Transcript Midterm Essay Topics

Midterm Essay Topics
1. Presidential Decisions
2. Supreme Court Cases
3. Constitutional Principles
George Washington
Whiskey Rebellion
Political Parties
Farewell
address:Neutrality
Precedents: 2
terms, cabinet
Government will
enforce federal
laws
2 terms until
1940 FDR
Cabinet:
“unwritten
constitution”
Thomas Jefferson
Louisiana Purchase
– doubled size of
US, cost $15
million
Gained Mississippi
River
Lewis and Clark
expedition
Believed in strict
interpretation
Need “loose”
interpretation
Manifest Destiny
James Madison
War of 1812 – 2nd
war of
independence
Causes:
impressments,
British giving
weapons to
Indians, War
Hawks calling for
takeover of Canada
Treaty of Ghent:
ends war
No land
acquisitions
Increase in
nationalism
War hero to
become president
– Jackson
National anthem
James Monroe
Monroe Doctrine:
no colonization in
Western
Hemisphere
If attempted will
be seen as act of
war
US will stay out of
European affairs
When Doctrine was
issued, US lacked
military might to
enforce – Britain
supported US
End of the 1800s –
US able to enforce.
Andrew Jackson
Indian Removal Act
Pet Banks
Spoils system
Kitchen Cabinet
Cherokee v.
Georgia (John
Marshall)
Trail of Tears
Common Man’s
President
Use of veto
Schenck v. US
1st Amendment
Freedom of Speech
–distribute
pamphlets to avoid
the draft
Decision: Speech
restricted during
wartime.
Impact: “Clear and
Present Danger.”
Engel v. Vitale
1st Amendment –
Freedom of
religion. State
regents prayer.
Decision: Public
schools cannot
encourage prayer.
Impact: Separation
of church and
state.
Vernonia v. Acton
4th Amendment –
search and seizure
– mandatory drug
testing of athletes
Decision: Legalized
drug testing in
schools
Impact: testing
athletes randomly
for drug use is not
an illegal search.
N.J. v. TLO
4th Amendment –
search and seizure.
Search of
pocketbook looking
for cigarettes –
found drug
paraphernalia
Decision: School is
a different
environment – it is
a legal search.
Impact : Police
need probable
cause – school
officials need
reasonable
suspicion.
Bethel v. Fraser
1st Amendment –
speech.
Inappropriate
speech nominating
a friend for student
council.
Decision: Freedom
of speech
restricted in public
school.
Impact: Cannot
use speech that is
inappropriate,
profane or could
cause harm to
others.
Plessy v. Ferguson
14th Amendment –
equal protection
under the law.
Louisiana – he
wants to ride in a
white railroad car
Decision: legalized
separation.
Impact : allowed
for Jim Crow laws
and segregation of
all public facilities.
Overturned by
Brown v. Board of
Ed. 1954
Federalism
Division of power
between state and
federal
government.
Delegated,
reserved, and
concurrent.
Delegated: declare
war, foreign
treaties, military.
Reserved –
education, motor
vehicles, marriage
licenses.
Concurrent –
taxes, elections.
Checks and Balances
Division of power
between each of
the branches of
government so
that one does not
become more
powerful than the
other.
A bill becoming a
law – proposed by
Congress –
majority vote.
President can sign
or veto. Congress
can override.
Supreme Court –
Judicial review.
Separation of Powers
Division of
responsibilities into
the various
branches of
government –
Executive,
Legislative and
Judicial.
Executive –
commander in chief,
veto laws, sign laws
Legislative – make
laws, approve
appointments, create
post office and
military
Judicial – interpret the
law, declare laws
unconstitutional.
Amending Process
Additions to the
Constitution
Allows the
Constitution to
change and remain
up to date.
Proposed by 2/3rd
of Congress and
the states –
ratified by 3/4th of
Congress and the
states.
19th amendment –
women’s suffrage
as a result of WWI
18th amendment –
prohibition.
Repealed by 21st
amendment.