8th Grade

United States History Midterm Exam Study Guide

CCPS Skills and Processes Questions
I. Speaking and Listening:
1. What are some of the habits of good listeners?
Give full attention to speaker; maintain eye contact; stay quiet; attentive body language
2. What are some of the habits of good speakers?
Projecting voiceconfident tone, using vocabulary appropriate to audience; speaking clearly
(using good diction, not rushing words); maintain eye-contact w/ audience;
3. Describe assertive language and give some examples.
Using a bold tone; directing or telling (ex: politician's speech or teacher's directions)
4. Describe conditional language and give some examples.
Open to other ideas; collaborative open-ended discussion (ex: giving options; friendly group
work)
II. Research and Writing:
1. What is a primary source? Provide some examples.
An item from that period of time and place directly connected to the topic; original source (ex:
diary from the person you are studying or an autobiography)
2. What is a secondary source? Provide some examples.
Item not necessarily from the time or place you are studying; source not directly connected to the
topic; one step removed (ex: history textbook or documentary)
3. What are some of the traits of a reliable website?
Updated recently; identifies the author and credentials can be verified; internet domain extension
of .edu .gov .mil (indicating university, government, and military websites)
4. List some strategies for an effective online search (i.e. use of data bases, use of keywords, etc.).
Use key words that relate to your topic; enter those same key words in search tools of school
databases to find sources that have been vetted; Google search trick: site:.gov your search
keywords to find sites with a .gov domain extension (can do the same with .mil and .edu)
5. What is the purpose of a Thesis Statement?
Explains to the reader your topic and what you are trying to prove (makes a claim about your
topic)

Content Review
I. Creating America and the Revolutionary Era
1. Describe the goals of British Mercantilism in America. In other words, why did England want to
control colonial trade?
Mercantilism - an economic system in which the parent country (England) creates wealth by
controlling trade with its colonies. The purpose of the Mercantile system was to provide financial
gain for the Mother Country by importing cheap raw materials from the Colonies and exporting
expensive manufactured goods to the Colonies for a profit.
2. List some of the most important results (outcomes) of the French and Indian War. (Dont forget to
talk about how the war affected the relationship between the American colonists and the English
government)
England defeated France, gaining control of the Ohio Valley, but found itself in debt from the war.
To repay their debt, England began enforcing taxes on the Colonies. These taxes angered the
Colonists, who were allies with Britain during war and hoped to benefit from acquiring more land.
3. List the reasons why the American colonists rebelled against England. Consider various acts passed
by Parliament.
The Colonies were upset at the British for preventing Colonial settlement across the Appalachian
Mountains due to the Proclamation of 1763.The Colonies were also upset because of forced
taxation without representation in Parliament.
4. Explain what the most important outcome of the American Revolution was.
The United States officially gained its independence from Great Britain with the signing of the
Treaty of Paris in 1783.
5. List the basic principles of government stated in the Declaration of Independence.
all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Citizens have the right
to displace governments that violate these natural-born rights and put in place their own
governments.

II. Building a New Nation

1. Describe the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
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2. Define and describe federalism. Provide an example of this principle of the United States
Constitution.
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3. Describe the goal or purpose of the six basic principles upon which the United States Constitution
is built. The six basic principles are:
A. Federalism __________________________________________________________________
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B. checks and balances _________________________________________________________
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C. limited government __________________________________________________________

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D. representative democracy _____________________________________________________
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separation of powers _________________________________________________________

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E.

F. judicial review _____________________________________________________________

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4. Explain why the founding fathers added the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution.
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5. Describe some of the key push/pull factors that led Americans to migrate throughout the colonies
and westward.
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6. Briefly describe the primary goals of American foreign policy during the first years of the new
republic? (think about Washingtons farewell address)
a. Also consider the goal of the Monroe Doctrine
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IV. Be prepared to respond to a question related to one of the following Overarching Themes
(OATs)
Overarching Theme Two
Evaluate the common push/pull factors that have led immigrants to move to America from other places
and Americans to migrate across the North American continent.

Overarching Theme Six

Analyze various factors that have led American colonists into conflict with other cultures and evaluate
how these conflicts have affected change within America. This may include: