Thematic Essay Packet How to use this resource: The U.S ...

Thematic Essay Packet

How to use this resource: The U.S. History & Government Regents contains two (2) essay questions: a thematic essay and a Document Based Question Essay (DBQ). The thematic essay will focus on a particular theme or generalization. Below is a list of some, not all of the more popular thematic essay topics:

Popular Thematic Essay Topics

1. Amendments and the Branches of Government 2. Geography 3. Supreme Court Cases 4. Individuals, groups, and institutions 5. Foreign Policy 6. Equal rights/equality 7. Conflict 8. Presidents and Presidential Decisions 9. Reform movements 10. Turning Points

Each page in this packet will cover one of the ten themes listed above and provide a list of key terms, names, and events that could be used to answer a thematic essay question on that theme. Use the packet to review and try to remember key points about each of the more popular themes. This will help you review for the essay portion of the Regents exam.

Theme: Amendments and the Branches of Government

First Amendment

Freedom of Religion

Freedom of Press

Freedom of Speech

Second Amendment

Right to keep and bear arms

Fifth Amendment

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)

Tenth Amendment

Thirteenth Amendment Fourteenth Amendment

Guarantee that the people and the states have all of the powers not specifically delegated the federal government (reserved powers)

Slavery is illegal "Equal Protection Clause" Banned former Confederates from

holding office

Fifteenth Amendment

Nineteenth Amendment Separation of Powers

Male, citizens, over 21 could 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.

Women are granted the right to vote

Legislative Branch

Executive Branch Judicial Branch

The Constitution set up three branches of government, each with specific and unique powers, as well as system of checks and balances designed to limit those powers.

Passes laws and declares war Override presidential vetoes (2/3 vote

in each house)

President, VP, Cabinet Supreme Court and Federal Courts Has the power of judicial review

Manifest Destiny Louisiana Purchase

Transcontinental Railroad

Monroe Doctrine Homestead Act Northwest Ordinance Missouri Compromise/Kansas Nebraska Act/Compromise of 1850

Theme: Geography The belief that God wanted Americans to expand westward towards the Pacific Ocean

Allowed United States to gain control of the Mississippi River

Was an important step in westward expansion

Allowed the U.S. to use the port in New Orleans to trade goods

Doubled the size of the nation Jefferson was President

The government provided free land for their construction

The railroads increased westward expansion and the development of the Great Plains

The railroads contributed to industrial growth by allowing products to move more quickly

Allowed the U.S. to expand its influence on the Western Hemisphere (get more power in the world)

Was intended to prevent more European colonization in the Caribbean

Encouraged Americans to settle in the great plains

Provided a method for adding states to the United States as people expanded westward

All three tried to solve the problems of (1)whether or not new states would be slave or free, and (2)how new states would be added to the union

Theme: Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v. Madison

The decision established the principle of judicial review

Judicial review means the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional

McCulloch v. Maryland

Deals with the supremacy of the national government

States cannot create laws greater than the federal government

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Scott (black man) tried to sue for his freedom when he moved to a free state

The decision shows that the Supreme Court sometimes fails to protect the rights of minorities (Scott lost because they said he was not a citizen so he could not sue)

Schenck v. United States

"Clear and Present Danger Act" Anti WWI pamphlet Freedom of speech can be limited

Plessy v. Ferguson

Showed that the Supreme Court sometimes fails to protect the rights of citizens

Showed that racial segregation does not violate the equal protection provision of the 14th amendment

Shows the Supreme Court has helped to determine public policy

Ruling: "Separate but equal"

Brown v. Board of Education

Reversed Plessy v. Ferguson School segregation violated the 14th

Amendment

Shows the Pres. has to enforce the Court's decision

Miranda v. Arizona and Mapp v. Ohio

Protects the rights of the accused When being arrested, you must be read

your rights (Miranda)

Slavery Women's Suffrage Prohibition

Theme: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

The North did not have slavery because of their economy

The South had slavery because of agriculture

Frederick Douglas had a primary source about slavery

The economic opportunities after World War I strengthened the national effort to ratify the women's suffrage amendment

Women's suffrage was part of the Progressive Era

Prohibition was part of the Progressive Era

An increase in organized crime was a major result of prohibition

People's refusal to follow prohibition was a conflict between traditional and modern values

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