Understanding American Legal and Political Foundations

From the study guide

Course Outline

  1. MLK Day and other federal holidays
  2. Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day
  3. Kennedy family political legacy and events
  4. Civil Rights Movement, segregation and voting rights
  5. Civil disobedience and Thoreau resistance
  6. Colonial North America: charters and governance
  7. Theocratic New England and Puritan ideology
  8. Common law foundations of US legal system
  9. Impeachment and English Bill of Rights influence
  10. Denialism, antisemitism and Deborah Lipstadt
  11. Checks and balances after Capitol assault
  12. Rule of law, autocracy by legal change

1. MLK Day and other federal holidays

Key Concepts & Definitions

  • MLK Day: MLK Day is a U.S. federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., observed on a specific weekday rather than a fixed calendar date.
  • Presidents' Day: Presidents' Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed on the third Monday of February for multiple U.S. presidents.
  • Indigenous Peoples Day: Indigenous Peoples Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed on the second Monday of October, replacing the former Columbus Day in official naming.
  • Independence Day: Independence Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed on a fixed date, July 4, tied to the 1776 Declaration of Independence.
  • Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is a U.S. federal holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

Essential Points

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Practice quiz preview

1. Which federal holiday is observed on the third Monday of January and honors Martin Luther King Jr.?

2. What event does the source identify as a colonial protest against taxation without representation in 1773?

3. How did the English Bill of Rights influence later American constitutional development?

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Flashcard preview

MLK Day β€” when?

Third Monday of January

Presidents' Day β€” when?

Third Monday of February

Indigenous Peoples Day β€” when?

Second Monday of October

Independence Day β€” date?

July 4

Thanksgiving β€” when?

Fourth Thursday of November

MLK Day β€” first observed?

1986 under Reagan

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Understanding American Legal and Political Foundations study guide cover?

It covers the core concepts of Understanding American Legal and Political Foundations, organized by topic with the key definitions, explanations and takeaways, so it's easier to learn and remember.

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How many questions are in the Understanding American Legal and Political Foundations quiz?

The practice quiz has 24 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation. Use it to check what you know and find your gaps.

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How do I study Understanding American Legal and Political Foundations with flashcards?

There are 24 flashcards on Understanding American Legal and Political Foundations, with a question on the front and the answer on the back. Try to recall each answer before you flip, and let spaced repetition bring back the ones you miss.

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