Test - US History Benchmark 1/2013 May

 1. Which is a true statement about the growth of railroads in the late 1800s?   A. It created a shortage of raw materials for industry.  B. It caused cotton production to move to the West Coast.  C. It increased markets and facilitated growth of the West.  D. It increased the need for steamships to supply the rivers of the United States.

 2. All of the following are true about most historical eras EXCEPT—   F. They have certain recognizable characteristics.  G. They have distinct beginning and ending dates.  H. They often overlap with other eras and time periods.  J. They are often focused on a major social or economic event or change.

 3. I.   Chinese Exclusion Act

II.  Homestead ActIII. Haymarket RiotIV.  Pullman Strike

Place the above in the correct chronological order.   A. I, II, IV, III  B. II, IV, I, III  C. IV, II, I, III  D. II, I, III, IV

 4. What was the purpose of the Dawes Severalty Act of 1877?   F. to move American Indians to reservations  G. to return tribal lands to American Indians  H. to draft American Indians into the armed forces  J. to assimilate American Indians into the white culture

 5. Which motivation brought many immigrants to the United States in the late 1800s?

   A. a longing to pursue the American Dream  B. an eagerness to use new technologies  C. a desire to purchase cheap goods  D. a hope for better climate

 6. Which of the following was NOT a human or physical factor that led to the settling

of the Great Plains?   F. rich and fertile soil for farming  G. development of the steel plow  H. flat land without major mountains  J. friendly American Indian tribes

 7. Which of the following is an example of the changing relationship between the federal

government and private business?   A. Immigration Acts  B. Anti-Trust Acts  C. Homestead Act  D. Chinese Exclusion Act

 8. All of the following are correct assessments of Andrew Carnegie's accomplishments

and contributions EXCEPT—   F. reforming work safety standards  G. philanthropic activities such as building libraries  H. renowned industrialization in steel manufacturing  J. author of The Gospel of Wealth

 9. The Homestead Act of 1862 immediately resulted in which of the following?   A. White settlers in the West began building large urban centers.  B. Railroads quickly brought settlers into the Western states.  C. Chinese immigrants were hired to build transcontinental railroads.  D. It resulted in land being granted to settlers at no cost

 10. At the turn of the 20th century, most experts would agree that __________ was the most

important discovery made as it had so many effects on the economy and manufacturing.

   F. steam power  G. electricity  H. assembly line  J. medical vaccines

 11. How did the automobile affect the standard of living in the United States in the early

20th century?   A. It provided mass transportation for workers.  B. It provided access to information technologies.  C. It increased mobility and created jobs.  D. It made products more affordable to consumers.

 12. All of the following were social issues affecting minorities/immigrants EXCEPT—   F. Some groups were excluded from housing and employment.  G. They were mainly women who lacked education and skills.  H. Nativist sentiments opposed many immigrant groups.  J. Assimilation into American culture was expected.

 13. All of the following are negative effects of the large number of immigrants in the Gilded

Age EXCEPT—   A. polluted cities  B. insufficient housing  C. health issues  D. decreased urbanization

 14. What role did schools play in the Americanization movement to assimilate immigrants?   F. They made life easier for cultures to live close together.

  G. They promoted the use of native languages.  H. They became the centers for the Americanization process.  J. They kept the census from counting immigrants.

 15. Why do historians prefer to use primary sources instead of secondary sources when

researching past events?   A. Primary sources are written without bias.  B. Secondary sources are written years after the event.  C. Primary sources are written by witnesses to the event.  D. Secondary sources are written by professional journalists.

 16. When studying the life of immigrants in America, which of the following would be the

best primary source?   F. The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie  G. the medical records from Ellis Island  H. How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis  J. the expenditures from the AFL-CIO

 17. Charles and Mary Beard wrote the book The Rise of American Civilization, in which they

condemned the politics of the Gilded Age as "irresponsibly preoccupied with irrelevant and distracting issues like the tariff, civil service, and the money question." They were strongly anti-business and were pro-labor and pro-reform.

The authors, the Beards, would have been part of which movement?   A. libertarianism  B. conservatism  C. liberalism  D. republicanism

 

 18. Roughly, by what percent did the Asian population decline between 1880 and 1900?   F. 20%  G. 10%  H. 5%  J. 40%

 19. What would account for the large increase in the population of the West after 1860?   A. Civil War  B. overpopulation of the East  C. Pendleton Act  D. Homestead Act

 

20.

Where is the excerpt above located in our Founding Documents and what was its purpose?

   F. Constitution; to set forth American citizens' natural rights  G. Declaration of Independence; to establish British unity with the colonies  H. Constitution; to give reasons for the new government to be independent  J. Declaration of Independence; to give reasons for break with Britain

 21. Which motto of the United States is the oldest and symbolized the unity of the

13 colonies?   A. Liberty or Death

  B. One Country, Indivisible

  C. In God We Trust

  D. E Pluribus Unum

 22. All of the following are part of the common bond that holds all people in the

United States together EXCEPT—   F. belief in the Constitution  G. desire for freedom  H. longing for equity in pay  J. hope for a better future

 

 23. According to the above reading, what word would BEST describe his interpretation of

the lack of social distinctions in America?   A. egalitarianism  B. conservatism  C. populism  D. libertarianism

 24. Using the above reading, what value did Tocqueville find in America that was lacking in

European aristocratic society?   F. heredity  G. social class  H. honor  J. hard work

 

25.

Who is described above?   A. John Jay  B. Benjamin Rush  C. John Hancock  D. Charles Carroll

 26. "All men are created equal" is part of our founding principles. Which example from U.S.

history embodies this principle?   F. start of the Civil War  G. suffrage amendments  H. First Amendment  J. treaty ending the War of 1812

 27. Which of the following contributed to the Progressive Era being identified as

a significant era in U.S. history?   A. the distinctive feature of reform that is present throughout the time period  B. a set of prominent historical events that changed society  C. economic activity that is significant in the time sequence  D. all of these

 

28. I.  Public ProtestsII. Supreme Court DecisionsIII. Amendments to the ConstitutionIV. Legislation (a bill)

Throughout history, many nonviolent methods have been used to expand voting rights in the United States. Which of the methods above were used to gain voting rights for women?

   F. I, II  G. I, II, III  H. I, III  J. I,II,III,IV

 29.

According to the political cartoon, which of the following would MOST LIKELY be in a speech by Teddy Roosevelt?

   A. attacks on all conservative views  B. support for both a democratic issue and a conservative issue  C. outrage over political parties  D. a brand new set of initiatives and issues

 30. Which person is most identified with urban social reform in the late 1800s.   F. Jane Addams  G. Ida B. Wells

  H. Frances Willard  J. John Muir

 31. Use the quotation below and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following

question.

Between the Civil War and 1900, steam and electricity replaced human muscle, iron replaced wood, and steel replaced iron (before the Bessemer process, iron was hardened into steel at a rate of 3 to 5 tons a day; now the same amount could be processed in 15 minutes).

-Howard Zinn, A People's History of the United States

The quotation above MOST likely is the result of which of the following?   A. economic legislation  B. industrialization  C. Open Door Policy  D. business cycle

 32. All of the following are true about the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 EXCEPT—   F. created the central banking system in the U.S.  G. granted legal authority to issue legal tender  H. created a system that still regulates U.S. monetary policy  J. allow the enforcement of monetary violations

 33. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled, That all noncitizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States: Provided, That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property.

-American Indian Citizenship Act, 1924

Why would the above act have made some American Indians question its motives?   A. It likely offered little political help to them.  B. It could seem a way of destroying their identity.  C. It offered citizenship without the right to vote.  D. Many American Indians wanted an apology instead.

 34. The issue of unemployment and declining wages on the West Coast led to which of the

following foreign policies?   F. Open Door Policy  G. Dollar Diplomacy  H. Domino Effect  J. Chinese Exclusion Act

 35. All of the following actions demonstrate American patriotism and responsibility in the

political process EXCEPT —   A. voting in elections at all levels  B. being active in political debate  C. joining a branch of the military  D. writing representatives in Congress

 36. Which of the following is NOT an accurate cause-effect relationship?   F. eugenics – increased immigration  G. Social Darwinism – eugenics  H. nativism – birth of KKK  J. Red Scare – deportation of communists

 37. John Muir : ____________ :: Upton Sinclair :: ____________   A. Environmental Protection Agency… Pure Water and Air Act  B. National Parks Service…Pure Food and Drug Act  C. Pure Food and Drug Act… Open Door Policy  D. Open Door Policy…National Parks Service

 

38.

Which third party in the Progressive Era is described above?   F. Agrarian Party  G. Progressive Party  H. Bull Moose Party  J. Populist Party

 39. What is the theory behind the Sherman Antitrust Act? 

  A. If a company has competition, it cannot raise rates at will leaving customers with no alternatives for purchases.

  B. If a company loses the trust of customers, it can fail without government help.

  C. If a company has an unfair trade advantage, it will reduce rates so customers will not go to the competition.

  D. All of these are theories behind the Sherman Antitrust act.

 40. How did the writing of W.E.B. DuBois affect American society? 

  F. It pushed Americans to think differently and act differently towards African Americans.

  G. It made people more aware of abuses of big business and its negative impact on the cities.

  H. It encouraged anti-immigration attitudes towards people from eastern and southern Europe.

  J. It recommended African Americans use passive resistance to fight against racial injustice in the South.

 41. The activism of Susan B. Anthony impacted American government because it led to the

passage of the—   A. 17th Amendment  B. 18th Amendment  C. 19th Amendment  D. 20th Amendment

 42. Which of the following amendments would Alexander Hamilton, a strong

federal government advocate, MOST have supported?   F. 16th Amendment  G. 17th Amendment  H. 18th Amendment  J. 19th Amendment

 43. Which of the following was the first large-scale effort of the U.S. government to

regulate business for the public good?   A. Antitrust Acts  B. Interstate Commerce Commission  C. Pure Food and Drug Act  D. Dollar Diplomacy

 44. Assume you were a historian working on labeling eras in U.S. history. Which of

the following are the characteristics you will examine in deciding on a time period and classifying concept?

   F. political forces  G. economic commonality  H. social changes and characteristics  J. all of the above

 45. All of the following are characteristics of the Rise to World Power Era EXCEPT

_____________.

   A. expansionism  B. practice of diplomacy  C. global conflict  D. Indian resettlement

 46. Use the list and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following question.

I.     Rough Riders fight in CubaII.    Guam and Puerto Rico become territories of the United StatesIII.   Liberation of CubaIV.    Sinking of battleship USS Maine

What is the correct chronology of the above events?   F. I, IV, II, III  G. III, IV, I, II  H. IV, I, III, II  J. II, III, IV, I

 47. Use the list and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following question.

Who is described above?   A. John J. Pershing  B. Alvin York

  C. Teddy Roosevelt  D. Alfred Mahan

 48. Use the list and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following question.

Who is described above?   F. Teddy Roosevelt  G. Robert Lansing  H. J.J. Pershing  J. Marshal Foch

 49. How was the Battle of the Argonne Forest a turning point in World War I?   A. It was the final Allied offensive that forced the Germans to agree to the armistice.  B. It was the first battle in which Americans used airplanes.  C. It brought the Germans out of trenches and into the open.  D. It caused the Germans to use poisonous gas on the Allies.

 50. What political changes occurred within the United States as a result of declaring war on

Germany in World War I?   F. German citizens were not allowed to vote.

  G. Mexican immigration was halted.  H. Taxes were used only for the war effort.  J. U.S. mail was censored to prevent treason.

 51. Which economic effect was a result of wars such as the Spanish-American War and

World War I on the United States?   A. They brought new weaponry into use.  B. They gave the United States a sense of power.  C. They decreased the number of jobs needed.  D. They increased industrial and farm output.

 52. Which concern led some in the U.S. Senate to decline the ratification of the Treaty of

Versailles and the Covenant for the League of Nations?   F. The treaties accepted the communist government in Russia.  G. The treaties levied heavy reparations and taxes on the United States.  H. The treaties would involve the United States in entangling alliances.  J. The treaties changed the boundaries of existing countries in Europe.

 53. During WWI, Germans and Americans had a need to keep their enemies

from advancing on them across open fields. Which weapon forced troops to remain in trenches and slowly dig their way to reach their opponents?

   A. airplane  B. machine gun  C. tank  D. depth charges

 54. The first airplanes used in World War I had limited success. What was their early value

to the war effort?   F. spying on the enemy  G. shooting down other planes  H. keeping the war in the trenches  J. protecting "No Man's Land"

 55. Use the map and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following

question.

The above map shows portions of Germany given to other nations, as designated by the flags. These boundary changes are the result of the __________________.

   A. Fourteen Points  B. Treaty of Versailles  C. Armistice for World War I  D. American Expeditionary Force

 56. Which of the following is the BEST explanation of why the United States entered World

War I?   F. Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated.  G. Germany invaded the neutral nation of Belgium.  H. German submarines began to engage in unrestricted warfare.

  J. British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith enforced the defense treaty that the United States signed.

 57. How did the control of Hawaii impact the position of the United States as a

world power?   A. Hawaii became a significant trading partner with the United States.

  B. Hawaii supplied soldiers for the Pacific region.  C. Hawaii then served as a military base for the United States in the Pacific.  D. Hawaii gave the United States access to China, which was an enemy.

 58. Use the list and your knowledge of social studies to answer the following question.

Which title below BEST titles the list?   F. German Proclamation to America  G. Zimmerman Letter Exposed  H. British Proclamation to Germany  J. Germany's Sussex Pledge

 59. After the Spanish-American War, the position of the United States as a world power was

MOST enhanced by —   A. control of the Caribbean Sea area  B. possession of territories around the world  C. enforcement of the Roosevelt Corollary  D. destruction of Spanish military power

 60. The United States entered the war with Germany during which of the following years? 

  F. 1898-1901  G. 1914-1915  H. 1915-1916  J. 1917-1918