Q&A Hero

Q: Who was the leading financier in the United States in the early 1900s? a. Lincoln Steffens b. Upton Sinclair c. J. P. Morgan d. John Theodoric e. George Vanderbilt

Q: How did African Americans end up paying the heaviest price for the sectional reunion after Reconstruction? a. African Americans lost an enormous amount of wealth and property during Reconstruction and by the end were reduced to poverty. b. Congress made no efforts to address the rights of African Americans in their attempts to repair the damaged South during Reconstruction. c. Although African Americans saw signs of equal rights at the start of Reconstruction, once it ended many of these rights were not enforceable. d. Many laws were passed by Congress during Reconstruction that deliberately restricted the rights of newly freed slaves. e. African Americans who left the South for the North after the Civil War found that their rights there were slowly being restricted as Reconstruction progressed.

Q: Southern apologists claimed the master-slave relationship was more humane than employer-worker relationships because it __________. a. offered more opportunities for job training b. was actually a freer relationship c. emphasized cultural identities in a segregated environment d. afforded greater long-term security e. included women in the workforce

Q: Why didn't William Paterson's New Jersey Plan appeal to most delegates of the Philadelphia Convention?a. It proposed a unicameral Congress in which the states would be represented equally, giving the states too much power.b. It proposed a two-house national legislature, giving the federal government too much power.c. It only represented the wishes of the larger states, excluding the smaller states.d. It was strongly supported by Madison and his colleagues, so most delegates rejected it on that basis alone.e. It denied Congress power to tax or regulate trade, severely hampering its political and economic viability.

Q: During the era of the European slave trade, West Africans __________. a. were quite isolated from the rest of the world b. had a simple, self-sufficient economy c. had a single monolithic culture that covered most of the African continent d. were increasingly being converted by Muslim missionaries e. were united by a single language

Q: What was the purpose of the "No Child Left Behind" measure? a. to channel billions of dollars into antipoverty efforts around the world b. to mandate state testing to evaluate student performance in reading and math c. to provide resources to low-income families to increase graduation rates d. to make preschool and kindergarten mandatory for all American children e. to reform the foster care system in an attempt to prevent child abuse

Q: When the United States and the Dutch East Indies banned trade with Japan, the Japanese lost their source of __________, which led them to attack the United States. a. oil b. flour c. steel d. rubber e. ammunition

Q: Between 1898 and 1903, the American economy saw __________. a. an increase in the number of smaller businesses b. greater competition among all businesses c. a wave of mergers and consolidations d. the outlawing of trusts e. meager overall business growth

Q: Why did Andrew Johnson particularly resist the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment? a. Johnson felt that these laws did not grant full equal rights to African Americans, and thus pushed for further legislation, which ultimately became the Fifteenth Amendment. b. Johnson strongly supported states' rights and felt that these laws did not allow states to manage their own affairs regarding the rights of their citizens. c. Johnson felt that by stating the rights of African Americans, southern state governments would be able to exploit legal loopholes. d. Johnson believed that his Republican supporters would never vote for him again if he supported equal rights for African Americans. e. Johnson knew that these laws would only encourage terrorist organizations to form in opposition to them.

Q: Southern proslavery arguments included the belief that __________. a. slavery was wrong, but necessary for the Southern economy b. the Bible sanctioned slavery c. slavery was mandated by the U.S. Constitution d. sending slaves back to Africa would be too expensive e. the social class structure of the South would collapse without slavery

Q: Why did the delegates at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention vow to secrecy during the proceedings? a. to keep their competition (Antifederalists) in the dark b. so that James Madison could wield limitless power c. to avoid erroneous and mischievous rumors d. to avoid a civil war between the North and the South e. so that there would be a balance of power between state and federal governments

Q: What was the main result of the deadly diseases brought to the New World by Europeans? a. an extremely high mortality rate among the natives, destroying the culture of many tribes b. a diminution of these diseases throughout Europe c. some deaths, but a low number compared to those caused by warfare between Native Americans and Europeans d. a death rate high only where Native Americans lived in low concentrations e. no significant deaths, since Native Americans were already immune to these diseases

Q: What was President George W. Bush's first order of business after being elected? a. expansion of the Americans with Disabilities Act b. environmental protections c. quelling the unrest in the Middle East d. health care reform e. a large tax cut

Q: In October 1941, German U-boats sank the __________, killing more than 100 American sailors. a. Liberty b. Mayaguez c. Jefferson d. Lusitania e. Reuben James

Q: Henry Ford showed that enormous revenues could be derived from __________. a. cheap, low-quality goods b. an emphasis on craft methods of production c. low-volume, high-quality production d. small unit profit on a large volume of sales e. high-priced, luxury goods

Q: How might Reconstruction have been different if Lincoln had not been assassinated? a. African Americans might have gained political and economic rights sooner, since Lincoln was a strong supporter of equal rights for all Americans. b. Terrorist groups like the Ku Klux Klan would not have developed in the South. c. Women would also have gained the right to vote, since Lincoln would have encouraged this in the Fifteenth Amendment. d. Lincoln would have refused to allow any former Confederates to participate in Republican government. e. Since Lincoln had showed some flexibility with Congress before, it is possible that he could have worked with the Radical Republicans on a compromise plan.

Q: Non-slaveholders in the South followed the leadership of slaveowners because they __________. a. were dependent on the institution of slavery for their livelihoods b. thought slavery was best for the slaves themselves c. wanted to become slaveowners themselves d. were not eligible to participate in the political process e. feared slaveowners would requisition their land

Q: How did Shays's Rebellion help advance Madison's reformation ideas?a. Farmers throughout the United States began supporting Madison as a way of guaranteeing their rights.b. Wealthy plantation owners feared rebellions on their own lands and wanted a strong government to protect their interests.c. Madison was instrumental in calming the farmers and ending the rebellion, so people began to trust him.d. Even Northerners were alarmed to see that African Americans could wield such power, and looked to Madison to establish a government to protect whites.e. People throughout the United States realized that law and order were breaking down.

Q: Which characteristic did most eastern North American Indian cultures share? a. Eastern Native Americans were united and spoke a common language. b. Eastern Native American tribes were ruled by a central leader from the most powerful tribe. c. Eastern Native Americans waged wars with large numbers of causalities to settle territorial disputes. d. Eastern Native American bands were patrilineal. e. Eastern Native American tribes were willing to align themselves with Europeans against other tribes.

Q: The outcome of the 2000 presidential election hung on legal battles over the vote count in __________. a. Ohio b. Illinois c. Florida d. California e. New Mexico

Q: Roosevelt's Lend-Lease policy __________. a. ensured British access to American war supplies b. placed restrictions on materials the United States could ship to Britain c. encountered almost no opposition from American congressmen d. was strongly supported by American isolationists e. was approved by Congress but never implemented

Q: A __________ set new standards for mass production in the early twentieth century. a. Colt .45 revolver b. McCormick reaper c. Ford Model T d. General Electric oscillating fan e. Philco radio

Q: What was the legacy of Reconstruction for most African Americans? a. the benefits of freedom b. poverty and discrimination c. land ownership d. skilled factory jobs e. successful entry into politics

Q: Hinton R. Helper tried to convince southern yeoman farmers that __________. a. slavery actually reduced their standard of living b. slavery increased their standard of living c. they could someday be slaveowners themselves d. they should fight to maintain the institution of slavery e. they should free their slaves

Q: Why were talented intellectual leaders of the time, including James Madison, described as political geniuses?a. He wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.b. He helped Americans think of republican government in radical new ways.c. He used the teachings of Montesquieu to advocate for strong state governments.d. He had fought bravely in the Revolutionary War, leading his men with wisdom and courage.e. He was successfully governing his home state of Virginia in a socialist manner, giving all power to the people.

Q: Which best describes how Native American groups initially interacted with European explorers? a. Native American groups were eager to trade with the Europeans. b. Native American groups ignored the Europeans. c. Native American groups aggressively attacked the Europeans. d. Native American groups were helpless when attacked by the Europeans. e. Native American groups were reluctant to trade with the Europeans.

Q: Bill Clinton was impeached for __________. a. perjury and obstruction of justice b. making unwelcome sexual advances to Paula Jones c. having an affair with Monica Lewinsky d. selling missile technology to China for campaign contributions e. being involved in a crooked real estate scheme in Arkansas

Q: Hitler started World War II by invading __________ on September 1, 1939.a. Austriab. Polandc. Franced. Czechoslovakiae. Switzerland

Q: Who wrote The Jungle? a. Booker T. Washington b. Upton Sinclair c. W. E. B. Du Bois d. Samuel Gompers e. John Dos Passos

Q: How did the Redeemers restrict the voting rights of blacks in the late 1870s and early 1880s? a. Blacks were not allowed to vote at all and were kept away from the polls. b. Any blacks voting for Democrats had their votes discarded. c. If blacks tried to vote for Republicans, they were intimidated and threatened. d. Blacks could only vote if they paid a fee to the Republican candidates. e. Blacks risked losing their jobs if they tried to vote for any non-Republican candidates.

Q: What was a major contradiction in the attitudes of southern yeoman farmers? a. They were staunch supporters of abolitionism even though they owned slaves. b. They listened sympathetically to abolitionist ideas but remained neutral. c. They paid little attention to the slave system even though it supported them. d. They were staunch supporters of slavery even though they rarely owned slaves. e. They were staunch opponents of slavery because slaves limited their own economic opportunities.

Q: How could a territory become a state according to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?a. First a territory had to raise enough money to buy its land from the European country that owned it, and then the people could petition for statehood.b. Once the people of the territory had successfully subdued the Native American population, they could become a state.c. Territories had to elect officials and then write Articles of Confederation in order to become full-fledged states.d. Once the population reached 60,000, the residents could write a constitution and petition for statehood.e. After a period of eighteen years, territories could petition the federal government for permission to become states.

Q: Which best describes how divisions among Algonquin groups helped facilitate European conquest of their lands? a. Algonquin groups were so busy fighting each other that they did not notice the European arrivals. b. Algonquin groups divided into two powerful leagues, one of which sided with the English. c. Algonquin groups could not communicate with each other and thus could not warn each other of European invaders. d. Algonquin groups had a strict hierarchy that made it much easier for Europeans to conquer them. e. Algonquin groups were more willing to ally themselves with foreigners than with other Algonquin groups.

Q: A component of the Contract with America was __________. a. universal health care coverage b. a restriction on campaign donations by lobbyists c. term limits for members of Congress d. requiring drug tests for welfare benefits e. a lower-class tax cut

Q: British and French leaders met with Hitler in 1938 to discuss his demand for __________. a. the Rhineland b. Austria c. the Polish Corridor d. the Czech province of Sudetenland e. Alsace and Lorraine

Q: The focus of Lincoln Steffens's research and writing was __________. a. corruption in city government b. filth in meatpacking plants c. monopolies d. conservation e. unhealthy working conditions

Q: In what way did white farmers also suffer from the new southern governments run by the Redeemers? a. They were often denied the right to vote and were intimidated at the polls. b. They were forced to pay high taxes on any imported goods from the North. c. They were not allowed to own property and could only work for rich planters. d. They could not borrow any federal money and were forced to give up their farms. e. They were forced into deeper debt due to the crop lien system that favored local merchants.

Q: The prosperity of the southern yeoman was limited by the lack of __________. a. cash crops b. land c. transportation facilities d. educational facilities e. focus on building large enterprises

Q: Why did disagreements over western lands delay the ratification of the Articles of Confederation?a. Britain still held claims on the western lands, so the Americans had to negotiate with Britain before they could ratify.b. Some states claimed the land that Britain had given to Native Americans, and other states had no claim on the land.c. Native Americans protested the Articles of Confederation in an effort to secure their land in the West.d. A large percentage of Americans lived in the West, but travel and communication was poor, so it took a long time to receive their votes.e. Most of the land in the West belonged to Spain and France, so the impoverished new America had to wait to raise money to buy it.

Q: At the time Europeans arrived, the societies of central Mexico __________. a. included large cities ruled by effective bureaucracies b. used iron and bronze tools and weapons c. did not practice intensive agriculture d. were composed of small, isolated tribes e. were hunter-gatherers

Q: What is NAFTA? a. the first lending institution to need a government bailout in 2008 b. the most common weapon of mass destruction found in Iraq c. an arms treaty between the United States and Russia d. a free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada e. an international organization helping nations move from communism to democracy

Q: What did the first neutrality act, passed in 1935, prohibit? a. adding any new troops to the U.S. armed forces b. sending troops to aid Allies at war c. traveling outside of the U.S. borders d. selling arms to nations at war e. covering foreign wars in the news

Q: What can be assumed about isolationists given the immense popularity of the Republican party in the early twentieth century? a. If pro-isolationist Republicans were the most popular party, then it can be assumed that expansionists were a minority. b. If anti-imperialist Republicans were the most popular party, then it can be assumed that pro-imperialists were a minority. c. The Republican party was pro-isolationist. d. If pro-expansionist Republicans were the most popular party, then it can be assumed that isolationists were a minority. e. The Republican party was anti-imperialist.

Q: What did Republican leaders agree to do in order to ensure the election of Rutherford Hayes? a. offer lucrative positions to members of the electoral commission b. end federal support for southern radical regimes c. support fraudulent elections with federal troops d. continue federal support for southern radical regimes e. let Democrats take over all southern governments

Q: Why did most slaves typically prefer living and working on a plantation rather than a small farm? a. Plantation owners often worked alongside their slaves. b. There was a greater sense of community and better living conditions on plantations. c. Slaves often enjoyed a sense of camaraderie with plantation owners. d. Rich planters usually avoided breaking up families on their plantations. e. Working hours were always shorter on plantations than on small farms.

Q: Why did the Articles of Confederation give states more power than the central government? a. The delegates believed that powerful state governments were dangerous. b. The delegates were mostly state governors, so they wanted to preserve their own power. c. The new central government had proven itself unworthy of power with corrupt officials and systematic abuses. d. Articles of Confederation by definition must give power to the states, as they form a statewide document. e. The delegates believed that powerful central governments were dangerous.

Q: Which identifies the most important result of the domestication of maize (corn), beans, and squash by some Native American groups? a. People gained greater control over their environments. b. People stopped hunting mammals. c. People evolved into a single continental cultural unit. d. People were able to continue a wandering, hunting lifestyle. e. People moved closer to the coasts where the land was more fertile.

Q: The largest single group of Asian Americans in the first decade of the twenty-first century was of __________ descent. a. Cambodian b. Chinese c. Laotian d. Thai e. Vietnamese

Q: What did the Nye Committee investigate? a. war crimes committed during World War I b. possible German spies in the United States c. American munitions dealers d. liberal antiwar activists e. American communists

Q: American foreign policy today most closely resembles the U.S. foreign policy of the 1890s toward __________. a. Venezuela: the United States nearly went to war with a European power over another country's border dispute b. the Philippines: the United States used military power to help a country gain independence and then helped establish its government c. Hawaii: the United States annexed and then made a state out of a valuable foreign land d. Cuba: the United States used military power and defeated an imperial enemy in a few weeks e. Alaska: the United States bought land from another country and made it a state

Q: What is significant about the result of the disputed election of 1876? a. It was the last Radical victory. b. It meant the end of Reconstruction. c. It marked the beginning of national Democratic ascendency. d. It demonstrated the political power of southern African Americans. e. It was resolved more quickly than anyone expected.

Q: Which practice provides the best evidence against the idea of benevolent planters who looked after the welfare of their slaves? a. The masters of large plantations did not have relationships with most of their slaves. b. Some planters subjected misbehaving slaves to physical punishment. c. Planters often broke up families and sold family members to distant plantations. d. Planters relied on fear as the foundation of their authority over their slaves. e. Slaves were often expected to adopt an attitude of fondness toward their masters.

Q: Why did most first state constitutions include a bill of rights? a. to remind future rulers of the exact limits of their authority b. to establish that only white male landowners had rights c. to create a stronger central federal government d. to prevent a stronger central federal government e. because the federal Constitution included a bill of rights

Q: In the 1580s, the English attempted to make a settlement at __________. a. Jamestown b. Newfoundland c. Plymouth d. Hatteras e. Roanoke

Q: What event revealed to the nation that poverty in America was not color-blind? a. the 2000 presidential election b. the Oklahoma City bombing c. Hurricane Katrina d. Operation Desert Shield e. Operation Desert Storm

Q: In the 1930s, support for pacifism was particularly strong among __________. a. college students b. high-ranking businessmen c. labor unions d. the elderly e. the lower classes

Q: Does U.S. foreign policy today more closely reflect the isolationist or the expansionist model? a. Because the United States no longer participates in armed conflicts in other countries, it reflects the isolationist model. b. It reflects the isolationist model because the United States only participates in the world economically, and not militarily or politically. c. Because the United States participates in affairs throughout the world for its own benefit, it reflects the expansionist model. d. Because the United States only participates in the other countries' struggles for freedom, and not for any U.S. gain, it reflects the expansionist model. e. It reflects the isolationist model because the United States tries to establish its influence only in the Americas.

Q: What was the main reason for the Ku Klux Klan's success in the South after 1868? a. popular support from whites of all social classes for white supremacy b. its centralized political organization c. its support from the southern state Republican governments d. the persistent threat of a violent black uprising against the white planter class e. the Force Act, which protected terrorist groups like the Klan from being arrested

Q: Which statement best identifies the belief that Christian slaveholders used to justify the enslavement of other human beings? a. The prosperity of many is necessitated by the suffering of a few. b. Suffering in slavery helps African Americans earn a place in Heaven. c. People of African descent are demons and therefore should be enslaved. d. People of African descent are mentally and morally inferior. e. Being enslaved will help convert African Americans to Christianity.

Q: What did women gain as a result of the American Revolution? a. Women gained voting rights and access to higher education. b. Women gained little; their lives remained much the same. c. Women could now become landowners, shopkeepers, and dress makers. d. Women gained education, new divorce laws, and some economic opportunities. e. Women could travel freely, study widely, and find gainful employment.

Q: The mission of the Spanish Armada was to __________. a. suppress a revolt in the Netherlands b. defend Queen Elizabeth I of England against challenges to her rule c. eliminate Queen Elizabeth I and make England a Catholic country d. replace Queen Elizabeth I with Mary Queen of Scots e. get revenge against the English for their seizure of Spanish treasure galleons

Q: By 2002, __________ had become the nation's largest ethnic minority. a. African Americans b. Asian Americans c. Hispanics d. German Americans e. Pacific Islanders

Q: The weakness of the League of Nations was revealed when Italy invaded __________. a. Ethiopia b. Libya c. Egypt d. Spain e. Greece

Q: How did the Boxer Rebellion affect U.S. policy in China? a. The United States realized that China would not cooperate with the Open Door policy and began to join the European nations in dividing up China. b. The United States affirmed the Open Door policy and declared China's independence from any foreign (European) rule. c. The United States saw that China was determined to keep out foreign influence, so it withdrew to the Philippines to avoid armed conflict. d. The United States realized that anti-imperialists back home wanted it to withdraw from China, so it negotiated secretly. e. The rebellion in Canada turned U.S. attention away from China and to the anti-imperialist demonstrations closer to home.

Q: Why were some American women angered by the Fifteenth Amendment? a. It gave voting rights only to white women, but not to African American women. b. White women did not want African Americans to have the right to vote. c. It gave voting rights to black men, but not to any women. d. It did not make poll taxes or literacy tests illegal. e. It allowed African Americans to vote in the North and South, but white women could vote only in the North.

Q: Most southern planters considered their slaves to be __________. a. hard-working and industrious b. children who required constant supervision c. skilled and motivated d. dangerous malcontents e. mere property

Q: How were women affected by the political ideas of the American Revolution? a. These ideas did not interest women very much. b. The ideas brought dramatic changes and opportunities to their lives. c. The ideas caused them to be more assertive about their roles in the family. d. The end of the war allowed women to participate actively in government. e. Revolutionary ideas brought them together to demand universal suffrage.

Q: The English monarch responsible for consolidating the Protestant Reformation and restoring English nationalism was __________. a. Henry VII b. Henry VIII c. Elizabeth I d. Mary Tudor e. James I

Q: Which area of the United States experienced dramatic growth from the 1970s to the 1990s? a. the Pacific Northwest b. the Great Lakes region c. the Northeast coast d. the Midwest e. the Sunbelt

Q: The countries that comprised the Axis Powers in World War II were __________. a. Germany, France, and Spain b. Germany, China, and Russia c. Germany, Italy, and Japan d. Britain, France, and the United States e. Russia, China, and the United States

Q: Why did American missionaries want to "Christianize" the Philippines?a. Many American missionaries may have felt that Roman Catholicism was not a legitimate form of Christianity or that it was not being properly practiced by Filipinos.b. Most Filipinos were not Christian, and American missionaries felt it was their obligation to convert them.c. Most Filipinos were Christian, but American missionaries wanted to annex the Philippines for money, so they told President McKinley otherwise.d. Although many missionaries had tried to "Christianize" the Filipinos, they resisted culturally and religiously.e. American missionaries knew that "Christianizing" the Filipinos would make it easier to govern and control them.

Q: What was the general impression of Ulysses S. Grant by the public? a. He served as a dynamic and forceful president. b. He took strong actions to protect southern Republicans. c. He gained wide support among Democrats. d. He could not resolve the problems of the times. e. He was always considered above reproach.

Q: In which way did the richest plantation families resemble a traditional landed aristocracy? a. Planters operated under the principles of noblesse oblige. b. Planters collected taxes from the peasants who worked their land. c. Planters' sons chose military or law careers rather than going into trade. d. Planters' daughters were often betrothed during their childhood years. e. Planter families often intermarried with the people who worked the land.

Q: How was slavery an obvious contradiction to the principles of the American republic? a. Slavery showed how poorly treated black women were. b. Americans claimed to be fighting for freedom, but still enslaved others. c. Slavery funded much of the Revolution, so it was part of the new republic. d. Slavery was a British institution and had no place in an independent America. e. People who fought in the war and enslaved others were too violent for a republic.

Q: What sixteenth-century European upheaval had a profound impact upon England's settlement of the New World? a. the Crusades b. the War of the Roses c. the Reformation d. the Hundred Years' War e. the experience of the Marian exiles

Q: The U.S. and allied military campaign against Iraq in 1991 was known as Operation __________. a. Desert Wind b. Desert Storm c. Contact Saddam d. Defeat Kuwait e. Liberate Kuwait

Q: What did the Kellogg-Briand Pact involve? a. an alliance between France, Britain, and the United States b. an international treaty outlawing war c. an agreement that forced the United States to join World War II d. a trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States e. a treaty that gave part of Poland to Germany after World War II

Q: Arguments opposing annexation of the Philippines included that __________. a. the natives could not be Christianized b. colonization was anti-American c. the Filipinos wanted to become Spanish citizens d. the location was too far from the U.S. mainland to be protected e. the Philippines had nothing to offer as a trade partner

Q: Most southern African Americans who held political power during Reconstruction __________. a. alienated whites by pushing for massive land restriction b. concentrated their efforts on educational and political reforms c. used the Freedmen's Bureau to oppress ex-Confederates d. pushed for educational integration e. were more corrupt than their white counterparts

Q: The typical great planter of the pre-Civil War South was __________. a. most likely a self-made man b. looked down on by most southern whites c. well-educated and highly intellectual d. born to wealth and position e. born into a planter family