Politics and Religion in the USA

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Questions and Answers

What is the significance of Juneteenth?

Celebrates the end of slavery in the United States (correct)

Commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Marks the beginning of the American Civil War

Honors the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

Which Jewish holiday lasts for 7 days and commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt?

Passover (correct)

Hanukkah

Rosh Hashanah

Yom Kippur

What is the significance of Memorial Day?

Celebrates the end of the American Civil War

Pays tribute to those who died while serving in the United States military (correct)

Honors the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Commemorates the birthday of George Washington

Which Buddhist state in the USA has the highest percentage of Buddhist population?

Hawaii Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Labor Day?

Honors the working class and labor movements in the United States Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil rights work Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Kwanzaa?

Honors the harvest and fruits of labor of African Americans Signup and view all the answers

Which Islamic holiday celebrates the end of Ramadan?

Eid al-Fitr Signup and view all the answers

Which European country established the colony of Louisiana, which later adopted a legal system based on French law?

France Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary symbol associated with the Democratic Party?

Donkey Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following religious groups originated in the 17th century in England?

Quakers Signup and view all the answers

Which city, founded in 1609, was the first capital of New Mexico and is now the oldest continuously occupied city in the United States?

Santa Fe Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Americans identify as Christian?

74% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a result of the American Revolutionary War?

The United States acquired the territory of Louisiana from France Signup and view all the answers

Which state, established by Lord Baltimore, was originally intended as a refuge for Catholic settlers?

Maryland Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following states was a major settlement for the Amish church?

Pennsylvania Signup and view all the answers

In which year did the United States purchase Alaska from the Russian Empire?

1867 Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the founder of the Mormon church?

Joseph Smith Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following religious groups has a significant presence in South Carolina?

Baha'i Signup and view all the answers

Which European country established the colony of New Amsterdam, which later became New York?

The Netherlands Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the Rastafarian movement begin to spread to the United States?

1960s Signup and view all the answers

Which city, founded by William Penn, is where the Declaration of Independence was signed?

Philadelphia Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following parties is often associated with a more conservative ideology?

Republican Party Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 13 stripes on the current American flag?

They represent the original 13 states Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Political Parties

2 main parties:
- Democratic Party (donkey symbol) - more liberal, left-wing
- Republican Party (elephant symbol) - conservative, started as a movement against slavery
3 more largest parties:
- Libertarian Party
- Green Party
- Constitution Party

Religion in the USA

Christianity (74%):
- Protestant (50%)
  - Anglican
  - Baptist
  - Methodist
- Catholic (23%)
- Amish Church:
  - came to America (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana) in 1700/1800s
  - leader – Jacob Amman
  - own language, no modern technology, 19th-century clothing
- Mormons (1.8%):
  - started in the UK
  - creator – Joseph Smith
  - Utah – Mormon territory, not accepted as a state until polygamy was renounced
Non-Christian religions:
- Jewish (25%)
- Islamic
- Buddhist:
  - Hawaii – 8%
  - California – 2%
- The Church of Scientology:
  - founder – Hubbard
  - 1953, New Jersey
Rastafarians (Abrahamic religious)
- started in Jamaica
- 1960-70 to the U.S.

Holidays in the USA

Federal Holidays:
- Martin Luther King Day (3rd Monday of January)
  - fought for civil rights, "I HAVE A DREAM" speech
- President Day (3rd Monday of February)
  - symbol – cherry pie
- Memorial Day (last Monday of May)
  - in honor of people who served and died in war
- Independence Day (4th of July)
  - commemorates signing of declaration of independence
- Labor Day (1st Monday of September)
- Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day (2nd Monday of October)
- Veterans Day (November 11th)
  - in honor of those who fought in war
- Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November)
  - commemorates when the Plymouth colonists and the Native American Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast
- Christmas (December 25th)
Other Holidays:
- Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17th)
- Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)
- Cinco de Mayo (May 5th)
- Easter
- Hannukah
- Kwanzaa
- Passover
- Chinese New Year

History of the USA

Colonization:
- Spain:
  - settlements: Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
  - colony: Puerto Rico
  - cities: St. Augustine, Santa Fe, San Antonio, Los Angeles, San Francisco
- France:
  - colony: Louisiana, Michigan, New Orleans, Detroit, Hudson Bay (part of Canada)
- The Netherlands:
  - colony: New Amsterdam (taken over by British > New York)
- Sweden:
  - colony: part of Pennsylvania (city: Philadelphia), New Jersey (taken over by Dutch > taken over by British)
- Great Britain – England:
  - Virginia – first colony (in honor of Queen Elizabeth I)
  - Massachusetts – second colony (funded by Puritan refugees)
  - Jamestown – first successfully established settlement (1607)
  - Maryland – Lord Baltimore took Catholic people
  - Pennsylvania – William Penn, Philadelphia – city where declared independence
1776 – Continental Congress – declared independence of the colonies as the United States of America
1777 – Second Continental Congress – Flag Resolution
1783 – American Revolutionary War (east land of the Mississippi River)
1803 – purchase of Louisiana by USA
1819 – acquisition of Florida – after war with Spain
1867 – Alaska bought from Russian Empire

USA Flag and Government Structure

13 stripes – first colonies
50 stars – number of states
The United States of America – federal republic consisting of:
- 50 states (each has its own law)
- federal district (Washington D.C.)
- 5 (inhabited) dependent territories
- 9 uninhabited territories

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Description

Test your knowledge of the major political parties and religious demographics in the United States. From the Democratic and Republican parties to Christianity and beyond, see how well you understand the country's political and religious landscape.