* - American Gov 101 Sparknotes Flashcards

Highlights (29 cards)

1
Q

year Constitution was written

A

1787

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

type of gov USA is

A

constitutional democracy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

sole authorities of Congress

A

make laws,
levy taxes,
declare war,
print money
**controls federal budget

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

unique geographical features of the US that led to benefits in its ability to become strong/superpower

A

isolated from conflict by oceans,
vibrant trading,
rich farmland,
vast fronteir,
natural resources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

belief that God wanted Americans to control the land between the Atlantic and Pacific

A

manifest destiny
- frontier spirit…but also excessive cruelty and greed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

yrs of immigration waves to the US

A

1600-1850: western/north Europeans. for economic, political, & religious reasons. Also African slave trade

1850-1970: southern/Eastern Europe to escape violence & political instability. Also Jewish holocast refugees

+1970: Medico, Korea, India, PHilippeans, Latin America

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

countries with the highest immigration rate to the US between 1820-2000

A

Germany 7million
Mexico 6 million
Italy/Great Brittian/Ireland/Canada - 5 million
Austria/Hungry 4million together
Russia 4mil
Philippeans 2 million
China/Sween 1 million each

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

system where politicians gave immigrants resources, jobs, and homes in exchange for their political vote

A

machine politics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

historical context of Americans scorning foreigners

A

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first immigration law that targeted a specific ethnic group.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

hx of Chinese exclusion in the US

A

first immigration law by Congress to keep a specific ethnic group out o f the US = Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

= passed to keep Chinese laborers out of the US for 10 yrs but renewed it then made it permanent in 1902

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

years the Chinese Exclusion Act was in effect

A

1882 - 1965

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

freedom for people to do what they want & what is needed to find personal fulfillment and happiness

A

liberty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

liberty

A

freedom to do whatever you need to in order to find personal fulfillment and happiness.
BUT
does come with restrictions to create a stable society (“freedom to do whatever you want as long as it does not impinge on others freedom”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

limited government

A

places relatively few restrictions on citizen freedoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

economic system where the government plays almost no role in the production/distribution of goods

A

laissez-faire capitalism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

2 different types of equality

A

equality of OPPORTUNITY,
equality of OUTCOME

17
Q

yr of No Child Left Behind

A

2001 by Bush Jr

18
Q

Iran-Contra scandal

A

Regan’s administration sold arms to Iran in order to raise money for the Ncaraguan contras who were fighting the Communist regime in power

19
Q

government where the people rule

A

popular soverignty

20
Q

why are minority rights needed?

A

so there will not be a tyranny of the majority that would ignore basic rights of the miniority

21
Q

what did James Madison believe about why the government is needed

A

Madison in Federalist Paper No. 51
- government is only needed bc sometimes people act in their own self interest to the detriment of others

22
Q

famous book about America after the American Revolution

A

Alexis de Tocqueville in 1835/1840 (2 volumes)
“Democracy in America”

23
Q

perception of the government during the VIetnam War

A

1960s…distrust in government

24
Q

yr Nixon resigned

25
"no new taxes" pledge
Bush Sr i 1988
26
Clinton impeachment
Monica Lewinsky in 1998
27
believe that a person can make a difference in the government and gov listens to ordinary people
political efficACY
28
idea that US is the best in the world
American exceptionalism - divine providence, just principles, geography/resources, diversity
29