Preview Extract
Chapter Four
Experience of Empire: Eighteenth Century America
Multiple Choice
1. The factor most responsible for the growth of the colonial population between 1700 and
1770 was ________.
A) natural reproduction
B) the great wave of immigration during that period
C) the program of forced migration instituted by the monarchy
D) the dramatic upsurge in the importation of slaves
E) the intermarriage between settlers and Native Americans
Answer: A
Rationale:
Natural reproduction refers to the population growth resulting from births within the existing
population. During the 18th century, the colonies experienced high birth rates, with families
having numerous children. This natural increase in population, fueled by factors such as
improved living conditions, better nutrition, and healthcare, was the primary driver of
population growth during this period.
2. The largest group of white, non-English immigrants to the colonies in the 1700s were
________.
A) the Dutch
B) the Germans
C) the Swedish
D) the Scots-Irish
E) the French
Answer: D
Rationale:
The Scots-Irish constituted the largest group of white, non-English immigrants to the colonies
in the 1700s. These immigrants, primarily from the northern regions of Ireland, migrated to
the American colonies in significant numbers seeking economic opportunities, religious
freedom, and escape from political and social unrest in their homeland.
3. The first large group of German immigrants moved to America seeking ________.
A) free land
B) religious tolerance
C) an opportunity to become wealthy farmers
D) markets for their craft products
E) work to bring their families from Europe
Answer: B
Rationale:
The first large group of German immigrants moved to America seeking religious tolerance.
Many Germans, particularly those belonging to Protestant sects such as the Lutheran and
Reformed churches, faced religious persecution in their homeland. Seeking freedom to
practice their faith without persecution, they sought refuge in the American colonies, where
they could worship according to their beliefs.
4. The population of the thirteen British colonies grew to about __________ in 1770.
A) 2000
B) 20,000
C) 200,000
D) 2 million
E) 20 million
Answer: D
Rationale:
By 1770, the population of the thirteen British colonies had grown to approximately 2 million
people. This population increase was fueled by natural reproduction, immigration from
Europe, particularly from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany, as well as the
importation of enslaved Africans.
5. The “middle ground” was an area ________.
A) where most of the fighting between whites and Indians occurred
B) where whites and Indians interacted on an approximately equal basis
C) inhabited by renegades, half-breeds, and runaway slaves
D) of metaphorical stasis, symbolic of a culture that was part European and part Indian
E) designated by treaty as a demilitarized zone
Answer: B
Rationale:
The "middle ground" was an area where whites and Native Americans interacted on an
approximately equal basis. It was characterized by cultural exchange, negotiation, and
accommodation, serving as a space where both groups could establish relationships, trade,
and resolve disputes without resorting to widespread violence.
6. In 1565, concern over French encroachment led to the establishment of ________.
A) Jamestown
B) Boston
C) St. Augustine
D) Plymouth
E) Roanoke
Answer: C
Rationale:
In 1565, concern over French encroachment led to the establishment of St. Augustine.
Located in present-day Florida, St. Augustine is considered the oldest continuously inhabited
European-established settlement within the borders of the continental United States. It served
as a strategic outpost for Spanish colonial efforts to assert control over the southeastern
region of North America.
7. Which region was NOT considered part of the eighteenth-century Spanish borderlands?
A) California
B) New Mexico
C) Colorado
D) Texas
E) Florida
Answer: C
Rationale:
Colorado was not considered part of the eighteenth-century Spanish borderlands. During the
eighteenth century, Spanish colonial efforts focused primarily on regions such as California,
New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, where they established missions, presidios, and settlements
to extend their influence and control over the frontier.
8. Which tribe was most successful at resisting conversion to Catholicism?
A) Pueblos
B) Coahuiltecans
C) Aztecs
D) Pimas
E) Conchos
Answer: A
Rationale:
The Pueblos were most successful at resisting conversion to Catholicism. Despite Spanish
missionary efforts, the Pueblos maintained aspects of their traditional religious practices and
cultural beliefs. They resisted attempts to impose Catholicism and often blended elements of
Catholicism with their indigenous spirituality.
9. For many Americans, the main appeal of the Enlightenment was its focus on ________.
A) searching for practical knowledge
B) reviving interest in classical education
C) defending traditional Christian beliefs
D) pure scientific research
E) achieving a classless society
Answer: A
Rationale:
For many Americans, the main appeal of the Enlightenment was its focus on searching for
practical knowledge. The Enlightenment emphasized reason, empirical observation, and the
scientific method as means of understanding the natural world and improving human society.
It promoted education, intellectual inquiry, and the application of rational principles to solve
practical problems, making it appealing to those seeking progress and innovation.
10. The one American who, more than anyone else, symbolized the spirit of the
Enlightenment was ________.
A) Jonathan Edwards
B) George Washington
C) Cotton Mather
D) George Whitefield
E) Benjamin Franklin
Answer: E
Rationale:
Benjamin Franklin was the one American who, more than anyone else, symbolized the spirit
of the Enlightenment. Franklin was a polymath known for his scientific discoveries,
inventions, writings on civic virtue and self-improvement, and advocacy for education and
rational inquiry. He embodied the Enlightenment ideals of intellectual curiosity, practicality,
and skepticism toward traditional authority, making significant contributions to American
culture and society.
11. A major financial problem that confronted mid-eighteenth-century America involved the
________.
A) colonists’ heavy debt to the British
B) colonists’ refusal to buy English products
C) shortage of gold and silver coinage
D) colonies’ failure to print paper money
E) lack of credit available to merchants
Answer: A
Rationale:
Colonists' heavy debt to the British was a significant financial burden during the mideighteenth century. The colonies were indebted to British merchants and creditors due to
trade imbalances and restrictive economic policies imposed by Britain, such as the
Navigation Acts. This debt contributed to economic tensions that eventually led to the
American Revolutionary War.
12. The two most important leaders of the Great Awakening in colonial America were
________.
A) Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield
B) John Winthrop and Jonathan Edwards
C) John Locke and Benjamin Franklin
D) Thomas Gordon and John Trenchard
E) Cotton Mather and George Whitefield
Answer: A
Rationale:
Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were key figures in the Great Awakening, a
religious revival movement in colonial America during the 18th century. Their preaching
style and emphasis on personal conversion and emotional religious experience played a
crucial role in shaping the movement.
13. Followers of the Great Awakening, who emphasized a powerful, emotional religion, were
known as ________.
A) “Old Lights”
B) “New Lights”
C) Presbyterians
D) deists
E) evangelicals
Answer: B
Rationale:
Followers of the Great Awakening who emphasized a powerful, emotional religion were
known as "New Lights." They were characterized by their enthusiastic embrace of the
revivalist message and their commitment to personal spiritual experiences.
14. Which of these was a prominent African-American minister, founder of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church?
A) William Pitt
B) Richard Allen
C) Edward Braddock
D) John Trenchard
E) Thomas Gordon
Answer: B
Rationale:
Richard Allen was a significant African-American religious leader who founded the African
Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in 1816. He played a crucial role in establishing
independent African-American religious institutions and advocating for the rights of African
Americans.
15. Which college was NOT established as a result of the Great Awakening?
A) Princeton
B) Columbia
C) Rutgers
D) Brown
E) Dartmouth
Answer: B
Rationale:
Columbia University was not established as a result of the Great Awakening. Princeton,
Rutgers, Brown, and Dartmouth were all founded during or shortly after the Great
Awakening, with Dartmouth specifically being established by Eleazar Wheelock to educate
Native American youth and propagate Christianity among them.
16. A major source of political information in the colonies came in the form of ________.
A) imported political treatises
B) weekly newspapers
C) pamphlets
D) public debates
E) daily newspapers
Answer: B
Rationale:
Weekly newspapers were a major source of political information in the colonies during the
18th century. These newspapers provided updates on local, colonial, and international affairs,
shaping public opinion and facilitating political discourse.
17. Which was NOT a colonial war between France and England?
A) King William’s War
B) Queen Anne’s War
C) King George’s War
D) French and Indian War
E) King Philip’s War
Answer: E
Rationale:
King Philip's War was not a colonial war between France and England. It was a conflict
between Native American tribes and English colonists in New England in the late 17th
century, primarily involving the Wampanoag tribe led by Chief Metacom (King Philip)
against the New England Confederation.
18. The major source of Anglo-French conflict in the colonies was ________.
A) slavery
B) international naval supremacy
C) arguments over relations and treaties with Native Americans
D) political grievances
E) control of the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys
Answer: E
Rationale:
The control of the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys was a major source of conflict between the
British and French in the colonies. Both powers sought to expand their territorial claims in
North America, leading to armed conflicts such as the French and Indian War.
19. In 1743, during King George’s War, colonial forces captured ________.
A) Montreal
B) Toronto
C) Louisbourg
D) New Orleans
E) Quebec
Answer: C
Rationale:
During King George's War, colonial forces captured Louisbourg in 1745. The successful siege
of Louisbourg was a significant victory for the British and their colonial allies against the
French in North America.
20. The leading figure at the Albany Congress, and designer of the Albany Plan, was
________.
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) George Washington
C) William Pitt
D) John Adams
E) Benjamin Franklin
Answer: E
Rationale:
Benjamin Franklin was the leading figure at the Albany Congress in 1754 and the designer of
the Albany Plan of Union. The Albany Congress was convened to discuss colonial defense
during the French and Indian War, and Franklin's plan proposed a unified colonial
government for collective defense and cooperation.
21. Colonial involvement in imperial wars began with ________.
A) the French and Indian War
B) King William’s War
C) King Philip’s War
D) the Thirty Years’ War
E) Queen Anne’s War
Answer: B
Rationale:
Colonial involvement in imperial wars began with King William's War, also known as the
War of the Grand Alliance or the Nine Years' War, which took place from 1689 to 1697. This
conflict involved European powers, including England, and their colonies in North America,
marking the beginning of colonial participation in larger global conflicts.
22. The failure of the Albany Plan can be attributed, primarily, to the ________.
A) opposition of French authorities
B) fiscal jealousies of colonial assemblies
C) beginning of the French and Indian War
D) refusal of the Iroquois tribes to support it
E) lack of interest from colonial representatives
Answer: B
Rationale:
The failure of the Albany Plan can primarily be attributed to the fiscal jealousies of colonial
assemblies. The plan proposed a unified colonial government for defense and cooperation,
but colonial assemblies were reluctant to cede power to a central authority, fearing loss of
control and taxation without representation.
23. The man who led Great Britain to victory in the Seven Years’ War was ________.
A) Lord North
B) John Trenchard
C) Horatio Nelson
D) King George II
E) William Pitt
Answer: E
Rationale:
William Pitt, also known as Pitt the Elder, was the British Prime Minister during the Seven
Years' War and is credited with leading Great Britain to victory. His strategic leadership,
military reforms, and diplomatic efforts contributed significantly to Britain's success in the
conflict.
24. Which war between England and France had the greatest political and economic impact
on colonial America?
A) King William’s War
B) Queen Anne’s War
C) King George’s War
D) the Seven Years’ War
E) King Philip’s War
Answer: D
Rationale:
The Seven Years' War, also known as the French and Indian War in North America, had the
greatest political and economic impact on colonial America. It resulted in significant
territorial changes, altered colonial relationships with Britain, and set the stage for the
American Revolutionary War.
25. Which was NOT a territorial change under the Peace of Paris (1763), which ended the
Seven Years’ War?
A) Spain gained Louisiana
B) Britain gained Florida
C) France lost all land claims in continental North America
D) Spain gained Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean
E) Britain gained Canada
Answer: D
Rationale:
Spain gaining Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean was not a territorial change under
the Peace of Paris (1763). The treaty primarily involved territorial exchanges between
Britain, France, and Spain in North America and Europe.
26. Which of these was most likely the principal reason Spain found its North American
border hard to hold?
A) lack of mineral resources
B) lack of arable land
C) its vastness
D) Spanish-British hostilities
E) the opposition of the Plains Indians
Answer: C
Rationale:
The vastness of Spain's North American territories was most likely the principal reason it
found its border hard to hold. The expansive territory made it difficult for Spain to effectively
control and defend its borders against encroachment by other European powers and
indigenous groups.
27. What was the main motivation that brought so many Scots-Irish to America in the 1700s?
A) They came to practice Catholicism freely, something they could not do in Ireland.
B) They came in search of freedom and prosperity, two things they lacked in Ireland.
C) They came to work as indentured servants in the New World.
D) Their main goal was to form new Presbyterian congregations in America.
E) They came to earn money in America and planned to return to Scotland.
Answer: B
Rationale:
The main motivation that brought many Scots-Irish to America in the 1700s was their search
for freedom and prosperity, which they perceived as lacking in Ireland due to economic
hardships, religious conflicts, and limited opportunities.
28. What was the motivation for German Lutherans to come to the middle colonies in the
later 1700s?
A) Their primary goal was to improve their lives materially.
B) They wanted to escape the war that was going on between Germany and France.
C) They were seeking political freedom.
D) They were seeking religious freedom.
E) Their primary goal was to convert more people to Lutheranism in the colonies.
Answer: A
Rationale:
The motivation for German Lutherans to come to the middle colonies in the later 1700s was
primarily to improve their lives materially. Economic opportunities and the promise of land
and resources attracted many German immigrants to America during this period.
29. Which was true of the Native Americans of the “middle ground”?
A) They maintained a strong, independent role in commercial exchange with Europeans.
B) They sought to isolate themselves completely from European contact.
C) They sought economic competition between tribes rather than military confrontation.
D) They continued to war against each other rather than establish intertribal confederacies.
E) They wanted to strengthen their ties to each other in order to fight the European settlers.
Answer: A
Rationale:
The Native Americans of the "middle ground" maintained a strong, independent role in
commercial exchange with Europeans. Rather than being dominated by Europeans or isolated
from them, they engaged in mutually beneficial trade relationships while preserving aspects
of their cultural autonomy.
30. Why did increased trade with Europeans tend to erode the traditional leadership structure
of Native American groups?
A) Native Americans looked to the Europeans as their new leaders, which caused the Native
American leaders to lose much of their power.
B) Native Americans who traded with Europeans tended not to belong to traditional
communities, but rather to leaderless societies.
C) Native American leaders no longer wanted to rule over other members of their groups who
traded with Europeans.
D) Native American leaders spent so much time in conflict with European traders that they
had no time for leadership, causing their roles to weaken.
E) Native Americans no longer consulted leaders when they bargained with European traders,
which weakened the leaders’ roles.
Answer: E
Rationale:
Increased trade with Europeans tended to erode the traditional leadership structure of Native
American groups because Native Americans no longer consulted leaders when they bargained
with European traders. This shift in economic dynamics marginalized traditional leaders and
decentralized authority within Native American communities.
31. Why did Spain initially have little interest in settling California?
A) The region was full of Native American groups who fought any Europeans that tried to
settle there.
B) The region had so many French settlers that the Spanish did not want to fight over land
with them.
C) The region appeared to lack natural resources and was not easy to reach from Mexico City.
D) The region was continually plagued by earthquakes, which frightened the settlers away.
E) The region was too close to Mexico City and the Native American groups there.
Answer: C
Rationale:
Spain initially had little interest in settling California because the region appeared to lack
natural resources and was not easily accessible from Mexico City. Without clear economic
incentives or strategic importance, Spain focused its colonization efforts elsewhere in the
Americas.
32. How did early Spanish outposts in North America compare to early English settlements?
A) There were fewer Native American groups in the Spanish outposts to threaten the new
settlers.
B) There were more natural resources in the Spanish outposts, which led to a greater success
of the first settlements there.
C) The Spanish outposts contained settlers who had migrated from many more places in
Europe than the ones in the English settlements.
D) The Spanish outposts grew more slowly due to the harsh environment and threats of
Native Americans.
E) Though they started later, the Spanish outposts eventually grew much larger and at a faster
rate.
Answer: D
Rationale:
Early Spanish outposts in North America grew more slowly compared to early English
settlements due to the harsh environment, including arid landscapes and hostile Native
American resistance. Spanish settlers faced challenges such as conflicts with indigenous
peoples and limited resources, leading to slower growth and expansion.
33. Which best summarizes the basic philosophy of the Enlightenment?
A) Reason could help humans achieve perfection in this world.
B) Knowledge was of little use when confined to speculation.
C) Faith and tolerance could help humans achieve perfection in this world.
D) Absolutist governments must be replaced by representative governments.
E) People must give up most possessions to achieve true enlightenment.
Answer: A
Rationale:
The basic philosophy of the Enlightenment emphasized that reason could help humans
achieve perfection in this world. Enlightenment thinkers advocated for rational inquiry,
scientific progress, and the application of reason to improve society, government, and human
understanding.
34. As a result of Enlightenment thinking, Benjamin Franklin ________.
A) turned to organized religion for meaning in his life
B) devoted his life to his own personal religious views
C) rejected the practical pursuits of life in favor of contemplation, meditation, and intellectual
inquiry
D) pursued his curiosity until it yielded useful scientific ideas and ingenious material
inventions
E) sought to find true enlightenment by giving up most of his material possessions
Answer: D
Rationale:
As a result of Enlightenment thinking, Benjamin Franklin pursued his curiosity until it
yielded useful scientific ideas and ingenious material inventions. Franklin's embrace of
empirical observation, experimentation, and practical application of knowledge exemplified
the spirit of Enlightenment rationalism and innovation.
35. What happened as a result of the growth of the eighteenth-century colonial economy?
A) The population grew even faster and per capita income declined.
B) Enforcement of the Navigation Laws sowed the seeds of a lingering bitterness against
Britain.
C) The colonies developed a strong industrial base.
D) Colonists’ prosperity as a whole increased.
E) American exports increasingly found new markets around the world.
Answer: D
Rationale:
As a result of the growth of the eighteenth-century colonial economy, colonists' prosperity as
a whole increased. Economic expansion, increased trade, and access to new markets
contributed to overall wealth and improved living standards for many colonists.
36. What caused the balance of trade between England and the colonies to turn dramatically
in England’s favor by the mid-eighteenth century?
A) the decline in trade between the colonies and the West Indies
B) enormous demand in the colonies for British finished products
C) industrialization in the colonies
D) stricter enforcement of the Navigation Acts
E) enormous demand in the colonies for raw materials from England
Answer: B
Rationale:
The balance of trade between England and the colonies turned dramatically in England's
favor by the mid-eighteenth century due to the enormous demand in the colonies for British
finished products. Colonists increasingly relied on imported British goods, leading to a trade
deficit and benefiting the British economy.
37. Which of the following best characterizes the primary message of Jonathan Edwards’
preaching?
A) that a combination of good deeds and steadfast faith could bring salvation
B) that salvation would come through repentance only
C) that the eternal fate of individuals was determined at birth
D) that Old Light spokesmen were the only true possessors of truth
E) that people could redeem themselves by performing good works
Answer: B
Rationale:
The primary message of Jonathan Edwards' preaching was that salvation would come through
repentance only. Edwards emphasized the need for individuals to acknowledge their sins,
repent, and turn to God for forgiveness and salvation, promoting a revival of religious fervor
and personal conversion.
38. Why did tension arise between colonial congregations of the 1740s and 1750s?
A) Evangelical preachers began to challenge traditional preaching.
B) Colonial preachers no longer wanted to be controlled by the English clergy.
C) Some preachers wanted to prevent colonists from joining their congregations.
D) Many preachers tried to convert Native Americans to evangelical Christianity.
E) Congregations disagreed about whether women should participate in the church.
Answer: A
Rationale:
Tension arose between colonial congregations of the 1740s and 1750s because evangelical
preachers began to challenge traditional preaching. The Great Awakening led to conflicts
within congregations as new evangelical ideas clashed with established religious practices,
causing divisions and controversies.
39. Which of the following was NOT an important effect of the Great Awakening?
A) It stimulated higher education in the colonies.
B) It strengthened the authority of old colonial religions.
C) It encouraged the development of individualism.
D) It fostered an optimistic view of the future among those touched by it.
E) It evoked a sense of “new birth” among believers.
Answer: B
Rationale:
Strengthening the authority of old colonial religions was not an important effect of the Great
Awakening. Instead, the Great Awakening challenged traditional religious institutions and
hierarchies, leading to the emergence of new religious movements and a shift in religious
attitudes and practices.
40. Which is NOT true of royal governors in colonial America?
A) They had the power to dismiss judges.
B) They were military commanders-in-chief in each colony.
C) They had the power to appoint colonial officials.
D) They had the power to tax the colonists.
E) They had the right to veto legislation.
Answer: D
Rationale:
Royal governors in colonial America did not have the power to tax the colonists directly.
Taxation powers typically resided with colonial assemblies or were granted by specific
legislation from the British government. Royal governors primarily served as representatives
of the Crown, overseeing colonial administration and enforcing imperial policies.
41. Colonial legislators saw their primary function as ________.
A) improving the lives of their constituents
B) preventing encroachments on the people’s rights
C) implementing the governor’s policies
D) mediating between the royal governor and the people
E) supporting the governor to attain patronage appointments
Answer: B
Rationale:
Colonial legislators saw their primary function as preventing encroachments on the people's
rights. Colonial assemblies played a crucial role in defending colonial liberties and acting as a
check against abuses of power by colonial governors or the British Crown.
42. In the period of the rise of the colonial assembly, which of these changes took place in
colonial law?
A) A unique colonial legal system emerged.
B) Colonial courts disappeared.
C) Colonial law increasingly reflected German law.
D) Legal practices increasingly resembled those of England.
E) Legal issues were increasingly decided in England.
Answer: D
Rationale:
In the period of the rise of the colonial assembly, changes in colonial law included legal
practices increasingly resembling those of England. As colonies developed, they adopted
legal systems and practices that mirrored those of England, including common law principles
and legal procedures.
43. Which best describes the change in colonial warfare during the eighteenth century?
A) Rather than fight off Native Americans, the colonists found that their main enemies were
colonists from other regions of the country.
B) Rather than participate in European wars, the colonists were forced to battle against
Native Americans. C) Instead of the threat from hostile Native Americans, the colonists faced
threats from African-American slaves.
D) Instead of facing threats from Native Americans and African-American slaves, the
colonists were forced to fight against Spanish forces.
E) Instead of being involved in local wars with Native Americans, the colonists became
involved with the wars between Britain and France.
Answer: E
Rationale:
The change in colonial warfare during the eighteenth century was that instead of being
involved in local wars with Native Americans, the colonists became involved in the wars
between Britain and France. The French and Indian War, part of the larger global conflict
known as the Seven Years' War, marked a significant shift in colonial warfare towards
conflicts between European powers in North America.
44. By the mid-1700s, the colonial assemblies ________.
A) had surrendered most powers to royal assemblies
B) were gaining steadily in power
C) were able to elect the colonial governors
D) were completely independent in their actions from the mother country
E) were full of mid-level bureaucrats seeking better patronage jobs
Answer: B
Rationale:
By the mid-1700s, the colonial assemblies were gaining steadily in power. Over time,
colonial assemblies asserted their authority and expanded their influence in colonial
governance, often challenging royal prerogatives and asserting colonial rights and liberties.
45. One of the most important factors uniting Americans of different colonies into a single
political culture was ________.
A) the English common law
B) cooperative royal governors in between the northern and southern colonies
C) their near-monolithic religious beliefs
D) a respect for the sovereignty of Parliament
E) fear of attack by Indians
Answer: A
Rationale:
One of the most important factors uniting Americans of different colonies into a single
political culture was the English common law. Shared legal traditions and principles derived
from English common law provided a common foundation for colonial governance and
contributed to a sense of shared identity among colonists.
46. Which best describes Benjamin Franklin’s main goal in drafting the Albany Plan?
A) to organize a council of delegates to coordinate common defense and western expansion
B) to propose the dredging of canals that connected Albany with Lake Erie and the St.
Lawrence River
C) to set up a system of common taxes and tariffs throughout the colonies
D) to draft a constitution that freed the colonies from any control by the British crown
E) to prepare the colonies for an eventual war of independence with England
Answer: A
Rationale:
Benjamin Franklin's main goal in drafting the Albany Plan was to organize a council of
delegates to coordinate common defense and western expansion. The Albany Plan proposed a
unified colonial government for defense and cooperation, aimed at addressing common
challenges and securing the frontier.
47. Which was NOT a consequence of the Seven Years’ War?
A) The war made the colonists more aware of their land.
B) The war led to the creation of several new French colonies.
C) The war trained a corps of American officers.
D) The war revealed British discontent with America’s contribution to its own defense.
E) The war forced the colonists to cooperate on an unprecedented scale.
Answer: B
Rationale:
The creation of several new French colonies was not a consequence of the Seven Years' War.
Instead, the war resulted in the transfer of French colonial territories to British control in
North America, marking the end of French colonial presence in the region.
48. What did the Great Awakening, intercolonial trade, and the rise of the colonial assemblies
have in common?
A) They created disdain for England.
B) They created a rebellious spirit in America.
C) They contributed to a growing sense of shared identity.
D) They helped create imperial rivalry between England and France.
E) They exacerbated the problems of an already-divided citizenry.
Answer: C
Rationale:
The Great Awakening, intercolonial trade, and the rise of colonial assemblies all contributed
to a growing sense of shared identity among colonists. These developments fostered
connections, interactions, and shared experiences that helped forge a collective colonial
consciousness and laid the groundwork for later American unity.
49. How did the increase in British imports to the colonies in the 1700s affect American
culture?
A) The colonists produced fewer of their own homespun goods, which made them less reliant
on old traditions.
B) The colonists no longer relied on imports from other countries and became less connected
to French and Spanish cultures.
C) The same British goods were sold throughout the colonies, which gave colonists a
collective background and brought them into greater contact with each other.
D) The colonists of different colonies developed interests in different British imports, which
led to greater isolation and greater identification with their own region.
E) The colonists were introduced to new British traditions through the imports they bought,
and lost much of their original American culture.
Answer: C
Rationale:
The increase in British imports to the colonies in the 1700s affected American culture by
leading to the same British goods being sold throughout the colonies. This common
consumption of British products helped create a shared cultural background among colonists
and facilitated greater social and economic integration across colonial boundaries.
50. Which statement is the best interpretation of this sentence from page 105? “For the
British, ‘American’ was a way of saying ‘not quite English.’”
A) The British believed that the colonists could only become truly American if they broke
away from the crown.
B) The British felt that the colonists needed to import more British goods in order to be
considered truly British.
C) The British did not perceive the differences among the various colonies and thought all
Americans were the same.
D) The British regarded colonists not as English—as the colonists viewed themselves—but as
something a little different.
E) The British felt that the colonists no longer wanted to be British and had rejected many of
their traditional ways.
Answer: D
Rationale:
The statement "For the British, 'American' was a way of saying 'not quite English'" suggests
that the British perceived the colonists as different from the English themselves. This
interpretation aligns with option D, which indicates that the British regarded colonists not as
English, as the colonists viewed themselves, but as something slightly distinct. This implies
that while the colonists identified as English, the British considered them as having
characteristics or attributes that differentiated them from the English populace, indicating a
recognition of a separate colonial identity. This interpretation captures the nuanced
perspective held by the British toward the colonists, acknowledging their English heritage but
also acknowledging distinctions that set them apart.
Essay
1. What difficulties did Native Americans encounter in their struggle to maintain cultural
independence? What was the function of the “middle ground”?
Answer: Native Americans faced numerous difficulties in their struggle to maintain cultural
independence, including territorial encroachment by European settlers, warfare, forced
assimilation through policies such as boarding schools, and the spread of diseases. The
"middle ground" served as a metaphorical space of negotiation and accommodation between
Native American tribes and European colonizers. It was a zone of interaction where both
parties sought to coexist and establish mutually beneficial relationships, often through trade,
diplomacy, and cultural exchange.
2. Analyze the dynamic between the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening in shaping
eighteenth-century American culture.
Answer: The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening exerted significant influence on
eighteenth-century American culture, albeit in different ways. The Enlightenment, with its
emphasis on reason, scientific inquiry, and individualism, contributed to the rise of
rationalism and secularism. It encouraged critical thinking, promoted education, and laid the
groundwork for revolutionary ideas regarding governance and human rights. On the other
hand, the Great Awakening, a religious revival movement, emphasized emotional religious
experiences, personal conversion, and evangelical fervor. It fostered a sense of spiritual
renewal and community cohesion, transcending denominational boundaries. Together, these
movements shaped a diverse cultural landscape characterized by a blend of intellectual
curiosity, religious fervency, and social activism.
3. Why did colonists believe that their governments replicated the English political system?
What factors made these governments uniquely American? How may this have paved the
way for eventual political union?
Answer: Colonists believed that their governments replicated the English political system due
to historical ties, shared legal traditions, and the transplantation of English institutions to the
colonies. Factors that made these governments uniquely American included geographical
distance from Britain, which necessitated greater local autonomy and self-governance; the
presence of frontier conditions, which led to the development of democratic practices such as
town meetings and assemblies; and the emergence of a distinct colonial identity shaped by
diverse cultural influences. This unique blend of English heritage and American innovation
laid the foundation for eventual political union by fostering a sense of common purpose and
shared democratic ideals, which became increasingly important during periods of colonial
resistance and, ultimately, the struggle for independence.
Test Bank for The American Story
Robert A. Divine, T. H. Breen, R. Hal Williams, Ariela J. Gross, H. W. Brands
9780205900688
