Name _________________________________________ Period _____
8th Grade Social Studies - Final Exam Study Guide
Date of Final: TUESDAY, June 9th
Location of Final: _______________________
Items to Bring to Final:
 This Final Review Packet 100% completed
 YOUR Social Studies textbook
 A number 2 pencil
 Other final exam study guides (if finished early)
o Science and Math (June 10th)
o World Language and Reading (June 11th)
Have a great
summer!
Chapter 1
1. What is the difference between a
primary and secondary source?
(p.20-21)
**What kind of source would
probably be the MOST reliable
about an event that happened 100
years ago?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A newspaper article published ONE year later
An article written by the daughter of someone who was there
A Wikipedia article
A diary entry by someone who witnessed the event
A.
B.
C.
D.
Exchange of crops from New World to Old World
Exchange of animals from Old World to New World
Exchange of spices from New World to Old World
Exchange of diseases from Old World to New World
2. How do historians deal with
historical bias? (p.21)
Chapter 2
3. Explain the Columbian Exchange
(p.71)
**Which of the following was a
NEGATIVE result of the Columbian
Exchange
Chapter 4
4. Why were the Middle Colonies
known as the “Breadbasket” (p.111)
5. Describe representative
government/democracy (p.90)
What examples can you point to of
this in the early colonies?
Chapter 5
6. What was the MAIN reason for
the French and Indian War? (p.141142)
7. Why did the British establish the
Proclamation of 1763? (p.147)
8. Why did Britain pass a series of
tax laws in the English Colonies after
the French and Indian War? (p.148)
9. Explain the phrase, “no taxation
without representation”. (p.149)
What is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from this quotation?
A. The colonial legislatures should be appointed by the King with
**“No taxes ever have been, or can
the consent of Parliament
be constitutionally imposed on
B. Only colonists elected representatives should have the power
them but by their respective
to collect taxes
legislatures”
C. The King should have the right to collect taxes
-Stamp Act Congress, 1765
D. Colonists are opposed to all taxation
10. What were the most effective
forms of colonial protest to the new
taxes? (p.150-151, 156)
Chapter 6
11. What was the purpose of
Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common
Sense? (p.173)
12. A major argument for American
Independence found in the
Declaration of Independence was
that the British… (p.175)
13. What prompted the French to
join the Patriots? (p.184)
14. What was the most important
advantage that Americans had that
led their victory in the
Revolutionary War (p.194)
Chapter 7
15. Why did many people call for
changes to our 1st constitution – the
Articles of Confederation? (p.202)
**Which statement about
REPRESENTATION was included in
the US Constitution?
(p. 208)
A.
B.
C.
D.
States must be represented only by population
Congress will have equal representatives from each state
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land
Congress will have two houses: one based on population, the
other in which all states are equal
16. Why did Anti-federalists want a
bill of rights added to the U.S.
Constitution? (p.216)
Chapter 8
17. What kind of government does
the US Constitution set up in the
United States? (p.252-256)
18. Why was the amendment
process included in the U.S.
Constitution? (p.259)
19. Explain the roles of each branch
of government:
Legislative, Judicial, Executive.
(p.252-256)
Chapter 9
20. What does President George
Washington say about foreign
policy in his Farewell Address?
(p.286)
21. Give a few examples of how
President Washington strengthened
the federal government. (p.279281)
22. Identify what Alexander
Hamilton did to help the nation’s
economy. (p.281)
A F___________________ government with ______ branches
23. What is the MAIN reason for the
formation of the first two political
parties in America in the 1790’s?
(p.289)
24. Describe how Jefferson and the
Republicans responded to the Alien
and Sedition Acts. (p.293)
Chapter 10
25. What important Judicial power
was established in the Supreme
Court Case Marbury v. Madison?
(p. 304)
26. Give a few examples of Thomas
Jefferson’s democratic style
demonstrated during his time as
President. (p.303-305)
27. Why was the Louisiana
Purchase from France significant?
(p.308)
28. What was the impact of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition? (p.308310)
29. What contributed to American
patriotism during the War of 1812?
(p.322-324)
Chapter 12
30. Describe the main idea of
“Jacksonian Democracy”. (p.363)
31. What type of people would have
supported Andrew Jackson? (p.364)
32. Describe how the spoils system
worked. (p.366)
33. Describe why Andrew Jackson
was against the National Bank of
the United States. (p.367)
34. What is the purpose of a
protective tariff? (p.370)
35. What caused South Carolina to
pass the Nullification Act? (p.371)
Chapter 13
36. Why did the Oregon territory
appeal to settlers? (p.380-381)
37. What caused Americans living in
Texas to go to war with Mexico?
(p.386)
38. How did the events at the
Alamo affect Texans? (p.388)
39. Identify a few results of the
Mexican War. (p.396-397)
40. Explain the idea of the Manifest
Destiny. (p.393)
41. Why did the Mormons move to
Utah? (p.399)
42. What effect did the discovery of
gold in California in 1849 have on
westward expansion? (p.400)
Chapter 14
43. As industry in the U.S. grew
during the early 1800s, what role
did immigrants play in the
economy? (p.415)
44. Why were sectional differences
developing the United States?
45. Explain the connection between
Cotton & Slavery; and why the
expanded in the South and not the
North. (p.419)
46. What was the purpose of the
“Slave Codes”? (p.424)
47. How did enslaved AfricanAmericans resist and
fight back against slavery?
(p.426)
Chapter 15
48. The Seneca Falls Convention
was mainly concerned with what?
(p.445)
49. Identify 3 of the major areas of
reform in the mid-1800s (not
including abolition). (p.436)
50. Who was Frederick Douglass?
(p.440)
51. Who was Sojourner Truth?
(p.445)
52. Why is Harriet Tubman famous?
(p.441)
Chapter 16
53. How were the Free Soil Party
and the Republican Party alike?
(p.463)
54. Some people wanted the slavery
issue to be decided in the new
territories by “Popular
Sovereignty”, which would mean
what? (p.461/462)
55. What was the 1850 Fugitive
Slave Act? (p.465)
56. What popular book was written
in response to the 1850 Fugitive
Slave Act? (p.466)
57. Why did Kansas get the
nickname “Bleeding Kansas”?
(p.470)
58. What decision did the Supreme
Court reach in the Dred Scott case
AND how did this decision impact
Congress’s ability to decide the
slavery issue out West? (p.471/472)
** “Compromise Enables Main and
Missouri to Enter the Union”
“CA admitted as a Free State”
“Kansas-Nebraska Act Sets up
Popular Sovereignty”
Which issue is reflected in these headlines?
A. enactment of protective tariffs
B. extension of slavery
C. voting rights for minorities
D. universal public education
59. Why were the Lincoln-Douglas
debates important for Lincoln?
(p.475)
60. In his “House Divided” speech,
what does Abe Lincoln suggest?
(p.473)
61. Entering the Civil War, Abe
Lincoln makes his primary goal as
president clear – what is it? (p.480)
62. Which occurs first: Abe Lincoln’s
election OR Civil War? (p.481)
a. Increased sectionalism
b. Disagreement over states’
rights
c. Breakdown of Compromise
d. Election of 1860
Which title best accompanies a-d in the left box?
A. Start of the Revolutionary War
B. Adoption of the Bill of Rights
C. Failure of the Whiskey Rebellion
D. Secession of the Southern States from the Union
Chapter 17
63. Identify the main
CONFEDERATE Strengths during
the Civil War. (p.487/488)
64. Identify the main UNION
Strengths during the Civil War.
(p.487/488)
65. The North’s rapid economic
growth during the Civil War was
stimulated by what? (p.503)
66. Why was the Union victory at
Vicksburg so important? (p.505)
67. What do many historians
consider the turning point battle for
the Union of the Civil War? (p.506)
68. What is Ulysses S. Grant’s plan
to end the Civil War? (p.508)