US l Benchmark

Question 1

What European nation established settlements in the present-day United States in Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California?

Answer 1

Spain

Question 2

Which European nation established settlements along the Mississippi River, New Orleans, and in Canada?

Answer 2

France

Question 3

Which European nation established settlements on Manhattan Island and settlements along the Hudson River in present-day New York state?

Answer 3

Dutch

Question 4

What example did citizens of Jamestown look to when setting up their own representative government?

Answer 4

English Parliament

Question 5

Which colony was set up by Sir Walter Raleigh and was eventually considered “lost” after colonist John White return to find no sign of a settlement at all?

Answer 5

Roanoke

Question 6

Which colony was started by John Smith and 100 Englishmen in 1607?

Answer 6

Jamestown

Question 7

What Native American helped the Jamestown colonists survive by providing them with food during their first winter, teaching them how to cultivate crops, and improving relations by marrying a colonist?

Answer 7

Pocahontas

Question 8

What type of representative government did Jamestown have?

Answer 8

House of Burgesses

Question 9

The Pilgrims pledged their loyalty to England in which governmental document?

Answer 9

Mayflower Compact

Question 10

Which colony was started by people that were banished from the Puritan colony and allowed its people the right to worship freely?

Answer 10

Rhode Island

Question 11

Which colony got its start by william Penn and was originally designed to be a place where Quakers could worship freely?

Answer 11

Pennsylvania

Question 12

Which Native American helped the Pilgrims survive their first year in Plymouth by providing them with seeds and showing them how to plant, fertilize, and cultivate crops?

Answer 12

Squanto

Question 13

What were the voting requirements for people in the colonies?

Answer 13

Must be male
Must be white
Must own land

Question 14

Due to its moderate climate, people in this region of colonial America were artisans and grew an abundance of crops such as wheat, rye, and barley.

Answer 14

Middle

Question 15

Due to its colder climate and rocky soil, this area of colonial America specialized in shipbuilding through their use of lumber, fishing, and trading.

Answer 15

New England

Question 16

Due to its humid and warm climate and fertile soil, this area is colonial America grew crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. These crops were grown on small farms and plantations where citizens relied on African slave labor.

Answer 16

Southern

Question 17

Many immigrants, otherwise too poor to migrate to the U.S., agreed to be ______ so they could travel to the colonies.

Answer 17

indentured servant

Question 18

18. African slaves traveled on a route to the Americas called the ___________.

Answer 18

Middle Passage

Question 19

19. What is the definition of subsistence farming?

Answer 19

farming only enough to support one’s family

Question 20

20. Which two European countries were historical rivals, particularly in the
    1700’s?

Answer 20

France and Britain

Question 21

21. What war was taking place in Europe as the French and Indian war was taking
    place in the colonies?

Answer 21

The Seven Year’s War

Question 22

22. Who was one officer who fought for the English during the French and Indian
    War?

Answer 22

George Washington

Question 23

23. Which geographical region, because of its fertile soil and abundance of
    resources, was very desirable for the British and the French?

Answer 23

The Ohio River Valley

Question 24

24 . To appease the Native Americans, which of the following acts drew an
imaginary line just west of the Appalachian Mountains and forbade colonists from
settling past?

Answer 24

Proclamation of 1763

Question 25

25. Which of the following acts put a tax on all paper materials?

Answer 25

Stamp Act

Question 26

26. _________________ was the first casualty of the American Revolution. His ethnicity was _______________.

Answer 26

Crispus Attucks, African American and Native American

Question 27

27. Which act forced colonists to house British soldiers?

Answer 27

Quartering Act

Question 28

28. A _____________ sided with the British cause during the Revolution, whereas a ___________ sided with the American cause.

Answer 28

Loyalist/Patriot

Question 29

29. Who wrote “Common Sense”?

Answer 29

Thomas Paine

Question 30

30. Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 30

Thomas Jefferson

Question 31

31. In what way did the Declaration of Independence influence the political structures of the world?

Answer 31

it caused revolutions in other countries

Question 32

32. Which English philosopher influenced the Declaration of Independence with his statement that all people were born with the natural rights of “life, liberty, and property”?

Answer 32

John Locke

Question 33

33. Where was the first battle of the American Revolution?

Answer 33

Lexington and Concord

Question 34

34. Who was Molly Pitcher?

Answer 34

one of the first women to assist in a War

Question 35

35. Which battle was fought on Christmas night and convinced American soldiers to re-enlist for the following year?

Answer 35

Trenton

Question 36

36. Which American general had his name removed off of many Revolutionary War monuments because of his traitorous actions?

Answer 36

Benedict Arnold

Question 37

37. What were slaves promised if they fought for the British army?

Answer 37

freedom

Question 38

38. Which battle was the turning point in the war and convinced the King of France to reinforce the American cause?

Answer 38

Saratoga

Question 39

39. Who was commander of the British forces during the Revolutionary War?

Answer 39

Lord Charles Cornwallis

Question 40

40. What was the last battle of the American Revolution?

Answer 40

Yorktown

Question 41

41. What was NOT one weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 41

Congress could not conduct foreign affairs.

Question 42

42. Shay’s Rebellion occurred because of what?

Answer 42

The government attempting to tax farmers after the War

Question 43

43. The Constitution created rights for the _______________ whereas the Bill of Rights outlined the rights of _____________________.

Answer 43

government, citizens

Question 44

44. Under the Constitution, which groups of people were not considered “citizens”, and therefore lacked the rights of U.S. citizens.

Answer 44

Native Americans and African Americans

Question 45

45. __________________ is defined as the sharing of powers by the state and national governments.

Answer 45

federalism

Question 46

46. What is considered the “supreme law of the land” for the United States?

Answer 46

The Constitution

Question 47

47. The Legislative Branch of the United States government refers to what?

Answer 47

Congress

Question 48

48. The Executive Branch of the United States government refers to what?

Answer 48

the president

Question 49

49. The Judicial Branch of the United States government can be summed up by which word?

Answer 49

the courts

Question 50

50. Supporters of the Constitution’s ratification were called ________________ whereas non-supporters were called ________________.

Answer 50

Federalists and Antifederalists

Question 51

51. Which of the following is NOT a qualification to become United States President?

Answer 51

You must be male.

Question 52

52. Who was the 2nd president of the United States?

Answer 52

John Adams

Question 53

53. In order to please Southerners, who moved the United States capital from the North to a small area between Maryland and Virginia, called Washington D.C.?

Answer 53

Alexander Hamilton

Question 54

54. What are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution called?

Answer 54

Bill of Rights

Question 55

55. The third amendment, stating people do not have to house soldiers, is a result of which act placed on the colonists before the Revolution?

Answer 55

Quartering Act

Question 56

56. How many senators are there from each state?

Answer 56

2