AMERICAN HISTORY YEAR-END BENCHMARK EXAMINATION STUDY GUIDE
I. Define each of the following. All will appear on the final examination.
1. Compromise: ___________________________________________
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2. Bill of Rights: ___________________________________________
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3. Constitution: ___________________________________________
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4. Northwest Ordinance: ____________________________________
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5. Ratify: ________________________________________________
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6. Samuel Slater: __________________________________________
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7. Eli Whitney: ____________________________________________
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8. Nativists: ______________________________________________
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9. Missouri Compromise: ____________________________________
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10. Erie Canal: ________________________________________________________
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11. Continental Divide: _____________________________________
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12. War Hawks: ___________________________________________
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13. Francis Scott Key: ______________________________________
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14. Tecumseh: ___________________________________________
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15. Tribute: ______________________________________________
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16. Abraham Lincoln: ______________________________________
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17. Propaganda: __________________________________________
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18. John C. Calhoun: ______________________________________
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19. Popular Sovereignty: ____________________________________
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20. John Brown: __________________________________________
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21. Nathan Hale: _________________________________________
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22. Robert Fulton: ________________________________________
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23. Abolitionist: ___________________________________________
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24. Judicial Review: _______________________________________
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II. Respond to the following questions. You may use your text or notes. The text’s glossary and index will assist you.
25. What was the purpose of the Monroe Doctrine?
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26. What is the Bill of Rights? As you know, it was not originally a part of the Constitution. Why did so many believe it was necessary to add it? What process was used to add it?
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27. What rights does the First Amendment protect?
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28. According to the words of the Constitution, from where does it get it powers?
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29. After Shay’s Rebellion, many saw a great need to revise the Articles of Confederation. Why?
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30. How did railroads contribute to the economy in the middle of the 1800s?
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31. What was the Dred Scott decision? What was the general reaction of the North and South to the decision?
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32. What was the Industrial Revolution? In what industry did it begin?
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33. Describe the Missouri Compromise. What were the parts of the Compromise? Which part favored the North? Which part favored the South?
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34. Describe France’s role in the American Revolution.
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35. What were some of the results of the Lewis and Clark expedition?
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36. What were the terms of the treaty that ended the War of 1812?
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37. What were the circumstances surrounding the Louisiana Purchase? From whom did we purchase the land?
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38. Why was Jefferson uneasy about buying the Louisiana Territory?
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39. Describe the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Who fought there? Who won? What were the consequences to the losing side?
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40. In what ways did Jefferson attempt to reduce the size and power of the federal government?
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41. Why was the Mississippi River important to farmers?
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42. What was the Compromise of 1850?
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43. Discuss the circumstances surrounding California’s attempt to join the Union as a state.
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44. What main points did Lincoln make during his debates with Stephen Douglas?
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45. Who was John Brown? What did he do that so angered southerners and pleased many northerners?
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46. Most state constitutions had something that the original United States’ Constitution did not. What was it?
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47. What was the Three-fifths Compromise? What was its purpose?
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48. What was the occupation of most southern whites?
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49. Describe the Sedition Act. What was it intended to do?
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50. What was the Virginian Plan? What did it contain? Who favored this plan?
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51. What was the New Jersey Plan? What did it contain? Who favored this plan?
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52. What was the Great Compromise?
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53. What were some of the rights denied to women up until the middle part of the 1800s?
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54. What was the Industrial Revolution and what significant changes did it bring to the United States? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________