Question 1

Why did Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano sail west for the French in 1524?

Accepted Answer

A)  He hoped to find a swift northern passage from Europe to Asia. 
B)  He hoped to conquer the Spanish colony of New Mexico. 
C)  He hoped to discover the seven cities of gold. 
D)  He hoped to establish a colony in North America. 
A)  He hoped to find a swift northern passage from Europe to Asia. 
B)  He hoped to conquer the Spanish colony of New Mexico. 
C)  He hoped to discover the seven cities of gold. 
D)  He hoped to establish a colony in North America. A

Question 2

In 1564 the __________ established Fort Caroline as a first step toward establishing a colony in Florida.

Accepted Answer

A)  Dutch 
B)  Spanish 
C)  English 
D)  French 
A)  Dutch 
B)  Spanish 
C)  English 
D)  French D

Question 3

Europeans turned to alternative routes to Asia when __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  religious fighting in Europe blocked traditional overland routes 
B)  renewed Islamic power in the Middle East cut off the Silk Road to Cathay 
C)  an outbreak of plague blocked trade routes through Central Asia 
D)  Columbus discovered the Americas 
A)  religious fighting in Europe blocked traditional overland routes 
B)  renewed Islamic power in the Middle East cut off the Silk Road to Cathay 
C)  an outbreak of plague blocked trade routes through Central Asia 
D)  Columbus discovered the Americas B

Question 4

Indian languages provide strong evidence of the __________ of Archaic Indian peoples.

Accepted Answer

A)  cultural diversity 
B)  social homogeneity 
C)  genetic diversity 
D)  racial diversity 
A)  cultural diversity 
B)  social homogeneity 
C)  genetic diversity 
D)  racial diversity

Question 5

John Cabot __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  obtained a license from Henry VII of England to explore the North Atlantic 
B)  established Portugal's claim to Brazil 
C)  established France's claim to Canada 
D)  discovered the Mississippi River 
A)  obtained a license from Henry VII of England to explore the North Atlantic 
B)  established Portugal's claim to Brazil 
C)  established France's claim to Canada 
D)  discovered the Mississippi River

Question 6

Which of the following was true of the Viking settlement in Vinland?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was established as a military outpost. 
B)  It lasted almost two hundred years. 
C)  It was very small. 
D)  Its inhabitants never had any conflict with native peoples. 
A)  It was established as a military outpost. 
B)  It lasted almost two hundred years. 
C)  It was very small. 
D)  Its inhabitants never had any conflict with native peoples.

Question 7

Bartholomé de Las Casas rose to fame for __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  his critique of Spanish brutality in the Americas 
B)  his success in converting native peoples to Catholicism 
C)  allowing himself to be martyred for his beliefs 
D)  helping the Spanish conquer the Aztec Empire 
A)  his critique of Spanish brutality in the Americas 
B)  his success in converting native peoples to Catholicism 
C)  allowing himself to be martyred for his beliefs 
D)  helping the Spanish conquer the Aztec Empire

Question 8

Which of the following was a consequence of the near-extinction of the native population of the West Indies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spanish colonizers began importing slaves from Africa. 
B)  The Spanish began sending whole families to settle the region. 
C)  Spanish colonizers turned to North America. 
D)  The Spanish temporarily abandoned their exploration of the Americas. 
A)  Spanish colonizers began importing slaves from Africa. 
B)  The Spanish began sending whole families to settle the region. 
C)  Spanish colonizers turned to North America. 
D)  The Spanish temporarily abandoned their exploration of the Americas.

Question 9

In John Calvin's view, which of the following would be saved?

Accepted Answer

A)  everyone who followed the Ten Commandments 
B)  a select few chosen by God 
C)  those who were most generous in their gifts to the church 
D)  anyone who abstained from drinking, dancing, and swearing 
A)  everyone who followed the Ten Commandments 
B)  a select few chosen by God 
C)  those who were most generous in their gifts to the church 
D)  anyone who abstained from drinking, dancing, and swearing

Question 10

Recent discoveries suggest which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  that North America may have been the site of the world's first settled agriculture 
B)  the possible presence of pre-Clovis inhabitants of North America 
C)  the likelihood that the first humans arrived in the Americas 50,000 years ago 
D)  the possible arrival in the Americas of humans from Africa prior to the arrival of humans from Asia 
A)  that North America may have been the site of the world's first settled agriculture 
B)  the possible presence of pre-Clovis inhabitants of North America 
C)  the likelihood that the first humans arrived in the Americas 50,000 years ago 
D)  the possible arrival in the Americas of humans from Africa prior to the arrival of humans from Asia

Question 11

Why is the cultivation of squash, beans, and maize such an effective combination?

Accepted Answer

A)  The three crops can all be grown year round. 
B)  The three crops are all resistant to insects. 
C)  The three foods are all high in protein. 
D)  The three foods complement each other in dietary terms. 
A)  The three crops can all be grown year round. 
B)  The three crops are all resistant to insects. 
C)  The three foods are all high in protein. 
D)  The three foods complement each other in dietary terms.

Question 12

The Treaty of Tordesillas demonstrated that the papacy __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  saw the whole world as the rightful inheritance of Christianity 
B)  respected New World native religions 
C)  had little interest in overseas exploration 
D)  recognized Spain's claim to Brazil 
A)  saw the whole world as the rightful inheritance of Christianity 
B)  respected New World native religions 
C)  had little interest in overseas exploration 
D)  recognized Spain's claim to Brazil

Question 13

Admiral Zheng He's fleet demonstrated that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the China lacked important resources 
B)  the Chinese had mastered ocean sailing on a large scale 
C)  China was interested in overseas expansion 
D)  China was in decline 
A)  the China lacked important resources 
B)  the Chinese had mastered ocean sailing on a large scale 
C)  China was interested in overseas expansion 
D)  China was in decline

Question 14

In 1513, __________ pressed across the isthmus of Panama to glimpse the Pacific.

Accepted Answer

A)  Balboa 
B)  Magellan 
C)  Cortés 
D)  Da Gama 
A)  Balboa 
B)  Magellan 
C)  Cortés 
D)  Da Gama

Question 15

Amerigo's Vespucci description of the Americas as the "New World" __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  reaffirmed what Columbus had claimed 
B)  demonstrated that he did not believe Columbus had landed in Asia 
C)  was rejected by almost all mapmakers 
D)  was a mere rhetorical flourish and was not intended to be taken seriously 
A)  reaffirmed what Columbus had claimed 
B)  demonstrated that he did not believe Columbus had landed in Asia 
C)  was rejected by almost all mapmakers 
D)  was a mere rhetorical flourish and was not intended to be taken seriously

Question 16

Who was John Calvin and what did he believe?

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include:
1. John

Question 17

The Aztecs rose to power through __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  careful resource management 
B)  mastery of irrigation 
C)  domination of long-distance trade 
D)  strategic alliances and military skill 
A)  careful resource management 
B)  mastery of irrigation 
C)  domination of long-distance trade 
D)  strategic alliances and military skill

Question 18

Which of the following aided Pizarro the most in his conquest of the Incas?

Accepted Answer

A)  his large army 
B)  smallpox 
C)  his use of horses 
D)  the Incas' lack of experience in warfare 
A)  his large army 
B)  smallpox 
C)  his use of horses 
D)  the Incas' lack of experience in warfare

Question 19

Discuss the chief characteristics and accomplishments of the Mayan Empire.

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include:
1. Maya

Question 20

In the same year Columbus launched his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  went to war with the Ottoman Turks 
B)  launched a holy war against France 
C)  succeeded in driving Islam from their realm 
D)  married, thereby unifying Spain 
A)  went to war with the Ottoman Turks 
B)  launched a holy war against France 
C)  succeeded in driving Islam from their realm 
D)  married, thereby unifying Spain

Exam 1: First Founders

Why did Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano sail west for the French in 1524?

In 1564 the __________ established Fort Caroline as a first step toward establishing a colony in Florida.

Europeans turned to alternative routes to Asia when __________.

Indian languages provide strong evidence of the __________ of Archaic Indian peoples.

John Cabot __________.

Which of the following was true of the Viking settlement in Vinland?

Bartholomé de Las Casas rose to fame for __________.

Which of the following was a consequence of the near-extinction of the native population of the West Indies?

In John Calvin's view, which of the following would be saved?

Recent discoveries suggest which of the following?

Why is the cultivation of squash, beans, and maize such an effective combination?

The Treaty of Tordesillas demonstrated that the papacy __________.

Admiral Zheng He's fleet demonstrated that __________.

In 1513, __________ pressed across the isthmus of Panama to glimpse the Pacific.

Amerigo's Vespucci description of the Americas as the "New World" __________.

Who was John Calvin and what did he believe?

The Aztecs rose to power through __________.

Which of the following aided Pizarro the most in his conquest of the Incas?

Discuss the chief characteristics and accomplishments of the Mayan Empire.

In the same year Columbus launched his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella __________.

European Footholds in North America, 1600-1660

Controlling the Edges of the Continent, 1660-1715

African Enslavement: The Terrible Transformation

Colonial Diversity, 1713-1763

The Limits of Imperial Control, 1763-1775

Revolutionaries at War, 1775-1783

New Beginnings: the 1780s

Revolutionary Legacies, 1789-1803

Defending and Expanding the New Nation, 1804-1818

Society and Politics in the Age of the Common Man, 1819-1832

Peoples in Motion, 1832-1848

The Crisis Over Slavery, 1848-1860

To Fight to Gain a Country: the Civil War

Consolidating a Triumphant Union, 1865-1877

Standardizing the Nation: Innovations in Technology, Business, and Culture, 1877-1890

Challenges to Government and Corporate Power, 1877-1890

Political and Cultural Conflict in a Decade of Depression and War: the 1890s

Visions of the Modern Nation: the Progressive Era, 1900-1912

War and Revolution, 1912-1920

All That Jazz: the 1920s

Hardship and Hope: the Great Depression of the 1930s

Global Conflict: World War Ii, 1937-1945

Cold War and Hot War, 1945-1953

Domestic Dreams and Atomic Nightmares, 1953-1963

The Nation Divides: the Vietnam War and Social Conflict, 1964-1971

Reconsidering National Priorities, 1972-1979

The Cold War Returnsand Ends, 1979-1991

Post-Cold War America, 1991-2000

A Global Nation in the New Millennium

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