Benchmark 2 Study Guide
Answers
1. Reconstruction was the period after the Civil War, when the
country was rebuilding.
2. After the Civil War, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery. The
slaves needed help getting food, supplies, and education; so, the
Freedman’s Bureau was developed. It helped to build schools for
former slaves.
• Jim Crow Laws – prevented African Americans from voting in 3
ways:
• 1. Poll Tax 2. Literacy Tests 3. Grandfather Clause
• African Americans LOST rights; segregation was enforced!!!
• Segregation was when blacks and whites were separated; they
could not use the same restrooms, stores, or even water
fountains.
• Black Codes– prevented African Americans from voting,
traveling, and owning property
• Ratify – to agree to something and make it a law
• Amendment – a change or addition to the U.S. Constitution
• Checks & Balances – a system that gives each branch of
government a balance of power
• *Why? So no branch of government can overrule the other; it
prevents any branch from becoming too powerful.
• Sharecropping – a system that allowed a land owner to
lease his land to several farmers; the landowner gave the
farmers tools and seeds to plant; at the end of the season the
farmer would give the land owner part of the crops to pay
back what he owed; most sharecropping involved a white
land owner who leased part of his land to former slaves.
• Why was sharecropping used?
• Because the land owners did not have money to pay the
former slaves for their work; and, the former slaves did not
have money to lease the land.
• Why did the Southern Economy suffer after the Civil War?
• It suffered because it depended on slaves to work. The
slaves were free labor. Without slaves, the land owners had
to pay workers a salary. Paying their employees reduced the
amount of profit they earned. This meant that everyone
earned less money so they had less money to spend in the
economy. (Domino Effect)
• Key Amendments• 13th Amendment- abolished slavery forever, it meant they were REQUIRED to
set all the slaves FREE
• 14th Amendment- gave citizenship to any person born in the United States
(former slaves became citizens)
• 15th Amendment- gave all citizens the right to vote despite their race; so…white
and black men could vote; women could NOT vote
• 19th Amendment- gave all citizens the right to vote despite their gender; women
can vote!
• 23rd Amendment- granted 3 electoral votes to Washington D.C.; it allowed the
people in Washington D.C. to vote
• 24th Amendment- abolished the poll tax
• 26th Amendment- set voting age; must be 18 to vote
• ****Name the five amendments that protect our voting rights:
• 15th 19th , 23rd, 24th, and the 26th
• Due Process – a legal system that guarantees all citizens are treated fairly;
protects your rights as a citizen of the United States
• How do we amend the Constitution?
• The 4 step - Amendment Process:
• Step 1: Congress proposes a new amendment.
 2/3 of the House of Representatives and 2/3 of the Senate must pass the bill
• Step 2: The proposed amendment is sent to the STATES
(It must be sent to the states before the legislatures can choose and the
legislatures must choose before 3/4 of the states can ratify)
• Step 3: State Legislatures choose to ratify or reject the amendment
• Step 4: 3/4 of the states must ratify the amendment so it can be added to the
Constitution
• Why do so many people have to vote for an amendment to be made?
 So that small groups of people cannot make changes that most people do not
want; must have majority of votes to be passed; the majority rules!
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What are some of the ways Due Process of law protects your rights?
The laws must be written clearly so people can understand them.
A person must be told what they are being charged with.
A person has the right to a fair and speedy trial by a jury of their peers
People have the right to speak at their own trial and defend themselves.
A person cannot be made to incriminate themselves or tell things that prove
they’re guilty.
• Government-the part that controls taxes; they
decide how much to raise or lower taxes; the
government uses the money from taxes to fund
our military, public schools, and relief programs
• Banks-Businesses that specialize in loaning
money; Banks loan people money to buy things
that people could not normally afford. People
may have some of the money but need help
buying big things like houses or cars.
• Private Business- a business NOT controlled by
the government; they can be big or small; they
produce goods and/or services that consumers
buy; they sell products to make a profit
• Households- involves families; a group of people
who usually live together that share in the financial
responsibilities
1. A person who leaves their native country and moves to
another country is called, and immigrant.
2. More than 12 million immigrants came to the US between
the years 1870-1900.
**The reasons why people leave their native country are
called the “PUSH” factors. These are the things that are
pushing them away from their homeland. Some examples of
these are: poverty, starvation, and disease.
** The reasons why people want to go to a new country,
things that pull them in and get them interested are called
“PULL” factors. Some examples of these are: religious
freedoms, adventure, hope for better opportunity
4. How did these immigrants affect the United States? They
spoke different languages; they practiced different religions,
and had different customs.
5. The population in larger cities like New York grew a lot!
Mostly European immigrants settled in the North to work in
factories.
6. Asian immigrants came to America through San Francisco,
California. A lot of immigrants from China settled in the West
and worked in restaurants, in mining camps, and helped build
the railroads.
7. The Northern economy relied heavily on factories and
industrial type businesses. The large population of immigrants
provided an increase in labor that led to an increase in
products/profit for factories.
8. After winning the Spanish American War, the U.S. gained
control of 3 colonies. What 3 colonies? A. Guam B. Puerto
Rico C. Philippines
9. When the USS Maine exploded in a Cuban harbor, America
blamed Spain and declared war. This is what led to the
beginning of the Spanish American War.
10. The Panama Canal increased trade between America and
other countries. It connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
11. Wright Brothers- Developed the first successful airplane. Their
first flight lasted only 12 seconds; but without this first flight we
couldn’t have the 2nd or 100. Contribution: They made travel by
flying possible. Flying was much faster. The military also used
planes during the war.
12. George Washington Carver- Invented the Crop Rotation
Method. He developed over 100 used for peanuts including
peanut butter. Contribution: Farmers learned to rotate crops and
protect the soil’s nutrients.
13. Alexander Graham Bell- He invented the microphone and the
telephone. He was interested in the deaf and hard of hearing.
Contribution: We can now communicate over long distances
instantly.
14. Thomas Edison: He invented the motion picture camera and
the phonograph. His most beneficial invention was the electric
light bulb. He has the first Central Power Company. Contribution:
Factories could stay open longer and work and night. Owners
were grateful for the light bulb because they could see in the dark.
15. William McKinley- He was the president during the Spanish
American war. He wanted to expand America’s role as a “power
house”. Contribution: America’s win over Spain proved that
America’s military was superior.
16. Theodore Roosevelt: He became the President in 1901. He was
the leader of the military group named the Rough Riders.
Contribution: He increased trade between America and other
countries by building the Panama Canal. It connected the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans and decrease travel time for ships carrying goods.
17. Black Cowboys- This group of African American men raised and
drove cattle along the cattle trails out west. Contribution: they
helped supply the Eastern U.S. with beef. When the railroads were
expanded, and more train stations were built in the west, the need
for cowboys and long cattle drives ended.
18. Cattle Trails- Most cattle trails began in Texas, ran North through
Oklahoma, and into Kansas. They were long paths that black
cowboys used to drive cattle to the nearest train station where the
cows were shipped East. *Chisholm Trail- Began in Texas * Great
Western Cattle Trail- Began in Texas and ended in Dakota
Territories.
19. Specialization- when someone works in only one area;
they become and expert.
20. Producer- a person who SELLS goods and services.
21. income- the money you make; the money your employer
pays you.
22. Good- something you can hold in your hand; you can
touch it.
23. Market- the buying and selling of goods and/or services.
24. Competition- when two stores fight for people’s
business; can lead to lower prices.
25. Labor- the work a person does.
26. Consumers- a person who BUYS goods and services.
27. Services- something someone does for someone else; an
action they perform.
28. Price- the amount of money a seller charges for a
product.