U.S. History — Semester A Practice

Question 1 of 10

TEKS 20A-22E Easy Word

The 8th Amendment prohibits:

A self-incrimination

B unreasonable searches

C cruel and unusual punishment

D double jeopardy

Explanation

📌 Excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

Question 2 of 10

TEKS 1A-6B Medium Word

Harriet Tubman is best known for:

A being the first female senator

B writing the Constitution

C leading people to freedom on the Underground Railroad

D inventing the telegraph

Explanation

📌 Escaped slavery and led ~300 people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Called 'Moses of her people.'

Question 3 of 10

TEKS 1A-6B Hard Word

The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction by:

A abolishing slavery

B removing federal troops from the South

C passing the 15th Amendment

D starting the Civil War

Explanation

📌 Hayes (R) became President in exchange for removing federal troops from the South. Ended Reconstruction. Led to Jim Crow laws.

Question 4 of 10

TEKS 17A-19E Easy Word

The purpose of the Preamble to the Constitution is to:

A state the goals and purpose of the government

B establish taxes

C declare war

D list all amendments

Explanation

📌 State the goals and purposes of the government. 'We the People...' Establishes popular sovereignty.

Question 5 of 10

TEKS 26A-28B Easy Word

The steamboat improved:

A road construction

B air travel

C communication

D river transportation

Explanation

📌 River transportation. Robert Fulton. Made upstream travel possible. Boosted trade and westward expansion.

Question 6 of 10

TEKS 1A-6B Medium Word

Manifest Destiny was the belief that:

A the US was destined to expand from coast to coast

B America should remain on the East Coast

C expansion should stop at the Mississippi

D America should join the British Empire

Explanation

📌 Americans believed they were destined by God to expand across the continent from Atlantic to Pacific.

Question 7 of 10

TEKS 29A-32B Easy Word

A primary source is:

A a Wikipedia article

B a textbook about history

C a firsthand account from the time period

D a movie about an event

Explanation

📌 Primary = firsthand account from the time period (diary, letter, photo, speech). Secondary = analysis written later.

Question 8 of 10

TEKS 1A-6B Easy Word

The Articles of Confederation were replaced by:

A the Declaration of Independence

B the Magna Carta

C the Constitution

D the Bill of Rights

Explanation

📌 The Constitution (1787). Articles were too weak — no executive, no power to tax. Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

Question 9 of 10

TEKS 1A-6B Easy Word

Shays' Rebellion (1786-87) showed:

A westward expansion was needed

B the Articles of Confederation were too weak

C slavery should end

D the government was too strong

Explanation

📌 Weakness of Articles of Confederation. Farmers rebelled over debt/taxes. Led to Constitutional Convention.

Question 10 of 10

TEKS 17A-19E Medium Word

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) established:

A slavery is illegal

B states can tax the federal government

C implied powers of the federal government

D the right to bear arms

Explanation

📌 Federal government has implied powers. States cannot tax federal institutions. 'Power to tax is power to destroy.'

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