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AP African American Studies study materials
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AP African American Studies practice questions

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Question 1Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which West African empire, centered at Niani and later Timbuktu, controlled trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt from roughly the 13th to the 16th century?

  1. Kingdom of Kush
  2. Great Zimbabwe
  3. Mali Empire Correct answer.
  4. Kingdom of Aksum

Explanation

The Mali Empire rose from the Malinke heartland and drew wealth from the gold fields of Bure and the salt trade of the Sahara. Its cities, especially Timbuktu and Gao, became centers of commerce and scholarship. The other states listed belong to different regions and eras.

Question 2Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The trans-Saharan caravan trade was made possible mainly by the use of which animal?

  1. The horse
  2. The elephant
  3. The camel Correct answer.
  4. The ox

Explanation

Camels, introduced to North Africa in the early centuries CE, could cross arid stretches with heavy loads and little water. This made regular long-distance trade across the Sahara feasible. Horses and oxen cannot sustain such journeys without frequent water.

Question 3Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which city became a renowned center of Islamic learning and manuscript production under the Mali and Songhai empires?

  1. Cairo
  2. Kilwa
  3. Timbuktu Correct answer.
  4. Mecca

Explanation

Timbuktu grew into a major scholarly center, home to the Sankore mosque and large private libraries of Arabic manuscripts. Its scholars studied law, astronomy, and theology. Cairo, Mecca, and Kilwa were important but not part of the Mali-Songhai scholarly network.

Question 4Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 is historically significant primarily because it

  1. ended the trans-Saharan gold trade
  2. brought Christianity to West Africa
  3. established the Songhai Empire
  4. publicized Mali's wealth across the wider Islamic world Correct answer.

Explanation

Mansa Musa traveled with a large caravan and distributed gold generously along the route, drawing attention to Mali's riches. Accounts of his journey spread through the Mediterranean and Middle East. The pilgrimage did not end trade or found a new empire.

Question 5Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The kingdom of Aksum, which flourished from roughly the 1st to the 7th century CE, was located in which region?

  1. The Niger River bend
  2. The Congo basin
  3. The Horn of Africa Correct answer.
  4. The Swahili coast

Explanation

Aksum was centered in the highlands of present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, near the Red Sea. It controlled trade routes linking Africa, Arabia, and the Mediterranean. The Niger bend, Swahili coast, and Congo basin are separate regions.

Question 6Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Swahili coast city-states such as Kilwa and Mombasa grew wealthy mainly through trade linking Africa's interior to

  1. the trans-Saharan routes
  2. the Baltic Sea
  3. the Atlantic slave trade
  4. the Indian Ocean world Correct answer.

Explanation

Swahili port cities connected East African goods like gold, ivory, and later enslaved people to Arabia, Persia, India, and China via monsoon winds. This Indian Ocean network shaped their culture and architecture. The Atlantic, Sahara, and Baltic are unrelated to this coast.

Question 7Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which language family, spread by Bantu-speaking migrants, became dominant across much of sub-Saharan Africa?

  1. Nilo-Saharan
  2. Niger-Congo Correct answer.
  3. Khoisan
  4. Afro-Asiatic

Explanation

Bantu languages belong to the Niger-Congo family, which expanded from a homeland near present-day Nigeria and Cameroon. Migrations carried farming and ironworking across central, eastern, and southern Africa. The other families are distinct and occupy different regions.

Question 8Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The kingdom of Ghana, which flourished by the 9th century, was known to Arab writers primarily for its control of

  1. gold and salt trade routes Correct answer.
  2. Atlantic fishing grounds
  3. Mediterranean grain exports
  4. Indian Ocean spice trade

Explanation

Ghana sat between the gold-producing south and the salt-rich Sahara, taxing goods that passed through its territory. Arab geographers described its ruler and wealth in gold. Its power rested on overland trade, not sea routes.

Question 9Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which of the following best describes the significance of ironworking in early sub-Saharan Africa?

  1. It enabled stronger tools and weapons that supported farming and state growth Correct answer.
  2. It was introduced only after European contact
  3. It replaced agriculture as the main livelihood
  4. It was limited to coastal trading cities

Explanation

Iron tools improved clearing land and farming, while iron weapons supported military expansion. Ironworking centers such as Nok in present-day Nigeria date to the first millennium BCE. It was not a European introduction and was not confined to the coast.

Question 10Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Nok culture, known for its terracotta figurines and early iron smelting, developed in which present-day country?

  1. Kenya
  2. Ghana
  3. Nigeria Correct answer.
  4. Morocco

Explanation

Nok artifacts have been found on the Jos Plateau of central Nigeria and date to roughly 1000 BCE to 500 CE. The culture is among the earliest known ironworking societies in West Africa. The other countries lie outside the Nok region.

Question 11Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Great Zimbabwe's large stone walls and towers are best explained as evidence of

  1. Arab settlement in the interior
  2. a temporary seasonal camp
  3. a Portuguese colonial outpost
  4. a locally organized state with surplus wealth Correct answer.

Explanation

Great Zimbabwe was built by Shona-speaking peoples between roughly the 11th and 15th centuries, financed by gold and cattle wealth and trade with the Swahili coast. The scale of the stonework reflects a powerful local state. It was not Arab, Portuguese, or temporary.

Question 12Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The spread of Islam into West Africa during this period was carried primarily by

  1. Christian missionaries from Ethiopia
  2. Muslim merchants and scholars traveling trade routes Correct answer.
  3. Chinese naval expeditions
  4. conquering armies from Europe

Explanation

Islam moved along trans-Saharan trade networks through merchants, clerics, and local rulers who adopted the faith. It blended with existing traditions rather than arriving through European conquest. Chinese and Ethiopian missions played no role in West Africa.

Question 13Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Epic of Sundiata is important to the history of the Mali Empire because it

  1. explains the construction of Great Zimbabwe
  2. describes the Portuguese arrival on the coast
  3. records the founding of the empire by Sundiata Keita Correct answer.
  4. lists the kings of ancient Kush

Explanation

The epic, preserved by griots such as the Kouyaté line, recounts Sundiata's defeat of the Sosso ruler Sumanguru and the founding of Mali. It is a key oral historical source. It does not concern Portugal, Kush, or Zimbabwe.

Question 14Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Griots (jeliw) in Mande society served chiefly as

  1. tax collectors for the Songhai state
  2. caravan guides for Saharan salt merchants
  3. Islamic judges appointed by the caliph
  4. hereditary keepers of oral history and genealogy Correct answer.

Explanation

Griots are hereditary specialists who preserve and recite genealogies, epics, and praise songs. Their role made them central to transmitting historical memory in Mande culture. They were not judges, guides, or tax officials by profession.

Question 15Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Songhai Empire reached its greatest extent under which ruler, who reigned from about 1464 to 1492?

  1. Sunni Ali
  2. Mansa Musa
  3. Askia Muhammad Correct answer.
  4. Oba Ewuare

Explanation

Askia Muhammad expanded Songhai and strengthened its administration and Islamic scholarship after overthrowing the Sunni dynasty. He is often associated with the empire's peak. Sunni Ali founded the dynasty but ruled earlier, and the others led different states.

Question 16Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which statement best explains how the salt mines of Taghaza functioned in the West African economy?

  1. Salt had no value outside the Sahara
  2. Salt was scarce in the south and exchanged for gold from the forest regions Correct answer.
  3. Salt was exported to Europe in large quantities
  4. Salt was used mainly as a building material

Explanation

Salt was essential for diet and food preservation and was scarce in the gold-rich southern regions. Saharan salt was traded southward for gold, creating a complementary exchange. It was not a building material or a major European export.

Question 17Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Benin kingdom, known for its bronze plaques, was located in which region of present-day Nigeria?

  1. The Sahelian north
  2. The Niger Delta
  3. The Jos Plateau
  4. The forested south-central area around Benin City Correct answer.

Explanation

Benin City lay in the forest region of south-central Nigeria and became the capital of a powerful kingdom. Its bronze casting tradition served royal and ritual purposes. The delta, Sahel, and plateau are distinct zones.

Question 18Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The introduction of bananas and plantains to parts of Africa during this era is best attributed to

  1. Portuguese explorers of the Atlantic
  2. Arab conquerors of Spain
  3. Austronesian-speaking seafarers crossing the Indian Ocean Correct answer.
  4. trans-Saharan caravan merchants

Explanation

Austronesian speakers from Southeast Asia settled Madagascar and brought crops including bananas and plantains to the East African coast. These crops then spread inland. The other groups did not introduce these plants to Africa.

Question 19Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which of the following was a common feature of many West African societies before the 16th century regarding religious practice?

  1. Strict rejection of any foreign religious ideas
  2. Uniform adoption of Christianity across the region
  3. Blending of indigenous beliefs with Islam among rulers and merchants Correct answer.
  4. Abolition of all ritual specialists

Explanation

Islam spread mainly among rulers, merchants, and scholars while indigenous beliefs remained widespread among the general population. This produced blended practices and parallel traditions. The region was not uniformly Christian, and ritual specialists remained important.

Question 20Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The trans-Saharan trade routes connected West Africa most directly with which region?

  1. The Caribbean islands
  2. North Africa and the Mediterranean Correct answer.
  3. Northern Europe and Scandinavia
  4. Southern Africa and the Cape

Explanation

Caravans crossed the Sahara to North African markets such as Sijilmasa and Cairo, linking West Africa to the Mediterranean world. From there goods circulated further into Europe and Asia. The other regions were not directly linked by these routes.

Question 21Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which of the following best characterizes the political structure of the Mali Empire under its mansa?

  1. A fully centralized bureaucracy staffed by salaried officials
  2. A confederation of independent city-states with no central authority
  3. A network of tributary provinces and allied rulers under a paramount king Correct answer.
  4. A theocracy ruled directly by the caliph in Baghdad

Explanation

Mali's mansa governed through provincial governors and the loyalty of conquered and allied rulers who paid tribute. Authority was negotiated rather than fully bureaucratic. The empire was not a loose city-state confederation or a Baghdad-run theocracy.

Question 22Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The decline of the Ghana Empire by the 13th century is best explained by which combination of factors?

  1. The end of gold production in West Africa
  2. Repeated invasions and the rise of new trade routes shifting commerce eastward Correct answer.
  3. A sudden collapse of the Saharan salt deposits
  4. The arrival of Portuguese warships

Explanation

Almoravid pressure from the north and the rise of competing states such as Mali shifted trade and political power eastward. Salt and gold resources did not vanish. Portuguese ships arrived centuries later.

Question 23Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which evidence most directly supports the claim that medieval West African societies were connected to a wider Islamic intellectual world?

  1. The terracotta figures of the Nok culture
  2. The presence of Arabic manuscripts and scholars in Timbuktu libraries Correct answer.
  3. The construction of stone walls at Great Zimbabwe
  4. The use of camels in Saharan caravans

Explanation

Arabic manuscripts on law, astronomy, and theology in Timbuktu show direct engagement with Islamic scholarship circulating across the wider world. The other examples reflect trade, architecture, or earlier art rather than intellectual exchange.

Question 24Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Swahili language and culture emerged from which process?

  1. The isolation of coastal communities from all foreign contact
  2. The imposition of a European language by colonizers
  3. The blending of Bantu-speaking African communities with Arab and Persian traders Correct answer.
  4. The replacement of Bantu speakers by Arab settlers

Explanation

Swahili developed from Bantu roots with substantial Arabic vocabulary and cultural influences from Indian Ocean trade. It reflects long interaction rather than replacement or isolation. European colonization came later.

Question 25Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Which of the following most accurately describes the relationship between oral tradition and written records in reconstructing early African history?

  1. Written records are absent, so early African history cannot be studied
  2. Only European travel accounts provide valid historical information
  3. Oral traditions are unreliable and should be ignored in favor of written records
  4. Oral traditions preserved by specialists can be corroborated with archaeology and external written accounts Correct answer.

Explanation

Historians combine oral traditions kept by griots and other specialists with archaeology, linguistics, and accounts by Arab and other travelers. Each source has limits, but together they allow reconstruction. Dismissing oral sources or claiming no evidence exists misrepresents the field.

Question 26Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The kingdom of Kush, centered at Meroë, is notable in the history of early Africa primarily because it

  1. created the trans-Saharan camel caravan system
  2. built the stone terraces of the Inland Delta for rice farming
  3. developed one of the earliest iron-smelting industries in the Nile Valley Correct answer.
  4. established the first Islamic university in the Sahel

Explanation

Meroë is widely associated with extensive iron production and slag heaps that indicate large-scale smelting. This made Kush a major metalworking center in the Nile Valley. The other achievements listed belong to different regions and later periods.

Question 27Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum's adoption of Christianity in the 4th century is historically significant mainly because it

  1. made Aksum one of the earliest states to adopt Christianity as a state religion Correct answer.
  2. marked the first appearance of Christianity anywhere in Africa
  3. introduced the Arabic script to the Horn of Africa
  4. ended Aksum's participation in Indian Ocean trade

Explanation

Aksum's royal conversion under Ezana made it one of the earliest polities to adopt Christianity officially. This shaped Ethiopian religious and cultural life for centuries. The claim of being the first in Africa is too strong, and the other effects are inaccurate.

Question 28Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Ge'ez script is historically important because it

  1. was the script in which the Epic of Sundiata was first written
  2. was the alphabet used to record the Qur'an in West Africa
  3. was created by Swahili merchants for coastal trade records
  4. was a writing system developed in the Horn of Africa and used for Aksumite and later Ethiopian texts Correct answer.

Explanation

Ge'ez is an indigenous script of the Horn of Africa, used in inscriptions and later in Ethiopian literature. It demonstrates locally developed literacy independent of Mediterranean alphabets. The other uses described belong to different scripts and regions.

Question 29Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alwa are best characterized as

  1. Muslim sultanates founded in the 7th century
  2. purely pastoralist societies with no urban centers
  3. colonies established by the Roman Empire
  4. Christian states that flourished along the Nile after Kush's decline Correct answer.

Explanation

These three Nubian kingdoms emerged after Kush and adopted Christianity, with Makuria notably resisting Arab expansion. They maintained cities, churches, and written records. They were not Roman colonies or immediately Muslim states.

Question 30Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Bantu expansion is best described as

  1. a single military conquest led by a centralized empire
  2. a religious pilgrimage movement originating in Arabia
  3. the forced movement of enslaved people across the Sahara
  4. a long-term migration of Bantu-speaking peoples spreading farming and ironworking across much of sub-Saharan Africa Correct answer.

Explanation

The Bantu expansion was a gradual, centuries-long movement of farming communities carrying language, agriculture, and metallurgy. It was not a single conquest or a slave trade. Its consequences shaped much of sub-Saharan Africa's linguistic map.

Question 31Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Ghana Empire's royal capital at Kumbi Saleh was described by Arab geographers as

  1. a purely nomadic encampment without permanent buildings
  2. a twin settlement with a Muslim merchant town and a royal town Correct answer.
  3. a coastal port dominated by Chinese traders
  4. a Christian pilgrimage center

Explanation

Arab accounts describe Kumbi Saleh as having a stone-built merchant town with mosques alongside a separate royal town. This reflects the interaction between local rulers and Muslim traders. It was inland, not coastal, and not a Christian center.

Question 32Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Almoravid movement affected West Africa in the 11th century chiefly by

  1. introducing Christianity to the Sahel
  2. establishing the Mali Empire
  3. ending all trans-Saharan trade
  4. bringing Ghana's trade networks under new pressure and spreading stricter Islamic practice Correct answer.

Explanation

The Almoravids, based in the western Sahara, pressured Ghana and promoted reformist Islam in the region. Their actions contributed to Ghana's decline. They did not found Mali or halt Saharan trade.

Question 33Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Sundiata Keita's victory at the Battle of Kirina around 1235 is remembered in Mande tradition because it

  1. ended Portuguese involvement in West Africa
  2. transferred Mali's capital to Timbuktu
  3. marked the founding of the Mali Empire through defeat of the Sosso king Correct answer.
  4. established Islam as Mali's only permitted religion

Explanation

Kirina is remembered as Sundiata's defeat of Sumanguru, the Sosso ruler, which established Mali. The epic preserves this memory. The other claims misstate the battle's significance.

Question 34Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 is significant to historians mainly because it

  1. converted Mali's population to Christianity
  2. ended Mali's gold trade
  3. resulted in Mali's conquest of Egypt
  4. publicized Mali's wealth and deepened its connections to the wider Islamic world Correct answer.

Explanation

The pilgrimage drew attention across the Islamic world to Mali's gold wealth and strengthened diplomatic and religious ties. Accounts of his spending spread widely. It did not alter Mali's religion to Christianity or halt gold exports.

Question 35Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Timbuktu's Sankore mosque and associated scholarly community are best understood as evidence that

  1. West Africa had no written scholarship before European contact
  2. Islamic learning was confined to North Africa
  3. West African cities were centers of Islamic learning connected to wider scholarly networks Correct answer.
  4. Timbuktu was primarily a military fortress

Explanation

Sankore was part of a scholarly tradition in Timbuktu with libraries and manuscript production. This shows integration into broader Islamic intellectual networks. It contradicts claims that the region lacked written scholarship.

Question 36Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt depended most directly on which technology and animal?

  1. The windmill
  2. The camel and caravan organization Correct answer.
  3. The horse-drawn chariot
  4. The outrigger canoe

Explanation

Camels made long desert crossings feasible, and caravans organized by merchants moved goods across the Sahara. Other technologies listed belong to different environments. This transport system underpinned the Sahelian empires' wealth.

Question 37Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The empire of Kanem-Bornu, centered near Lake Chad, grew wealthy in part by

  1. conquering the Swahili coast
  2. monopolizing Atlantic sea trade with Europe
  3. controlling trans-Saharan routes and trade in salt and horses Correct answer.
  4. exporting silk to China

Explanation

Kanem-Bornu controlled routes linking the central Sahara to the Sahel and traded salt, horses, and other goods. Its position near Lake Chad supported this role. It was not an Atlantic or Indian Ocean power.

Question 38Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Swahili coast's stone towns such as Kilwa are notable for architecture that

  1. used only mud without any stone
  2. was entirely imported from Europe
  3. consisted mainly of temporary tents
  4. combined local building traditions with Islamic and Indian Ocean influences Correct answer.

Explanation

Swahili architecture used coral stone and blended local styles with Islamic and Indian Ocean elements such as mosques. This reflects cultural exchange through trade. The other descriptions misrepresent the building tradition.

Question 39Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

Ibn Battuta's 14th-century travels are valuable to historians of Africa because they

  1. provide an outside observer's account of places such as Mali and the Swahili coast Correct answer.
  2. contain the only surviving maps of the Sahara
  3. describe the Portuguese conquest of Kilwa
  4. record the founding of the Mali Empire in detail

Explanation

Ibn Battuta visited Mali and the Swahili coast and left descriptive accounts of customs, trade, and governance. Such external observations complement local oral and written sources. He did not found Mali or witness Portuguese conquests.

Question 40Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The kingdom of Kongo's early contact with Europeans in the late 15th century is notable because it

  1. was immediately colonized and lost all sovereignty
  2. developed diplomatic and religious ties with Portugal while maintaining its own political structure Correct answer.
  3. rejected all foreign contact
  4. had no prior political organization

Explanation

Kongo engaged in diplomacy with Portugal, adopted Christianity at court, and retained its monarchy for a time. This shows African states acting as political partners rather than passive subjects. It was not immediately colonized.

Question 41Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The Kingdom of Benin's artistic tradition, including brass plaques, is significant because it

  1. reflects a sophisticated court culture with guilds of specialized artisans Correct answer.
  2. shows the kingdom had no contact with other regions
  3. proves Benin was a European colony
  4. indicates Benin relied on stone tools only

Explanation

Benin's brass casters were organized in guilds serving the royal court, producing works that document court life and history. This indicates a complex, specialized economy. It does not show isolation or European control.

Question 42Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The rise of the trans-Saharan gold trade from West Africa to North Africa is best explained by

  1. the absence of any demand for African goods abroad
  2. a ban on all trade by West African rulers
  3. the demand for gold in Mediterranean and Islamic economies combined with Saharan transport networks Correct answer.
  4. the collapse of North African cities

Explanation

Gold from West Africa was in high demand in North Africa and the Mediterranean, and camel caravans supplied the link. This combination drove the trade's growth. The other options contradict known economic conditions.

Question 43Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The oral epic of Sundiata and the written accounts of Arab geographers are best used together by historians because

  1. written accounts are irrelevant to African history
  2. the two sources never overlap in subject matter
  3. they offer complementary perspectives that can be compared to build a fuller picture Correct answer.
  4. oral tradition is always false while written accounts are always true

Explanation

Oral traditions preserve cultural memory and perspective, while external written sources provide different viewpoints. Comparing them allows historians to assess reliability and fill gaps. Neither source type is uniformly true or false.

Question 44Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The spread of Islam across the Sahel and Swahili coast between the 9th and 16th centuries is best characterized as

  1. a gradual process carried largely by merchants and scholars that blended with local practices Correct answer.
  2. a process confined to coastal cities only
  3. a single military conquest uniting all of Africa
  4. an effort that eliminated all local religious traditions

Explanation

Islam spread mainly through trade, scholarship, and elite adoption, often coexisting with local beliefs. This gradual, uneven process varied by region. It was not a single conquest or total replacement of traditions.

Question 45Origins of the African Diaspora (~900 BCE–16th century)

The decline of the Swahili city-state of Kilwa after the early 16th century is best explained by

  1. a volcanic eruption that destroyed the city
  2. Portuguese naval intervention that disrupted Indian Ocean trade networks Correct answer.
  3. the rise of the Ottoman Empire in East Africa
  4. the exhaustion of all gold reserves in Zimbabwe

Explanation

Portuguese entry into the Indian Ocean and attacks on coastal towns disrupted established trade and weakened Kilwa. This external pressure altered the region's commercial balance. The other explanations do not match the historical record.

Question 46Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance (16th century–1865)

Which document declared that enslaved people in rebelling Confederate states 'are, and henceforward shall be free'?

  1. The Fugitive Slave Act
  2. The Three-Fifths Compromise
  3. The Emancipation Proclamation Correct answer.
  4. The Missouri Compromise

Explanation

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Lincoln and effective January 1, 1863, declared enslaved people in areas still in rebellion to be free. It was a wartime measure rooted in the president's constitutional war powers rather than a statute passed by Congress.

Question 47Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance (16th century–1865)

The Stono Rebellion of 1739 took place in which colony?

  1. Virginia
  2. Massachusetts
  3. South Carolina Correct answer.
  4. New York

Explanation

The Stono Rebellion occurred near the Stono River in South Carolina in September 1739, when enslaved people rose up and marched toward Spanish Florida. It was the largest slave revolt in the British mainland colonies before the American Revolution.

Question 48Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance (16th century–1865)

The 1822 plot led by a literate enslaved artisan in Charleston, South Carolina, to seize the city was organized by which figure?

  1. Denmark Vesey Correct answer.
  2. Gabriel Prosser
  3. Nat Turner
  4. John Brown

Explanation

Denmark Vesey, an enslaved man who had purchased his freedom, was accused of organizing a large conspiracy in Charleston in 1822. Authorities uncovered the plan and executed Vesey and dozens of others.

Question 49Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance (16th century–1865)

Which term describes the system in which enslaved people were treated as movable property that could be bought, sold, and inherited?

  1. Indentured servitude
  2. Sharecropping
  3. Chattel slavery Correct answer.
  4. Manumission

Explanation

Chattel slavery treated human beings as personal property with no legal rights, and children inherited the enslaved status of their mothers under the principle of partus sequitur ventrem. This differed from servitude, which was a temporary contractual arrangement.

Question 50Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance (16th century–1865)

The Underground Railroad is best described as which of the following?

  1. A railroad built by enslaved laborers in the Deep South
  2. A federal agency that relocated freedpeople after the Civil War
  3. A network of secret routes and safe houses aiding people escaping slavery Correct answer.
  4. A shipping company that transported enslaved Africans across the Atlantic

Explanation

The Underground Railroad was a decentralized network of free Black people, enslaved people, and white allies who helped freedom seekers escape to free states and Canada. Its 'conductors' and 'stations' used railroad terminology as code.