55thth Grade GradeSocial StudiesSocial StudiesCore Skills and Core Skills and

HistoryHistory

55thth Grade GradeSocial StudiesSocial StudiesCore Skills and Core Skills and

HistoryHistory

1. In the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others led nonviolent protests, like marches to gain civil rights for African Americans. How did protesting help African Americans gain their civil rights?A. Army soldiers protected civil rights protestors from violence.

B. Civil rights protestors collected money to help fight discrimination.

C. Protesters sought to bring people together to solve differences.

D. Congress passed a law forbidding civil rights protestors to use violence.

2. Historians have compared the South, before the Civil Rights Movement, to South Africa during apartheid. Which would be true about the South and South Africa?

A. Segregation and apartheid would both become illegal.B. The South and South Africa segregated people based

on religion.C. Apartheid would be the first to be made illegal.D. The South and South Africa segregated people based

on income.

3. Monroe Elementary School, in Topeka, Kansas, played an important role in the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown vs. Board of Education. How did the Brown vs. Board of Education decision affect the Civil Rights movement?

A. It led to more limits on the rights of African Americans.B. It led to the integration of public schools.C. It led to the removal of African Americans from public

schools.D. It led to the continuation of segregated public schools.

4. Charles Richard Drew was an African American physician and surgeon. By 1940, he helped develop "blood banks" to process and store blood plasma for transfusions. What impact did his discovery have during and after World War II?

A. Blood plasma helped save the lives of injured servicemen and accident victims.

B. Blood plasma became a important source of revenue for the United States.

C. Blood plasma helped stop the spread of disease through the military during the war.

D. Blood plasma research helped develop new drugs to protect children from diseases.

5. These are important periods in United States history. What is the correct order of these periods?

                1. New Deal                2. Great Depression      3. Roaring TwentiesA. 3, 2, 1B. 2, 3, 1C. 2, 1, 3D. 1, 2, 3

6. Harry Truman became president of the United States after Franklin Roosevelt died. Truman had to make a decision on how to end the war with Japan. He chose to

A. wait until Japanese political and military leaders asked to surrender.

B. use atomic bombs to force the Japanese to surrender.C. prepare for an invasion that would have cost many

American lives.D. form a blockade to prevent Japan from getting aid.

7. In 1861, the United States was almost to the point of a civil war. The firing on Ft. Sumter by Confederate troops would force President Abraham Lincoln to take action. He had several options, but he chose to

A. ask people in the South to overthrow their leaders.B. surrender Ft. Sumter and raise an army for battle.C. meet with Confederate leaders to find a settlement.D. surrender Ft. Sumter and hope that would be the end.

8. In the late 1800s there was a large increase in the number of people living in cities. The main reason for this was that people

A. moved to cities to collect welfare.B. moved to the cities to find jobs in the

factories.C. moved to the cities to find relatives.D. moved to the suburbs to find places to live.

9. During World War II, many women in the

United States assisted in the war effort. For

most women, this was the first time that they

found work in• A. schools.• B. hospitals.• C. factories.• D. offices.

10. The Civil War began with the attack on Ft. Sumter by Confederate troops in 1861. North President Abraham Lincoln stated that the main goal of the was to

A. end slavery.B. start a new nation.C. save the Union.D. expand to the West.

     

A. the farmersB. the workersC. the minersD. the ranchers

11. After the Civil War, there was an increase in the number of these people heading west.          ·        Farmers raising wheat          ·        Workers on the railroads          ·        Miners looking for gold          ·        Ranchers herding cattle

Which group was MOST affected by the Homestead Act of 1862?

12. One of the MOST important reasons why people often move to other areas is the climate. Which area of the United States is growing rapidly because of the climate?

• A. Ohio and Michigan• B. New York and New Jersey• C. Arizona and California• D. Montana and Wyoming

13. During the Civil War, both the South and the North had certain strengths. Which of the following would have been a strength for the South at the beginning of the war?

A. Great Britain and France gave troops and supplies to the South.

B. Most of the fighting took place in the South, so they knew the land.

C. Southern factories produced large numbers of weapons and war materials.

D. The South had more miles of railroad track to move troops.

14. During the Civil War, each side had certain strategies, or plans, to win the war. Part of the strategy of the North was to

A. use troops from other countries to invade the South.B. place a naval blockade along the coast to cut down on

shipping.C. ask Southerners who were against the war to revolt.D. position soldiers around the South and not let the

people leave.

15. One of the causes of the Civil War was the question of states' rights. The people from the South who supported states' rights would MOST LIKELY support

A. recession, the slowing of the economy.B. the prohibition of alcohol.C. secession, or leaving the Union.D. the abolition of slavery.

16. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was the first amendment added to the United States Constitution after the Civil War. As a result of this amendment

A. slavery was abolished.B. alcohol was not to be made or sold.C. free speech was protected.D. women obtained the right to vote.

17. Uncle Tom's Cabin was published in 1852. What was the impact of this book on the American public?

A. It marked the beginning of the Civil War.B. It reduced the threat of violence against slaves.C. It led Congress to pass the Missouri Compromise.D. It convinced many people that slavery was morally

wrong.

18. During the Civil War, both the North and the South had certain strengths. Which of the following would have been a strength for the North at the beginning of the war?A. Northern factories were able to make weapons and

materials needed for war.B. Since most of the fighting took place in the North, they

knew the land.C. Northern soldiers had better training, and their leaders

were better prepared.D. Since the South was suffering through a drought, the

crops were ruined.

19. Theodore Roosevelt became president of the United States in 1901. He has been called a reform president. A reform president wants to

A. keep things as they are and not make changes.B. improve conditions in the country.C. limit the power and influence of political

parties.D. expand the size of the country.

20. There were many causes of World War I. One of the major causes was a strong feeling of nationalism that was shared by many people. Which is an example of nationalism?

A. The people of Germany believed that their country and way of life were better than other countries.

B. The government of Great Britain wanted to increase trade with Asia.

C. The people of the United States believed that they should be able to trade with any country.

D. The government of France wanted to build up its army and navy.

21. By the 1920s the steel industry in the United States was changing the way Americans lived. Which of the following was TRUE?

A. The owners of the steel plants permitted the formation of labor unions.

B. Steel factories were totally operated by machines.C. The workers in the steel plants bought the factories.D. Steel appliances made life easier for people.

Answer Key

1. C) Protesters sought to bring people together to solve differences.

2. A) Segregation and apartheid would both become illegal.

3. B) It led to the integration of public schools.

4. A) Blood plasma helped save the lives of injured servicemen and accident victims.

5. A) 3, 2, 1

6. B) use atomic bombs to force the Japanese to surrender.

7. B) surrender Ft. Sumter and raise an army for battle.

8. B) moved to the cities to find jobs in the factories.

9. C) factories.

10. C) save the Union.

11. A) the farmers

12. C) Arizona and California

13. B) Most of the fighting took place in the South, so they knew the land.

14. B) place a naval blockade along the coast to cut down on shipping.

15. C) secession, or leaving the Union.

16. A) slavery was abolished.

17. D) It convinced many people that slavery was morally wrong.

18. A) Northern factories were able to make weapons and materials needed for war.

19. B) improve conditions in the country.

20. A) The people of Germany believed that their country and way of life were better than other countries.

21. D) Steel appliances made life easier for people.