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8th Grade Mid Term Exam

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 42mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What was the primary purpose of the Spanish colonies there were established in North America in the early 1500s?

a)

To foster friendship between Spaniards and Native Americans

b)

To grow crops for Spain

c)

To establish religious freedom for Spaniards fleeing Europe

d)

To find gold and to spread Christianity

2.

Which of the following is the primary reason that European rulers became interest in trans-Atlantic exploration beginning in the 15th century?

a)

They were curious about whether or not the world was round.

b)

They wanted to become allies with Western Hemisphere natives.

c)

They were seeking an oversea trade route to Asia.

d)

They were looking to relocate their European empires to a new continent.

3.

Which of the following was a primary reason France sought to colonize North America?

a)

To create communities founded on religious tolerance

b)

to create joint ventures with other European powers

c)

to profit from trading furs and other goods

d)

to reduce overpopulation in Europe

4.

The Colonies of Massachusetts, Maryland and Pennsylvania were all established for________

a)

Religious Purposes

b)

Political Reasons

c)

Economic Purposes

d)

empire expansion

5.

The Pilgrims established the Plymouth colony so they could

a)

Practice their religion freely

b)

Start plantations using slave labor

c)

Find gold

d)


Beat Russia in the Space Race

6.

What did the Spanish set up to convert Native Americans to Christianity?

a)

plantations

b)


mission settlements

c)

religious universities

d)

trading posts

7.

History states that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492; however, later research proved that the Americas were first contacted by . . .

a)

Portugeses

b)

Prince Henry, the Navigator

c)

Aztecs

d)

Vikings, Lief Eriksson

8.

What country did the Vikings live in before coming to North America?

a)

Iceland

b)

Scandinavia

c)

Greenland

d)


Norway

9.

What was Leif Eriksson's father's name?

a)

Leif the Brave

b)

Olaf the Bold

c)

Gunnar the Strong

d)


Erik the Red

10.

What is a Caravel? How did it improve sea travel?

a)

A Caravel is a large, slow sailing ship that hindered sea travel.

b)

A Caravel is a type of airplane that revolutionized air travel.

c)


A Caravel is a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship that improved sea travel.

d)


A Caravel is a type of car that made land travel more efficient.

11.

Why was the Stamp Act of 1765 particularly upsetting to the colonists?

a)

It was the first time Parliament had tried to tax colonists directly.

b)

It was the first attempt by Parliament to tax exports, not just imports.

c)

To enforce it, Britain’s standing army used violence to frighten tax payers.

d)

To enforce it, Britain placed its own judges on the benches of colonial courts.

12.

Why was the Toleration Act of 1649 significant to America’s development?

a)

It stopped all conflicts between Catholics and Protestants.

b)

It was the first law supporting religious tolerance passed in the English colonies.

c)

. It provided an example of how a representative democracy can pass laws in a fair and just manner

d)

. It was the first law to allow religious leaders to mandate one religion.

13.

How did women contribute to colonies’ economies?

a)

ran farms, businesses, and practiced medicine

b)

managed slaves who worked as blacksmiths

c)

ran schools and hospitals

d)

worked in cities as skilled craftspeople

14.

Which quotation best expresses the point of view of a New England colonist on education?

a)

“All children need to learn to read, write, and do arithmetic.”

b)

“Only a literate community can keep a record of its successes and failures for the benefit of future generations.”

c)

“Trade is important to our community, which means people have to be able to make simple calculations.”

d)

“All children need to be able to read the Bible.”

15.

What was Anne Hutchinson’s belief that angered Puritan church leaders?

a)

Women should not be religious leaders

b)

Women who were accused of being witches should be sentenced to death.

c)

People could have a relationship with God without guidance from ministers

d)

People could take land from American Indians without paying for it

16.

During the Great Awakening, spiritual leaders such as John Locke argued that colonists would benefit from English rule.

a)

True

b)

False

17.

Part of the reason why Virginia colonists decided to use slave labor was that there were not enough indentured servants to meet the high demand.

a)

True

b)

False

18.

The colony of Pennsylvania was named after William Penn, a Quaker who believed in dealing fairly with local American Indians, welcoming immigrants, and tolerating other religions.

a)

True

b)

False

19.

Slaves contributed to the economy of the middle colonies by working in cities at skilled crafts such as blacksmithing and carpentry.

a)

True

b)

False

20.

marked the first time Parliament had tried to tax colonists directly

(a)  

21.

After this event, the British Crown found two soldiers guilty of killing people by accident.

(a)  

22.

What delegate from Virginia encouraged colonists to fight for independence from Britain in support of the Patriot cause?

a)

Patrick Henry

b)

George Washington

c)

Thomas Jefferson

d)

Paul Revere

23.

The Battle of Lexington is important because it

a)

forced colonists to comply with British rule

b)

was the longest battle of the Revolutionary War.

c)

resulted in so many British casualties

d)

was the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

24.

When voicing their opinions to the Second Continental Congress delegates were

a)

always in agreement and the meeting was unnecessary.

b)

somewhat divided on minor details of their plan.

c)

far from unified but were open to compromise.

d)

completely at odds and failed to come to a consensus.

25.

Colonists who chose to side with the British were known as

a)

Redcoats.

b)

Patriots.

c)

Loyalists

d)

Whigs.

26.

What inspired colonists to draft the Declaration of Independence?

a)

Paul Revere’s ride

b)

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

c)

Washington’s strong command of the Continental Army

d)

the Battle of Bunker Hill

27.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point for the Patriots?

a)

The Patriots gained the support of France and Spain.

b)

The Redcoat victory made Patriot soldiers more determined to win the war.

c)

The Patriots got a Prussian to train the Continental Army.

d)

The Patriots realized they did not need foreign allies.

28.

What is the significance of the Battle of Yorktown?

a)

It convinced colonists to comply with British rule.

b)

It allowed the French to gain colonial territory.

c)

It showed the British that they could reduce their number of troops to defeat the colonists.

d)

It was the last major battle of the American Revolution.

29.

As (a)   prepared to lead the colonists against the British, Congress tried to make peace with King George III.

30.

The Battle of (a)   was a turning point for the Patriots because they gained the support of France, Spain, and Holland.

31.

The Battle of Trenton was different from previous battles because the Patriots went on the offensive.

a)

True

b)

False

32.

The Declaration of Independence did not address the rights of Native Americans.

a)

True

b)

False

33.

Women, African Americans, and Native Americans did not take part in the Constitutional Convention because they

a)

did not have the rights of citizens.

b)

opposed expanding the central government.

c)

were protesting against the new constitution.

d)

could not find a delegate to represent them.

34.

Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom declared that

a)

governments must punish religious discrimination.

b)

governments were responsible for funding churches.

c)

no person who worked on behalf of a religious institution had to pay taxes.

d)

no person could be required to pay for a church with tax money.

35.

When money becomes less valuable

a)

bicameral

b)


ordinance

c)

delegate

d)

inflation

36.

Which form of government was WEAK and did not work?

a)


Declaration of Independence

b)

Constitution

c)

Articles of Confederation

d)


Mayflower Compact

37.

Who led a rebellion of farmers, angry over unpaid military service?

a)

Daniel Shays

b)

Sam Adams

c)


George Washington

d)

George Mason

38.

What Act placed a tax on all paper items in the colonies?

a)

Sugar Act

b)


Townshend Act

c)


Stamp Act

d)

Intolerable Acts

39.

The author of the famous pamphlet that argued for an end to monarchy and supported independence?

a)

Thomas Paine

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

George Washington

d)

Ben Franklin

40.

The last MAJOR battle of the American Revolution was the __________.

a)

Battle of Bunker Hill

b)


Battle of Yorktown

c)

Battle of Trenton

d)

Battle of Lexington

41.

This treaty formally ended the American Revolution

a)

Treaty of Ghent

b)

Treaty of Paris of 1783

c)


Treaty of Boston

d)

Treaty of Yorktown

42.

What was one purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

a)

to establish a framework for government

b)

to state the reasons for the colonies to separate from England

c)

to express reasons for limiting immigration

d)

to list arguments for women’s suffrage

43.

Where was the first battle of the American Revolution fought?

a)

Valley Forge

b)

Lexington and Concord

c)


Saratoga

d)

Yorktown

44.

A representative or person chosen to be the voice for others in a political convention

a)

Anti federalist

b)

Federalist

c)

Delegate

d)


President

45.

People who were against ratification (approval) of the Constitution.

a)


Federalist

b)

Anti federalist

c)

Loyalist

d)

Traitor

46.

Supporters of the Constitution.

a)


Federalist

b)


Anti federalist

c)

Patriots

d)

Redcoats

47.

Which form of government was WEAK and did not work?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

Constitution

c)


Articles of Confederation

d)

Mayflower Compact

48.

How did northern states feel about the issue of slavery?

a)

slaves should count towards total population

b)

slaves should count as property and be taxed

49.

How did southern states feel about the issue of slavery?

a)

slaves should count towards total population


b)

slaves should count as property and be taxed

50.

Where did the Constitutional Convention take place?

a)

Washington DC

b)


Philadelphia

c)

New York

d)


Savannah

51.

What was the difference from the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan?

4 lines
52.

What was the Great Compromise?

4 lines
53.

What was the Three-Fifth Compromise?

4 lines
54.

The New Jersey Plan was written was written response to the Virginia Plan?

a)

True

b)

False

55.

What was the perfect recipe for pleasing both sides of the delegates from New Jersey and Virginia?

a)

The Virginia-New Jersey Compromise

b)

The Virginia-Rhode Island Compromise

c)

The Giant Compromise

d)


The Great Compromise

56.

Who was unaminously chosen as the first president of the United States? 

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Alexander Hamilton

c)


George Washington

d)

John Jay 

57.

The bigger the ___________________ of a state the more electoral votes a state receives.

a)

trees

b)

population

c)


land

d)


ceiling fans

58.

The term for people who think that the federal government should do only what the Constitution specifically says it can do 

a)

Federalists 

b)

Strict Consturctionists

c)


Loose Constructionist

d)

Democrats

59.

Who supported the National Bank?

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)


Thomas Jefferson 

60.

In what ways were Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton different?

4 lines