In which year did Christopher Columbus open the way for American colonization?
1492
Who opened the way for European colonization of the Americas in 1492?
Christopher Columbus
Which explorer is associated with exploring the New World besides Columbus?
Amerigo Vespucci
Which two countries participated in early exploration of the New World?
Spain and Portugal
Which conquistador is linked to Spanish America?
Cortés
What precious metals were associated with Spanish America?
Gold and silver
Which religion spread through Spanish America?
Catholicism
How did the thirteen English colonies develop within the British Empire?
Through immigration, cultivation, plantations, and trade with Europe.
Which crops were ideal for European trade and harvested in America?
Tobacco, sugar, and cotton.
What was the position of an indentured servant in the colonial labor hierarchy?
Above a slave but still subject to overwork.
How did colonial trade connect Europe and America?
By exchanging many products enabled by abundant land.
When did the thirteen united States declare independence from Britain?
On July 4, 1776.
What rights does the Declaration of Independence say all people possess?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson.
Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
James Madison.
Which author wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence.
What freedoms does the First Amendment protect?
Freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
Which author wrote The Bill of Rights?
James Madison, The Bill of Rights.
What does separation of powers divide in the federal government?
Legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is the main function of the legislative branch?
To make laws.
What are the two chambers of Congress?
The House of Representatives and the Senate.
How many representatives are in the House and how are they allocated?
435 representatives allocated by state population.
How many senators are in the Senate and how are they allocated?
100 senators with two per state.
Who leads the executive branch and what is the term length?
The president leads with a four-year term.
What does the Twenty-Second Amendment limit?
Presidents to a maximum of two terms.
How are Supreme Court justices appointed and how long do they serve?
Appointed by the president, approved by the Senate, and serve for life.
What does a federal system divide power between?
State governments and the federal government.
Which powers belong to the national government?
Regulating foreign and interstate trade, coining money, maintaining armed forces, declaring war, creating federal courts, and establishing foreign policy.
Name one power shared between state and federal governments.
Administering criminal justice.
What is another shared power besides administering criminal justice?
Chartering banks.
What is a third shared power between state and federal governments?
Raising taxes.
What is a fourth shared power between state and federal governments?
Borrowing money.
Which powers belong to state governments?
Regulating intrastate trade, establishing local governments and schools, making marriage and divorce laws, conducting elections, and providing public safety.
What do checks and balances allow branches of government to do?
Limit the power of the other two branches.
What can happen to a bill after passing both houses of Congress?
It can be vetoed by the president.
How can Congress override a presidential veto?
By a two-thirds vote of both houses.
What can federal courts do to laws and executive actions?
Declare them unconstitutional.
What powers does Congress have over laws and judges?
Revise laws, write new ones, propose amendments, and impeach judges.
What powers does Congress have regarding funds and appointments?
Appropriate funds, approve programs, treaties, and presidential appointments through the Senate.
What powers does Congress have over presidents and federal judges?
Impeach and remove them.
According to the Declaration of Independence, from where do governments derive their just powers?
From the consent of the governed.
In which month and year did the Great Seal of the United States become official?
June 1782.
How many years of work preceded the Great Seal's official adoption?
Six years.
What is the motto on the Great Seal of the United States?
E Pluribus Unum.
What does the motto “E Pluribus Unum” mean in English?
Out of many, one.
What sequence of events does the course present from the Seven Years' War onward?
Taxation, protest, the Boston Massacre, the Sons of Liberty, the Boston Tea Party, and British military action.
What belief is Manifest Destiny associated with?
A divinely planned westward expansion.
Which phrase is linked to the belief called Manifest Destiny?
Go west, young man.
What 'original sin' does the course describe in American history?
Not everyone was treated as equal.
Who are identified as Founding Fathers in the course?
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton.
Test your knowledge with 21 questions on American History and Government.
1. Which activity is primarily an example of a national government power?
2. What can happen after the president vetoes a bill passed by both houses of Congress?
Review the complete course in the study sheet for American History and Government.
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