Hardest Questions On American History And Constitution! Trivia Quiz
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- 1.The main reasons why settlers moved to the US was for land, religious freedom, escaping political problems/crisis, and searching for better opportunities.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 2.The English were forced to migrate to the America.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 3.The Great Wagon Road was the central pathway that colonial settlers used in the 1700s (1735-1775) in the Southern US.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 4.Complete the analogy : Thomas Jefferson : Declaration of Independence ______________________: US Constitution
- A.
John Adams
- B.
George Washington
- C.
James Madison
- D.
Thomas Paine
- 5.Why did the delegates of the Constitutional Convention have to meet in secret in 1789?
- A.
Founding Fathers decided to have a secret meeting without key leaders in US
- B.
They were plotting an overthrow of the govt.
- C.
They were trying to break away from England again
- D.
National security concerns- did not want the people to know discussion before finished work on a new government structure
- 6.What purpose does the Electoral College serve?
- A.
Elects the President of the US
- B.
Appoints Cabinet members
- C.
Appoints Judges to the Supreme Court
- D.
Elects representatives to Congress
- 7.What document does the US Constitution build upon?
- A.
Declaration of Independence
- B.
The Warsaw Pact
- C.
The Articles of Confederation
- D.
14 Points
- 8.The 3 regions of the 13 colonies were divided as follows:
- A.
Northern, Southern, Middle
- B.
New England, Middle, Midwest
- C.
Northern, Midwest, Eastern
- D.
New England, Middle, Southern
- 9.Yeoman is another word for...?
- A.
Indentured servant
- B.
Gentry
- C.
Apprentices
- D.
Farmers
- 10.Which best describes the coastal plain of NC?
- A.
Wetlands were found in the western part of NC
- B.
Hilly, rolling land in the central part of the state
- C.
A range of mountains in the eastern US
- D.
Low, flat land that extends along the Atlantic Ocean
- 11.Native Americans and European settlers had differing beliefs about land ownership. Which statement best summarizes the viewpoint of each side.
- A.
Native Americans viewed land as theirs to be controlled---- Europeans wanted to control the land for themselves, without Native American interference
- B.
Native Americans wasted nothing in land use- preserve the forest land at all costs, the Europeans wanted to rebuild the forest land as well
- C.
Europeans wanted to buy and sell land, Native Americans used the land- all were free to use it
- D.
Native Americans were eager to buy land from Europeans for guns, the Europeans wanted to preserve all forest land
- 12.How did NC's geography affect the movement of people and goods?
- A.
Mountain ranges and lack of navigable ports restricted the movement of people and goods
- B.
ports and mountain ranges encouraged movement of people and goods
- C.
Deep rivers and flat, fertile land helped NC develop strong trade and road systems in early NC
- D.
Rivers and valleys closed the access to trade
- 13.How did the NC Outer Banks affect the development of colonial NC?
- A.
They presented a barrier against storms
- B.
They prevented the development of large port cities where ships could easily move in and out
- C.
They provided more usable coastline than the other colonies
- D.
They allowed for open and easy transport for the shipping industry
- 14.How many branches of government were set up in the US Constitution?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
3
- D.
4
- 15.What issue was settled with the Great Compromise?
- A.
How to maintain the balance of power of small and large states and everyone still have a voice in Congress
- B.
How to send representatives to Congress and elect them
- C.
The compromise caused more problems and they had to meet again later
- D.
How to send electors to vote for President
- 16.President Thomas Jefferson was concerned about the LA Purchase because?
- A.
The new government could not afford the purchase of $15 million
- B.
The Constitution did not say anything about the president's right to purchase land
- C.
Spain was threatening to declare war on the US over the land
- D.
France would kick the US off the land and control the whole region
- 17.Why was NC concerned with the LA Purchase?
- A.
NC's people did not believe in Manifest Destiny
- B.
They did not have the money to purchase the land from France
- C.
It was too much land too govern and control
- D.
They thought the new land would eventually bring an end to slavery
- 18.Which cause of the War of 1812 does not belong?
- A.
Impressment of US sailors
- B.
Blockade of American ships by the French and the British
- C.
War Hawks in Congress who were eager to go to war with England
- D.
Dolley Madison burning the White House
- 19.How did the War of 1812 greatly impact the American economy?
- A.
The US made their own goods and items since trade difficulties occurred with embargo and blockades
- B.
James Madison encouraged trade with other nations of the world after the war
- C.
Native Americans gave up fighting with the US people and the economy began to grow
- D.
Thomas Jefferson sent the French out of the nation
- 20.Who was appointed as the commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution?
- A.
George Washington
- B.
Lord Cornwallis
- C.
John Adams
- D.
King George III
- 21.What concept was Jefferson asked to leave out of the Declaration of Independence?
- A.
Blaming the king for all of the colonies problems
- B.
Taxes
- C.
Slavery
- D.
Rights of the people
- 22.What was the main purpose of the Halifax Resolves?
- A.
The document urged NC delegates to vote for independence
- B.
The document created a new state government
- C.
The document urged all of NC's people to join the war effort
- D.
The document created an independent government
- 23.The main reason the colonies were able to fight and win the American Revolution was?
- A.
Fighting for a purpose- freedom, had the will to win the war
- B.
Patriot troops had the "home field" advantage- they knew the land, roads, rivers within the colonies better than the British
- C.
Excellent military leadership
- D.
All of the above
- 24.Thomas Paine:___________________ Thomas Jefferson : Declaration of Independence
- A.
Halifax Resolves
- B.
Mecklenburg Resolves
- C.
Common Sense
- D.
Treaty of Paris
- 25.The Founding Fathers helped to establish and begin our nation.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 26.What famous document begins with the following words, "when in the course of human events it becomes necessary to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another.."
- A.
Mecklenburg Resolves
- B.
Halifax Resolves
- C.
Declaration of Independence
- D.
NC Constitution of 1776
- 27.What Native American tribe was moved from NC during the Trail of Tears?
- A.
Cherokee
- B.
Catawba
- C.
Hatteras
- D.
Tuscarora
- 28.The Indian Removal Act of 1830 created an opportunity for Native Americans to "exchange land" with the US government-eastern land for land in the west.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 29.Why was Archibald Murphey important to the state of NC?
- A.
He was the governor of NC in the 1800's
- B.
He was the leader of the Trail of Tears
- C.
He was the leader of the Constitutional Convention of 1835
- D.
He was a reform leader of the 1800's in NC who tried to solve NC's problems
- 30.The NC Constitution of 1835 became more undemocratic (unfair) in what specific way?
- A.
Fewer leaders were elected to political offices
- B.
The governor had complete power in the state and did not face re-election for 5 years
- C.
The people of the west had little power in the government after 1835
- D.
Free African Americans and Native Americans lost the right to vote
- 31.How did the Gold Rush in NC impact the state?
- A.
The state experienced a long steady stream of gold being found in the state and the population of the state will increase over time
- B.
Gold coins were minted in the state, which will boost the economy- spending usable money
- C.
New groups moved to the state to mine for gold and new businesses were created
- D.
All of the above
- 32.Manifest Destiny: __________________ Trail of Tears: Oklahoma
- A.
Atlantic Ocean
- B.
Missouri River
- C.
Colorado River
- D.
Pacific Ocean
- 33.What crop helped to make the Jamestown colony a successful colony for the English in 1607?
- A.
Wheat
- B.
Corn/maize
- C.
Tobacco
- D.
Potatoes
- 34.Use the analogy to identify the exchanges from the Columbian Exchange. Disease:______________ Corn: _______________
- A.
Slavery, Horses
- B.
Corn, Horses
- C.
Potatoes, Man
- D.
Corn, Potatoes
- 35.Why did Columbus call the Native Americans, Indians?
- A.
He thought that he had landed in Asia
- B.
He thought that he had the best name for them
- C.
He thought that he had landed in India, and called them Indians
- D.
The Indians used sign language and told Columbus the proper name
- 36.The French and Indian War helped to set the stage for what major conflict to occur?
- A.
Declaration of Independence
- B.
American Revolution
- C.
World War I
- D.
Golden Age of Piracy
- 37.Each state has 2 Senators and 2 House Members---- according to the US Constitution.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 38.The members of the Supreme Court are allowed to serve an unlimited term once they are approved and appointed.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 39.The US Constitution set up a system of checks and balances so that no branch of government would be more powerful than the other branch.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 40.What phrase was associated with the outbreak and the causes of the American Revolution?
- A.
"we will avenge the deaths of the Boston Massacre"
- B.
Give me Liberty or Give Me Death"
- C.
No Taxation without Representation"
- D.
General Washington should lead the troops"
- 41.Which of the following would not be considered a primary source?
- A.
Declaration of Independence
- B.
Watercolor drawings by John White
- C.
Diary account of a Moravian settler
- D.
Textbook
- 42.Which of the 7 principles of the US Constitution does the description fit? No one is above the law, all must obey the laws of the US Constitution
- A.
Republicanism
- B.
Popular sovereignty
- C.
Federalism
- D.
Limited Government
- 43.Which of the following is not a region in NC?
- A.
Mountains
- B.
Piedmont
- C.
Coastal Plain
- D.
Tidewater
- 44.Which state does not share a border with NC
- A.
SC
- B.
TN
- C.
VA
- D.
West VA
- 45."These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in crisis, shrink from the service of their country;but he that stands it now, deserves the love and the thanks of man and woman." -Thomas Paine American Crisis Using the quote from above, who is Paine referring to as the "sunshine patriot"?
- A.
Someone who fights only when it is easy
- B.
Someone who fights in good weather
- C.
Someone who is inspired to fight well
- D.
Someone who fights to inspire others to victory
- 46.What is the most important right that a US citizen has in the US?
- A.
The right to vote and elect representatives to be a voice for themselves
- B.
Write and petition elected officials when a problem or crisis arises
- C.
Run for elected political office
- D.
All the freedoms in the Constitution are important and we can't just pick one
- 47.The Bill of Rights protected the...
- A.
3 branches of government
- B.
Freedoms of individual citizens
- C.
Powers of the president
- D.
System of checks and balances
- 48.Jamestown was the first successful English colony in the New World. What made the colony a success?
- A.
Growth and sell of tobacco
- B.
The colony brought over cotton to sell to the Native tribes
- C.
The Natives bought all of the items they brought over to the New World
- D.
Growth and sell of indigo
- 49.Who was given most of the power under the Articles of Confederation?
- A.
Congress
- B.
States
- C.
President
- D.
National Government
- 50.What was the purpose for the Mayflower Compact?
- A.
The Pilgrims had revolted on the ship and law and order was needed
- B.
The Pilgrims had landed 200 miles north of destination- the VA charter was not valid and they needed to set up laws for the colony
- C.
The Pilgrims wanted to set up a plan to get along with the Native Americans
- D.
Bradford wanted to make sure he would be in charge once they landed
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