Government & Civics
What phrase names the basic political values (like liberty and rule of law) that the U.S. founding documents describe and that North Carolina government is expected to follow?
Democratic ideals (examples: liberty, justice, rule of law).
Name one major effect of early European settlement on Indigenous peoples in what is now North Carolina.
Loss of land, disease, population decline, cultural disruption for Indigenous peoples.
Name one physical feature of North Carolina and one human characteristic
Blue Ridge Mountains;
Human: port cities like Wilmington.
What is one industry that has historically been important to North Carolina’s economy?
Tobacco, textiles, furniture, banking/finance, technology (Research Triangle).
What does “reform” mean in a historical or civic context? Give one simple example from North Carolina history
Reform = organized change effort
What is one power typically held by state governments but not by the federal government? (Give an example relevant to North Carolina.)
education policy, intrastate commerce regulation, licensing.
Identify one technological innovation that changed life in North Carolina during the 19th or 20th century and describe its impact
Railroad or tobacco processing; improved trade but changed labor patterns.
Explain how location and resources influenced settlement or industry in a region of North Carolina.
Coastal access encouraged ports and trade; fertile soil supported tobacco farming.
Explain how trade or industry affected workers or communities in North Carolina
Textile mills provided jobs (positive) but poor working conditions and economic dependency (negative).
Name one social movement or reform in North Carolina and one change it sought.
Civil Rights movement—ending segregation in schools/restaurants.
Define “separation of powers” and name the three branches at the state level.
Separation of powers: legislative, executive, judicial
Describe one cause and one effect of a major conflict that affected North Carolina
Cause/effect e.g., Civil War: slavery and sectionalism → economic disruption, reconstruction policies.
How did geographic expansion in the U.S. affect North Carolina’s development?
Westward expansion opened markets, affected migration and resource use.
Define economic growth and give one example of how growth positively affected a North Carolina community.
Economic growth example: industrialization creating jobs and urban growth.
Explain how debate, negotiation, or compromise helped a reform succeed in North Carolina
Legislative compromise to pass voting rights measures; negotiation between activists and lawmakers.
Explain how a North Carolina citizen can use a civic approach to address a local problem (give one concrete example).
petitioning a county board for safer crosswalks; organizing a community meeting; contacting representatives.
Explain how forced or voluntary migration changed the population or economy of North Carolina
Great Migration (African Americans moving north) changed labor force and demographics.
Explain reasons for and effects of a forced migration event that impacted North Carolina
Indian Removal (forced relocation of some tribes elsewhere) or convict leasing impacts.
Describe how personal financial decision-making by families can influence the state economy
Household spending supports local businesses; saving vs. debt affects community investment.
Describe how recovery, resistance, or resilience shaped the experience of a marginalized group in North Carolina
Resistance to segregation through organized protests; long-term community solidarity.
Compare one way a North Carolina law might conflict with democratic ideals and one way it might conform
A voter ID law argued to protect integrity (conforms) but may restrict access for some groups (conflicts).
Summarize how segregation or voter suppression was used historically in North Carolina and one long-term effect of those practices.
Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, literacy tests → disenfranchisement, reduced political power.
Analyze how human geography presented an opportunity and a challenge for moving goods or people in North Carolina
Mountainous terrain made transport costly (challenge) but provided resources like timber (opportunity).
Assess how the role of women, indigenous peoples, or racial minorities contributed to North Carolina’s economic development and one barrier they faced.
Women in textile mills contributed labor and incomes but faced wage inequality.
Evaluate the effectiveness of one major reform in North Carolina: state the reform, the intended outcome, and one limitation or unintended consequence.
Voting Rights reforms increased registration but faced enforcement or backlash limiting full success.