Social Studies - US History and Civics Flashcards

What was Manifest Destiny as understood in 19th-century America?

Answer: The belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America to the Pacific Ocean

Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century ideology that American expansion westward to the Pacific was inevitable and divinely ordained.

How does the electoral college work in U.S. presidential elections?

Answer: Citizens vote for electors who then officially cast votes for President on behalf of their state

Voters elect state electors who then vote for President, with most states awarding all electoral votes to the popular vote winner in that state.

What was the significance of the 19th Amendment (1920)?

Answer: It granted women the right to vote in all U.S. elections

The 19th Amendment prohibited denying the right to vote based on sex, granting women full voting rights nationally.

What is federalism as practiced in the United States?

Answer: A system dividing power between the national government and state governments

Federalism distributes governmental authority between the national and state levels, with each having specific powers.

The Great Depression (1929–1939) was primarily caused by:

Answer: A combination of stock market crash, bank failures, and declining consumer spending

The Great Depression resulted from the 1929 stock market crash, widespread bank failures, reduced spending, and rising unemployment.

What is the main purpose of the U.S. census conducted every 10 years?

Answer: To count the population and determine representation in Congress and allocation of federal funds

The census counts every person in the U.S. to apportion congressional seats among states and distribute federal resources.