The American Revolution and Founding (1763-1791) — High School U.S. History practice questions

The Northwest Ordinance (1787) is notable for:

1. setting up the first national Electoral College
2. banning slavery in the Northwest Territory
3. purchasing Louisiana
4. moving Native nations west

Answer: B — banning slavery in the Northwest Territory

B) Correct — It also set rules for new territories to become states. A) Came with the Constitution. C) Was 1803. D) Was the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

The Battle of Saratoga (1777) was a turning point because it:

1. ended the war
2. was Washington's first victory
3. forced Parliament to repeal the hated Tea Act
4. convinced France to openly ally with the Americans

Answer: D — convinced France to openly ally with the Americans

D) Correct — French money, troops and ships followed. A) Fighting went on until Yorktown in 1781. B) Washington had won earlier, at Trenton. C) Isn't the result.

Britain began taxing the colonies after 1763 mainly to:

1. punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party
2. fund colonial schools
3. prepare for war with Spain
4. pay debts from the French and Indian War

Answer: D — pay debts from the French and Indian War

D) Correct — Britain also wanted the colonies to share the cost of their defense. A) Came later, in 1773. B) Wasn't the purpose. C) Wasn't the main reason.

The Boston Massacre of 1770 was:

1. a colonial attack on a British fort
2. the opening battle of the Revolution, fought on Boston's streets
3. a clash in which British soldiers killed five colonists
4. the dumping of tea into the harbor

Answer: C — a clash in which British soldiers killed five colonists

C) Correct — Patriots used it as propaganda against the troops. A) Isn't what happened. B) Was Lexington and Concord, 1775. D) Was the Boston Tea Party, 1773.

Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government could NOT:

1. make treaties
2. collect taxes
3. declare war
4. run a postal service

Answer: B — collect taxes

B) Correct — It could only ask the states for money. A) It could. C) It could. D) It could.

The Bill of Rights is:

1. the first ten amendments to the Constitution
2. the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence
3. the Articles of Confederation
4. the Constitution's preamble

Answer: A — the first ten amendments to the Constitution

A) Correct — It protects rights like speech, religion and a fair trial. B) Is part of the Declaration of Independence. C) Was the first national government. D) Is its opening statement of purpose.

The Constitution divides power among three branches mainly to:

1. make laws faster to pass
2. give the states control over foreign policy and trade
3. keep any one branch from gaining too much power
4. let the president overrule the courts

Answer: C — keep any one branch from gaining too much power

C) Correct — Separation of powers and checks and balances guard against tyranny. A) It deliberately slows lawmaking. B) Foreign policy is national. D) The branches check each other.

The Federalist Papers were written to:

1. argue against the Constitution
2. persuade New York to ratify the Constitution
3. declare independence
4. explain Hamilton's plan for a national bank and debt

Answer: B — persuade New York to ratify the Constitution

B) Correct — Hamilton, Madison and Jay published 85 essays in New York papers. A) Was the Anti-Federalists' goal. C) Came in 1776. D) Came later, when he led the Treasury.

Federalists supported the Constitution because they wanted:

1. a bill of rights before ratification
2. power kept mainly in the states
3. a strong national government
4. a return to British rule

Answer: C — a strong national government

C) Correct — Madison, Hamilton and Jay argued the Articles had failed. A) Was the Anti-Federalists' demand. B) Was the Anti-Federalist view. D) Neither side wanted that.

Anti-Federalists accepted ratification mainly after a promise to add:

1. a bill of rights
2. a national bank
3. a stronger president
4. more states to the Union

Answer: A — a bill of rights

A) Correct — The first ten amendments followed in 1791. B) Was Hamilton's later plan. C) They feared a strong executive. D) Wasn't the condition.

What was the Stamp Act (1765), and how did colonists respond?

A British tax on newspapers, legal documents and other printed paper. Colonists protested "no taxation without representation" (they elected no members of Parliament), boycotted British goods and held the Stamp Act Congress. Parliament repealed it in 1766.