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1. Part I
Answer all questions in this part.
Directions (1 - 50): For each statement or question, record on your separate answer sheet the number of the
word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question.
1 Which geographic feature was most important
for the development of commerce in the New
England and middle colonies?
(1) limited rainfall
(2) natural harbors
(3) long growing season
(4) mountainous terrain Answer: 2
2. 2 Britain ended the practice of salutary neglect
following the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763)
which directly contributed to the
(1) end of the African slave trade
(2) refusal of France to give up Canada
(3) increased conflict with Spain along the
Mississippi River
(4) colonial protests of Americans against new
taxesAnswer: 4
3. 3 The Northwest Ordinance (1787) and the
Homestead Act (1862) both reflected the national
governmentâs policy of
(1) encouraging the settlement of frontier lands
(2) protecting the tribal lands of Native American
Indians
(3) expanding slavery onto the Great Plains
(4) purchasing land from foreign countriesAnswer: 1
4. 4 The primary aim of the writers of the United
States Constitution was to
(1) eliminate the bicameral legislature
(2) strengthen the power of the central
government
(3) preserve the supremacy of the states
(4) weaken the independence of the judiciaryAnswer: 2
5. Base your answers to questions 5 and 6 on the
passage below and on your knowledge of social
studies.
. . . The Executive and the Legislative are so
dangerously blended as to give just cause of
alarm, and every thing relative thereto, is couched
in such ambiguous terms - in such vague and
indefinite expression, as is a sufficient ground
without any other objection, for the reprobation
[disapproval] of a system, that the authors dare
not hazard to a clear investigation. . . .
There is no provision for a rotation, nor any
thing to prevent the perpetuity [permanence] of
office in the same hands for life; which by a little
well timed bribery, will probably be done, to the
exclusion of men of the best abilities from their
share in the offices of government. . . .
- Mercy Otis Warren, 1788
5 What reason does Mercy Otis Warren give for
the position she stated concerning the executive
and legislative branches?
(1) The duties of the president and of Congress
were not clearly separated.
(2) Federal courts were a threat to individual
liberty.
(3) The thirteen states could never agree on
important issues.
(4) The United States Constitution would benefit
only a wealthy few.Answer: 1
6. 6 Which remedy has been proposed to correct a
problem identified by the author concerning
elected offices?
(1) campaign spending restrictions
(2) expansion of the civil service system
(3) term limits on members of Congress
(4) direct election of the president Answer: 3
7. Base your answer to question 7 on the map below and on your knowledge of social studies.
7 Which area of the United States showed the strongest support for ratification
of the Constitution?
(1) coastal areas near the Atlantic Ocean
(2) frontier areas west of the Appalachian Mountains
(3) farming areas in western New York and Pennsylvania
(4) mountain areas in the South Answer: 1
8. 8 The power of the president to veto laws and
the power of the House of Representatives to
impeach are examples of
(1) federalism
(2) the unwritten constitution
(3) executive privilege
(4) checks and balances Answer: 4
9. 9 As stated in the United States Constitution,
which group is directly elected by the people?
(1) Supreme Court justices
(2) presidential cabinet members
(3) members of the House of Representatives
(4) political party leaders Answer: 3
10. Base your answer to question 10 on the table below and on your knowledge of social studies.
10 Which trend about the population of the United States is most clearly implied
by the information in the table?
(1) States with warmer climates had larger population increases than those in
other regions of the United States.
(2) The rural percentage of the population increased throughout the 20th
century.
(3) Voter turnout increased in the North and in the East.
(4) Life expectancy increased in the South and in the West, but decreased in
other regions.Answer: 1
11. 11 Which statement most accurately describes the
principle of federalism?
(1) States have the power to review national
laws.
(2) The ultimate power is given to the voters.
(3) Power is divided between the national and
state governments.
(4) Power is shared by the two political parties.Answer: 3
12. 12 The purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803
was supported by farmers in Ohio, Kentucky, and
Tennessee primarily because they wanted to
(1) end conflicts with Mexico on the western
frontier
(2) gain unrestricted access to the Mississippi
River and the port of New Orleans
(3) end the practice of slavery
(4) secure an easier route for transporting their
products to the Pacific CoastAnswer: 2
13. 13 The Supreme Court decisions in McCulloch v.
Maryland (1819) and in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
resulted in
(1) large land grants for Native American Indians
(2) an expansion of the rights of African
Americans
(3) greater state regulation of business activities
(4) an increase in the power of the federal
government over state governmentsAnswer: 4
14. 14 In the first half of the 19th century, canal building
was important to economic growth because
canals
(1) could be used in all seasons of the year
(2) provided access to free homesteads in the
West
(3) charged lower rates than the transcontinental
railroad
(4) allowed faster transport of farm and industrial
productsAnswer: 4
15. 15 The victory of Andrew Jackson in the presidential
election of 1828 was aided by
(1) the support of eastern bankers
(2) implementing womanâs suffrage
(3) reducing property qualifications for voting
(4) the endorsement of northern abolitionists Answer: 3
16. 16 Which 19th-century phrase best describes the
overall efforts of the United States to expand
westward to the Pacific Ocean?
(1) âRemember the Alamoâ
(2) âManifest Destinyâ
(3) âBleeding Kansasâ
(4) âRemember the Maineâ Answer: 2
17. 17 Which action was an attempt by southern state
governments after the Civil War to limit the
rights of African Americans?
(1) ratification of the 13th amendment
(2) implementation of the Black Codes
(3) establishment of the Freedmenâs Bureau
(4) impeachment of President Andrew Johnson Answer: 2
18. 18 Political rights for women grew most rapidly on
the western frontier primarily because
(1) the settlers were influenced by Native
American Indian societies
(2) women greatly outnumbered men in the
West
(3) pioneer life often required men and women
to share responsibilities equally
(4) immigrants settling in the West brought
ideals of gender equality from EuropeAnswer: 3
19. 19 The formation of business monopolies in the late
1800s was made possible by the
(1) effects of laissez-faire policies
(2) passage of federal antitrust laws
(3) elimination of the free-enterprise system
(4) adoption of socialist economic practices Answer: 1
20. 20 Which pairing matches a 19th-century business
leader with the industry he developed?
(1) Cornelius Vanderbilt - textile
(2) Andrew Carnegie - meatpacking
(3) J. P. Morgan - sugar
(4) John D. Rockefeller - oil Answer: 4
21. 21 In the late 1890s, yellow journalism most directly
influenced the United States governmentâs
decision to
(1) build the Panama Canal
(2) open Japan to trade with the West
(3) enter the Spanish-American War
(4) purchase Alaska and Hawaii Answer: 3
22. 22 â. . . It is not the mission of the United States
to set right everything that is amiss all over the
world, even if we have interests involved, or to
take part in remodelling the government of some
four hundred millions of people who deeply
resent foreign interference with their affairs. . . .â
- Josiah Quincy, 1900
The author of this statement is expressing his
support for
(1) war as an instrument of foreign policy
(2) the policy of imperialism
(3) business investment in foreign countries
(4) the principle of noninvolvementAnswer: 4
23. 23 W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington
strongly disagreed over the
(1) need for passage of the 14th amendment to
acquire civil rights
(2) benefits of the Harlem Renaissance
(3) method and speed for attaining equal rights
for African Americans
(4) use of the federal policy of affirmative action
to aid African AmericansAnswer: 3
24. 24 Which idea best expresses the philosophy of
Progressive reformers?
(1) Economic growth should take priority over
social concerns.
(2) Government actions should promote
solutions to problems in society.
(3) Reform should come from private business
leaders.
(4) Labor unions could undermine the free
enterprise system.Answer: 2
25. Base your answer to question 25 on the cartoon below and on your knowledge of social studies.
25 Which statement most accurately represents the point of view depicted in this
1903 cartoon?
(1) Literacy tests are needed to limit immigration to the United States.
(2) Americans significantly disagree over immigration policy.
(3) The nationâs economy depends on continuing large-scale immigration.
(4) Nativist opposition to immigration is declining. Answer: 2
26. 26 As related to Latin America, the Roosevelt
Corollary strengthened the original Monroe
Doctrine by
(1) threatening military intervention to stop
European interference
(2) extending the doctrine to Asia
(3) sending humanitarian aid to Mexico and the
Caribbean
(4) promoting the independence of former
United States coloniesAnswer: 1
27. 27 Which legislation resulted from the publication
of Upton Sinclairâs novel, The Jungle?
(1) Hepburn Act
(2) Dawes Act
(3) Meat Inspection Act
(4) Interstate Commerce Act Answer: 3
28. 28 The main reason the United States Senate did
not approve the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 was
because the treaty
(1) did not force Germany to return conquered
territory
(2) threatened to draw the nation into future
international conflicts
(3) failed to include war reparations
(4) was opposed by President Woodrow WilsonAnswer: 2
29. 29 The Palmer Raids after World War I were
controversial because the federal government
(1) led a campaign against discrimination and
racial segregation
(2) imprisoned suffragists who led protest
marches
(3) violated the civil liberties of suspected
radicals
(4) granted asylum to European refugeesAnswer: 3
30. 30 During the 1920s, the influence of the Ku Klux
Klan and the passage of laws setting immigration
quotas illustrated the
(1) rejection of traditional religious values
(2) support for integrated public schools
(3) negative reaction to the Scopes trial
(4) growth of nativism Answer: 4
31. 31 Which factor in the late 1920s was a major cause
of the Great Depression?
(1) overproduction of manufactured goods
(2) high income tax rates
(3) limited use of consumer credit
(4) low tariffs on European products Answer: 1
32. 32 What was one reason many banks failed during
the early 1930s?
(1) Banks had made risky loans and stock market
investments.
(2) Banks were overregulated by the federal
government.
(3) Large banks had formed a monopoly.
(4) Banks charged high interest rates for loans.Answer: 1
33. 33 One major policy difference between President
Herbert Hoover and President Franklin D.
Roosevelt was that President Roosevelt
(1) focused primarily on reducing tariffs
(2) stressed tax cuts and subsidies for big business
(3) adopted a laissez-faire philosophy
(4) proposed direct aid to farmers and the
unemployedAnswer: 4
34. 34 President Franklin D. Rooseveltâs first 100 days
are regarded by many historians as successful
because
(1) the Senate agreed to join the League of
Nations
(2) he increased the number of Supreme Court
Justices
(3) many of his New Deal proposals were enacted
into law
(4) the Great Depression came to an endAnswer: 3
35. 35 Which heading would be most accurate for the
partial outline below?
(1) Congress Expands War Powers
(2) Media Influences Foreign Policy
(3) United States Moves Away From Neutrality
(4) International Community Unites for Peace Answer: 3
36. 36 After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to
(1) ban Japanese Americans from serving in
Congress
(2) deport most Japanese Americans to Japan
(3) immediately draft all young Japanese
Americans into the military
(4) move Japanese Americans to internment
camps away from the Pacific CoastAnswer: 4
37. 37 Agreements made at the Yalta and Potsdam
conferences near the end of World War II
resulted in the
(1) division of Germany into zones of occupation
(2) invasion of the Soviet Union by the Allies
(3) creation of the arms control agreements
(4) control of the Korean peninsula by United
Nations forcesAnswer: 1
38. Base your answers to questions 38 and 39 on
the cartoon below and on your knowledge of social
studies.
38 The point of view expressed by this cartoonist is
that this ânewâ United States foreign policy is
(1) risky and may not succeed
(2) certain to lead to another war
(3) a violation of the United Nations Charter
(4) too expensive to support Answer: 1
39. 39 Which United States foreign policy is being
referred to in this cartoon?
(1) Neutrality Act (3) Truman Doctrine
(2) Atlantic Charter (4) Manhattan Project Answer: 3
40. Base your answer to question 40 on the passage
below and on your knowledge of social studies.
. . . You have to take chances for peace, just as
you must take chances in war. Some say that we
were brought to the verge of war. Of course we
were brought to the verge of war. The ability to
get to the verge without getting into the war is
the necessary art. If you cannot master it, you
inevitably get into war. If you try to run away
from it, if you are scared to go to the brink, you
are lost. . . .
- Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, Time,
January 23, 1956
40 The policy described by Secretary Dulles was
most evident in the later actions of the United
States during the
(1) Cuban missile crisis
(2) Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
(3) energy crisis of 1973
(4) Camp David talks between Egypt and IsraelAnswer: 1
41. 41 Which social change was accelerated by the
passage of the Interstate Highway Act in 1956?
(1) revitalization of urban areas
(2) demand for new forms of public transpor-
tation
(3) growth of the Northeastâs population relative
to that of the South and West
(4) movement from cities to new suburban
communitiesAnswer: 4
42. 42 United States involvement in Vietnam in the
early 1960s was justified by a widely held belief
that
(1) United States economic prosperity depended
on taking control of South Vietnam
(2) failure to defend freedom in South Vietnam
would result in communist domination of
Southeast Asia
(3) supporting South Vietnam would honor
United States obligations to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
(4) involvement in Southeast Asia was necessary
to prevent communists from seizing control
of ChinaAnswer: 2
43. 43 ⢠October 4, 1957 - Soviet Union launches
Sputnik
⢠April 12, 1961 - a Soviet cosmonaut is the first
person to orbit Earth
⢠February 20, 1962 - John Glenn is the first
American to orbit Earth
⢠July 20, 1969 - Neil Armstrong walks on the
Moon
Which conclusion do these events directly
support?
(1) The United States was the first to orbit Earth.
(2) The United States space program eventually
surpassed the Soviet Unionâs program.
(3) The Soviet Union and the United States both
militarized space.
(4) Sputnik had little domestic influence on the
United States.Answer: 2
44. 44 Since the 1960s, a major goal of the womenâs
movement has been to gain
(1) full property rights
(2) better access to public education
(3) equal economic opportunity
(4) the right to vote Answer: 3
45. 45 The main argument used by President Richard
Nixon to block publication of the Pentagon
Papers was that their disclosure would
(1) damage his environmental policies
(2) jeopardize trade relationships
(3) harm the prosperity of the nation
(4) threaten national security Answer: 4
46. Base your answer to question 46 on the excerpt
below and on your knowledge of social studies.
. . . Question: Mr. President, many people in
Congress believe in the tax cuts - I mean, the
budget cuts, but are very concerned about the
tax cuts. They fear it will be inflationary. How do
you plan to combat that fear among Congress?
President Reagan: Well, I mentioned that
last night, this fear that the tax cuts would
be inflationary. First of all, a number of fine
economists like Murray Weidenbaum and many
of his associates donât think that thatâs so. But also
weâve got history on our side. Every major tax cut
that has been made in this century in our country
has resulted in even the government getting more
revenue than it did before, because the base of
the economy is so broadened by doing it. . . .
- Question-and-Answer Session with
President Ronald Reagan, 1981
46 Based on this excerpt, President Ronald Reaganâs
economic policy called for
(1) reducing taxes to increase investment by
private businesses
(2) increasing government spending on social
welfare programs
(3) limiting military spending to balance the
federal budget
(4) raising taxes to decrease inflationAnswer: 1
47. 47 The USA Patriot Act (2001) was passed to
(1) recruit volunteers for military service
(2) protect the United States from terrorists
(3) prohibit citizens from criticizing government
policies
(4) safeguard civil liberties from abuse by the
governmentAnswer: 2
48. Base your answer to question 48 on the cartoon below and on your knowledge of social studies.
48 Which statement most accurately expresses the main idea of this cartoon?
(1) Nuclear power plants are subject to risks.
(2) Nuclear waste should not be dumped into the oceans.
(3) The government should encourage the construction of nuclear facilities.
(4) Nuclear power plants are the targets of terrorists. Answer: 1
49. 49 ⢠Pure Food and Drug Act passed.
⢠Graduated income tax established.
⢠Federal Reserve System created.
These events occurred during which historic
period?
(1) Reconstruction (3) Roaring Twenties
(2) Progressive Era (4) Cold War Answer: 2
50. 50 One way in which the Square Deal, the New
Frontier, and the Great Society are similar is that
each was a
(1) plan to promote big business
(2) campaign to extend womanâs suffrage
(3) book written by a muckraking journalist
(4) presidential program of reform Answer: 4
51. Answers to the essay questions are to be written in the separate essay booklet.
In developing your answer to Part II, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
(a) describe means âto illustrate something in words or tell about itâ
(b) discuss means âto make observations about something using facts, reasoning, and
argument; to present in some detailâ
Part II
THEMATIC ESSAY QUESTION
Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the task
below, and a conclusion.
Theme: Government Actions
Throughout United States history, the federal government has taken actions that
have either expanded or limited the rights of individuals in the United States.
These government actions have had significant political, social, and economic
impacts on the nation.
Task:
Choose two federal government actions that have expanded or limited the rights
of individuals and for each
⢠Describe the historical circumstances that led to the government action
⢠Discuss the impact of the action on the United States and/or American society
You may use any government action that expanded or limited the rights of individuals from
your study of United States history. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include the
Indian Removal Act (1830), Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857), the 15th amendment (suffrage for
African American males, 1870), Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), Schenck v. United States (1919), the
18th amendment (Prohibition, 1919), the 19th amendment (womanâs suffrage, 1920), Brown v.
Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965),
and the 26th amendment (suffrage for 18-year-old citizens, 1971).
You are not limited to these suggestions.
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to:
⢠Develop all aspects of the task
⢠Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
⢠Use a logical and clear plan of organization, including an introduction and a conclusion that
are beyond a restatement of the theme
52. Part III
DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTION
This question is based on the accompanying documents. The question is designed to test your
ability to work with historical documents. Some of these documents have been edited for the
purposes of this question. As you analyze the documents, take into account the source of each
document and any point of view that may be presented in the document. Keep in mind that the
language used in a document may reflect the historical context of the time in which it was written.
Historical Context:
Until the mid-1800s, the United States remained a primarily rural, agricultural
nation. However, by the early 20th century, the United States had become an
urban, industrialized nation. This transition led to problems related to housing
and working conditions. Governments, groups, and individuals have attempted to
improve housing and working conditions with varying degrees of success.
Task: Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history,
answer the questions that follow each document in Part A. Your answers to the
questions will help you write the Part B essay in which you will be asked to
⢠Describe housing conditions and working conditions in urban areas during
the late 1800s and early 1900s
⢠Discuss the extent to which efforts to address housing and/or working
conditions were successful
In developing your answers to Part III, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:
(a) describe means âto illustrate something in words or tell about itâ
(b) discuss means âto make observations about something using facts, reasoning, and
argument; to present in some detailâ
Part A
Short-Answer Questions
Directions: Analyze the documents and answer the short-answer questions that follow each document in the
space provided.
Document 1
. . . So many people in so little space: eight hundred per acre in some city blocks. Flies were fat
and brazen and everywhere, because in summer the windows and doors had to be open all the
time in hopes that a breeze might find its way down the river and through the crowded streets and
among the close-packed tenements and across the back of oneâs neck. Along with the flies came
the noise of steel wagon wheels on paving stones, the wails of babies, peddlers bellowing, the roar
of elevated trains, hollering children, and the scritch-scratch and tinkle of windup phonographs.
Late summer was a season of dust and grime. Half the metropolis, it seemed, was under
construction, a new tower of ten or more stories topping out every five days, competing skyscrapers
racing toward the clouds, a third and then a fourth bridge stretching across the East River (where
a generation earlier there had been none). The hot, damp air was full of dirt, cement powder,
sawdust, and exhaust from the steam shovels. . . .
Source: David Von Drehle, Triangle: The Fire that Changed America, Grove Press, 2003
1 According to David Von Drehle, what were two conditions faced by people living in urban areas in the early
1900s? [2]
53.  
2 Based on these photographs, what was one condition faced by families living in tenements? [1]
54. Document 3
. . . The razing [tearing down] of the worst tenements through such urban renewal programs
and the enactment of stricter regulatory laws are generally credited with bringing an end to the
privations [hardships] of the tenement system. From 1867 to 1901, New York enacted a series
of increasingly stringent [strict] tenement laws that mandated better ventilation and sanitation,
improved maintenance, and indoor plumbing. But to what extent did regulation really contribute
to the demise of the tenement menace? Despite the stipulations that each room have a window
and that stairwells have better lighting, stench continued to overpower tenement residents, and
the promised improvements in ventilation never materialized. Lewis Hineâs photographs from the
years after the enactment of the 1901 legislation reveal crowding just as awful as Jacob Riis had
found in the late 1880s and nearly as bad as that which antebellum [pre - Civil War] investigators
had uncovered in Cow Bay and the Old Brewery [neighborhoods]. . . .
Source: Tyler Anbinder, Five Points, The Free Press, 2001 (adapted)
3 According to Tyler Anbinder, what was one attempt to address issues faced by people living in
tenements? [1]
55. Document 4
. . . As an example to the city, Addams installed a small incinerator at Hull-House and had the
settlement houseâs Womanâs Club investigate garbage conditions in the ward and report their
findings to city hall. But to no avail. Finally, in desperation, Addams applied to become the
Nineteenth Wardâs garbage collector. Her bid was never considered, but the publicity it provoked
led the city to appoint her the wardâs inspector of garbage.
Every morning at 6:00 A.M., neighbors trudging to work would see a bent woman as pale
as candle wax following the cityâs garbage wagons to the dump to see that they did their work
thoroughly; and in the evenings Jane Addams would supervise the burning of mountains of alley
refuse, the hundred-foot-high flames drawing crowds of curious onlookers. The foreign-born
women of the neighborhood were âshocked,â Addams recalled, âby this abrupt departure into
the ways of men.â But some of them came to understand âthat their housewifely duties logically
extended to the adjacent alleys and streetsâ where diseases spread by filth put their children at
deadly risk.
The unflagging pressure of Addams and other settlement workers - most prominently Mary
McDowell in Packingtown - forced the city to take measures to improve sanitary conditions in
some immigrant wards. But not until after 1900, and not very satisfactorily. . . .
Source: Donald L. Miller, City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America,
Simon & Schuster, 1996
4 According to Donald L. Miller, what was one way settlement workers attempted to improve sanitary
conditions in Chicago? [1]
56. Document 5
. . . In every industry the story was monotonously the same: paupersâ wages; the constant fear of
dismissal; wretched and unsanitary working conditions; ten-, twelve-, and even fourteen-hour days
(sixteen for bakers); six- and sometimes seven-day weeks; erratic pay; little or no compensation for
injuries or fatalities; a constant increase in the number of women and children employed under
such conditions; and, worst of all, the widespread conviction that workingmen and women (not to
mention children) had been losing ground ever since the end of the Civil War.
Under such circumstances it is hardly surprising that the number of strikes increased year by
year following the Great Strikes of 1877. In 1881 there were 471 strikes affecting 2,928 companies
and 129,521 employees. Five years later the number of strikes had risen to 1,411, involving 9,861
companies and almost half a million employees. Roughly half (46 percent) of the struck companies
acquiesced in [agreed to] the principal demands of the strikers. Over 3,000 more strikes were
partially successful, and 40 percent of the strikes, involving 50 percent of the strikers, were judged
âfailures.â. . .
Source: Page Smith, âHow the Other Side Lived,â A Peopleâs History of the Past,
Reconstruction Era, Vol. VI, The Rise of Industrial America, 1984
5a According to Page Smith, what was one condition faced by industrial workers in the late 1800s? [1]
57. Score
b According to Page Smith, what was one attempt made by workers to improve working conditions? [1]
58. Document 6
On Friday evening, March 24, two young sisters walked down the stairways from the ninth floor
where they were employed and joined the horde of workers that nightly surges homeward into
New Yorkâs East Side. Since eight oâclock they had been bending over shirt-waists of silk and
lace, tensely guiding the valuable fabrics through their swift machines, with hundreds of power
driven machines whirring madly about them; and now the two were very weary, and were filled
with that despondency [hopelessness] which comes after a day of exhausting routine, when the
next day, and the next week, and the next year, hold promise of nothing better than just this same
monotonous strain. . . .
âItâs worse than it was before the strike, a year ago,â bitterly said Gussie, the older [sister].
âThe boss squeezes [puts pressure on] us at every point, and drives us to the limit. He carries us
up in elevators of mornings [every morning], so we wonât lose a second in getting started; but at
night, when weâre tired and the boss has got all out of us he wants for the day, he makes us walk
down. At eight oâclock he shuts the doors, so that if you come even a minute late you canât get in
till noon, and so lose half a day; he does that to make sure that every person gets there on time or
ahead of time. He fines us for every little thing; he always holds back a weekâs wages to be sure
that he can be able to collect for damages he says we do, and to keep us from leaving; and every
evening he searches our pocketbooks and bags to see that we donât carry any goods or trimmings
away. Oh, you would think you are in Russia again!â. . .
Source: Miriam Finn Scott, âThe Factory Girlâs Danger,â The Outlook, April 15, 1911
6 According to Miriam Finn Scott, what were two conditions that made factory work difficult in 1911? [2]
59. Document 7
. . . Information collected by the Commission and staff was compiled into several reports, including
the two main reports, âThe Fire Hazard in Factory Buildingsâ and âSanitation of Factoriesâ,
published in the Preliminary Report of the Factory Investigating Commission (1912). To improve
sanitary conditions, the Commissionâs report to the Legislature recommended registration of all
factories with the Department of Labor, licensing of all food manufacturers, medical examinations
of food workers, medical supervision in dangerous trades, and better eating, washing, and toilet
facilities. To lessen the fire hazard, the Commission recommended an increase in stairwells
and exits, installation of fire walls, fireproof construction, prohibition of smoking in factories,
fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and automatic sprinklers. The Commissionâs other reports
summarized investigations of and made recommendations concerning women factory workers,
child labor in tenements, and occupational diseases such as lead and arsenic poisoning. . . .
Source: Working Lives: A Guide to the Records of the New York State Factory Investigating Commission,
New York State Archives and Records Administration, 1989
7 Based on this New York State document, state one recommendation made by the Factory Investigating
Commission in 1912 to address problems faced by workers. [1]
60. Document 8
. . . The supreme duty of the Nation is the conservation of human resources through an enlightened
measure of social and industrial justice. We pledge ourselves to work unceasingly in State and
Nation for:
Effective legislation looking to the prevention of industrial accidents, occupational diseases,
overwork, involuntary unemployment, and other injurious effects incident to modern industry;
The fixing of minimum safety and health standards for the various occupations, and the
exercise of the public authority of State and Nation, including the Federal control over inter-State
commerce and the taxing power, to maintain such standards;
The prohibition of child labor;
Minimum wage standards for working women, to provide a living scale in all industrial
occupations;
The prohibition of night work for women and the establishment of an eight hour day for
women and young persons;
One dayâs rest in seven for all wage-workers; . . .
We favor the organization of the workers, men and women as a means of protecting their
interests and of promoting their progress. . . .
Source: Platform of the Progressive Party, August 7, 1912
8 Based on this document, what were two proposals made in the 1912 Progressive Party Platform that
addressed issues faced by workers? [2]
61. Document 9
. . . Abandoning efforts to secure business cooperation, in 1935 the New Deal moved in the
direction of strengthening workersâ ability to bargain collectively and effectively, presuming
this would lead to fair wages, hours, and working conditions. Competition, together with fair
treatment of workers, would keep business functioning properly in an open market. The National
Labor Relations Act, proposed by New York senator Robert Wagner and endorsed by FDR
[Franklin Delano Roosevelt] once it passed the Senate, had a dramatic effect on many workers.
The Wagner Act, as it was frequently called, compelled employers to deal with labor unions that
employees - in elections supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - chose to
represent them. The act also prohibited unfair labor practices such as discharging workers for
union membership, favoring an employer-dominated company union, or refusing to negotiate in
good faith with a union. All these practices had long been common before the National Industrial
Recovery Act and continued after its adoption. But now, with an independent federal agency
overseeing labor-management relations, the weight of the federal government stood behind
organized workers in their efforts to negotiate better terms of employment. . . .
Source: David E. Kyvig, Daily Life in the United States, 1920 - 1940, Ivan R. Dee, 2002
9 According to David E. Kyvig, state one way New Deal programs addressed problems faced by workers. [1]
62. Part B
Essay
Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Use evidence from at least five documents in the body of the essay. Support your response with
relevant facts, examples, and details. Include additional outside information.
Historical Context:
Until the mid-1800s, the United States remained a primarily rural, agricultural
nation. However, by the early 20th century, the United States had become an
urban, industrialized nation. This transition led to problems related to housing
and working conditions. Governments, groups, and individuals have attempted to
improve housing and working conditions with varying degrees of success.
Task: Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history,
write an essay in which you
⢠Describe housing conditions and working conditions in urban areas during
the late 1800s and early 1900s
⢠Discuss the extent to which efforts to address housing and/or working
conditions were successful
Guidelines:
In your essay, be sure to
⢠Develop all aspects of the task
⢠Incorporate information from at least five documents
⢠Incorporate relevant outside information
⢠Support the theme with relevant facts, examples, and details
⢠Use a logical and clear plan of organization, including an introduction and a conclusion that
are beyond a restatement of the theme
Try the Quiz : US History and Government - New York Regents January 2019 Exam
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