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8th Grade Social Studies Mock Exam

1 How did the Great Migration affect American society?

A African-American people created a new urban culture in the North.

B The South promoted progressive laws and economic opportunities.

C Racism and prejudice were less prevalent across the United States.

D The African-American population increased in southern coastal cities.

2 “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

This statement introduces the reasons for

A American independence from Britain

B Soldiers to be living in colonists’ homes.

C Natural Laws controlling the universe

D Protests against British taxes and laws

3 On February 1, 1960, four college students sat down at a “whites-only” Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. They asked to be served and were refused. These students used the “sit-in” as nonviolent action against racial segregation. Images of the sit-ins spread through television and newspapers nationwide.

Which statement reflects the influence on the civil rights movement of citizen action in Greensboro, North Carolina?

A Sit-ins failed to gain support, and lunch counters remained segregated.

B Sit-ins spread to other cities, helping to desegregate public facilities.

C Sit-ins, which were not supported by national civil rights leaders, slowed progress for desegregation.

D Sit-ins gained national support, but little action was taken by state governments to improve civil rights.


4 Use the table below to answer the question.

What is one factor that led to the trend shown in this table?

A decrease in interest rates

B expansion of government services

C participation in a global economy

D reduction in production levels

5 Mountaintop coal mining is a surface mining practice involving the:

• removal of mountaintops to expose coal seams, and • disposing of the associated mining overburden in adjacent valleys—“valley fills”

—Environmental Protection Agency, “Mid-Atlantic Mountaintop Mining,” 2011

What is one result of this activity?

A loss of valuable flatlands

B high levels of carbon dioxide

C damage to existing ecosystems

D persistent drought and wildfires


6 Use the maps below to answer the question.

Which conclusion is best supported by the maps?

A Advances in technology improved the environment.

B Fewer natural resources slowed population growth.

C The need for land to cultivate crops increased greatly.

D The depletion of timber limited trade opportunities.

7 That if any person shall write, print, utter… any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government… then such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.

Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798Transcript Courtesy of the Avalon Project at Yale Law School

Based on the above excerpt, which statement explains an effect of passage of the Sedition Act?

A Public criticism of government was prohibited.

B It became more difficult for new immigrants to vote.

C The president gained new powers to deport foreigners.


D The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was protected.8 How did the U.S. government respond to conflicts over slavery before the Civil War?

A by granting the right to vote to all citizens

B by granting all residents of a state citizenship

C by passing a series of compromises to appease citizens

D by protecting privacy rights and preventing illegal searches

9 Excerpt from court testimony of Oscar Neebe, a participant in the Haymarket Affair

My wife told me that the police—these honorable men to protect law and order—when they got on that wagon they waved that flag and hollered and hurrahed just like a lot of wild Indians—and they were wild Indians in those days. They searched hundreds of houses, and money was stolen by searching houses, and watches were stolen, and nobody knew whether they were stolen by the police or not. Captain Schaack knows it. His gang was one of the worst in this city. You need not laugh about it, Captain Schaack. You are one of them. You are an Anarchist, as you understand it. You are all Anarchists, in this sense of the word, I must say. . . . I organized trades unions. I was for reduction of the hours of labor, and the education of laboring men . . .

A.R. Parsons, “Oscar Neebe’s Remarks,” in Anarchism: Its Philosophy and Scientific Basis, 1887

Which issues were labor strikes addressing in the late 1800s?

A violence in the workplace, paid vacation, and sick days

B shorter work hours, poor working conditions, and education

C shorter workdays, women in the workplace, and health insurance

D access to management positions, education leave, and wage hike


10 It is proposed that humble application be made for an act of Parliament of Great Britain, by virtue of which one general government may be formed in America, including all the said colonies, within and under which government each colony may retain it's present constitution, except in the particulars wherein a change may be directed by the said act, as hereafter follows.

1. That the said general government be administered by a President-General, to be appointed and supported by the crown; and a Grand Council, to be chosen by the representatives of the people of the several Colonies met in their respective assemblies......10. That the President-General, with the advice of the Grand Council, hold or direct all Indian treaties, in which the general interest of the Colonies may be concerned; and make peace or declare war with Indian nations.11. That they make such laws as they judge necessary for regulating all Indian trade.12. That they make all purchases from Indians, for the crown, of lands not now within the bounds of particular Colonies, or that shall not be within their bounds when some of them are reduced to more convenient dimensions.13. That they make new settlements on such purchases, by granting lands in the King's name, reserving a quitrent to the crown for the use of the general treasury.14. That they make laws for regulating and governing such new settlements, till the crown shall think fit to form them into particular governments.

According to Franklin’s plan, the President-General

A should independently hold or direct all Indian treaties.

B should be appointed by the colonists and supported by the crown.

C should with the advice of the Grand Council make peace or declare war with the Indian nations.

D should direct all Indian treaties without the advice of the Grand Council.

11 Which phrase from the Declaration of Independence describes the source of government’s authority?

A “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

B “These united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

C “Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.”

D “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”


12 Which perception best completes this list?

Perceptions of the South as aRegion of the United States

• Hospitality toward others • Large Protestant populations • ?

A Support for labor unions

B Reliance on agriculture

C Liberal political views

D Fast-paced urban lifestyles

13 The following excerpt describes the weak economy of North Carolina during the early 1800s:

Cotton is now almost the only article which bears transportation. But . . . even cotton will not long remain a source of profit in our present manner of [transportation]. The states of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, together with the Arkansas . . . are yearly filling up more and more with an enterprising population, who are pressing their production of cotton to a [large] extent. They possess navigable rivers, and they are acting upon the same policy of internal improvement as has been prosecuted by other states.

James Mebane and Dennis Heartt, August 1, 1828Courtesy of Documenting the American South, UNC Library

Which obstacle did many North Carolinians believe prevented economic growth in North Carolina during these years?

A The cotton of North Carolina was of lower quality than the cotton of other southern

states.

B The North Carolina government imported cotton and other goods from neighboring states.

C The soil in North Carolina was inadequate for the farming of high-profit crops like

cotton.

D Government leaders failed to support investment in infrastructure like roads and railroads.


14

What does the chart above indicate about unemployment and economic stability in North Carolina, compared to the United States, from January 2007 to October 2011?

A Unemployment rates were higher in North Carolina than in the United States, while

state and national economies were unstable.

B Unemployment rates were the same in both North Carolina and the United States, while state and national economies were stable.

C Unemployment rates decreased more quickly in North Carolina than in the United

States, while state and national economies were stable.

D Unemployment rates steadily increased in North Carolina and steadily decreased in the United States, while state and national economies were unstable.

15 Which of the following ideas is not reflected in the Declaration of Independence?

A natural rights

B popular sovereignty

C equal rights

D abolition of slavery


16 Always remember that your father never sold his country. You must stop your ears whenever you are asked to sign a treaty selling your home. A few years more, and white men will be all around you. They have their eyes on this land. My son, never forget my dying words. This country holds your father’s body. Never sell the bones of your father and your mother.

Chief Joseph, Nez Perce Chief, The Dublin University Magazine, 1879

Based on the excerpt, how did the values and beliefs of American settlers affect the lives of the Nez Perce?

A The Nez Perce and other settlers made enduring treaties to share the land with

American settlers.

B The Nez Perce and other residents of the land accepted the policies of peace with American settlers.

C American settlers believed in the private ownership of land and resources and took property from the American Indians.

D American settlers advocated sharing resources and established a long-lasting communal relationship between all cultures.

17 Which statement best explains the increase in sectionalism between 1820 and 1850?

A Westward expansion created a heated debate over the nation’s policy concerning American Indians.

B Westward expansion caused a recurring debate over the expansion of slavery into new territories.

C Westward expansion during the period occurred faster across the northern plains than the southern river deltas.

D Westward expansion created a need for government spending to improve transportation.


18

According to the graph, which statement is true?

A The Missouri Compromise kept the number of free states and slave states balanced.

B The Missouri Compromise kept the number of states in the Union the same.

C The Missouri Compromise increased the number of free states but did not change the number of slave states.

D The Missouri Compromise increased the number of slave states but did not change the number of free states.

19 Kim wants to persuade her friend that immigrants to the United States have contributed to American society. Which of the following statements would not help Kim convince her friend?

A Immigrants have played key roles in building and advancing our society throughout history.

B Many immigrants have stressed the value of education which promotes the cause of education in the U.S.

C Some immigrants have failed to participate in the American political process.

D Many immigrants have worked extra hard to give their children opportunities they never had themselves.


20

The table shows the change in the estimated percentages of African Americans registered to vote as a result of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. What was most likely the long-term impact of the trend in the table?

A African Americans became the largest voting bloc in the South.

B The number of African Americans joining the Democratic Party decreased in the South.

C The number of African Americans holding public office increased in the South.

D African Americans shifted their interest away from national politics to state politics in the South.

21 How might late bill payments affect a person’s financial health?

A The person may earn less annual income.

B The person may pay more income taxes to the government.

C The person may not qualify for loans for bigger purchases.

D The person may have more money to spend on other things.


22 How did North Carolina’s geographic features affect the movement of goods and people?

A Mountain ranges and a lack of navigable ports restricted the movement of goods and people.

B Warm-water ports and small mountain ranges encouraged the movement of goods

and people.

C Deep rivers and flat fertile land helped North Carolina develop strong interstate commerce.

D Multiple rivers and valleys prevented the development of large farms and a tourist

economy.

23 In order to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government, which to a certain extent is admitted on all hands to be essential to the preservation of liberty, it is evident that each department should have a will of its own… the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others.

James Madison, Federalist Papers No. 51

The U.S. Constitution established a federal government based upon certain democratic ideals. Which one of these ideals was James Madison describing in Federalist No. 51?

A rule of law

B checks and balances

C popular sovereignty

D limited government


24American Indian Beliefs European Settler Beliefs

The land belongs to no one. The land belongs to those who claim it.The forests should be preserved in their

natural state in order to providefood.

The trees should be cut down in order tomake room for farms.

Based on the chart, which statement summarizes the origin of beliefs about land in North America?

A American Indians wanted to buy land from European settlers.

B American Indians and European settlers avoided each other.

C European settlers and American Indians wanted to preserve the forests.

D European settlers and American Indians used natural resources differently.

25

Which statement best represents the events in the picture above?

A Women wanted the U.S. president to back labor unions.

B Women did not like the president’s approach to civil rights.

C Women wanted the president to support equal rights and suffrage for females.

D Women protested for homeless women and demanded equal job opportunities.


26 Standing, there, identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery—the great sin and shame of America!

Frederick Douglass, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro,” July 5, 1852

What are the arguments that Douglass provides for abolishing slavery? Give two examples from the speech above.

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