Social Studies Bowl

Early Exploration

Round

Which country was the first to seek a water route to Asia because of their

leader Prince Henry and their geographic location in the Atlantic

Ocean?a. Portugal

b. Spain

c. France

d. England

Which of the following descriptions best summarizes the

accomplishments of Leif Eriksson?f. He led the first expedition around the world. Although he died before his journey ended, he did claim more lands for Spain.

g. He was a Viking from Greenland and settled briefly in North America, calling the land Vinland. However, their discovery of North America remained unknown to most Europeans because of their relationship with other Europeans.

h. He was a Spanish conquistador who explored the southeastern United States and claimed this land for Spain.

i. He explored for France and named the area Louisiana, claiming it for Spain.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the motivation of

early exploration in North America?

a. just for fun and adventure

b. to get rich fast

c. for “God, gold, and glory”

d. to make maps

Which group of explorers defeated the Aztecs in Central America and the Incas in South America? They

also claimed Florida and the southwest region of what is today

the U.S. ?f. Spanish

g. French

h. Dutch

i. English

One of the results of the early exploration was the introduction of horses. This

significantly affected the way of life of one Native American group. Which Native

American region would be most impacted by the new addition of horses?

a. Southeastern

b. Pacific Northwestern

c. Southwestern

d. Plains

As more and more Europeans moved to the New World, European settlers introduced a larger variety of plants,

animals, and diseases. What was this exchange of plants, animals, and

diseases referred to as?f. the Columbian Exchange

g. Manifest Destiny

h. the European Newbies

i. the Excellent Exchange

Which technological advancement allowed explorers to share their knowledge with others through their mapmaking skills?

a. the caravel

b. cartography

c. the astrolabe

d. reading stars

During the time of early exploration, this explorer was the first to sail around the

world. Although he died before his journey was complete, he claimed more lands for Spain. His crew proved that

sailing around the world could be achieved but only at great cost.

f. John Cabot

g. Ferdinand Magellan

h. Hernando de Soto

i. Christopher Columbus

Colonies and England Conflict

Round

This was the final battle of the American Revolution. Surrounded by British and French forces, the

British were defeated and surrendered.

a. Lexington and Concord

b. Yorktown

c. French and Indian War

d. Cowpens

One woman during the Revolutionary War served alongside her husband. She cooked,

washed clothes, took care of wounded soldiers, and carried pitchers of water to the

fighting men. Who was this woman?

f. Molly Pitcher

g. Martha Washington

h. Abigail Adams

i. Clara Barton

Which best describes the role of African Americans during the

American Revolution?a. Africans Americans fought on both sides, and many fought for the British because they were promised their freedom (although it wasn’t usually fulfilled).

b. Africans Americans were not allowed to fight in the war at all because they must keep the fields growing.

c. African Americans only fought for the Patriots because they wanted the American side to win so they could continue to be slaves and work the fields.

d. African Americans ran the factories that made all the weapons for the Patriot and British soldiers.

Which act imposed by the British was a result of the Boston Tea Party? Under this

act, the Boston harbor was closed and Massachusetts was no longer allowed to

govern itself.

f. Intolerable Acts

g. Stamp Act

h. Tea Act

i. Boston Act

The Declaration of Independence included a list of grievances against this person in order to prove that the

rights of the people had been violated. Who was this person?

a. George Washington

b. Abraham Lincoln

c. King George III

d. Patrick Henry

George Washington played a large role in the history of America.

Which of these roles did he NOT play?

f. the first President

g. the commander-in-chief of the American Army during the American Revolution

h. signer of the Emancipation Proclamation

i. a member of the Constitutional Convention

Most people felt the Articles of Confederation were not working well. So, the Constitutional Convention met and created the Constitution. Which of the following was not an idea that was

not part of the Constitution?

a. for the nation to make the money

b. for there to be less states’ rights

c. for the people to have rights

d. for there to be a king to rule

Which event took place between the British and French over land both claimed as their own? It became one of the reasons for the start of the

American Revolution because the British imposed taxes to help pay the debt for this event.

f. Revolutionary War

g. The War of 1812

h. Emancipation Proclamation

i. French and Indian War

Western Expansion

Round

Many people felt that the cities were getting too crowded. One man decided to

move out west to get away from the crowded cities. On his way, he met

Indians and made a path known as the Wilderness Road across the Appalachian

Mountains. Who is this man?

a. Zebulon Pike

b. Lewis and Clark

c. Daniel Boone

d. Jefferson Davis

On the Oregon Trail, many people died from disease. Others faced many obstacles along the way.

Which one is NOT an obstacle they faced?

f. having to hunt buffalo

g. crossing rivers in wagons

h. traveling through streams

i. playing with other children

Life for the Indians was difficult after the Americans began taking

their land becaue they were forced to leave. Which act did the

government pass for this to happen?

a. Kansas-Nebraska Act

b. Indian Removal Act

c. Dred-Scott Decision

d. Indian Territory Act

Dred Scott was a slave who traveled North with his master. After this, he believed “once free, always free.”

What did going to the North have to do with freedom?

f. slaves were free to walk the streets in the North

g. slaves had freedom of speech in the North

h. slaves were free men in the North

i. nothing-slaves were still slaves because they had no rights

Many compromises were passed by government to balance the number of

free and slave states. Later, some of the compromises had people vote on which

state they wanted. What was this called?

a. popular sovereignty

b. Missouri Compromise

c. nation’s rights

d. Fugitive Slave Law

In order to achieve the goal of Manifest Destiny, the U.S. had to fight or buy land

to the Pacfic Ocean. Which section of land included today’s states of

California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah?

f. Northwest Territory Treaty

g. Mexican Cession

h. Louisiana Purchase

i. Florida Purchase

Thomas Jefferson wanted to find out more about the new land in America.

So, he sent Lewis and Clark on a journey. What land were they out to

explore?a. Mexican Cession

b. Appalachian Mountains

c. Florida Purchase

d. Louisiana Purchase

After the Indian Removal Act was passed, some Indians fought against the

Americans. What were these fights known as?

f. American Revolution

g. Battle of Gettysburg

h. Trail of Tears

i. Seminole Wars

GovernmentRound

Tommy is suspected of a crime and the police have evidence that he committed the crime.

Why is he not put into prison immediately for ten years?

a. According to the Bill of Rights, he has a right to a trial.

b. According to the Miranda Rights, he has the right to remain silent.

c. According to the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal.”

d. According to the Dred Scott Decision, he has no rights.

Writing the Constitution was quite difficult, but a young lawyer took on the job. Who is known as the main

author of the Constitution?

f. James Brown

g. George Washington

h. James Madison

i. Thomas Jefferson

Under the Declaration of Independence, it states that “all men are created equal.”

How is this not true according to the Three-Fifths Compromise?

a. Women only counted as three-fifths of a person.

b. During voting, only three-fifths of the population’s vote counted.

c. Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person.

d. 300 of every 500 slaves were freed so they would be equal.

Not everyone agreed on the changes that needed to be made to the Articles of Confederation. From this, two

parties were formed: the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Who led the Federalists Party, which

believed that the federal government should be stronger than the state government and be modeled

after the British government?

f. Thomas Jefferson

g. Alexander Hamilton

h. George Washington

i. James Madison

Under the Constitution people are given certain rights. Which one is NOT a right found in the Bill of

Rights?a. freedom of speech

b. right to a lawyer for a trial

c. right to bear arms

d. right to spend money

Each branch of government has their own jobs. But each one also has to ensure that the other

branch doesn’t have to much power. For example, the executive branch has the power to veto bills the legislative may want to pass.

What is this system called?

f. dollars and cents

g. checks and balances

h. Bill of Rights

i. amendments in the Constitution

Which branch of government is being described below?

This branch is divided into the House of Representatives and Senate. Its principle

duty is to write, debate, and pass bills.

a. Executive Branch

b. Legislative Branch

c. Judicial Branch

d. Checks and Balances

According to American constitutional democracy, American citizens have a

responsibility to take an active role in the civic process. Which of the following would be an example of how citizens should be taking an

active role in the civic process?f. paying income taxes to support local, state, and

federal projects

g. not voting if you don’t like the main candidate

h. breaking the law when necessary

i. refusing to serve on a jury

Civil WarRound

What best describes the life of slaves during the Civil War?

a. They were property owned by a master.b. They were free to make their own

choices.c. They were paid good wages and lived

fairly well.d. They could be set free after working for

three years.

f. Battle of Gettysburgg. Fort Sumterh. Appomatox Courthousei. Yorktown

Where did Robert E. Lee surrender to Ulysses S. Grant to

end the Civil War?

What is the name of the boundary between the North and South? It is located on the border of Maryland

and Pennsylvania.

a. The North-South Borderlineb. The Mason Dixon Linec. The Confederate Boundaryd. Mary-Penn Line

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. When other

states followed, they formed their own new country. What did they

call this new country?

f. The Confederate States of Americag. The Southern Unionh. The Continental Americai. Mason-Dixon Country

What is the name given to the idea of looking at your section of the country more than looking at the country as a

whole union? This concept was considered one of the causes of the Civil

War.

a. Manifest Destinyb. abolitionistc. Land Bridge Theoryd. sectionalism

f. Robert E. Leeg. Abraham Lincolnh. Jefferson Davisi. Ulysses S. Grant

When the South seceded from the Union, they formed the

Confederate States of America. Who was president of this new

country they formed?

What was the name given to the chain of homes where escaped slaves could ask for

help? They could find shelter at night or catch a ride to the next stop. They ran from the

South to Canada.

a. The Slave Escape Routeb. Help Wantedc. The Underground Railroadd. The Fugitive Slave Act

f. Emancipation Proclamationg. Gettysburg Addressh. Constitutioni. Articles of Confederation

What was the name of the order issued by President Lincoln that freed slaves in all states that had

left the Union?

Extra Tie-BreakerRound

Which best explains the land bridge theory?

a. Native Americans migrated from Asia to North America across a land bridge during the Ice Age.

b. Native Americans crossed the ocean to come live with their ancestors in North America.

c. Native Americans built a bridge across the water to come over to this new land.

d. Native Americans moved from South America to North American through land that is Mexico.

Many new colonies began throughout the New World. How

did the colonies determine the government they had in the New

World?f. based on the type of government in their Mother

Country

g. all had kings

h. the colonists voted for the type of government

i. Based on the government that the president wanted them to have

Spain, France, and England all wanted to make money from their colonies. Therefore, all three

countries practiced the economic policy by which the mother country tried to amass as much gold

and silver as possible through trade in the colonies. What was this economic policy called?

a. navigation

b. mercantilism

c. abolition

d. agriculture

Many people moved to Oregon because there were forests with plenty of fur-

coated animals. How would people best make money from this?

a. cleaning the forest and building ships

b. cutting down trees to sell for house building

c. hunting the animals and selling their fur

d. letting people rent their land to grow crops on

Many Mormons wanted to move out west to get away from people who were persecuting them. What ammendment

gave them the right to be Mormon?

f. freedom of religion

g. right to bear arms

h. right to a jury

i. freedom of the press

Who was known as “Moses” and was a conductor of the Underground Railroad.

a. Frederick Douglassb. Harriet Beecher Stowec. Harriet Tubmand. Abraham Lincoln

Who was known as “Moses” and was a conductor of the Underground Railroad.

a. Frederick Douglassb. Harriet Beecher Stowe

c. Harriet Tubmand. Abraham Lincoln

What made the South better for agriculture?

a. its short growing seasonb. its fertile soil and very long wintersc. its fertile soil and temperate climated. its poor soil and hot summers

What made the South better for agriculture?

a. its short growing seasonb. its fertile soil and very long winters

c. its fertile soil and temperate climated. its poor soil and hot summers

Who sent Lewis and Clark on their expedition?

a. George Washingtonb. Thomas Jeffersonc. Benjamin Franklind. John Adams

Who sent Lewis and Clark on their expedition?

a. George Washingtonb. Thomas Jeffersonc. Benjamin Franklind. John Adams

Which side won the Revolutionary War?

a. the Britishb. Englandc. the Patriotsd. the North

Which side won the Revolutionary War?

a. the Britishb. England

c. the Patriotsd. the North

Which branch of government consists of our president?

a. Executiveb. Legislativec. Judicial

Which branch of government consists of our president?

a. Executiveb. Legislativec. Judicial

Before the Constitution, which document set up the government for America? It was written with more states’ rights.

a. Declaration of Independenceb. PreConstitutionc. Articles of Confederationd. Emancipation Proclamation

Before the Constitution, which document set up the government for America? It was written with more states’ rights.

a. Declaration of Independenceb. PreConstitution

c. Articles of Confederationd. Emancipation Proclamation