Q&A Hero

Q: What was the significance of American Telephone and Telegraph? a. It was the first telephone company in the United States. b. It was formed in order to boost competition between local phone companies. c. For many years, AT&T was the only phone company in the United States. d. It regulated the telephone industry to ensure no one company dominated the market. e. It was the consolidation of many local phone systems into one large corporation.

Q: What caused Mexico to break off diplomatic relations with the United States and prepare for war in 1845? a. The republic of Texas began claiming land south of the Rio Grande. b. The United States annexed Texas and claimed the land between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. c. The U.S. military began fighting for control over California harbors. d. The U.S. government refused to grant rights of citizenship to people of Mexican descent still living in Texas. e. President Polk criticized the Mexican government in a scathing public address.

Q: Why was the American obsession with equality hypocritical? a. Americans believed in and reinforced class distinctions. b. America was the only country in the world to enforce equality. c. Through the institution of slavery, Americans denied liberty to African Americans. d. The government controlled and influenced most of the newspapers. e. The court system was so corrupt that people did not really have fair trials.

Q: The Staple Act of 1663 stated that __________. a. Americans must stop raising corn and wheat b. imports to America had to be first shipped through England c. Americans could not produce iron products d. rum had to be manufactured in the West Indies e. Americans could only produce staple foodstuffs

Q: The U.S. intervention in China differed from its intervention in Korea because the United States __________. a. could only respond with diplomacy in the Chinese conflict, but gave supplies and funds to North Korea b. responded with all-out war in China, but refused to get involved in the Korean conflict c. extracted itself from the conflict when civil war broke out in China but sent troops to South Korea's aid d. sent troops to China when civil war broke out, but only sent money to South Korea when the violence began e. intervened with diplomatic efforts and supplies in North Korea, but did not intervene in any way in China's civil war

Q: In what way was Theodore Roosevelt not conservation-minded? a. He approved using federal land preserves in Alaska for coal mining. b. He supported coal strip mining, which he knew damaged the environment. c. He preserved federal lands but less so than any other president. d. He hunted and killed big game, which, even in his time, were becoming scarce. e. He supported the meatpacking industry's mistreatment of cows.

Q: What was one result of the proliferation of patents in the late nineteenth century? a. The country got most of its technology from Europe. b. The marketplace was oversaturated with goods. c. Americans no longer imported most of their technology. d. Few Americans participated in the economic changes. e. Americans began to fear technology.

Q: The most extreme form of Manifest Destiny meant the United States would occupy all the land __________. a. from the east coast to the Rocky Mountains b. from the east coast to the west coast c. occupied today by the United States and Canada d. in the entire North American continent including all of Central America e. in the entire North American continent including the Caribbean islands

Q: The Treaty of Ghent __________. a. awarded part of Canada to the United States b. did little more than end hostilities and postpone issues for future negotiations c. gave the British navigation rights on the Mississippi River d. restored Quebec to France e. was negotiated quickly and quietly, since there were no real debates

Q: The intention of the Navigation Acts was to __________. a. allow England to monopolize American trade b. promote English industrial development c. keep the American colonies weak and dependent d. stimulate colonial economic diversification e. finance the British navy

Q: Why did the United States implement the Marshall Plan? a. to strengthen the U.S. military and win the arms race b. to prevent Civil War in China and stop the spread of communism c. to placate Stalin and end the Cold War d. to improve the Western European economy and stop the spread of communism e. to convince the American public to engage in open war with the Soviet Union

Q: Theodore Roosevelt can be considered one of the country's first conservationist presidents because he __________. a. created 150 million acres in new government preserves b. loved animals and the remaining wilderness in the United States c. believed in sequestering public land, so it would not be damaged d. opposed the use of coal because it damaged the environment e. was an avid hunter, but confined his big game pursuits to Africa

Q: What was the consequence of the formation of the Standard Oil Trust? a. The federal government passed legislation to stop further trusts from forming. b. Other industries followed its lead, and trusts became common in America. c. John D. Rockefeller lost control of his company. d. Other oil companies began to compete with Standard Oil over prices. e. It became famous as the only trust ever formed in the United States.

Q: John Tyler initiated the politics of Manifest Destiny __________. a. to win the support of his fellow Whigs b. to bring together the Whig and Democratic parties c. with the aid of Henry Clay d. to build a base for his reelection in 1844 e. in hopes of identifying himself with James Monroe

Q: At the Hartford Convention, __________. a. a resolution threatening New England's secession was adopted b. Federalists demanded a unanimous vote in the Senate before war could be declared c. New Englanders gave strong support for the war effort d. the principles of the "three-fifths rule" concerning slavery were opposed e. Federalists continued to show their support of the embargo

Q: The Navigation Acts established the principle that __________. a. certain American products could be sold only in England or in English colonies b. only English merchants could engage in colonial trade c. all colonial goods sold in England had to be shipped in American vessels d. only colonial merchants could engage in colonial trade e. goods imported to the colonies could not be transshipped through England

Q: What was one effect of McCarthyism? a. a political and cultural conformity that discouraged dissent b. an expansion of the defense of freedom of speech rights c. an intellectual revolution that encouraged new ideas d. a drop in literacy rates among American youth e. a wider appreciation of diversity in the United States

Q: Upton Sinclair described the __________ as the "wage slaves of the Beef Trust." a. consumers of unsanitary beef b. inhumanely treated cows c. poorly paid meat packers d. African American indentured servants e. politicians whom owners bribed

Q: Why did John D. Rockefeller reject competition among oil companies? a. He believed that consolidation, not competition, created stronger companies. b. He did not want to be forced to lower his prices to consumers. c. He felt that other oil companies were inferior to his company. d. He believed that competition would only weaken his own company. e. He felt that his company needed to develop before it could compete with others.

Q: How did the Jackson administration react when Texas became an independent republic in 1836? a. It tried to convince Texans to return to Mexican rule. b. It declared war on Mexico to defend Texas's revolt. c. It immediately annexed Texas. d. It formally recognized Texas as a sovereign republic. e. It refused to recognize Texas as a republic.

Q: At the Battle of New Orleans, __________. a. British forces retreated when they saw the strength of American defenses b. British forces won and forced the surrender of the city c. British forces were defeated by Andrew Jackson and his troops d. Andrew Jackson proved to be an ineffective political leader e. Andrew Jackson was briefly held as a prisoner

Q: British authorities based their colonial commercial policies on the theory of __________. a. feudalism b. monopolism c. mercantilism d. federalism e. republicanism

Q: How did President Eisenhower deal with Joseph McCarthy? a. He asked McCarthy to investigate military officers. b. He ordered McCarthy to focus on celebrities, not government employees. c. He openly attacked McCarthy and quickly ended his career. d. He gave McCarthy his unconditional support. e. He waited for McCarthy's zeal to be his own undoing.

Q: In his negotiations to pass the Hepburn Act of 1906, what did Roosevelt reveal about his political strategy? a. He capitalized on his popularity with the masses to coerce Congress to pass bills. b. He used his military past to command awe and obedience to his will as president. c. He employed yellow journalists and muckrakers to attack his opponents. d. As a young and new president, he relied too heavily on experienced advisors. e. He would use media exposure and deal-making with Congress to pass bills.

Q: What was the result of Andrew Carnegie's sale of Carnegie Steel? a. J. P. Morgan combined it with other steel companies into the U.S. Steel Corporation. b. It led to the formation of the first American trust. c. It inspired John D. Rockefeller to sell his Standard Oil Company. d. It led to the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, the largest steel structure in the world. e. Charles Schwab bought it and combined it with National Steel to form the largest steel company in the United States.

Q: Why was slavery a point of conflict between the Mexican government and Anglo-American settlers in Texas? a. The Mexican government required Anglo-American settlers to emancipate their slaves. b. The Mexican government required each Anglo-American settler to own at least four slaves. c. The Mexican government allowed white as well as black slavery. d. The Anglo-American settlers tried to enslave Mexican citizens. e. The Anglo-American settlers did not want slavery in the territory.

Q: __________ believed it was imperative that the United States acquire Canada. a. War Hawks b. Status Quos c. Quids d. Federalists e. Expansionists

Q: The most serious slave rebellion of the colonial period was __________. a. the Stono Uprising b. the Denmark Vesey Conspiracy c. Nat Turner's Rebellion d. the Jamestown Massacre e. Bacon's Rebellion

Q: How did Joseph McCarthy develop such power over his fellow senators? a. He physically threatened them. b. He blackmailed them. c. He instilled fear in them. d. He bribed them with campaign contributions. e. He was wildly popular with both the president and the people.

Q: Roosevelt regretted making the statement, "Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept another nomination," because he __________. a. ran for the office of president in the very next election b. ran for the office of senator at the end of his life c. appointed his successor, William Howard Taft, and controlled his actions from behind the scenes d. decided to run for the presidency eight years later e. was legally barred from running again after having served two full terms as president

Q: The reason for Andrew Carnegie's success was that he __________. a. inherited a large family fortune b. understood how to organize steel industry management c. shared profits with his workers d. had no competition from other producers e. had worked in the steel industry since childhood

Q: Why was there friction between the Mexican government and Anglo-American settlers in Texas? a. The Mexican government denied Anglo-American settlers the right to own land. b. The Mexican government did not grant women any rights. c. Many Anglo-American settlers refused to convert to Catholicism. d. Many Anglo-American settlers refused to practice any religion. e. Many Anglo-American settlers refused to pay taxes.

Q: The effect of Macon's Bill Number Two was that __________. a. Napoleon promised to rescind the Berlin and Milan decrees b. Great Britain promised to rescind the Orders in Council c. Napoleon declared war on the United States d. Madison received strong public support e. even diplomatic contact with Britain and France was severed

Q: In which colony were African Americans most able to preserve their African identity? a. New Jersey b. South Carolina c. Pennsylvania d. New York e. North Carolina

Q: Why did Truman establish the Loyalty Review Board? a. to interrogate citizens suspected of being political activists b. to investigate government employees as potential communists c. to investigate accusations of cowardice and treason in the military d. to reward veterans of the Korean War for bravery and valor e. to appoint campaign contributors to positions of power

Q: What did the term "square deal" mean? a. The coal miners got more money and a shorter workday, but the owners got "squared," or shorted, and got nothing. b. Like the equal sides of a square, both the miners and the owners got a fair, equitable deal from Roosevelt's negotiations. c. Because Roosevelt used highly intelligent "square" men to broker the deal between the coal miners and owners, the deal was called a "square deal." d. By refusing to recognize the coal miners' union, the owners got the "square," or better, part of the deal. e. Like the four equal sides of a square, the four interested parties (the government, the arbitrator, the coal miners, and the owners) each participated equally in the negotiations.

Q: Why did it take until the 1860s to build a transcontinental railroad? a. The needed land was designated as Indian territory. b. There was a shortage of workers. c. The federal government refused to provide land grants for railroad companies. d. Bankers were not willing to back such a risky investment. e. Sectional quarrels developed over the route to be taken.

Q: How were Young Americans different from the more traditional members of the Democratic Party? a. They were enthusiastic about commerce, industry, and speculation in the market. b. They were opposed to territorial expansion. c. They fiercely opposed the Mexican"American War. d. They worried about the materialism that accompanied the market economy. e. They embraced European themes in American literature.

Q: In the election of 1808, the Federalist Party __________. a. seemed unable to adapt to the changes of society b. made impressive gains in Congress c. had won new support in the West d. was dominated by innovative new political leaders e. nominated George Clinton for president

Q: Gullah, a Creole language, was spoken on the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia until the __________. a. beginning of the Civil War b. end of the twentieth century c. inhabitants were killed during the Civil War d. middle of the twentieth century e. end of the nineteenth century

Q: Truman's prospects in the 1948 election looked __________. a. very promising because he had successfully kept inflation down after World War II b. promising because he unified Democrats and even some GOP leaders in his support c. promising because he remained wildly popular with the public throughout his term d. bleak because Democratic support had been split among several candidates e. bleak because he lacked the funds to travel the country and garner support

Q: How did Theodore Roosevelt distinguish a "good" trust from a "bad" trust? a. A good trust stayed within reasonable bounds, whereas a bad trust hurt the general welfare of society. b. A good trust donated money to Roosevelt's campaign, whereas bad trusts did not. c. A good trust was well-organized and efficient, whereas a bad trust was cumbersome and inefficient. d. A good trust employed the masses (immigrants, women, the poor, African Americans); a bad trust only employed white males. e. A good trust developed products that contributed to society; a bad trust worked in mergers and acquisitions and did not produce any actual products.

Q: Which of the following lists industrial developments in proper chronological order?a. the completion of the first transcontinental railroad, formation of the first trust, formation of U.S. Steel Corporationb. the formation of U.S. Steel Corporation, formation of the first trust, completion of the first transcontinental railroadc. the formation of the first trust, completion of the first transcontinental railroad, formation of U.S. Steel Corporationd. the formation of the first trust, formation of U.S. Steel Corporation, completion of the first transcontinental railroade. the formation of U.S. Steel Corporation, completion of the first transcontinental railroad, the formation of the first trust

Q: The Female Labor Reform Association campaigned for __________. a. more jobs for women b. more managerial positions for women c. higher pay for both men and women d. shorter work days for women e. an end to all forms of sexual harassment

Q: According to the policy of peaceable coercion, __________. a. a nation declares its neutrality b. a nation avoids all military confrontation c. peaceful relations should be sought through negotiations d. economic pressure is used as a diplomatic weapon e. neutral nations can have limited trade with belligerents

Q: The eighteenth-century population of the lowlands of South Carolina was ________ percent black. a. 30 b. 40 c. 50 d. 60 e. 70

Q: Truman won the 1948 election because of the way he handled __________. a. the Cold War b. labor issues c. inflation d. the Korean War e. New Deal reforms

Q: In the Brownsville incident, Roosevelt __________. a. demonstrated disrespect for African Americans and their service in war by dismissing the soldiers without investigating the incident b. exhibited his bias for military personnel when he ruled in favor of the soldiers without investigating their conduct c. showed that holding to his beliefs was more important to him than reelection d. revealed that he was a true pragmatist, able to live in a world with no easy answers, when he dismissed loyal soldiers from the army e. demonstrated his progressive spirit by seeking the most efficient and systematic removal of the involved soldiers

Q: The adoption of a standard gauge system for all railroads __________. a. allowed all rails to be built of steel instead of inferior quality metal b. allowed trains to travel on all tracks, thus integrating the entire system c. kept all trains running on the same time schedule d. allowed tracks to be built on both government and private lands e. kept the trains from derailing so often and so disastrously

Q: The majority of immigrants became __________. a. yeoman farmers b. small business owners c. wage workers in factories d. skilled craftsmen e. prospectors

Q: The Chesapeake Affair of 1807 __________. a. violated American sovereignty b. forced the French to rescind the Berlin Decree c. damaged the British navy d. had little effect on Anglo-American relations e. influenced the Americans to support the French

Q: During the colonial period, most of the slaves sent to the North American colonies were supplied by the __________. a. Dutch b. Americans c. Portuguese d. Spanish e. British

Q: What was the most significant result of the Korean War? a. It vindicated the United States in the eyes of the world. b. It succeeded in unifying Korea for thirty years. c. The war brought about massive American rearmament. d. The war reinforced Truman's popularity with the American people. e. It inhibited further expansionism on the part of the Soviet Union.

Q: Why did Theodore Roosevelt call Robert La Follette's Wisconsin Idea "the laboratory of democracy"?a. The Wisconsin Idea improved voter education and participation.b. The Idea was voted on and approved by all citizens of Wisconsin.c. Voters gained power to directly elect officials, and the results democratized or equalized education, employment, and public resources.d. The Idea removed nearly all corrupt officials from local, state, and federal governments in Wisconsin.e. The Idea became the model for all other states and eventually the rest of the democratic world.

Q: Why didn't early American railroads actually link different regions to each other? a. They did not have enough steel to make the tracks very long. b. They were only built to bring goods from one city to another. c. They had different schedules and incompatible gauges. d. They were only affordable to the richest passengers. e. They were built with inferior equipment and were constantly breaking down.

Q: The majority of Irish immigrants settled in the __________. a. South b. Midwest c. Far West d. Northeast e. Gulf Coast region

Q: As the Napoleonic wars broke out in Europe, the United States __________. a. was forced to take sides b. isolated itself from the war c. took advantage of the situation d. feared for the safety of its citizens e. threw its support behind France, in recognition of their support during the Revolutionary War

Q: In the early seventeenth century, Virginia's blacks __________. a. were encouraged to marry white women b. occasionally served in the House of Burgesses c. were sometimes indentured servants d. greatly outnumbered whites e. slowly integrated into white society

Q: After General MacArthur's victory at Inchon, Korea, Truman __________. a. ordered UN troops to cross the Yellow Sea and attack China b. ordered UN troops not to advance beyond the 38th parallel c. withdrew UN troops from Korea because he had made his point to Stalin d. shifted his military goal from restoring the 38th parallel to unifying Korea by force e. declared the Korean War over with a UN victory

Q: City governments became more like businesses during the early 1900s because they __________. a. became more corrupt, working for the wealthy and crushing the masses with unfair housing, tax, and employment laws b. became more supportive of the masses, creating health, housing, and employment programs to help the poor c. became balanced by competitive political parties and special interest groups, just as big businesses were balanced by unions versus management d. created systems of managers (elected officials) supported by experts, stressing continuity, efficiency, and results e. became so embroiled in bureaucracy and regulations that they could not function properly

Q: How were American railroads different from European railroads?a. American railroads connected only major cities, whereas older European railroads connected small towns as well.b. European railroads employed workers from the upper class, whereas American railroad workers were from the lowest class in society.c. European railroads brought goods to places that could not be reached any other way, whereas American railroads could reach only metropolitan areas.d. Trains on American railroads were not able to travel as far or as fast as European trains because the land on which they traveled was undeveloped.e. European railroads were built between already existing towns, but American railroads often created the towns that they served.

Q: The period of greatest immigration in proportion to the overall population in America was __________. a. 1790-1800 b. 1805-1815 c. 1845-1855 d. 1880-1890 e. 1910-1920

Q: According to the 1807 federal law that outlawed the importation of slaves, Africans captured from smugglers were to be __________. a. lined up and executed b. returned to Africa c. immediately emancipated d. turned over to state authorities to be disposed of according to local custom e. sold to the highest bidder by federal agents

Q: Of the estimated 11 million African slaves carried to America, the great majority were sent to __________. a. Brazil and the Caribbean b. British North America c. Chile d. Argentina e. Central America

Q: How did the United States react to the 1950 treaty between Stalin and Mao? a. It congratulated Stalin and Mao on their treaty and offered to join their new alliance. b. It openly threatened Stalin with war if he contributed to the spread of communism in Asia. c. It warned the Soviet Union to stay out of East Asian politics. d. It wanted to keep its alliance with China and sought to make peace with the new regime. e. It refused to recognize the new Chinese regime and focused on Japan as its main ally in Asia.

Q: Why did voting decline during the Progressive Era? a. Because pessimism marked the Progressive Era, people did not bother voting. b. Because African Americans and women made up most of the population, their disfranchisement affected voter turnout. c. People focused on social reforms rather than on politics in the Progressive Era. d. People focused on moral reforms rather than on politics in the Progressive Era. e. People relied on interest groups to pressure government into policies they supported, so they did not feel the need to vote.

Q: Which of the following was a factor in American industrial development? a. the availability of overseas natural resources b. government regulation of industry c. low tariffs on foreign goods d. industrialization of the South after the Civil War e. an abundance of labor

Q: Between the 1830s and 1840s, most of the immigrants to the United States came from __________. a. the Far East b. western Europe c. eastern Europe d. Latin America e. China

Q: Northerners struggled with the issue of ending the slave trade because __________. a. the three-fifths clause had worked to their favor in several past elections b. they could not figure out how to deal with black people who were captured by customs agents c. they believed states should regulate it, wanting to keep out of the debate d. it provided needed tax money to the federal government e. they wanted to abolish slavery completely instead

Q: By the late 1600s, the gap between rich and poor in white Chesapeake society __________.a. steadily shrankb. steadily widenedc. remained unchangedd. could not be estimatede. is not mentioned by contemporary chroniclers

Q: Around the time of the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists __________. a. lost support due to rampant government corruption and extreme inflation b. lost support due to the violence of his government's repression of the Chinese c. gained support because the Chinese middle class was finally flourishing d. gained support because of Chiang's pledge to end government corruption e. had already long since faded as a factor in the Chinese political world

Q: How did progressive attitudes affect the size of government during the Progressive Era? a. Progressives believed that local government could best conduct social reforms and supported agencies of experts, so small state and local governments grew. b. Progressives believed that the federal government could best conduct social reforms and supported agencies of experts, so the national government grew. c. All governments shrank because progressives believed that charities could best conduct social reforms and opposed agencies of experts. d. Small state and local governments grew because progressives believed that most voters were too uneducated to understand national issues. e. Progressives believed in the wisdom of the general masses, so all governments shrank while agencies run by nonpoliticians grew.

Q: The American government affected industrial growth by __________. a. following a policy of laissez-faire b. closely regulating the pace of growth c. providing incentives for growth d. balancing agrarian and industrial demands e. increasing taxes on industry

Q: John Deere's steel plow allowed farmers to __________. a. plow up tough prairie soils b. purchase the less expensive steel plows c. plow loose soil in half the time of a cast-iron plow d. plow by hand without the aid of a farm animal e. plow more accurately than with a cast-iron plow

Q: Samuel Chase's impeachment trial __________. a. destroyed the authority of the courts b. forced Marshall to resign c. maintained the independence of the judiciary d. showed Jefferson to be a conciliatory leader e. was a rather dull affair

Q: Compared to New England, Chesapeake society __________. a. was more democratic b. was characterized by small farms c. possessed fewer families d. had a more demographically concentrated population e. had fewer slaves

Q: The defense policy known as NSC-68 was based on the premise that __________. a. isolationism should continue to be a major part of American foreign policy b. appeasement of aggressive foreign powers should continue to be a major part of American foreign policy c. the Soviet Union wanted to take over the world and was a threat to the United States d. military spending was out of control and needed to be curbed immediately e. the United States was now so powerful that it did not need to worry about threats from foreign powers

Q: Which part of the United States continued to oppose suffrage for women and African Americans even after most other states had passed universal suffrage laws? a. the South b. the North c. the West d. the Southwest e. the Midwest

Q: The great strike of 1877, in which more than 100 people died, involved __________. a. steel workers b. cowboys c. railroad workers d. oil workers e. textile workers

Q: In 1860, the main source of livelihood for individuals and the biggest contributor to the gross national product was __________. a. ranching b. gold mining c. farming d. the textile industry e. the transportation industry