Unit 2 of 5
Study guide for CLEP CLEP History of the United States II — Unit 2: Progressive Era and Imperialism (1890-1920). Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.
86
Practice Questions
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Flashcards
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Key Topics
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The British colonies in North America developed distinct regional characteristics due to various factors. Which of the following best describes a primary economic characteristic that impacted the development and expansion of the New England region?
Plantation-based economy reliant on enslaved African labor
Trade and commerce driven by access to the Atlantic Ocean and natural harbors
Extensive farming and agricultural production for domestic consumption
Extraction and export of natural resources such as timber and minerals
Fishing and whaling industries driven by access to the Pacific Ocean
Answer: B — New England's economy was driven by trade and commerce, facilitated by its access to the Atlantic Ocean and natural harbors.
The construction of the Erie Canal in 1825 led to intense competition among rival seaports, as they sought to establish trade connections with the western interior of the United States. This development is most closely associated with which of the following?
The growth of the internal slave trade
The reduction of regional economic specialization
The decline of the American System
The increase in semisubsistence agricultural production
The expansion of access to markets
Answer: E — The Erie Canal facilitated trade between the East Coast and the western interior, increasing access to markets and promoting economic growth.
The widespread adoption of the automobile in the 1920s had a significant impact on the US economy. Which of the following best explains how this development relates to another historical process?
The growth of the automobile industry was driven primarily by government subsidies and investments in road infrastructure.
The rise of the automobile was a direct result of the decline of the railroad industry, as people sought alternative modes of transportation.
The automobile's impact on the economy was primarily limited to the creation of new jobs in the automotive manufacturing sector.
The automobile industry's growth led to increased demand for steel, rubber, and other materials, stimulating the development of related industries.
The automobile industry's growth led to decreased demand for steel, rubber, and other materials, stifling the development of related industries.
Answer: D — The correct answer demonstrates an understanding of how the automobile industry's growth had a ripple effect on related industries, such as steel and rubber production.
The Spanish colonization of North America was influenced by the need to extract wealth from the land, leading to the development of institutions based on
the principle of mercantilism, which focused on trade and commerce
the idea of manifest destiny, which drove American expansion westward
the concept of feudalism, which emphasized the power of the nobility
the encomienda system, which granted land and native labor to Spanish colonists
the hacienda system, which emphasized self-sufficient farming estates
Answer: D — The encomienda system was a labor system used by the Spanish to extract wealth from the land, granting land and native labor to Spanish colonists.
What best characterizes the literary movement of the Lost Generation?
Optimism and celebration of American culture
Critique of societal norms and disillusionment
Focus on historical events and documentary style
Exploration of scientific discoveries and technology
Emphasis on regionalism and local color
Answer: B — Critique of societal norms and disillusionment is correct because the Lost Generation was marked by disillusionment, not optimism.
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