Political system
The American federal government is divided into three branches. Name those branches.
Executive branch.
Legislative branch.
Judicial branch.
What does 'abolitionist' mean?
People who worked to end slavery.
What is the American Dream and is it available to or achievable for everyone and anyone?
American Dream = That you can achieve anything as long as you work hard.
The dream itself is available -> the hope that this might come true. It is a driving force for many Americans.
However, some groups have an easier time reaching that dream due to social disparity within American society.
What is cultural appropriation? Mention two controversies regarding this term and indigenous people.
The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one person or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.
Names of sports teams such as the Washington Redskins, "Indian" costumes (ex., use of headdresses, sexualized and often stereotypical clothing), dreamcatchers, lacrosse, etc.
What are four current issues impacting American politics at the moment?
Gun control/Gun violence
Immigration
Cost of living crisis
Abortion
Culture wars (Legislation on transgender issues)
Police Brutality
Involvement in international conflicts
What is the 'checks and balance'-system?
It enables the different branches of government to 'check' each other's power in order to make sure that none of the branches become too powerful (= balance).
What is meant by the 'Jim-Crow'-era?
It was a time when black people in the US experienced overt racism, disenfranchisement, and segregation policies and were victims of lynchings.
What is the difference between claiming that the US is a 'Nation of Immigrants' and the US is a multicultural nation?
A Nation of Immigrants only refers to the waves of immigration, namely the people who came to the US voluntarily. This excludes the Native Americans who were already there and Black people of African or Caribbean descent who were brought over from Africa involuntarily as part of the transatlantic slave trade.
However, when using the term 'multicultural', all these three groups are a part of why the US is considered a multicultural nation.
* Remember that within these groupings, there are individuals.
What is cultural genocide and any specific example you can point to?
Cultural genocide is a term used to explain how families are prevented from transmitting their cultural values and identity from one generation to another. The result is that the culture will, over time, disappear.
Cultural genocide is linked to forceful assimilation policies because it is a consequence of the process where people were forced into acquiring certain habits, attitudes, and modes of life. This process also involved removing everything and anything that connects Indigenous people (very often children) to their Native identity. A specific example of this would be the residential school system in Canada.
Name four states that begin with the letter "N".
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
What is Congress? How many politicians are elected to be a part of Congress? And what is their main function?
Congress is another name for the legislative branch (part of the American federal government).
Congress is divided into two houses:
- The Senate and the House of Representatives
Their function is to pass law proposals (bills).
There are 100 senators in the Senate (two from each state). There are 435 representatives in the House of Representatives (the number from each state depends on the state's population, i.e. larger state = more representatives).
What parallels (links) can you draw between the Civil Rights Movement and the current Black Lives Matter Movement? You need at least three.
Fighting for equal rights
Specific instances of injustice and brutality for Black people that spark demonstrations (Emmett Till <-> George Floyd)
Media and certain politicians' negative descriptions of demonstrators (e.g. "rioters and looters").
Massive demonstrations.
Role of police.
Celebration and expression of identity and cause through music and other cultural platforms (such as paintings, texts, photos, etc.)
Or you could come up with any other valid link and share it with the class.
How many waves of immigration are there and who came when?
4 waves of immigration.
During the first wave (1680-1776) most of the people coming were from Northern and Western Europe (Germans, Irish, and Scots)
During the second wave (1820-1890) people from Western and Northern Europe were still coming (ex: Norwegians and Irish), mostly due to the promise of the American Dream and famine in their home countries.
During the third wave (1890-1930) people from Southern and Eastern Europe arrived as a result of the US becoming a growing industrial nation.
The fourth wave (1960s-today) brings people from all over the world, but the majority of them are Hispanics or Asians. They come mostly due to opportunities for work and education.
The contact between Indigenous People and colonizers often follows a similar pattern. What are the six stages?
Stage 1: Violence and exploitation
Stage 2: Forceful removal
Stage 3: Segregation
Stage 4: Assimilation (aggressive)
Stage 5: Acknowledgement
Stage 6: Reconciliation and potential healing
Who is the speaker of the House and which party do they represent?
Mike Johnson - The Republican Party