U.S. History to 1877 (Grade 8) Midterm — Semester 1, Form B

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. William Penn founded Pennsylvania as a safe place for which group?
   1. A. Quakers
   2. B. Catholics
   3. C. Puritans
   4. D. Pilgrims
2. What was the first permanent English settlement in North America?
   1. A. Plymouth
   2. B. Roanoke
   3. C. Jamestown
   4. D. St. Augustine
3. Why is Virginia's House of Burgesses (1619) important?
   1. A. It was the first elected representative assembly in the English colonies
   2. B. It was the first colonial court to try criminals
   3. C. It was the first school in the English colonies
   4. D. It was the first treaty with Native Americans
4. Under mercantilism, colonies existed mainly to do what?
   1. A. Avoid paying any taxes
   2. B. Govern themselves independently
   3. C. Trade freely with any nation
   4. D. Make the home country richer
5. Why were the Middle Colonies called the "breadbasket" colonies?
   1. A. They grew large amounts of wheat and other grains
   2. B. They traded bread to Native Americans for furs
   3. C. They had the most bakeries in the colonies
   4. D. They imported most of their bread from England
6. What was one effect of the Intolerable Acts?
   1. A. Boston Harbor was closed
   2. B. The Stamp Act was repealed
   3. C. Colonists were allowed to settle west
   4. D. The colonies gained seats in Parliament
7. Where were the first battles of the American Revolution fought in 1775?
   1. A. Yorktown and Charleston
   2. B. Saratoga and Trenton
   3. C. Bunker Hill and Princeton
   4. D. Lexington and Concord
8. What did the Stamp Act of 1765 tax?
   1. A. Glass, lead, and paint from Britain
   2. B. Printed materials such as newspapers and legal papers
   3. C. Sugar and molasses from the West Indies
   4. D. Tea brought into colonial ports
9. What did the Proclamation of 1763 do?
   1. A. Taxed tea imported into the colonies
   2. B. Banned colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains
   3. C. Required colonists to house British soldiers
   4. D. Closed Boston Harbor to all ships
10. Why did the First Continental Congress meet in 1774?
    1. A. To write the Articles of Confederation
    2. B. To approve the Treaty of Paris
    3. C. To respond to the Intolerable Acts
    4. D. To sign the Declaration of Independence
11. Why is the Battle of Saratoga called a turning point?
    1. A. It was the last battle of the war
    2. B. It forced the British to leave Boston
    3. C. It gave the Americans control of Canada
    4. D. It convinced France to ally with the Americans
12. Where did British General Cornwallis surrender in 1781?
    1. A. Bunker Hill
    2. B. Trenton
    3. C. Yorktown
    4. D. Saratoga
13. What was one advantage the Patriots had during the war?
    1. A. They were fighting on their own land
    2. B. They had the world's strongest navy
    3. C. They had more money for supplies
    4. D. They had more trained soldiers
14. Who were the Loyalists?
    1. A. Colonists who stayed loyal to Britain
    2. B. German soldiers hired by Britain
    3. C. French soldiers who helped the Americans
    4. D. Colonists who fought for independence
15. What happened at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778?
    1. A. The Americans won their final major battle
    2. B. The army suffered hardships but improved through training
    3. C. The British surrendered to the Americans
    4. D. Congress signed the Declaration of Independence

Part 2: Written Response

16. Explain how British actions after 1763 led colonists toward revolution. Use at least two events.