Principles of American Democracy
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
the Senate and the House (of Representatives)
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
2. vote in a federal election
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
American Indians
Native Americans
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
The Louisiana Territory
Louisiana
We the People
100
Name one right only for United States citizens.
1. vote in a federal election.
2. run for federal office.
What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
Africans
people from Africa
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s
1. War of 1812
2. Mexican-American War
3. Civil War
4. Spanish-American War
What is an amendment?
a change (to the Constitution)
an addition (to the Constitution)
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
1. checks and balances
2. separation of powers
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
1. freedom of expression
2. freedom of speech
3. freedom of assembly
4. freedom to petition the government
5. freedom of religion
6. the right to bear arms.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South
the Civil War
the War between the States
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
Name one branch or part of the government.
1. Congress
2. legislative
3. President
4. executive
5. the courts
6. judicial
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
1. Citizens 18 and older can vote.
2. You don't have to pay a poll tax to vote.
3. Any citizen can vote.
4. A male citizen of any race can vote.
What is one reason colonists came to America?
1. freedom
2. political liberty
3. religious freedom
4. economic opportunity
5. practice their religion
6. escape persecution
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
2. economic reasons
3. states' rights
What does the Constitution do?
1. sets up the government
2. defines the government
3. protects the basic rights of Americans
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
(because of) the state's population
(because) they have more people
(because) some states have more people
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
1. give up loyalty to other countries
2. defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
3. obey the laws of the United States
4. serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
5. serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
6. be loyal to the United States
Why did the colonists fight the British?
1. because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
2. because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
3. because they didn't have self-government
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
1. freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
2. saved (or preserved) the Union
3. led the United States during the Civil War