US1 American Politics And Society Flashcards
Name the two types government in the US
- Central Federal Government
- State Government
Describe three aspects of the Central Federal Government
- based in Washington DC
- run by the president, (elected every four years), a cabinet of advisers (like a parliament), and Congress (elected people from each state)
- oversees matters that affect the whole country - foreign affairs, army, postal service
Describe State Government
- Based in the capital city of every state
- each state has its own laws, police, court system and governor
Describe the Republican Party
- conservative - traditional, doesn’t like change
- believes government shouldn’t interfere in peoples lives - called ‘laissez-faire’
- didn’t support high taxes which appealed to business owners
- had more support in the industrial north
Describe the Democratic Party
- believe government should make rules and laws for the people
- favoured helping the most vulnerable, such as poor or elderly
- had more support in poorer southern states
- More liberal - prepared to change, and accept change
What is the bill of rights?
Part of the constitution.
Guarantees a series of freedoms and rights including the right to vote, freedom of belief, freedom of information and freedom of law.
However by 1919, many states refused to recognise the right to vote for women, African Americans and American Indians.
By the 1900s how many different nationalities lived in America?
Over 100
By the early 1900s what was the population of America?
110 million
By 1900 what was the population of American Indians and what had it been before Europeans arrived?
250,000
Down from 5 million
When did white settlers begin to arrive in america and from where?
1600s
Mainly from Britain, Netherlands and Germany
What were the WASPs?
White Anglo Saxon Protestants
When was there a new wave of immigrants into America and where from?
1850
Mainly from eastern and southern Europe, but also Ireland, china, Japan and South America
