8th Grade US History May Benchmark

35 Questions | Attempts: 173
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8th Grade US History Quizzes & Trivia

This is the WCSD Benchmark exam for all 8th grade US History students.  


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 
    What Hemisphere is the United States located in?
    • A. 

      The Northern Hemisphere

    • B. 

      The Southern Hemisphere

    • C. 

      The Southwestern Hemisphere

    • D. 

      The United States is not a hemisphere.

  • 2. 
    Use this map for questions 2-4 What basic map tool is included on this map?
    • A. 

      Compass Rose

    • B. 

      Legend

    • C. 

      Scale

    • D. 

      Title

  • 3. 
    Type question here For which of the following reasons would you use this map?
    • A. 

      To know the number of people living in Washington

    • B. 

      To know how many people make a living in Nevada

    • C. 

      To locate mountains

    • D. 

      To locate states

  • 4. 
    What is Idaho's location relative to California
    • A. 

      Southeast

    • B. 

      Northeast

    • C. 

      Southwest

    • D. 

      Northwest

  • 5. 
    Which of the following best illustrates the process known as the Columbian Exchange?
    • A. 

      Advances in technology allowed sailors to better navigate the open seas.

    • B. 

      Asian goods moved long distances along the Silk Road to reach Europe.

    • C. 

      Christopher Columbus sailed west to reach Asia and encountered the Americas.

    • D. 

      Corn was introduced to Europe from the Americas; Europe introduced cattle to the Americas.

  • 6. 
     Europeans sent men to explore the New World for all of the following reasons except:
    • A. 

      Convert Native Americans to Christianity.

    • B. 

      Discover new lands.

    • C. 

      Explore new routes to the Indies.

    • D. 

      Find new diseases.

  • 7. 
    Triangular trade is defined as:
    • A. 

      A gathering of trade in which the three colonies bartered agricultural goods.

    • B. 

      A political gathering at which people make decisions on local issues.

    • C. 

      A system in which goods and slaves were traded among the Americas, Britain, and Africa.

    • D. 

      A system of trade between the Americas, the Silk Road, and Australia.

  • 8. 
    What was the major cause of death among Native Americans during the 1500 and 1600s?
    • A. 

      Changing climatic conditions

    • B. 

      Infections and diseases brought by Europeans

    • C. 

      Warfare among tribes

    • D. 

      Warfare between Native Americans and Europeans

  • 9. 
    The Southern Colonies depended on an agricultural economy of cash crops such as:
    • A. 

      Oranges, apples, and grapefruit.

    • B. 

      Tobacco, rice, and indigo.

    • C. 

      Tomatoes, cucumbers, and corn.

    • D. 

      Wheat, rye, and oats.

  • 10. 
    What was main the reason the Pilgrims and Puritans came to America?
    • A. 

      To build a democratic government

    • B. 

      To expand control of the King of England

    • C. 

      To make more money

    • D. 

      To practice their religion freely

  • 11. 
     What did indentured servants provide for the development of the English colonies?
    • A. 

      Officials for British government

    • B. 

      Leadership for religious organizations

    • C. 

      Soldiers for the continental Army

    • D. 

      Workers for farming and business

  • 12. 
    Which country settled the greatest number of colonies along the eastern coast of North America?
    • A. 

      England

    • B. 

      Portugal

    • C. 

      Spain

    • D. 

      Sweden

  • 13. 
     The French and Indian War resulted in
    • A. 

      Britain gaining French lands in North America

    • B. 

      The Albany Plan of Union

    • C. 

      The defeat of all Indians

    • D. 

      The end of British power in North America

  • 14. 
     What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
    • A. 

      Establish peace with Britain

    • B. 

      Officially separate from Britain

    • C. 

      To create a bill of rights

    • D. 

      To remain loyal to Britain

  • 15. 
    Why did Massachusetts colonists hold the Boston Tea Party?
    • A. 

      To force leaders to hold a Continental Congress

    • B. 

      To protest British tax on teas

    • C. 

      To protest the repeal of taxes

    • D. 

      To support the Boston Massacre

  • 16. 
     One way colonist demonstrated their opposition to British actions was to
    • A. 

      Boycott British goods

    • B. 

      Leave the colonies and move westward

    • C. 

      Pass the Proclamation of 1763

    • D. 

      Vote out their representatives in Parliament

  • 17. 
    “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”                                                             Declaration of Independence-1776  What idea is expressed in the above quote?
    • A. 

      Checks and balances

    • B. 

      Common law

    • C. 

      Individual rights

    • D. 

      Limited government

  • 18. 
      What advantage did the Patriots have over the British in the Revolutionary War?
    • A. 

      They had a well-trained army

    • B. 

      They had fought several wars together already.

    • C. 

      They were defending their own lands.

    • D. 

      They were wealthier

  • 19. 
     What was a problem with the Articles of Confederation?
    • A. 

      A weak national government

    • B. 

      It had four branches of government

    • C. 

      Had a strong court system

    • D. 

      The president had too much power

  • 20. 
     Why did the framers of the Constitution insist on dividing state representation into a bicameral, or two-house, Congress?
    • A. 

      To allow one side to have more power than the other side.

    • B. 

      To create conflict between the majority and minority parties

    • C. 

      To grant each state no less than three federal representatives.

    • D. 

      To represent interests of all states and allow each side to keep the power of the other side in check.

  • 21. 
     What is the role of the Judicial Branch of government?
    • A. 

      Declare War for the United States

    • B. 

      Interprets the Constitution and other laws

    • C. 

      Make the laws for the United States.

    • D. 

      Veto bills for the President.

  • 22. 
    What is the role of the Legislative Branch of government?
    • A. 

      Declare laws unconstitutional

    • B. 

      \Interprets the Constitution and other laws

    • C. 

      Make the laws for the United States

    • D. 

      Veto bills for the President.

  • 23. 
      Who is the head of the Executive Branch of government?
    • A. 

      Secretary of State

    • B. 

      Secretary of Treasury

    • C. 

      President

    • D. 

      Vice President

  • 24. 
    Many Anti-federalists refused to ratify the constitution until what occurred?
    • A. 

      A national religion was established

    • B. 

      A slavery clause was included

    • C. 

      Protection against taxation was established

    • D. 

      The promise of a bill of rights

  • 25. 
     The Great Compromise was an agreement on which of the following?
    • A. 

      How states would determine representation in Congress

    • B. 

      The order of the amendments in the Bill of Rights

    • C. 

      The powers of citizens of the United States

    • D. 

      The way in which slaves in southern states would be counted

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