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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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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*sets up the government
*defines the government *protects basic rights of americans |
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The idea of self-government is in the first 3 words of the constitution. What are these 3 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 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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*announce our independence (from Great Britain)
*declare our independence (from Great Britain) *said that the United States is free (from Great Britain) |
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What are 2 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 any religion
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What is the economic system in the United States?
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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
*legislative *President *executive *the courts *judicial |
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What stops one branch from becoming too powerful?
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*checks and 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 and House (of Representatives) *(U.S. or national) legistature |
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What are the 2 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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Barbara Mikulsky
Ben Cardin |
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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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Donna Edwards
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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 that others?
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* because some states have more people
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We elect a president for how many years?
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4 years
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In what month do we vote for president?
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November
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What is the name of the president now
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Obama
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What is the name of the vice president
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Biden
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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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Secretary of labor
Secretary of State |
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What does the judicial branch do?
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*reviews laws
*explains laws *resolves disputes (disagreements) *decides if a law goes against the Constitution |
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What is the highest court in the United States?
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the Supreme court
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How many justices are in the supreme court?
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9
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Who is the chief justice of the US now?
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John Roberts
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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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*give a driver's license
*provide schooling and education *provide protection *provide safety *approve zoning and land use |
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Who is the Governor of your state?
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O'Malley
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What is the capital of your state?
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Annapolis
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What are the two major political parties in the US?
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democratic and republican
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What is the political party of the president now?
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Democratic
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What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives?
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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 can vote
*you don't have to pay to vote *any citizen can vote *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 jury duty
*vote in a federal election |
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Name one right only for only US citizens
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*vote in federal election
*run for federal office |
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What are the 2 rights of everyone living in the US?
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*freedom of
speech assembly worship to petition the government *the right to bear arms |
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What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Alliance?
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*the US
*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 the Constitution and the laws of the US *obey the laws of the US *serve in the US military (if needed) *serve the nation *be loyal to the 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 with a campaign *run for office *join a community group *join a civic group *give an elected official your opinion on an issue *call Senators and representatives *publicly support or opposean issue or policy *run for office *write to a newspaper |
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When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
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April 15
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When must all men register for selective service?
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*at age 18
*between 18 and 26 |
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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
*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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*because of high taxes
*because British army stayed in their homes *because they did not have 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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There were 13 original states. Name 3
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Maryland
Virginia Delaware Connecticut NY NJ PE NC SC GA New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island |
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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 Fedelarist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers
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*Madison
*Hamilton *Jay *Publius |
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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*US diplomat
*oldest member of the constitutional convention *first postmaster general of the US *writer of poor richard's almanac *started the first free libraries |
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Who is the father of this 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 United Stated buy from France in 1803?
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Louisiana
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Name one war fought by the US in the 1800
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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
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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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*freed the slaves
*saved the union *led the US during the Civil war |
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What did the emancipation proclamation do?
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*freed the slaves
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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 that the US fought in the 1900s
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World war I
World war II Korean war Vietnam war Gulf war |
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Who was President during World War I?
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Woodrow Wilson
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Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
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Franklin Roosevelt
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Who did the US fight in WW II?
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Japan
Germany Italy |
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Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
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World war II
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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 MLK Jr do?
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*fought for civil rights
*worked for equality for all americans |
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What major event happened on 9/11 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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Hopi
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Name one of the two longest rivers in the US
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Mississippi
Missouri |
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What ocean is on the west coast of the US?
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Pacific
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What ocean is in the east coast of the US
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Atlantic
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Name one US territory
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Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands American Samoa Northern Mariana Islands Guam |
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Name one state that borders Canada
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Minnesota
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Name one state that borders Mexico
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Texas
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What is the capital of the US
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Washington DC
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Where is the Statue of Liberty
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NY
Liberty Island |
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Why does the US flag have 13 stripes?
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because there were 13 original colonies
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Why does the flag have 50 stars?
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because there are 50 states
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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 4th
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Name 2 national US holidays
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Labor Day
Thanksgiving |