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A set of practice questions and answers for the mttc history exam. It covers a range of historical topics, including ancient civilizations, the crusades, the american revolution, and the development of the united states. The questions are designed to test knowledge of key historical events, figures, and concepts. This resource can be valuable for individuals preparing for the mttc history exam.
Typology: Exams
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Where was the first great human civilization located? ANSWER- The first great human civilization was the Sumerian civilization which was located in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia encompasses the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq and is also referred to as "the Cradle of Civilization," and includes part of the Fertile Crescent. The Sumerian civilization is credited with being the first to practice serious, year round agriculture. There is question over whether Sumeria or Ancient Egypt was the first to have a written language. Sumeria's writing began hieroglyphically and then developed into a form of writing known as cuneiform. Which of the following was not an ancient Egyptian ruler? ANSWER- Anubis was the Egyptian god of the dead, typically depicted as being half human and half jackal. Hatshepsut was an Egyptian queen who declared herself king while acting as regent for her stepson (who was also her son-in-law). She was the fifth pharaoh of Egypt's 18th dynasty Ramesses (or Ramses) II was the third pharaoh of Egypt's 19th Dynasty, and Egypt's greatest, most powerful and most celebrated pharaoh. He is also traditionally considered to be the pharaoh of the Bible's Book of Exodus. His tomb in the Valley of the Kings was discovered in 1881. Tutankhamen was the boy pharaoh whose tomb was found in 1922, intact and untouched by tomb raiders, leading to a surge of popular interest in ancient Egypt. How did the Crusader army that went on the First Crusade differ from the Crusader armies that Pope Urban II envisioned? ANSWER- Pope Urban II's plan for an army made up of previously trained military personnel was thwarted by the popular excitement concerning the First Crusade. This led to the creation of large armies primarily made up of untrained, unskilled, undisciplined, and ill- or unequipped soldiers, most of whom were recruited from the poorest levels of society. These armies were the first to set forth on the Crusade, which became known as the People's Crusade. Even though some of these armies contained knights, they were ultimately ineffective as fighting forces. These armies were prone to rioting and raiding surrounding areas for food and supplies and were viewed as a destabilizing influence by local leaders. They were defeated in battle and many converted to Islam to avoid being killed.. Which western European monastic order developed an early form of banking that helped make pilgrimages to the Holy Land safer for the pilgrims? ANSWER- Knights Templar is the name by which the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon is more commonly called. The Knights Templar began as a small and impoverished order intended to serve as a fighting force in the Holy Land, but soon grew into a large organization and a favorite charity. As the Templars' resources grew,
their operations did and their activities included the management of an early form of banking that permitted travelers to carry less money with them, making the travelers a less tempting target for thieves and increasing their safety. Which early feminist work was written by Mary Wollstonecraft? ANSWER- Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in the late eighteenth century in response to contemporary events and practices. Wollstonecraft called for equality in education at a time when many people believed that women only required domestic education that would enable them to run households. The Declaration of Sentiments was a document addressing the rights of women; it was primarily written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and then read to and signed by the delegates to the Seneca Falls Convention. Frankenstein was written by Mary Wollstonecraft's daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. The Awakening was written by Kate Chopin and published in
What is the historical significance of the Dome on the Rock's site to Jews? ANSWER- The Dome of the Rock is the oldest existing Muslim structure and was built on the traditional site of Mohammed's ascent into heaven on Temple Mount. Before this, however,the Temple Mount was the site of the Jewish Second Temple which stood from the 6th Century BC until AD 70 when it was destroyed by Romans in response to a Jewish uprising in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount is also the traditional site of Solomon's Temple (also known as the First Temple) and its one remaining wall, known as the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall is an important Jewish shrine. How did the Nile shape the Ancient Egyptian Empire? ANSWER- The Nile River was the lifeblood of the Ancient Egyptian Empire and is sometimes credited with being the reason this empire was able to become one of history's most stable societies. Its yearly floods replenished the soil by leaving fertile silt that made large scale agriculture possible in the land immediately surrounding the river. The agriculture provided Egypt with goods to trade, further enriching the empire. The Nile was also the center of Egyptian cultural and spiritual life. The ancient Egyptians believed that the pharaoh was responsible for providing the yearly floods as part of his role as the divinely appointed ruler. In which country does a large part of the native, traditionally nomadic people currently live in large tents known as yurts or gers? ANSWER- The Mongol people have traditionally been nomads living in large white felt tents that are commonly known as "yurts" or "gers" and in Mongolia, many of these people still live in this traditional housing. The term yurt is of Turkish and Russian origins, while ger is the Mongolian term. The Mongol ger is designed, decorated and positioned based on a strict formula determined by religion, tradition, and superstition. Today the Mongol people are spread over the Asian steppe region including Mongolia, and parts of Russia, China Afghanistan and Pakistan. Which of the following was not a tax levied on the American colonies by the British government in the 1760's and 70's? ANSWER- The Sugar Act of 1764 raised import
duties on goods which were not of British origin, including sugar, while reducing the import tax on molasses. The Stamp Act of 1765 was a tax of paper and printed products, intended to help the British government recoup some of the costs of the French and Indian War. It was extremely unpopular with the colonists and was repealed in 1766. Lead was one of the goods taxed under the Townshend Acts, enacted in 1767, but it did not receive its own specific tax act. The Tea Act of 1773 was another unpopular tax and led to tea boycotts and was the catalyst for the Boston Tea Party. To whom was the Declaration of Independence addressed and why? ANSWER- The Founding Fathers decided that because the colonies did not have the right to elect representatives to the British Parliament they could not be justly ruled by Parliament. They envisioned the British Empire's government as being headed by the King of England, under whom the various local parliaments and legislative bodies served to enact laws for the peoples whom they represented. By addressing their ills to the king, the Founding Fathers sought to prevent the appearance that they acknowledged the British Parliament in London as having any authority over the American colonies. How did the ruling in Marbury v. Madison alter the Supreme Court's power in the federal government? ANSWER- Marbury v. Madison started with the election of Thomas Jefferson as third President of the United States. The lame-duck Congress responded by issuing a large number of judicial patents, which the incoming president and Secretary of State refused to deliver to their holders. Marbury, who was to receive a patent as Justice of the Peace, sued to demand delivery. What makes this case important is the decision which declared the judiciary's ability to overturn legislation that conflicted with the Constitution. The case states: "It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. Those who apply the rule to particular cases must, of necessity, expound and interpret that rule. If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each.
Which President of the United States changed the date of Thanksgiving from the last Thursday of November to the fourth Thursday of November? ANSWER- Abraham Lincoln issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1863, in which he specified the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving. The last Thursday in November was the traditional date for the Thanksgiving holiday for the next 76 years. In 1939, President Roosevelt tried to change the holiday's date from the last Thursday in November to the second to last Thursday in November in order to stimulate the economy by creating a longer Christmas shopping season. This action met with resistance in some parts of the country, and a compromise was reached in 1941, setting the date of Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. Which of the following is an example of historiography? ANSWER- Historiography can be described as the study of the study of history. It is a term used to describe the entire body of historical literature, the writing of history and the critical examination of past historical writings and historical sources. A typical historiographic essay will be a critical look at the past historical research whether it is a broad look at the study of history as a whole or of a specific subject that is being analyzed.
Which of the following questions would most likely be asked by a historian concerned with the philosophy of history? ANSWER- The philosophy of history is concerned with the ultimate significance of history as a field of study and asks questions concerning how history should be studied, including what social unit is correct to use when studying history—whether it is more important to look at the individual lives of ordinary people or to concentrate on the so-called big picture, looking at the overall trends in a society or culture; only giving personal treatment to people, such as George Washington, who had particular significance to the events surrounding them. The philosophy of history also looks for broad historical trends and progress. You are researching the Battle of the Bulge's Malmedy Massacre. Four potential sources offer conflicting accounts of one aspect of the event. Based on the principles of historical research, which source is most likely to be accurate? ANSWER- When researching historical events, the best sources are typically the earliest sources, particularly if they are primary sources written by witnesses soon after the event. While Wikipedia and your colleague's notes might be accurate, they are removed from the actual event and to you, their sources are thus in question. The newspaper article and the wounded survivor's account are both good sources. Without knowing anything about the personal reliability of the authors, it is best to accept the survivor's account as it is both a personal, primary account and the earliest record available to you. Which of the following is considered to be the largest cause of death among Native Americans following the arrival of European colonists in North America? ANSWER- While wounds from war most certainly killed more than a few, European disease laid waste to vast swaths of Native American people who has no immunity to the foreign diseases which the Europeans carried. The forced marches took place in the mid-19th century. While wounds from war most certainly killed more than a few, European disease laid waste to vast swaths of Native American people who has no immunity to the foreign diseases which the Europeans carried. The forced marches took place in the mid-19th What is the historical significance of the Dome on the Rock's site to Muslims? ANSWER- The Dome of the Rock is the oldest existing Muslim structure, the shrine having been completed in AD 691. The rock in question is the traditional site for Mohammed's ascent into heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel and documented in the Koran. The Dome of the Rock is a shrine for Muslim pilgrims and non-Muslims have commonly been barred from visiting the monument. The most recent ban lasted from 2000 to 2006. The religion of Islam was founded in Mecca, which is located in present- day Saudi Arabia. What method did Johannes Gutenberg use to create printing plates for his printing press? ANSWER- Gutenberg's press used moveable metal type which he formed casting a metal alloy into molds made for each character. These individual pieces were then organized by letter. The letters were loaded into composing sticks that were then loaded into a metal form to create printing plates. As the printing press spread across
Europe, printers began using woodcut prints to include illustrations in their products. While Gutenberg is generally given credit for the invention of moveable type, in the 1040s Pi Sheng, a Chinese inventor and alchemist, created moveable type using clay characters which were then pressed into waxcoated plates for printing. Which group(s) of people were originally responsible for selecting the members of the U.S. Senate? ANSWER- The U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 3 states that: "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote." This was the practice until the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified on April 8, 1913. The Seventeenth Amendment states that U.S. Senators are to be elected by the people of the states which they serve and that the state executive branches may appoint replacement Senators if a Senate seat becomes vacant midterm, until the state legislature can arrange for a popular election. The Erie Canal is 363 miles long and connects which body of water to Lake Erie? ANSWER- The Erie Canal opened in 1825 and created a water route between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Water routes have historically been cheaper and easier than overland ones and the Erie Canal was originally proposed in the 1700s as a means of providing a shipping route to assist in settling the areas west of the Appalachian Mountains. The Mississippi River is to the west of the Great Lakes, its source is in Minnesota and it discharges into the Gulf of Mexico approximately 100 miles downstream of New Orleans, Louisiana. The Susquehanna River runs through New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland and is the home of Three Mile Island, the site of the United States' largest nuclear disaster. The Lehigh River is located in eastern Pennsylvania. 21. C: The telegraph was a gigantic leap forward in the The telephone was a solution to which of the following problems with the telegraph? ANSWER- The telegraph was a gigantic leap forward in the realm of communications. Before the telegraph, messages could take days, weeks or months to reach their intended recipient, based upon the distance that they had to travel. The telegraph allowed people to send methods through use of electric signals transmitted over telegraph wires, allowing for instantaneous communications. The main drawbacks to the telegraph included the need to "translate" the message into and out of the appropriate telegraphic code and that the telegraph could only relay one message at a time. In contrast, the telephone allowed for spoken communication between people at different locations, increasing the efficiency and speed as the people on each end of the conversation could communicate multiple messages quickly and in one telephone conversation. Why did each Incan ruler have to earn his own fortune? ANSWER- The Incan civilization was very wealthy and the Incan rulers' individual wealth was used to care for their mummified remains following their deaths in order to emphasize the king's divinity as descendants of the Incan sun god Inti. When an Incan king died not only would his wealth be used to care for his remains, there would also be human sacrifices as the
king's servants and favorite wives would be sacrificed so that they could continue serving him in the afterlife. What was the ancient Agora of Athens? ANSWER- Besides being Athens' primary marketplace, the Agora also served as a central point where ancient Athenians would go to meet friends, conduct business, discuss ideas and participate in local government. While most ancient Greek cities contained agorés, the Athenian Agora was particularly known for its intellectual opportunities. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were all known to frequent the Athenian agora. The Athenian Agora is also credited with being the birthplace of democracy. The ancient Athenian democracy allowed all citizens the opportunity to vote on civic matters and serve on juries. Who was Genghis Khan? ANSWER- Genghis Khan, also spelled Chinggis Khan, was the son of a minor Mongol chieftain, born circa 1162 AD. His birth name was Temujin and he grew up in poverty, but gradually built his own power base to include a confederacy of Mongol clans. He was named Genghis Khan, or universal ruler, in 1206. Attila the Hun was the 5th Century Hunnic leader who led his people to attack into Western Europe, going as far as Gaul (modern day France). The leader of China's 19th Century Taiping Rebellion was Hong Xiuquan, also known as Hong Houxiu. Which of the following is not necessarily an example of an educator introducing his own bias into the educational process? ANSWER- Bias is a form of prejudice, and a historical work is considered biased when it is unreasonably shaped by the author's personal or institutional prejudices. It is wise for a teacher to choose material that comes from reputable sources and to verify that all material used in classroom presentations is reliable and appropriate. As long as the teacher is willing to do these things and show a variety of historical opinions, this is not an example of bias. Which of the following words can be defined as "a list events organized in order of their occurrence?" ANSWER- Chronology can be defined as a list of events organized in order of their occurrence. An anachronism is a chronological error; something or someone who appears out of order chronologically. Anachronisms are frequently seen in popular entertainment dramatizations of historical events. Anno Domini is a Latin term meaning "in the year of [Our] Lord," more frequently seen as the abbreviation A.D. (e.g., "the Battle of Hastings was fought in A.D. 1066."). Chroma is a word used to describe color. Who was Lewis and Clark's guide? ANSWER- Sacagawea acted as Lewis and Clark's guide during their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase. She had been separated from her family at a young age and was reunited with her brother on the course of the expedition. Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan, the leader of the Algonquian tribes at the beginning of the 17th Century when the colony of Jamestown was founded in modern-day Virginia. Squanto's actual name was Tisquantum. He was the Native American who helped the Pilgrims after their first winter in Massachusetts. Wauwatosa is a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What was the standard government economic principle in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries? ANSWER- The idea behind Laissez faire was to leave the market alone and let it take care of itself with minimal government intervention. Opponents of this policy often blame it for causing the situation which led to the Great Depression while supporters claim that it was an increase of government interference in the market that led to the Great Depression. Social Darwinism is the idea that the fittest members of society will rise to the top and flourish. Keynesian Economics advocates that the government should use its powers to stabilize the economy through raising and lowering interest rates and creating demand through government spending, frequently leading to deficit spending. Keynesian economic theory is chiefly concerned with microeconomic trends and short-term solutions. It's founder, John Maynard Keynes, was quoted saying, "[i]n the long run, we are all dead." Monetarism is an economic school of thought that concentrates on macroeconomic principles and long-term solutions to economic problems. An economist supporting this policy would be in favor of policies that are monetarily neutral in the long term but are not neutral in the short term. What was the purpose of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society? ANSWER- Lyndon Johnson became president following the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22,
Which of the following is not a skill that a student should have learned by the beginning of eighth grade? ANSWER- Identifying the reasons that the U.S. entered World War I is most appropriate for high school students studying U.S. History. Important events in the European exploration and colonization of North America, evaluating the relationship between past and present conflicts, and creating and interpreting timelines are all lower level skills. Which of the following is an example of providing a connection between history and economics? ANSWER- Using maps to show post-World War II migration patterns or using charts and maps to illustrate the growth of U.S. cities would be examples of using appropriate visual aids in teaching history. Discussing the effects of weather on world history would be an example of connecting history with geography. Food shortages and inflation are both connected to economic conditions and discussing their destabilizing influence as a contributing factor to the Russian Revolution in 1917 would be an example of connecting history and economics. Which economic crisis led to the creation of the SEC? ANSWER- The Great Depression began with the 1929 Stock Market Crash on Thursday, October 24, also known as Black Thursday. This crash was the beginning of a market collapse that continued as investors began panicking and banks began to fail. The crash was due to rampant stock speculation and fraud. Many people had invested in the belief that the Stock Market could only go up, and unscrupulous people had taken advantage of this by creating sham companies or artificially pumping up stock shares. The SEC, or Securities and Exchange Commission, was created in 1934 to regulate stock exchanges. What was the purpose of the Mayflower Compact? ANSWER- The Pilgrims' initial intention had been to settle in Northern Virginia where England had already established a presence. As there was no government in place in New England, some Pilgrims believed that they had no legal or moral duty to remain with the Pilgrims' new colony which needed their labor and support. Because of this, the Mayflower Compact created a government in New England and was signed on board the Mayflower on November 11, 1620 by each of the adult men who made the journey. The Compact's life was relatively short, due to its being superceded by the Pierce Patent in 1621 which had been signed by the king of England and had granted the Pilgrims the right of self- government in Plymouth. In spite of its short lifespan, the Mayflower Compact is credited with being North America's first constitution. What was Manifest Destiny? ANSWER- Manifest Destiny was the idea that the United States was intended by God to expand to fill North America. There were various ideas on what this meant, yet at minimum it was the belief that the United States should expand to the Pacific Ocean. At maximum, it was the belief that the United States should expand to fill North America and South America. The idea behind why the United States should expand through greater territorial acquisitions was to expand the American ideals of freedom, democracy and self-government.
What was the purpose of the marshall plan? ANSWER- The Marshall Plan was the popular name for the European Recovery Program, named after Secretary of State George C. Marshall. Marshall had originally proposed the Plan as a solution to the widespread inflation, unemployment, food shortages and general lack of resources following World War II in a commencement speech at Harvard University in 1947. As enacted, it was intended to provide a solution to these problems and to prevent the spread of communism by decreasing Soviet influence. Most of the earliest civilizations flourished in or near what sort of geographic feature? ANSWER- Early civilizations flourished alongside rivers such as the Nile in Egypt, the Euphrates in Mesopotamia, and the Yellow River in China. Besides providing the ancient settlers with a water source, these rivers also provided the land with the rich and fertile silt that the rivers deposited during their regular flooding cycles, making large scale agriculture possible for the ancient peoples. Which of the following is a true statement concerning the Magna Carta? ANSWER- The original Magna Carta, signed by King John on June 15, 1215, was meant to protect the rights and property of the few powerful families that topped the feudal system. Its primary purpose was to force King John to recognize the supremacy of ancient liberties, to limit his ability to raise funds and to reassert the principle of due process. The majority of the English population at that time was mentioned only once, in a clause concerning the use of court-set fines to punish minor offences. The last clause, which created an enforcement council of tenants-in-chief and clergymen would have severely limited the king's power and introduced the policy of 'majority rule.' However, the time was not yet right for the introduction of majority rule. In September 1215, three months after the signing of the Magna Carta, Pope Innocent III, at John's urging, annulled the "shameful and demeaning agreement, forced upon the king by violence and fear." A civil war broke out over this, which ended when John died the following year, in October
Which statement is an accurate reflection of Mayan urban life? ANSWER- Even though the Maya were one of the two cultures to develop an urban civilization in a rain forest, their culture was predominately based upon rural life. Cities were primarily used as religious centers while day-to-day life usually centered around farming in the surrounding rainforest. Due to the rainforest land's relative infertility, Mayans used slash and burn agriculture methods that required them to move to new farming plots every two to seven years. Under these conditions it took a large amount of land to support even one family. What were Martin Luther's 95 theses? ANSWER- The 95 Theses were part of a letter of protest that Martin Luther wrote to his archbishop in 1517, when Luther was a monk in the Catholic Church. These theses criticized church practices, particularly the practice of selling indulgences. Some sources claim Luther nailed this document to the door of the All Saint's Church in Wittenburg (located in modern-day Germany). Luther's intention was to reform the Catholic Church from within, but his letter soon placed him at the center of a religious and civil revolt. He was excommunicated in 1520.
Which U.S. Founding Father is credited with founding the Federalist Party? ANSWER- Alexander Hamilton was the Founding Father who is credited with founding the Federalist Party. Hamilton was a proponent of the idea that the young country required the support of the rich and powerful in order to survive. This party grew out of Hamilton's political connections in Washington and was particularly popular in the northeastern United States. John Adams was a member of this party. George Washington's personal beliefs were most closely aligned with the Federalist Party, but he disliked political parties and refused to become a member of one. Thomas Jefferson was the founder of the Democratic-Republican Party. Who were the Shoguns? ANSWER- The Shoguns were Japanese military leaders. During the Tokuwaga shogunate, which began in 1603, the shogun held the actual power in the Japanese government even though Japan was technically ruled by an emperor. In actuality, the emperor was primarily a ceremonial leader and access to him was restricted to members of the shogun's family. Which of the following is a true statement concerning the Iroquois Confederacy? ANSWER- The Iroquois Confederacy was a participatory democracy made up of Native American tribes in what is now the Northeastern United States. Each of the member tribes were permitted to send male representatives selected by the tribe's female members to the Confederacy's main counsel where each representative was permitted to vote on matters affecting the tribes. The beginnings of the Iroquois Confederacy are disputed, but it is accepted that the Confederacy was originally made up of the Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Oneida tribes; the Tuscaroras joined the Confederacy in 1722. The Confederacy was formed with the intention of decreasing intertribal violence and encouraging peaceful resolution of differences between the tribes. Which of the following was one of reasons that James Oglethorpe wished to found the colony of Georgia? ANSWER- James Oglethorpe was a philanthropist who wanted to give England's "worthy poor" the opportunity to prosper away from the highly stratified class structure in England. The original idea was to include people released from debtors' prison among the colonists, though none of the original 114 colonists were debtors just released. Oglethorpe's intention was to create a classless society so that Georgia would not develop the same problems that had plagued England. Oglethorpe was one of the original colonists, even though the colonial charter prohibited him from profiting from the colony and was frequently referred to as the colony's "resident trustee." Which of the following is not a true statement concerning the beginnings of slavery in the Virginia colony? ANSWER- The historical evidence shows that the initial workers on tobacco plantations in Virginia were primarily indentured servants who would eventually receive their freedom. The path to slavery in its later forms was gradual, beginning with slavery as a form of punishment for legal infractions. Massachusetts became the first colony to legalize slavery in 1641, followed by other states, including Virginia. This was followed by laws declaring that any children born to a slave mother would be slaves
themselves in 1662 and a later decision that all persons who were not Christians in their "native country" would be slaves in 1705. Why were the "Five Civilized Tribes" given that name? ANSWER- The term Five Civilized Tribes came into use during the middle of the 19th Century as a means of referring to the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes, each of whom had developed complex social and government systems including written constitutions, judicial, legislative and executive systems, complex agriculture practices and the establishment of public schools. Who famously crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC? ANSWER- In 50 BC, Julius Caesar was called back to Rome by the Roman Senate in order to stand trial for treason and corruption. When he reached the Rubicon, he decided to ignore Roman Law and the Mos Maiorum (uncodified tradition with nearly the force of law), and instead took one legion to Rome with him, famously uttering the words "the die is cast." This was the beginning of a chain of events that led to the creation of the first Roman triumvirate and the transition of Rome from a Republic to an Empire, with Julius Caesar as "Perpetual Dictator," until his murder in the Senate. His adopted son Octavius (later taking the regnal name "Augustus") eventually became the first emperor. What was the basis of Edward Jenner's original smallpox vaccine? ANSWER- Edward Jenner's initial smallpox vaccine was comprised of liquid from a young milkmaid's cowpox sores. Jenner was a country doctor who had noticed that persons who had suffered from the relatively mild disease of cowpox did not later catch the much more serious and deadly smallpox. At this time, the main preventative measure against smallpox was to inoculate healthy people with the liquid from smallpox sores from those who had mild cases of smallpox. Unfortunately, this practice often lead to healthy people having full blown cases of smallpox that resulted in death. Jenner's belief was that if he could inoculate someone with the liquid from cowpox pustules, they would then be immune from smallpox without the risk of contracting a full case of smallpox. In May 1796, Jenner diagnosed a patient, a milkmaid named Sarah Nelmes, with cowpox and received permission from a local farmer to inoculate the farmer's son James with cowpox, and then expose him to smallpox. Jenner made two cuts on James's arms and poured liquid from Sarah Nelmes's sores on them before binding the wound. James came down with a mild case of cowpox six weeks later, after James was well again, Jenner exposed him to smallpox, which the young boy did not contract. Jenner conducted further tests and in 1798 he published his findings in a report which introduced the words vaccination (adapted from the Latin word for cow). Which Japanese city was the first to be attacked with an atomic bomb? ANSWER- Hiroshima had an atom bomb detonated over it on August 6, 1945, officially beginning the atomic age; Nagasaki was bombed three days later. Both cities were selected for atomic bombing because they had not been previously bombed during the war. Which of the following peoples did not practice a form of feudalism? ANSWER- Feudalism was a common practice during the Middle Ages, popular as a means of
providing social structure and for maintaining the established government and social order. It was most widespread and systemic in Europe but also practiced in other parts of the world including Persia and the Byzantine Empire. The Norsemen of what is now known as Scandinavia, however, were an exception to European feudalism and lived in a fairly egalitarian society where rank was strongly based on personal merit. This is not to say that the Norsemen were entirely opposed to the class delineations of feudalism; when the French King Charles the Simple ceded to them the land that became the province of Normandy, the Norsemen who settled there settled into a feudalistic structure that their descendants took with them to England during the Norman Conquest, where the feudal system was used to assist with subduing the newly- conquered English people. Which of the following was a contemporary argument against The Bill of Rights? ANSWER- The people who were opposed to the idea of having a bill of rights in the Constitution were primarily concerned that by specifically enumerating a set of rights, that there would be an argument that the rights not listed did not exist or were not important. The Bill of Rights did not initially apply to the states even though there was some concern that the states were more likely to infringe upon individual liberties than the federal government. What were the Federalist Papers meant to accomplish? ANSWER- The Federalist Papers were written and published anonymously by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison as part of their effort to ratify the Constitution. There are 85 letters in total and they were meant to convince normal Americans that they should support the Constitution by explaining what it meant and what it was intended to accomplish. What was Franklin D. Roosevelt's "court packing" plan? ANSWER- The New Deal met with conservative opposition, especially in the Supreme Court, whose conservative justices frequently blocked New Deal legislation. The plan that was dubbed the "court packing" plan was to appoint a second justice for every justice over the age of seventy. Because all of the conservative justices on the Supreme Court were over seventy, this would have given Roosevelt the ability to appoint enough justices to swing the Court to his favor. However, this plan was met with extreme popular disapproval which led to its eventual abandonment. How did the invention of the cotton gin change the cotton industry in the United States? ANSWER- Eli Whitney's cotton engine (or gin) was designed to aid in the cleaning of American cotton. Before this invention, cleaning American short-staple cotton was a long and tedious process as all the cotton seeds had to be removed from the cotton by hand, usually by slaves. Whitney's invention could clean more cotton than an individual person could, thereby increasing cotton's profitability and turning it into a cash crop. As cotton became a viable cash crop, the amount of land dedicated to its cultivation increased, as well as the number of laborers needed to work in the cotton fields, which resulted in an overall increase in the number of slaves held in the southern United States. As cotton production increased, cotton also became a major Southern export as
textile mills in both the northern United States and Europe became dependant on Southern cotton. What was the purpose of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act? ANSWER- The Sherman Anti- Trust Act of 1890 was enacted in response to the growth of large monopolies in the period following the end of the Civil War. While its purpose was to prevent restraints on free trade, it was not strictly enforced. Additionally, the wording was vague enough that it was also used to break up labor unions. It was replaced by the Clayton Antitrust Act in
Texas and it's relation to Mexican american War? ANSWER- The Texas Rebellion began in 1835 when a group of Texan leaders declared independence from Mexico. Texas won independence in 1836, but the U.S. initially held back on plans for annexation due to concerns that such an act would lead to war with Mexico. In 1845, however, the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty and Texas became the country's 28th state on December 29 of that year. The war with Mexico, which had broken off diplomatic relations with the U.S. in 1844 when the treaty was agreed upon, began in 1846 following news of skirmishes between American and Mexican forces along the Rio Grande. What did the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka decide? ANSWER- The U.S. Supreme Court justices had decided that Brown would have a unanimous holding (the legal term for a court's rulings or decisions) before they determined what that holding would be, which resulted in a fairly narrow holding that "the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment." This decision was used in later Civil Rights cases as a legal precedent for the idea that the doctrine of "separate but equal" was inherently unconstitutional, reversing the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson. Which of the following did not occur during or because of the French Revolution? ANSWER- The French Revolution began in 1789, but its end date has been difficult to define. The Reign of Terror was intended as a means of fighting the revolutionaries' enemies and began with the execution of the Queen Marie Antoinette on October 17,
trade with the Japanese people. This situation changed in 1854 when the United States and Japan entered into a treaty of permanent friendship following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's entry into what is now Tokyo Bay Harbor in 1853 (albeit with an armed fleet). Which of the following was a power granted to the U.S. Congress under the Articles of Confederation? ANSWER- The Articles of Confederation granted the federal Congress the power to enter into treaties. It did not grant Congress the abilities to collect taxes, enforce laws or to regulate interstate commerce (it could impose some regulations on commerce with foreign entities), these shortcomings led to the eventual abandonment of the Articles of Confederation in favor of the Constitution, which is still in force today. According to Plato's Republic, which sort of person would make the best head of state? ANSWER- In The Republic, Plato calls for a philosopher king, selected from the ranks of philosophers who are at least fifty years old and given the power of absolute rule for life. Plato's belief was that in this society there should be no laws as they would interfere with the king's ability to use his judgment. Which of the following was not an effect of the Neolithic agricultural revolution? ANSWER- The Neolithic agricultural revolution resulted in an overall decrease in leisure time, in comparison with people living in hunter-gatherer societies, due to such factors as sustaining an increased standard of living and caring for the increased number of children born to families living in permanent settlements. Which of the following U.S. Constitutional Amendments lowered the voting age to eighteen? ANSWER- The 26th Amendment states: "The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age. " The 24th Amendment invalidates poll taxes as a requirement to vote. The 25th Amendment deals with presidential succession. The 27th Amendment deals with Congress members' compensation. Which of the following is an effect that mountains can have on a society? ANSWER- Mountains provide societies with a natural protective barrier, making it difficult for an outside force to invade them. The Swiss Alps are frequently credited with being a reason that Switzerland has managed to maintain its independence and neutrality. The barrier created by the mountains can also discourage trade and prevent cultural diffusion. Which statement is the best summary of the Monroe Doctrine? ANSWER- The principles held in the Monroe Doctrine were not new when President James Monroe issued it in a speech before Congress on December 2, 1823, however that did not stop them from becoming his namesake and shaping American foreign policy, even through the World Wars to which the U.S. remained aloof until threatened with attack in the Western Hemisphere. Germany's attempt to convince Mexico to attack the United States, promising Mexico that it would receive several U.S. states as a reward, was one of the issues that convinced the U.S. to intervene in what had hitherto been seen as a
European war. In World War II, the United States remained officially neutral until attacked at Pearl Harbor. The Monroe Doctrine was largely ignored by European powers, but underscored the American belief that the United States was the appropriate dominant power in the Western Hemisphere. Who was the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative South African election? ANSWER- Nelson Mandela was the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative South African election. He was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki, who was succeeded by Kgalema Motlanthe. Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian who lived in South Africa for a time and greatly influenced Nelson Mandela. He was also the leader of India's independence movement. Which of the following events was a proximate cause of World War I? ANSWER- On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife the Duchess Sophia von Chotkova were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a member of The Black Hand, a secret society whose intention was to create an independent Serbian country. This act was the first of a series of events that resulted in the beginning of World War later that summer. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, bringing the United States into World War II. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania and the British interception of the Zimmerman telegram, in which Germany attempted to encourage Mexico to attack the United States, led to the United States entering World War I in 1917. Who was Boris Yeltsin? ANSWER- Boris Yeltsin was a Russian politician who was instrumental in the breaking up of the USSR and the end of Communism in Russia. In 1991, he was elected President of the Russian Federation in Russia's first democratic election. Which of the following best describes The Truman Doctrine? ANSWER- This was almost a direct quote from President Truman's 1947 address before Congress which later became known The Truman Doctrine. The address explained his reasoning as to why the United States needed to offer assistance to Greece and Turkey. In 1955 the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Treaty Organization to counterbalance which of the following? ANSWER- The Warsaw Treaty Organization was meant to counterbalance NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Members of NATO included the United States, Great Britain, France and West Germany and pledged to consider an attack on one of them as an attack on all of them. NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) was signed by President Clinton in 1994 and lifted most trade barriers between the United States, Mexico and, Canada. The Soviet Union was a member of the U.N. Security Counsel which is charged with maintaining international Peace and Security. The Four Power Pact was a pre-World War II treaty in which the United States, Great Britain, Japan and France agreed to respect each other's Pacific territories. Which of the following was an advantage that the South held over the North at the beginning of the Civil War? ANSWER- At the beginning of the Civil War, the
Confederacy drew many skilled officers such as Robert E. Lee out of the Union army and used them as the backbone of its military leadership. The Union Army, meanwhile, went through a series of unsatisfactory generals before Lincoln found Ulysses S. Grant. The other options were advantages that the North held over the South. Which of the following was not one of the ways that the Mormon migration was unique among the American pioneers? ANSWER- The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their trek west was intended to transport their entire culture across the plains to a place where they would be safe from the persecutions they had suffered in their previous settlements, including Missouri's Extermination Order (1838) and the assassination of the church's leader, Joseph Smith, on June 27, 1844 in Carthage, Illinois, while under the protection of Illinois' governor. In moving their culture across the Plains, the Mormons not only moved the people but took care to bring religious and secular books and musical instruments on their thousand mile journey. One of the first buildings in Salt Lake City was a theater. On the trek west, the Mormons divided themselves into highly organized companies and worked to improve the trail and provide resources for those coming after them, including the building of way stations, ferries and the planting of crops. They also kept detailed records of their experiences for the use of future pioneers, and an early Mormon pioneer invented the odometer as a means of calculating how far his company had traveled each day. Their migration is the most highly organized mass migration in U.S. history. Which of the following was a long term effect of the New Deal? ANSWER- The New Deal did not end the Depression. The Depression only ended after the beginning of World War II when there was a huge increase in demand for goods and manpower. The New Deal increased the agricultural price supports offered to farmers and increased the role that the federal government played in the U.S. economy. Who was César Chávez? ANSWER- Cesar Chavez was a migrant farm worker who founded the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee. He was instrumental in bringing about several reforms that improved living and working conditions for migrant workers including the banning of certain grape pesticides and of the short handled hoe used in lettuce harvesting. Which of the following is not a result of the Civil Rights Movement's work in the 1950s and 60s? ANSWER- While Civil Rights Era Supreme Court decisions did declare that segregation in schools violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution, these decisions did not lead to instantaneous desegregation of schools, as people in many locations resisted desegregation even going to the length of closing public schools to prevent it. In other areas the National Guard had to be called in to enforce orders to integrate the schools. Which of the following was an effect of industrialization in the United States? ANSWER- The industrialization of the United States led to an overall decrease in the number of farmers as people moved from the country to the city in search of the new jobs created
by industrialization. This move also resulted in fewer Americans being self-employed, as they instead became wage earners working for other people. Industrialization also led to an overall increase in economic and employment opportunities for women. Many of these opportunities took the form of what we now sometimes think of as "pink collar" jobs such as typing and stenography. Which of the following were causes of The Dust Bowl? ANSWER- The Dust Bowl was a period of time, largely coinciding with the Great Depression, in which severe droughts, poor farming techniques, wind erosion and several other factors led to the collapse of farming in the southern Plains states. High grain prices had encouraged farmers to over-cultivate their fields and to bring previously uncultivated land under cultivation, leading to soil depletion and an overall loss in soil moisture as farmers would frequently burn their wheat stubble. This was a problem because the long grasses in the Plains states had previously been instrumental in keeping the soil in place. This loss meant that windstorms now began picking up soil, eroding fields and destroying crops. The Dust Bowl resulted in thousands of farmers losing their farms. Many of them traveled to California where they worked as migrant farm workers. John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of one family who lost their farm in Oklahoma due to the Dust Bowl. Enlightenment principles signaled a departure from which of the following types of government rule? ANSWER- The Enlightenment, also known as The Age of Enlightenment and The Age of Reason, occurred in the eighteenth century and centered on a belief in reason. The Enlightenment encouraged the ideals of liberty, self- governance, natural rights and natural law. Both the American Revolution and the French Revolution had their genesis in Enlightenment ideals which encouraged the idea that the common man should have a say in government. This was a departure from the most common types of governance, including monarchy and the belief in the divine right of kings. Enlightenment leaders tended to prefer representative republics as a form of government. What was the first well-known American school of painting? ANSWER- The Hudson River School was the first well-known American school of painting. Its members intended to break away from the European art schools and develop a distinct American art school of thought through their celebration of the American landscape. What does the Communist Manifesto claim makes up all of history? ANSWER- The Communist Manifesto claims that history has been a series of class struggles; that the rise of Communism will eliminate class boundaries and end the struggle. Karl Marx, the Manifesto's primary author, ended with a call for the working class of the world to start a revolution against the order of things, forcibly taking over the means of production. The final lines read:"The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite!"
In a market economy, what is the theoretical basis for the price of an individual good? ANSWER- In a pure market economy, price is typically seen as a reflection of supply and demand. A larger supply will result in a lower price and a greater demand will result in a lower price. Which of the following is a way that the Internet affected world wide economies? ANSWER- The Internet has increased the number of methods in which near- instantaneous communication is possible, but this is not necessarily an economic spur. The internet has also generally caused a decrease in transaction costs and barriers to entry in retail situations (e.g., it is much less expensive to start a website to sell your goods than it is to open a brick and mortar store. Ones website has the potential to reach out to a much larger group of potential consumers). The Internet has also increased consumer access to goods by making it easier for consumers to locate what they want. What was the purpose of John Locke's Two Treatises on Government? ANSWER- The Internet has increased the number of methods in which near-instantaneous communication is possible, but this is not necessarily an economic spur. The internet has also generally caused a decrease in transaction costs and barriers to entry in retail situations (e.g., it is much less expensive to start a website to sell your goods than it is to open a brick and mortar store. Ones website has the potential to reach out to a much larger group of potential consumers). The Internet has also increased consumer access to goods by making it easier for consumers to locate what they want. Which of the following is the most appropriate reason to use audio-visual materials in the classroom? ANSWER- The most appropriate reason listed in the question is to give students additional insight into the forces that shaped the historical event they are studying. Audio-visual materials can be used to give students additional perspective; for example, a documentary about the Battle of Gettysburg could be used to provide them with visual representations of historical locations or as a means of illustrating the differences in perspective. Why did the United States originally get involved with Vietnam? ANSWER- Following World War II, European powers found themselves in a position where they faced resistance to their colonial rule at a time when they lacked the resources to maintain their presence by force. After France was defeated in Vietnam, the United States remained for reasons that included the two listed in A and C. Researching the history of levee building in the United States is most likely to also touch upon which of the following disciplines? ANSWER- Levees are built to prevent flooding in areas along rivers. They consist of large embankments along the side of a river and typically have a flat top atop which sandbags can be piled to increase the levees' height when necessary. The Mississippi River has one of the world's largest levee systems.
What is the purpose of a research question? ANSWER- A research question can be used to focus a research topic that is too broad to be appropriately handled in the format for which one is researching. After reading the journals of several citizens of your home town, you find that several of them share the same opinions on a topic. In your paper, you infer that most of the population shared this opinion. What is this an example of? ANSWER- In this situation, you are using the information you have to create a generalization about the opinions of the population. A historian is researching daily life in your home town in the 1840s. What might he do to locate sources? ANSWER- All of the listed methods are ways that a historian might locate sources, depending on his actual research question. In which of the following circumstances would it be appropriate to use a chronological view to understand history? ANSWER- The U.S.-Soviet race to the moon is an example of a circumstance where a chronological point of view would be appropriate as each nation's advances fuelled the other nation's desire to surpass its Cold War rival. In studying the causes of the crusades, which other academic discipline would be the least beneficial? ANSWER- Therefore, sociology would describe reason 2), a decision based upon sociological factors, such as unemployed youth, ready for war. Geography, combined with economics, would help explain the critical nature of the city of Constantinople, in that it controlled the Bosporus, the waterway between the Mediterranean and Black seas, and thus was the primary non-sea route to the Middle- East). For the crusaders, were it to fall, Muslims would control trade with the East even further, and the heart of Eastern Christianity would be lost. Which of the following documents would be most appropriate to determine a historical figure's personal opinion on an event in which he was involved? ANSWER- The personal journal is the best source in this case because it is the only primary source listed. While a close friend's biography or an aide's letters might include information on the historical figure's personal opinion, the information will be filtered through the other person's memory and personal opinions. Which of the following are topics that should be covered in a high school (grades 9-12) U.S. history class? ANSWER- High school U.S. History classes are intended to cover the history of the United States since Reconstruction. The Great Depression, The Cold War, and the Progressive Era all occurred following reconstruction. The Jacksonian era took place during Andrew Jackson's presidency which lasted from 1829 to 1837.