NAME ______

STAAR Study Guide

In May, you will be taking the United States History STAAR test. You are required to pass this test to graduate. It is important that you be familiar with all of the information in this packet so that you will be successful on your test!

Foundations: Background to American History1(A), 1(B), 1(C), 9(A), 14(C), 21(B), 22(A), 23(C), 26(E)

  1. After the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the British government was left with a large debt. To help repay this debt, the British government began to tax the colonists. Because Parliament did not consult the colonists, they saw this “taxation without representation” as a violation of their rights as Englishmen.
  2. The United States issued the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, in 1776 after years of dissension and disagreement.

The Declaration of Independence:

  1. formally declared the independence of the English colonies in North America from the mother country, Great Britain (resulting in the American Revolution)
  2. explained that citizens had the right to overthrow an oppressive government that did not protect individual rights
  3. included a list of grievances, or problems, which the colonists had with the government of Great Britain under King George III
  4. put forth a theory of government that included many ideas from John Locke; it explained that the purpose of government should be to protect unalienable rights (rights that cannot be taken away – like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
  5. was signed by members of the Second Continental Congress, including John Hancock, Benjamin Rush, Charles Carroll, and John Witherspoon
  1. After declaring independence, the colonies established a very weak central government in an agreement known as the Articles of Confederation. In 1787, American leaders decided that a stronger government was needed.
  2. The U.S. Constitution was written by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. It established a republic (a government in which power rests with the people, who elect representatives).
  3. The important principles of the Constitution include:
  4. limited government – the powers of the federal government are limited to those provided in the Constitution
  5. republicanism – the people elect representatives to represent them
  6. federalism – the powers of government are divided between the national government and the states
  7. separation of powers – the powers of the government are divided among three separate branches (the Congress [legislative], the President [executive], and the Supreme Court [judicial])
  8. popular sovereignty – the powers of the government come from the consent of the governed
  9. checks and balances - the Constitution gives each branch ways to stop or “check” the power of the other two branches
  10. amendments - the Constitution can be amended to adjust to changing times/ attitudes
  11. The Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay argued strongly in support of the Constitution and helped lead to its ratification.
  12. The Bill of Rights was added to specifically guarantee the protection of certain individual rights. The Bill of Rights contains the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791.
  13. First Amendment – guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition
  14. Second Amendment – states that people have the right to “bear arms”
  15. Third Amendment – prohibits the government from placing troops in people’s homes without their permission
  16. the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments protect the “rights of the accused” and prohibit government officials from taking away life, liberty, and property without following certain procedures
  17. the Seventh Amendment – guarantees the right to a trial by a jury
  18. the Ninth Amendment – states that citizens have rights that aren’t specifically listed in the Constitution
  19. the Tenth Amendment – states that the federal government has ONLY the powers given to it in the Constitution; other powers are reserved to the states or the people
  20. In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville was sent to America by the French government. Later, he wrote a book called Democracy in America, which examined the American system of democracy. De Tocqueville observed five values he believed were crucial to America’s success as a constitutional republic:
  21. egalitarianism – a society of equals; in America, despite differences in wealth/power/ intelligence, everyone was socially equal; the two exceptions of egalitarianism were slavery and the treatment of Native Americans
  22. populism (popular sovereignty) – the participation of the common people in political life
  23. liberty – protection against tyrannical government; the federal system helped prevent the rise of an over-powerful government; American customs were devoted to the spirit of liberty
  24. individualism – the government did not direct individual activity (as it did in Europe); people believed they could rise in society
  25. laissez-faire – a “hands-off” approach to the economy; the role of government was more limited in America than in Europe
  26. In the nineteenth century, the United States continued to grow. The North, the South, and the West were affected differently by expansion and the rise of industry, leading to the Civil War from 1861-1865. After four years of fighting, the North was able to defeat the South, preserving the Union.
  27. In the period following the Civil War, a group of amendments were passed. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed citizenship and equal protection of the laws, and the Fifteenth Amendment gave prohibited denying individuals their voting rights on the basis of race.
  28. American ideals are represented by two mottos. “E Pluribus Unum”means “out of many [comes] one,” showing that several states joined together as one nation. The other, “In God We Trust” is now printed on all American money.

The Progressive Era3(A), 3(C), 5(A), 5(B), 5(C), 9(A), 14(B), 15(B), 15(E), 23(B), 25(A), 26(A), 26(D)

  1. Progressive sometimes focused on bringing about reform at the municipal (local/city) level of government to prevent corruption. They replaced political machine bosses with reform mayors and expanded city services to address overcrowding and other issues.
  2. At the state level, governors like Robert LaFollette (Wisconsin) challenged corruption and tried to free states from the control of big business. Progressives introduced political reforms to increase the level of public participation in politics and give citizens a more direct voice in government.
  3. secret ballot
  4. initiative – voters can directly introduce bills and vote on whether they want it passed
  5. referendum – bills could be put on the ballot for voter approval
  6. recall – elected officials could be removed from office by voters
  7. direct party primaries
  8. direct election of Senators – Senators were no longer chosen by state legislatures and were elected directly by the people; made national law by the Seventeenth Amendment
  9. Progressives also focused on improving social problems at the state level. They regulated urban housing conditions and worked to abolish child labor. New laws regulated safety conditions in factories, limited working hours, and conserved natural resources, among other improvements.
  10. Progressives aimed to eliminate corruption from the federal and state governments. When President Garfield’s assassination was linked to the “spoils system,” Congress passed the Pendleton Act, which created a Civil Service Commission to give competitive exams and select appointees based on merit.
  11. At the national level, Progressive reform was enacted under three U.S. presidents – T. Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson.
  12. Theodore Roosevelt promised Americans a “Square Deal.” He launched new laws to protect the public interest. He used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up bad trusts that used unfair business practices and harmed consumers, and he attempted to protect consumers by preventing false advertising and the sale of dangerous products. The Square Deal included:
  13. measures to protect public health, like the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act;
  14. an increase in the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroads;
  15. measures to conserve and protect the nation’s resources
  16. William Howard Taft continued many of Roosevelt’s policies, such as trust-busting.
  17. Woodrow Wilson called his Progressive program “New Freedom” and focused on attacking high tariffs, the unregulated banking system, and harmful trusts.
  18. the Underwood Tariff lowered tariffs that hurt average Americans
  19. the Sixteenth Amendment instituted a graduated income tax
  20. the Federal Reserve Act reformed the banking industry
  21. the Clayton Antitrust Act gave the government more power to prevent unfair business practices while protecting labor unions, and the Federal Trade Commission was put in place to further protect consumers.
  22. The Progressive Era gave way to a women’s suffrage movement, resulting in significant gains in women’s rights. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were reformers who organized the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1890. Finally, after America entered World War I, the Nineteenth Amendment was proposed. It was ratified in 1920, giving American women the right to vote. This was the last major achievement of the Progressive Movement.

The United States Constitution

Principles of the U.S. Constitution Separation of Powers – Divides the powers of the government into three branches

Legislative Branch- makes the laws Executive Branch – executes the laws Judicial Branch – interprets the laws

Checks and Balances – Makes sure no branch of government becomes too powerful.

Example: The President can veto a bill and Congress has the power to override the veto.

Federalism – Power is shared between the states and national government.

Limited Government – Power of the govt. is restricted by the U.S. Constitution. “No one is above the law.”

Republicanism – A system where people vote for elected representatives to run the government.

Popular Sovereignty – The people hold supreme power. Addressed in the preamble…“We the people…”

The Bill of Rights o The first ten amendments of the Constitution o Protect individual rights and liberties o The Bill of Rights was necessary in order for some states to ratify the Constitution 1st Amendment – Freedom of speech, religion, and press; right to assemble; right to petition 2nd Amendment – Right to bear arms 3rd Amendment – No quartering of soldiers during peace time 4th Amendment – No unlawful search and seizure 5th Amendment – No double jeopardy; cannot be compelled to be a witness against himself 6th Amendment – The right to a fast and public trial 7th Amendment – Trial by jury 8th Amendment – No cruel or unusual punishment 9th Amendment – Rights reserved to the people 10th Amendment – Powers reserved to the states

Principles of the U.S.Constitution / Protections of the BillofRights
Checks & Balances / 1Freedom of______
religion
assembly
press
petition
2 right to bear ______
Federalism / 3 no quartering of troops
4 no unreasonable ______
and ______
SeparationofPowers / 5 no self-incrimination
no double jeopardy
grand jury
eminent domain. . . the government can
take over ______with just
compensation
6 trial by ______
right to a ______
speedy trial
LimitedGovernment / 7 trial by jury (civil cases)
Republicanism / 8 no cruel and unusual ______
Popular Sovereignty / 9 rights of the people are not limited to those in the Constitution
Individual Rights / 10 all powers not specified in the Constitution are given to the ______

The Bill of Rights
The most significant amendments to the Constitution are the first ten, also known as The Bill of Rights. These amendments were added to the Constitution at the insistence of the Anti-Federalist forces during the debates over ratification. The fear of a dominating federal government, such as the colonists had experienced under English rule, led many to demand assurances that specific rights and liberties were going to be protected. It is the Bill of Rights that stands till today as the greatest guarantee of these rights and liberties upon which America was founded. All of the amendments in the Bill of Rights were adopted together in 1791.

Amendment / Right(s) / Historic Roots
1
Freedoms /
  • Freedom of Religion
  • Freedom of Press
  • Freedom of Speech
  • Freedom of Assembly
  • Separation of Church and State (no national religion)
/ The English gov't had suppressed speech, assembly and press rights in an attempt to quell the growing colonial discontent. Additionally, many early settlers (such as the Pilgrims) came to America in search of religious freedom.
2
Right to Bear Arms /
  • Right to keep and bear arms
/ In the period prior to the revolution, the English attempted to limit militia activity, as they rightly feared preparations for a coming revolution.
3
No Quarter /
  • Right to protection from troops being quartered in homes during peacetime
/ The Quartering Act passed by English Parliament required the colonists to house and feed British troops stationed in the colonies.
4
Search and Seizure /
  • Right against unreasonable search and seizure
  • Warrants require cause and must be specific
/ British troops often search houses and property at will, in an attempt to suppress organizations working towards a revolution.
5
Rights of the Accused /
  • Accused must be indicted by a Grand Jury
  • Cannot be tried for the same crime twice (double jeopardy)
  • Cannot be forced to testify against yourself
  • Right to a fair trial with all proper legal rights enforced (due process)
  • Right to fair compensation ($$) when the gov't takes your property for public use
/ Many accused under British law in the colonies, were jailed without being accused of a crime. It was also not uncommon for a person in the colonies to be tried under the laws of Britain, without regard to the local laws passed within the colonies.
6
More Rights of the Accused /
  • Right to be informed of the charges against you
  • Right to a speedy and public trial
  • Right to an impartial jury
  • Right to face witnesses against you in court
  • Right to counsel (a lawyer)
  • Right to call witnesses in your defense
/ In the era prior to the revolution, British courts could keep a suspect in jail without accusing him/her of a crime or bringing them into a court of law. Many suspects sat in prison for years awaiting trial, only to be found innocent an released.
7
Rights in a Civil Case /
  • Right to a trial by jury in a civil case (non-criminal case)
/ This provision protected the idea of trial by jury (a fundamental notion in both English and American law) and extended it to all cases private or public.
8
Cruel and Unusual Punishment /
  • Right to protection against cruel and unusual punishment
  • Right to protection against excessive bails and fines
/ Even given that English laws applied to the colonies, English run colonial courts did not enforce the law evenly or fairly in the eyes of many. Excessive fines were levied for small offenses and extended sentences were given colonists perceived as threats for even the most minor offenses.
9
Unenumerated Rights /
  • Guarantee that rights not enumerated (listed) in the Constitution are still protected
/ The founding fathers wanted to be certain that rights articulated in the Bill of Rights were not thought to be the only possible rights.
10
Reserved Rights /
  • Guarantee that the people and the states have all of the powers not specifically delegated the federal government (reserved powers)
/ Many of the founding fathers feared the domination of the people and the states by a powerful federal government. To insure the containment of this power, people and states are granted all the powers that the federal government is not.

Other Amendments
Outside of the Bill of Rights there are 17 other amendments to the Constitution. All of the remaining amendments are outlined in the chart below. Those amendments which are considered the most significant to review for the exam are highlighted with colored backgrounds.

Amendment / Provisions/Rights / Historic Roots
11
State Immunity
(1795) /
  • Limits the ability of a person to sue a state
  • Allows a person to sue if a state denies their rights
/ The judicial system was left up to Congress to create. As this was done, clarification was needed.
12
Election of President and V.P.
(1804) /
  • Electors to the Electoral College are to cast one vote for President and separate vote for Vice President
  • The House elects the President of no candidate gets an electoral majority (each state w/ 1 vote)
  • The Senate elects the Vice President of no candidate gets an electoral majority
/ In the election of 1800, confusion in the Electoral College resulted from the requirement that the runner-up for president become president. Further confusing was the fact that electors could cast votes for Vice Presidential candidates for President. The final result was the election of Thomas Jefferson and the 12th amendment.
13
Abolition of Slavery
(1865) /
  • Slavery is illegal
/ The end of the Civil War saw a series of three amendments designed to grant greater equality to former slaves.
14
Equal Protection Under the Law
(1868) /
  • Declares that all citizens are guaranteed equal treatment and protection under the law
  • Bars former Confederates from holding office
  • Declares Confederate debt null and void
/ This has proven one of the most significant amendments outside the Bill of Rights. Equal protection is the basis for all modern civil rights laws, disability acts and other actions designed to protect minority rights.
15
Right to Vote
(1870) /
  • Insures black males the right to vote
/ Despite this amendment, poll taxes and literacy tests would attempt to deny black males voting rights in the southern states for nearly 100 years.
16
Income Tax
(1913) /
  • Grants Congress the power to collect taxes on income
  • Money collected does not have to be reapportioned to states based on population
/ The Populists had long fought for the taxation if income as a way of leveling out the great economic disparity between rich and poor that developed during the Gilded Age.
17
Direct Election of Senators
(1913) /
  • Senators are to be elected by the people
/ The original Constitution provided for Senators to be elected by state legislatures. This was a Populist cause, designed to increase people's participation in government.
18
Prohibition
(1919) /
  • The sale, making or transportation of alcohol is illegal
/ The temperance movement had gained support in the rural areas of the nation, somewhat in reaction to the growth of urban areas and the temptations cities brought. This was repealed (overturned) by the passage of the 21st amendment.
19
Women's Suffrage
(1920) /
  • Women are granted the right to vote
/ Women such as Susan B. Anthony (for whom the amendment was named) fought for a voting right amendment for over 40+ years.
20
Presidential Inauguration
(1933) /
  • President and Vice President are sworn into office on Jan. 20th (moved from March 4th)
/ During the heart of the depression voters chose the New Deal policies of FDR over the policies of then president Hoover. The election occurred in November, but presidential terms began in March of the next year. As a result nearly 5 months went by during which the "lame duck" presidency of Hoover did little to alleviate the suffering of the Great Depression. This amendment shortens the "lame duck" time by moving inauguration up by 2 months.
21
Repeal of Prohibition
(1933) /
  • The 18th amendment (prohibition) is repealed
  • Alcohol is again legal
/ Prohibition was regarded as a huge failure. Bootlegging and speakeasies allowed liquor to flow freely, and created a huge network of organized crime. Many feared disrespect for the prohibition laws would cause disrespect for all law, and the 18th amendment was revoked.
22
Presidential Term Limits
(1951) /
  • No person may serve as President more than twice
/ George Washington had sent the precedent of two terms. All other presidents continued to serve no more than two terms, up until FDR was elected a record four times. After his administration ended, there was widespread support for a formal limit on presidential terms.
23
Voting in Washington D.C.
(1961) /
  • Grants Washington D.C. 3 electors to the electoral college
/ Residents of the capitol did not have any political voice in federal government. This amendment grants them the minimum number of electors. To today Washington D.C. has no Senators or Reps. to the House.
24
Abolition of Poll Taxes
(1964) /
  • Poll taxes are illegal in federal elections
/ Many Southern states had used poll taxes and literacy tests to limit black voting after the Civil War. Literacy tests were already illegal by the 1960's, but an amendment was required to outlaw the poll tax.
25
Presidential Succession
(1967) /
  • Establishes a clearer succession to the presidency and vice presidency
/ During the era of the Cold War and in the wake of JFK's assassination, a clearer chain of ascension to the nations' highest offices was needed.
26
Voting Age
(1971) /
  • The age of eligibility for voting is lowered to 18
/ In the wake of protests over the Vietnam war, a fundamental hypocrisy in the American voting system became clear. 18 year-olds could be drafted and forced to fight in war, but could not cast a vote for the politicians who were determining their fate.
27
Congressional Pay Raises
(1992) /
  • Congressional pay raises do not take effect until after the next Congressional election
/ The process for this amendment was begun in the 1790's. It keeps a current Congress from raising their own pay.

Failed Amendments to Know
Of the hundreds of amendments to the Constitution that have been proposed over the past 200+ years, only 27 have become part of the Constitution. A few notable amendments that have gained popularity, but failed to become law are listed below.