Virginia’s Geography & Water Features
What is the natural border of waterfalls and rapids between the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) and Piedmont regions called?
The Fall Line
What was the primary reason for the settlement of Jamestown?
Economic venture
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Who led the raid on Harpers Ferry in hopes of starting a slave rebellion?
John Brown
What movement, led by Harry F. Byrd, fought to resist the desegregation of public schools?
Massive Resistance
Which body of water separates the Eastern Shore from the Virginia mainland?
Chesapeake Bay
What crop became the most profitable cash crop in Colonial Virginia?
Tobacco
What document states that all people are created equal and have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
The Declaration of Independence
What was the outcome of the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack?
Neither side won; the battle ended in a draw
Which Virginia lawyer played a key role in the Brown v. Board of Education decision?
Oliver W. Hill, Sr.
Name the four major rivers in Virginia that flow into the Chesapeake Bay.
Potomac River, Rappahannock River, York River, James River
What was the role of the Virginia House of Burgesses in Colonial Virginia?
It allowed colonists to make their own laws and govern themselves
Where did the final battle of the American Revolution take place?
Yorktown, Virginia
What was the purpose of the Freedmen’s Bureau during Reconstruction?
Provided education, food, and medical care to freed African Americans
Who was the first African American to be elected a state governor in the United States?
L. Douglas Wilder
Which Virginia region contains the Great Dismal Swamp and Lake Drummond?
Coastal Plain (Tidewater)
Why did the capital of Virginia move from Jamestown to Williamsburg?
Unhealthy living conditions, fire, and saltwater contamination in Jamestown
What was the role of James Lafayette during the Revolutionary War?
He was an enslaved African American who spied on the British for the Continental Army
How did railroads contribute to Virginia’s economy after the Civil War?
They connected cities, helped industries grow, and expanded coal mining
How did computer technology impact the growth of Northern Virginia in the 20th century?
Brought new industries, jobs, and economic opportunities
What is the importance of the Atlantic Ocean to Virginia?
Provided transportation and trade routes between Virginia and other continents
How did the arrival of Africans and women contribute to the survival of Jamestown?
Africans provided labor for tobacco farming, and women helped establish families and a permanent colony
How did the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom influence the United States Constitution?
It became the basis for the First Amendment, guaranteeing freedom of religion
What were the effects of Jim Crow laws on African Americans and American Indians?
Legalized segregation, discrimination, and restricted voting rights
What was the significance of Barbara Johns’ actions during the Civil Rights Movement?
She led a student protest against school segregation, which contributed to the Brown v. Board of Education case