Midterm Essay Topics

1. Midterm Essay Topics Presidential Decisions Supreme Court Cases Constitutional Principles

2. Whiskey Rebellion Political Parties Farewell address:Neutrality Precedents: 2 terms, cabinet Government will enforce federal laws 2 terms until 1940 FDR Cabinet: “unwritten constitution” George Washington

3. 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 Thomas Jefferson

4. 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 Madison

5. 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. James Monroe

6. Indian Removal Act Pet Banks Spoils system Kitchen Cabinet Cherokee v. Georgia (John Marshall) Trail of Tears Common Man’s President Use of veto Andrew Jackson

7. 1st Amendment Freedom of Speech –distribute pamphlets to avoid the draft Decision: Speech restricted during wartime. Impact: “Clear and Present Danger.” Schenck v. US

8. 1st Amendment – Freedom of religion. State regents prayer. Decision: Public schools cannot encourage prayer. Impact: Separation of church and state. Engel v. Vitale

9. 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. Vernonia v. Acton

10. 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. N.J. v. TLO

11. 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. Bethel v. Fraser

12. 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 Plessy v. Ferguson

13. 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. Federalism

14. 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. Checks and Balances

15. 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. Separation of Powers

16. 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. Amending Process