U.S. History STAAR Cheat Sheet
Exam Questions and Answers
checks and balances - - A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
- federalism - - A system in which power is divided between the national
and state governments
- free press - - a press not restricted or controlled by government
censorship regarding politics or ideology
- free speech - - The ability to speak, act, or demonstrate four or against
anything in anyway that does not in danger to any citizen of the country for
or against anything in anyway that is not in danger to any citizen of the
country
- individual rights - - Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed
in the Bill of Rights.
Unalienable rights
- limited government - - Basic principle of American government which
states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual
has rights that government cannot take away
- popular sovereignty - - A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.
- republic - - A form of government in which citizens choose their
representatives by voting
- republicanism - - power of voting rests in the hands of the people
- separation of powers - - Constitutional division of powers among the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch
making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary
interpreting the law
- articles of confederation - - First governing document of US - created a
WEAK central government; issues with trade - different currencies in each
state, tariffs on goods traded between states
- civil rights act of 1964 - - 1964; banned discrimination in public
acomodations, prohibited discrimination in any federally assisted program,
outlawed discrimination in most employment; enlarged federal powers to
, protect voting rights and to speed school desegregation; this and the voting
rights act helped to give African-Americans equality on paper, and more
federally-protected power so that social equality was a more realistic goal
- voting rights act of 1965 - - 1965; invalidated the use of any test or device
to deny the vote and authorized federal examiners to register voters in
states that had disenfranchised blacks; as more blacks became politically
active and elected black representatives, it rboguth jobs, contracts, and
facilities and services for the black community, encouraging greater social
equality and decreasing the wealth and education gap
- US constitution - - Written in 1787 at Philadelphia Convention to replace
Articles of Confederation and create stronger central government. Outlines
structure & power of 3 branches of national government. Oldest written
constitution still in use (but amended 27 times plus myriad informal
amendments).
- federalist papers - - A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander
Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend
the Constitution in detail.
- GI bill of rights - - Law Passed in 1944 to help returning veterans buy
homes and pay for higher education
- homestead act - - 1862 - Provided free land in the West to anyone willing
to settle there and develop it. Encouraged westward migration.
- NATO - - North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend
one another if they were attacked by any other country (communists at the
time); US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries
- social security act - - (FDR) 1935, guaranteed retirement payments for
enrolled workers beginning at age 65; set up federal-state system of
unemployment insurance and care for dependent mothers and children, the
handicapped, and public health
- treaty of versailles - - (WW) 1918, , Created by the leaders victorious allies
Nations: France, Britain, US, and signed by Germany to help stop WWI. The
treaty 1)stripped Germany of all Army, Navy, Airforce. 2) Germany had to
rapair war damages(33 billion) 3) Germany had to acknowledge guilt for
causing WWI 4) Germany could not manefacture any weapons.
- US bill of rights - - first ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing
individual liberties and due process of law.
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