Newton South High School
US History 431
Mr. Stein
This is a GENERAL guide and does NOT mean this is everything on the Final. It is
to help you prepare in the overall scope of the exam. As a student, you need to refer
back and study the most important aspects of each unit. Your class notes, quizzes,
etc.. should help you. Good luck! 
US Constitution
1.
2.
4.
5.
6.
Why was there a need to adopt a new constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation?
How did the Virginia and New Jersey plans influence the Great Compromise?
How does the Separation of Powers work in the US Constitution?
What is the Electoral College?
How does each branch function by itself and as part of the overall government?
Territorial Expansion
1. What events led to the Louisiana Purchase?
2. How much territory was acquired from the Louisiana Purchase?
3. What were the goals of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
4. What sort of issues did the Spanish deal with while settling the frontier?
5. What were some factors that led Americans West before the Civil War era?
6. Who were some of the people that journeyed West? What problems did they encounter along
the way?
7. What were some factors that led to the settlement of Texas?
8. What led to the Texas revolt against Mexico?
9. How was the Oregon Territory settled?
10. What factors led to the Mexican War? How was this war received in the United States?
11. What led to the United States victory in the Mexican War?
Antebellum Era
1. How did the accumulation of land after the Mexican War cause sectional differences?
2. What were the Northern and Southern views on slavery? How did this issue divide the nation?
3. What were the debates surrounding the Compromise of 1850? What did this compromise do?
4. What were the compromises that tried to hold the country together? (Refer to p. 335 and the
PowerPoint we did in class)
5. What were the significant political parties of the 1850’s and what were their platforms?
6. What were the facts around of the Supreme Court case Dred Scott v. Sanford? How did the
rulings various parts create sectional differences in the country?
7. What led to the formation of the Republican Party?
8. What were the significant issues discussed during the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858?
9. What was John Brown’s goal at Harper’s Ferry? What effect did this event have on the
nation?
The Civil War
1. How did the Union Army deal with slaves confiscated during combat?
2. Why did Lincoln not allow John Fremont to free the slaves that came under his command?
3. What were the factors that made the Battle of Antietam important for both the North and the
South?
4. What events led to Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation? How was this received
by the South, North and Abolitionists?
5. How did African-Americans join the fight during the Civil War?
6. Know the significant issues we discussed about the Massachusetts 54th regiment. Use the
worksheet, class notes and final primary source discussion (Harper’s Article) to guide your
student. Also, remember what we learned watching the film Glory.
Reconstruction
1. Know the main points of the Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850 and KansasNebraska Act.
2. What was significant about the Dred Scott decision?
3. What was Lincoln’s Reconstruction Plan and how did the Republican’s Plan differ?
4. What were Andrew Johnson’s views on Reconstruction?
5. What were some of the controversies between Johnson and the Congress?
6. Know the significance of the Election of 1866.
7. What were the main points of the First Reconstruction Act?
8. Know the main points of Andrew Johnson’s impeachment. Remember Edmund G. Ross?
9. The Election of 1876 and its affect on Reconstruction.
10. What were the Civil Rights Amendments?
The West
1. What was the Gold Rush? How did it lead to migration towards the West?
2. What led to the Native American’s placement on reservations and why did they comply with
the federal government? What was promised to them?
3. What led to the beginning of violence between the Native Americans and the U.S.
government?
4. What was the Dawes Act of 1887 and how did it fail to help the Native American Tribes?
5. What was the life of a cowboy and people of the Great Plains like?
6. Know the story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Pearce.
The Gilded Age and Labor
1. Who were the “robber barons” and why were they called this?
2. What were some of the conditions that workers had to face during this time period?
3. What were some of the significant labor movements of the time period and who were the
leaders?
5. How was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 used in the context of labor management
disputes?
The Roaring 20’s
1. Know the general backgrounds of the Scopes trial.
2. What led Americans to the passage of the 18th amendment?
3. What were some negative affects of the prohibition movement?
4. What were some arguments for and against women’s suffrage?
5. What was the “new” woman of the 1920’s?
6. What were some new roles and jobs for women?
7. How did Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey differ in their view on
race relations in the United States? What were their plans or theories?
8. What was the Great Migration and what were factors that led to its occurance?
9. What were some of the legislative efforts of the N.A.A.C.P? Were those efforts successful?
10. What was the Harlem Renaissance and who were some of the prominent figures of the
Harlem Renaissance?
The Great Depression and The New Deal
1. What four factors are generally considered in part responsible for the Great Depression?
2. How did the Depression affect the country along with women, children and farmers?
3. What did President Hoover do to try to deal with the Great Depression?
4. How did Hoover’s belief in “volunteerism” affect his policy decisions?
5. What were the criticisms of Hoover’s policies especially from the Democrats?
6. What was FDR proposing as the Presidential candidate of 1932?
7. What led to the Democrats’ landslide victory in 1932?
8. What things did FDR mention in his inaugural address we discussed in class? (Refer to your
speech handout)
9. Why did FDR feel putting people to work was the best way to deal with the Depression?
10. How did the AAA convince farmers to cut production?
11. What was it about the New Deal that changed the way that government involved itself in
people’s lives?
12. Know what the Alphabet Soup programs were and some of the main ones.
13. What was different about the Second New Deal?
14. How did the WPA change?
15. What were some of the major reforms during the Second New Deal?
16. How did the Supreme Court challenge some New Deal programs?
17. What was the fallout from FDR’s attempt to pack the Supreme Court?
World War II
-Refer to your most recent study guide for this unit. If you need a new copy let me know.
Cold War/Civil Rights
- Refer to class schedule textbook notes, class notes and handouts.