Civics 100 Flashcards
What is the supreme law of the land?
the Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government ▪ defines the government ▪ protects basic rights of Americans
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
We the People
What is an amendment?
▪ a change (to the Constitution)
▪ an addition (to the Constitution)
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
▪ the Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
▪ speech
▪ religion
▪ assembly
▪ press
▪ petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Mnemonic: “27 Stars”
- Picture the number 27 as stars representing each amendment.
Story: Imagine 27 stars arranged in a circle, each representing an amendment to the Constitution.
Visualization:
- Show a circle of 27 stars with the text “27 Amendments to the Constitution” in the center.
The Constitution of the United States has been amended 27 times. The first 10 amendments are collectively known as the Bill of Rights, and the remaining 17 amendments address various issues such as voting rights, presidential terms, and congressional compensation.
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
▪ announced our independence (from Great Britain)
▪ declared our independence (from Great Britain)
▪ said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
▪ life
▪ liberty
▪ pursuit of happiness
What is freedom of religion?
▪ You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
What is the economic system in the United States?*
▪ capitalist economy
▪ market economy
What is the “rule of law”?
▪ Everyone must follow the law.
▪ Leaders must obey the law.
▪ Government must obey the law.
▪ No one is above the law.
Name one branch or part of the government.*
▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ judicial
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
▪ checks and balances
▪ separation of powers
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
▪ the President
Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)
How many U.S. Senators are there?
▪ one hundred (100)
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
▪ six (6)
Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*
Patty Murray (Democrat) - serving since 1993
Maria Cantwell (Democrat) - serving since 2001
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
▪ two (2)
Name your U.S. Representative.
Rick Larsen represents Washington’s 2nd congressional district, which includes Bellingham and all of Whatcom County
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
▪ all people of the state
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) they have more people
▪ (because) some states have more people
We elect a President for how many years?
▪ four (4)
In what month do we vote for President?*
▪ November
What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
Joe Biden
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
Kamala Harris
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
▪ the Vice President
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
▪ the Speaker of the House
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
▪ the President
Who signs bills to become laws?
▪ the President
Who vetoes bills?
▪ the President
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
▪ advises the President
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Defense
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of Homeland Security
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of the Interior
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Attorney General
- Vice President
Mnemonic: Categories to help remember:
- Economic & Trade: Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of the Treasury
- Public Services: Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Infrastructure & Environment: Secretary of Energy, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Transportation
- Defense & Security: Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of State
- Legal & Leadership: Attorney General, Vice President
What does the judicial branch do?
▪ reviews laws
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution
What is the highest court in the United States?
▪ the Supreme Court
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Nine
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
John G. Roberts, Jr.
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
Q: What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
A:
- The Constitution was written.
- The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
Mnemonic: “CC Written by FF”
- Constitution Convention
- Founding Fathers
Story: Picture a group of Founding Fathers gathered around a table, diligently writing the Constitution during the Constitutional Convention.
Visualization:
- Show Founding Fathers sitting around a large table with quills in hand, writing the Constitution.
- Include a large banner or sign above them reading “Constitutional Convention.”
▪ The Constitution was written.
▪ The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
- (James) Madison
- (Alexander) Hamilton
- (John) Jay
- Publius
Mnemonic: “HaJJ MaP”
- Hamilton
- Jay
- James Madison
- Publius
Story: Imagine Hamilton, Jay, and Madison working together under the pen name Publius to write the Federalist Papers.
Visualization:
- Picture a quill writing on a parchment paper labeled “Federalist Papers.”
- The quill is held by a figure with three faces (Hamilton, Jay, Madison) and a shadowy figure labeled “Publius.”
Categories:
- Founding Fathers: Hamilton, Jay, Madison
- Pen Name: Publius
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
- 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
Mnemonic: “DOPAW”
- Diplomat
- Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
- Postmaster General
- Almanac writer
- Writer of Poor Richard’s Almanac, first free Writer
Story: Picture Benjamin Franklin attending the Constitutional Convention as the oldest member, writing “Poor Richard’s Almanac,” serving as the first Postmaster General, working as a U.S. diplomat, and opening the first free libraries.
Visualization:
- Show Franklin holding a quill and writing “Poor Richard’s Almanac.”
- Depict him standing at the Constitutional Convention.
- Illustrate him in a Postmaster General uniform.
- Show him shaking hands with foreign dignitaries as a diplomat.
- Include a bookshelf labeled “First Free Libraries.”
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
▪ (George) Washington
George Washington
George Washington
First president of the United States
Lifespan
February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799 (age 67)
Key Roles
Founding Father, military officer, politician, statesman
First Presidency
Served as the first president from 1789 to 1797
The “Father of Our Country” is George Washington. This title is attributed to him due to his pivotal role in the founding of the United States. Washington served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, led the Constitutional Convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution, and became the first President of the United States. His leadership, both military and political, as well as his efforts in establishing the new nation’s government, earned him this honorary title.
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
A:
- The Louisiana Territory
- Louisiana
Mnemonic: “Louisiana Purchase”
- Louisiana Territory
Story: Imagine Thomas Jefferson signing the Louisiana Purchase agreement with French representatives, acquiring the vast Louisiana Territory.
Visualization:
- Show Thomas Jefferson signing a document labeled “Louisiana Purchase” with a map of the Louisiana Territory in the background.
- Include French representatives witnessing the event.
The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. This acquisition, known as the Louisiana Purchase, involved approximately 828,000 square miles (2,144,520 square kilometers) of land west of the Mississippi River. The purchase price was $15 million, which equated to roughly four cents per acre. This transaction nearly doubled the size of the United States, extending its territory from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
Q: Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
A:
- War of 1812
- Mexican-American War
- Civil War
- Spanish-American War
Mnemonic: “WiMeCiS”
- War of 1812
- Mexican-American War
- Civil War
- Spanish-American War
Story: Picture four battles, each representing one of the wars:
- A battle from 1812
- Soldiers fighting in the Mexican-American War
- Civil War soldiers with blue and gray uniforms
- American and Spanish forces in the Spanish-American War
Visualization:
- Show four distinct battle scenes representing each war with labels.
and significant changes in American society and governance.
Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War occurred in 1898 between the United States and Spain. The war was triggered by the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor and the U.S. support for Cuban independence from Spanish rule. The conflict was brief, lasting only a few months, but it had significant consequences. The United States emerged as a world power, acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and asserting its influence in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris, which marked the end of Spain’s colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
Q: What did Susan B. Anthony do?
A:
- Fought for women’s rights
- Fought for civil rights
Mnemonic: “Susan’s Fight”
- Susan B. Anthony
- Fought for Women’s Rights and Civil Rights
Story: Picture Susan B. Anthony holding a banner that reads “Women’s Rights” in one hand and “Civil Rights” in the other.
Visualization:
- Show Susan B. Anthony holding two banners, one labeled “Women’s Rights” and the other “Civil Rights.”
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
Q: Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
A:
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- (Persian) Gulf War
Mnemonic: “WWI-WWII-KVPG”
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Persian Gulf War
Story: Picture a timeline of the 20th century with flags marking each major war involving the United States:
- A flag for World War I
- A flag for World War II
- A flag for the Korean War
- A flag for the Vietnam War
- A flag for the Persian Gulf War
Visualization:
- Show a timeline with labeled flags for each war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
Who was President during World War I?
Q: Who was President during World War I?
A:
- (Woodrow) Wilson
Mnemonic: “Woodrow WWI”
- Woodrow Wilson I
Story: Picture Woodrow Wilson standing in front of a World War I poster.
Visualization:
- Show Woodrow Wilson in presidential attire with a background featuring World War I imagery, such as soldiers or war posters.
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
Q: Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
A:
- (Franklin) Roosevelt
Mnemonic: “FDR”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Story: Picture Franklin D. Roosevelt addressing the nation during the Great Depression and World War II, with images of the era in the background.
Visualization:
- Show Franklin D. Roosevelt at a podium with a background featuring imagery from the Great Depression and World War II.
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
▪ Q: During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
A:
- Communism
Mnemonic: “Cold Communism”
- Cold War’s main concern: Communism
Story: Picture the United States facing off against the Soviet Union, with imagery of the Cold War and the threat of communism.
Visualization:
- Show the United States and the Soviet Union on opposite sides of a cold, icy landscape with symbols representing communism, such as the hammer and sickle.
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
Q: Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
A:
- Missouri (River)
- Mississippi (River)
Mnemonic: “Missouri and Mississippi Rivers”
- Missouri River
- Mississippi River
Story: Picture two long rivers flowing through the United States, with the Missouri River on the left and the Mississippi River on the right.
Visualization:
- Show a map of the United States with two prominent rivers: the Missouri River and the Mississippi River, each labeled.
Name one U.S. territory.
Q: Name one U.S. territory.
A:
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
Mnemonic: “PUANG”
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
Story: Picture a map of the U.S. territories with each territory highlighted and labeled.
Visualization:
- Show a world map with the locations of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam clearly marked and labeled.
