U.S. Government: Presidential Powers & Legislative Branch

The President of the United States leads the executive branch, which enforces laws passed by Congress. This includes appointing cabinet members, Supreme Court judges, and pardoning federal offenses.

The Vice President serves as the presiding officer of the Senate and assumes the Presidency if the current president is unable to serve.

The Cabinet is a group of advisors to the President, each heading an executive department like Health and Human Services or Defense.

The Senate is one of the two chambers of the U.S. Congress, with each state having equal representation (2 senators). Senators serve 6-year terms and have significant powers, including confirming Supreme Court judges and rejecting treaties.

The House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the U.S. Congress, with representation based on state population. Representatives serve 2-year terms and share power with the Senate over taxation, spending, and lawmaking.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S., with 9 justices serving for life. It interprets laws, can reject executive orders, and declare laws unconstitutional.

The process of formally accusing a government official of serious wrongdoing, which can lead to removal from office if proven.

A tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote by speaking continuously, thus preventing a vote from happening.

A 1763 proclamation by the British government that restricted colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with Indigenous tribes, and to protect Indigenous lands.

A tax levied on sugar, molasses, and other products imported into the American colonies from Britain, aimed at raising revenue for the British empire and enforcing trade regulations.

A tax imposed on paper goods in the American colonies, which sparked widespread protests and resistance, leading to the cry of "No taxation without representation!"

An incident in 1770, in which British soldiers fired upon a crowd of colonists in Boston, killing five people, further fueling tensions between the colonies and Britain.

A 1773 protest in which colonists in Boston disguised as Native Americans boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor, in response to the Tea Act that gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies.

The first battle of the American Revolutionary War fought in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts in 1775, which involved clashes between British troops and colonial militia, marking the start of the war for independence.

The formal declaration by the 13 American colonies on July 4, 1776, announcing their separation from Great Britain and proclaiming their independence as a new nation.

The battle in 1781 where French allies surrounded British forces under Cornwallis at Yorktown, leading to the surrender of British forces, a major turning point in the American Revolution.

The treaty signed in 1783 between Great Britain and the newly independent United States, formally ending the American Revolutionary War and recognizing the United States as a sovereign nation.

A landmark event in US history. The convention convened in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, ultimately resulting in the creation of the United States Constitution, which established the framework for the US government.

The purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, doubling the size of the United States and expanding its territory westward.

An expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, funded by President Jefferson, to explore the Louisiana Purchase, map the Missouri River, and forge trade routes westward. The expedition resulted in valuable scientific discoveries about the natural resources and geography of the West, contributing to the expansion of the United States.

A belief that the United States was destined to expand across the entire North American continent and spread its values westward. This idea propelled the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century.

The war fought from 1812 to 1815 between the United States and Great Britain, primarily caused by British interference with American trade, British impressment of American sailors, and British support for Indigenous resistance against American expansion. This war confirmed the independence of the United States and strengthened its national identity.

A political compromise agreed upon in 1820 to address the issue of slavery in new states joining the United States. It admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, maintaining the balance of power between slave and free states in Congress.

A powerful movement during the 1950s and 1960s that aimed to end segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the United States.

A famous speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It inspired millions with its message of racial equality and unity.

A major event in the Civil Rights Movement where over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand civil and economic rights for African Americans. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered during this event.

A landmark piece of legislation passed in 1964 that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination.

A series of marches in 1965 demanding voting rights for African Americans. Notable for the "Bloody Sunday" incident, where peaceful marchers were violently attacked by police.

A law passed in 1965 that prohibited racial discrimination in voting practices. It helped protect the right to vote and ensure equal access to the ballot box.

A leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Known for his peaceful approach and "I Have a Dream" speech.

An African American woman who played a pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.

A leader of the Nation of Islam and an influential voice for Black empowerment. He advocated for self-defense and Black separatism.

A 14-year-old African American boy who was brutally murdered in 1955 after being falsely accused of flirting with a white woman. His death sparked outrage and drew national attention to the problem of racial violence in the South.

A 19th-century American explorer and soldier. He led the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which explored and mapped vast territories in the western United States. He played a key role in westward expansion.

A 19th-century inventor who played a crucial role in the American Industrial Revolution. He invented the cotton gin, a machine that significantly increased cotton production.

A Native American woman who served as a translator and guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She helped the explorers navigate the vast wilderness and establish relationships with Native American tribes.

A 19th-century American industrialist and philanthropist. He made a fortune in the steel industry and later dedicated his wealth to various charitable causes.

A 19th-century American oil tycoon. He founded Standard Oil, which eventually controlled the vast majority of oil refining in the United States.

A 19th-century inventor who developed the phonograph and the lightbulb. He is considered one of the most influential inventors of the modern age.

The Dred Scott decision of 1857 by the Supreme Court denied African Americans citizenship, arguing they had no legal standing to sue. This ruling further divided the nation by limiting the rights of Black people and fueling tensions over slavery.

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, although he only won 40% of the popular vote, sparked the secession of Southern states. They saw Lincoln's election as a threat to their way of life, particularly the institution of slavery.

The Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, was a brutal conflict over the issue of slavery. The Confederate States of America, formed by the secessionist states, opposed the Union, comprised of the remaining states.

Fort Sumter, a U.S. military installation in South Carolina, was the site of the first battle of the Civil War in April 1861. Confederate forces fired upon the fort, ultimately leading to its surrender to the Confederacy.

The Battle of Bull Run, in July 1861, was a major battle in Virginia. This shocking Union defeat showed the North that the war wouldn't be easily won and sent Union troops back to Washington D.C.

The Battle of Shiloh, fought in April 1862 in Tennessee, was a brutal and bloody battle. Grant's victory secured control of the Mississippi Valley for the Union, a strategic advantage.

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln in 1863, declared that slaves in Confederate-held territories were to be freed. This document marked a turning point in the war, advancing the Union cause and allowing for the enlistment of Black soldiers.

The Battle of Gettysburg, a three-day battle fought in Pennsylvania in July 1863, marked a turning point in the Civil War. The Union victory ended General Lee's attempt to invade the North and bolstered Union morale.

The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, marking a significant change in the nation's social fabric.

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, addressed issues of citizenship rights and equal protection under the law for all U.S. citizens, including those formerly enslaved. It aimed to ensure equal treatment and opportunity for all.

The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the federal government and states from denying citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It aimed to ensure voting rights for all, regardless of their history.

The Gilded Age, a period from 1870 to 1900, was characterized by rapid industrialization, economic growth, and widespread societal issues. The term was coined to signify the era's superficial prosperity hiding beneath significant problems, including social inequality, labor abuses, and political corruption.

The Transcontinental Railroad, completed in 1869, connected the eastern and western U.S by rail, revolutionizing transportation, trade, and communication across the country. It made travel faster and cheaper, leading to Westward expansion & interconnectedness.

The murder of Emmett Till in 1954, a 14-year-old African American boy brutally killed for supposedly whistling at a white woman, sparked outrage and brought attention to racial violence in the South. It became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott, which began in 1955 after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man, lasted 381 days and led to desegregation of buses in Montgomery, Alabama. It demonstrated the strength of nonviolent resistance and propelled Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence.

The Little Rock Nine were nine African American students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, a year after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. However, they faced violent protests and had to be escorted by federal troops. This event highlighted the resistance to desegregation in the South.

Sit-ins, which started in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1960, involved African American students who sat at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter, demanding service. This peaceful protest sparked a nationwide movement and helped to challenge segregation laws.