American Government
What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government
▪ defines the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans
Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House of Representatives
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
Why did the colonists fight the British?
▪ because of high taxes (taxation without representation) ▪ because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) ▪ because they didn’t have self-governmen
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
▪ Missouri (River) ▪ Mississippi (River)
Pacific (Ocean)
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
The Senate and House (of Representatives)
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
▪ The Constitution was written. ▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
▪ fought for women’s rights ▪ fought for civil rights
Name one U.S. territory.
Puerto Rico
What is the economic system in the United States?
▪ capitalist economy
▪ market economy
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
▪ the Louisiana Territory ▪ Louisiana
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
▪ the Civil War
▪ the War between the States
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
because there were 13 original colonies
because there is one star for each state
What is the “rule of law”?
▪ Everyone must follow the law.
▪ Leaders must obey the law.
▪ Government must obey the law.
▪ No one is above the law.
Name your U.S. Representative.
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
SLAVERY
When was the Constitution written?
1787
What is the name of the national anthem?
The Star-Spangled Banner
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
The U.S. Supreme Court has nine justices. This includes one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States,was born in Buffalo, New York, January 27, 1955.
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
civil rights (movement)
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
Name one state that borders Canada.
▪ Maine ▪ New Hampshire ▪ Vermont ▪ New York ▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Ohio ▪ Michigan ▪ Minnesota ▪ North Dakota ▪ Montana ▪ Idaho ▪ Washington ▪ Alaska