2024-2025 DCSD SS Benchmark 3_Grade 8

Which statement describes the MOST important way Savannah provides goods to the citizens of Georgia?

• Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is located in Savannah.

• Savannah’s railroads connect to the major cities along the East Coast.

• Savannah’s deepwater port is a major automobile distribution center.

• The Interstate Highway System connects Savannah to major cities in Georgia.

Answer explanation

Savannah’s deepwater port is crucial as it serves as a major automobile distribution center, facilitating the transport of goods efficiently to citizens across Georgia, making it the most important way Savannah provides goods.

How did the railroad system contribute to Georgia’s economy in the past, and what is its role today?

• Railroads have contributed more to the exchange of goods than the other transportation systems and are still the most active today.

• All goods arriving at the deepwater port in Savannah have traveled by railroad to the rest of the country since the nineteenth century.

• Railroads were the most efficient transportation system until the 1850’s, when they were replaced by the interstate highway system.

• Railroads were important during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as a method of exchanging goods, but have been largely replaced by the other three systems.

Answer explanation

Railroads played a crucial role in Georgia's economy in the 19th and early 20th centuries by facilitating the exchange of goods. However, they have since been largely supplanted by other transportation systems, reflecting changes in logistics.

How does interaction between two of the transportation systems contribute the MOST to Georgia’s title as the transportation hub of the southeast?

• Georgia has more rail lines and highways than any nearby state which makes the exchange of goods cheaper across the region.

• The port of Brunswick and the highway system make Georgia essential to the exchange of goods because deep water ports are rare.

• The interaction of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and the deep water ports provides increased access to international markets and trade.

• The highway system in Georgia is well maintained which makes shipping to Georgia’s deep water ports easier than other ports.

Answer explanation

The interaction of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and the deep water ports enhances Georgia's role as a transportation hub by facilitating international trade, making it easier to connect goods globally.

Who advocated against the industrialization of the South?

• Tom Watson

• Henry Grady

• John B. Gordon

• Joseph E. Brown

Answer explanation

Tom Watson was a prominent critic of industrialization in the South, advocating for agrarian interests and opposing the shift towards industrial economies, which he believed would harm rural communities.

Which of the following people proposed a gradual approach to racial equality during the New South Era through technical education and hard work versus a more aggressive confrontational approach?

• Booker T. Washington

• Eugene Talmadge

• Alonzo Herndon

• W.E.B. DuBois

Answer explanation

Booker T. Washington advocated for a gradual approach to racial equality through vocational education and hard work, contrasting with W.E.B. DuBois's more confrontational stance. Thus, Washington is the correct choice.

Which of the following explains the role of Alonzo Herndon in the New South Era?

• He brought manufacturing companies to Georgia.

• He led the Populist movement in Georgia during the era.

• He was a member of the Bourbon Triumvirate and helped to rebuild Georgia.

• He achieved financial success despite racism during the era and was a model for other African Americans.

Answer explanation

Alonzo Herndon achieved financial success as a successful entrepreneur despite the racism of the New South Era, serving as a role model for other African Americans striving for success in a challenging environment.

What was the result of the Leo Frank case?

• a decline in anti-Semitism

• a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan

• a careful government review of the case

• the resignation of Governor John Slaton

Answer explanation

The Leo Frank case led to a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, as the trial and subsequent lynching of Frank intensified racial and anti-Semitic tensions in the South, prompting the Klan to gain influence during that period.

Which of the following explains Eugene Talmadge’s opposition to Roosevelt’s New Deal programs?

• Talmadge focused on building new highways as a priority over social relief programs.

• Talmadge believed Georgia’s farmers needed more support than those receiving public welfare.

• Talmadge opposed the relief programs because they paid African Americans the same as whites.

• Talmadge thought federal programs were too progressive and didn't address Georgia’s economic problems effectively.

Answer explanation

Talmadge opposed the relief programs primarily because they provided equal payments to African Americans and whites, reflecting his racial biases. Additionally, he viewed federal programs as overly progressive and ineffective for Georgia's specific economic issues.

Which of the following New Deal programs were intended to be MOST helpful to farmers?

• The Agricultural Adjustment Act and the Rural Electrification Act

• The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Rural Electrification Act

• The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

• The Agricultural Adjustment Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Answer explanation

The Agricultural Adjustment Act aimed to boost farm prices by reducing production, while the Rural Electrification Act provided farmers with electricity, improving their quality of life and productivity. Both directly supported farmers.

Which TWO statements explain how the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 helped stimulate Georgia's economy?

• It encouraged businesses to increase utility costs for rural citizens.

• It encouraged consumers to buy new electrical household appliances.

• It encouraged the spread of socialist ideals to help the poor survive the effects of the Dust Bowl.

• It encouraged the use of federal stipends to buy and install electrical systems all across the United States.

• It encouraged the growth of industry and business by enabling them to operate during nighttime hours through electrification.

Answer explanation

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 stimulated Georgia's economy by encouraging consumers to purchase electrical appliances, boosting demand, and by enabling businesses to operate at night, enhancing productivity and growth.