NYSTCE CST Social Studies UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Civilizations - CORRECT ANSWER - Maya- 2000 bc-
1697 ad
Aztec-Ethnic groups of central Mexico dominant in large areas of Mesoamerica in the 14th-16th
centuries
Pre-Columbian Andean Civilizations - CORRECT ANSWER - Inca- largest pre-columbian
empire in 15th-16th centuries
Moche- northern Peru between 100-800- Huaca del Sol
Cañaris- Southern Equador- eventually conquered by Inca
Pilgrims - CORRECT ANSWER - English Separatists who believed there was no fixing
Church of England- embarked on Mayflower in 1620- established Plymouth plantation
William Bradford - CORRECT ANSWER - A Pilgrim, the second governor of the
Plymouth colony, 1621-1657. He developed private land ownership and helped colonists get out
of debt. He helped the colony survive droughts, crop failures, and Indian attacks.
Mayflower Compact - CORRECT ANSWER - 1620 - The first agreement for self-
government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government
for the Plymouth colony.
Conquistadors - CORRECT ANSWER - Spanish soldiers and explorers who led military
expeditions in the Americas and captured land for Spain- first used natives as slaves until their
populations were decimated by European disease and overwork- replaced by imported African
slaves
Encomienda System - CORRECT ANSWER - A system whereby the Spanish crown
granted the conquerors the right to tax local Indians or to demand their labor in exchange for
protecting them and teaching them skills, a disguised form of slavery
,Hacienda System - CORRECT ANSWER - Rural estates in Spanish colonies in New
World; produced agricultural products for consumers in America; basis of wealth and power for
the local aristocracy. Similar to the feudal system, Natives got money and had to buy their
products from their owners
Benedict Arnold - CORRECT ANSWER - American General who was labeled a traitor
when he assisted the British in a failed attempt to take the American fort at West Point.
Olive Branch Petition - CORRECT ANSWER - On July 8, 1775, the Second Continental
Congress made a final offer of peace to Britain, agreeing to be loyal to the British government if
it addressed their grievances (repealed the Coercive Acts, ended the taxation without
representation policies). It was rejected by Parliament, which in December 1775 passed the
American Prohibitory Act forbidding all further trade with the colonies.
Prohibitory Act - CORRECT ANSWER - Following the rejection of the Olive Branch
Petition- Act of Parliament (1775) which removed British protection from the colonies.
James Madison - CORRECT ANSWER - "Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader,
and fourth President of the United States.
Virginia Plan - CORRECT ANSWER - Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of
government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their
population
New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER - The proposal at the Constitutional Convention
that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
Connecticut Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER - The compromise reached at the
Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: the House of
Representatives, in which representation is based on a state's share of the U.S. population, and
the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.
, Navigation Acts - CORRECT ANSWER - Acts passed in 1660 passed by British
parliament to increase colonial dependence on Great Britain for trade; limited goods that were
exported to colonies; caused great resentment in American colonies.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - CORRECT ANSWER - (1848) treaty signed by the U.S.
and Mexico that officially ended the Mexican-American War; Mexico had to give up much of its
northern territory to the U.S (Mexican Cession); in exchange the U.S. gave Mexico $15 million
and said that Mexicans living in the lands of the Mexican Cession would be protected
Battle of Chapultepec - CORRECT ANSWER - sept 12 1847 victory over Mexican forces
holding down Chapultepec castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican American war.
Winfield Scott led the attack. US victory
Tenure of Office Act - CORRECT ANSWER - 1866 - Enacted by radical Congress, it
forbade the president from removing civil officers without consent of the Senate. It was meant to
prevent Johnson from removing radicals from office. Johnson broke this law when he fired a
radical Republican from his cabinet, and he was impeached for this "crime".
Populist Party - CORRECT ANSWER - Founded 1891 - called for free coinage of silver
and paper money, national income tax, direct election of senators, regulation of railroads, and
other government reforms to help farmers
Erie Canal - CORRECT ANSWER - A canal between the New York cities of Albany and
Buffalo, completed in 1825. The canal, considered a marvel of the modern world at the time,
allowed western farmers to ship surplus crops to sell in the North and allowed northern
manufacturers to ship finished goods to sell in the West.
Great Awakening - CORRECT ANSWER - Religious revival in the American colonies of
the eighteenth century during which a number of new Protestant churches were established.
Second Great Awakening - CORRECT ANSWER - A series of religious revivals starting in
1801, based on Methodism and Baptism. Stressed a religious philosophy of salvation through
good deeds and tolerance for all Protestant sects. The revivals attracted women, Blacks, and
Native Americans.
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Civilizations - CORRECT ANSWER - Maya- 2000 bc-
1697 ad
Aztec-Ethnic groups of central Mexico dominant in large areas of Mesoamerica in the 14th-16th
centuries
Pre-Columbian Andean Civilizations - CORRECT ANSWER - Inca- largest pre-columbian
empire in 15th-16th centuries
Moche- northern Peru between 100-800- Huaca del Sol
Cañaris- Southern Equador- eventually conquered by Inca
Pilgrims - CORRECT ANSWER - English Separatists who believed there was no fixing
Church of England- embarked on Mayflower in 1620- established Plymouth plantation
William Bradford - CORRECT ANSWER - A Pilgrim, the second governor of the
Plymouth colony, 1621-1657. He developed private land ownership and helped colonists get out
of debt. He helped the colony survive droughts, crop failures, and Indian attacks.
Mayflower Compact - CORRECT ANSWER - 1620 - The first agreement for self-
government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government
for the Plymouth colony.
Conquistadors - CORRECT ANSWER - Spanish soldiers and explorers who led military
expeditions in the Americas and captured land for Spain- first used natives as slaves until their
populations were decimated by European disease and overwork- replaced by imported African
slaves
Encomienda System - CORRECT ANSWER - A system whereby the Spanish crown
granted the conquerors the right to tax local Indians or to demand their labor in exchange for
protecting them and teaching them skills, a disguised form of slavery
,Hacienda System - CORRECT ANSWER - Rural estates in Spanish colonies in New
World; produced agricultural products for consumers in America; basis of wealth and power for
the local aristocracy. Similar to the feudal system, Natives got money and had to buy their
products from their owners
Benedict Arnold - CORRECT ANSWER - American General who was labeled a traitor
when he assisted the British in a failed attempt to take the American fort at West Point.
Olive Branch Petition - CORRECT ANSWER - On July 8, 1775, the Second Continental
Congress made a final offer of peace to Britain, agreeing to be loyal to the British government if
it addressed their grievances (repealed the Coercive Acts, ended the taxation without
representation policies). It was rejected by Parliament, which in December 1775 passed the
American Prohibitory Act forbidding all further trade with the colonies.
Prohibitory Act - CORRECT ANSWER - Following the rejection of the Olive Branch
Petition- Act of Parliament (1775) which removed British protection from the colonies.
James Madison - CORRECT ANSWER - "Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader,
and fourth President of the United States.
Virginia Plan - CORRECT ANSWER - Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of
government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their
population
New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER - The proposal at the Constitutional Convention
that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
Connecticut Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER - The compromise reached at the
Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: the House of
Representatives, in which representation is based on a state's share of the U.S. population, and
the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.
, Navigation Acts - CORRECT ANSWER - Acts passed in 1660 passed by British
parliament to increase colonial dependence on Great Britain for trade; limited goods that were
exported to colonies; caused great resentment in American colonies.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - CORRECT ANSWER - (1848) treaty signed by the U.S.
and Mexico that officially ended the Mexican-American War; Mexico had to give up much of its
northern territory to the U.S (Mexican Cession); in exchange the U.S. gave Mexico $15 million
and said that Mexicans living in the lands of the Mexican Cession would be protected
Battle of Chapultepec - CORRECT ANSWER - sept 12 1847 victory over Mexican forces
holding down Chapultepec castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican American war.
Winfield Scott led the attack. US victory
Tenure of Office Act - CORRECT ANSWER - 1866 - Enacted by radical Congress, it
forbade the president from removing civil officers without consent of the Senate. It was meant to
prevent Johnson from removing radicals from office. Johnson broke this law when he fired a
radical Republican from his cabinet, and he was impeached for this "crime".
Populist Party - CORRECT ANSWER - Founded 1891 - called for free coinage of silver
and paper money, national income tax, direct election of senators, regulation of railroads, and
other government reforms to help farmers
Erie Canal - CORRECT ANSWER - A canal between the New York cities of Albany and
Buffalo, completed in 1825. The canal, considered a marvel of the modern world at the time,
allowed western farmers to ship surplus crops to sell in the North and allowed northern
manufacturers to ship finished goods to sell in the West.
Great Awakening - CORRECT ANSWER - Religious revival in the American colonies of
the eighteenth century during which a number of new Protestant churches were established.
Second Great Awakening - CORRECT ANSWER - A series of religious revivals starting in
1801, based on Methodism and Baptism. Stressed a religious philosophy of salvation through
good deeds and tolerance for all Protestant sects. The revivals attracted women, Blacks, and
Native Americans.
