FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT
What document protects freedoms like speech and religion?
The Bill of Rights
Which founding father supported farming and trusted common people?
Thomas Jefferson
What land purchase doubled the size of the U.S. in 1803?
The Louisiana Purchase
What law tried to keep a balance between slave and free states?
The Missouri Compromise
Finish this phrase: “Life, Liberty, and the ____________.”
Pursuit of Happiness
Which part of the government writes the laws?
The Legislative Branch (Congress)
What kind of economy did Hamilton want America to have?
One based on industry, trade, and a national bank
What journey westward was taken by families seeking farmland and opportunity?
The Oregon Trail
What decision said Congress couldn’t ban slavery in U.S. territories?
The Dred Scott decision
What did Washington warn Americans about in his Farewell Address?
The dangers of political parties and foreign alliances
Why did the Founding Fathers create three branches of government?
To divide power and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
Why did Jefferson worry about a national bank?
He feared it would give too much power to wealthy elites and the federal government
Why did the U.S. go to war with Mexico in the 1840s?
Disputes over the border after Texas joined the U.S.
What were two causes of the Civil War involving land and slavery?
The expansion of slavery into new territories and disputes over states' rights
How do Enlightenment ideas show up in the Declaration of Independence?
It includes ideas like natural rights, equality, and government by consent of the governed
What powers does the executive branch have that the others don’t?
The President can enforce laws, veto bills, and command the military
What did each man believe about who should hold power in government?
Hamilton trusted educated elites; Jefferson trusted the common people
How did Manifest Destiny impact Native American communities?
It led to their forced removal, loss of land, and conflict with settlers
Why did some people in the South think they had the right to secede?
They believed states had the right to leave the Union to protect their way of life
What message is sent by “unalienable rights” in the Declaration?
That rights like life and liberty are natural and cannot be taken away
How does the system of checks and balances help prevent tyranny?
Each branch can limit the powers of the others, keeping power balanced
How did their views lead to the first political parties?
Their opposing beliefs formed the basis of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties
What were the long-term effects of the California Gold Rush on the U.S.?
Rapid population growth in the West, statehood for California, and economic expansion
How did Lincoln and other Northerners view federal vs. state power?
They believed the federal government had authority over the states and could keep the Union together
How do political speeches and artwork reflect bias or values?
They often show one perspective and are designed to persuade or inspire certain beliefs