WorksheetsFall Semester Final (8th Grade)
Total questions: 35
Worksheet time: 18mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The Mayflower Compact showed that the Pilgrims were
a)
ready to begin a new way of life without strangers
b)
aware of the need to make their own government
c)
aware of how different they were from other colonists
d)
willing to follow the same laws as Virginia
2.
The Plymouth Colony set an important precedent in that it
a)
was founded so that settlers could worship freely
b)
allowed only adult male colonists to vote
c)
recognized the need for laws and leadership
d)
followed the English tradition of electing representatives
3.
Which reason best explains why the British took control of the New Amsterdam?
a)
They wanted the wealth that came from trade
b)
They feared conflict with the Dutch over trade routes
c)
They wanted to expand their religious influence in America
d)
They wanted Pete Stuyvesant to remain as governor
4.
How did William Penn influence self-government in America?
a)
He weakened it by giving political power to English officials
b)
He weakened it by insisting that settlers pay for Indian land
c)
He strengthened it by having a constitution and general assembly
d)
He strengthened it by giving the right to vote to all men and women
5.
The most significant difference between the northern and southern Carolina settlements was that
a)
the southern settlement attracted settlers from England while the northern settlement attracted settlers from Virginia
b)
the southern settlement grew rich on rice while poorer farmers in the north grew tobacco
c)
the northern settlement was free of slavery while the southern settlement relied on enslaved workers
d)
the southern settlement was more loyal to English nobles that the northern settlement
6.
The increase in the number of enslaved Africans arriving in America was largely due to
a)
the development of the plantation system
b)
greater efforts to capture Africans by other Africans
c)
an increase in the number of European slave traders
d)
changing attitudes about the justice of owning slaves
7.
The Great Awakening encouraged
a)
loyalty to the King of England
b)
loyalty to preachers
c)
the development of self-rule
d)
the development of education
8.
The original purpose of colleges in colonial America was to educate
a)
doctors
b)
lawyers
c)
ministers
d)
teachers
9.
According to the theory of mercantilism, a country is strengthened by
a)
importing more than it exports
b)
exporting more than it imports
c)
trading only with favored nations
d)
balancing its imports and exports
10.
The power of each colony's legislature to check the governor's power was reinforced by its ability to
a)
approve raising or spending money
b)
remove the governor from office
c)
elect the governor
d)
force the kind to appoint a new governor
11.
The English Bill of Rights increased protections for
a)
individuals
b)
Parliament
c)
colonists
d)
colonial legislature
12.
What most upset American Indians about British settlers in the Ohio River Valley?
a)
The British charged high prices for their trade goods.
b)
The British hunted and trapped fur-bearing animals.
c)
The British fought with the French.
d)
The British cleared the land to establish farms.
13.
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 was significant for the British because they
a)
allowed the French to maintain control of Canada
b)
gained control of most of the French land east of the MIssissippi
c)
gave Spain most of the French islands in the West Indies
d)
gained the port city of New Orleans to expand trade
14.
How did the aftermath of the Proclamation of 1763 show the growing tension between Parliament and the colonies?
a)
Many angry settlers ignored the proclamation and moved westward
b)
The settlers refused to expand trade networks in western lands
c)
The settlers welcomed additional British troops to provide security
d)
Most settlers disliked the proclamation but agreed to move eastward
15.
The essential idea behind the British mercantilist system was that
a)
the colonies should expand trade with other nations
b)
taxes should be lower to encourage small business growth
c)
economic growth in the colonies should benefit Britian
d)
any tax increases should be used to support colonial growth
16.
What was the colonists' main argument against the Stamp Act?
a)
It was not consistent with a free-enterprise system
b)
The colonists had no representation in Parliament
c)
Colonists were already being hurt by the Navigation Acts
d)
The colonists were already being taxed by their colonial assemblies
17.
The colonists reacted to the Tea Act because they thought it
a)
went against the principles of mercantilism
b)
forced them not to buy tea
c)
kept them from buying tea at a low price
d)
was a way to make them accept British taxes
18.
What was significant about the Battle of Lexington?
a)
Minutemen faced British troops and forced them back at a bridge
b)
Minutemen opposed British troops for the first time
c)
Minutemen used the region's geography to defeat the British from cover of woods and fields
d)
The British were not willing to use deadly force in the battle
19.
Which action taken by the Second Continental Congress shows they were hoping to avoid war?
a)
The Congress brought colonial leaders together to discuss the situation
b)
The Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George and Parliament
c)
The Congress formally accepted the Intolerable Acts and British trade policies
d)
The Congress created the Continental Army with George Washington as commander
20.
Which groups tended to be Loyalists?
a)
small farmers in rural areas
b)
workers and apprentices in cities
c)
college students and teachers, newspaper writers
d)
wealthy merchants and farmers, former royal officials
21.
According to the Declaration of Independence, a government should
a)
define what rights a citizen can have
b)
function without consent of the governed
c)
protect the rights and liberties of its citizens
d)
promote a strong monarchy to lead citizens
22.
One result of the Treaty of Paris was that
a)
Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation
b)
France was awarded control of Florida for its efforts in the War
c)
Britain kept its territory along the Mississippi River
d)
France received Canada for its efforts in the war
23.
What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation?
a)
to establish state governments in the colonies
b)
to establish a government in lands west of the Appalachians
c)
to reduce land claims of larger states
d)
to unite the colonies under one national government
24.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
a)
to write a new constitution
b)
to revise the Articles of Confederation
c)
to decide who the leaders of the country should be
d)
to decide between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans
25.
Why was the Great Compromise so important?
a)
It settled the slavery debate
b)
It was an extremely popular plan
c)
It created a legislative system everyone could accept
d)
It established James Madison as a leader
26.
Some delegates refused to sign the Constitution because they thought that it
a)
was unfair to the smaller states in the Union
b)
was the result of too many compromises
c)
gave too much power to the national government
d)
would affect trade agreements between states
27.
What effect did individual state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation have on the Founding Fathers?
a)
The documents showed the importance of voting rights for citizens
b)
The documents provided experience with formal government systems
c)
The documents showed the problems that come from a strong central government
d)
The documents demonstrated that the states were capable of governing themselves
28.
Montesquieu's idea of separation of powers kept one person or group of people from gaining too much power by
a)
supporting a free and fair economy within the nation
b)
dividing power among the three branches of government
c)
separating powers between the central and state governments
d)
clarifying that government is a contract between the ruler and the ruled
29.
Patrick Henry was specifically concerned about too much power resting with
a)
the states
b)
the President
c)
the judicial branch
d)
the legislative branch
30.
Why did the Antifederalists believe that it was important for the Constitution to include a bill of rights?
a)
Most state constitutions already had a bill of rights
b)
The English Bill of Rights had proven effective for the colonies
c)
The rights of women and minorities were not included in the Constitution
d)
They feared that a strong central government would ignore basic rights
31.
Why did the Federalists think it dangerous to leave too much power to the states?
a)
State government could develop their own king-like leaders
b)
The states would not value the well-being of the whole country
c)
A weak federal government would make the United States look weak to the world
d)
An imbalance of power would make it too difficult for the central government to function
32.
How does the Constitution reflect the principle of federalism?
a)
be establish a strong executive branch
b)
by implementing a system of checks and balances
c)
be dividing power between federal and state governments
d)
by establishing a strong legislative branch
33.
What does the principle of separation of powers make possible in American government?
a)
It enables citizens to choose their representatives by popular vote.
b)
It expands the power of the central government and limits the power of state government
c)
It provides for a system of checks and balances among branches of government.
d)
It maintains the sovereignty of the executive branch.
34.
Which of the following is a way to propose a new amendment to the U.S.
Constitution?
a)
approval by a popular vote held in every state
b)
approval by two-thirds of the House and Senate
c)
approval by three-fourths of the House and Senate
d)
approval by the legislature of three-fourths of the states
35.
How can a state constitution be amended?
a)
State constitutions can be amended with the approval of Congress.
b)
The state legislature proposes an amendment, and the people of the state approve it
c)
The state legislature proposes an amendment, and the state judicial branch approve it
d)
The state legislature proposes an amendment, and the state executive branch approve it
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