Constitution
Name one of the 7 Principles of government
1. Popular Sovereignty- the People have the ultimate authority
2. Republicanism/ Representative Government- the people vote for Representatives to rule on their behalf
3. Limited Government- the government cannot do what is not in the constitution
4. Federalism- power is Shared between National and State Government
5. Separation of Powers- power is separated by the three branches
6. Checks & Balances- each branch has power over the other two branches
7. Individual Rights- basic liberties of citizens are protected
What factors contributed to Westward Expansion in the 19th century?
Economic opportunities
Gold and other valuable resources, the desire for land ownership and farming opportunities, the promise of religious freedom, and the belief in
Manifest Destiny—the idea that it was the destiny of the United States to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean.
Who were some of the key explorers during the Age of Exploration and what were their contributions?
Christopher Columbus, who is credited with discovering the Americas for Europe in 1492;
Vasco da Gama, who found a sea route to India around the southern tip of Africa in 1498;
Ferdinand Magellan, whose expedition circumnavigated the globe in the early 16th century
Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro, who led Spanish expeditions to the Americas and conquered the Aztec and Inca empires
What were the main causes of the Civil War?
Disagreements over states' rights versus federal authority, economic differences including the issue of slavery, and social and cultural divisions between the Northern and Southern states
What is Segregation?
The enforced separation of different racial groups in a community, often with limited access to resources, facilities, and opportunities based on race.
Name 2 freedoms listed in the first amendment
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of the Press
Right of the people peaceably to assemble
Petition the Government for a list of grievances
What were the consequences of Westward Expansion on Native American tribes?
Including loss of land, forced relocation onto reservations, and violent conflicts with settlers and the U.S. government.
Treaties were often broken, leading to further displacement and loss of traditional ways of life for many Native American tribes.
What were the main motivations for European exploration during the Age of Exploration?
New trade routes to Asia for valuable spices and goods, to spread Christianity to new lands, to expand empires and acquire wealth and power, and to satisfy curiosity about the unknown world
What were the goals of Reconstruction after the Civil War?
Rebuild the South after the devastation of the Civil War,
To address the social and economic status of formerly enslaved people
To establish a new political and social order in the South (rights and protections of all citizens, regardless of race).
What is Urbanization?
The process of population growth and the migration of people from rural areas to urban cities, resulting in the expansion of urban areas and the development of urban lifestyles.
What is the role of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution and serves to protect individual liberties and limit the power of the government. It guarantees rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, the right to bear arms, and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase in Westward Expansion?
The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and provided vast new territories for Westward Expansion.
It opened up new lands for settlement, increased trade opportunities, and solidified U.S. control over the Mississippi River, which was crucial for transportation and commerce.
What impact did the Age of Exploration have on indigenous peoples and cultures around the world?
Colonization, the spread of diseases, forced labor, cultural assimilation, and in many cases, the displacement or extinction of indigenous populations.
What was the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War?
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, was a turning point in the Civil War. It was the largest battle ever fought in North America and resulted in a Union victory.
What was the Cold War?
United States and the Soviet Union (USSR) from the late 1940s to the early 1990s, characterized by proxy wars, nuclear arms race, and ideological competition between capitalism and communism.
How does the Constitution ensure a system of checks and balances?
The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. Each branch—the executive, legislative, and judicial—has its own distinct powers, and each branch has the ability to check, or limit, the powers of the other branches. For example, the President can veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
How did the invention of the steamboat and the expansion of the railroad impact Westward Expansion?
The invention of the steamboat and the expansion of the railroad revolutionized transportation in the 19th century, making it faster, cheaper, and safer to travel long distances.
This facilitated Westward Expansion by allowing settlers to travel farther and faster into previously inaccessible territories, leading to rapid growth and development of the western frontier.
What role did technological advancements play in enabling the Age of Exploration?
Improved ship design, navigational instruments like the compass and astrolabe, and the development of new sailing techniques.
How did Reconstruction ultimately come to an end, and what were the long-term consequences?
Reconstruction came to an end in 1877 following the Compromise of 1877
This led to the rise of Jim Crow laws, segregation, and the disenfranchisement of African Americans, marking the beginning of the "Jim Crow era
What is Colonialism?
The policy or practice of acquiring and maintaining colonies or territories outside of one's own borders for economic exploitation, political control, or cultural domination.
Who wrote the Constitution?
Group of Delegates in 1787
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
What role did the California Gold Rush play in Westward Expansion?
The California Gold Rush of 1848-1855 attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the western United States in search of gold. This influx of settlers and fortune-seekers accelerated Westward.
How did the Age of Exploration contribute to the global exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures?
Global exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures through the establishment of trade networks connecting Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
What were the challenges faced by African Americans during Reconstruction?
Limited access to education and political participation
Discriminatory laws and practices such as Black Codes and Jim Crow laws
Violence and intimidation from white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan
What is Totalitarianism?
A political system in which the government has complete control over all aspects of society, including the economy, culture, and individual freedoms, often through the use of propaganda, censorship, and repression.