Final Exam: 5th Grade Social Studies
Instructions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer. This section is worth 2 points per question.
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
What was the main reason the American colonists were angry with Great Britain?
The Boston Tea Party was a protest against which of the following?
Which document established the framework for the United States government?
The idea of 'separation of powers' means that government power is divided among how many branches?
What is the Bill of Rights?
The Louisiana Purchase almost doubled the size of the United States. Which president made this purchase?
What was the idea that Americans had a God-given right to expand westward across the continent called?
Which group of people were most negatively impacted by Westward Expansion?
Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?
Who is the head of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government?
Which branch of government includes the Supreme Court?
What is the system called that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Section 2: Short Answer & Fill-in-the-Blanks
Instructions: Answer each question or fill in the blank with the correct word(s). This section is worth 3 points per question.
The American colonists fought for their (14) from Great Britain.
Name one of the three branches of the U.S. government.
Many pioneers traveled westward using trails like the Oregon (16).
What is the main job of the Judicial Branch?
The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution begins with the words 'We the (18)...'
Who was the commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution?
Section 3: Document-Based Question (DBQ)
Instructions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. This section is worth 5 points per question.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
This famous quote is from the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776.
According to this quote, what are three 'unalienable Rights' that all people have?
What does 'unalienable' mean in this sentence?
How does the idea of 'all men are created equal' relate to the reasons colonists wanted to separate from Great Britain?
Section 4: Essay Questions
Instructions: Choose ONE of the following essay questions and write a well-organized response. Your answer should show what you know about the topic. This section is worth 12 points per question.
Describe at least two major challenges pioneers faced when moving West during the era of Westward Expansion.
Explain the main responsibilities of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. Be sure to name who leads this branch.
Section 5: Presentation Outline
Instructions: Read the following prompt and create a detailed outline. This section is worth 15 points.
Imagine you need to give a presentation to your class about the purpose and importance of the Bill of Rights. Create an outline for your presentation. Your outline should include:
- An introduction.
- At least three main points about the Bill of Rights (e.g., what it is, why it was added, specific rights).
- At least one supporting detail for each main point.
- A suggestion for a visual aid.
- A conclusion.