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Unit 1: Reconstruction and Gilded Age (1877-1900)

Study guide for CLEP CLEP History of the United States II — Unit 1: Reconstruction and Gilded Age (1877-1900). Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.

218

Practice Questions

11

Flashcards

5

Key Topics

Key Concepts to Study

Jim Crow laws
industrialization
Populist movement
urbanization and immigration
Plessy v Ferguson

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 5 questions from this unit. Sign up for full access to all 218.

Q1EASY

What was the main goal of the Federal Reserve System when it was established in 1913?

A) To stabilize the financial system and regulate banking
B) To reduce the national debt
C) To promote economic growth through low interest rates
D) To impose protectionist trade policies
E) To abolish the gold standard
Show Answer

Answer: A — To stabilize the financial system and regulate banking is correct because the Federal Reserve System was established to provide liquidity to the banking system, regulate banking, and act as a lender of last resort, thereby preventing future financial panics.

Q2EASY

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was sparked by the actions of

A) Martin Luther King Jr.
B) Rosa Parks
C) Malcolm X
D) Thurgood Marshall
E) Frederick Douglass
Show Answer

Answer: B — Rosa Parks is correct because she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white person, which sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a major event in the Civil Rights Movement, since her actions led to a 381-day boycott of the buses.

Q3HARD

What was the significance of the construction of the transcontinental railroad in 1869?

A) It marked the beginning of the decline of the railroad industry
B) It led to the growth of the automobile industry
C) It facilitated westward expansion and the growth of international trade
D) It resulted in the decline of urbanization
E) It had no impact on the development of the United States
Show Answer

Answer: C — It facilitated westward expansion and the growth of international trade is correct because the transcontinental railroad connected the east and west coasts of the United States, enabling the rapid transportation of goods and people, and facilitating the growth of international trade and the development of the western United States.

Q4EASY

What was the significance of the Indian Removal Act of 1830?

A) It granted land to Native American tribes
B) It established the Bureau of Indian Affairs
C) It forced the relocation of Native American tribes
D) It prohibited the sale of Native American land
E) It recognized Native American sovereignty
Show Answer

Answer: C — Forcing the relocation of Native American tribes is correct because the Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans, resulting in significant loss of life and cultural disruption, as the U.S. government sought to expand its territory.

Q5MEDIUM

Which musician is known as the 'King of Swing'?

A) Louis Armstrong
B) Duke Ellington
C) Benny Goodman
D) Count Basie
E) Charlie Parker
Show Answer

Answer: C — Benny Goodman is correct because he was a prominent clarinetist and bandleader, earning the nickname 'King of Swing' for his role in popularizing swing music in the 1930s, by applying his technical mastery and charismatic stage presence.

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Study Tips for Unit 1: Reconstruction and Gilded Age (1877-1900)

  • Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing facts — CLEP tests application
  • Practice with timed questions to build exam-day speed
  • Review explanations for wrong answers — they reveal common misconceptions
  • Use flashcards for key terms, practice questions for deeper understanding

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