U.S History and Government Most Frequently Asked Regents Questions, US Conflicts, 102 VIP for the US Regents, Important Court Cases for the US Regents

Why did colonists oppose the system of mercantilism?

It placed restrictions on trading

Why was Thomas Paine's common sense important during the colonial period?

It convinced many Americans who had been undecided to support independence.

Committees of Correspondence, Nonimportation Agreements, Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre, First Continental Congress, No Taxation without Representation.

Causes of the American Revolution

How did the Declaration of Independence and John Locke contribute to American democracy?

It stated that people are the sources of power and natural rights (life, liberty, property) need to be protected.

What was significant about the Mayflower Compact and the Virginia House of Burgesses?

They were steps toward self government.

Why did the government under the Articles of Confederation last only a few years?

Weak federal government.

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

Helped some states to ratify the Constitution.

What do federalism and the federalist system provide for?

Division of power between state and federal government.

Political parties, committees in Congress, Judicial Review, President's Cabinet

Unwritten constitution

What happens to the powers that are not delegated to the federal government?

They are reserved for the state.

What must happen before a bill becomes a law?

They must pass through both houses of Congress. and if it is vetoed it needs to be passed again by 2/3 of both houses.

What role is the President performing when ordering troops to another country?

Commander in Chief.

Why did the founding father create the electoral college?

Distrust of the public to chose the President. Controversial because a person can become president without having a majority of the popular vote. Candidates focus on larger states. If a majority is not reached in the Electoral College the vote goes to the House of Representatives.

What is the primary responsibility of the Judicial branch?

To interpret the law and use judicial review which was created after Marbury v. Madison

Why was the system of check and balances included in the Constitution?

To prevent one branch of government from becoming too strong. Keywords: unconstitutional, negotiate, veto, override, propose, approve.

What do the Amendment Process, elastic clause, and judicial review review have in common?

The Constitution's ability to change.

What gives the supreme court power to declare laws unconstitutional?

Judicial Review (Marbury V. Madison)

What is the writ of Habeas Corpus?

An order to bring a suspect to court.

What do lobbyists do?

Try to influence law making

What did disagreements between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson lead to?

Rise of political parties. Jefferson: Democratic Republican- strict interpretation of Constitution, agrarian, anti BUS. Hamilton: Federalists- loose interpretation of Constitution, pro BUS, pro cities, pro North, pro manufacturing, pro tariffs

Whiskey Rebellion

Washington intended to enforce Federal laws

What was the effect of the Great Compromise?

creation of the bicameral legislation Congress. House of Representatives and Senate. Took idead from the NJ Plan and the VA Plan.

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the consitution?

To persuade anti federalist to ratify the Constitution and to protect civil liberties.

What do the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendment have in common?

To protect the basic rights of African Americans.

What foreign policy advice did George Washington offer in his Farewell Address?

Steer clear of permanent alliances. Remain neutral.

What was the significance of the Monroe Doctrine?

1823. Expanded U.S influence in the Americas. Kept Europe out of the Western Hemisphere.

Why did president Jackson believe that the spoils system would increase democracy?

It allowed larger number of citizens to hold office.

What was the main goal of the Seneca Falls Convention?

Obtain equal rights for women

Louisiana Purchase

Doubled the size of the U.S., controversial purchase for Jefferson because he strictly interpreted the Constitution and it didn't state anything about purchasing land.

What was Manifest Destiny?

Belief that it was America's goal to expanded westward towards the Pacific. From Atlantic to Pacific.

What issue resulted from Manifest Destiny?

Should the new territories be open to slavery

What is the purpose of the Homestead Act?

Encourage settlement in the West.

What did the issues of states rights, the tariff, and slavery contribute to?

Sectionalism

How did president Lincoln justify the civil war?

His job as president was to preserve the Union

What were two major results of the civil war?

secession is no longer an option for states and increased power in Federal Government.

What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?

Help the North win the war by freeing slaves.

What was the basic idea behind president Lincoln's and Johnson's Reconstruction plan?

Allowed Southern states to renter the Union as quickly as possible. Very lenient when compared to the Radical Republicans.

What resulted in from the differences between the reconstruction plans of congress and President Johnson?

Impeachment of president Johnson

Describe the status of of African Americans following the end of reconstruction?

Despite Constitutional Amendments, African American's found that gaining equal rights was difficult.

Why do corporations emerge as the dominant form of business organization in the late 1800's?

Corporations could raise large sums of money more easily.

What role did railroads play in the regulation of big business in the late 1800's

Provide an efficient and easy way of transportation during the age of big business.

What role did government play in the regulation of big business during the 1800's?

Laisseze- faire (Hands Off)

What was the role of trusts and monopolies in the the late 1800's?

Eliminate competition

Why would big business men such as Rockefeller and Carnegie be considered philanthropists?

Donated part of their wealth to charity

What idea did the Chinese Exclusion act and the Gentlemen's agreement, Quotas, literacy tests reflect?

Nativism (hatred of immigrants).

Why was the Populist Party formed?

To express the unhappiness of farmers.

What did Samuel Gompers and Eugene Debs have in common?

Labor leaders (pro union)

What was the basic idea of the progressives?

Government needs to regulate big business to protect workers and consumers. Gov't needs to be more hands on.

What problems did muckrakers expose?

Abuses in government and big business. Famous writers, Riis, Tarbell, Sinclair.

What common goal did Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Candy Stanton, and Susan B Anthony have in common?

Women's Suffrage (Right to vote)

How did Booker T Washington and W.E.B Dubois differ most?

How to achieve African American Equality. DuBois- Make noise... Washington- work and work your way up.

What did the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act both illustrate?

Government commitment to consumer protection.

What do the Sherman Anti Trust Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, and the Clayton Antitrust Act have in common?

Eliminate unfair business practices.

What is the purpose of the federal reserve system?

control the amount of money in circulation and set interest rates because Jackson ended the Bank of the US in the 1830s.

What was the purpose of initiative, referendum, recall, and direct primaries?

Increase participation in government by citizens

Why was the graduated income tax considered progressive?

It's based on the person's ability to the pay.

Why are third party movements, such as the Populist Party and the Progressive Party important?

They bring light to important issues ignored by major parties and they are often absorbed by the larger parties.

What U.S foreign policy resulted from the desire for raw materials?

Imperialism

What was a significant result of the Spanish American War?

U.S obtained overseas colonies such as Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Guam.

What did TR's big stick policy and Taft's dollar diplomacy have in common?

U.S efforts to expand its power to latin America.

Why did the United States build the Panama Canal?

Increased foreign trade and military security.

What was the initial U.S foreign policy before WW1 and WW2?

Isolationism and Neutrality

What drew the United States into World War 1 ?

German unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermen telegram.

What drew the United States into World War 2?

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

What was the purpose of Woodrow Wilson's 14 points?

Create a just and lasting peace after ww1 and to prevent resentment. The opposite of the Treaty of Versailles.

Why did the Senate refuse to sign the Treaty of Versailles?

Fear it would draw the U.S into foreign conflict (checks and balances)

What legislation reflects the idea that unpopular laws are difficult to enforce?

Prohibition, Fugitive Slave Act

What characteristics of the 1920's do the Red Scare, the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, and the activities of the KKK illustrate?

Nativism.

What 1920's trial clearly reflected the conflict between science and religion?

Scopes Monkey Trial

Why are the 1920's sometimes characterized as the Roaring Twenties?

Time of social and cultural change

How did the growth of the automobile industry change the U.S economy?

It stimulated other related industries because of the assembly line which was popularized by Henry Ford and the Model T

What occurred during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's?

A rebirth of the African American Culture. Famous people: Hughes, Armstrong, Bessie Smith,

What did the economic policies of President Harding and President Coolidge and President Hoover have in common?

Laissez faire.

Overproduction, the expansion of credit, and the uneven distribution of wealth all contributed to what? (SCREWED)

The Great Depression.

What was the immediate goal of FDR's New Deal?

Provide direct relief to the unemployed.

What effect did the New Deal have on the power of the federal government?

Increased federal power

What groups were helped the the Wagner Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act?

Labor Unions

What were the major goals of the SEC and FDIC?

Develop rules to limit speculation and safeguard people's savings

Which New Deal agency reflect federal intervention to meet regional needs but was criticized for being socialist?

Tennessee Valley Authority

What constitutional principle would have been threatened by FDR's Supreme Court packing plan?

Separation of Powers/Checks and balances

What was the greatest threat to FDR's New Deal?

Supreme court designs declaring new deal legislation unconstitutional.

How did the Lend Lease Act and the Cash and Carry Act reflect a change in U.S foreign policy in the 1930's ?

They helped the allies during WWII without actually declaring war.

What was the change in women's roles during WW2?

They worked in jobs formally held by men. Rosie the Riveter became symbolic.

What tends to happen to presidential power during wartime?

It increases

What idea was reflected by the suspension of Habeas Corpus during the Civil War, the decision in Schenck v. US, interment of Japanese Americans during WW2, and the PATRIOT ACT after 9/11?

Individual liberties may be limited during a crisis such as a war.

Why did President Truman decide to use atomic bombs against Japan during WW2?

End the war and quickly save American lives.

What was significant about the about the war crime trial of German (Nuremberg) and Japanese Military leaders after WW2?

Individuals are responsible for their actions during war.

What was the basic cause of the Cold War between the U.S and Soviet Union?

Ideological differences between democracy and communism.

What foreign policy goal carried out through the formation of NATO, the Truman Doctrine, and the Marshall Plan?

Containment Policy

What was the similarity between the Red Scare of the 1920's and McCarthyism?

fear of communism.

What migration pattern developed in the U.S during the 1950's?

Suburbanization

What was the significance of Brown vs. Board of Education?

Segregation in the field of education is unconstitutional (overturned Plessy v. Ferguson).

What did the building of the Berlin Wall, Bay of Pigs Invasion, and the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960's reflect?

Cold War Conflict (tension)

How were president LBJ's great society and President FDR's New Deal similar?

Government is taking great role in solving economic and social problems.

What conclusion can be drawn from the U.S involvement in the Korean and Vietnam War?

The Cold War extends beyond conflict with the Soviet Union and can lead to negative popular opinion.

What was the primary purpose of the War Powers Act?

Limit president's power to send troops into conflict.

What was the significance if the Camp David accords agreements negotiated by President Carter?

Attempt to establish peace in the Middle East.

What is detente?

Easing of Cold War Tensions.

Why was the Watergate Affair a significant event?

It proved the government is based on laws, not individuals. President Nixon tried to use executive privilege.

What was the major reason for the end of the Cold War?

The Soviet Union was weakened by internal conflict and economic conditions.