US Government, Immigration, and Key Historical Events
US Federal System of Government
The U.S. has a Federal System of government composed of: a central (or federal) government seated in Washington D.C, and the state governments of the 50 states.
Government Branches
- Legislative: Makes the laws
- Executive: Administers and enforces the laws
- Judicial: Solves conflicts between citizens, between citizens and government, and within the government
Fundamental Rights and Privileges
Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of petition, freedom of property, and the principles of equality.
Immigration Changes After the Civil War
Until 1895, the majority of immigrants were from northern and western Europe. After the Civil War, most immigrants arrived from Italy, Poland, Russia, Sweden, the Balkans, and Austria, among other countries. These new waves of immigrants brought a sizable proportion of Catholics and Jews.
The First US Flag
In 1777, Betsy Ross presented the flag of the new nation with its famous stars and stripes. There were 13 stars and 13 stripes, representing the 13 colonies or states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.
The Boston Tea Party
The Tea Party took place in 1773 when Parliament passed the Tea Act. This act allowed the East India Company to avert bankruptcy by selling tea to the colonies at a very low price, as long as they paid the taxation. However, the colonies were enraged by this, and they did not let the tea cargo get to shore. When the ships were going to return to Great Britain, radical Indians attacked the ships and threw all the tea into the water.
Major Events Leading to the War of Independence
The major events that led to the War of Independence were:
- The Boston Massacre (1770)
- The Boston Tea Party (1773)
- The Intolerable Acts (1774) – closing Boston Harbor (an example of how the English tried to isolate the colonies from each other)
Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca spent 8 years in the Gulf Region. He learned to appreciate and sympathize with natives. He arrived in Florida in 1528 as Treasurer of Panfilo de Narvaez’s expedition. He lived among natives and defended them. He told stories about El Dorado.
The Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson (3rd president, 1800-1808) offered to buy the lower Mississippi River area around New Orleans. France offered to sell all of her territory west of the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains for 15 million dollars. The size of the U.S. doubled.
Main Reasons for the Civil War
There were three main reasons for the Civil War:
- Slavery
- Economic and social factors
- Political factors
State and Local Government Activities
Most individual activities are determined by the state and local governments. For example: driver’s licenses, marriage licenses, establishment of companies or corporations, medical practice, and law practice.
US Educational System Levels
The educational system in the US is divided into the following levels:
- Nursery or Play School
- Kindergarten
- Primary or Elementary School
- Secondary or High School
- Higher Education
College Entrance Requirements
College entrance requirements vary. Many require a high school diploma and a certain average grade. Others require SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test) scores and/or other institutional tests. Some require interviews and careful review of applications (extracurricular activities are valued).