U.S. HISTORY STAAR PRACTICE 1

Why did Britain seek to tax the colonists in the 1760s?

• The colonists were wealthier than most British citizens.
• Britain needed money to pay for the French and Indian War.
• The British wanted to punish the colonists for rebelling against the Proclamation.
• Britain needed money to protect the colonists from the French.

The colonies in yellow belong to what region?

• New England Colonies
• Middle Colonies
• Southern Colonies
• France

Why did the Constitutional Convention agree to the Three-Fifths Compromise?

• To settle debates over the issue of counting the enslaved population for representation

• To settle debates over the issue of abolishing the importation of enslaved people

• To create a government based on the principle of federalism

• To create a government with a bicameral legislature

How did the American colonies react to enforcement of the Intolerable Acts?

• By collecting funds to pay for the tea destroyed in Boston Harbor

• By sending ambassadors to France to request military aid

• By placing a tax on all goods imported from Great Britain

• By holding the First Continental Congress to discuss unified resistance

What are the Middle colonies?

• New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, South Carolina

• Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

• New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware

• Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware

The Continental Congress set up the Northwest Ordinance to sell _______ to pay off the debt from the war.

• crops
• land
• slaves
• none of these

Economic policy where colonies serve as a source of raw materials to increase the wealth and maintain a favorable balance of trade for the "mother" country.

• Mercantilism

• Representative Government

• Charter

• Plantations

Which branch has the responsibilty of interpreting laws? They say what laws mean and determine if a law is being obeyed.

• Administrative

• Executive

• Legislative

• Judicial

Why did President Washington give this advice about the future of U.S. foreign policy?

• To end European colonization in the Western Hemisphere

• To avoid being drawn into European wars

• To use trade embargoes to stay neutral

• To encourage economic growth through the transatlantic slave trade

Why is Thomas Jefferson’s writing of the Declaration of Independence considered to be one of his greatest contributions to American history?

• He showed responsibility by outlining the structure for a new government.

• He helped define rights that would defeat tyranny.

• He developed a military plan to defeat the British.

• He outlined a strategy for acquiring the Louisiana Territory.