Social Studies 5 (MillinerSS5)
Name:_____________________________________________
Date:________________________
1. On October 19, 1781, British troops surrendered to American and French forces in Virginia. This battle marked the
end of the Revolutionary War. This battle took place at
A. Savannah.
B. Guilford Courthouse.
C. Yorktown.
D. Charles Town.
2. During the Revolutionary War, there were things that helped the Americans and things that helped the British.
Which of the following helped the Americans?
A. They knew the land where they were fighting.
B. They had a large army and navy.
C. They knew they had the support of all of the colonists.
D. They had better weapons and supplies.
3. The Constitution was drafted (written) in 1787. Since the people could not agree they had to compromise. The
Great Compromise
A. decided how the President would be elected.
B. gave the Supreme Court the power to decide if laws are unconstitutional.
C. started the cabinet to help the President.
D. made a Congress with a Senate and a House of Representatives.
4. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 brought people together with different ideas. One thing the people did not
agree on was if slaves should be counted in the population. The Three-Fifths Compromise was to
A. count three-fifths of the slave population.
B. count all of the slave population.
C. count three-fifths of the total population.
D. count all of the total population.
5. In the early 1800s, France and Great Britain were again at war with each other. France did not want the United
States to trade with Great Britain, and Great Britain did not want the United States to trade with France. Which of the
following sentences states the view of the United States?
A. The United States would only trade with France.
B. The United States would trade with all countries except France and Great Britain.
C. The United States would only trade with Great Britain.
D. The United States would trade with any country that would trade with it.
6. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain. The MAIN reason why this war was
fought was
A. to win freedom from Great Britain.
B. to stop British attacks on American cities on the coast.
C. to protect the right to trade with anyone.
D. to keep Native Americans on reservations.
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Social Studies 5 (MillinerSS5)
7. In the first half of the 1800s, more land was added to the United States. Most of this land was in
A. Canada.
B. the West.
C. Alaska.
D. the Caribbean.
8. The early 1800s saw many technological changes in the United States. The greatest change in communication was
the use of the
A. telephone.
B. computer.
C. telegraph.
D. radar.
9. There were people in the English colonies in North America who had more power in the decisions being made by
the government. Which group had the MOST power in colonial governments?
A. slaves
B. wealthy landowners
C. women
D. indentured servants
10. In the 1700s, the people who settled in the English colonies in North America had to find a way to make a living.
MOST colonists became
A. merchants.
B. wealthy landowners.
C. farmers.
D. skilled artisans.
11. The English colonists in North America needed workers, so they started forcing Africans to come to the colonies
to work as
A. school teachers.
B. slaves.
C. factory workers.
D. apprentices.
12. In 1812, Great Britain and France were still at war. Each country wanted the United States to help them in the
war. The leaders of the United States decided to
A. not take sides, so they could trade with both countries.
B. help only Great Britain.
C. help only France.
D. not take sides and not trade with either country.
13. The Constitution of the United States divides the government into branches and provides for a system of checks
and balances. The Supreme Court can "check" the executive branch by
A. overriding a veto by the president on a bill.
B. approving an appointment to the cabinet.
C. declaring war on an enemy of the United States.
D. deciding that an act by the president is unconstitutional.
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Social Studies 5 (MillinerSS5)
14. The powers of government are divided at the national level. A system of checks and balances is also used to
control the branches. What can the Supreme Court do to control the legislative branch?
A. approve an appointment to the Cabinet
B. decide that a law passed by Congress is unconstitutional
C. approve a treaty with another country
D. decide that a senator should be removed from office
15. Many of the Native Americans who lived on the Great Plains were nomadic people. Why did they move from
place to place?
A. They were finding new areas to mine.
B. They were looking for fertile lands to farm.
C. They were trapping fur-bearing animals.
D. They were following the buffalo to hunt.
16. In the years before and after the Civil War, many people went west to try and become rich by mining for gold,
silver, and copper. Which of the following would have been true at this time?
A. Most of the miners worked in large mining operations, and were paid a salary.
B. Most of the miners struck it rich, which only led to more people moving west.
C. Most of the miners worked by themselves or in small groups, with few striking it rich.
D. Most of the miners bought land from Native Americans to search for metals.
17. How did the growing of tobacco help the colonists of Jamestown?
A. It provided them with a healthy diet.
B. It brought them a great amount of money.
C. It provided them with a crop to trade with Spain.
D. It brought them closer to the Native Americans.
18.
How did Sacajawea help the Lewis and Clark expedition?
A. Sacajawea fought on the side of the Native Americans.
B. Sacajawea encouraged Lewis and Clark to go back to Missouri.
C. Sacajawea guided Lewis and Clark across the Appalachian Mountains.
D. Sacajawea translated for Lewis and Clark and helped them cross the Rocky Mountains.
19.
How did the telegraph impact life in America?
A. It lead to the development of the railroad.
B. It allowed messages to be sent through the mail.
C. It took longer to send messages over long distances.
D. It allowed a speedy way to send messages over long distances.
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Social Studies 5 (MillinerSS5)
20.
The Articles of Confederation had several areas of weakness. What conclusion can be drawn about its major
weakness?
A. The Bill of Rights was never added.
B. A king ruled the state government.
C. Money was the same from state to state.
D. There was no army and no court system.
21.
What impact does the Legislative Branch have on our government?
A. It passes laws.
B. It includes the Supreme Court.
C. It does not allow all citizens to vote.
D. It allows the President to make his own laws.
22.
What impact does the Executive Branch have on our government?
A. It ensures that laws are enforced.
B. It allows the Vice President to make laws.
C. It takes away freedoms at the state and local levels.
D. It makes up a significant part of the postal system.
23.
The Bill of Rights became a necessary part of our Constitution. What impact did this document have on the citizens?
A. The Bill of Rights allows cruel punishment for certain crimes.
B. The Bill of Rights allows property to be searched for any reason.
C. The Bill of Rights protects the basic rights of United States citizens.
D. The Bill of Rights insists a person must have an attorney in order to defend himself/ herself.
24.
Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation influenced the creation of which document?
A. the Constitution
B. the Bill of Rights
C. the Underground Railroad
D. the Declaration of Independence
25.
What was one cause of the War of 1812?
A. Slavery was needed in the north.
B. The French burned the White House.
C. The British took over American ships.
D. The colonists wanted their own country.
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Social Studies 5 (MillinerSS5)
26.
How did Benedict Arnold betray our country?
A. He wrote a letter to President Lincoln about the war.
B. He fought on the side of the French during the War of 1812.
C. He used a spy to attack George Washington on Christmas Eve.
D. He aided the British during the Revolutionary War by planning to surrender to them.
27.
Why were the colonists angry about "taxation without representation"?
A. The colonists wanted to pay taxes on stamps and tea.
B. The colonists had no representation in parliament.
C. The colonists fought to write the Declaration of Independence.
D. The colonists were loyal to the British and wanted to keep them happy.
28.
The Declaration of Independence said, "All men are created equal." What did this mean to the colonists?
A. Only certain people should have freedom.
B. The people were as important as the king.
C. The 13 colonists wanted to remain dependent.
D. George Washington was a great leader during the Revolution.
29.
Which colonial area was known as the "Breadbasket Colonies" because its soil and climate were ideal for growing
wheat?
A. New England
B. Mid-Atlantic
C. Southern
D. western frontier
30.
Why were blacksmiths important as colonial craftsmen?
A. They made horseshoes and other farm tools.
B. They grew wheat and corn in the New England Colonies.
C. They made canoes so the colonists could travel by river.
D. They fought with the Native Americans and taught them how to shoot.
31.
How did the Native Americans help the early colonists?
A. The colonists did not need the Native Americans to help them in any way.
B. The Native Americans taught the colonists how to hunt and fish for food.
C. The colonists taught the Native Americans how to plant wheat and tobacco.
D. The Native Americans sent the colonists back to England because they could not survive here.
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Social Studies 5 (MillinerSS5)
Answer Key
1. C) Yorktown.
2. A) They knew the land where they were fighting.
3. D) made a Congress with a Senate and a House of Representatives.
4. A) count three-fifths of the slave population.
5. D) The United States would trade with any country that would trade with it.
6. C) to protect the right to trade with anyone.
7. B) the West.
8. C) telegraph.
9. B) wealthy landowners
10. C) farmers.
11. B) slaves.
12. A) not take sides, so they could trade with both countries.
13. D) deciding that an act by the president is unconstitutional.
14. B) decide that a law passed by Congress is unconstitutional
15. D) They were following the buffalo to hunt.
16. C) Most of the miners worked by themselves or in small groups, with few striking it rich.
17. B) It brought them a great amount of money.
18. D) Sacajawea translated for Lewis and Clark and helped them cross the Rocky Mountains.
19. D) It allowed a speedy way to send messages over long distances.
20. D) There was no army and no court system.
21. A) It passes laws.
22. A) It ensures that laws are enforced.
23. C) The Bill of Rights protects the basic rights of United States citizens.
24. A) the Constitution
25. C) The British took over American ships.
26. D) He aided the British during the Revolutionary War by planning to surrender to them.
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Social Studies 5 (MillinerSS5)
27. B) The colonists had no representation in parliament.
28. B) The people were as important as the king.
29. B) Mid-Atlantic
30. A) They made horseshoes and other farm tools.
31. B) The Native Americans taught the colonists how to hunt and fish for food.
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