History & Social Studies

8th Grade History Questions: U.S. Practice Quiz

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Use this quiz to practice 8th grade history questions and check your understanding of key U.S. topics. Each item gives instant scoring so you can see what to study next. For a broad warm-up, try the basic US history quiz, or review early foundations with the US history unit 1 test.

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1In what year was the Declaration of Independence signed?
2What did the Three-Fifths Compromise determine?
3Which industry was first transformed by the Industrial Revolution in America?
4Who is known as the 'Father of the Constitution' for his key role in drafting it?
5Which river was the main route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
6How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
7Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
8What was the primary purpose of the Erie Canal when it opened in 1825?
9What was one major effect of Eli Whitney[@U2019]s invention of the cotton gin in 1793?
10The Missouri Compromise of 1820 established which latitude as the line dividing free and slave territories?
11Which Supreme Court decision ruled that African Americans could not be U.S. citizens and invalidated the Missouri Compromise?
12What was a major cause of the War of 1812?
13Why was the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 historically significant?
14Which transportation advancement completed in 1869 dramatically lowered coast-to-coast shipping times?
15The Monroe Doctrine warned European powers against what action in the Western Hemisphere?
16Who was President of the United States at the start of the Civil War?
17What key principle was established by the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison (1803)?
18Which agency was created during Reconstruction to aid formerly enslaved people with food, education, and legal support?
19Which of the following was included in the Compromise of 1850?
20During the Nullification Crisis, which state attempted to nullify federal tariffs?
21Which term describes the late-19th-century era marked by rapid economic growth and the rise of big business?
22What was the Supreme Court[@U2019]s [@U2018]separate but equal[@U2019] ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?
23Which amendment granted African American men the right to vote?
24What was the primary economic disagreement between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson?
25The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 effectively repealed which earlier compromise?
Learning Goals

Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze the 3/5 Compromise -

    Examine the political debates and population calculations that shaped this critical agreement and its impact on representation in Congress.

  2. Compare North vs. South Differences -

    Contrast the economic structures, cultural values, and social systems of the Union and Confederacy leading up to the Civil War.

  3. Evaluate Industrial Revolution Innovations -

    Assess key technological advances and their effects on American industry, labor, and urban growth during the 19th century.

  4. Identify Major Historical Events -

    Recall and place on a timeline essential milestones in U.S. history, from founding principles through pre - Civil War tensions.

  5. Apply Critical Thinking in Quiz Questions -

    Develop strategies to tackle complex 8th grade history test questions and receive instant feedback to strengthen your knowledge.

Study Guide

Cheat Sheet

  1. 3/5 Compromise -

    The 3/5 Compromise counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a free person for both taxation and representation, balancing power between North and South. Mnemonic tip: "3 of 5 stay alive" helps you recall the fraction used. According to the National Archives, this agreement was key in shaping early congressional representation.

  2. Industrial Revolution Innovations -

    The Industrial Revolution brought inventions like the cotton gin, steam engine, and telegraph, transforming America from farms to factories. Remember "CST" (Cotton gin, Steam, Telegraph) to track major breakthroughs. Britannica highlights how these technologies boosted productivity and urban growth.

  3. Sectional Economic Differences -

    The North's economy was industrial and commerce-driven, while the South relied on plantation agriculture and enslaved labor. Use the phrase "Industry up North, Fields down South" to lock in the contrast. University of Virginia research notes these economic divides fueled rising tensions before the Civil War.

  4. Missouri Compromise (1820) -

    This deal admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, drawing the 36°30′ line across the Louisiana Purchase to limit slavery's spread. A quick memory aid is "36 and free" for the latitude line and free states above it. Britannica confirms it was a temporary fix to maintain Senate balance.

  5. Reform Movements: Abolition & Suffrage -

    Abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and suffragists from Seneca Falls championed ending slavery and winning women's voting rights. You can pair "A + S = Rights" to link both movements. The Library of Congress archives show how speeches and petitions drove these social reforms.

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Updated Feb 21, 2026