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138 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the supreme law of the land?
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the Constitution
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What does the Constitution do?
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1. sets up the government
2. defines the government 3. protects basic rights of Americans |
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The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
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"We the People..."
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What is an amendment?
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-a change (to the Constitution)
-an addition (to the Constitution) |
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What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
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the Bill of Rights
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What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
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-speech
-religion -assembly -press -petition the government |
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How many amendments does the Constitution have?
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27
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What did the Declaration of Independence do?
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-announced our independence (from Great Britain)
-declared our independence (from GB) -said that the US is free (from GB) |
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What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
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-life
-liberty -pursuit of happiness |
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What is freedom of religion?
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You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
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What is the economic system in the US?
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-capitalist economy
-market economy |
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What is the "rule of law"?
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-Everyone must follow the law.
-Leaders must obey the law. -Government must obey the law. -No one is above the law. |
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Name one branch or part of the government.
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-Congress -executive
-legislative -the courts -President -judicial |
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
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-checks & balances
-separation of powers |
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Who is in charge of the executive branch?
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the President
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Who makes federal laws?
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-Congress
-Senate & House (of Representatives) -(US or national) legislature |
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What are the two parts of the US Congress?
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the Senate and
House of Representatives |
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How many US Senators are there?
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100
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We elect a US Senator for how many years?
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6
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Who is one of your state's US Senators now?
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answers vary
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The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
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435
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We elect a US Representative for how many years?
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2
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Name your US Representative.
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answers will vary
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Who does a US Senator represent?
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all people of the state
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Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
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-because of the state's population
-because they have more people -because some states have more people |
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We elect a President for how many years?
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4
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In what month do we vote for President?
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November
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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the Vice-President
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If both the President and Vice-President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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the Speaker of the House
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Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
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the President
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Who signs bills to become laws?
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the President
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Who vetoes bills?
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the President
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What does the President's Cabinet do?
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advises the President
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What are two Cabinet-level positions?
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Sec. of Agriculture; Commerce; Defense; Ed.; Energy; Interior; Labor; State; Trans.; Treasury; Vet. Affairs; HUD; Homeland Sec.; Health & Human Services; Att. Gen.; VP
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What does the judicial branch do?
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-review laws
-explains laws -resolves disputes -decides if a law goes against the Constitution |
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What is the highest court in the U.S.?
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the Supreme Court
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How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
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9
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Who is the Chief Justice of the U.S. now?
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(as of 2/2011) John G. Roberts, Jr.
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
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-to print money
-to declare war -to create an army -to make treaties |
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
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-provide schooling & education
-provide protection (police) -provide safety (fire departments) -give a driver's license -approve zoning & land use |
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What are the two major political parties in the U.S.?
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Democratic and Republican
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What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
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(as of Feb 2011) John Boehner
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There are 4 amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
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-citizens 18 and older
-you don't have to pay (no poll tax) -any citizen can vote (male or female) -a male citizen of any race can vote |
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What is one responsibility that is only for US citizens?
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-serve on a jury
-vote in a federal election |
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Name one right only for U.S. citizens.
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-vote in a federal election
-run for federal office |
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If both the President and Vice-President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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the Speaker of the House
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Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
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the President
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Who signs bills to become laws?
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the President
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Who vetoes bills?
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the President
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What does the President's Cabinet do?
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advises the President
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What are two Cabinet-level positions?
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Sec. of Agriculture; Commerce; Defense; Ed.; Energy; Interior; Labor; State; Trans.; Treasury; Vet. Affairs; HUD; Homeland Sec.; Health & Human Services; Att. Gen.; VP
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What does the judicial branch do?
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-review laws
-explains laws -resolves disputes -decides if a law goes against the Constitution |
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What is the highest court in the U.S.?
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the Supreme Court
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How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
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9
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Who is the Chief Justice of the U.S. now?
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(as of 2/2011) John G. Roberts, Jr.
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The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
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435
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We elect a US Representative for how many years?
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2
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Name your US Representative.
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answers will vary
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Who does a US Senator represent?
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all people of the state
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Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
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-because of the state's population
-because they have more people -because some states have more people |
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We elect a President for how many years?
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4
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In what month do we vote for President?
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November
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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the Vice-President
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What is the economic system in the US?
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-capitalist economy
-market economy |
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What is the "rule of law"?
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-Everyone must follow the law.
-Leaders must obey the law. -Government must obey the law. -No one is above the law. |
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Name one branch or part of the government.
|
-Congress -executive
-legislative -the courts -President -judicial |
|
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
|
-checks & balances
-separation of powers |
|
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Who is in charge of the executive branch?
|
the President
|
|
|
Who makes federal laws?
|
-Congress
-Senate & House (of Representatives) -(US or national) legislature |
|
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What are the two parts of the US Congress?
|
the Senate and
House of Representatives |
|
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How many US Senators are there?
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100
|
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We elect a US Senator for how many years?
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6
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Who is one of your state's US Senators now?
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answers vary
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What is the name of the President?
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(2011) Barack Obama
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What is the name of the VP?
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(2011) Joe Biden
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To which political party does the President belong?
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(2011) Democratic
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What is the name of your state's governor?
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(2011) Nikki Haley
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What is the capital of your state?
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Columbia, SC
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What are 2 rights of everyone living in the US?
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freedom of expression; freedom of speech; right to bear arms; freedom of assembly; freedom to petition the gov't; freedom of worship
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What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
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-the United States
-the flag |
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What is one promise you make when you become a US citizen?
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give up loyalty to other countries; defend Const.&laws; obey laws of US; serve in military (if needed); serve the nation; be loyal to US
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How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
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18
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What are 2 ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
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vote; join a political party; help w/ a campaign; join a civic group; give an elected official your opinion; call Senators & Reps; publicly support or oppose an issue; run for office;
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When is the last day you can send in income tax forms?
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April 15
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When must all men register for the Selective Service?
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age 18
or between 18 and 24 |
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What is one reason colonists came to America?
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freedom; political liberty; religious freedom; economic opportunity; practice their religion; escape persecution
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Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
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American Indians
or Native Americans |
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What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
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Africans
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Why did the colonists fight the British?
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-taxation without representation
-boarding/quartering (British army staying in homes) -lack of self-government |
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Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
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Thomas Jefferson
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When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
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July 4, 1776
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Name 3 of the original 13 colonies.
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NH; MA; RI; CT; NY; NJ; PN; DE; MD; VA; NC; SC; GA
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What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
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the Constitution was written
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When was the Constitution written?
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1787
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The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers.
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James Madison; Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; Publius (pseudonym for authors)
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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US Diplomat; oldest member of Constitutional Convention; 1st Postmaster General of US; Poor Richard's Almanac; started 1st free libraries
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Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
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George Washington
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Who was the first President?
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George Washington
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What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?
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Louisiana Territory
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Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s.
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War of 1812; Mexican-American War; Civil War; Spanish-American War
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Name the US war between the North and the South.
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Civil War
or War Between the States |
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Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
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slavery
economic reasons states' rights |
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What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
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-Emancipation Proclamation (freed slaves)
-preserved the Union -led the US during the Civil War |
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When was the Constitution written?
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1787
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The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers.
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James Madison; Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; Publius (pseudonym for authors)
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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US Diplomat; oldest member of Constitutional Convention; 1st Postmaster General of US; Poor Richard's Almanac; started 1st free libraries
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Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
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George Washington
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Who was the first President?
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George Washington
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What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?
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Louisiana Territory
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Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s.
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War of 1812; Mexican-American War; Civil War; Spanish-American War
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Name the US war between the North and the South.
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Civil War
or War Between the States |
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Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
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slavery
economic reasons states' rights |
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What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
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-Emancipation Proclamation (freed slaves)
-preserved the Union -led the US during the Civil War |
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What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
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freed slaves in most Southern states
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What did Susan B. Anthony do?
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-fought for women's rights
-fought for civil rights |
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Name one war fought by the US in the 1900s.
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WWI; WWII; Korean War; Vietnam War; (Persian) Gulf War
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Who was the President during WWI?
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Woodrow Wilson
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Who was the President during the Great Depression and WWII?
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Franklin Roosevelt
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Who did the US fight in WWII?
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Japan, Italy, Germany
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Before he was President, Esienhower was a general. What war was he in?
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WWII
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During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the US?
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Communism
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What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
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civil rights movement
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What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
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-fought for civil liberties
-worked for equality for all Americans |
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What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the US?
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terrorists attacked the US
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Name one American Indian tribe in the US.
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Cherokee; Navajo; Sioux; Chippewa; Choctaw; Pueblo; Apache; Iroquois; Creek; Blackfeet; Seminole; Crow; Cheyenne; Shawnee; Huron; Oneida; Lakota; Teton; Hopi; Inuit; Arawak
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Name one of the 2 longest rivers in the US.
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Missouri R
Mississippi R |
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What ocean is on the West Coast of the US?
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Pacific Ocean
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What ocean is on the East Coast of the US?
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Atlantic Ocean
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Name one US territory.
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Puerto Rico; US Virgin Islands; American Samoa; No. Mariana Islands; Guam
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Name one state that borders Canada.
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ME; NH; VT; NY; PN; OH; MI; MN; ND; MT; ID; WA; AK
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Name one state that borders Mexico.
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CA; AZ; NM; TX
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What is the capital of the US?
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Washington, D.C.
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Where is the Statue of Liberty?
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NY Harbor
Liberty Island |
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Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
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they represent the original 13 colonies
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Why does the flag have 50 stars?
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there is one star for each state
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What is the name of the national anthem?
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"The Star-Spangled Banner"
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When do we celebrate Independence Day?
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July 4
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Name 2 national US holidays.
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New Year's Day; MLK Jr Day; Presidents' Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans' Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
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