500 AP U.S. History Questions to Know by Test Day

The Middle Passage refers to which of the following? (A) The passage of African people across the Atlantic to the Americas (B) The passage of Irish Catholics to the United States (C) The movement of African-Americans out of the southern United States to northern cities (D) The forced passage of Cherokee Indians west (E) The sought waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

(A) Th e Middle Passage was part of the triangle of trade routes that defined Atlantic colonial trade and brought Africans to the Americas, where they were sold into slavery. The first African slaves arrived in the English North American colonies in 1619, brought by Dutch traders. Th e movement of African-Americans out of the southern United States during the early 20th century is referred to as the Great Migration. The removal of Cherokee Indians to Oklahoma in 1838, often referred to as the Trail of Tears, resulted from President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Northwest Passage was the proposed inter-oceanic passage sought by explorers such as Henry Hudson.

Which of the following terms best describes colonies such as Pennsylvania and Maryland that were granted to a group by the English monarchy and given the right of self-government? (A) Royal colonies (B) Proprietary colonies (C) Corporate colonies (D) Chartered colonies (E) Joint stock colonies

(B) Both Pennsylvania and Maryland were given charters or permission by the sovereign to be established in North America under proprietary charters. Proprietary colonies differed from royal colonies in that royal colonies were controlled by the king, who appointed a governor and council to the colony. In proprietary colonies, the colonies' founders, such as William Penn in Pennsylvania or George Calvert in Maryland, maintained control over the governorship and many of the laws directly. A corporate colony was a colony chartered for a specific corporation such as a joint stock company; examples were Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The majority of colonists who migrated to Maryland and Virginia during the 17th century would be best described as (A) wealthy planters (B) indentured servants (C) women (D) African slaves (E) bankers and financiers

(B) During the 17th century, roughly half of the European settlers who arrived in North America were indentured servants. Indentured servants were laborers who contracted to work for a set period of time in exchange for passage to the Americas. Unlike a slave, an indentured servant was required to work only for a limited term specified in a signed contract. Th is practice slowed, however, after Bacon's Rebellion, when poor farmers, including many former indentured servants, rose up against the wealthy landed planters. Afterward, the use of African slaves became more common.

Which of the following statements best describes the reason the Dutch settlers in North America practiced religious tolerance? (A) They were following the policy of tolerance practiced by the French and British in their New World possessions. (B) Religious tolerance was a method to entice more settlers to their North American colonies. (C) The Dutch believed religious tolerance would maintain order within their New World possessions. (D) Religious tolerance allowed for investment in colonization from joint stock companies. (E) The major religion of the Dutch called for religious tolerance.

(B) Even though the Dutch Reformed Church was maintained as the official church of Dutch settlements in North America, such as that of New Amsterdam (present-day New York), the Dutch attempted to attract many of the populations displaced by conflicts following the Reformation. By the 1700s, nearly half of the population in Dutch possession was not Dutch and did not follow the Dutch Reformed Church.

The system of trails that linked the Spanish settlements in and along the Pacific coast of what is today Mexico and the United States was called (A) El Carretera Norteña (B) El Rastro Terrestre (C) El Camino Real (D) El Camino de Cruces (E) Th e Old Spanish Trail

(C) El Camino Real, or royal road, was a system of trails that connected the various Spanish missions, forts, and outposts along northern Mexico and California's western coast. El Camino de Cruces refers to a path created through the Panamanian jungle after Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incan civilization in South America in 1531. The path was used to transport precious metals and other goods to eastern ports. The Old Spanish Trail is a system of routes initially used by the Spanish but named by John C. Fremont as he surveyed lands in the U.S. Southwest during the 1840s.

Which North American colony was intended to serve as a penal colony for debtors? (A) Connecticut (B) South Carolina (C) Georgia (D) Rhode Island (E) Florida

(C) In 1732, James Oglethorpe was granted a proprietary charter to establish Georgia, named after King George II. Oglethorpe, a social reformer, wanted to use the land as a place to send people who had been imprisoned as debtors. Th e colony also served the purpose of establishing a defensive buffer between the English North American colonies and Spanishheld Florida

Which of the following statements best describes women in colonial New England? (A) They were less likely to attend church than men. (B) They did not participate in outdoor farmwork. (C) They could own property and form contracts if they were widowed. (D) They were discouraged from learning to read. (E) They were allowed to vote in town hall assemblies

(C) In New England, women who were widowed could maintain property and contracts. When they remarried, however, these rights ended, and their husband would take control of the woman's estate. Women in New England were encouraged to read yet did not have the right to vote or hold public office.

Which of the following statements best describes the view of Native Americans in North America concerning property? (A) A portion of lands should remain untouched for the use of future generations. (B) Land should be transferred through paternal lines. (C) The right of an individual to use the land was temporary. (D) The crops grown by the individual became the property of the clan. (E) The transfer of land was allowed only within one's own clan.

(C) Most Native Americans believed that while one had the right to use land for various purposes, it could not be owned outright. Therefore, while one person could grant permission to another to use land, it could not be sold outright.

Which of the following was not a provision of the Coercive Acts? (A) The closing of Boston Harbor (B) The establishment of martial law in the colonies (C) The creation of colonial-controlled legislatures (D) The quartering of British troops by colonists (E) The allowance of trials to be held in jurisdictions other than where a crime was committed

(C) Part of the 1774 Coercive Acts (known by the colonists as the Intolerable Acts) was the Massachusetts Government Act, which repealed the Massachusetts Bay Colony's right to elect its own legislature, in effect turning it into a royal colony. Thomas Gage was made the royal governor and instituted martial law within the colony. Also, under these acts, many of the provisions of the Quartering Act, which had been repealed earlier, were put back into place. The Administration of Justice Act allowed trials to be held in locations outside of the area where the crime took place. Furthermore, the Boston Harbor was closed until the damages caused by the Boston Tea Party were repaid.

American colonists began to use African slaves primarily because (A) the papacy created an edict calling for the use of African slaves in Catholic-controlled lands (B) the African slaves were more accustomed to agriculture than the Native Americans (C) the Native Americans were decimated by European disease, while the Africans developed immunity (D) the practice of indentured servitude was outlawed by the pope (E) the European population was too limited to provide the needed labor

(C) While the Spanish initially used the indigenous population as forced labor through policies such as the encomienda system, as did the Portuguese, these populations began to dwindle as a result of European disease and harsh labor conditions. In 1502, the Portuguese began trading slaves from West Africa to New World colonies. Nearly 11 million Africans became victims of this system of forced labor.

Which of the following changes was a direct result of Bacon's Rebellion? (A) Southern colonies began to farm tobacco as a staple export. (B) A balance of power no longer existed between Native Americans and colonists in New England. (C) Southern labor shifted from African slaves and began to rely more on indentured servants. (D) Southern labor moved away from indentured servants and began to rely more on African slaves. (E) Virginia transformed from a proprietary colony into a royal colony

(D) During Bacon's Rebellion, poor whites (many former indentured servants) and blacks banded together against what was viewed as a ruling class. In response, the Virginia government moved to further institutionalize African slavery as a way to control one segment of the poor population.

Which explorer's expedition is most associated with first circumnavigating the globe? (A) Vasco da Gama (B) Amerigo Vespucci (C) Francis Drake (D) Ferdinand Magellan (E) Bartholomeu Dias

(D) In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan and his crew of over 230 men and five ships left Spain to find a western route to Asia. In 1522, a single ship from the expedition and a small crew of 18 survivors returned, completing the first trip around the globe. Magellan himself did not survive the voyage. He was killed during a dispute between his crew and an indigenous population in the Philippines.

John Winthrop referred to Massachusetts Colony as "a city on the hill" because (A) Boston's elevation made it clearly visible from the Atlantic Ocean (B) its views of religious freedom made it a safe haven for the oppressed (C) the colony's fair treatment of Native Americans was to be an example for others (D) the colony was to serve as an example of Christian virtue and charity (E) the term distinguished Massachusetts from the lower-elevation Tidewater settlements in Virginia

(D) In 1630, John Winthrop described the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a city on the hill, stating, "Th e eyes of all people are upon us." The colony did not practice religious tolerance, however, and its treatment of Native Americans was similar to that of the colonists in Virginia. Conflicts such as King Philip's War resulted.

What advantage of colonies in the South was not shared by New England farmers? (A) Unlike the South, New England lacked ability to use slave labor. (B) Unlike the South, there was a lack of labor available to work in agriculture in New England. (C) Unlike the South, strict Puritan laws limited the type of agriculture allowed in New England. (D) Unlike the South, New England soil did not permit the growth of large quantities of cash crops. (E) Unlike the south, New England colonial charters did not allow for high-volume agriculture.

(D) New England, like many of the northern colonies, had generally thin, rocky soil; hilly land; and longer, more severe winters than in the South. Th is made intensive farming of staple crops difficult. Instead, New England diversified its economy. New England harnessed water power to establish mills and used the abundant timber for shipbuilding. Furthermore, harbors within the region became a major source of prosperity, promoting trade and fishing

Which of the following explorers claimed Louisiana Territory for France? (A) Jacques Cartier (B) Louis Joliet (C) Jacques Marquette (D) Sieur Robert Cavelier de La Salle (E) Samuel de Champlain

(D) Sieur Robert Cavelier de La Salle explored the lower Mississippi River in 1682 and claimed the surrounding territory for France, naming it Louisiana in honor of his sovereign, Louis XIV. In 1535, Cartier explored the Saint Lawrence River. Louis Joliet, a priest, explored the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi River with Jacques Marquette, a French trader, setting up missions and trading posts in 1637. In 1608, Quebec, France's first permanent settlement, was established by Samuel de Champlain.

What role did the Catholic Church play in Spain's rule of its colonial possessions in North America? (A) The pope indirectly ruled the colonies through the Spanish monarchy, requiring papal approval for all policies in the colonies. (B) Responsibilities to the Catholic Church dominated expansion policies into the northern territories. (C) The papacy provided the majority of funding for Spanish exploration. (D) The Spanish monarchy ordered priests to convert the indigenous population to Catholicism. (E) Th e Spanish missions reported to the pope rather than the Spanish monarchy.

(D) Starting with Christopher Columbus's fi rst expedition to the Americas, the spread of Christianity served as a major function of exploration. While the papacy did play a role within the New World, such as the establishment of the line of demarcation under the Treaty of Tordesillas, the Spanish monarchy retained sovereignty over its possessions in the Americas

Which of the following is true concerning the First Great Awakening? (A) The First Great Awakening brought separatism and secession from established churches. (B) The First Great Awakening brought the renewed persecution of witches. (C) The First Great Awakening led to the strong reemergence of Catholicism. (D) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was created in direct response to the First Great Awakening. (E) The First Great Awakening created a greater appreciation for the emotional experiences of faith.

(E) Through the middle of the 1700s, religious leaders such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefi eld led a religious revival in the colonies that focused on emotional experiences. It resulted in the emergence of new sects such as the Baptists and Methodists

With few exceptions, Native American groups of North America would be most accurately described as (A) living in dense but isolated pockets throughout the continent (B) elaborately developed social groups in centrally organized nationstates (C) independent paternal-based social groups living in small seminomadic populations (D) sporadic with inconsistent development between tribes, lacking a common linguistic base (E) lacking dense population concentrations or highly developed social life in the modern sense

(E) With the exception of groups such as the Cahokia settlement in the present-day Mississippi Basin and the Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazis) culture in the Four Corners region of the Southwest, most Native American groups in North America lived in small, impermanent, matrilinear groups right up to the arrival of European explorers

Which of the following individuals was not involved in the religious revivals in the colonies? (A) John Peter Zenger (B) John Woolman (C) Jonathan Edwards (D) George Whitefi eld (E) Gilbert Tennent

A) John Peter Zenger was a printer and journalist from New York who in 1735 was acquitted on charges of libel for an attack made on William Cosby, the colonial governor at the time. Th is established a precedent for freedom of the press, later included in the Bill of Rights. John Woolman was a Quaker preacher who traveled throughout the American colonies conducting sermons against slavery. Jonathan Edwards (most famous for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," 1741), Gilbert Tennent, and George Whitefield are considered leaders of the Great Awakening religious revival that took place in the middle of the 18th century

The main purpose of the Albany Congress of 1754 was to (A) draw up a treaty with the Native Americans (B) protest restrictions on western settlements put in place by the British Parliament (C) develop common defensive measures against the Spanish after they acquired lands west of the Appalachian Mountains from France (D) create a confederation that could militarily challenge British control in the North American colonies (E) establish a strong governing body that would replace parliamentary control of the colonies

A) Th e Albany Congress was a meeting of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island to arrange treaties with the Native Americans and develop a defensive plan to repel any attacks made by the French. Benjamin Franklin proposed a plan to create a union among the colonies under the British Crown. Th e plan ultimately was rejected but later inspired the Articles of Confederation, written in 1777, which served as the first U.S. government until 1787.

The land explored by Sir Walter Raleigh was named Virginia in honor of (A) Queen Elizabeth (B) the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition (C) the fi rst female born by English settlers in North America (D) Queen Mary (E) the untouched appearance of the land upon Raleigh's arrival

(A) Queen Elizabeth, also referred to as the Virgin Queen because she never married, granted Sir Walter Raleigh permission to explore the eastern coast of North America. He was granted permission by Queen Elizabeth to create a settlement on the coast north of the Spanish land claims in the region.

The main purpose of the was to create a united treaty with the Iroquois and serve for the common defense against the French. (A) Albany Congress (B) First Continental Congress (C) Second Continental Congress (D) Committees of Correspondence (E) Articles of Confederation

(A) Th e Albany Congress of 1754 was led in part by Benjamin Franklin. It was established to develop a strategic alliance with the Six Nations of the Iroquois people. Furthermore, Franklin believed it would allow the colonies to work for their own common defense against the French in the period leading up to the French and Indian War. Th e congress was to serve under appointments made by the Crown but contain a colonial representational body. Th e proposal was ultimately rejected by the colonists, but it served as a model for the later Articles of Confederation. Th e articles drafted by John Dickenson in 1777 were the fi rst U.S. government after the American Revolution. Th e Committees of Correspondence were groups established by the local colonial governments in response to British actions leading up the American Revolution. Th ey coordinated actions against the British government such as the colonial boycotts. Th e First Continental Congress formed in 1774 to respond to the passage of the Coercive Acts. Th e Second Continental Congress formed in the wake of the events at Lexington and Concord. It served as the ad hoc government throughout the revolution for the colonies.

The Native American clan in North America was primarily based on (A) a kinship network (B) multiple nuclear families based on paternal lines (C) a single religious leader and his followers (D) a single chieftain and his warriors with their spouses and children (E) a defined tribal council of elders, the sons, and spouses

(A) Native American groups across the North American continent shared the trait of using kinship networks to define their clans. They consisted of a group of related families (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) connected through common ancestry.

Which of the following actions best illustrates the policy of salutary neglect? (A) Lack of enforcement of the Navigation Acts prior to 1763 (B) Creation of royal colonies such as the Carolinas (C) The practice of non-importation within the colonies after 1765 (D) The use of vice admiralty courts to prosecute smugglers (E) Lack of interference with indigenous populations west of the Appalachians prior to 1763

(A) Before the French and Indian War (ending in 1763), the English government had limited direct interference with the American colonists, treating them with a policy referred to as salutary neglect. As long as the colonies exported raw materials to Britain and imported finished goods from Britain, Britain left them alone. This policy came to an end after 1763 as Prime Minister George Grenville ordered the British navy to begin enforcing the Navigation Acts initially passed in 1651 to recoup funds and pay off debts accumulated during the French and Indian War.

Which explorer is credited with being the first to reach the Pacific Ocean in the Americas? (A) Vasco Nuñez de Balboa (B) Francisco Vásquez de Coronado (C) Amerigo Vespucci (D) Vasco da Gama (E) Bartholomeu Dias

(A) In 1513, Balboa led his expedition across the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean. Its name was given by Ferdinand Magellan, who labeled it the "peaceful sea." Coronado notably explored the North American Southwest from the area ranging from modern-day Kansas to the Grand Canyon. Vespucci identified South America as a continent by exploring its coastline. The Americas still serve as his namesake. Vasco da Gama was the first European explorer to reach India by sailing around Africa in 1498. Dias was the first European explorer to reach the southern tip of Africa in 1488.

The Spanish conqueror most associated with the destruction of the Incan Empire was (A) Francisco Pizarro (B) Hernán Cortés (C) Francisco Vásquez de Coronado (D) Vasco Núñez de Balboa (E) Amerigo Vespucci

(A) In 1532, Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incan Empire located in present-day Peru. The Incan population had recently been infl icted with a wave of smallpox, which destabilized the political leadership within the region. The event happened roughly 11 years after Hernán Cortés subdued the Aztec Empire in the region that is modern-day Mexico. The Aztecs also were considerably weakened by an outbreak of smallpox

Bacon's Rebellion is most associated with which early colony? (A) Virginia (B) Maryland (C) North Carolina (D) Massachusetts (E) Pennsylvania

(A) In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led an uprising in Virginia, marking the first rebellion in the colonies. Th e event became known as Bacon's Rebellion. It was sparked by Native American raids on the outskirts of the colony but illustrated a rejection of Governor William Berkley's policies, which favored the wealthy planters over the poor. The uprising inspired a similar revolt in Maryland later that year.

Which of the following actions does not illustrate the strategy employed by Lord William Pitt during the French and Indian War (1756-1763)? (A) Taking over the French forts located along both sides of the Mississippi River (B) Making peace with important Native American allies (C) Changing the British fi ghting style to better match the frontier (D) Fighting in North America rather than on the European mainland (E) Establishing control of the Saint Lawrence Seaway

(A) In 1758, Lord William Pitt replaced the Earl of Loundoun as the commander in chief of the British troops in America, after Loundoun proved himself as inept in the all-important areas of Indian policy and frontier battle strategy. Pitt pursued a policy that involved making peace with important Indian allies and changing the army's strategy to fit the territory and landscape of the frontier. He also began to plan attacks on French forts within the Ohio River Valley. While the British eventually received lands east of the Mississippi River, most of the fighting was concentrated in the Eastern Seaboard, Ohio River Valley, and Saint Lawrence River.

Non-importation is best illustrated by (A) American colonists refusing to purchase goods from Britain after the Stamp Act (B) the British Parliament limiting the sale of gunpowder to colonists under the Coercive Acts (C) the 1807 law banning the importation of slaves from Africa (D) the strict limits placed on the number of Catholics allowed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony (E) the strict immigration restrictions on Japanese citizens established under the Gentlemen's Agreement

(A) In protest of such acts as the 1765 Stamp Act and the 1767 Townshend Acts, groups such as the Sons of Liberty organized colonial boycotts of British goods. These nonimportation societies attempted to use economic pressure to force Britain to acknowledge what colonists saw as their political rights.

Why is L'Anse aux Meadows significant within North American history? (A) It marks the first example of pre-Columbian European contact with Native Americans. (B) It marks the first example of the cultivation of maize in North America outside of Mexico. (C) It serves as an example of a highly developed Native American nationstate in North America. (D) It contains the oldest fossil record of Native American inhabitants on the North American continent. (E) It illustrates a rare example of a sedentary Native American community.

(A) L'Anse aux Meadows, located in present-day Newfoundland, marks the location where Norse seafarers arrived around a.d. 1000. The settlement was short lived and soon forgotten except in Norse legend. Later archaeological finds rediscovered the settlement in the 1960s.

Which of the following British laws illustrates an attempt to keep the colonists from purchasing goods from other colonial powers? (A) The Sugar Act (B) The Quartering Act (C) The Quebec Act (D) The Coercive Acts (E) The Currency Act

(A) Th e Sugar Act of 1764 was in many ways a reissue of the Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733, which had imposed a tax on molasses to make English products cheaper than those from the French West Indies. The 1765 Quartering Act was put in place to alleviate the expense of stationing the large number of British troops needed to secure newly acquired lands following the French and Indian War by having the colonists supply the soldiers' room and board. Th e Quebec Act of 1774 gave much of the land in the Ohio River Valley to the colony of Quebec and was seen by the colonists as a punitive measure against the American colonies, since it was passed at the same time as the Coercive Acts, which were created in response to colonial protests, most notably the Boston Tea Party. The Currency Act was an attempt by the British government to stop the production of colonial scrip, or colonial currency that was used by the colonies to cover expenditures during the French and Indian War. The currency was often of little value and was seen to destabilize the colonial economy.

The large cliff dwelling structures of the North American Southwest are associated with which one of the following tribes? (A) Anasazi (B) Navaho (C) Hopi (D) Zuni (E) Apache

(A) The Anasazi or Ancestral Puebloans established the cliff dwellings that now define areas such as Mesa Verde and Hovenweep on the Colorado Plateau. The civilization reached its high point around a.d. 900-1130. Archaeologists debate the reason for their disappearance, though many speculate it may have resulted from prolonged drought.

The Native American Mississippian Valley culture differed from other Native American groups in that it (A) illustrated a higher level of hierarchical political organization (B) existed in mainly semi-nomadic populations with limited agriculture (C) had a developed network of trade with other regional tribes (D) based its social structure on maternal lineage (E) closely tied its religion to the natural world

(A) The Native American Mississippian Valley culture is often associated with vast complexes of mound structures constructed around a.d. 1200. Archaeological evidence shows that this group illustrated a much higher level of political organization than was common among most indigenous populations in North America, though the civilization began to decline and vanish nearly a century prior to European arrival in North America.

Which tribe is most associated with the American Southwest? (A) Navajo (B) Ojibwa (C) Powhatan (D) Pequot (E) Wampanoag

(A) The Navajo occupied the area that is now Utah, Arizona, and Mexico. The Ojibwa are in the region of modern Minnesota. Th e Powhatan occupied the area around the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. The first Anglo-Powhattan War ended with the marriage of the Powhatan chief's daughter Pocahontas to settler John Rolfe. Th e Pequot occupied the region of modern-day Connecticut, and the Wampanoag were located in Massachusetts. The leader of the Wampanoag, Metacom, was known to the settlers as King Philip. In 1675, a war broke out between the settlers and the Wampanoag; it became known as King Philip's War.

In colonial Virginia, the Piedmont referred to (A) foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in western Virginia (B) the area in eastern Virginia along the major rivers (C) coastal highlands in the southern part of Virginia (D) wide-open plains in western Virginia (E) a trade route between Virginia and Maryland

(A) The Piedmont is a plateau of forests and hills in the western part of Virginia leading to the Appalachian Mountains. When the fertile land of the Tidewater was taken, many poorer farmers and former indentured servants moved into this region. The farms in the Piedmont tended to be smaller, and many farmers in this region faced economic hardships. The disparity between the Piedmont and Tidewater eventually led to uprisings such as Bacon's Rebellion

In Native North American culture along the Eastern Seaboard, the Three Sisters would most accurately refer to (A) the sustainable agricultural technique of growing maize, beans, and squash (B) the matrilineal lines upon which most clans were based in this region (C) the trade and cultural network established between Native Americans living in North America and those in Central and South America (D) the spiritual belief in three major forces that defi ned the natural world (E) a creationist myth common among eastern tribes

(A) The technique of growing beans, squash, and maize first appeared around a.d. 1000. The maize provided a structure for the beans, and the squash aided in maintaining moisture in the soil. This allowed populations' densities to increase within the Eastern Seaboard region of North America

Wampum is mostly associated with the (A) Eastern Woodland tribes (B) Southwestern tribes (C) Central Plains tribes (D) Northern Pacific tribes (E) Central American tribes

(A) Wampum were belts made of beads usually constructed from shells. Wampum was used by Eastern Woodland tribes for multiple purposes including noting treaties and commemorating historical events. After the European arrival, wampum was also used as a type of currency with colonial traders

The Puritans of New England felt the freedom to practice religion should be extended to (A) only Puritans (B) only Protestants (C) only Christians (D) only Christians and Jews (E) all people

(A) While many Puritans left England in the 1630s to escape religious persecution, when they arrived in North America, they did not practice religious tolerance. All members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony had to attend Puritan churches and pay taxes to support it.

Th e primary staple crops produced in the middle colonies included which of the following? (A) Wheat, oats, and barley (B) Cotton, tobacco, and tomatoes (C) Rice, tobacco, and indigo (D) Wheat, flax, and barley (E) Tomatoes, soy, and rye

(A) While the soil and climate were not as accommodating for the production of crops as in the southern colonies, agricultural exports served as a major component of the middle colonies. Th e climate did not support the growth of high-profit crops such as tobacco and indigo, or the cultivation of rice. Instead, grains such as wheat, oats, and barley became the major agricultural exports of the region. While agriculture was a major component of the economy, the farms in the middle colonies tended to be smaller, and slavery did not flourish. Furthermore, much of the agricultural production was consumed internally within the colonies.

Which of the following statements best describes the ideas that caused the division between Anne Hutchinson and the Puritan church? (A) Hutchinson wanted to grant citizens of all faiths the right to vote. (B) Hutchinson openly promoted the idea of an individual personal relationship with God without the guidance of church leaders. (C) Hutchinson openly protested the witch trials taking place in New England. (D) Hutchinson rejected treaties with the Native Americans as being unfair. (E) Hutchinson promoted the return of Catholic traditions within the Puritan church.

(B) Hutchinson left England for New England to escape religious persecution, but once she was in Boston, she began to speak out against Puritan authority within the colony. She rejected church authority if it in her opinion violated the authority of God. When she was placed on trial for her beliefs in 1638, she defended her beliefs concerning a personal relationship with religion over the authority of the church. For these beliefs she was banished from Massachusetts. Hutchinson and her followers left the Massachusetts Bay Colony and established Portsmouth in Rhode Island.

Which statement is the most accurate concerning the North American colonies? (A) Most of the colonies were able to become profitable within the first years of their creation. (B) Most of the colonies started as proprietary but became royal colonies by the mid-18th century. (C) Most of the original colonies began as royal colonies. (D) Most of the colonies started as independent colonies but later received charters. (E) Most of the colonies started as proprietary colonies but became independent by purchasing their charters.

(B) In a proprietary colony, the individuals who receive the charter to found the colony retain the rights to create laws for the colony and appoint the governor. Many colonies were founded in this manner, but the practice began to decline in the 1700s as the monarchy began to concentrate its control. By the outbreak of the American Revolution, only Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania still held proprietary charters

The early American Indian civilizations of Mexico and Peru were based on which agricultural product? (A) Wheat (B) Maize (C) Cattle (D) Horses (E) Coffee

(B) Maize, commonly referred to as corn, is a New World crop originating from the area that is now modern-day Mexico. Wheat, cattle, horses, and coffee are Old World crops. The introduction of American agricultural products to Europe and vice versa is part of what is called the Columbian Exchange.

"When London Merchants Urge Repeal" (January 17, 1766) referred to "this Trade, consisting of British Manufactures exported, and of the Import of raw Materials from America, many of them used in our Manufactures, and all of them tending to lessen our Dependence on neighboring States," what economic system was specifically being described? (A) Stochastic (B) Mercantilism (C) Qualitative (D) Keynesian (E) Laissez-faire

(B) Mercantilism was a dominant economic philosophy during the 16th to the 18th centuries. Under this system, international commerce exists to increase a country's wealth especially in acquiring gold and foreign currency. Under mercantilism, exports were viewed as desirable and imports as undesirable unless they led to even greater exports. Colonies were useful in this system because countries could use them to acquire raw materials and had access to markets without having to trade with foreign nations.

The 1215 signing of the Magna Carta directly aff ected the future American government by (A) allowing for the emergence of joint stock companies and other entrepreneurial commerce (B) guaranteeing basic liberties to all citizens regardless of social class (C) providing a clear system of checks and balances within the national government (D) legitimizing citizen revolts against aristocratic or authoritarian rule (E) providing for a defi ned separation between the church and state

(B) Th e Magna Carta, which was signed by King John in 1215, ensured certain liberties to all free people, as well as protection of certain rights. Many of these rights can be seen in the present-day Bill of Rights. While the initial document attempted to check the absolute rule of the king, the notion of a true separation of powers did not truly originate with the 1215 signing, and while commoners did gain certain protections under the document, it was the aristocracy that forced the king to eventually agree to the charter.

In what way did pre-Columbian Mesoamerican and Central American civilizations most greatly contrast with European societies? (A) The pre-Columbian civilizations in these regions lacked highly developed trade routes, so they developed more independently than European societies. (B) Unlike European societies, the pre-Columbian societies in these regions lacked large draft animals to aid in transportation or agriculture. (C) Unlike European societies, the pre-Columbian societies in these regions failed to develop sophisticated systems within the sciences such as mathematics or astronomy. (D) Unlike European societies, the pre-Columbian societies in these regions never established a developed system of class or labor division. (E) Unlike European societies, pre-Columbian societies in these regions failed to develop an understanding of metalworking.

(B) Th e pre-Columbian Mesoamerican and Central American civilizations developed highly sophisticated societies, such as the Aztecs (containing by some estimates over 20,000 people at the time of European arrival), as well as highly complex trade networks. Also, the Mayans demonstrated advances in astronomy in their calendar. However, large, domesticated draft animals were not introduced until European arrival.

What was the major purpose of the Toleration Act of 1649? (A) It was a way to suppress rebellions such as the one led by Nathaniel Bacon. (B) It was an attempt to maintain order in Boston after the passage of the Coercive Acts. (C) It protected Catholic rights in Maryland from the influx of Protestant colonists. (D) It extended voting rights to non-Protestants in New England. (E) It improved the conditions of indentured servants in the middle colonies.

(C) An initial reason Maryland was established was to provide refuge for Catholics who were persecuted in England. Lord Baltimore allowed freedom of worship from its founding, however, and many Protestants began to migrate into the region, threatening Catholic domination in the colony. Th e Toleration Act, while extending toleration to all Christians, was mainly to protect the rights of the Catholics settled there. It protected Christians, but non-Christians such as Jewish colonists did not receive any protections.

The purpose of the headright system was to (A) open up more land for tobacco cultivation (B) ensure the separation between slaves and indentured servants (C) establish a basic system of laws within the Piedmont region of Virginia (D) keep non-Protestants from taking part in colonial government (E) encourage increased migration to the Virginia Colony

(E) The headright system established in 1619 was introduced by the Virginia Company and off ered 50 acres of land to any man who paid his own way to the Virginia Colony. It furthermore off ered an additional 50 acres for each additional person he brought with him

Which of the following statements is not true about the colony of Pennsylvania? (A) It increased its population through heavy advertising by paid agents. (B) Because of Quaker beliefs, it strongly supported upholding land treaties with the Native Americans. (C) It allowed Catholics and Jews to vote and hold public office. (D) It did not require taxes to fund a state-held church. (E) It imposed the death penalty on those who committed murder or treason

(C) Pennsylvania, which was established in 1681 by the Quaker William Penn and has been called one of the better-advertised colonies, attracted a diverse mix of artisans and craftsmen. Because of the Quaker faith, the Pennsylvania colony stressed fairer treatment of the Native Americans, though this effort was often undermined by others who joined the colony. While Pennsylvania did allow religious freedom and did not have a state taxsponsored church, because of pressures from England the colony did deny political rights to certain groups such as Catholics and Jews. Also, while the Pennsylvania colony did practice capital punishment, it was at a much lower rate than practiced in England.

The primary function of the Spanish pueblo during Spanish colonial control of Mexico was to (A) serve as military posts to protect villages and missions (B) serve the Catholic Church in converting indigenous populations (C) serve as mainly outposts for traders (D) serve as centers of cultural education (E) serve as protected lands for Native Americans

(C) Pueblos initially referred to communities established by Native Americans in the Southwest. They became centers of trade, though they also became sites of violence such as the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Missions served as the primary location for religious conversion. They were established by the Catholic Church. Presidios were the names of the military outposts established throughout New Spain. Ejiados were the communal lands held by Native Americans within Mexico

Which of the following statements best describes Roger Williams's view of "liberty of conscience"? (A) All people have freedom of speech. (B) People must be protected from unreasonable search and seizure. (C) Religious freedom requires a separation of church and state. (D) The press should be free to report honestly about political figures. (E) Men could avoid military service on religious grounds.

(C) Roger Williams, though having separatist ideals, alienated himself from and was eventually exiled because of his rejection of Puritan practices in Boston. His belief in liberty of conscience called for individual freedom of religion and a separation of church and state. In 1636, he founded Providence, which stood apart from other North American colonies in that it practiced religious tolerance.

The Columbian Exchange would best be described as (A) the trade network established between Europe and the Americas (B) the new agricultural goods brought to Europe from the Americas (C) the exchange of biological, ecological, and other commodities brought to Europe and the Americas (D) the introduction of European diseases that decimated indigenous populations in the Americas (E) the arrival of European agricultural goods and livestock in the Americas

(C) The Columbian Exchange refers to the transfer of European products in exchange for those in the Americas. While this exchange would become a cornerstone of trade, it was not limited to the exchange of agricultural or material goods. It also included diseases, ideas, and even humans through the form of slaves exported to Europe.

Which of the following statements is not true of the House of Burgesses in colonial Virginia? (A) It consisted initially of 22 representatives. (B) All laws passed by the body could be vetoed by the governor. (C) It was responsible for electing the governor. (D) Only landowning males could vote for representatives. (E) Th e powers of the House of Burgesses were limited when Virginia became a royal colony

(C) The House of Burgesses was created in 1619 and was the first representative body of its kind in the Americas. While it did have the power to make laws concerning the colony, those laws could be vetoed by the governor, who was initially selected by the officials within the joint stock company, and by the king after 1624, when Virginia became a royal colony. Th e House of Burgesses was allowed to remain even after Virginia became a royal colony.

In agricultural terms, how did Native Americans differ from their European counterparts? (A) Europeans had a greater diversity in the types of staple crops they used for subsistence. (B) Unlike Europeans, Native Americans lacked any efficient means to clear the vast forests to open land for intensive agriculture. (C) Europeans achieved greater technologies to alter the landscape in a more aggressive manner. (D) Unlike the sedentary European communities, the nomadic lifestyle of the Native Americans limited their ability to develop high-yield strains of vegetation. (E) The Native Americans had less agricultural diversity than European farmers.

(C) Though the Native Americans had developed high-yielding agriculture illustrated by the Three Sisters (maize, beans, and squash) cultivated by groups such as the Creek and Cherokee, they did not develop the intensive farming techniques commonplace in Europe. This could be partly due to the commonly held reverence for the natural world. However, many groups did use slash-and-burn clearing techniques to open forest and clear areas for agriculture on a limited basis.

The Spanish colonial system of forcing Native Americans to work for individual Spaniards in the Americas was known as (A) peonage (B) indentured servitude (C) encomienda (D) ejido (E) indigenous diaspora

(C) Under the encomienda system, Spanish colonists were granted not only land but also the labor of the indigenous people to guarantee a profit. Th is was initially offered with the understanding that the Spanish would ensure protection and fair treatment, but most indigenous workers were exploited under this arrangement. This system would become a foundation of the economy for Spanish colonies in the Americas and also used later in the Philippines.

The end of the feudal systems that defined the European Middle Ages was primarily caused by (A) the arrival of the Black Death in 1300 (B) the demands of serfs for wages in coinage (C) the emergence of trade and a middle class of merchants (D) disruption of traditional trade routes such as the Silk Road (E) the end of absolute rule by the monarchies in European nations

(C) While the Black Death had a strong impact on European societies, the increase in trade and an emerging class of merchants played the leading role in ending feudalism. With trade, merchants and artisans moved away from the manor system, which was the basis of feudalism during the Middle Ages. Also, towns and cities became more dominant, as did the return of currency-based economies.

In what way did the Jamestown Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony differ greatly? (A) Unlike Jamestown, Massachusetts Bay was established as a joint stock company. (B) Jamestown became a royal colony, while Massachusetts remained a proprietary colony. (C) Unlike Jamestown, Massachusetts Bay maintained peaceful relations with the Native Americans within the region. (D) Massachusetts Bay did not suffer from the same hardships as Jamestown during its first years. (E) The practice of slavery was legal in Jamestown but not in Massachusetts Bay.

(D) Th e Massachusetts Bay Company established Massachusetts as a chartered corporate colony in 1630. It became a royal colony in 1691, but its citizens retained the ability to elect representation in the colonial government. Learning from earlier attempts to establish colonies such as Jamestown, which suff ered from a period of starvation that nearly destroyed the colony over the winter of 1609-1610, Massachusetts was well provisioned. While slavery was legal in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, there were fewer slaves than in the southern colonies, and the practice was ended in the 1780s.

What is the African diaspora? (A) The strict slave codes put into place to maintain order on plantations (B) The passage of slaves from West Africa to the Americas (C) The use of Africans in mines and on plantations as forced labor (D) The dispersal of Africans throughout the Americas under the system of slavery (E) The papal order to force Africans into the system of slavery

(D) Th e scattering of African people and their culture during the three centuries that followed Columbus's arrival in the Western Hemisphere has been referred to as the African diaspora. During this period, millions of Africans were forcibly relocated to the Americas. In some areas, such as the English West Indies and Haiti, they outnumbered European colonists. Slave codes were harsh laws put in place to maintain order within areas with slave populations. Th e African slaves were, however, able to hold onto many of their traditions and culture through creolized language and religious practice.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the southern colonies during the late 17th century? (A) The economy was equally mixed between farming, trade, and small manufacturing. (B) African slaves were strictly segregated from white indentured servants. (C) The economy was dominated by skilled labor in port towns. (D) Tobacco, rice, and indigo served as the major staple crops. (E) The growth of upland cotton dominated the economy

(D) Th e southern colonies' economy was dominated by the export of staple crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. Upland cotton was initially not a major cash crop but later dominated the southern economy after the cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, making the removal of seeds and processing of the fiber economically viable. Slaves and indentured servants initially worked side by side. Th is illustrated a potential danger, however, after Bacon's Rebellion, in which they banded together against the plantation owners in 1676.

In 1494, Pope Alexander's Treaty of Tordesillas established the line of demarcation granting (A) all of the land north of the meridian not already claimed by Christian nations to the Spanish (B) all of the land east of the meridian not already claimed by Christian nations to the Spanish (C) Portugal the right to establish a colonial empire in South America (D) all of the land west of the meridian not already claimed by Christian nations to the Spanish (E) a partition between Spanish, Portuguese, and French lands in the Americas

(D) The 1494 agreement created a line that would divide the unclaimed land left in the Americas between the Spanish and the Portuguese. Th e line of demarcation established in the treaty was roughly halfway between the Portuguese-held Cape Verde Islands and Spanish-held Hispaniola. Spain gained lands west of the line, while Portugal gained lands to the east. The effects of this are illustrated to this day by the Portuguese speaking nation of Brazil.

Which of the following was not an intention of the Proclamation of 1763? (A) Reducing conflicts between British colonists and Native Americans (B) Keeping British colonists loyal to the British government (C) Limiting the growth of manufacturing within the North American colonies (D) Enforcing the authority of the Church of England within the colonies (E) Ensuring British control over colonial trade

(D) The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by the British government following the French and Indian War. The first purpose of the treaty was to separate the colonists from the Native Americans by creating a boundary between the two groups along the Appalachian Mountains in hopes of reducing conflicts between them as settlers began to push westward. Also, by not letting the colonists expand into the interior, the British government felt it could keep better control of the colonists and ensure their allegiance to the Crown. Furthermore, they could limit the creation of local industries that might undercut British trade. There was little discussion of religion within the proclamation.

Which of the following statements was not true of education in the New England colonies prior to the American Revolution? (A) Towns of over 50 families were required to support an elementary school. (B) Towns of over 100 families were required to support a grammar school. (C) Elementary education was offered to both male and female children. (D) New England schools served as an early example of a true secular education. (E) New England had a higher literacy rate than the southern colonies.

(D) While New England serves as an early example of publicly supported schools, the education provided to both males and females was to promote the Puritan religious beliefs. Over 50 percent of the New England population was literate, and this was in part because literacy was seen as important so the colonists would be able to read the Bible. Religious instruction was a major focus of the education offered. Only eight years after the Massachusetts Bay Colony was established, Harvard College was founded to train young men for the ministry.

In what way did early Spanish colonization diff er from that of the early French efforts during the 1600s? (A) Unlike the French, the Spanish made religious conversion a major focus of settlement. (B) Unlike the Spanish, the French focused on establishing larger permanent communities in their colonies. (C) The French focused less on the accumulation of wealth and more on territorial expansion than did the Spanish. (D) Unlike the Spanish, the French based much of their colonial economy on the fur trade. (E) Unlike the Spanish, French colonization was in part motivated by French Protestants escaping religious persecution.

(D) While the Spanish and French made religious conversion a major goal of New World settlement, the Spanish were able to export vast amounts of wealth from the Americas in the form of precious metals. The early French explorers in North America pursued an intensive fur trade.

Why did the European Crusades directly lead to the Age of Exploration? (A) European nations needed to develop more efficient means to travel to newly acquired lands in the Middle East. (B) Islamic control of the Middle East and North Africa cut off Europe from the Mediterranean Sea during the 11th century. (C) Lost navigational technologies of the Greeks and Romans were discovered during the Crusades in newly conquered lands. (D) Returning crusaders brought exotic spices, perfumes, and fabrics, creating a new European demand for these commodities. (E) Maps defining safe passages to eastern lands were discovered by Europeans during the Crusades.

(D) While the crusaders were mostly unsuccessful in maintaining lands conquered in the Middle East, the returning soldiers introduced many new Eastern commodities, which created a strong market demand for them within Europe. To bypass the land routes traditionally used by traders and bypass Mediterranean nations such as the Italian states, many nations began to explore possible sea routes, ushering a new age of innovations in maritime travel.

Which of the following statements does not describe slavery in the North American colonies? (A) Slaves in Georgia and South Carolina's coastal region primarily worked on large plantations in dangerous and brutal conditions. (B) In Virginia, slaves made up a minority of the population and had varied jobs. (C) In New England, slaves worked mainly in urban areas and ports. (D) The slaves contributed to the growth of the Atlantic economy as shipbuilders and dock workers in the middle colonies. (E) Strict slave laws prevented slave revolts through the 1700s.

(E) Even though laws concerning African slaves made it difficult for them to travel or communicate freely, several slave uprisings occurred, including the Stono Rebellion in 1739. New York City had slave uprisings as early as 1712.

What was the major reason for Catholics migrating to the Americas from England during the 1600s? (A) The return of a Catholic sovereign to the English monarchy granted them greater rights to establish colonies. (B) The papacy called upon English Catholics to migrate as a protest to Anglican rule. (C) The Catholic migrants would provide Catholic nations such as France and Spain with military support within their colonial possessions. (D) Catholic nations in Europe granted them lands within the southern region of the New World. (E) English Catholics wanted to escape the persecution they faced under Anglican rule.

(E) In 1634, Lord Baltimore, who was a member of a prominent Catholic family in England, received a charter to establish Maryland. While profit was a main goal, the charter also was intended to provide a safe haven for his fellow Catholics who faced persecution in England under the Church of England—for example, not being allowed to marry in the Catholic Church.

All of the following innovations and discoveries are associated with Benjamin Franklin except (A) bifocal glasses (B) the fl exible catheter (C) North Atlantic Ocean current patterns (D) the principle of conservation of charge (E) interchangeable parts

(E) In addition to being a successful printer and philosopher, Franklin is to be noted as one of the great inventors and scientists during the colonial period. Some of his inventions include bifocal glasses, the flexible catheter, a map of North Atlantic Ocean current patterns, the principle of conservation of charge, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove. Interchangeable parts, however, are accredited to Eli Whitney after he obtained a federal contract to manufacture 10,000 muskets in 1798.

John Rolfe's main contribution to the Jamestown settlement was (A) guiding the first settlers through the Starving Time (B) devising the headright system to increase the population (C) serving as Virginia's first colonial governor (D) founding the first legislative body within the colonies (E) introducing tobacco as the colony's first staple crop

(E) John Rolfe arrived at the end of the Starving Time, the winter of 1609-1610. He proceeded to cultivate a milder strain of tobacco, helping to introduce the colony's first major staple crop, as well as helping to popularize the dangerous habit of tobacco smoking. In 1614, Rolfe married Pocahontas, the daughter of the Powhatan chief. In 1616, Rolfe returned to England with Pocahontas, who became a popular guest in the English court.

King Philip's War could be best described as (A) an uprising of poor famers against wealthy plantation owners (B) the colonial confl ict resulting from the European War of Spanish Succession (C) the first of a series of wars between the English and French colonies in North America (D) an early revolt by enslaved Africans in the southern colonies (E) a conflict between Native Americans and New England settlers

(E) King Philip's War took place in the southern part of New England and lasted from 1675 to 1676. Th e Native Americans were led by Metacom (or Metacomet), the leader of the Wampanoag Confederacy. He was named King Philip by the New England colonists. The conflict resulted from colonial encroachment onto Native American lands and decline in the Native American trade economy. While the Native Americans initially succeeded in inflicting damage upon the colonial settlements, they eventually ran low on supplies and were faced with disease, which caused them to collapse

Which theory best describes the spread of maize as a staple crop through the Native American populations? (A) Maize was first developed upon the Siberian Steppes and carried to the Americas via the land bridge. (B) Maize was developed in South America and slowly spread throughout the rest of the Americas via pre-Columbian trade routes. (C) Maize was developed by the nomadic tribes of North America but was first grown intensively as a staple crop by Native American groups in Central and South America. (D) Th e cultivation of maize occurred separately in isolated pockets throughout the two continents. (E) Maize was first developed in the region that is now Mexico and spread through the Americas in a slow and uneven process.

(E) Maize first appeared circa 5000 b.c. in the highland regions of Mexico. It reached North America in about 1200 b.c., though the spread of its cultivation in North America is believed to have been slower than in other parts of the Americas.

Which tribe of Native Americans is not associated with the Iroquois League? (A) Mohawk (B) Oneida (C) Cayuga (D) Seneca (E) Powhatan

(E) The Iroquois League founded around the 16th century initially consisted of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca and spanned what is now southeastern Canada into New York. While initially consisting of five nations, the league expanded to six when the Tuscarora joined in the 1700s. The league began to decline after its allies, the British, were defeated in the American Revolution. Th e Powhatan were a tribe from eastern Virginia that controlled a confederacy of roughly 30 tributary tribes. They are associated with the early history of the Jamestown settlement. Pocahontas, the daughter of a Powhatan chief, is stated to have rescued John Smith. The confederation declined after the two Powhatan Wars in the 1600s.

Which of the following statements was not true of the Tidewater in colonial Virginia? (A) It was located on the James and Rappahannock Rivers. (B) It was adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. (C) Many of the wealthiest Virginian plantations were located in this region. (D) Many poorer farmers and former indentured servants were forced to locate in the Tidewater. (E) It was east of the Piedmont region and the Appalachians.

D) Th e Tidewater is the region that constitutes roughly 70 miles of the Atlantic Coast along the James, Potomac, York, and Rappahannock Rivers. Th is region was extremely fertile and became home to the larger and more successful plantations within the colonies. The poorer farmers and former indentured servants were often forced to move west to the hillier and less productive Piedmont.