Government Traps
Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?
A. Executive
B. Legislative
C. Judicial
D. Local
Answer: B. Legislative
I mapped the Texas coast in 1519.
A. Cabeza de Vaca
B. Alonso Álvarez de Pineda
C. Stephen F. Austin
D. José Antonio Navarro
Answer: B. Alonso Álvarez de Pineda
Which Texas region has ports, farming, mild climate, and many population centers?
A. Mountains and Basins
B. Coastal Plains
C. Great Plains
D. Central Plains
Answer: B. Coastal Plains
Because windmills pumped underground water, ranchers could —
A. grow cotton in every region
B. bring water to dry ranch land
C. stop all droughts permanently
D. end the oil industry
Answer: B. bring water to dry ranch land
Oil demand increased during World War I. What type of impact is this mostly?
A. Political
B. Economic
C. Social
D. Geographic
Answer: B. Economic
Which idea means that power is shared between the national government and state governments?
A. Checks and balances
B. Popular sovereignty
C. Federalism
D. Due process
Answer: C. Federalism
I am known as the “Father of Texas” because I brought settlers to Texas as an empresario.
A. Stephen F. Austin
B. Sam Houston
C. James Hogg
D. Mirabeau Lamar
Answer: A. Stephen F. Austin
Which region is dry, mountainous, and located in far West Texas?
A. Coastal Plains
B. Mountains and Basins
C. Piney Woods
D. Gulf Coast
Answer: B. Mountains and Basins
Because railroads expanded in Texas, farmers and ranchers could —
A. move goods to markets faster
B. stop using cities
C. end all migration
D. avoid trade
Answer: A. move goods to markets faster
Immigration changed Texas communities by bringing new people, cultures, and traditions. What type of impact is this mostly?
A. Economic
B. Political
C. Social
D. Geographic
Answer: C. Social
A student says, “The governor can do anything because the governor is in charge.”
Explain why this is incorrect using the idea of checks and balances.
The governor cannot do anything because the branches limit each other. The legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch carries them out, and the judicial branch interprets laws. Checks and balances prevent one branch from becoming too powerful.
I was a Texas governor known for supporting railroad regulation and helping protect farmers from unfair railroad practices.
Who am I?
James Hogg.
Why did many cities grow in the Coastal Plains region?
Many cities grew there because the Coastal Plains have access to ports, farming, transportation, water, resources, and a milder climate. These features helped trade, jobs, and settlement grow.
Complete the cause/effect statement:
Because Spindletop produced large amounts of oil, Texas industries such as ____ grew because it created _____, helped cities _______, and changed the Texas ___________.
Texas became a major oil and energy state. The oil boom created jobs, grew industries, helped cities expand, and changed the Texas economy.
Women working in wartime factories is best described as which type of impact?
A. Political only
B. Economic only
C. Social and economic
D. Geographic only
It is economic because women worked jobs in factories. It is social because women’s roles in society changed during wartime.
400 Points — Daily Double
A city is deciding how to handle trash pickup, parks, and local police.
Which level of government is mostly responsible for these services?
Local/Municipal government handles community services such as trash pickup, city parks, and city police because these are city or county responsibilities.
I was a civil rights leader and became an important voice in the U.S. Congress.
Who am I, and why do I matter?
Barbara Jordan. She matters because she represented Texas in Congress and is remembered for civil rights leadership, public service, and speaking up for democratic principles.
A student says:
“Geography only affects where people live, not the economy.”
Prove the student wrong using one Texas example.
Geography affects the economy because natural features help determine jobs and industries. For example, the Gulf Coast has ports, so trade and shipping grew. The Coastal Plains also support farming and oil industries, which created jobs and population growth.
The Galveston Hurricane caused major destruction.
Name two effects of the hurricane.
Galveston built a seawall and raised the city’s land level. It also led to changes in city government, including commission government.
Sort each example as Political, Economic, or Social:
A test question says:
“Which constitutional principle prevents one branch of government from controlling the entire government?”
What is the best answer, and why is it not federalism?
The best answer is checks and balances. Checks and balances is about the branches limiting each other. Federalism is different because it is about power being shared between national and state governments.
Two national leaders are often connected to slavery and compromise debates.
One is known for the Great Compromise.
One is known for popular sovereignty.
Name both.
Henry Clay — Great Compromise / compromise leader.
Stephen Douglas — popular sovereignty.
Name all border rivers and main river going through the middle of Texas
Rio Grander River (southern border) Sabine River (Eastern Border) Red River (Northern Border) and Colorado River going straight through Texas
Texas had long distances between farms, ranches, towns, and markets.
Explain how two different technologies helped solve this problem and changed Texas.
Railroads helped move cattle, cotton, people, and goods to markets faster. This connected rural areas to towns and helped businesses grow.
Automobiles helped people travel farther and faster, which allowed suburbs and cities to expand over time.
A question says:
“Texas cities grew because people moved closer to jobs in oil, transportation, military bases, medical centers, and technology.”
Is this political, economic, or social? Defend your answer.
It is mostly economic because jobs and industries caused city growth. It can also be social because people moved and communities changed. The strongest answer is economic because job opportunities were the main cause.