U.S. History Flashcards
(4 cards)
Here are all the US presidents who have been impeached - Business Insider; 2021
Former President Donald Trump is the only U.S. president to be impeached twice. His first impeachment in December 2019 was over abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. The Senate acquitted him on February 5, 2020. His second impeachment came after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, with the House charging him with “incitement of insurrection” in a 232-197 vote, including ten Republican votes. His Senate trial began on February 9, 2021, with a two-thirds majority (67 votes) required to convict. If convicted, the Senate could also bar him from holding office again with a simple majority vote.
Trump joins Andrew Johnson (1868) and Bill Clinton (1998) as the only presidents to be impeached, though neither was convicted. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before he could be impeached. Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act but was acquitted by one vote in the Senate. Clinton’s impeachment stemmed from perjury and obstruction of justice related to his affair with Monica Lewinsky; he was acquitted by the Senate in 1999. Unlike his predecessors, Trump’s impeachments were marked by deep partisan divides, with Republicans largely standing by him during both trials.
(President Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 primarily for his violation of the Tenure of Office Act. The law required the president to get Senate approval before removing certain officeholders, including Cabinet members. Johnson’s impeachment stemmed from his decision to remove Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, and replace him with Lorenzo Thomas, without Senate approval. Stanton was a strong ally of the Republican-controlled Congress, and his removal was seen as an attempt by Johnson to undermine Congressional authority during the Reconstruction era.
After Johnson fired Stanton, Congress believed he had defied the Tenure of Office Act, which led the House to impeach him. The House voted to impeach Johnson on February 24, 1868 by a 126-47 vote. However, when the case went to the Senate for trial, Johnson was acquitted by just one vote, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction).
Trail of Tears - Britannica
The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of Eastern Woodlands Indians, including the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole, during the 1830s. An estimated 100,000 indigenous people were displaced to lands west of the Mississippi River, with around 15,000 dying during the journey. The removal was part of a broader effort driven by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which aimed to open native lands to Euro-American settlers, particularly after a gold rush on Cherokee land in Georgia. Despite resistance, including legal action by the Cherokee and armed resistance from some Seminole, the U.S. government forcibly removed tribes, often under harsh conditions. The physical trail spanned over 5,000 miles and crossed nine states.
Each tribe faced different challenges during relocation. The Choctaw, Creek, and Chickasaw signed removal agreements early on but still suffered due to bureaucratic incompetence, resulting in many deaths from disease and exposure. The Chickasaw financed their own move, facing fewer difficulties. The Creek endured fraudulent land sales and conflicts, delaying their journey. The Seminole resisted fiercely, leading to the Second Seminole War, while some managed to remain in Florida. The Cherokee sought legal protection but were eventually forced from their homes in 1838, with about 4,000 dying during the relocation. Many smaller groups in the Upper Midwest and Northeast were also displaced, with some attempting armed resistance, such as the Sauk leader Black Hawk in 1832.
The primary figure behind the Trail of Tears and the broader policy of Indian removal was President Andrew Jackson. He was a strong advocate for the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to territories west of the Mississippi River. Jackson had long been involved in conflicts with Native Americans during his military career and saw their removal as a way to open up land for American settlers and economic expansion.
In 1830, Jackson pushed Congress to pass the Indian Removal Act, which granted the president authority to negotiate removal treaties with Native tribes. Jackson and his administration viewed the relocation as a solution to conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, and Jackson justified the policy as a way to “civilize” the tribes by moving them away from American society.
Additionally, land speculators, miners, and settlers were influential in pushing for the removal, especially after the discovery of gold on Cherokee land in Georgia in 1829. Their pressure on the U.S. government helped fuel the drive to displace the Native populations. Congress supported the removal through legislation, but Jackson’s forceful advocacy and implementation of the policy played the largest role in the tragic events of the Trail of Tears.
Who Were the Founding Fathers? - Chat GPT
The “Founding Fathers” is a term used to describe the key figures who played pivotal roles in the founding of the United States — drafting foundational documents, leading the American Revolution, and shaping the early government. Here are the most prominent ones, with their key roles and a brief history of each:
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- George Washington
• Role: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army; President of the Constitutional Convention; 1st U.S. President
• History: A Virginia planter and military officer, Washington led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War. He was a unifying figure and presided over the Constitutional Convention. As the first president (1789–1797), he set many precedents for the office and warned against political parties and foreign entanglements.
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- Thomas Jefferson
• Role: Principal author of the Declaration of Independence; 3rd U.S. President
• History: A Virginia planter and intellectual, Jefferson wrote the 1776 Declaration, emphasizing individual liberty and natural rights. As president (1801–1809), he doubled the nation’s size with the Louisiana Purchase. He championed limited government and agrarianism.
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- John Adams
• Role: Advocate for independence; diplomat; 2nd U.S. President
• History: A Massachusetts lawyer and fierce defender of liberty, Adams helped draft the Declaration and secured foreign support for the Revolution as a diplomat in Europe. He served as Washington’s vice president and became the second president (1797–1801). He promoted a strong central government and avoided war with France.
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- Benjamin Franklin
• Role: Senior statesman and diplomat; helped draft the Declaration and Constitution
• History: A polymath from Pennsylvania, Franklin was crucial in securing French support during the war. He helped draft both the Declaration and the Constitution, using his wit and diplomacy to build consensus. Known for his scientific and literary work as well.
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- James Madison
• Role: “Father of the Constitution”; 4th U.S. President
• History: A Virginian scholar and political theorist, Madison drafted the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He co-authored the Federalist Papers to defend the Constitution’s ratification. As president during the War of 1812, he faced criticism but helped define the new nation’s strength.
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- Alexander Hamilton
• Role: Co-author of the Federalist Papers; 1st Secretary of the Treasury
• History: An immigrant from the Caribbean, Hamilton was a key figure in drafting and promoting the Constitution. He established the national bank, a strong financial system, and helped form the Federalist Party. He died in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.
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- John Jay
• Role: Diplomat; co-author of the Federalist Papers; 1st Chief Justice
• History: Jay negotiated the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War and the controversial Jay Treaty with Britain. As Chief Justice, he helped shape early American jurisprudence and co-wrote the Federalist Papers to advocate ratification.
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- Samuel Adams
• Role: Revolutionary organizer and writer; delegate to the Continental Congress
• History: A cousin of John Adams, Samuel Adams was a firebrand who organized the Boston Tea Party and pushed for independence. He wrote extensively on liberty and was a key voice in mobilizing public opinion against British rule.
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- Patrick Henry
• Role: Orator and anti-Federalist; Governor of Virginia
• History: Famous for his “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech, Henry was a leading advocate for independence. He opposed the Constitution, fearing central government power, but helped push the addition of a Bill of Rights.
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- Thomas Paine
• Role: Political writer and revolutionary thinker
• History: Paine wrote Common Sense (1776), which powerfully argued for independence and galvanized public support. He later wrote The American Crisis to boost morale during the war and remained an influential radical voice in both American and French Revolutions.
Peaceful Transfer of Power in the Constitution - Chat GPT
There’s no single document or line in the U.S. Constitution that explicitly states “a president must accept the peaceful transfer of power” — but the requirement is deeply embedded in the constitutional framework and democratic norms.
Here’s how it works legally and constitutionally:
1. The Constitution mandates a transfer of power
Article II, Section 1 and the 20th Amendment specify that a president’s term ends at noon on January 20. Regardless of whether the outgoing president concedes, their powers automatically transfer to the duly elected successor.
If a sitting president refuses to leave, they would become a private citizen at noon on Inauguration Day and could be removed by law enforcement if they remain in the White House.
- Electoral College process is binding
Article II and the 12th Amendment establish the Electoral College system. Once Congress counts the electoral votes (typically on January 6, unless delayed), that count is final and constitutionally decisive. - Peaceful transfer of power is a democratic norm
While not codified as a law, the peaceful concession and transition are vital norms reinforced by custom and practice since 1797 (when John Adams peacefully handed over to Thomas Jefferson).
Presidents take an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”, which includes honoring election results certified by the appropriate legal processes.
- Federal law enforces certification
The Electoral Count Act of 1887 governs the timeline for resolving electoral disputes and certifying the vote. States must resolve disputes by a set deadline (the “safe harbor” date), and Congress is bound to count those certified results.
In summary: While the Constitution doesn’t say “the president must accept the results,” it automatically enforces them through hard deadlines and transfer-of-power mechanisms. Refusal to accept the results is politically damaging, but legally irrelevant if the election and certification were lawful.
What about Primary Elections?
No, the U.S. Constitution does not mention or regulate primary elections.
Why?
Primaries are not part of the constitutional framework. Instead, they are party processes created and governed by state laws and party rules, not the federal Constitution.
Here’s how it works:
✅ Constitutional Basis for Elections:
The Constitution (mainly Article I, Section 4) gives states the power to regulate the “times, places, and manner” of elections, but that refers to general elections for federal offices, not primaries.
The presidency and Congress are chosen through elections, but how political parties select their nominees is not governed by the Constitution.
🗳️ Primaries Are Party Decisions (Backed by State Law):
Primaries (and caucuses) are internal methods political parties use to select their candidates for the general election.
States hold primaries based on state legislation and party rules, which can vary widely:
Open vs closed primaries
Delegate allocation methods
Dates of contests
The national political parties (like the DNC or RNC) set the overall nomination rules (e.g., delegate thresholds, debate requirements, penalties for states violating the calendar).
⚖️ Court rulings reinforce this:
In cases like Democratic Party v. Wisconsin (1981) and California Democratic Party v. Jones (2000), the Supreme Court ruled that parties have First Amendment rights to control how they select their candidates.
The Court has consistently said primaries are not mandated or regulated by the Constitution — they are voluntary extensions of party autonomy.
Summary:
✅ General elections: regulated by the Constitution and federal law.
❌ Primaries: not in the Constitution — they’re governed by state laws and party rules.
🎯 The Constitution kicks in only once the party nominee is selected and appears on the general election ballot.
