Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Short Staar

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The differences between these two maps resulted from the —

a)

Missouri Compromise

b)

Treaty of Ghent

c)

Louisiana Purchase

d)

Adams-Onís Treaty

2.

Which government principle is illustrated in this diagram?

a)

Federalism

b)

Popular sovereignty

c)

Republicanism

d)

Separation of powers

3.

This table shows the population of enslaved people in two regions

of the United States in 1840.

Which statement describes a factor that MOST contributed to the population difference shown in the table?

a)

The South had a society that relied on wage labor.

b)

The South had an economy that relied on cotton.

c)

The South had a variety of natural resources.

d)

The South had an abundance of large cities.

4.

How did the American colonies react to enforcement of the

Intolerable Acts?

a)

By collecting funds to pay for the tea destroyed in Boston Harbor

b)

By sending ambassadors to France to request military aid

c)

By placing a tax on all goods imported from Great Britain

d)

By holding the First Continental Congress to discuss unified resistance

5.

Which idea correctly replaces the question mark in this diagram?

a)

Due Process

b)

Eminent Domain

c)

Free Speech

d)

Federalism

6.

Which historic document had the greatest influence on the first ten

amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

The English Bill of Rights

b)

The Mayflower Compact

c)

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

d)

The Articles of Confederation

7.

Why did the Constitutional Convention agree to the Three-Fifths Compromise?

a)

To settle debates over the issue of counting the enslaved

population for representation

b)

To settle debates over the issue of abolishing the importation of

enslaved people

c)

To create a government based on the principle of federalism

d)

To create a government with a bicameral legislature

8.

What were two effects of this canal on the United States during the

early-to-mid 1800s?

a)

The Northeast gained access to new trade networks, and the

Midwest opened for more settlement.

b)

The South became less dependent on slave labor, while the

North became more dependent on indentured servants.

c)

The West became the commercial center of the nation, while the

Northeast increased dependence on agricultural production.

d)

The South experienced lower shipping costs, and the West

expanded international trade.

9.

This diagram shows a sequence of events in colonial history.

Why is this sequence of events important?

a)

Colonists created a legislature with two houses.

b)

Colonists declared independence from English rule.

c)

Colonists defended the concept of unalienable rights.

d)

Colonists established a tradition of self-government.

10.

Why was the Third Amendment prohibiting the quartering of troops added to the U.S. Constitution?

a)

To address colonial treatment by the British military

b)

To maintain control over members of the British military

c)

To ensure the national government could pay for the U.S.

military

d)

To reinforce the need for state militias in the United States

11.

Why is Thomas Jefferson’s writing of the Declaration of Independence considered to be one of his greatest contributions to American history?

a)

He showed responsibility by outlining the structure for a new government.

b)

He helped define rights that would defeat tyranny.

c)

He developed a military plan to defeat the British.

d)

He outlined a strategy for acquiring the Louisiana Territory.

12.

Which event was one cause of the U.S.-Mexican War?

a)

The United States banned slavery in territories acquired from

Mexico.

b)

The U.S. Congress debated statehood for New Mexico.

c)

U.S. and Mexican soldiers fought over disputed territory north of the Rio Grande.

d)

The United States acquired the Mexican Cession.

13.

In the early days of the colonies, a belief in these rights helped

lead to —

a)

the establishment of royal courts

b)

the growth of representative government

c)

the implementation of the mercantile system

d)

the abolishment of indentured servitude

14.

Which statement describes one result of the War of 1812?

a)

Great Britain lost control of Canada.

b)

The United States gained control of the Oregon Territory.

c)

The United States stopped trading with Britain and France.

d)

Great Britain stopped the practice of impressment.

15.

Which statement explains an effect of the Missouri Compromise?

a)

The compromise maintained the balance between the number of free states and slave states in the Senate.

b)

The compromise allowed slaves to be counted toward a state’s

population for representation in Congress.

c)

The compromise enabled Southerners to pursue fugitive slaves into the North.

d)

The compromise ended the slave trade in Washington, D.C.

16.

What was one effect of the Fifteenth Amendment?

a)

Immigrants faced less discrimination.

b)

Black voters helped bring the Republican Party to power in the South.

c)

Electors selected the president and vice president on separate

ballots.

d)

American Indian tribal land was divided into individual plots.

17.

Why did European explorers search for the Northwest Passage?

a)

To find the legendary Seven Cities of Gold

b)

To discover new technology for crossing the Atlantic Ocean

c)

To find the legendary waters of the Fountain of Youth

d)

To discover a new sea route to Asia

18.

Which human geographic factor helped the Union win the Civil War?

a)

A network of railroads in the North allowed Union soldiers to be moved quickly over long distances.

b)

The Oregon Trail allowed Union military supplies to be moved quickly to the West.

c)

Northern farms started producing cotton used to make Union

military uniforms.

d)

Canals in the Midwest allowed food for Union soldiers to be

moved quickly to the front lines.

19.

Which president established these traditions for the executive branch?

a)

John Adams

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

James Madison

d)

George Washington

20.

Why was the Northwest Ordinance created?

a)

To make the United States bigger

b)

To pay off debt from the war

c)

Because Thomas Jefferson wanted to make it

d)

People were tired of living on the East coast

21.

What is the job of the legislature?

a)

The legislature handles problems for the government.

b)

The legislature makes sure the territory runs smoothly.

c)

The legislature makes the laws.

d)

The legislature plans parties for the settlers.

22.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government consisted of _______________ branch of government.
a)
3
b)
2
c)
1
d)
4
23.
One weakness of the Articles of the Confederation was ____________. 
a)
The ability of Congress to tax.
b)
The inability of Congress to tax.
c)
The ability of Congress to declare war.
d)
The ability of Congress to create courts.
24.
The Articles of Confederation created a _________________ type of government.
a)
strong
b)
average
c)
weak
d)
federal
25.

What caused Native Americans to attack the railroad and its workers?

a)

The railroad was built in the middle of their land and was destroying it.

b)

The workers started fighting with them.

c)

The railroad kept them from migrating.

d)

Native Americans didn't like trains.

26.

What does transcontinental mean?

a)

to travel across a continent

b)

to travel from one continent to another continent

c)

to travel north and south

d)

to travel to transport goods

27.
The growth of railroads during the nineteenth century affected US businesses by ______?
a)
discouraging Congress from instituting tariffs
b)
increasing the cost of raw materials
c)
decreasing the wages of unskilled workers
d)
opening new markets for goods
28.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution affected the lives of millions of African Americans by —

a)

providing them with voting rights

b)

guaranteeing their freedom of speech

c)

providing them with access to the court system

d)

guaranteeing their permanent freedom from slavery

29.

The innovation shown in this photograph most affected the U.S. economy by

a)

decreasing the need for canals

b)

allowing more efficient movement of goods

c)

reducing the costs of settling in western territories

d)

transporting workers from southern states to northern states

30.

The Second Great Awakening was a movement that promoted —

a)

spiritual revival and the need for social reform

b)

the use of reason and scientific theory

c)

states’ rights and governmental reform

d)

mercantilism and the development of global trade

31.

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

a)

To reduce overpopulation in Europe

b)

To create communities founded on religious tolerance

c)

To profit from trading in furs and other goods

d)

To create joint ventures with other European powers

32.

How did the factory system contribute to the rapid industrialization of the United States?

a)

By using slave labor to mass-produce goods

b)

By relying on skilled artisans to create custom goods

c)

By making the production of goods more efficient

d)

By making the distribution of goods less costly

33.

According to Alexander Hamilton, which action was necessary to ensure the stability of the nation’s economy?

a)

The passage of a trade embargo against Great Britain

b)

The abolition of consumption taxes

c)

The creation of a trade alliance with France

d)

The establishment of a national bank

34.

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.

35.
In the Articles of Confederation, where was most of the government power placed?
a)
The States
b)
The National Government
c)
The Continental Congress
d)
The Legislative Branch