Survey of United States History (C121)

Correct Answer

A. To abolish slavery

Explanation

The Thirteenth Amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. It marked a crucial step toward civil rights and was a direct result of the Civil War and the abolitionist movement. This amendment fundamentally reshaped American society by legally ending slavery.

Why other options are wrong

B. To provide land to former slaves

This is incorrect because while there were efforts to redistribute land (such as "40 acres and a mule"), the Thirteenth Amendment itself focused solely on abolishing slavery. Land distribution was not directly addressed in the amendment.

C. To establish the Bureau of Refugees

This is incorrect because the Bureau of Refugees, better known as the Freedmen's Bureau, was created by Congress in 1865 to assist freed slaves, but it was separate from the Thirteenth Amendment.

D. To grant women the right to vote

This is incorrect because women's suffrage was granted through the Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, not the Thirteenth Amendment.

Correct Answer

C. To enforce laws

Explanation

The executive branch, headed by the President, is responsible for enforcing and implementing laws passed by Congress. This branch oversees federal agencies, ensures national security, and directs foreign policy. The President also has the power to veto bills, sign executive orders, and act as the Commander-in-Chief of the military.

Why other options are wrong

A. To amend laws.

Amending laws is a function of the legislative branch. Congress can pass new laws or amendments to change existing ones. The executive branch does not have this power.

B. To interpret laws.

Interpreting laws is the responsibility of the judicial branch, primarily the Supreme Court. Courts determine whether laws align with the Constitution and how they should be applied in legal cases.

D. To create laws.

The legislative branch, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, is responsible for creating and passing laws. The executive branch does not draft legislation.

Correct Answer

D. The British government had taxed the colonists without their consent.

Explanation

One of the major grievances that fueled the American Revolution was taxation without representation. The British government imposed taxes, such as the Stamp Act (1765) and the Tea Act (1773), without giving the American colonists any say in British Parliament. This led to widespread protests, including the Boston Tea Party, and ultimately contributed to the push for independence. The phrase "No taxation without representation" became a rallying cry for colonists demanding self-governance.

Why other options are wrong

A. British policies had made frontier lands too expensive.

While land policies, such as the Proclamation of 1763, restricted westward expansion, the main colonial grievance was taxation without representation, not land prices. Many colonists were upset about British restrictions on settlement but did not list this as the primary reason for independence.

B. The King had denied the colonists their freedom of religion.

Religious freedom was not a central issue in the grievances against Britain. Many colonies already had religious freedom, and the conflict was more about economic and political control than religious oppression.

C. The British government had been too generous to the Indian tribes.

Some colonists resented British policies, such as the Proclamation of 1763, which limited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. However, the main grievance leading to independence was related to unjust taxation and lack of representation, rather than British relations with Native American tribes.

Correct Answer

C. Women's suffrage advocates.

Explanation

Many supporters of the Declaration of Independence in 1848, particularly those involved in the Seneca Falls Convention, originally aligned with both the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements. However, by the 1870s, after the passage of the 15th Amendment (1870), which granted Black men the right to vote, many male abolitionists and politicians distanced themselves from the women’s suffrage movement. Women suffragists, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, felt betrayed when voting rights were extended to Black men while women were still excluded. This led to a division between supporters of racial equality and women’s suffrage activists.

Why other options are wrong

A. Abolitionists.

Most supporters of independence who had aligned with the abolitionist movement continued to support the end of slavery, especially after the Civil War and the passage of the 13th Amendment (1865). While political strategies changed, they did not completely distance themselves from abolitionists.

B. Supporters of Southern secession and states’ rights.

Many of those who supported the Declaration of Independence in 1848 were against Southern secession, which occurred in 1860-1861. By the 1870s, these individuals were aligned with Reconstruction efforts and not with Southern secessionists.

D. Federalists.

The Federalist Party had already disappeared by the 1820s, long before the 1870s. By this time, the major political debates were between Reconstruction-era Republicans and Democrats, not Federalists.

Correct Answer

A. Their voting rights were abolished due to perceptions of threat.

Explanation

In the late 18th century, New Jersey granted voting rights to property-owning women, making it the only state to allow women to vote at that time. However, by 1807, these rights were revoked due to growing political concerns. Many male politicians feared that women’s participation in elections could disrupt the political order, and accusations of election fraud were used as justification for stripping women of their right to vote.

Why other options are wrong

B. Women were granted permanent voting rights in New Jersey.

Women's voting rights in New Jersey were not permanent. While they were briefly allowed to vote, the law was reversed in 1807, meaning their voting rights did not last. Women had to wait until the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 to regain their voting rights in all states, including New Jersey.

C. Women were given the right to vote in all states immediately.

New Jersey's early experiment with women's voting rights did not lead to nationwide suffrage. Other states did not follow suit, and women were largely excluded from voting until the 19th Amendment was ratified more than a century later. The revocation of voting rights in New Jersey showed that women's suffrage was not yet widely accepted.

D. Voting rights were expanded to include more women.

Rather than expanding voting rights, New Jersey did the opposite by restricting suffrage in 1807. The new law limited voting to white male citizens, effectively excluding both women and free Black citizens who had previously been able to vote under the earlier law.

Correct Answer

A. Increasing taxes imposed by Britain.

Explanation

One of the main reasons for colonial protests against British rule was the imposition of taxes without representation. Laws like the Stamp Act (1765), the Townshend Acts (1767), and the Tea Act (1773) placed heavy taxes on everyday goods. Colonists objected to these taxes because they had no representation in the British Parliament, leading to the rallying cry “No taxation without representation.”

Why other options are wrong

B. The need for more land for farming.

While some colonists sought more land, this was not the primary reason for their protests against British rule. Land disputes were more relevant to westward expansion conflicts like Pontiac’s Rebellion and the Proclamation of 1763, which restricted settlement past the Appalachian Mountains. However, these issues were secondary to economic grievances about taxation.

C. The desire for independence from all foreign powers.

At the beginning of the conflict, most colonists did not demand full independence. Many wanted to remain British subjects but with fairer treatment and greater autonomy. The push for full independence only gained widespread support after events like the Intolerable Acts (1774) and Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” (1776).

D. The influence of European monarchies.

European monarchies, such as France and Spain, did not directly influence the colonies' decision to protest British rule. In fact, France later became an ally of the colonies during the war. The colonies’ grievances were primarily directed at British policies and economic restrictions, rather than European monarchies in general.

Correct Answer

C. It ruled that racially separate schools were inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional.

Explanation

In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional because "separate but equal" educational facilities were inherently unequal. This decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had established the separate but equal doctrine, and marked a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement.

Why other options are wrong

A. It declared unconstitutional laws creating schools that were separate but obviously unequal.

This is incorrect because the ruling was not based on whether schools were “obviously” unequal. The Court found that segregation itself caused inherent inequality, regardless of whether resources were equal on the surface.

B. It declared unconstitutional laws supporting schools that were separate but unequal in subtle ways.

This is incorrect because the ruling did not focus on subtle inequalities but rather on the principle that any form of racial segregation in education was unconstitutional.

D. It ruled that schools discriminating on the basis of race could be denied access to federal funds.

This is incorrect because Brown v. Board did not directly address federal funding. The ruling focused on the constitutionality of racial segregation in schools under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

E. It ruled that segregation was lawful if mandated by a state constitution.

This is incorrect because the ruling explicitly struck down segregation laws, regardless of whether they were enacted by state constitutions.

Correct Answer

B. Nineteenth Amendment

Explanation

The Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote in the United States. It was the result of decades of activism by suffragists, including leaders like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The amendment prohibited the federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote based on sex.

Why other options are wrong

A. Twenty-first Amendment.

This amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, ending Prohibition in 1933. It had no relation to voting rights.

C. Eighteenth Amendment.

The Eighteenth Amendment, ratified in 1919, established Prohibition, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. It did not address voting rights.

D. Fifteenth Amendment.

The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, granted African American men the right to vote but did not extend voting rights to women.

Correct Answer

B. The stock market crash on October 24, 1929

Explanation

Black Tuesday refers to the catastrophic stock market crash that occurred on October 29, 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. This event saw a massive sell-off of stocks, leading to widespread financial panic and the collapse of numerous businesses and banks. The crash was fueled by excessive speculation, buying on margin, and economic instability.

Why other options are wrong

A. The signing of the New Deal legislation.

The New Deal was introduced in the 1930s as a response to the Great Depression. It was not an event that marked the beginning of the crisis but rather a series of reforms aimed at economic recovery.

C. The introduction of tariffs on agricultural imports.

While tariffs like the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act contributed to the worsening of the Great Depression, they were not directly linked to Black Tuesday. The stock market crash was caused by factors such as over-speculation and economic instability rather than tariff policies.

D. The end of World War I.

World War I ended in 1918, more than a decade before the stock market crash. Although post-war economic issues contributed to financial instability, the war’s conclusion was not directly related to Black Tuesday.