Special Sub-Topic: American Politics - History and Basic Ideas Click Here To Play: American Politics - History and Basic Ideas

Who was the first President of the U.S.?

George Washington. Washington was an interesting President, he was very non-political. He might have been the only President in history that didn't WANT to be President!

What are the three branches of the U.S. Government?

Judicial, Legislative and Executive.

The Declaration of Independence was written by __________ __________.

Thomas Jefferson & Jefferson. Jefferson was an interesting man. He was actually very quiet and chose to express his political ideas mainly in writing.

What was our first written document that established our colonial government, in 1777?

Articles of Confederation. This document didn't work correctly for the young nation. For starters, the states would have been basically separate nations with no strong central government. The U.S. Government would not be able to raise taxes, control the economy or solve problems between the states.

Alexander Hamilton was shot by _____ _____.

Aaron Burr. Hamilton and Burr disagreed on MANY issues, namely the basic form a Government should take; should it be a strong central government or more of a confederacy?

'The power of U.S. courts to invalidate actions undertaken by the legislative and executive branches of Government.' This statement defines what term?

Judicial Review. This is an important part of the U.S. system!

Who was the first African-American Supreme Court Justice?

Thurgood Marshall.

Which philosopher is said to have influenced Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence?

John Locke. 'Life, liberty, and property' was what Locke said. 'Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' was what Jefferson said.

Who attended EVERY meeting of the Constitutional Convention?

James Madison. That must have been really hard summer in Philadelphia, 50 delegates in a hot room during a time when cleanliness was not emphasized and they were arguing over legal matters. Madison's diary tells of these proceedings; its a great look at history as it happened.

The 16th President was _________ ________.

Abraham Lincoln & Abe Lincoln & Lincoln. He was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth. (He was shot on the 14th and died on the 15th, to be more specific.)

Which President was assassinated in 1963?

Kennedy. This is topic is incredibly interesting to study. The gap between what the Warren Report claims to have happened and other reports is unusually large. Something worth reading about!

'Bi-cameral' refers to what?

Two houses of legislature. Another important aspect of our system.

How many cabinet departments are there as of May 2001?

14. State, Treasury, Interior, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Defense (formerly War), Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Health and Human Services, Education and Veteran Affairs.

Slander is a false written statement.

f. Slander is a false spoken statement. Libel is a false written statement.

Nowhere in the body of the original Constitution were the words 'slavery' or 'slave' mentioned.

t. It used 'other person' or something to that effect. They basically put off the Civil War for another 80 years, by not completely addressing this issue. The word slavery was later used in the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.