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Social Studies: US History and Civics Practice Test Flashcards

7 cards from real HISET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, giving courts the power to strike down unconstitutional laws?

    Answer: Marbury v. Madison

    Marbury v. Madison (1803) established judicial review when Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the Supreme Court could invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution.

  2. The Three-Fifths Compromise in the original Constitution determined that enslaved people would be counted as what fraction of a person for purposes of taxation and representation?

    Answer: Three-fifths

    The Three-Fifths Compromise counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person to determine each state's population for congressional representation and direct taxes.

  3. Which amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery throughout the United States?

    Answer: 13th Amendment

    The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime.

  4. What was the primary purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806)?

    Answer: To explore the territory acquired in the Louisiana Purchase

    President Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, map the land, and find a practical route to the Pacific Ocean.

  5. The concept of 'Manifest Destiny' in the 19th century expressed the belief that the United States was destined to:

    Answer: Expand its territory across the entire North American continent

    Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century ideology that the US was divinely ordained to expand westward from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

  6. Which branch of the federal government has the exclusive power to declare war?

    Answer: Legislative branch (Congress)

    Article I of the Constitution grants Congress—specifically both the House and Senate—the sole power to formally declare war.

  7. The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged westward settlement by:

    Answer: Granting 160 acres of public land to settlers who farmed it for five years

    The Homestead Act gave 160 acres of federal land to any adult citizen or intended citizen who paid a small fee and farmed the land for five years.