U.S. History Test

Why did Jefferson purchase Louisiana from the French in 1803? A. He hoped it would ensure the nation's agrarian character. B. He knew the Constitution explicitly and fully authorized this land deal. C. He wanted to prevent slavery from expanding west of the Mississippi. D. He wanted to return the land to the Indian tribes who lived there. E. He wanted to sell it back to Spain for a profit.

A. He hoped it would ensure the nation's agrarian character.

Which policy or action showed Jefferson contradicting his own philosophy on government? A. Jefferson's advocacy for the embargo act B. Jefferson's release of political prisoners C. Jefferson's cutting funding for the military D. Jefferson's paying down the national debt E. Jefferson's ending most taxes

A. Jefferson's advocacy for the embargo act

Which president's vision for America most resembled Alexander Hamilton's plans? A. John Quincy Adam's B. Martin Van Buren's C. Andrew Jackson's D. James Monroe's E. William Henry Harrison's

A. John Quincy Adam's

Which problem with cotton did Eli Whitney solve by inventing the cotton gin? A. Removing seeds from the cotton was a slow and painstaking task, but Whitney made it much easier and less labor-intensive. B. The production of southern whiskey required the use of cotton in purifying the liquor, but the cotton absorbed too much liquid; Whitney's machine changed that. C. Processing cotton required too many different pieces of equipment, but Whitney figured out how to change the equipment more easily and quickly, saving time and money. D. Whitney figured out how to remove the cotton-destroying boll weevil and thereby save the cotton crop. E. Planting the cotton took too many hours to make its growth very profitable, but Whitney enabled planters to use a machine to speed the planting.

A. Removing seeds from the cotton was a slow and painstaking task, but Whitney made it much easier and less labor-intensive.

What was culturally expected of a white middle-class woman in the period from 1800 to 1840? A. She would find fulfillment by focusing her energies on her family and home. B. She would pursue a college education before marriage. C. She would give birth to 6-10 children, in order to increase the population. D. She would be responsible for producing the daily foodstuffs and necessities that her household required. E. Once her children were in school, she would take a job outside the home to supplement the family's disposable income.

A. She would find fulfillment by focusing her energies on her family and home.

Which of the following describes the role of cotton in the U.S. market revolution? A. Slavery expanded dramatically in the South. B. Cotton production created new economic opportunities for poorer southern farmers. C. Cotton shifted America's wealth to the South, creating a recession in the northern states. D. Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin reduced the demand for slave labor. E. The price paid for cotton plummeted and many cotton farmers went out of business.

A. Slavery expanded dramatically in the South.

What happened along the United States-Canada border during the Embargo Act of 1807? A. The smuggling of goods increased. B. France regained part of Quebec. C. All trade halted between Americans and Canadians. D. Indians attacked a town in Vermont. E. The United States attacked British forts.

A. The smuggling of goods increased.

Which statement is true about the mid-nineteenth-century phenomenon known as the "cult of domesticity"? A. While men moved freely between public and private spheres, women were expected to remain within the private domestic realm. B. The household gained prominence as the center of economic production, and women, as a result, exercised more economic power than ever before. C. Women were no longer expected to embody submission, frailty, or innocence. D. The ideal middle-class home became a porous, semi-public sphere, merged with the competitive tensions of the market economy. E. Birth rates increased among middle-class women, who embraced their new role as rulers of the household.

A. While men moved freely between public and private spheres, women were expected to remain within the private domestic realm.

Which improvement most dramatically increased the speed and lowered the expense of commerce in the first half of the nineteenth century? A. canals and steamboats B. a system of federally financed roads C. the transcontinental railroad D. the factory system E. the establishment of an efficient postal system

A. canals and steamboats

Which group represents the typical pattern of western migration between 1790 and 1840? A. groups who helped one another clear land, put up buildings, and establish communities B. immigrant families from southern Europe, who proceeded west on trains from the port cities C. recently married couples who did not yet have any children, although many of the women were pregnant D. lone, male pioneers, who sent for their families once they'd established a homestead E. groups of young men in fierce competition with one another for resources and land

A. groups who helped one another clear land, put up buildings, and establish communities

As President, John Tyler A. vetoed a bill to create a new national bank, thus angering Whigs. B. appointed Roger Taney to the office of chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. C. engaged in a public feud with his vice president that led to the latter's resignation. D. worked hard to enact the Whig economic program. E. proved so popular that he easily won the 1844 presidential election.

A. vetoed a bill to create a new national bank, thus angering Whigs.

What vision of America's future guided Thomas Jefferson and James Madison? A. a land of economic equality in which no one would be wealthy and no one would be poor B. a rural republic of independent farmers freely selling their goods to a global market C. a bastion of freedom in which freed slaves would eventually enjoy equal rights with whites D. a major commercial and military power under strong federal leadership E. an increasingly urban democracy, largely populated by educated businessmen and craftsmen

B. a rural republic of independent farmers freely selling their goods to a global market

What political quality did Andrew Jackson and George Washington share? A. a commitment to securing Native American land for white settlement B. an appeal to voters based at least partly on a history of military leadership C. a strong mistrust of banks D. a fear that states' rights would threaten the unity of the nation E. a refusal to use the veto power

B. an appeal to voters based at least partly on a history of military leadership

When George Washington took office as the first president of the United States, American leaders believed that the new nation's success depended on A. protecting all forms of freedom. B. maintaining political harmony. C. Washington's willingness to serve until he died. D. coining money. E. creating political parties as a means of channeling the people's passions.

B. maintaining political harmony.

The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions were a response to A. Fries's Rebellion. B. the Alien and Sedition Acts. C. the election of 1800. D. impressments of American sailors. E. Hamilton's economic plan.

B. the Alien and Sedition Acts.

During the first half of the nineteenth century, individualism A. hampered efforts to spread democracy because it reduced interest in suffrage. B. was rooted in the idea of self-sufficiency. C. was a subject on which all transcendentalists agreed. D. came under attack from Henry David Thoreau. E. was defined in a way that distinguished it completely from the idea of privacy.

B. was rooted in the idea of self-sufficiency.

Why did Thomas Jefferson call the Election of 1800 the "Revolution of 1800"? A. He was willing to let John Adams remain as president. B. He was voicing criticism of Aaron Burr's actions in the West. C. He was talking about freedom that secured America's independence. D. He hoped to free many of the slaves in the South. E. He wanted to use force to maintain his victory in the election.

C. He was talking about freedom that secured America's independence.

Which of the following led directly to the creation of the Republican Party in the 1790s? A. speculators profiting from the sales of government bonds B. the creation of the Bank of the United States C. Jay's Treaty D. Shays's Rebellion E. the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions

C. Jay's Treaty

Mary Wollstonecraft and Judith Sargent Murray's writings about women's rights mainly called for women to A. gain the right to vote. B. serve in the military. C. access improved educational opportunities. D. hold political office. E. receive equal wages to men.

C. access improved educational opportunities.

Jefferson's Embargo Act A. stopped the policy of impressment. B. was successful in restoring freedom of the seas. C. caused economic depression within the United States. D. provoked war with France. E. severely hurt the economies of France and England.

C. caused economic depression within the United States.

In her 1850 letter to her family, what circumstance does Margaret McCarthy describe as a blessing from God? A. encountering old family friends in America B. recovering from an illness C. not having been married in Ireland D. successfully making it across the Atlantic E. finding work in America

C. not having been married in Ireland

In the Age of Jackson, Democrats typically believed that A. economic inequality was good for the economy. B. the government should abolish slavery. C. the government should stay out of economic affairs. D. bankers, merchants, and speculators produced most of the nation's wealth. E. the government should fund road and canal construction.

C. the government should stay out of economic affairs.

Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman A. was the first pamphlet published in the United States by an American Woman. B. won strong support from the Federalist Party. C. was inspired by Thomas Paine's Rights of Man. D. was based on her experiences as a cross-dressing soldier during the Revolutionary War. E. strongly challenged traditional gender roles

C. was inspired by Thomas Paine's Rights of Man.

Which statement is true about women in the 1830s? A. Women's participation in religious institutions declined. B. Women gained the right to vote in most states. C. Women became lawyers, dentists, and architects for the first time in American history. D. An increasing number of women published their writing. E. Literacy rates for women of all classes decreased.

D. An increasing number of women published their writing.

Which statement is true about the electoral college? A. By 1828, the legislature chose the presidential electors in every state except Virginia. B. In states where voters chose the presidential electors. there was little campaigning and low voter turnout. C. By 1828, voters chose the presidential electors in about half of the states. D. By 1828, voters chose the presidential electors in every state except South Carolina. E. The electoral college was abolished in 1820.

D. By 1828, voters chose the presidential electors in every state except South Carolina.

After becoming president, how did Thomas Jefferson deal with the Federalists? A. Until just before leaving office, he used the Sedation Act to shut down Federalist newspapers critical of his administration. B. He followed through on his inauguration speech's statement ("We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists") and treated them as equals. C. He led a successful effort to impeach and remove from office all Federalist judges, whom he then replaced with Republicans. D. He tried to roll back almost everything they had done by cutting taxes and the size of government. E. He courted their support because he knew he could never win approval without them.

D. He tried to roll back almost everything they had done by cutting taxes and the size of government.

Which was typical of the preaching of Charles Grandison Finney? A. warnings of the torments of hell and a call to repent B. military analogies that characterized each soul as locked in a war with the devil C. triumphant celebration of the economic success of the American nation D. a focus on the moral imperative of abolishing slavery E. references to figures and stories from classical Greek literature

D. a focus on the moral imperative of abolishing slavery

Andrew Jackson's inauguration was A. a disastrous affair during which Jackson's opponents protested outside the White House. B. limited to only the upper crust of society. C. much like the previous presidential inaugurations. D. a large, rowdy event. E. small and dignified.

D. a large, rowdy event.

In its decision in the case of Fletcher v. Peck, the U.S. Supreme Court A. held that slaves who ran away from their masters had to be returned to them, even if the slaves has gone to a free state. B. said that the purchase of land from a foreign power, as in the case of Louisiana, was constitutional. C. asserted that political parties were constitutional even though they were not mentioned in the 1787 document. D. exercised the authority to overturn a state law that the Court considered to be in violation of the U.S. constitution. E. declared that corruption involved in the making of a law automatically invalidated that law.

D. exercised the authority to overturn a state law that the Court considered to be in violation of the U.S. constitution.

In 1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that "the most rabid Radical" is likely to be conservative in what aspect? A. his economic aspirations B. his religious beliefs C. his thoughts about immigration D. his views on women and marriage E. his views on free Blacks

D. his views on women and marriage

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams suggested that the Missouri controversy of 1820-1821 A. resulted from overly ambitious proslavery politicians seeking to score political points. B. should have been solved by adoption of the Tallmadge Amendment. C. was not as dangerous as President Monroe made it out to be. D. revealed a sectional divide that potentially threatened the Union. E. demonstrated the wisdom of the founding father in adopting the three-fifths clause.

D. revealed a sectional divide that potentially threatened the Union.

What innovation does the textbook identify as the first to advance overland transportation and contribute to the market revolution? A. the railroad B. the steam boat C. the telegraph D. the "turnpike," or toll roads E. the canal

D. the "turnpike," or toll roads

In Northeast cities during the market revolution, A. population declined. B. neighborhoods became more ethnically mixed. C. political corruption declined. D. the wealth gap between the rich and poor significantly widened. E. wealth inequality declined.

D. the wealth gap between the rich and poor significantly widened.

Which of the following occurred during the Age of Jackson? A. Economic inequality decreased for white males, due largely to the rise of labor unions. B. Ex-slaves gained the right to vote in all of the New Englands and Mid-Atlantic states. C. Native Americans won important legal cases that resulted in the restoration of some of their tribal lands. D. A group of white women, meeting in Seneca Falls, New York, began what would be a long struggle to gain the right to vote. E. Democracy for white males was more fully realized.

E. Democracy for white males was more fully realized.

Which is true of paper money in America in the early nineteenth century? A. Its value was determined by the president of the Second Bank of the United States. B. It was in limited supply and used extensively only in the larger cities. C. Its value could not legally exceed the amount of money that the bank printing it held in its vault. D. It could be issued only by the federal government. E. It represented a promise to pay the bearer, on demand, a specific amount of gold or silver.

E. It represented a promise to pay the bearer, on demand, a specific amount of gold or silver.

As part of the Missouri Compromise, what free state was admitted to the Union? A. California B. Arkansas C. Louisiana D. Oregon E. Maine

E. Maine

What is the role of Joseph Smith in the Mormon religion? A. head of a family who, with God's guidance, traveled from the ancient Middle East to the Americas B. prophet who predicted that the Second Coming of Christ, and the end of the world, would occur in 1841 C. leader of an exodus of people seeking religious freedom to the shores of the Great Salt Lake D. translator of the Bible into three dozen known Native American languages E. Prophet who, through divine intervention, received the Book of Mormon

E. Prophet who, through divine intervention, received the Book of Mormon

Which statement is true about Indian removal in the 1820s and 1830s? A. President Andrew Jackson opposed the removal of the Cherokee, because they had assimilated into B. The Trail of Tears stretched from Georgia to Florida. C. During the army's forced removal of 18,000 members of the Cherokee tribe via the Trail of Tears, no one died. D. Two Supreme Court decisions in favor of Indian property rights led President Andrew Jackson to stop the removal. E. The increasing profitability of cotton motivated the US to intensify efforts to seize Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Choctaw lands in order to expand cotton cultivation.

E. The increasing profitability of cotton motivated the US to intensify efforts to seize Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Choctaw lands in order to expand cotton cultivation.

What modern example fulfills the goals of the Workingmen's parties? A. A company downsizing to increase its profits and its payments to shareholders. B. Machinery being used to handle boring and repetitive jobs in a factory. C. Congress raising the federal minimum wage. D. Nurses working three twelve-hour shifts per week, with four days off. E. The president intervening in a strike in order to keep the transportation system running.

E. The president intervening in a strike in order to keep the transportation system running.

Under the Missouri Compromise of 1820, A. slave states gained a two-seat advantage in the U.S. Senate. B. Ohio became a free state to balance the admission of Missouri as a slave state. C. Missouri agreed to gradual emancipation of slavery in exchange for admission to the Union. D. Congress banned slavery in any new territory that might ever be added to the United States. E. The remaining Louisiana Purchase territory was divided into slave and free zones.

E. The remaining Louisiana Purchase territory was divided into slave and free zones.

Which of the following statements accurately describes the Republican Party leaders of the eighteenth century? A. Their platform reflected traditional eighteenth-century views of society as a fixed hierarchy. B. They were critical of French Revolution. C. They viewed social and economic inequality as inherent to civilized society. D. They were steryotyped as the "rich, the able, and the well-born." E. They considered broad democratic participation to be essential to freedom.

E. They considered broad democratic participation to be essential to freedom.

Samuel Slater A. developed stone-crushing technology useful for road building. B. established the Erie Canal. C. was a steamboat innovator. D. invented the cotton gin. E. established America's first factory.

E. established America's first factory.

Which of the following rights or freedoms is the focus of the "Address of the Democratic-Republican society of Pennsylvania" of December 8, 1974? A. freedom of religion B. freedom of assembly C. the right of a trial by jury D. the right to bear arms E. freedom of expression

E. freedom of expression

The Panic of 1837 A. inspired a more vigorous labor movement in the decade that followed. B. helped hamrers, because the cost of transporting goods to markets fell. C. was caused, in part, by a decline in British demand for American cotton. D. was exclusively the product of Andrew Jackson's war on the national bank. E. led to a relatively mild economic downturn that resolved itself by 1839.

E. led to a relatively mild economic downturn that resolved itself by 1839.

The "American System of manufactures" A. was nearly derailed by Chief Justice John Marshall's hostility to economic development. B. was centered on agricultural machinery. C. originated among entrepreneurs in the Old Northwest before spreading to New England. D. referred to the production of specialty handmade goods by highly skilled artisans. E. owed a great deal to Eli Terry's development of interchangeable parts in clockmaking.

E. owed a great deal to Eli Terry's development of interchangeable parts in clockmaking.