Benchmark 1Building a Nation

1. Which colony was established for the purpose of economic profit?

A.MassachusettsB.PennsylvaniaC.Rhode IslandD.Virginia

1. Which colony was established for the purpose of economic profit?

A.MassachusettsB.PennsylvaniaC.Rhode IslandD.Virginia

2. Which statement most accurately describes the population of the American colonies after 1700?

A.Settlers confined themselves to the eastern seaboard below the tidewater.

B.The settlement of German, French and Scots-Irish peoples was insignificant

C.Increasing numbers of slaves resulted in significant racial diversity.

D.Catholics comprised the vast majority of non English newcomers.

2. Which statement most accurately describes the population of the American colonies after 1700?

A.Settlers confined themselves to the eastern seaboard below the tidewater.

B.The settlement of German, French and Scots-Irish peoples was insignificant

C.Increasing numbers of slaves resulted in significant racial diversity.

D.Catholics comprised the vast majority of non English newcomers.

3. What is the best explanation for the unprecedented population growth in colonial America after 1700?

A.Large families were necessary to meet the need for labor

B.Heavy immigration caused urban growth on the eastern seaboard.

C.Birthrates rose due to religious beliefs against contraception.

D.Improved child mortality rates resulted from better midwifery.

3. What is the best explanation for the unprecedented population growth in colonial America after 1700?

A.Large families were necessary to meet the need for labor

B.Heavy immigration caused urban growth on the eastern seaboard.

C.Birthrates rose due to religious beliefs against contraception.

D.Improved child mortality rates resulted from better midwifery.

4. Why were large numbers of male indentured servants brought to colonial Virginia?

A.They were needed to defend the colony against Powhatan attacks.

B.Additional labor was needed to cultivate and harvest tobacco.

C.Early settlers sought marriageable partners for their daughters.

D.Their skills were indispensable to the growing shipbuilding industry.

4. Why were large numbers of male indentured servants brought to colonial Virginia?

A.They were needed to defend the colony against Powhatan attacks.

B.Additional labor was needed to cultivate and harvest tobacco.

C.Early settlers sought marriageable partners for their daughters.

D.Their skills were indispensable to the growing shipbuilding industry.

5. Which description of seventeenth-century Massachusetts Bay Puritans and Pilgrims is accurate?

A. The Puritans and the Pilgrims had sharp doctrinal differences that stemmed from the Puritan belief in original sin and predestination.

B. Both shared a belief in Calvinism, but in contrast to the poor and the uneducated Pilgrims, the Puritans were learned and prosperous.

C. The Puritans sought to establish a “city on a hill” to be a “light unto the world,” and the Pilgrims sought to promote democracy.

D. Both established theocratic governments, but as the purity of their original visions waned, they began to embrace democracy.

5. Which description of seventeenth-century Massachusetts Bay Puritans and Pilgrims is accurate?

A. The Puritans and the Pilgrims had sharp doctrinal differences that stemmed from the Puritan belief in original sin and predestination.

B. Both shared a belief in Calvinism, but in contrast to the poor and the uneducated Pilgrims, the Puritans were learned and prosperous.

C. The Puritans sought to establish a “city on a hill” to be a “light unto the world,” and the Pilgrims sought to promote democracy.

D. Both established theocratic governments, but as the purity of their original visions waned, they began to embrace democracy.

6. What was NOT a factor underlying European efforts to subdue native people in the Americas?

A.The conviction that inhabitants of the New World were savages.

B.The threat posed to European ambitions by well-organized native societies.

C.The genocidal policies of religious leaders.D.The comparative superiority of European

military technology.

6. What was NOT a factor underlying European efforts to subdue native people in the Americas?

A.The conviction that inhabitants of the New World were savages.

B.The threat posed to European ambitions by well-organized native societies.

C.The genocidal policies of religious leaders.D.The comparative superiority of European

military technology.

7. Many historians have noted a transformation of the institution of slavery during seventeenth-century colonial America. To what are these historians referring?

A.Laws against slavery were challenged in court and overruled.

B.Miscegenation became capital crime. C.Only whites were eligible for indentured

servitude.D.Slavery became a hereditary function of race.

7. Many historians have noted a transformation of the institution of slavery during seventeenth-century colonial America. To what are these historians referring?

A.Laws against slavery were challenged in court and overruled.

B.Miscegenation became capital crime. C.Only whites were eligible for indentured

servitude.D.Slavery became a hereditary function of race.

8. What idea was central to the American Enlightenment?

A.Optimism resides in science and reason.B.Faith is more significant than intellect.C.Mortality emerges from a belief in God. D.Democracy is the highest form of political

life.

8. What idea was central to the American Enlightenment?

A.Optimism resides in science and reason.B.Faith is more significant than intellect.C.Mortality emerges from a belief in God. D.Democracy is the highest form of political

life.

What was the intent of Franklin’s message?

A. To encourage ratification of the Constitution.B. To encourage work on a declaration of independence.C. To promote unity against British tyranny.D. To promote interest in a bill of rights.

9. In a symbolic message to the Albany Congress in 1754, Benjamin Franklin printed this image in his Pennsylvania Gazette.

What was the intent of Franklin’s message?

A. To encourage ratification of the Constitution.B. To encourage work on a declaration of independence.C. To promote unity against British tyranny.D. To promote interest in a bill of rights.

9. In a symbolic message to the Albany Congress in 1754, Benjamin Franklin printed this image in his Pennsylvania Gazette.

10. How was Bacon’s Rebellion associated with slavery during colonial America?

A.Bacon’s rebels betrayed the slaves and returned them to their masters.

B.Slaves asserted their right to secede from the Virginia colony.

C.Enslaved blacks were promised freedom is they fought on Bacon’s side.

D.The rebellion was the first of many related to the southern cotton economy.

10. How was Bacon’s Rebellion associated with slavery during colonial America?

A.Bacon’s rebels betrayed the slaves and returned them to their masters.

B.Slaves asserted their right to secede from the Virginia colony.

C.Enslaved blacks were promised freedom is they fought on Bacon’s side.

D.The rebellion was the first of many related to the southern cotton economy.

11. What was the main significance of the Shays’ Rebellion?

A.It exemplified the adverse impact of currency laws on the independence of small farmers.

B.It revealed the inability of the weak central government to maintain order.

C.It established paper currency as a solution to economic problems cause by unfair trade.

D.It suggested merchants’ interest had greater national significance than those of the agricultural class.

11. What was the main significance of the Shays’ Rebellion?

A.It exemplified the adverse impact of currency laws on the independence of small farmers.

B.It revealed the inability of the weak central government to maintain order.

C.It established paper currency as a solution to economic problems cause by unfair trade.

D.It suggested merchants’ interest had greater national significance than those of the agricultural class.

12. Which statement accurately generalizes the plight of American woman at the time of the American Revolution?

A.European women had greater political, economic, and social rights that American women.

B. Unlike European women, American women could not divorce or own property.

C. The formal education of American women was usually inferior to that of men.

D.Laws against spousal abuse protected married women in most American colonies.

12. Which statement accurately generalizes the plight of American woman at the time of the American Revolution?

A.European women had greater political, economic, and social rights that American women.

B. Unlike European women, American women could not divorce or own property.

C. The formal education of American women was usually inferior to that of men.

D.Laws against spousal abuse protected married women in most American colonies.

13. Why did poet Ralph Waldo Emerson describe the battles fought at Lexington and Concord as “the shot heard round the world”?

A. The use of hyperbole was consistent with the transcendentalist literary style.

B. Those conflicts began the fight that led to the creation of the U.S. and inspired revolutions elsewhere.

C. He sought to commemorate the history of those areas in which the conflicts occurred.

D. Literature was commonly used to encourage people in other countries to revolt against tyranny.

13. Why did poet Ralph Waldo Emerson describe the battles fought at Lexington and Concord as “the shot heard round the world”?

A. The use of hyperbole was consistent with the transcendentalist literary style.

B. Those conflicts began the fight that led to the creation of the U.S. and inspired revolutions elsewhere.

C. He sought to commemorate the history of those areas in which the conflicts occurred.

D. Literature was commonly used to encourage people in other countries to revolt against tyranny.

14. What action by delegates of the First Continental Congress suggests their political stance was predominantly conservative?

A.They agreed to make restitution to Britain for the Boston Tea Party.

B.They reprimanded South Carolina for its self-serving stance on exports.

C.They refused to endorse the Suffolk Reserves.D.The upheld regulations that were beneficial to

the British Crown.

14. What action by delegates of the First Continental Congress suggests their political stance was predominantly conservative?

A.They agreed to make restitution to Britain for the Boston Tea Party.

B.They reprimanded South Carolina for its self-serving stance on exports.

C.They refused to endorse the Suffolk Reserves.D.The upheld regulations that were beneficial to

the British Crown.

15. Consider this statement from the ruling in the 1803 Supreme Court case, Marbury v. Madison:

“Those who apply the rule to particular cases must of necessity expound and interpret that rule.”

What fundamental principle of government was established by that statement?

A. Checks and balancesB. Judicial reviewC. Trial by juryD. Popular sovereignty

15. Consider this statement from the ruling in the 1803 Supreme Court case, Marbury v. Madison:

“Those who apply the rule to particular cases must of necessity expound and interpret that rule.”

What fundamental principle of government was established by that statement?

A. Checks and balancesB. Judicial reviewC. Trial by juryD. Popular sovereignty

16. Although the War of 1812 failed to resolve Britain’s violation of American neutral rights on the high seas, how was the outcome advantageous to Americans?

A. The British defeat in the Battle of New Orleans boosted American morale.

B. The British agreed to stop indicting American slave ships.

C. The British departure allowed the U.S. government to initiate treaties with the Indians.

D. The British promised to end their support of Tecumseh and other tribal leaders.

16. Although the War of 1812 failed to resolve Britain’s violation of American neutral rights on the high seas, how was the outcome advantageous to Americans?

A. The British defeat in the Battle of New Orleans boosted American morale.

B. The British agreed to stop indicting American slave ships.

C. The British departure allowed the U.S. government to initiate treaties with the Indians.

D. The British promised to end their support of Tecumseh and other tribal leaders.