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Civil War DANTES Practice Test
1) What were the major causes that lead to the Civil War?
A) The eleven Southern Slave states declared their secession and intent for the expansion of slavery
B) The election of Abraham Lincoln
C) The political differences between the North and the South
D) The formation of the Confederate States of America
2) Which political party was essentially dissipated during the 1850’s?
A) Democratic Republicans
B) Federalists
C) Whigs
D) Populists
3) The primary economical crop for the Southern states was cotton, what was the second largest crop produced in the South?
A) Rice
B) Tobacco
C) Food crops
D) Wheat
4) Why did prisoner exchange programs break down during the Civil War?
A) The Union forces were gathering so many more prisoners than the South that the South had none to trade.
B) When the Union began using freed or runaway slaves as soldiers it created tension and the South wouldn’t exchange them.
C) The Southern forces were gathering so many more prisoners than the Union that the Union had none to trade.
D) President Lincoln considered the practice unethical and discontinued exchanges.
5) What was the primary reason for the formation of the Confederate States?
A) To back the prospect and idealism of expanding the slave states
B) To offer legal and government assistance to the states in secession
C) To offer a government that stands behind slavery
D) The election of Abraham Lincoln
6) What is known as the single bloodiest day of the war?
A) Battle of Gettysburg
B) Battle of Chancellorsville
C) Battle of Antietam
D) Battle of Shiloh
7) What country did the majority of the immigrants that settled in the United States come from during the early 1800’s?
A) Mexico
B) Europe
C) Ireland
D) France
8) What was the most important act of the 20th Maine regiment?
A) They relieved McClellan’s forces at Antietam and were instrumental in Union victory.
B) They held their position at Little Round Top and were essential to Union victory at Gettysburg.
C) They aided General Sherman in his March to the Sea.
D) The fact that they were the first all black regiment.
9) What was the name of the group formed in 1833 for the purpose of abolition movements?
A) Republican Party
B) The freedman Bureau
C) Know nothing party
D) The American Anti-slavery Societ
10) Which of the following correctly describes the Trent Affair?
A) Southern leaders attempted to leave the country and seek aid from France. Their ships were attacked and sunk.
B) Northern leaders were discovered to be leaking battle plans to the South. They were discovered and tried for treason.
C) When Southern leaders boarded a British ship, it was stopped and they were arrested. This angered the British because it violated freedom of the seas.
D) None of the above
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DSST Practice Test Answer Key:
1. A:) The eleven Southern Slave states declared their secession and intent for the expansion of slavery. Although there were many issues that helped to initiate the Civil War, the main issue that caused the Civil War was the eleven Southern Slave states declaring their secession and intent for the expansion of slavery.
- 2. C:) Whigs. The party was unable to come to a consensus on the issue of slavery and ultimately many of the members joined other parties.
- 3. A:) Rice. Cotton was the primary crop for the Southern states, the next largest was rice, followed by tobacco.
- 4. B:) When the Union began using freed or runaway slaves as soldiers it created tension and the South wouldn’t exchange them. The South was angered by the large numbers of former slaves who were enlisted and preferred to execute or enslave them.
- 5. A:) To back the prospect and idealism of expanding the slave states. The Confederate states felt no need to be apart of the United States government and did not agree with their moral, political, or economical view and to back the prospect and idealism of keeping and expanding slavery throughout the South, Southerners created their own government.
- 6. C:) The Battle of Antietam. It was the first battle to take place on Northern soil and there were over 20,000 casualties.
- 7. C:) Ireland. Due to the potato famine in Ireland the majority of immigrants were of Irish decent.
- 8. B:) They held their position at Little Round Top and were essential to the Union victory at Gettysburg. When they ran out of ammunition, the regiment charged with bayonets. If they hadn’t held their position, the Battle of Gettysburg would most likely have been a Confederate victory. The 20th Maine regiment was NOT the first all black regiment.
- 9. D:) The American Anti-slavery Society. The American Anti-slavery society was formed in 1833 condemning slavery as a racial discriminating practice and a moral sin.
- 10. C:) When Southern leaders boarded a British ship, it was stopped and they were arrested. This angered the British because it violated freedom of the seas. The British demanded an apology and the release of the leaders. Lincoln acquiesced.