Civics 19th Century American History Questions and Answers

Question 1

In 1803, the United States acquired a vast amount of land from France in a transaction that nearly doubled the size of the country. What was this event called?

Accepted Answer

The Louisiana Purchase

Answer

The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from France in 1803. The U.S. paid fifteen million dollars for 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River.

Question 2

Which of the following was a primary cause of the U.S. Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865?

Accepted Answer

Conflicts over the expansion of slavery into western territories

Answer

The U.S. Civil War was primarily caused by long-standing disagreements between the Northern and Southern states over the institution of slavery. A key point of contention was whether slavery would be permitted to expand into the new territories being added to the country.

Question 3

President Abraham Lincoln issued a famous executive order on January 1, 1863, that changed the legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states. What was this order called?

Accepted Answer

The Emancipation Proclamation

Answer

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, declared that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states were, and henceforward shall be, free. While it didn't end slavery nationwide immediately, it was a crucial step towards its abolition and transformed the character of the Civil War.

Question 4

A citizen in the 1870s is a passionate advocate for women's right to vote. She joins a national organization, gives speeches, and participates in demonstrations, following in the footsteps of its famous leader. Which 19th-century figure is most associated with this movement?

Accepted Answer

Susan B. Anthony

Answer

Susan B. Anthony was a prominent American social reformer and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement. She was a co-founder of the National Woman Suffrage Association and dedicated her life to fighting for women's right to vote.

Question 5

Which of the following wars, fought at the very end of the 19th century, resulted in the United States acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines?

Accepted Answer

The Spanish-American War

Answer

The Spanish-American War, fought in 1898 between the United States and Spain, resulted in the U.S. gaining control over several of Spain's former colonies. The Treaty of Paris, which ended the war, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States.

Civics Test Practice Test

Civics Test Practice Test

Civics 19th Century American History Questions and Answers