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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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▪ 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 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 Great Britain) ▪ 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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▪ 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 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 of government 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) 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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▪ six (6)
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Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
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Chris Murphy
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The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
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▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)
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We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
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2
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Name your U.S. Representative.
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Rep. James Himes [D]
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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
▪ (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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What is the name of the President of the United States now?
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▪ Barack Obama
▪ Obama |
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What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
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▪ Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
▪ Joe Biden ▪ 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 the 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 Homeland Security
▪ Secretary of Labor |
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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 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 (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? |
▪ 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 and education
▪ provide protection (police) ▪ provide safety (fire departments) ▪ give a driver’s license ▪ approve zoning and land use |
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Who is the Governor of your state now?
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Dan Malloy
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What is the capital of your state?*
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Hartford CT
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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 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 now?
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▪ (John) Boehner
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There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
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▪ 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). |
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What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
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▪ serve on a jury
▪ vote in a federal election |
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Name one right only for United States citizens.
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▪ vote in a federal election
▪ run for federal office |
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What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
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▪ freedom of expression
▪ freedom of speech ▪ freedom of assembly ▪ freedom to petition the government ▪ freedom of worship ▪ 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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▪ the United States
▪ the flag |
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What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
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▪ give up loyalty to other countries
▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States ▪ obey the laws of the United States ▪ serve in the U.S. military (if needed) ▪ serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed) ▪ be loyal to the United States |
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How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
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▪ eighteen (18) and older
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What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy
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▪ 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 |
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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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▪ at age eighteen (18)
▪ 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 ▪ 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
▪ people from Africa |
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Why did the colonists fight the British?
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▪ because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
▪ because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) ▪ because they didn’t 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 three.
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▪ New Hampshire
▪ Massachusetts ▪ Rhode Island ▪ Connecticut ▪ New York |
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What happened at the Constitutional Convention
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▪ The Constitution was written.
▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution. |
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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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▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton ▪ (John) Jay ▪ Publius |
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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▪ U.S. diplomat
▪ oldest member of the Constitutional Convention ▪ first Postmaster General of the United States ▪ writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac” ▪ 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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▪ the Louisiana Territory
▪ Louisiana |
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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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▪ the Civil War
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Name one problem that led to the Civil War
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▪ slavery
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What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
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▪ freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation
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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 fought by the United States in the 1900s.
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▪ World War I
▪ 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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▪ fought for civil rights
▪ 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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▪ Cherokee
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Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
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▪ Missouri (River)
▪ Mississippi (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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▪ Puerto Rico
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Name one state that borders Canada.
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▪ Maine
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Name one state that borders Mexico
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▪ New Mexico
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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)
▪ Liberty Island [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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▪ because there were 13 original colonies
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Why does the flag have 50 stars?
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▪ because there is one star for each state
▪ because each star represents a state ▪ 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 4
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Name two national U.S. holidays
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▪ Memorial Day
▪ Independence Day ▪ Labor Day |
