U.S. History Past Paper PDF

Unit 1: Foundations of U.S. Government John Locke and the Social Contract Q: What is John Locke’s idea of the Social Contract? A: People consent to be governed in exchange for protection of their natural rights (life, liberty, property), and they can overthrow a government that violates these right...

Unit 1: Foundations of U.S. Government John Locke and the Social Contract Q: What is John Locke’s idea of the Social Contract? A: People consent to be governed in exchange for protection of their natural rights (life, liberty, property), and they can overthrow a government that violates these rights. Declaration of Independence Q: What are the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence? A: Complaints against King George III, including taxation without representation, lack of fair trials, and quartering of soldiers in homes. Q: What does the Declaration section of the Declaration of Independence state? A: It formally declares the colonies’ independence from Britain and asserts their status as free and independent states. Articles of Confederation Weaknesses and Constitution Fixes Q: Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. A: Lack of power to tax and no centralized military. Q: How did the Constitution address these weaknesses? A: It gave Congress the power to tax and established a federal military. Constitutional Principles Q: What is an example of limited power in the Constitution? A: The Bill of Rights limits government authority by protecting individual freedoms. Q: How do checks and balances work? Provide an example. A: Each branch can limit the powers of the others; for example, the President can veto laws passed by Congress. Bill of Rights Q: Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? A: To protect individual liberties and address Anti-Federalist concerns over centralized government power. Unit 2: The Civil War and Westward Expansion Main Causes of the Civil War Q: What was the Missouri Compromise of 1820? A: It established the 36’30” line, allowing slavery below the line and prohibiting it above. Q: What was John Brown’s Raid? A: An armed abolitionist attempt to incite a slave rebellion at Harpers Ferry. Reconstruction Successes and Failures Q: Name two Reconstruction successes. A: The 13th Amendment (abolished slavery) and the Freedmen’s Bureau (aided former slaves). Q: Name two Reconstruction failures. A: The rise of the KKK and the implementation of Black Codes. Westward Expansion Q: What were the main factors driving Westward Expansion? A: Opportunities for miners, cowboys/ranchers, and homesteaders. Unit 3: Industrialization and Progressives Capitalism and Social Darwinism Q: What is laissez-faire? A: A principle of minimal government interference in business. Q: What is vertical integration? A: Controlling all aspects of production, from raw materials to finished goods. Urbanization Outcomes Q: What were some effects of urbanization in the late 1800s? A: Increased crime, poor living conditions, and rise of Nativism. Muckrakers Q: What impact did Jacob Riis have? A: His book How the Other Half Lives exposed poor living conditions in urban tenements. Progressive Achievements Q: How did Progressives improve U.S. society? A: By establishing settlement houses and advocating for political reforms like recall and initiative. Q: Name two Progressive amendments. A: The 18th Amendment (Prohibition) and the 19th Amendment (Women’s Suffrage). Unit 4: U.S. Imperialism Mexican-American War Q: What was the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo? A: The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War and ceded vast territories to the U.S. Causes of U.S. Imperialism Q: What were the 4 causes of U.S. Imperialism? A: Economic interests, military expansion, cultural superiority, and political influence. Spanish-American War Q: What caused the Spanish-American War? A: The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine and yellow journalism. Q: What was the outcome of the Treaty of Paris of 1898? A: The U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Big Stick Diplomacy Q: How did Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy help acquire the Panama Canal? A: The U.S. supported Panama’s independence from Colombia and secured rights to build the canal.