4Th Grade Texas History Fall Benchmark Review - KEY

Name ______# ______

4th Grade Texas History Fall Benchmark Review - KEY

Test Date: ______

1) People tend to settle near the _____RIVERS____ and ____COAST____ because these were sources for water for themselves, animals, and crops as well as a source to hunt __FISH__ and shellfish.

2) Houston is located along Texas’ Gulf Coast. We can infer that Houston’s geographic location supports the __SHIPPING___ and __FISHING___ industries. Also, along the Gulf Coast, we can expect to find grassy ___GRASSLANDS___.

3) There are four major geographically regions in Texas. A major city in the Mountains and Basins Region is __EL PASO______. Amarillo is a major city in the __GREAT______PLAINS____ Region. Dallas, Houston, and Austin are all part of the __GULF___ Coastal Region. Ft. __WORTH___ is in the Central Plains.

4) Where on a map would you expect to find symbols showing cities, landforms, parks, rivers, and crops? ____LEGEND_____ or ______KEY______

5) Latitude and longitude help us read a map. Latitude goes __EAST__ to West; Longitude goes _NORTH_ to South. A map’s latitude and longitude are read using degrees, such as 30˚ N and 95˚ W (about the location of __HOUSTON____). Knowing where a state is located is considered a __PHYSICAL___ characteristic because physical characteristics are characteristics you can ______SEE______. Texas is located in the ___SOUTHERN_____ United States.

6) A map’s legend, or key, can show symbols, cities, regions, crops, industries, parks, and more! A _COMPASS_ _ROSE_ shows cardinal directions like north, south, _EAST__, and west and the points in between (northeast).

7) A map may also be divided to show counties. Houston is in ____HARRIS____ County. A county is a __POLITICAL__ region of Texas. There are government officials, such as the sheriff, that enforce laws that govern each county.

8) Native Texan tribes who moved around, and did not settle in one place, were called ___NOMADIC____. Examples of these tribes are the __APACHE___, who lived in west Texas, the __KARANKAWA___, who lived along the Gulf Coast (and moved about every three weeks!), and the Comanche.

9) Sedentary (having a permanent settlement) Native Texan tribe, the Caddos, got their food mainly from ___FARMING___. They would __TRADE___, or barter with other tribes. This was considered to be an early economic activity (using their resources to meet their needs and wants). Other ways that the Native Tribes would get their food was from __HUNTING__ or ___GATHERING___.

10) Native American Tribes had different governments. These governments were led by a band leader, ___CHIEF_____, or tribal council. Their purpose was to lead their own tribe as well as to make agreements with other tribes.

11) European explorers came to the Western Hemisphere (present day United States, Canada, and Mexico) for three main reasons. Those reasons were: to seek _RICHES/WEALTH_, to seek out new _LAND_, and to spread _RELIGION_.

12) Three major explorers impacted the discovery and settlement of Texas. Cabeza de Vaca was the first European to land in Texas. He explored and __MAPPED___ Texas. Francisco Coronado wanted to find the Seven Cities of Gold (Cibolo), but found the _PALO_ Duro Canyon in the Great Plains Region. He also found that Texas was good for growing _CROPS_. Finally, LaSalle came to Texas and created a settlement along the Gulf Coast. This motivated the _____SPANISH___ to begin to settle New Spain (Texas). The Spanish and the French soon were __COMPETING___ to settle Texas.

13) The Spanish soon began building Spanish Missions throughout Texas. Most of the missions were built along the _RIVERS_. Water was important to have for people, animals, and crops. San Antonio has a large number of missions – including one very famous one that is still there today. It is called The _ALAMO_. Spanish Missions were built for three main reasons: To spread the Spanish culture and language, to develop permanent _SETTLEMENTS_, and to spread the Catholic __RELIGION___.

14) Jose de Escandon was a South Texas colonizer. He moved from Spain as a youth and settled in present day Mexico. He explored and settled nearly __20__ towns in present day south Texas. He is referred to as the “__FATHER__” of the Rio Grande Valley which is located along the _RIO_ _GRANDE_ River.