Question 1

Which of the following values did self-help books emphasize in the early 1800s?

Accepted Answer

Self-help books in the early 1800s emphasized values such as diligence, punctuality, and deference, reflecting the societal norms and expectations of that era.

Question 2

Between 1820 and 1860, the per capita income of Americans steadily declined.

Accepted Answer

Between 1820 and 1860, the United States experienced significant economic growth and industrialization, leading to an increase in per capita income, not a decline.

Question 3

Improved transportation in the 1840s and 1850s undermined the trend toward regional specialization.

Accepted Answer

Improved transportation in the 1840s and 1850s, such as the expansion of the railroad and canal systems, actually facilitated regional specialization by making it easier and more cost-effective to transport goods over long distances. This allowed different regions to focus on producing the goods they could produce most efficiently.

Question 4

Most European visitors to the United States in the 1830s considered Americans to be dull-witted and listless.

Accepted Answer

Most European visitors in the 1830s were often struck by the opposite, noting Americans' energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and the bustling nature of American life, contrasting with some European perceptions of refinement but also of a more leisurely pace.

Question 5

By the 1830s, all American states had adopted a plan of state-funded public education for children between 5 and 19 years of age.

Accepted Answer

By the 1830s, not all American states had adopted state-funded public education; the movement for public education was still in its early stages, with Massachusetts leading the way.

Question 6

Unprecedented urban violence raged in American cities prior to the Civil War, fed by racial and immigrant tensions.

Accepted Answer

Prior to the Civil War, American cities did experience significant urban violence, often fueled by racial tensions and conflicts involving immigrants. These tensions were exacerbated by economic competition, political disputes, and cultural differences, leading to riots and other forms of violence.

Question 7

Mob actions sometimes lasted for days because there was no effective police to stop them.

Accepted Answer

Historically, mob actions could indeed last for days due to the lack of an effective police force or law enforcement mechanisms to control or stop them.

Question 8

Most black women in urban America held jobs before and after marriage in the mid-1800s.

Accepted Answer

In the mid-1800s, economic necessity and limited opportunities meant that most black women in urban America, both before and after marriage, had to work to support themselves and their families. They often took on roles as domestic workers, laundresses, or other labor-intensive jobs available to them.

Question 9

In five northern states, free blacks could not testify against whites nor sit on juries.

Accepted Answer

In several northern states during the 18th and 19th centuries, laws were in place that restricted the legal rights of free blacks, including prohibitions against testifying against whites or serving on juries. These laws were part of the broader system of racial discrimination and segregation in place at the time.

Question 10

Agriculture and farming represented a small part of the exports and livelihoods of early American people.

Accepted Answer

Agriculture and farming were central to the economy and way of life in early America, representing a significant part of exports and livelihoods, especially with crops like tobacco, cotton, and indigo being major export commodities.

Question 11

Northern farmers started using manure as fertilizer after 1800.

Accepted Answer

Before 1800, Northern farmers primarily relied on crop rotation and leaving fields fallow to maintain soil fertility. The adoption of manure as fertilizer became more widespread after 1800 as agricultural practices evolved and the benefits of manure for soil health and crop yields became better understood.

Question 12

The last link in the chain of waterways binding New York City to the Great Lakes and the Northwest was the ________, stretching 363 miles between Albany and Buffalo.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The last link in the chain of...

Question 13

In Dartmouth College v. Woodward, the Supreme Court held that a(n) ________ granted by a state could not be modified unless both parties agreed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Dartmouth College v. Woodward, the Supreme...

Question 14

Among antebellum American inventions were the McCormick ________, the Colt ________, and Goodyear vulcanized ________ products.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Among antebellum American inventions were the McCormick...

Question 15

Farmers in the ________ valley were leaders in adopting scientific farming techniques in the early 1800s.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Farmers in the ________ valley were leaders...

Question 16

By 1860, almost ________ of the American people lived west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Accepted Answer

The answer of By 1860, almost ________ of the American...

Question 17

By 1830, ________, Indiana, and southern Illinois were heavily settled.

Accepted Answer

The answer of By 1830, ________, Indiana, and southern Illinois...

Question 18

In 1837, Illinois blacksmith ________ developed a new steel plow that rapidly became popular.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1837, Illinois blacksmith ________ developed a...

Question 19

In 1860, ________ percent of the American people lived in cities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1860, ________ percent of the American...

Quiz 8: Currents of Change in the Northeast and the Old Northwest