Social Studies Reading Comprehension Bell-Ringers

1. Social Studies Reading Comprehension Bell-Ringers • Which answer BEST completes the diagram? • A. Alexander Fleming Discovers penicillin • B. Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh paints Starry Night • C. Columbus explores the Americas • D. Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin

2. Answer • C • Columbus explores the Americas

3. Which of the following is NOT directly associated with the Protestant Reformation? • A. Martin Luther • B. Selling of indulgences • C. Bible as “direct pipeline to God” • D. The Magna Carta

4. Answer • D • The Magna Carta

5. 1. Matching • A. Crusades • B. Renaissance • C. Reformation • D. Conquistadors • 1. Intellectual pursuits resulted in more advanced technology • 2. Attempt to take Holy Lands away from Muslim • 3. Rise of the Protestant religion • 4. Exposure to Middle East and Asian cultures and goods • 5. Spanish explorers searching for God, gold, and glory • 6. Galileo and Leonardo Da Vinci contributed inventions and art to society during this time • 7. Unscrupulous church practices led to this movement

6. Answer • B • A • C • A • D • B • C

7. 2. Match each fact below to the applicable colony. • Jamestown • St. Augustine • Founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company • Founded in 1565 by Pedro Menendez, expedition funded by King Philip II of Spain • Located on what is now northern Florida • Changed leaders when colonists began to starve; Captain John Smith took over

8. Answers • A • B • B • A

9. 3. The Columbian Exchange had a major impact on Native American societies • What was the Columbian Exchange? • How did it affect Native Americans? • How did it affect European countries? • What was a major disadvantage of the Columbian Exchange?

10. Answers • The Columbian Exchange began when Columbus came to America. Columbus brought native life forms from Europe to the new land, and when he left America, he brought native forms from America back to Europe • Columbus brought the first horses and pigs to America. He also brought many new foods including peaches, pears, and limes. These animals and fruits provided Native Americans with transportation and more food. • When Columbus returned to Europe, he brought many new food crops including corn, potatoes, and squash from America. These crops allowed Europeans to have more food available to them. • The spread of disease was the most devastating result of the Columbian Exchange. Smallpox, measles, and influenza are some examples of new diseases spread throughout Native American societies, killing large numbers of people. Syphilis originated in America and spread to Europe.

11. 4. • The colonists wanted to separate from Great Britain for a number of reasons. What did the 3 issues listed below mean to the colonists? What events came about because of these 3 issues? • Taxation • Lack of Free Trade • French and Indian War

12. Answers • Taxation- the British forced numerous tax acts upon the colonists including the Stamp Act and the Tea Act. Colonists believed these additional taxes were unfair. Colonists objected to taxation without representation. The Boston Tea Party was a result of the objections to taxes • Lack of Free Trade- The British imposed strict control over trading done by colonists. The Navigation Acts which regulated trade had been in effect for a while. Many colonists, however, believed that these acts worked for the interest of Great Britain at the expense of the colonists • The French and Indian War- The British had gone into debt during the French and Indian War. Parliament enforced taxation on and restricted westward movement of the colonists to help collect taxes. These actions would help the British government get out of debt

13. 5. Complete the following chart

14. Answer

15. 6. How are an authoritarian monarch and a dictator alike and different?

16. Answer • Alike- Both hold absolute power • Different- the monarch inherits power by birth, the dictator takes power by force.

17. 7. Read this excerpt from Patrick Henry’s speech • “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, ‘Peace! Peace!’ –but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”

18. In March of 1775, Patrick Henry spoke in a meeting of Virginia delegates. • 1. His speech was the precursor to what document? • 2. What body declared independence from Great Britain after Patrick Henry’s speech? • 3. Which war occurred after America declared independence from Great Britain?

19. Answers • 1. The Declaration of Independence • 2. Second Continental Congress • 3. The Revolutionary War

20. 8. Which of the following statements does not represent the thinking of the Enlightenment? • People have natural rights • There should be a system of checks and balances in government • The power of the monarch is absolute • All people have the right to worship, think, and speak as they choose • Rebellion is justified if the ruler no longer has the consent of the people

21. Answer • C. The Enlightenment was a response to the abuses of monarchies and other social institutions. Enlightenment thinkers believed that power belonged to citizens, not kings and queens

22. 9. What ideas from the Enlightenment did Thomas Jefferson incorporate into the U.S. Declaration of Independence?

23. Answer • Laws of nature; a decent respect for the opinions of mankind; all men are created equal; inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; powers from the consent of the governed; the right of the people to change or abolish the government if it does not protect their rights

24. 10. Match the Revolutionary War sites with the correct description • Saratoga • Valley Forge • Yorktown • George Washington’s troops stayed here during the winter of 1777-1778 • This was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. It was here that Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. • This battle was the turning point in the Revolutionary War because France became American’s ally.

25. Answer • B • C • A

26. 11. Match these men with their role in the Revolutionary War • Patrick Henry • Samuel Adams • George Washington • Paul Revere • He rode through Boston letting the colonists know the British were coming • In a stirring speech, he urged the colonists to go to battle against Great Britain to gain independence • He was the leader of the Sons of Liberty • He was the commander of the Continental Army

27. Answer • D • A • B • C

28. 12. All of these measures most directly apply to which document? • Measures passed by Congress must be approved by nine of the 13 states. • Congress cannot require payment of taxes. • Congress has the power to coin money and establish post offices. • Declaration of Independence • Constitution • Bill of Rights • Articles of Confederation

29. Answer • D – Articles of Confederation

30. 13. The U.S. Constitution was written to address the flaws in the Articles of Confederation. What were some of the problems with the articles of Confederation?

31. Answer • Some people thought there was a need for a stronger central government. The states were experiencing economic hardships, and inflation caused dissention within the states. Regulation of commerce was also needed

32. 14. Matching • Constitution • Declaration of Independence • Northwest Ordinance • Bill of Rights • Magna Carta • The Document that laid out a plan for territories to enter the union as new states • The document that separated the colonies from Great Britain • The document that limited the power of the king • The first 10 amendments to the Constitution • Supreme law of the United States

33. Answer • E • B • A • D • C

34. 15. Which document begins with the following passage? • When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, that separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…. • Constitution • Magna Carta • Bill of Rights • Declaration of Independence

35. Answer • D

36. 16. Fill in the chart with the following items Duty- • Interpret Laws; decide Cases • Make Laws • Enforce Laws Name of Federal Office- • President • Congress • Supreme Court of the U. S.

37. Answer

38. 17. Select the four duties associated with the national (federal) level of government • Collect Taxes • Send the army to defend the country • Require all students to take graduation tests • Set a curfew for teenagers • Regulate trade with Canada • Have a system of courts • Set the amount charged for a parking ticket • Set the level of support for the University of Alabama

39. Answer • Collect Taxes • Send the army to defend the country • Regulate trade with Canada • Have a system of courts

40. 18. Which 4 duties are associated with the state? • Collect Taxes • Send the army to defend the country • Require all students to take graduation tests • Set a curfew for teenagers • Regulate trade with Canada • Have a system of courts • Set the amount charged for a parking ticket • Set the level of support for the University of Alabama

41. Answer • 1. Collect Taxes • 3. Require all students to take graduation tests • 6. Have a system of courts • 8. Set the level of support for the University of Alabama

42. 19. Which powers do the two levels of government share? Do local governments share these powers? • Collect Taxes • Send the army to defend the country • Require all students to take graduation tests • Set a curfew for teenagers • Regulate trade with Canada • Have a system of courts • Set the amount charged for a parking ticket • Set the level of support for the University of Alabama

43. Answer • 1. Collect Taxes • 6. Have a system of courts • Yes these are also local powers

44. 20. The Federalist Papers were written in 1787 • Who were the authors of these articles? • What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

45. Answer • The authors of the Federalist Papers included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay • The purpose of the Federalist Papers was to gain support for the proposed Constitution

46. 21. Read the following excerpt from the Federalist #8 • “If we should be disunited…or, which is more probable, should be thrown together into two or three confederacies, we should be…in the predicament of the continental powers of Europe—our liberties would be prey to the means of defending ourselves against the ambition and jealousy of each other.” • What point does Hamilton convey in this passage?

47. Answer • He wants strong unity among states so that there will be no hostility among them. This unity will help ensure everyone’s liberty

48. 22. Which five rights are listed in the Bill of Rights? • Freedom of speech • Freedom of the press • Freedom of religion • The abolition of slavery • Rights of a person accused of a crime • The right of 18-year-olds to vote • The right to keep and bear arms • The right of women to vote

49. Answer #’s 1,2,3,5 and 7

50. 23. A change or addition to the Constitution is _______ ?