Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 1
The MJUS History exams are based upon the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards [NGSSS] requiring students to
take their thinking from simple understanding to applying their knowledge. Our exams require a comprehensive look at
history based upon the module content. This test is not ‘read and answer the questions’ type of exam. It is a read, think
about the prompt, consider the who, what, where, why ,when, and where of the prompt, eliminating options which do
not match, and then choosing the response that best answers the question type of exam! This practice guide is
comprised of questions, which mirror the types of questions a student will experience during the exam.
Strategies for taking this type of exam:
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2.
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5.
Read each prompt
Consider the who, what, where, when, how and why [when applicable] in regards to the prompt
Read each answer choice
Eliminate the choices that don’t match based upon the who, what, where, when, why and how from the prompt
Choose the best response that answers the question
Directions: Read each prompt. Eliminate responses and choose the response that best matches the
prompt. Use this to practice for the Segment 2 exam.
Question 1
Which one of these documents told Europe to stop trying to create new colonies in the Western
Hemisphere? [5.01]
Adams-Onís Treaty
Border Compromise
Manifest Destiny
Monroe Doctrine
Question 2
The _______ provided settlers free land if they agreed to move west to live and farm on the land [5.04]
Gold Rush Act of 1863
Homestead Act of 1862
Monroe Doctrine
Oregon Territory Treaty
Question 3
What was one key result of the discovery of gold in Georgia in the 1820s? [5.02]
the ceding of Spanish Florida to the United States-the removal of the Cherokee tribe from their
homeland
increases in military spending by the national government
the creation of a bureau to create and manage national resources
Question 4
What was the main obstacle to the U.S. gaining the Oregon territory? [5.04]
Britain had already claimed the territory.
The U.S. had relocated several Native American tribes there.
It was difficult for the U.S. to create a military presence there.
Spain had already claimed all territory along the Pacific Ocean.
Question 5
How was the dispute about the Oregon Territory eventually settled? [5.04]
by giving the Gadsden Purchase to the Mexican government
by making several land exchanges with the Spanish government
by relocating several Native American tribes to the Canadian provinces
by creating the boundary of Oregon at the 49th parallel and dividing the territory
Question 6
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 2
Which answer correctly explains James Polk’s main goal in obtaining California and New Mexico from
Mexico? [5.06]
to make access to the Alaskan territories easier
to gain land to use for Native American resettlement
to create better access to Pacific Ocean fishing resources
to make trade between the U.S. and Asian countries easier
Question 7
Which of the following correctly describes why Region A of the map was important to the U.S. in 1846?
[5.06]
This is land gained from the British; it removed the fear of war with Britain.
This is land purchased from the British; it gave the U.S. new fishing rights in Alaska.
This is land gained from the Spanish; it allowed the U.S. to have access to the Pacific Ocean trade routes.
This is land gained from settlement after the Mexican American War; it allowed the U.S. to reduce
overcrowding in eastern cities.
Question 8
Which of the following correctly describes why Region G of the map was important to the political goals
of the U.S. in 1848? [5.06]
It was the last step in removing control of U.S. territories by European countries.
It represented many years of careful political negotiating between the U.S. and Britain.
It allowed the U.S. to achieve the idea of Manifest Destiny and expand to the Pacific Ocean.
It allowed the U.S. to gain access to previously unexplored territory along the Pacific Ocean.
Question 9
Which of the following best explains the Dred Scott case and how it affected the debate about slavery?
[5.03]
Dred Scott was a slave owner who learned his slave was living as a free man in a northern state. He
argued that the slave should be returned to him to continue working on his plantation. He won his case
which caused a revolt between citizens in the North and South.
Dred Scott was a slave who argued that because his owner brought him into a free area, he should be
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 3
free. The Supreme Court ruled he was "property," and citizens could bring property wherever they
chose. This decision enraged anti-slavery activists.
Dred Scott was a white abolitionist who murdered a group of pro-slavery men. He was tried in court in a
southern state and found guilty. Citizens in northern states argued for his release, and the resulting
battles between the states led to "Bleeding Kansas."
Dred Scott was a slave arrested in Boston and forced to board a ship back to his owner in Virginia.
Boston citizens purchased his freedom in a northern court, and he was allowed to remain in Boston as a
free citizen. This decision enraged slave owners in the South.
Question 10
How did George Washington and Henry Knox try to influence Native American cultural practices during
the westward expansion of the United States? [5.02]
They urged American citizens to accept and adopt Native American culture as a way to reduce tensions
between the two groups.
They forced Native Americans to adopt European culture by requiring Native American children to
attend school and learn to read and write.
They urged Native Americans to accept European culture in an attempt to reduce military force and
encourage peaceful treaties regarding Native American territories.
They required American citizens to trade with Native Americans for food and goods so the Native
Americans would be more likely to release some of their land.
Question 11
How did the construction of canals and railroads affect the national economy during the 19th century?
[5.05]
These new forms of transportation boosted the economy by reducing the cost of moving goods across
the country due to lower shipping costs.
Canals and railroads introduced a temporary setback to the economy during that time due to the high
costs of constructing these new forms of transportation.
The introduction of canals and railroads initially upset the national economy but quickly reversed the
problem by increasing the amount of trade between countries.
After the construction of the Eerie Canal in 1825, it took several years for the economy to stabilize
because many people did not agree with the idea, and they did not take advantage of it.
Question 12
How did the case of Gibbons v. Ogden have an economic impact on America in the 19th century?
The Supreme Court's decision allowed state laws to override federal laws when they conflicted regarding
economic matters. [6.06]
The Supreme Court's decision allowed states the ability to pass commerce laws even if they conflicted
with federal commerce laws.
The Supreme Court's decision allowed the federal government to maintain some control over trade
within and across state borders.
The Supreme Court's decision allowed the states to maintain control over which states they traded with
and how that trade was regulated.
Question 13
You are a Supreme Court Judge hearing the case of Gibbons v. Ogden. Which of the following best
summarizes your final decision? [6.06]
Congress should have the power to create national banks.
States should have the power to create and pass economic laws.
Congress should have the power to regulate interstate commerce.
States should have the power to regulate commercial trading practices.
Question 14
In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. Which answer best describes how the cotton gin changed
cotton farming? [6.01]
The cotton gin caused cotton prices to drop because it could be harvested so easily.
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 4
The cotton gin added to the already high cost of producing cotton, and lowered demand.
The cotton gin made it easier to remove seeds from cotton, but destroyed the rest of the plant.
The cotton gin made growing cotton very profitable and increased the demand for slave labor.
Question 15
In 1798, inventor Eli Whitney created interchangeable parts for muskets. The idea of using standard
parts was eventually adopted by factories to easily build machines. Which answer best describes the
advantage of shifting toward a large-scale factory system? [6.01]
Products that were made in factories were easier to package and ship.
x-All of the stages of production were under one roof, saving time and money.
Factory employees could work longer hours in safer conditions and earn more money.
Factories only performed one step of the manufacturing process but did it very cheaply.
Question 16
Which answer best describes advantages for young women working in factories in the 1800s? [6.02]
Factories helped young women to become better educated.
Factories were usually a fun and relaxing place to work for young women.
Factory work provided more independence and female company than working at a farm.
Factory work provided women the chance to earn the same pay as men and become managers.
Question 17
Which answer best describes why factory owners often hired women and children in the 1800s? [6.02]
They wanted to prevent men from leaving their jobs to work at the factories.
They wanted to let families work at the same jobs to help keep them strong.
They wanted to hire people who work for the lowest wages to increase profits.
They wanted to help women and children, who didn’t have many job options at that time.
Question 18
In 1792, Eli Whitney's cotton gin changed cotton farming forever. Which answer best describes how the
family life for American slaves changed with the invention of the cotton gin? (7.03)
As slaves became less important, owners felt they should keep families of slaves together
The need for slaves increased and slaves’ families were often broken apart as slaves were sold
Slaves became more important to farming and many slaves felt as if they were in their owner’s family
Because slaves were now able to make money, most slaves did not care about being with their families
Question 19
In 1792, Eli Whitney's cotton gin changed cotton farming forever. Which answer best describes how the
family life for American slaves changed with the invention of the cotton gin? (7.03)
As slaves became less important, owners felt they should keep families of slaves together
The need for slaves increased and slaves’ families were often broken apart as slaves were sold
Slaves became more important to farming and many slaves felt as if they were in their owner’s family
Because slaves were now able to make money, most slaves did not care about being with their families
Question 20
Which answer best describes Frederick Douglass’ role in the abolition movement? (7.02)
Douglass packed slaves inside crates to secretly ship them to freedom
Douglass was a former slave who convinced people of the many positive elements of slavery
Douglass was a ship captain who transported escaped slaves to freedom in the Bahamas
Douglass wrote essays in abolition newspapers and was an influential speaker against slavery
Question 21
Which of the following acts showed the Jacksonian attitude toward the banking system of the U.S.?
(6.06)
the Tariff of 1828
the Indian Removal Act
the veto of the Maysville Road bill
the transfer of $10 million to state banks
Question 22
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 5
Which answer best describes Andrew Jackson’s view of a national bank? (6.05)
Jackson felt that the national bank should be more tightly regulated by the government
Jackson felt that the national bank was well within the rights of the Federal government to create
Jackson felt that the national bank was unconstitutional because it infringed on the rights of the states
Jackson felt that the national bank was unconstitutional because the Constitution did not mention banks
Question 23
Read the following quote from John Adams: We have no government armed in power capable of
contending with human passions unbridled [uncontrolled] by morality and religion. Our Constitution was
made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."
Which of the following National-Republican ideas does this statement best support? (6.05)
A powerful central government poses a threat to individual liberties
The government should be responsible for making all national improvements
The Constitution is a flexible document that should change as the country changes
The framers of the Constitution did not mean for the government to protect the rights of individuals
Question 24
How were natural resources used in the North as compared to the South? (6.04)
Resources were used mainly for manufacturing in the North and farming in the South
Renewable resources were needed more in the North and non-renewable resources were needed in the
South
The North required resources for agricultural industries, while the South needed resources for industrial
production
Fewer resources were needed in the North as machines replaced human labor, but the South still
needed resources for agricultural industries
Question 25
Use this case study and chart to answer the following question:
Case Study: The Growth of New Orleans
The City of New Orleans was founded by the French in what was an important but swampy region of the
south along the banks of the Mississippi River. A few short years after its founding, the city was made
the capital of the French territory of Louisiana. It would take another 50 years or so before fur and game
trading was replaced with a more productive industry—sugar. The city's location at the mouth of the
Mississippi River proved useful for moving goods up into the continent as well as making it easy to trade
with Europe. Soon New Orleans was a busy and rapidly growing city, becoming the seventh most
populated city in the New World by 1810. New Orleans' location in the swamps, while helpful for trade,
was not always helpful to people of the city. New Orleans had problems with flooding and drainage of
sewage. Disease spread rapidly thanks to an also thriving population of mosquitoes. Lack of sanitation
and no public water made it hard to defend against outbreaks of malaria and yellow fever outbreaks of
which occurred as recently as 1905.
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 6
What was the most likely reason for the decrease in New Orleans' population rank between 1850 and
1900? (6.03)
employees being replaced by machines
lack of sanitation and increase in disease
a shift from the gaming to the sugar industry
French involvement in the city's government
Question 26
Use the image below to answer the following question:
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. The picture above depicts a camp
meeting during the Second Great Awakening. How might a woman attending the meeting feel? (7.03)
angry that she is only allowed to watch but not participate
frustrated about having to keep her excitement to herself
inspired to renew her religion and engage in social reform
embarrassed that she is required to confess her sins in public
Question 27
Use the image below to answer the following question:
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 7
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and
Photographs Division
Which words best describe how the suffrage movement is portrayed in this program cover? (7.04)
a long, gloomy journey
a gallant and noble cause
an angry and determined mob
Question 28
Which of the following best describes the main motivating factor that encouraged women to fight for
suffrage in the 1800s and early 1900s? (7.04)
They felt they had a civic duty to improve society
They felt their rights to earn money were being attacked
They felt men had done a poor job of running things so far
They felt afraid of the sitting Congress's attitude toward women
Question 29
Could Margaret Fuller be called a Transcendentalist? Why or why not? (7.05)
Yes. Margaret Fuller believed in civil disobedience and she demonstrated this belief by publishing an
essay opposing the Mexican-American War
No. Transcendentalists believed they understood the world better than others. Margaret Fuller believed
all people should be treated the same regardless of their beliefs or religion
Yes. Transcendentalists did not believe in conforming. By writing an essay about women's rights,
Margaret Fuller didn't conform to society's expectations of women during that time
No. Margaret Fuller did not believe in the ideas of Transcendentalists. She was a devout Christian and
spoke publicly about the idea that God and nature were not the same thing
Question 30
Many Transcendentalists identified themselves as Christians. How did other New England Christians feel
about this? (7.06)
New England Christians disagreed with the Transcendentalists because of their belief that God and
nature were the same thing.
New England Christians were upset with the Transcendentalists because of their superior attitude about
Christian methodologies.
New England Christians accepted the Transcendentalists but didn't like the negative attention they
brought to their religious movement.
New England Christians were happy to have this new group of people join their cause and express their
religious ideas in new and creative ways.
Question 31
What was unusual about the people who made up the population of St. Augustine, Florida, in the early
1800s? (6.04)
Most people who settled in St. Augustine in the early 1800s were Cubans who were escaping from an
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 8
autocratic government.
Seminole raiders and slaves who had joined their cause made up the majority of the population of St.
Augustine in the early 1800s.
In the early 1800s, St. Augustine was declared "Indian Territory" and was home to the Seminole tribes
who had been removed from their lands.
Many different ethnicities made up the population of St. Augustine including Spanish, free African
Americans, Seminole Indians, and Europeans.
Question 32
Why did women start the National Women’s Suffrage Association (NWSA)? (7.04)
to help allow women to own property
to help allow women to work outside the home
to create equal educational opportunities for women
to create a Constitutional amendment allowing women to vote
Question 33
How was the question of slavery responsible for the divisions in the United States that led to the Civil
War? (8.01)
The North wanted a greater share of the profits of slavery.
Cotton production was not as profitable without slave labor.
The South had invested too much in the slave trade to let it end.
Europe preferred slave-produced cotton because of its higher quality.
Question 34
What main effect did the Union invasion of the Confederate capitol of Richmond have on the Civil War?
(8.03)
the loss of Virginia to Union control
the surrender of Lee and the end of the war
the beginning of the destructive siege of Vicksburg
the withdrawal of Confederate troops from Pennsylvania and Maryland
Question 35
Use the map and chart to answer the following question:
What can you infer from the information in the map and table below? (8.01)
Control of the Gulf of Mexico was an important issue.
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 9
Control of the Southern coastline was an important issue.
Control of the Mississippi River was an important issue.
Control of the New Mexico territory was an important issue.
Question 36
Use the map and chart to answer the following question:
What can you infer from the information in the map and table below? (8.01)
Defending Washington, D.C. was a priority for the Union.
The Union was not interested in winning battles in Confederate states.
The Confederates felt it was important to concentrate on fighting in the South.
Neither side was interested in fighting for territories west of the Mississippi River.
Question 37
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 10
Use the map to answer the following question:
Which group represents the states that seceded only after the fall of Fort Sumter? (8.02)
the group including Texas and Florida
the group including Missouri and Kentucky
the group including Arkansas and Tennessee
the group including Kansas and the Indian Territory
Question 38
Which of the following was the last event prior to the start of the Civil War? (8.01)
Texas seceded from the Union.
South Carolina seceded from the Union.
Lincoln was sworn in as President of the United States.
Seven states formed the Confederate States of America.
Question 39
Which answer best describes how Northern states felt about the Confederate States of America? (8.02)
The Northern states agreed that the Confederate states should be kept in the Union by force.
The Northern states agreed that other states should be allowed to secede peacefully if they wanted to
do so.
Northern states did not agree about whether to let other states secede or if they should try to keep
them in the Union.
New Hampshire and Vermont supported the right for states to secede peacefully; the other Northern
states wanted to go to war.
Question 40
What was one advantage the Confederacy had over the Union during the Civil War? (8.02)
a larger population of citizens
a stronger system of food production
more resources- industry and railroads
stronger support from all of its citizens
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 11
Question 41
What challenges did Ulysses S. Grant face during the Civil War that the Confederate army did not face?
(8.02)
Grant’s army did not have the full support of the Union's highest leaders.
Grant’s army did not have the resources and money they needed for the war.
Grant and his soldiers were not as familiar with the geography and terrain of the Southern states.
Grant’s soldiers did not have the help and support of the slave population in the South.
Question 42
Why did the Battle of Antietam stand out in history? (8.03)
The Confederacy lost one-third of its army and the battle ended the Civil War.
It was the first battle of the Civil War and the Union retreated back to Washington, DC.
It was the first Civil War battle on Northern soil and it was the bloodiest battle of the war.
After this long and brutal battle, soldiers and civilians realized that the Civil War might go on for years.
Question 43
Union soldiers stationed at Fort Pickens were successful in holding off Confederate troops during the
Civil War. When did the Confederate troops finally withdraw from Fort Pickens and Pensacola? [08.03 ]
January 1861
May 1862
June 1863
September 1864
Question 44
Which statement best explains the difference between the attitude of the Republican Party and the
Democratic Party toward Reconstruction? (8.05)
The Democratic Party worked to re-establish legal slavery in the South, and the Republican Party worked
to keep the Southern states from re-entering the United States.
The Democrats sought to improve equality for those living in the South, and the Republican Party felt
that strong state governments in the South would help the region most.
The priority of the Democratic Party was to punish the South for participating in the war, and the
Republican Party wanted to preserve the rights of former Confederates and slaveholders.
The goal of the Democratic Party was to rebuild the economy of the South, and the goal of the
Republican Party was to guarantee equality for former slaves.
Question 45
Which statement best explains the unique role that the 14th Amendment held among the
Reconstruction Acts? (8.05)
The 14th Amendment ended the Civil War once and for all by abolishing slavery.
A state had to pass the 14th Amendment to be allowed back into the United States.
The 14th Amendment made it legal for Southern states to establish discriminatory laws.
Under the 14th Amendment, the South was divided into military districts which enforced equal rights.
Question 46
In the election of 1868, African American voters in the South were more likely to be able to vote than
those in the North. Which of the following best explains this how this happened? (8.06)
Southern whites encouraged African Americans to vote because they were likely to support the
Democratic Party.
There were more African-American voters in the South, so it was harder for Southern whites to keep
them from voting.
Southern states were forced to guarantee the right of African Americans to vote by law, but many
Northern states did not yet have such laws in place.
Many Northern states had not ratified the 14th Amendment by the election of 1868 and were not
obliged to allow African Americans to vote.
Question 47
Which answer best explains the effect of the 15th Amendment on the presidential election of 1876?
Segment 2 US History Practice Exam 12
(8.06)
The Republicans won by a landslide because so many former slaves were now able to vote.
The voting power of African Americans returned many former Confederate politicians to office.
The vote count was disputed because Democrats won in states with a high number of former slaves.
African-Americans agreed to vote for the Democrats only if Reconstruction policies were ended by the
North.
Question 48
When Florida became a U.S. territory, the government had to settle many disputes over land ownership.
In what city were many of these land claims addressed? (6.04)
Miami
Pensacola
Jacksonville
St. Augustine