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Quizzes > History > Regional History

AP US History Quiz: Test Your APUSH Knowledge Now!

Boost Your Score with this US History Quarterly Quiz

Difficulty: Moderate
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Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art collage of colonial scroll quill and book on sky blue background promoting free AP US History quiz

This AP US History quiz helps you practice core topics from early colonies to Reconstruction and spot gaps before the exam. Work through AP‑style questions with instant feedback so you build speed and confidence. When you want more, try the full AP U.S. History practice test or focus on the APUSH Unit 1 practice .

Which colony was established in 1607 as the first permanent English settlement in North America?
Roanoke
Jamestown
St. Augustine
Plymouth
Jamestown, founded in 1607 in Virginia, is widely recognized as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Earlier attempts like Roanoke failed due to supply issues and conflicts. The settlement served as the foundation for British colonial expansion.
In what year was the Declaration of Independence adopted by the Continental Congress?
1789
1781
1775
1776
The Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on July 4, 1776, establishing the Thirteen Colonies' intention to form an independent nation. Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, it outlined philosophical justifications for breaking away from British rule. July 4th is now celebrated annually as Independence Day.
What document, drafted in 1620, is considered one of the first examples of self-government in colonial America?
Mayflower Compact
Virginia Charter
Articles of Confederation
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
The Mayflower Compact was signed in 1620 by Pilgrim settlers aboard the Mayflower, establishing a basic government based on majority rule. It is viewed as an early, influential example of social contract theory in America. The Compact laid the groundwork for future colonial governance.
Which Native American confederation was allied with the British during the French and Indian War?
Iroquois Confederacy
Sioux
Cherokee
Creek
During the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763), the Iroquois Confederacy primarily sided with the British, providing strategic alliances and military assistance. Their cooperation was important in contesting French influence in North America. The alliance also shaped postwar territorial negotiations.
Who wrote the pamphlet 'Common Sense' in 1776 advocating independence from Britain?
Thomas Paine
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
John Locke
'Common Sense', published in January 1776 by Thomas Paine, presented powerful arguments for American independence. It reached a wide audience and significantly influenced colonial public opinion. Paine's work helped galvanize support for the revolutionary cause.
The Sugar Act of 1764 was primarily designed to raise revenue by taxing:
Glass
Tea
Paper
Sugar and molasses
The Sugar Act of 1764 imposed duties on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies to raise revenue for Britain. The tax was part of a broader effort to offset debts from the Seven Years' War. Colonial merchants protested the Act as another example of taxation without representation.
Which act passed in 1765 required colonists to purchase stamped paper for legal documents and newspapers?
Stamp Act
Intolerable Acts
Tea Act
Townshend Acts
The Stamp Act of 1765 mandated that many printed materials in the colonies carry a revenue stamp. This direct tax affected newspapers, legal documents, and other paper goods. Colonial opposition to the Stamp Act led to widespread protests and its eventual repeal in 1766.
The Boston Tea Party (1773) was a protest against which British policy?
Proclamation of 1763
Tea Act
Stamp Act
Townshend Acts
Colonists boarded British ships in Boston Harbor in December 1773 and dumped tea into the water to protest the Tea Act. The Act granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales and maintained import taxes. The Boston Tea Party escalated tensions leading to the Intolerable Acts.
Which treaty ended the American Revolutionary War?
Treaty of Ghent 1814
Treaty of Paris 1783
Jay Treaty
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, formally ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the United States' independence. It established borders for the new nation and resolved war-related issues between Britain and America. The treaty marked a significant diplomatic victory for the United States.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the:
Bill of Rights
Federalist Papers
Judiciary Act
Articles of Confederation
The Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791. These amendments guarantee fundamental liberties including freedom of speech, religion, and due process. They were introduced to address concerns about individual rights lacking in the original Constitution.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery in which area?
Northwest Territory
Ohio River Valley states
New England
Louisiana Purchase
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 banned slavery in the Northwest Territory (lands north of the Ohio River). It established a government for the territory and set rules for admitting new states. The ordinance was a landmark in the westward expansion and antislavery movement.
Who was the president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
Benjamin Franklin
James Madison
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
George Washington was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in 1787. His leadership helped guide delegates through debates and compromise. Washington's presence lent credibility to the convention and its outcomes.
In his Farewell Address, George Washington warned against:
permanent foreign alliances
standing armies
political parties
sectionalism
In his 1796 Farewell Address, Washington cautioned against forming permanent foreign alliances, arguing they could entangle the U.S. in unwarranted conflicts. He also warned about the divisive nature of political parties and sectionalism. His advice framed U.S. foreign policy for decades.
What principle was established by the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison (1803)?
Judicial review
Federal supremacy
State sovereignty
Implied powers
Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review, granting the Supreme Court power to declare laws unconstitutional. Chief Justice John Marshall's decision positioned the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government. This landmark case shaped the balance of power in the federal system.
The Embargo Act of 1807, implemented by Jefferson, aimed to:
Promote trade with Europe
Force Britain to pay reparations
Ban British imports
Avoid war by banning U.S. exports
The Embargo Act of 1807 prohibited American ships from trading in foreign ports to pressure Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars. Jefferson hoped to avoid war by using economic means, but the policy harmed U.S. commerce. The act was widely unpopular and repealed in 1809.
The term 'Era of Good Feelings' describes President Monroe's administration and is characterized by:
Economic depression
National political unity
Two-party conflict
Foreign wars
The 'Era of Good Feelings' (1817 - 1825) under President James Monroe was marked by a decline in partisan divisions following the War of 1812. National political unity and the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party defined this period. Economic and infrastructure development also advanced.
The Missouri Compromise (1820) admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to:
Promote industry
Maintain equal balance between free and slave states
Expand U.S. territory
Punish the South
The Missouri Compromise maintained sectional balance by pairing Missouri's admission as a slave state with Maine's as a free state. It also drew a latitude line across the Louisiana Purchase territory, banning slavery north of 36°30'. This compromise delayed sectional conflict until the 1850s.
Which doctrine declared that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to new European colonization?
Monroe Doctrine
Roosevelt Corollary
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Truman Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine, articulated in 1823, stated that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to European colonization and that any interference would be seen as aggression. It became a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy in the Americas. Later interpretations expanded its influence.
The concept of Manifest Destiny held that:
The U.S. was destined to expand across the continent
Federal power should be strictly limited
Slavery should expand into all territories
Americans should remain on the East Coast
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that the U.S. was divinely ordained to expand westward across North America. It justified American territorial acquisitions and influenced policies like the Mexican-American War. Critics argued it masked imperial ambitions.
Which reform movement of the early 19th century sought to abolish slavery in the United States?
Second Great Awakening
Populist Movement
Temperance Movement
Abolitionism
Abolitionism was a social and political movement advocating the immediate end of slavery in the United States. Leaders like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass used publications and speeches to rally support. The movement intensified sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War.
Who labeled the outcome of the 1824 presidential election a 'Corrupt Bargain'?
John Quincy Adams
Henry Clay
Andrew Jackson
William Crawford
After no candidate secured a majority in the Electoral College in 1824, the House of Representatives chose John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson. Jackson and his supporters denounced the decision as a 'Corrupt Bargain,' claiming Clay's support secured Adams the presidency in return for a cabinet post. The controversy reshaped U.S. politics.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 resulted in:
Trail of Tears
Assimilation programs
Establishment of reservations
Expansion of Indian citizenship
The 1830 Indian Removal Act authorized the forceful relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi to lands west of the river. The policy led to the Cherokee's removal known as the Trail of Tears, causing thousands of deaths. It reflected the expanding U.S. frontier and disregard for indigenous rights.
The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 is most closely associated with:
Labor rights
Temperance
Abolition
Women's rights
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights gathering in the United States, held in July 1848. Leaders like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott drafted the Declaration of Sentiments demanding equal social and political rights for women. It launched the organized women's suffrage movement.
The Mexican-American War (1846 - 1848) resulted in:
Purchase of Alaska
Mexican Cession
End of Civil War
U.S. loss of Texas
The U.S. victory in the Mexican-American War led to the Mexican Cession of vast territories including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo formalized the transfer in 1848. The new lands intensified debates over slavery expansion.
Which treaty ended the Mexican-American War and ceded large territories to the United States?
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Gadsden Purchase
Pinckney's Treaty
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ended the Mexican-American War and ceded roughly half of Mexico's territory to the United States. It included California and much of the modern Southwest. The treaty shaped U.S. continental expansion.
The Compromise of 1850 included all of the following provisions except:
Stricter Fugitive Slave Law
Popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico
Abolition of slavery in Washington D.C.
Admission of California as a free state
The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state, enacted a stricter Fugitive Slave Law, and allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico territories. It abolished the slave trade but not slavery itself in Washington D.C. The compromise aimed to ease sectional tensions.
What did the Supreme Court decide in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)?
Congress could prohibit slavery in states
African Americans were citizens
African Americans could not sue in federal court
Slavery was banned in all territories
In Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), the Supreme Court ruled that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not U.S. citizens and could not sue in federal court. The decision also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, allowing slavery in all territories. It intensified national divisions over slavery.
Which political party was formed in the 1850s to oppose the expansion of slavery into the territories?
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Free Soil Party
Whig Party
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists and ex-Whigs. Its primary platform opposed the extension of slavery into U.S. territories. Abraham Lincoln became its first successful presidential candidate in 1860.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 effectively repealed which earlier compromise?
Three-Fifths Compromise
Northwest Ordinance
Missouri Compromise
Compromise of 1850
The Kansas-Nebraska Act introduced popular sovereignty to decide slavery in the Kansas and Nebraska territories, effectively nullifying the Missouri Compromise's ban on slavery north of 36°30'. The act led to violent clashes known as 'Bleeding Kansas'.
'Bleeding Kansas' refers to violent conflict over:
Slavery
Women's suffrage
Taxation
Prohibition of alcohol
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act, pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers flooded Kansas to influence its status, leading to violent clashes dubbed 'Bleeding Kansas'. The conflict foreshadowed the larger national struggle over slavery. It undermined hopes for peaceful resolution.
The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 centered primarily on:
Expansion of slavery
Temperance
Tariff policy
Banking reform
The 1858 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in Illinois focused on slavery's expansion into the territories. Douglas championed popular sovereignty, while Lincoln argued against allowing slavery to spread. The debates gained national attention and set the stage for the Civil War.
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 aimed to:
Start a slave rebellion
Free Union prisoners
Capture the U.S. Mint
Assassinate federal judges
Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, hoping to incite a slave uprising by seizing the federal arsenal. The raid failed, and Brown was captured and executed. His actions polarized the nation over slavery.
Which event directly sparked the start of the American Civil War?
Gettysburg Address
Bombardment of Fort Sumter
Emancipation Proclamation
Battle of Bull Run
The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 marked the official start of the Civil War. Following the secession of several Southern states, Confederate forces fired on the federal fort in Charleston Harbor. The event rallied the North and South to war.
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863, declared free the slaves in:
Union states
Border states
All U.S. territories
Rebelling Confederate states
The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Confederate states that were in rebellion as of January 1, 1863. It did not apply to slaves in border states loyal to the Union. The proclamation shifted the war aims toward abolition.
The Gettysburg Address redefined the Civil War as a struggle for:
Freedom and equality
State sovereignty
Economic development
Union preservation only
In his Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln framed the Civil War as a fight not just to preserve the Union but also to ensure freedom and equality. Delivered in November 1863, the speech emphasized national unity and democratic ideals. It remains one of the most famous speeches in American history.
The Homestead Act of 1862 granted settlers:
Federal loans
Mining rights
Railroad construction contracts
160 acres of free land
Under the Homestead Act, adult citizens or intended citizens could claim 160 acres of public land provided they improved it by building a dwelling and cultivating the land for five years. The act encouraged westward migration and settlement. It significantly impacted the Great Plains region.
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants:
Citizenship and equal protection to former slaves
Banning of slavery
Income tax authority
Women the right to vote
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, and guaranteed equal protection under the law. It was a cornerstone of Reconstruction legislation. The amendment has been critical in civil rights cases.
Sharecropping in the post-Civil War South was a system where:
Tenants worked land for a share of crop
Former slaves owned and farmed their own land
The government distributed free land
Landowners paid wages in cash
Sharecropping emerged during Reconstruction when landless farmers, many of whom were former slaves, rented small plots of land from landowners in exchange for a share of the crop. This system often led to cycles of debt and dependency. It shaped Southern agriculture for decades.
The Compromise of 1877 resulted in which outcome?
End of Reconstruction
Start of Reconstruction
Passage of the 15th Amendment
Ratification of the 14th Amendment
The Compromise of 1877 resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election by awarding Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South. This effectively ended Reconstruction and allowed white Southern Democrats to regain control. The compromise had long-term implications for civil rights.
The Wilmot Proviso, proposed in 1846, aimed to:
Protect slavery in the southern states
Annex Cuba as a slave state
End the slave trade in Washington D.C.
Ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico
The Wilmot Proviso was an 1846 proposal to ban slavery in any lands the United States gained from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. Although it passed the House, it failed in the Senate. The debate over the proviso intensified sectional divisions over slavery.
The Ostend Manifesto (1854) was a plan to:
End the international slave trade
Build a transcontinental railroad
Purchase Cuba for the U.S. and potentially expand slavery
Acquire Alaska from Russia
The Ostend Manifesto was a confidential document suggesting that the U.S. should acquire Cuba from Spain by force if necessary, to expand slaveholding territory. Leaked to the press, it provoked outrage in the North and was abandoned. It exemplified aggressive expansionist and pro-slavery sentiments.
The Gadsden Purchase of 1853 provided land for:
Establishment of reservations
New cotton plantations
A southern transcontinental railroad
Gold mining operations
In 1853, the United States purchased land from Mexico (Gadsden Purchase) to facilitate construction of a southern transcontinental railroad route. The agreement settled the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico. It was the last land acquisition in the contiguous U.S.
The Treaty of Kanagawa (1854) opened Japan to:
American trade
British settlers
Russian naval bases
Chinese merchants
The 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa between Japan and the United States ended Japan's period of isolation by opening two ports to American vessels. Negotiated by Commodore Matthew Perry, it marked the beginning of Japan's modernization. The treaty expanded U.S. influence in East Asia.
The annexation of Texas in 1845 led directly to:
War with Mexico
Florida's statehood
British intervention
Civil War
When the Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845, Mexico broke diplomatic relations and war followed in 1846. The annexation was controversial due to the implications for slavery and U.S.-Mexico relations. The conflict resulted in significant territorial gains for the U.S.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Key Early American Policies -

    Identify and explain major policies that shaped colonial and early national America, including taxation measures and governance frameworks.

  2. Analyze the Concept of Republican Motherhood -

    Examine the origins and social impact of republican motherhood on family roles and women's civic responsibilities in the post-Revolutionary era.

  3. Evaluate Frontier Expansion -

    Assess the economic, political, and social effects of westward movement and territorial growth on the young republic.

  4. Identify Critical Historical Figures and Events -

    Recognize influential leaders, landmark events, and turning points that students frequently encounter on AP US History exams.

  5. Apply Knowledge to APUSH Practice Questions -

    Use targeted review questions to test comprehension and reinforce your grasp of American history concepts in an exam-like format.

  6. Enhance AP Exam Readiness -

    Utilize instant feedback and detailed explanations to pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement, boosting confidence for the actual AP US History test.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Republican Motherhood -

    Republican Motherhood highlighted women's duty to educate future citizens in civic virtue after the Revolution, a concept widely discussed in academic works from Harvard's Radcliffe Institute. It urged expanded female literacy so mothers could nurture informed, patriotic children. Mnemonic: "Better Mom, Better Republic" helps you recall how maternal education underpinned early American civic life.

  2. Frontier Expansion & Northwest Ordinance -

    The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 set a precedent for admitting new states and prohibited slavery north of the Ohio River, a policy detailed on the National Archives website. It established the township grid system (36 square miles), which influenced U.S. land surveys for generations. Think "Survey, Settle, Statehood" to remember the Ordinance's three-step process.

  3. Articles of Confederation vs. U.S. Constitution -

    The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government lacking taxation power, prompting the 1787 Constitutional Convention documented by the Library of Congress. The Constitution's separation of powers - Legislative, Executive, Judicial (use the "LEJS" mnemonic) - addressed those flaws and strengthened federal authority. For your AP US History quiz, contrast how each framework handled interstate commerce and national defense.

  4. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists & the Bill of Rights -

    Federalists like Madison and Hamilton argued for a stronger union, while Anti-Federalists feared centralized control - a debate preserved in The Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist writings at Yale's Avalon Project. The compromise led to the first ten amendments, securing individual liberties. Remember "Feds Win, Rights In" to link Federalist support with the Bill of Rights addition.

  5. Early Economic Policies: Mercantilism to the First Bank -

    Colonial mercantilism and the Navigation Acts regulated trade to benefit Britain, as explained by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Post-Revolution, Hamilton's First Bank of the United States (1791) aimed to stabilize currency and public credit, a move debated in Federalist No. 12. Use the phrase "Trade to Bank" to trace America's shift from colonial trade restrictions to national financial institutions.

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