, APUSH AMSCO-Style Practice Exam (100
Multiple-Choice) + Complete Solutions
Period 1: 1491–1607
1. Which factor most directly shaped the diversity of Native American societies before European
contact?
A. Uniform climate across North America
B. Different environments and available resources
C. A single centralized Native government
D. Widespread use of horses for transportation
Answer: B
Explanation: Regional climates and resources influenced housing, agriculture, political
structures, and trade patterns.
2. The Columbian Exchange most immediately led to which change in the Americas?
A. A decline in European population
B. A sharp increase in Native population
C. The spread of new diseases that devastated Native peoples
D. The end of African slavery
Answer: C
Explanation: Old World diseases (smallpox, measles) caused catastrophic Native population
decline.
3. The Spanish encomienda system was primarily designed to:
A. Promote equal land distribution to Native Americans
B. Convert Europeans to indigenous religions
C. Control Native labor and extract wealth from colonies
D. End intertribal warfare
Answer: C
Explanation: Encomienda granted Spaniards rights to Native labor/tribute under the guise of
protection and Christianization.
Period 2: 1607–1754
4. The House of Burgesses is significant because it:
A. Ended slavery in Virginia
,B. Was an early example of representative self-government in the colonies
C. Created a unified colonial currency
D. Established religious tolerance in Massachusetts
Answer: B
Explanation: Founded in 1619, it set a precedent for elected colonial assemblies.
5. Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) contributed most directly to:
A. The rise of indentured servitude
B. Expansion of Spanish authority in Virginia
C. A shift toward greater reliance on enslaved African labor
D. The end of plantation agriculture
Answer: C
Explanation: Planters sought a labor system less likely to ally with poor whites; slavery
expanded.
6. The Great Awakening most clearly weakened:
A. Colonial literacy
B. Traditional authority of established churches
C. Immigration from Europe
D. Trade with the West Indies
Answer: B
Explanation: It encouraged individual religious experience and challenged established clergy.
Period 3: 1754–1800
7. The Proclamation of 1763 was intended primarily to:
A. Encourage settlement west of the Appalachians
B. Prevent conflicts between settlers and Native Americans
C. End British taxation in the colonies
D. Promote French trade with the colonies
Answer: B
Explanation: Britain tried to reduce frontier warfare and costs by limiting westward settlement.
8. Which argument was central to the colonists’ opposition to the Stamp Act?
A. “No taxation without representation”
B. “The king has no right to command the army”
C. “Slavery must end immediately”
D. “The colonies should join France”
Answer: A
, Explanation: Colonists objected to direct taxes imposed without colonial representation in
Parliament.
9. The primary weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the:
A. Strong executive branch
B. Power to regulate interstate commerce
C. Lack of power to tax and enforce laws effectively
D. Creation of a national judiciary
Answer: C
Explanation: The national government lacked key powers, causing financial and political
instability.
10. Federalists argued for ratifying the Constitution mainly because it:
A. Preserved complete state independence
B. Strengthened the national government to address national problems
C. Guaranteed women’s suffrage
D. Ended political parties
Answer: B
Explanation: Federalists feared disorder under the Articles and wanted a stronger central
authority.
Period 4: 1800–1848
11. The Louisiana Purchase was significant because it:
A. Reduced U.S. territory
B. Doubled the size of the United States
C. Ended conflicts with Britain permanently
D. Abolished slavery in the West
Answer: B
Explanation: It greatly expanded land and economic opportunity (and intensified sectional
debates).
12. The Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland reinforced:
A. State power over federal institutions
B. The supremacy of federal law and implied powers
C. The end of the national bank
D. Judicial limits on federal authority
Answer: B
Explanation: The Court upheld the national bank and denied states the power to tax it.
Multiple-Choice) + Complete Solutions
Period 1: 1491–1607
1. Which factor most directly shaped the diversity of Native American societies before European
contact?
A. Uniform climate across North America
B. Different environments and available resources
C. A single centralized Native government
D. Widespread use of horses for transportation
Answer: B
Explanation: Regional climates and resources influenced housing, agriculture, political
structures, and trade patterns.
2. The Columbian Exchange most immediately led to which change in the Americas?
A. A decline in European population
B. A sharp increase in Native population
C. The spread of new diseases that devastated Native peoples
D. The end of African slavery
Answer: C
Explanation: Old World diseases (smallpox, measles) caused catastrophic Native population
decline.
3. The Spanish encomienda system was primarily designed to:
A. Promote equal land distribution to Native Americans
B. Convert Europeans to indigenous religions
C. Control Native labor and extract wealth from colonies
D. End intertribal warfare
Answer: C
Explanation: Encomienda granted Spaniards rights to Native labor/tribute under the guise of
protection and Christianization.
Period 2: 1607–1754
4. The House of Burgesses is significant because it:
A. Ended slavery in Virginia
,B. Was an early example of representative self-government in the colonies
C. Created a unified colonial currency
D. Established religious tolerance in Massachusetts
Answer: B
Explanation: Founded in 1619, it set a precedent for elected colonial assemblies.
5. Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) contributed most directly to:
A. The rise of indentured servitude
B. Expansion of Spanish authority in Virginia
C. A shift toward greater reliance on enslaved African labor
D. The end of plantation agriculture
Answer: C
Explanation: Planters sought a labor system less likely to ally with poor whites; slavery
expanded.
6. The Great Awakening most clearly weakened:
A. Colonial literacy
B. Traditional authority of established churches
C. Immigration from Europe
D. Trade with the West Indies
Answer: B
Explanation: It encouraged individual religious experience and challenged established clergy.
Period 3: 1754–1800
7. The Proclamation of 1763 was intended primarily to:
A. Encourage settlement west of the Appalachians
B. Prevent conflicts between settlers and Native Americans
C. End British taxation in the colonies
D. Promote French trade with the colonies
Answer: B
Explanation: Britain tried to reduce frontier warfare and costs by limiting westward settlement.
8. Which argument was central to the colonists’ opposition to the Stamp Act?
A. “No taxation without representation”
B. “The king has no right to command the army”
C. “Slavery must end immediately”
D. “The colonies should join France”
Answer: A
, Explanation: Colonists objected to direct taxes imposed without colonial representation in
Parliament.
9. The primary weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the:
A. Strong executive branch
B. Power to regulate interstate commerce
C. Lack of power to tax and enforce laws effectively
D. Creation of a national judiciary
Answer: C
Explanation: The national government lacked key powers, causing financial and political
instability.
10. Federalists argued for ratifying the Constitution mainly because it:
A. Preserved complete state independence
B. Strengthened the national government to address national problems
C. Guaranteed women’s suffrage
D. Ended political parties
Answer: B
Explanation: Federalists feared disorder under the Articles and wanted a stronger central
authority.
Period 4: 1800–1848
11. The Louisiana Purchase was significant because it:
A. Reduced U.S. territory
B. Doubled the size of the United States
C. Ended conflicts with Britain permanently
D. Abolished slavery in the West
Answer: B
Explanation: It greatly expanded land and economic opportunity (and intensified sectional
debates).
12. The Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland reinforced:
A. State power over federal institutions
B. The supremacy of federal law and implied powers
C. The end of the national bank
D. Judicial limits on federal authority
Answer: B
Explanation: The Court upheld the national bank and denied states the power to tax it.
