Chapter 6 Test

1.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 1:
- Extending suffrage was one important issue that section 1 described in the book.  The section talked about how we, as a country, took time to re-think and re-organize the way we allow people to vote.  First we took away religious tests, which is a good thing because not all people who are capable of voting believe in God.  Then we started allowing Blacks to vote, in theory.  After that, came the 19th amendment which gave the right to vote to women and from there we have changed the voting age from 21 to 18.  As you can see, steps have been taken and are still being taken to insure that all people of the appropriate age can vote in this country.

2.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 2:
- Section two hits on the topic of, "should we allow illegal aliens to vote or not?"  In it, it states that by order of the constitution, there is nothing stated that would deny those who are not American citizens the right to vote.  That being said, states are given the right to choose who can or cannot vote when it comes to being in this country a said amount of time.  Minnesota and Pennsylvania are the only states that take full advantage of that right but all states have the opportunity to make these laws.

3.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 3:
- In section three, it talks exclusively about civil rights acts that helped black people get out and vote.  Because they were being harassed by many whites, blacks didn't use there given right to vote.  This changed in the 60's when civil rights acts were passed outlining harsher laws against discrimination in the voting places or anywhere else.  Once these laws were passed, blacks could vote easier and whites were subjected to harsh punishment if caught infringing on the rights of others.

4.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 4:
- In section four, the word "idiot" is used.  Its funny to see it in a government book but what is stated is entirely true.  People who don't use their voice and vote could in fact, be called "idiots".  Especially if they then complain about things not going the way they would like to see them go.  The section talks about ways that people could then go about actually voting and they would maybe start to see improvements in what is happening in this country.


5. Explain voter apathy and what can be done to help it:
- Voter apathy is when people are given the right to vote, but for whatever reason, they just choose not to.  This is a serious problem because if no-one votes, nothing changes.  And if nothing changes, the government can seize more power and can create all the havoc it wants because citizens don't do anything to stop it.  This problem could be fixed by making voting easier, or less time consuming for people who just can't get out to vote in November.  That's why absentee ballots were introduced and also why online voting is becoming a more feasible idea.  Maybe something will change overall.


6. Explain the qualifications for registering to vote:

-Must be 18+ years of age

-Must live in the presinct you are voting in.

-In all states except ND, you must be registered to vote.

-Cannot be mentally incompetent

The History of the Democratic and Republican Parties.

Originally, the Republican party was formed by Anti-slavery Whigs and more conservative Democrats.  They were going for the idea of "free men, free soil, and free labor."  They really wanted to have people start working more towards the idea of free men who didn't rely on the government for help, they relied on themselves.  As time progressed, Lincoln became the poster boy for the political party during the civil war.  After the war ended and reconstruction began, the republicans had control and gained power by helping ex-slaves.  Over time, They kept gaining power and eventually got to the point where they are now.


One thing I didn't know that the Democratic party is the oldest party in the history of the United States, and probably in the world.  Democrats dominated American politics until the Lincoln Era and after the civil war.  Originally, the Democratic party was founded from factions of the Democratic-Republicans once the party fell apart in 1824.  Democrats were very conservative at the beginning of their exhistance.  The party was founded from grassroots farmers who just wanted to better their country.  After losing to republicans again and again from 1860-1920's, The party started to go liberal in their views.  Franklin Roosevelt cemented the party's ideas by creating many government run programs during the great depression.  From there, Democrats have become more and more liberal.

I have always supported Republicans for their conservative ideals.  Lately, Republicans have become more and more moderate in their views and I am not happy with the party as a whole.  Because of this, I think I will be a Tea Party supporter more than anything.  They are basically conservative Republicans who are also fed up with how the Republicans are acting in congress. 

Thoughts on Election Results

I thought the local elections went very well for South Dakota.  With Republicans having an almost clean sweep of all the elections, hopefully things should be getting done better in the state congress and national congress.  I was really glad to see that Kristi Noem won over Stephanie Herseth because I do not think that she was a good voice for South Dakota at all.  It was also a good thing that Dugaard won over his opponent because he knows how to be a good governor.

In the national scheme of things, Republicans also had a great election.  They took over the house, and got enough people in the senate to where the Democrats can't fillibuster.  What they are going to do is basically create gridlock if the Democrats won't work with them.  If Democrats chose to work with Republicans, then good things will actually get accomplished for this country.  Hopefully things work out well for the next two years, then we can get a new president and start fresh.