states are colored grey on the map?
a)
Union States
b)
Confederate States
c)
Border States
d)
Neutral States
27.
What is described by the following?
 - written by Abraham Lincoln
 - freed slaves in the "states in rebellion"
 - issued after the Union victory at Antietam
 - added a new purpose to the Civil War
a)
Gettysburg Address
b)
Liberator
c)
Emancipation Proclamation
d)
Articles of Secession
28.
This battle is considered the turning point of the Civil War.
a)
Gettysburg
b)
Manassas/Bull Run
c)
Vicksburg
d)
Appomattox Court House
29.

While the emancipation proclamation freed slaves in the South, which amendment legally made all slaves free?

a)

The 1st Amendment

b)

The 10th Amendment

c)

The 18th Amendment

d)

The 13th Amendment

30.
What landform was key to the Union to divide and weaken the Confederacy?
a)
Mississippi River
b)
Port of Galveston
c)
Port of New Orleans
d)
Sabine River
31.
The 15th Amendment gave African Americans the right to...
a)
citizenship.
b)
vote.
c)
own land.
d)
hold political office.
32.

What did the 14th amendment accomplish?

a)

Freedom of religion

b)

Grants citizenship and equal protection

c)

Made slavery illegal

d)

Guarantees voting rights

33.

"with malice toward none and charity for all, to bind up the nation's wounds". . .. this quote refers to Lincoln's idea that ---

a)

the Union should punish the south for seceding

b)

the Union should welcome the southern states back without punishment

c)

the southern states had every right to secede

d)

the southern states should receive money

34.

What was the significance of The Dredd Scott Decision?

a)

Slavery would be allowed in Missouri and all new states

b)

The Supreme Court ruled that runaway slaves had the right to leave their master

c)

The Supreme Court ruled that slaves had no rights

d)

California was admitted as a free state and New York as a slave state

35.

Responsible for the burning of Atlanta and the "March to the Sea"

a)

Robert E. Lee

b)

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

c)

Ulysses S. Grant

d)

William T. Sherman

36.

Why were the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments passed?

a)
To establish a national language.
b)
To limit the power of the federal government.
c)
The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were passed to secure civil rights and voting rights for former slaves and ensure equal protection under the law.
d)
To promote economic growth in the South.
37.

What were the main features of the Reconstruction Act?

a)
It granted women the right to vote in federal elections.
b)
The Reconstruction Act abolished slavery in all states.
c)
The main features of the Reconstruction Act included the division of the South into military districts, requirements for new state constitutions ensuring black male suffrage, and the ratification of the 14th Amendment.
d)
The Act established a new national currency for the South.
38.

Which act established the first form of government in the newly independent United States?

a)

The Constitution

b)

The Declaration of Independence

c)

The Articles of Confederation

d)

The Bill of Rights

39.

Article I. Section 2.

"Representatives . . . shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers(population) . . . ."

Article I. Section 3.

"The senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state . . . ."

An important debate between large states and small states led to the writing of these portions of the Constitution. Identify the correct issue being debated.

a)

Small States argued for Article 1. Section 3., because they believed in equal representation for all states, regardless of size.

b)

Large States argued for Article 1. Section 3., because they believed that representation should be equal for all states.

c)

Small States argued for Article 1. Section 2., because they wanted their individual population to count towards their representation.

d)

Large States argued for Article 1. Section 2., because they wanted representation based on population.

40.

Place the following events in chronological order.

a)

American Revolution

b)

Writing and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Bill of Rights

c)

Civil War

d)

Building of the Transcontinental Railroad

e)

Large scale immigration from Eastern Europe

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
41.

What is the context of this political cartoon?

a)

Vigilante groups held power over southern society during Reconstruction

b)

Northern Republicans rebuilt the South during Reconstruction.

c)

Violence was used to terrorize Black Americans in the South and strip them of their civil rights.

d)

Both A and C are correct.

42.

The "Black Codes" passed in the South early in the Reconstruction era were designed to

a)

restrict the rights of former slaves.

b)

guarantee a minimum wage for former slaves.

c)

force former slaves to move to cities and work in industry.

d)

offer financial assistance to African Americans who had fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

43.

The "Black Codes" passed in the South early in the Reconstruction era were designed to

a)

restrict the rights of former slaves.

b)

guarantee a minimum wage for former slaves.

c)

force former slaves to move to cities and work in industry.

d)

offer financial assistance to African Americans who had fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

44.

How did southerners react to Reconstruction?

a)
Southerners were indifferent to the changes brought by Reconstruction.
b)
Southerners embraced Reconstruction and supported federal policies.
c)
Southerners actively promoted racial equality during Reconstruction.
d)
Southerners largely resisted Reconstruction, opposing federal policies and seeking to maintain white supremacy.
45.

Which is the best description of Reconstruction?

a)

rebuilding the US after a big earthquake

b)

a period of rebuilding in the US after the Civil War

c)

a period of rebuilding in the US after the Revolutionary War

d)

unfair treatment of African Americans after the Civil War

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