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History of the Americas
Explore questions in the History of the Americas category that you can ask Sparky!
- In his essay "The Laboring Classes," Orestes Brownson argued that:
- Which English colony's establishment was driven largely by religious motivations?a.)Roanokeb.)Virginiac.)Jamestownd.)Plymouth
- When did Columbus arrive in the New World?
- What was the Protestant movement that arose during the sixteenth century?
- What is the period before Columbus's arrival in the New World?
- Who populated North America in the Pre-Columbian era?
- What year did slavery begin in the colonies?
- What did property enable for the indentured servants?
- Which of the following acts of the First Continental Congress foreshadowed the creation of an independent colonial government?a.)The Congress declared independence from Britain and recommended that a constitution be drafted.b.)The Congress recommended that each colony build militias to defend against the British.c.)The Congress imposed its own taxes on British imports and denied representation to the crown.d.)The Congress petitioned George III as though it were a foreign government seeking aide.
- Which of the following statements about the Confederacy is true?a.)The Confederate Constitution doubled as a declaration of war against the northern states and the federal government.b.)The Confederate Constitution was similar to the U.S. Constitution, but it only had a one-house congress and no judicial branch.c.)The Confederate Constitution left the issue of slavery up to individual states to decide for themselves.d.)The Confederate Constitution strengthened state sovereignty at the expense of national government.
- Which of the following officially ended the Civil War?a.)The Emancipation Proclamationb.)The Wade-Davis Billc.)The capture of Richmondd.)The surrenders of Lee and Johnston
- Which resource spurred French commercial activity in America?a.)Lumber from dense forestsb.)Corn grown by the native peoplesc.)Silver found in rich depositsd.)Furs from animals like beavers
- Which of the following was part of the Townshend Acts?a.)The British army would only be funded with taxes raised in the colonies, which gave colonists an incentive to pay.b.)Three additional vice-admiralty courts were established to more efficiently prosecute smugglers without juries.c.)Colonists could send representatives to Parliament, but they could not vote on matters that didn't affect the colonies.d.)Parliament enacted a trade embargo that prevented British merchants from selling textiles in the colonies.
- Which of the following factors contributed to many Americans voting strictly along party lines?a.)Voting was a public affair, so people often felt pressure to vote in a particular way.b.)Revolutionary ideology emphasized loyalty to one's political party regardless of the candidates.c.)Ballots were secret, making it easier for a person to vote along party lines.d.)Third parties were made illegal under the Alien and Sedition Acts, signed by John Adams.
- Which of the following beliefs was advanced by the Puritans?a.)The pope is the lawful head of the whole church, not Henry VIII or any other national leader.b.)By reading scripture, individuals can determine whether or not they have been chosen by God to be saved.c.)The Americas are a promised land specially reserved by God for Puritans.d.)Henry VIII's break with the Catholic Church should not be felt by ordinary people going about their religion.
- Which of the following factors contributed to the racialization of slavery in the New World?a.)Africans were well educated and could help increase efficiency on plantations.b.)Skin color was an easy way to differentiate slaves from freepersons.c.)African workers refused to work for pay in America, so they were enslaved.d.)A high mortality rate among African parents left a lot of orphans, who were easily enslaved.
- On what ground did the American colonists oppose the Stamp Act?a.)Parliament had no right to overrule decisions by the legislative bodies in the colonies.b.)All Englishmen had a constitutional right to representation in matters of taxation.c.)One nation (Britain) does not have the right to tax citizens of another (America).d.)All people, regardless of their nation, have a right to representational government.
- Which of the following groups comprised the gentry in the Southern colonies?a.)Wealthy landowners who modeled themselves after British aristocracy.b.)Those who were educated but did not own land and thus could not vote.c.)The free working class who wanted to be as distinct as possible from slaves.d.)Landowners who had earned their status through indentured servitude.
- Why was the sectional crisis important?a.)It showed that most Southerners did not actually support the existence of slavery.b.)It showed that slavery had to be either allowed everywhere or nowhere.c.)It showed that, despite the existence of a one-party system, there was still significant political division.d.)It showed that a president could win the electoral vote but not the popular vote.
- What is one way that the newly drafted Constitution reflected the principles of republicanism?a.)All federal representatives would be elected by the citizens of each state by popular vote.b.)Electors, rather than individual voters, cast votes for president and vice president.c.)It allowed for individual voters to determine who should be president.d.)The government agreed to regulate and impose penalties on the international slave trade.