REGENTS EXAM IN U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
The University of the State of New York
REGENTS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION
UNITED STATES HISTORY
AND GOVERNMENT
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 — 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., only
Student Name ______________________________________________________________
School Name _______________________________________________________________
The possession or use of any communications device is strictly prohibited
when taking this examination. If you have or use any communications device,
no matter how briefly, your examination will be invalidated and no score will
be calculated for you.
Print your name and the name of your school on the lines above. A separate answer
sheet for Part I has been provided to you. Follow the instructions from the proctor for
completing the student information on your answer sheet. Then fill in the heading of each
page of your essay booklet.
This examination has three parts. You are to answer all questions in all parts. Use black
or dark-blue ink to write your answers to Parts II, III A, and III B.
Part I contains 50 multiple-choice questions. Record your answers to these questions
as directed on the answer sheet.
Part II contains one thematic essay question. Write your answer to this question in
the essay booklet, beginning on page 1.
Part III is based on several documents:
Part III A contains the documents. When you reach this part of the test, enter
your name and the name of your school on the first page of this section.
Each document is followed by one or more questions. Write your answer to each
question in this examination booklet on the lines following that question.
Part III B contains one essay question based on the documents. Write your
answer to this question in the essay booklet, beginning on page 7.
When you have completed the examination, you must sign the declaration printed at
the end of the answer sheet, indicating that you had no unlawful knowledge of the questions
or answers prior to the examination and that you have neither given nor received assistance
in answering any of the questions during the examination. Your answer sheet cannot be
accepted if you fail to sign this declaration.
DO NOT OPEN THIS EXAMINATION BOOKLET UNTIL THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN.
REGENTS EXAM IN U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
, Part I
Answer all questions in this part.
Directions (1–50): For each statement or question, record on your separate answer sheet the number of the
word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question.
1 The development of a farming culture among pre- 5 Which principle of government is found in both
Columbian Native American Indians helped ensure the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
(1) safety from neighboring tribes of the United States?
(2) the establishment of a nomadic lifestyle (1) The right to vote must be guaranteed to all
(3) the continuation of hunting and gathering Americans.
(4) a more stable food supply (2) Supreme Court justices should be elected by
the people.
2 During the colonial period, the economic (3) Governing power should be divided between
development of the South was most directly different levels of government.
dependent on the labor of (4) States have the right to secede from the Union.
(1) factory workers (3) Irish immigrants
(2) wheat farmers (4) enslaved Africans 6 At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the
Great Compromise and the Three-fifths
Compromise both involved the issue of how
3 The results of the French and Indian War
(1754–1763) led to the independence movement (1) new states would be created
in the thirteen colonies because the British (2) states would be represented in the national
government
(1) lost control of Canada and Florida
(3) the armed forces would be controlled
(2) began imposing new taxes on the colonists
(4) presidential elections would be conducted
(3) removed the Spanish threat to the colonists
(4) opened the area west of the Appalachian
Mountains to colonial settlers 7 Many Antifederalists opposed ratification of the
Constitution until they were guaranteed
(1) better protection of individual liberties
Base your answer to question 4 on the passage
(2) increased presidential authority to wage war
below and on your knowledge of social studies.
(3) stricter control over state spending
… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all (4) expanded police powers
men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, 8 What is the first step in adding an amendment to
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit the United States Constitution?
of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, (1) approval by the president
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving (2) review by the Supreme Court
their just powers from the consent of the
(3) vote by the people in a national referendum
governed,—That whenever any Form of
(4) passage by a two-thirds majority in both
Government becomes destructive of these ends,
houses of Congress
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new Government,…
— Thomas Jefferson
4 The purpose of this statement was to
(1) urge support for the Albany Plan of Union
(2) provide justification for declaring independence
(3) criticize the Articles of Confederation
(4) advocate obedience to Great Britain
U.S. Hist. & Gov’t. – Jan. ’14 [2]
, 9 One feature common to the foreign policies of Base your answers to questions 14 and 15 on the
Presidents George Washington, John Adams, and quotation below and on your knowledge of social
Thomas Jefferson was that each wanted to studies.
(1) favor France in its conflict with Great Britain
… In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow
(2) secure new territory west of the Mississippi
countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous
River
issue of civil war. The government will not assail
(3) maintain neutrality during European conflicts
you. You can have no conflict without being
(4) seek military alliances with neighboring yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath
countries registered in Heaven to destroy the government,
while I shall have the most solemn one to
10 Judicial review allows the Supreme Court to “preserve, protect, and defend it.” …
(1) determine the constitutionality of federal laws — President Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address,
(2) approve nominations to the president’s cabinet March 4, 1861
(3) oversee the financing of the lower federal
courts 14 President Lincoln made this statement in an
(4) remove elected officials from office effort to
(1) urge Congress to spend money to buy the
11 Which document was issued primarily to prevent freedom of slaves
European nations from future colonization in (2) convince Southerners that he posed no threat
Latin America? to their way of life
(1) Jay Treaty (1795) (3) offer to compromise his position regarding
territorial expansion of slavery
(2) Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
(4) persuade Americans that war between the
(3) Embargo Act (1807)
North and South was unavoidable
(4) Monroe Doctrine (1823)
15 When President Lincoln made this speech, which
12 A major reason for Commodore Matthew Perry’s
step toward civil war had already taken place?
1854 visit to Japan was to
(1) The Emancipation Proclamation had been
(1) prevent Japanese domination of the Pacific
issued.
region
(2) Union troops had invaded several Southern
(2) open United States trade relations with Japan
states.
(3) encourage immigration from Japan
(3) General Robert E. Lee had led an attack on
(4) establish a naval base in Japan Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
(4) Several Southern states had seceded from the
13 • Publication of The Liberator Union.
• Kansas-Nebraska Act
• Dred Scott decision
The events listed above all contributed to the
(1) outbreak of the Civil War
(2) formation of the policy of Manifest Destiny
(3) passage of the Missouri Compromise
(4) annexation of Texas
U.S. Hist. & Gov’t. – Jan. ’14 [3] [OVER]
The University of the State of New York
REGENTS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION
UNITED STATES HISTORY
AND GOVERNMENT
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 — 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., only
Student Name ______________________________________________________________
School Name _______________________________________________________________
The possession or use of any communications device is strictly prohibited
when taking this examination. If you have or use any communications device,
no matter how briefly, your examination will be invalidated and no score will
be calculated for you.
Print your name and the name of your school on the lines above. A separate answer
sheet for Part I has been provided to you. Follow the instructions from the proctor for
completing the student information on your answer sheet. Then fill in the heading of each
page of your essay booklet.
This examination has three parts. You are to answer all questions in all parts. Use black
or dark-blue ink to write your answers to Parts II, III A, and III B.
Part I contains 50 multiple-choice questions. Record your answers to these questions
as directed on the answer sheet.
Part II contains one thematic essay question. Write your answer to this question in
the essay booklet, beginning on page 1.
Part III is based on several documents:
Part III A contains the documents. When you reach this part of the test, enter
your name and the name of your school on the first page of this section.
Each document is followed by one or more questions. Write your answer to each
question in this examination booklet on the lines following that question.
Part III B contains one essay question based on the documents. Write your
answer to this question in the essay booklet, beginning on page 7.
When you have completed the examination, you must sign the declaration printed at
the end of the answer sheet, indicating that you had no unlawful knowledge of the questions
or answers prior to the examination and that you have neither given nor received assistance
in answering any of the questions during the examination. Your answer sheet cannot be
accepted if you fail to sign this declaration.
DO NOT OPEN THIS EXAMINATION BOOKLET UNTIL THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN.
REGENTS EXAM IN U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
, Part I
Answer all questions in this part.
Directions (1–50): For each statement or question, record on your separate answer sheet the number of the
word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question.
1 The development of a farming culture among pre- 5 Which principle of government is found in both
Columbian Native American Indians helped ensure the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
(1) safety from neighboring tribes of the United States?
(2) the establishment of a nomadic lifestyle (1) The right to vote must be guaranteed to all
(3) the continuation of hunting and gathering Americans.
(4) a more stable food supply (2) Supreme Court justices should be elected by
the people.
2 During the colonial period, the economic (3) Governing power should be divided between
development of the South was most directly different levels of government.
dependent on the labor of (4) States have the right to secede from the Union.
(1) factory workers (3) Irish immigrants
(2) wheat farmers (4) enslaved Africans 6 At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the
Great Compromise and the Three-fifths
Compromise both involved the issue of how
3 The results of the French and Indian War
(1754–1763) led to the independence movement (1) new states would be created
in the thirteen colonies because the British (2) states would be represented in the national
government
(1) lost control of Canada and Florida
(3) the armed forces would be controlled
(2) began imposing new taxes on the colonists
(4) presidential elections would be conducted
(3) removed the Spanish threat to the colonists
(4) opened the area west of the Appalachian
Mountains to colonial settlers 7 Many Antifederalists opposed ratification of the
Constitution until they were guaranteed
(1) better protection of individual liberties
Base your answer to question 4 on the passage
(2) increased presidential authority to wage war
below and on your knowledge of social studies.
(3) stricter control over state spending
… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all (4) expanded police powers
men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, 8 What is the first step in adding an amendment to
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit the United States Constitution?
of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, (1) approval by the president
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving (2) review by the Supreme Court
their just powers from the consent of the
(3) vote by the people in a national referendum
governed,—That whenever any Form of
(4) passage by a two-thirds majority in both
Government becomes destructive of these ends,
houses of Congress
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new Government,…
— Thomas Jefferson
4 The purpose of this statement was to
(1) urge support for the Albany Plan of Union
(2) provide justification for declaring independence
(3) criticize the Articles of Confederation
(4) advocate obedience to Great Britain
U.S. Hist. & Gov’t. – Jan. ’14 [2]
, 9 One feature common to the foreign policies of Base your answers to questions 14 and 15 on the
Presidents George Washington, John Adams, and quotation below and on your knowledge of social
Thomas Jefferson was that each wanted to studies.
(1) favor France in its conflict with Great Britain
… In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow
(2) secure new territory west of the Mississippi
countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous
River
issue of civil war. The government will not assail
(3) maintain neutrality during European conflicts
you. You can have no conflict without being
(4) seek military alliances with neighboring yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath
countries registered in Heaven to destroy the government,
while I shall have the most solemn one to
10 Judicial review allows the Supreme Court to “preserve, protect, and defend it.” …
(1) determine the constitutionality of federal laws — President Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address,
(2) approve nominations to the president’s cabinet March 4, 1861
(3) oversee the financing of the lower federal
courts 14 President Lincoln made this statement in an
(4) remove elected officials from office effort to
(1) urge Congress to spend money to buy the
11 Which document was issued primarily to prevent freedom of slaves
European nations from future colonization in (2) convince Southerners that he posed no threat
Latin America? to their way of life
(1) Jay Treaty (1795) (3) offer to compromise his position regarding
territorial expansion of slavery
(2) Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
(4) persuade Americans that war between the
(3) Embargo Act (1807)
North and South was unavoidable
(4) Monroe Doctrine (1823)
15 When President Lincoln made this speech, which
12 A major reason for Commodore Matthew Perry’s
step toward civil war had already taken place?
1854 visit to Japan was to
(1) The Emancipation Proclamation had been
(1) prevent Japanese domination of the Pacific
issued.
region
(2) Union troops had invaded several Southern
(2) open United States trade relations with Japan
states.
(3) encourage immigration from Japan
(3) General Robert E. Lee had led an attack on
(4) establish a naval base in Japan Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
(4) Several Southern states had seceded from the
13 • Publication of The Liberator Union.
• Kansas-Nebraska Act
• Dred Scott decision
The events listed above all contributed to the
(1) outbreak of the Civil War
(2) formation of the policy of Manifest Destiny
(3) passage of the Missouri Compromise
(4) annexation of Texas
U.S. Hist. & Gov’t. – Jan. ’14 [3] [OVER]
