Ready to prove your mastery of colonial policies and early Republic events? Our ap us history unit 3 practice test is the perfect way to challenge yourself and sharpen your recall before test day. Designed with rigorous questions on topics from revolutionary ideals to frontier conflicts, this free assessment helps you identify areas for improvement - whether you're gearing up for the ap us history unit 3 test, exploring an american history unit 3 test angle, or simply craving a quick us history unit 3 quiz. Dive in with our apush unit 3 practice test for targeted review, then reinforce your learning with our engaging AP US History quiz . Embrace the challenge and start testing your skills now!
The French and Indian War was fought from 1754 to 1763 between which two main rival colonial powers in North America?
Great Britain and Spain
Great Britain and the Netherlands
Spain and France
Great Britain and France
The French and Indian War was the North American theater of the global Seven Years' War, with British colonists and troops fighting against French forces and their Native American allies. It ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which solidified British control in North America. See more at history.com.
Who proposed the Albany Plan of Union in 1754, an early attempt to unify the colonies for defense?
Thomas Paine
George Washington
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin drafted the Albany Plan of Union, calling for a united colonial government, though it was never adopted. It represented one of the first formal proposals for colonial unity. More details at britannica.com.
The Stamp Act of 1765 required colonists to pay a tax on which of the following items?
Molasses and wine
Tea, sugar, and coffee
Legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards
Land deeds and textile imports
The Stamp Act imposed direct taxes on printed materials to help pay for British troops stationed in America. Colonists resisted strongly, arguing 'no taxation without representation.' See more at history.com.
The slogan 'No taxation without representation' primarily expressed colonial opposition to taxes imposed by which body?
The Privy Council
The British Crown
Colonial assemblies
The British Parliament
Colonists argued that Parliament lacked the legal right to tax them directly since they had no elected representatives there. This became a central protest slogan leading up to the American Revolution. See more at britannica.com.
Which act, passed in 1767, levied duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea imported into the colonies?
Tea Act
Stamp Act
Townshend Acts
Sugar Act
Charles Townshend's revenue measures taxed common imports, and the revenue was used to pay colonial governors. The Acts triggered renewed protest and nonimportation agreements. More at history.com.
The Boston Massacre occurred in which year?
1765
1768
1770
1773
British soldiers fired on a crowd in Boston in March 1770, killing five colonists. This incident was used as propaganda by Patriots to fuel anti-British sentiment. Details at britannica.com.
The Tea Act of 1773 was designed to bail out which embattled company by granting it a colonial monopoly?
The Hudson's Bay Company
The Virginia Company
The British East India Company
The South Sea Company
The Tea Act lowered tea prices but upheld a tax, leading colonists to see it as a ploy to accept Parliamentary taxation. It led directly to the Boston Tea Party in December 1773. More at history.com.
Colonists involved in the Boston Tea Party disguised themselves as members of which group?
Sons of Liberty
Minutemen
Daughters of Liberty
Loyalists
Members of the Sons of Liberty, dressed as Mohawk Indians, boarded British ships and dumped tea into Boston Harbor. The act of rebellion prompted harsh British reprisals. See more at history.com.
The Intolerable Acts were passed by Parliament in response to which event?
Boston Massacre
Stamp Act protests
First Continental Congress
Boston Tea Party
To punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, called Intolerable by colonists. These measures closed Boston Harbor and altered Massachusetts' charter. More at britannica.com.
In what year did the First Continental Congress convene in Philadelphia?
1775
1773
1774
1776
Delegates from twelve colonies met from September to October 1774 to coordinate resistance against the Intolerable Acts. They agreed to an embargo on British goods and set the stage for the revolution. Details at history.com.
Which battles marked the first armed conflict of the American Revolution in April 1775?
Ticonderoga
Bunker Hill
Lexington and Concord
Saratoga
British troops marched to seize colonial arms at Concord but were met by militia at Lexington, marking 'the shot heard 'round the world.' These skirmishes galvanized colonial resistance. More at britannica.com.
Which influential pamphlet, published in January 1776, argued persuasively for American independence?
Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
The American Crisis
The Crisis
Common Sense
Thomas Paine's Common Sense presented clear arguments against monarchy and for independence, swaying public opinion. It sold widely and became a bestseller in the colonies. See britannica.com.
Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
James Madison
Jefferson drafted the Declaration, articulating the colonies' reasons for independence. His writing drew on Enlightenment ideas of natural rights. For more, visit archives.gov.
On what date was the Declaration of Independence formally adopted by the Continental Congress?
July 2, 1776
July 4, 1776
August 2, 1776
January 10, 1776
Although delegates voted for independence on July 2, the Declaration text was officially adopted on July 4, now commemorated as Independence Day. The date appears on printed broadsides. More at history.com.
Which battle is considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War, convincing France to enter on the American side?
Battle of Yorktown
Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Trenton
American victories at Saratoga in 1777 demonstrated colonial resolve and competence, impressing France. In 1778, France formally allied with the United States. See history.com.
The Treaty of Paris (1783) granted the United States all rights to territory east of which river?
Mississippi River
Hudson River
St. Lawrence River
Ohio River
The treaty recognized U.S. independence and set western boundaries at the Mississippi. It also returned Florida to Spain and confirmed fishing rights in Newfoundland. More at britannica.com.
Under the Articles of Confederation, most political power remained with the:
Individual states
Supreme Court
President
Continental Congress
The Articles created a weak national government with no executive branch and limited congressional powers. States retained sovereignty and independence. For details, see history.com.
Which ordinance provided for the orderly surveying and sale of western lands and established townships?
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Missouri Compromise
Homestead Act
The Land Ordinance of 1785 set up a standardized system for land survey and sale. Sections of townships were reserved to support public education. More at archives.gov.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 is best known for:
Granting citizenship to Native Americans
Creating the Bank of North America
Imposing tariffs on western goods
Establishing a system for adding new states and banning slavery in the territory
It outlined how territories could become states with equal status to the original thirteen. It also prohibited slavery north of the Ohio River. See britannica.com.
Shays' Rebellion in 1786 - 1787 highlighted weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation by demonstrating:
Strong enforcement of tax collection
The power of state militias over federal troops
The national government's inability to quell internal uprisings
Effective congressional check on state laws
Veteran Daniel Shays led farmers in Massachusetts against high taxes and debt imprisonments. Federal government lacked funds and authority to intervene effectively. More at history.com.
Which compromise at the Constitutional Convention decided how slaves would be counted for representation?
Three-Fifths Compromise
Connecticut Compromise
Missouri Compromise
Commerce Compromise
Delegates agreed each slave would count as three-fifths of a person for taxation and representation. This allowed southern states greater influence in the House. More at britannica.com.
The Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention addressed representation by creating:
Equal representation in both houses
Proportional representation in both houses
A bicameral legislature with proportional House and equal Senate
A single-chamber Congress based solely on population
Roger Sherman's plan merged Virginia and New Jersey proposals, establishing the House by population and Senate by state equality. This balanced large and small state interests. See history.com.
Which collection of essays defended the new Constitution and was penned by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay?
The Federalist Papers
Common Sense
Anti-Federalist Papers
Letters from a Federal Farmer
Published under the pseudonym 'Publius,' The Federalist Papers explained the Constitution's principles to secure ratification. Key essays discuss checks and balances and federalism. More at mountvernon.org.
Which amendment, the first ratified, guarantees freedom of speech, religion, and press?
Second Amendment
Fourth Amendment
First Amendment
Tenth Amendment
The First Amendment protects fundamental civil liberties against federal infringement. It was introduced to address Anti-Federalist concerns. See archives.gov.
Alexander Hamilton's financial program included all EXCEPT:
A protective tariff to encourage manufacturing
Creation of a national bank
A land value tax on western territories
A national assumption of state debts
Hamilton's plan assumed state debts, established the Bank of the United States, and recommended tariffs and an excise tax on whiskey, but not a land-value tax. His report on manufactures also advocated encouragement of industry. More at britannica.com.
The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was provoked by:
British interference with western trade
An excise tax on distilled spirits
Land speculation by western settlers
High state property taxes
Farmers in western Pennsylvania resisted Hamilton's whiskey tax, viewing it as unfair. Washington led militia forces to suppress the uprising, demonstrating federal authority. See history.com.
The Jay Treaty of 1794 with Great Britain was controversial because it:
Required the U.S. to guarantee French possessions
Failed to address British impressment of American sailors
Abolished British tariffs on U.S. goods
Ended the slave trade
The treaty resolved outstanding issues from the Revolutionary War and granted limited trade rights, but did not end impressment, angering Republicans. Federalists supported it to avoid war, while critics saw it as too conciliatory. More at britannica.com.
Pinckney's Treaty (1795) with Spain secured American navigation rights on the:
Ohio River
St. Lawrence River
Hudson River
Mississippi River
Also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo, Pinckney's Treaty granted the U.S. free navigation of the Mississippi and right of deposit at New Orleans. It helped western expansion. See history.com.
In the debate over the national bank, Thomas Jefferson opposed it mainly because he believed:
The Constitution did not explicitly authorize it
It would be too remote from the people
Bank notes would be too volatile
It favored agriculture over commerce
Jefferson argued for strict constructionism, maintaining Congress had no power to charter a bank absent explicit constitutional authority. Hamilton countered with the elastic clause. More at britannica.com.
The XYZ Affair led to an undeclared naval conflict between the United States and:
Great Britain
The Barbary States
France
Spain
American envoys to France were solicited for bribes by agents called X, Y, and Z. Public outrage led to the Quasi-War fought at sea from 1798 to 1800. More at history.com.
The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 were most criticized for:
Strengthening state governments
Expanding voting rights
Encouraging immigration
Violating First Amendment freedoms
Federalists passed laws to deport 'dangerous' aliens and punish critics of the government. Republicans saw these acts as clear infringements on free speech and press. For more, visit britannica.com.
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions argued that states could:
Elect federal judges
Nullify unconstitutional federal laws
Overturn Supreme Court decisions
Secede from the Union at will
Authored by Jefferson and Madison, the resolutions asserted states' rights to judge federal overreach. They laid groundwork for later nullification debates. More at history.com.
Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of:
Implied powers of Congress
Judicial review
Executive privilege
States' rights
Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the Supreme Court could void acts of Congress conflicting with the Constitution. This decision cemented the judiciary's role as a check on legislative and executive power. Details at britannica.com.
The Revolution of 1800 refers to:
Federalist closing of the Supreme Court
A major slave uprising in Virginia
The peaceful transfer of power to Thomas Jefferson's administration
The outbreak of the War of 1812
Jefferson's victory marked the first time in U.S. history that power passed between rival parties without violence. He called it a 'revolution' because of its significance for democracy. See britannica.com.
Which act established a uniform rule for naturalization, requiring five years of residence for citizenship?
Naturalization Act of 1795
Naturalization Act of 1790
Alien Act of 1798
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1792
The 1795 law replaced the 1790 act, extending the residency requirement from two to five years. It standardized naturalization procedures. More at britannica.com.
Which 1789 amendment to the Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures?
Fourth Amendment
First Amendment
Fifth Amendment
Eighth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment requires warrants based on probable cause for searches and seizures. It was a response to colonial grievances over British writs of assistance. For more, see archives.gov.
Which treaty with Great Britain fixed the northern boundary of the United States at the 49th parallel?
Jay Treaty
Convention of 1818
Treaty of Ghent
Adams - Onís Treaty
The 1818 convention established joint Anglo-American occupation of Oregon and set the boundary from the Lake of the Woods to the Rockies at latitude 49° north. It facilitated peaceful expansion. See britannica.com.
The Proclamation of 1763, issued by King George III, forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachians primarily to:
Create new proprietary colonies
Reserve land for British veterans
Stabilize relations with Native Americans
Encourage trade with Spanish colonies
The Proclamation aimed to prevent costly frontier wars by limiting colonial expansion beyond the Appalachians. Colonists resented the restriction, seeing it as tyranny. More at britannica.com.
Which financial report by Alexander Hamilton argued for a diversified economy and industrial promotion in 1791?
Report on Manufactures
Second Report on Public Credit
Report on the National Bank
First Report on Public Credit
Hamilton's Report on Manufactures recommended tariffs, subsidies, and infrastructure improvements to grow American industry. Though Congress approved few measures, it laid the groundwork for future economic policy. See britannica.com.
Which concept holds that state governments have the right to override federal laws deemed unconstitutional?
Nullification
Judicial review
Sovereign immunity
Interposition
Nullification theory was advanced in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions and later by John C. Calhoun, arguing that states could nullify federal statutes. It challenged federal supremacy but was never legally upheld. More at britannica.com.
Which 1796 farewell address warned Americans against entangling foreign alliances and political factions?
John Adams's Inaugural Address
James Madison's Resignation Address
George Washington's Farewell Address
Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural
Washington advised neutrality in European wars and cautioned against partisan divisions, shaping U.S. foreign policy for decades. His warnings influenced American isolationism. For full text, see archives.gov.
Which rebellion in 1786 - 1787 convinced many leaders that a stronger national government was necessary?
Shays' Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion
Stono Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion in rural Massachusetts underscored the inability of the Confederation Congress to help the state suppress internal disorder. It spurred calls for a constitutional convention. More at history.com.
The Virginia Plan presented at the Constitutional Convention called for:
A strong executive council
Direct election of the president
Representation based on state population in a bicameral legislature
Equal representation for each state in a unicameral legislature
James Madison and Edmund Randolph proposed the Virginia Plan, favoring populous states with representation by population in both congressional houses. It formed the basis for debate at the Convention. See britannica.com.
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Study Outcomes
Analyze Early Political Debates -
Understand the ideological differences between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans and how their conflicts shaped early American governance in Unit 3.
Evaluate Financial Policies -
Assess Alexander Hamilton's financial plan, including debt assumption, the national bank, and its long-term economic impacts on the United States.
Examine Domestic Unrest -
Investigate the causes and outcomes of the Whiskey Rebellion to see how the federal government asserted its authority during America's formative years.
Interpret Judicial Milestones -
Explain the significance of Marbury v. Madison in establishing the principle of judicial review and its role in shaping the Supreme Court's power.
Assess Territorial Expansion -
Discuss the motivations behind the Louisiana Purchase, the process of acquisition, and its consequences for American growth and foreign policy.
Analyze Foreign Policy Challenges -
Explore the effects of international events like the French Revolution, the XYZ Affair, and the Embargo Act on U.S. diplomacy and national identity.
Cheat Sheet
French and Indian War (1754 - 1763) -
This conflict unified the colonies and created war debt that Britain tried to recoup through new taxes, a key detail for your ap us history unit 3 practice test. Pay attention to the Proclamation of 1763 as a catalyst for colonial resentment. Use the mnemonic "PIGE" (Proclamation, Impressment, Grenville Acts, End of Salutary Neglect) to remember causes.
Stamp Act and Colonial Resistance -
The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first direct tax on colonists, sparking "no taxation without representation" protests examined in many american history unit 3 test questions. Review the role of the Stamp Act Congress and the effectiveness of boycotts and the Sons of Liberty. A handy mnemonic is "STAMP: Strong Tax Affects Many Provinces."
Marbury v. Madison (1803) and Judicial Review -
This landmark Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, empowering courts to nullify unconstitutional laws; it's often tested on us history unit 3 quiz sections. Focus on Chief Justice John Marshall's reasoning and the concept of checks and balances. Remember "Mar-bury Means Measure" to link Marbury with measuring constitutionality.
XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War -
The 1797 - 1798 XYZ Affair nearly led to full-scale naval conflict with France, testing the new republic's foreign policy and sparking the Quasi-War. Study how the Alien and Sedition Acts followed this crisis, influencing civil liberties debates. Use the acronym "X-Y-Z: eXtra Yelling, Zapping Diplomacy" to recall the diplomatic breakdown.
Louisiana Purchase (1803) and Westward Expansion -
Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase doubled U.S. territory and set precedents for federal land acquisition, a topic you'll see on the ap us history unit 3 test. Note the constitutional debates Jefferson faced and the role of Lewis and Clark's expedition in mapping the new lands. A quick memory aid is "LP=Land Plus."
