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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the supreme law of the land?
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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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1. A change (to the Constitution)
2. An addition (to the Constitution) |
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What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
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Bill of Rights
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What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
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1. Speech
2. Religion 3. Assembly 4. Press 5. 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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1. Announced our independence (from Great Britain)
2. Declared our independence (from Great Britain) 3. Said that the United States is free (from Great Britain) |
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What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
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1. Life
2. Liberty 3. 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 United States?
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1. Capitalist economy
2. Market economy |
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What is the “rule of law”?
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1. Everyone must follow the law.
2. Leaders must obey the law. 3. Government must obey the law. 4. No one is above the law |
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Name one branch or part of the government.
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1. Congress
2. Legislative 3. Executive 4. Judicial |
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
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1. Checks and balances
2. Separation of powers |
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Who is in charge of the executive branch?
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President
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Who makes federal laws?
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1. Congress
2. Senate and House (of Representatives) 3. (U.S. or national) legislature |
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What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
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The Senate and House (of Representatives)
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How many U.S. Senators are there?
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100
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We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
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6
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Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
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Bob Menendez
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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 U.S. Representative for how many years?
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2 Years
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Name your U.S. Representative
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Bill Pascrell
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Who does a U.S. 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
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We elect a President for how many years?
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4
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What is the name of the President of the United States now?
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Barack Obama
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What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
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Joe Biden
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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Vice President
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If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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Speaker of the House
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Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
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President
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In what month do we vote for President?
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November
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Who signs bills to become laws?
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President
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Who vetoes bills?
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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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1. Secretary of Homeland Security
2. Vice President |
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What does the judicial branch do?
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1. Reviews laws
2. 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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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 United States 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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1. Print money
2. Declare war |
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
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1. Provide schooling and education
2. Provide protection (police) 3. Provide safety (fire departments) |
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Who is the Governor of your state now?
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Chris Christie
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What is the capital of your state?
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Trenton
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What are the two major political parties in the United States?
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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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John Boehner
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What is the political party of the President now?
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Democratic Party
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There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
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1. Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote)
2. Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.) |
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What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
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1. Serve on a jury
2. Vote in a federal election |
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Name one right only for United States citizens.
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1. Vote in a federal election
2. Run for federal office |
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What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
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1. Freedom of speech
2. Freedom of assembly 3. Freedom of worship 4. The right to bear arms |
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What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
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1. The United States
2. The flag |
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What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
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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 |
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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 two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
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1. Vote
2. Join a political party 3. Help with a campaign 4. Run for office 5. 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 the Selective Service?
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1. At age eighteen (18)
2. Between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26) |
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What is one reason colonists came to America?
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freedom
political liberty religious freedom economic opportunity |
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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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1. High taxes (taxation without representation)
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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 three
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1. New Jersey
2. New York 3. Pennsylvania 4. Connecticut 5. Delaware |
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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 U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
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1. James Madison
2. Alexander Hamilton |
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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1. U.S. diplomat
2. Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention 3. First Postmaster General of the United States 4. Writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac” 5. Started the first 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 United States buy from France in 1803?
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Louisiana Territory
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Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
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Civil War
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Name the U.S. 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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1. Slavery
2. Economic reasons 3. States’ rights |
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What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
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1. Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
2. Led the United States 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
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Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s
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1. World War I
2. World War II |
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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 United States fight in World War II?
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Japan, Germany, and 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 United States?
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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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1. Fought for civil rights
2. Worked for equality for all Americans |
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What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
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Terrorists attacked the United States.
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Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
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1. Cherokee
2. Navajo 3. Blackfeet 4. Seminole 5. Crow |
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Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
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1. Mississippi (River)
2. Missouri (River) |
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What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
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Pacific (Ocean)
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What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
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Atlantic Ocean
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Name one U.S. territory.
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1. Puerto Rico
2. U.S. Virgin Islands 3. Guam |
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Name one state that borders Canada.
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1. New York
2. Maine 3. Pennsylvania 4. Ohio |
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Name one state that borders Mexico.
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1. California
2. Arizona 3. New Mexico 4. Texas |
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What is the capital of the United States?
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Washington, D.C.
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Where is the Statue of Liberty?
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New York (Harbor)
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River)] |
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Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
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1. There were 13 original colonies
2. The stripes represent the original 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 two national U.S. holidays.
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1. Christmas
2. New Year’s Day 3. Thanksgiving 4. Independence Day 5. Presidents’ Day |
