High School U.S. History & Government - 08/04 Regents
Multiple-Choice Exercise From the New York State Education Department. United States History & Government Regents Examinations. Internet. Available from http://www.nysedregents.org/USHistoryGov/home.html; accessed January 31, 2012.; All rights reserved. No commercial, for-profit use of this material is allowed. E-mail comments and questions to Tami Maloney.
Choose the correct answer for each question.
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In its economic relationship with its North American colonies, Great Britain followed the principles of 18th-century mercantilism by
encouraging the development of manufacturing in the colonies
outlawing the African slave trade
establishing laws against business monopolies
limiting the colonies’ trade with other nations
The principles of government that Thomas Jefferson included in the Declaration of Independence were most influenced by
John Locke’s social contract theory
William Penn’s views on religious toleration
Louis XIV’s belief in divine right
Adam Smith’s ideas of free enterprise
The necessary and proper clause, the amendment process, and the unwritten constitution are evidence that our constitutional system of government provides for
ratification
flexibility
popular sovereignty
equal representation
What economic change resulted from the transportation revolution before the Civil War?
The federal government began to regulate new businesses.
Trade between the United States and Europe was sharply reduced.
The Northeast became better connected to the western section of the country.
The system of slavery on southern plantations began to disappear.
In 1788 and 1789, a major controversy between the Federalists and the Antifederalists focused on
expansion of slavery into the territories
the wisdom of creating a two-house legislature
division of power among different levels of government
the issue of allowing women the right to vote
Antifederalist objections to the ratification of the Constitution led to the
rewriting of major parts of the Constitution
seven-year delay in the ratification of the Constitution
elimination of states’ rights
addition of a Bill of Rights
In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry’s visit to Japan was important to the United States because it
opened new trading opportunities in Asia
acquired cheap labor for America’s factories
ended the United States policy of neutrality
began a military alliance between the two nations
As the Civil War began, President Abraham Lincoln stated that his primary goal was to
end slavery
preserve the Union
set new national boundaries
increase congressional powers
The Civil War affected the northern economy by
decreasing demand for agricultural products
stimulating industrialization
increasing unemployment rates
causing a severe depression
During the 19th century, New York was one of the most powerful states in the nation because it
offered more civil liberties than any other state
led the nation in achieving political reforms
became the financial and industrial center of the nation
produced more presidents than any other state
During the late 19th century, which practices were used by employers against workers?
blacklists and yellow-dog contracts
picketing and walkouts
mass rallies and sit-down strikes
boycotts and lockouts
The term robber baron was used to criticize the
tactics of big-business leaders
corruption of government officials
dishonesty of carpetbaggers
unskilled labor of illegal immigrants
What major trend related to population occurred during the industrialization boom of the late 1800s?
Immigration decreased.
Urbanization increased.
Suburbanization decreased.
Migration to rural areas increased.
The Gentlemen’s Agreement, literacy tests, and the quota system were all attempts by Congress to restrict
property ownership
voting rights
immigration
access to public education
One result of the Spanish-American War of 1898 was that the United States was
drawn into World War II
forced into an economic depression
recognized as a world power
committed to isolationism
During the Progressive Era, muckrakers published articles and novels primarily to
help the federal government become more efficient
make Americans aware of problems in society
advance their own political careers
provide entertainment for readers
During his reelection campaign in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson used the slogan, “He kept us out of war.” In April of 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. What helped bring about this change?
Russia signed a treaty of alliance with the Central Powers.
Britain was invaded by nations of the Central Powers.
Bolshevik forces increased their strength in Germany and Italy.
Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare.
In the 1930s, shantytowns, often called “Hoovervilles,” sprang up across the United States because of President Herbert Hoover’s
efforts to help the residents return to their farms
emergency relief program to provide food to the poor
refusal to provide direct federal aid to the homeless
support for federal programs to provide jobs for the unemployed
Supporters of a graduated national income tax argued that it was the fairest type of tax because the
income tax provided the most revenue for the government
rate of taxation increased as incomes rose
income tax replaced state and local government taxes
rate of taxation was the same for all persons
Henry Ford produced a more affordable car primarily because his company
developed a less expensive method of production
paid workers lower wages than its competitors paid
used foreign-made parts
offered a variety of options to buyers
Which pair of events illustrates an accurate cause-and-effect relationship?
high food prices → start of the Great Depression
Sacco and Vanzetti trial → ratification of the woman suffrage amendment
rebirth of the KKK → formation of the Populist Party
Red Scare → demand for limits on immigration
Which situation helped cause the stock market crash of 1929?
excessive speculation and buying on margin
increased government spending
unwillingness of people to invest in new industries
too much government regulation of business
The Neutrality Acts passed by Congress in the mid-1930s were efforts to
create jobs for the unemployed in the military defense industry
help the democratic nations of Europe against Hitler and Mussolini
support the League of Nations efforts to stop wars in Africa and Asia
avoid mistakes that led the country into World War I
Which factor contributed most to the situation shown in the cartoon?
shortages of consumer goods
creation of a national bank
nonregulation of banks
low tariff rates
The decision of the Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States (1944) upheld the power of the president during wartime to
stop mistreatment of resident legal aliens
ban terrorists from entering the country
limit a group’s civil liberties
deport persons who work for enemy nations
Why was the United States called the “arsenal of democracy” in 1940?
The United States supervised elections in European nations before the war.
The leaders in the democratic nations of Europe were educated in the United States.
The United States provided much of the weaponry needed to fight the Axis powers.
Most of the battles to defend worldwide democracy took place on American soil.
Shortly after entering World War II, the United States began the Manhattan Project to
work on the development of an atomic bomb
defend New York City against a nuclear attack
increase economic production to meet wartime demands
recruit men for the military services
The experiences of African Americans serving in the military forces during World War II influenced their postwar decision to
join the armed forces in record numbers
move back to the rural south
increase efforts to end racial discrimination
renew support for the principle of separate but equal
The main foreign policy objective of the Marshall Plan (1948–1952) was to
rebuild the economies of European nations
stop communist aggression in Korea
provide jobs for unemployed Americans
fight poverty in Latin America
During the Korean War, President Harry Truman removed General Douglas MacArthur from command because MacArthur
threatened the constitutional principle of civilian control of the military
refused to serve under the United Nations
lacked the experience to provide wartime leadership
called for an immediate end to the war
The United States carried out the idea expressed in this late 1940s cartoon by
airlifting supplies to West Berlin
agreeing to turn over control of Berlin to the United Nations
forming a military alliance with Russia
accepting Russian authority over West Berlin
What was a result of the takeover of Cuba by Fidel Castro?
Many Cuban Americans returned to their homeland.
Relations between the Soviet Union and Cuba worsened.
Trade between the United States and Cuba increased.
Many people fled from Cuba to the United States.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower reacted to the situation described in this passage by
asking the Supreme Court to speed up racial integration
sending federal troops to enforce integration
allowing the people of Arkansas to resolve the problem
forcing the governor of Arkansas to resign
In 1965, Congress established Medicare to
assist foreign nations with their health problems
grant scholarships to medical students
provide health care to the elderly
establish universal health care
The Supreme Court decisions in Mapp v. Ohio, Gideon v. Wainright, and Miranda v. Arizona all expanded
rights of the accused
integration of public facilities
presidential powers
equality in the workplace
The main purpose of the War Powers Act of 1973 was to
end the Vietnam War on favorable terms
limit the president’s ability to send troops into combat abroad
expand the power of Congress to declare war
allow people to vote on the issue of United States commitments overseas
In the Supreme Court cases New Jersey v. T.L.O. and Tinker v. Des Moines School District, the Court ruled that
the Bill of Rights does not apply to minors
civil liberties can be both protected and limited in schools
students can be expelled from school without a hearing
individual student rights are more important than a safe school environment
In the United States, regional differences in economic development are primarily due to
state and federal election laws
pressure from various religious groups
geographic factors in various parts of the nation
settlement patterns of immigrant groups
The changes shown on the chart most clearly reflect the
influence of the business cycle
failure of United States military policy
effects of the Cold War
reverses in political party control of Congress
In the United States, support for the passage and expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been strongest among
labor unions
farmers
big business
environmentalists
What Native American Indian viewpoint does the cartoonist support?
Native American Indians support government efforts to stop illegal immigration.
European settlers took Native American Indian land.
Illegal immigrants should not be allowed to settle on Native American Indian reservations.
Government efforts to restrict immigration should be supported.
A major goal of the Republican Party since the 1980s has been to
cut federal taxes
increase welfare benefits
increase the size of the federal workforce
reduce defense spending
During the next 30 years, what will be the most likely impact of the baby boom that followed World War II?
The cost of health care will decrease.
The elderly will be the smallest segment of the population.
More money will be spent on national defense.
Social Security will have to provide for increasing numbers of retired people.
The Articles of Confederation and the theory of nullification were both attempts to
form new political parties
protect states’ rights
strengthen the national government
strengthen the presidency
Which pair of circumstances represents an accurate cause-and-effect relationship?
more jobs in factories → migration of African Americans from the South to northern cities
establishment of Jim Crow laws → beginning of Reconstruction
closing of the frontier → completion of the transcontinental railroad
Dred Scott decision → passage of the Fugitive Slave Law
In a United States history textbook, the terms bread and butter unionism, Gospel of Wealth, and mechanization would most likely be found in a chapter entitled
Industrialization (1870–1900)
Reconstruction (1865–1877)
Imperialism (1898–1905)
The Roaring Twenties (1920–1929)
Which development is reflected in these headlines?
the post–World War II expansion of communism
the return to an isolationist foreign policy
the beginning of pro-democracy movements during the Cold War
the beginning of détente between the Soviet Union and the United States
Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson supported domestic policies that
led to tax cuts for all Americans
favored only one region of the nation
provided direct help to those in need
attempted to increase the wealth of the rich
The change in the nation’s attitude toward membership in the League of Nations and membership in the United Nations shows the contrast between
isolationism and involvement
neutrality and containment
appeasement and internationalism
interventionism and détente
Which topic has been the focus of four different amendments to the United States Constitution?