Things you
NEED
to know for
Coach C’s
U.S. History
2014-2015
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Test Taking Skills……………………………. Page 3
Eras………………………………………………..... Page 5
Amendments…………………………………… Page 6
Government Knowledge…………………... Page 7
Supreme Court Cases……………………….. Page 9
Key People in Civil Rights…..…………….. Page 10
Political, Military & Group Leaders…… Page 11
Men & Women who Shaped America… Page 12
Presidents……………………………………….. Page 14
Vocabulary………………………………………. Page 16
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Step 1:
Prepare the night before. Get snacks together that you want to bring. Have an idea of what
you want to wear the next morning. This will avoid that “rushed” feeling that you will get
the next morning while you are getting ready and trying to get to school.
Step 2:
Get a good night sleep. Don’t play on your phone until 2 am. Resting your brain gives you an
added edge the next day. You will be able to concentrate on the test you are taking. This
will help you avoid those “careless” mistakes that can cost you big time.
Bring ear plugs if you are easily distracted - OR if you do better reading aloud. You
can block out the world or you can speak very softly “hear” yourself easier with a good set
of ear plugs. They have wax swim ones that work wonderfully.
Step 3:
Dress comfortably. If you are comfortable, you will not be distracted by outside elements.
You will be able to focus on the test at hand. It is best to layer. This will enable you to take
layers off if you start to get to warm, or add them if you start to get chilly.
Step 4:
EAT BREAKFAST! I know you have heard this EVERY time you take a major test… but it is
TRUE! You need to jump start your brain and not be distracted by your tummy trying to
talk mid-test. As tempting as those Pop Tarts and frozen waffles look, they do not provide
all of the essential nutrients that your mind and body require to perform most efficiently.
The best options are meals that combine protein (for mental performance) and complex
carbohydrates (for energy) and that are void of too much fat (which will make you tired
and sluggish). Some healthy, nutrient-laden meals that meet these requirements are yogurt
with granola, scrambled or hard-boiled eggs with a side of toast, oatmeal with fresh fruit
and raisins, a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter, or a bowl of wholegrain cereal with milk and some fresh strawberries or blueberries. While you should eat a
meal that fills you up, be careful not to eat anything heavier than you normally do, as you
don’t want to enter into a food coma and feel lethargic and nauseas.
Step 5:
Snack Smart! Remember, you’re allowed to bring in a snack. Be sure to pack a snack can be
consumed in a few bites. Energy bars or granola bars are a great choice. They are small,
neatly wrapped, and provide a nice boost of energy for the remaining sections of the test.
Whole pieces of fruit such as a banana, an apple, or an orange are other smart options as
they are easy to peel, quick to eat, and contain natural sugars to keep your brain alert and
awake. Though you may trigger some rather interesting facial reactions from your fellow
test mates, consider noshing on a hard-boiled egg. They are small and easy to pack and,
best of all, packed with protein to keep those stomach growls at bay. Don’t forget to bring a
WATER bottle to rehydrate (I emphasize the word water to deter attention away from the
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“quick fix” energy drinks that will have you jittering out of your seat only to send you into a
crash landing before you can complete the exam.
Step 6:
Stay CALM and RELAXED. You got this. You have been prepped for this exam. Keep a good
attitude and remind yourself that you are going to do your best. If you find yourself panicking, take a
few deep breaths. Don't talk to a lot of other students right before: stress can be contagious. You can
do this. Keep telling yourself this.
Step 7:
Ask for scratch paper, extra pencils and a highlighter if they are not provided for you
automatically.
Step 8:
Read the test question carefully. You will do the test in “waves”. BUBBLE LAST! Write any
and all information that you can recall about words, events, and people off to the side of the
question.
Wave 1: Read the questions. Answer the questions that you know for sure. Circle the ones
that you think that you have at least heard something about. Star those questions that you
have NO clue what the question is asking.
Wave 2: Once you have done your first “wave” of questions. Go back and work the
questions that you have circled. Many times your brain will start to recall information once
you have put it in “test” mode. Also, answers or helpful hints may be somewhere else in the
test!
Wave 3: Prior to starting your last “wave” tally up how many A’s, B’s, C’s, & D’s you have. On
a State Standardized test, you will have an equal number of each of these! On wave 3:
eliminate obvious incorrect answers. If you have to guess, guess ONE LETTER! TRUST ME!
Choose the letter that you have the least of! Guess smart not randomly!
Step 9:
Review if you have time. Only change the answer if you have misread a question or you
have a LARGE number over the equal numbers of A’s, B’s, C’s, & D’s.
Step 10:
Bubble your answer sheet in.
Step 11:
Check your bubble answer sheet!
Step 12:
Turn it in, read or take a nice nap- try not to snore!
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ome ealthy entlemen asted
ugar & ilk uz ea's etter

Spanish American War : 1898

WWI : 1914 - 1918

Great Depression : 1929

WWII : 1939 - 1945

Sputnik : 1957

MLK Assassination : 1968/ Man on Moon : 1969

Cold War Ends : 1991

Terrorist Attacks : Sept. 11, 2001

Barack Obama Elected : 2008
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1st:
Freedom of Religion, Press, Speech, Assembly, Petition
2nd:
Right to Bear Arms
3rd:
Right to not have to quarter Soldiers and seizures
4th:
Right to be free from un-reasonable searches and seizures
5th:
Right to grand jury indictment, no double jeopardy, freedom from self-incrimination, due process
of law, eminent domain
6th:
Right to be in-formed of charges, be present when witnesses speak in court, to call defense
witnesses, to have a lawyer.
7th:
Right to a jury trial in civil cases
8th:
Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
9th:
Guarantee of rights not listed in Constitution
10th: Rights of states and people
11th: Prevents suits against states
12th: Election of the President (Election Procedures)
13th: Abolition of slavery Outlawed
14th: Right to be free from discrimination in states and to have due process of law, to have equal
protection of the law
15th: Black Suffrage
16th: Individual Income Tax
17th: Election of National Senators
18th: Prohibition of alcoholic beverages
19th: Women's Suffrage
21st: Repeal to Prohibition (they can drink again)
22nd: Limitation of Presidential term of office
24th: Abolition of poll taxes
25th: Presidential Succession; Vice Presidential Vacancy; Presidential Inability
26th: 18 year olds given the right to vote
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1) What is the Executive Branch? The President, chosen by the Electoral Collage
2) What is the Legislative Branch? The two houses of congress; Senate & House of Representatives
3) What is the Judicial Branch? Supreme Court
4) Principles of the Constitution: FLIPRoCS
F: What is Federalism? Powers are divided between the National and State government.
L: What is Limited Government? Powers of government are limited by the Constitution.
I: What is Individual Rights? People have unalienable rights.
P: What is Popular Sovereignty? People hold the supreme power.
R: What is Republicanism? Is a democratic government in which decisions are made by electing representatives.
C: What is Checks and Balances? To prevent one branch from growing to powerful, each branch can check the others.
S: What is Separation of Powers? Divides powers into three separate branches.
5) What was a Federalist view on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
-Supported the Constitution
-Favored a strong central government
-James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton wrote the "Federalist Papers"
-Argued that the Constitution prevented tyranny
6) What was an Anti-Federalist view on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
-Opposed the Constitution
-George Mason and Patrick Henry were the leaders
-Feared the central government would become too powerful
-Lacked a bill of rights to protect people
7) Preamble to the Constitution:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
8) Declaration of Independence: This was our “break-up letter” with England:
Primary Author: Thomas Jefferson
Date: July 4, 1776
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political
bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth,
the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a
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decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new
Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.
9) E Pluribus Unum: “Out of Many {comes} One” This is the motto on the Great Seal of the United States
10) In God We Trust: Our National Motto
11) Alexis de Tocqueville’s 5 values:
Egalitarianism (Equality): Refers to a society of equals
Populism (Popular Sovereignty): The Participation of the common people in political life. People Rule.
Liberty: Protection against tyrannical government. Freedoms
Individualism: The government did not direct individual activity
Laissez-Faire: Hands off approach to the economy
12) Third Parties in American Politics
o Help to educate voters on special issues
o Provide an outlet for minority grievances.
o Pressure major parties to adopt their ideas.
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Miranda v. Arizona (1966): A person’s confession of a crime is not valid if he or she was not first
informed of the right to have a lawyer present during police questioning.
Munn v. Illinois (1877): Supreme Court upheld the right of a state to regulate businesses that affected
the public interest within the state.
Schenck v. U.S. (1919): There are limits to Free Speech. The Court said that free speech is not protected
from falsely “shouting fire in a crowded theater and causing panic.” The 1st Amendment did not protect
words that create a “clear and present danger”.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Upheld the constitutionality of the state segregation laws. The Court had
ruled that the “separate-but-equal” standard was constitutional.
Sweatt v. Painter (1950): The NAACP won this case. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that this separate
school failed to qualify as “separate but equal” since differences in its facilities, such as the isolation of its
students from future lawyers being trained in Austin, with whom its students would later interact.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson. This marked the end of legal
segregation in public schools. It was a key turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.
Korematsu v. U.S. (1944): Upheld Executive Order 9066 (relocation of Japanese Americans during
WWII). Constitutional liberties may be limited in wartime.
Roe v. Wade (1973): A woman has a constitutional right to privacy. This gave her the right to end her
pregnancy in the first 3 months if she chose to do so.
Mendez v. Westminster ISD (1947): Segregation of children of a group was illegal without a special
state law requiring it.
Delgado v. Bastrop ISD (1948): The segregation of Mexican-American children was illegal in Texas.
Hernandez v. Texas (1954): Ruled that Mexican-Americans, though not a separate race, were still
entitled as a class to protection under the 14th Amendment.
White v. Regester (1973): Required single member districts in Dallas and Bexar counties, so local
groups could elect their own representatives.
Edgewood ISD v. Kirby (1984): Required changes in school finance to increase funding for students in
poorer school districts.
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Two students were suspended from school for wearing black armbands
to protest the Vietnam War. The Supreme Court ruled that this violated the students’ First Amendment
rights.
Wisconsin v. Yonder (1972): The U.S. struck down a Wisconsin state law that required Amish children
to attend school beyond Grade 8. The Court found that this state law violated the parents’ freedom of
religion since the state’s secondary education conflicted with Amish values and beliefs.
United States v. Nixon (1974): Congress wanted to hear recordings of Nixon in the Oval office. President
Nixon refused to turn over the tapes, claiming executive privilege. The United States Supreme Court ruled
that Nixon must turn over the tapes, reaffirming the principle that no one is above the law.
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Susan B. Anthony: Early pioneer of the Women’s Rights movement. Strong supporter of women’s
suffrage.
Ida B. Wells:
African American writer who campaigned to end lynching.
W.E.B. DuBois:
Early supporter of the NAACP. Spoke out for equality of African Americans
Marcus Garvey:
Leader of the back to Africa movement of the 1920’s, Believed blacks should create
their own communities.
Hector P. Garcia:
WWII veteran who fought for equal treatment of veterans regardless of race or
ethnicity.
Betty Friedman:
Founder of the National Organization of Women (NOW). Outspoken advocate for
women’s equality.
George Wallace:
Alabama Governor. Voice of white resistance to Civil Rights Movement..
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
Montgomery preacher. Civil Rights Movement leader. Gave the “I Have
a Dream” speech.
Rosa Parks:
Arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus in Montgomery. NAACP member.
Orval Faubus:
Governor of Arkansas. He fought against the integration of schools in his state.
Lester Maddox:
Restaurant owner who refused integration. He was elected Governor of Georgia for
his segregation beliefs.
Cesar Chavez:
An organizer of Farm workers in California. Started a group that supported farm
workers’ rights.
Knights of Labor:
Tried to unite all American workers, both skilled and unskilled, into one national
labor union, but this was not successful.
American Federation of Labor: A national federation of different craft unions of skilled workers.
Samuel Gompers: Leader of the American Federation of Labor.
Booker T. Washington: A prominent African American leader, had argued that African Americans
should seek gradual equality, focus on job training, and not be too demanding.
Jane Addams: Started settlement houses in the slum neighborhoods.
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Henry Cabot Lodge:
Strong believer in Social Darwinism. There were superior races and it was
out duty to help the “inferior” races by spreading our American values.
Alfred T. Mahan:
First proponent of the US to build a powerful Navy. Was right in his belief
that naval power was important to the US becoming a world power. Helped
convince Teddy Roosevelt that we needed the Panama Canal.
Tuskegee Airmen:
African American pilots during WWII.
Flying Tigers:
Volunteer American pilots who flew supplies to the Chinese beginning in
1941.
Navajo Code Talkers:
Used their native Navajo language to send messages in the Pacific theater
during WWII. The Japanese could never break this code.
Alvin York:
Medal of Honor winner in WWI.
Vernon J. Baker:
African American Medal of Honor winner for service in WWII.
Roy Benavidez:
Hispanic Medal of Honor winner in Vietnam.
General John J. Pershing: Commander of the American Expeditionary (AEF) during WWI.
General George Marshall: Chief of Staff who helped form and equip the U.S. Army. Creator of the
Marshall plan at the start of the Cold War.
General Omar Bradley:
Commanded an army that landed in Normandy invasion.
General Douglas MacArthur: Commander of U.S. Army fighting in the Pacific; later was in charge of the
U.S. occupation of Japan. Had a dispute with Truman over nuclear
weapons and this led to his dismissal.
General George Patton:
Commander of U.S. Third Army; expert in tank warfare.
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Alexander G. Bell: Invented telephone (1876)
Thomas A. Edison: Invented light bulb (1879)
Andrew Carnegie: Bought iron ore fields, coal mines, and ships to have complete control over the
production of steel. He kept wages low and spend millions on philanthropy.
John D. Rockefeller: Made his fortune refining oil. He obtained secret, beneficial rates from train
companies, giving him a competitive advantage.
Upton Sinclair - Muckraker-
Sandford Dole :
Exposed the working conditions in meat packing industry. His work
lead to the Pure Food & Drug Act and also Mean Inspection Act. Wrote
“The Jungle”.
Lead the takeover of the Hawaiian Islands by the white elite landowners. Annexed
Hawaii to US control.
Clarence Darrow: Defense attorney in the Scopes Monkey Trial. Though he lost his arguments for
allowing the teaching of evolution in schools won many supporters.
William Jennings Bryan:
Glenn Curtiss:
Spokesman for the Populist Party. Prosecutor in the Scopes Monkey Trial.
Best known as a great speaker but unable to put his words into action.
“Cross of Gold” Speech.
Pioneer in the aviation field. Founder of the US aircraft industry.
Charles Lindbergh: First person to fly solo across the Atlantic. Greatest hero of the 1920’s.
Phyllis Schlafly:
Conservative activist who spoke out against the feminist movement of the 1970’s.
Billy Graham:
Christian evangelist. One of the first to integrate his revivals. Joined Dr. King in his
pursuit of Civil Rights. Consul too many U.S. Presidents.
Barry Goldwater: Most credited with sparking the resurgence of the conservative political movement.
Estee Lauder:
Female pioneer in the business world. Created Estee Lauder Company with her
husband at a time when very few women even worked.
Robert L. Johnson: Founder of Black Entertainment Television network (BET) was the first black
billionaire.
Lionel Sosa:
Hispanic business man who created the largest consultant firm in the world. Has
been the Hispanic media consultant to 7 Republican presidential candidates.
Henry Ford:
Early auto manufacturer who pioneered new production techniques.
Sacco & Vanzetti:
Convicted and executed of robbery in part because of the hysteria against
foreigners. It was later found that they were ACTUALLY guilty.
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John Steinbeck:
Writer during the Great Depression. Wrote The Grapes of Wrath
Joseph McCarthy:
Held hearings on Communist he said infiltrated U.S. government.
Jonas Salk:
Developed Polio vaccine
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg:
Charged with selling national secrets to the Soviet Union (Atomic
Bomb information). They were found guilty, and executed. Like the
Sacco and Vanzetti trial, some doubted the guilt of these two.
However, in 1997, the National Security Agency released the Venona
Papers. This had been a secret effort by the U.S. to gather and
decoded messages sent by Soviet Military Intelligence Agents. The
Venona Papers revealed the identities of several Americans who had
spied for the Soviet Union, including Julius Rosenberg.
Bill Gates:
Microsoft Founder, and one of the first to recognize the potential of the personal
computer.
Sam Walton:
Founder of Wal-Mart, the five and dime department store that grew to become a
worldwide chain.
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William McKinley : (1897-1901) and (1901) The United States declares war on Spain in 1898, starting
the Spanish-American war, although it ends in the same year with the Treaty of Paris. The United States
annexes Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.
Theodore Roosevelt: Republican (1901-1905) and (1905-1909)Conservationism, trust-busting,
Hepburn Act, safe food regulations, "Square Deal," Panama Canal, Great White Fleet, Nobel Peace Prize for
negotiation of peace in Russo-Japanese War. "Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick"
William H. Taft : (1909-1913) The 16th Amendment is passed by Congress in 1909 and added to the
Constitution in 1912. The 17th Amendment is passed by Congress in 1912.
Woodrow Wilson : (1913-1917) and (1917-1921) The 17th Amendment is added to the Constitution in
1913. The Underwood Tariff Act and the Federal Reserve Act pass in 1913. The Clayton Anti-Trust Act
passes in 1914. In 1915 the US Marines are sent to Haiti. In 1916 the Workingmen's Compensation Act,
the Federal Farm Loan Act, the Warehouse Act, Adamson Act, and Jones Act are passed. In 1917 the US
buys the Virgin Islands from Denmark. The Zimmerman Note incident occurs in 1917. Also at this time is
the Espionage Act of 1917. The Fourteen Points are proposed in 1918 and the Paris Peace Conference and
the Treaty of Versailles occur in 1919. The 18th Amendment is passed in 1919. In 1920 the Versailles
Treaty is defeated by the Senate and the 19th Amendment (WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE!!!) is passed.
Warren G. Harding : (1921-1923), laissez-faire, little regard for gov't or presidency. "return to
normalcy" after Wilson + his progressive ideals. Office became corrupt: allowed drinking in prohibition,
had an affair, surrounded himself w/ cronies (used office for private gain). Ex) Sec. of Interior leased
gov't land w/ oil for $500,000 and took money himself. Died after 3 years in office, VP: Coolidge took over
Calvin Coolidge : (1923-1925) and (1925-1929), taciturn; small gov't conservative; laissez faire
ideology; in favor of immigration restriction (Immigration Act); reduced the tax burden; the Bonus Bill
was passed over his veto; Revenue Act of 1924; Kellogg-Briand Pact
Herbert Hoover : (1929-1933) The New York Stock Market Crashes October 29, 1929 "Black Tuesday".
The 20th Amendment is passed and added and the 21st Amendment is passed by 1933. His name came to
be known as a derogatory term. Homerville’s, Hoover Roast, Etc.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: (1933-1937) and (1937-1941) and (1941-1945) and (1945) The 21st
Amendment is added to the Constitution in 1933. Helped pull our country out of the Depression and was
in office during the start of WWII.
Harry S. Truman: (1945-1949) and (1949-1953), Succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt upon his death. Led
the country through the last few months of World War II, and made the controversial decision to use two
atomic bombs against Japan in August 1945. After the war, Truman was crucial in the implementation of
the Marshall Plan, which greatly accelerated Western Europe's economic recovery. Created the CIA
Dwight D. Eisenhower : (1953-1957) and (1957-1961), when elected President, he was the most
popular American; "I like Ike!" button. Modern Republicanism---didn't undo the New Deal of the
Democrats. Called "The Republican's Choice" . He was the commander of the allied forces in Europe, the
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army chief-of-staff after the war, and the director of NATO for two years. Dwight displayed "grandfatherly
good will". The night before the 1952 presidential elections, he declared that he would personally go to
Korea and end the war. This helped to win the majority in 41 of the lower 48 states. Eisenhower reigned
over a period of unstable peace and prosperity. At the time of the integration of Central High he made the
decision to send the 101st Airborne to Little Rock to protect the students
John F. Kennedy : (1961-1963), Cold war and the superpower rivalry and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Used
the technology of the television to tell the public about the crisis and he allowed the leaders of the Soviet
Union to withdraw their missiles. Building of the Berlin Wall, the space race, and early events of the
Vietnamese war. He was assassinated.
Lyndon B. Johnson : (1963-1965) and (1965-1969) The 24th Amendment is added in 1964. In 1965 the
25th Amendment is passed and in 1967 it is added to the Constitution.
Richard M. Nixon: Republican (1969-1974) In 1971 the 26th Amendment was passed and added to the
Constitution. Reduced troops in Vietnam and signed a peace treaty, ending US involvement in Vietnam.
Normalized relations with China with detente. Watergate Scandal. Resigned from office
George W. Bush : Republican (2001-2005) and (2005-2009), neo-conservative, foreign policy dominated
by war on terror, No child left behind, tax cuts, high deficits, major economic problems, proposed
privatizing social security, opposed stem cell research/pro-life/carbon reductions/ international law, but
wanted more domestic drilling to alleviate oil dependence, major contributions to HIV/AIDs
Barak Obama: First African American to be elected as President
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Transcontinental Railroad: Made travel to the West Coast easier.
Homestead Act: Made federal land available for settlers
Dawes Act: Sought to “Americanize” Native Americans. Abolished Native American tribes, and allotted
tribal lands to individuals
American Indian Citizenship Act: Granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United
States
Klondike Gold Rush: Gold found in Yukon, Alaska in 1896. 100,000 set out for the Klondike, less than
30,000 made it.
Urbanization: Movement of people from the countryside to cities.
Initiative: Voter could directly introduce bills in the state legislature and could vote on whether they
wanted a bill passed.
Referendum: Voters could compel legislators to place a bill on the ballot for approval.
Recall: Elected officials could be removed form officer by voters in a special election.
Municipal: City or Town
Realism: nothing more or less than the truthful treatment of material. During the late 19th Century this
was the new way to write or be artistic. Keep it real.
Selective Service Act (1917): Millions of Americans had to register for the draft.
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