Foundations
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-government
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitution was written.
There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
▪ You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
▪ Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
▪ A male citizen of any race (can vote).
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
▪ War of 1812
▪ Mexican-American War
▪ Civil War
▪ Spanish-American War
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
the president
What is the capital of your state?
Minneapolis
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
▪ (Thomas) Jefferson
When was the Constitution written?
1787
Daily Double: What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
▪ serve on a jury
▪ vote in a federal election
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
▪ World War I
▪ World War II
▪ Korean War
▪ Vietnam War
▪ (Persian) Gulf War
Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
Who is the Governor of your state?
Tim Walz is the current Governor for the State of Minnesota.
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
▪ July 4, 1776
What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government
▪ defines the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans
Name one right only for United States citizens.
▪ to vote in a federal election
▪ to run for federal office
Daily Double: Who did the United States fight in World War II? (Name all three)
▪ Japan, Germany, and Italy
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
the Senate and House (of Representatives)
What are the two major political parties in the U.S.?
The Republican and the Democratic parties.
What are the two principles under which the U.S. Government is based?
federalism and democracy
What is an amendment?
a change (to the Constitution) or an addition (to the Constitution)
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
▪ freedom of expression
▪ freedom of speech
▪ freedom of assembly
▪ freedom to petition the government
▪ freedom of religion
▪ the right to bear arms
Right to due process
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Comunism
How many U.S. Senators are there?
100
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
Tina Smith
Amy Klobuchar
Daily Double: There were 13 original states. Name three.
▪ New Hampshire ▪ Massachusetts
▪ Rhode Island ▪ Connecticut
▪ New York ▪ New Jersey
▪ Pennsylvania ▪ Delaware
▪ Maryland ▪ Virginia
▪ North Carolina ▪ South Carolina
▪ Georgia
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
fought for women’s rights
fought for civil rights
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
Terrorists attacked the United States
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
two years
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) some states have more people
Which territories are overseen by the national government of the United States?
50 states, a federal district, and several major territories
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Twenty-seven (27)
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
freed the slaves in the Confederacy
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
(Franklin) Roosevelt
Daily Double: The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
four hundred thirty-five (435)
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
▪ to print money
▪ to declare war
▪ to create an army
▪ to make treaties
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.
Daily Double: What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
▪ fought for civil rights
▪ worked for equality for all Americans
Daily Double: What is the one modern tool that threatens our national security if placed in the wrong hands?
Technology, Cybersecurity, Autonomous Systems
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Nine (9)
Daily Double: Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
▪ provide schooling and education
▪ provide protection (police)
▪ provide safety (fire departments)
▪ give a driver’s license
▪ approve zoning and land use
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
When a person says “I plead the Fifth,” what does that mean?
pleading the Fifth means exercising their right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves.
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
▪ vote
▪ join a political party
▪ help with a campaign
▪ join a civic group
▪ join a community group
▪ give an elected official your opinion on an issue
▪ call Senators and Representatives
▪ publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
▪ run for office
▪ write to a newspaper
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
the President
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
all people of the state