Key questions in American history

"In the United States, slavery was an important institution for many farmers, especially in the southern states. However, many people fought against slavery as a legal practice. One of the causes of the Civil War was slavery and, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves in the states that rebelled against the Union. Although slaves were officially free, many practices such as sharecropping were instituted in some southern states, effectively preventing former slaves from improving their lives. The abolition movement successfully freed slaves, but former slaves had a long way to go before they were truly free"--Provided by publisher.

"The U.S. Constitution separates government powers into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches. The writers of the Constitution wanted to make sure that the government didn't get too powerful, so they made sure the power in government was balanced. Each branch of the government can check on the others to make sure they're following the rules and not getting too powerful. Throughout the United States' history, many people have challenged the balance of the government through impeachment trials, majority rule in the Legislative branch, and trials in the Supreme Court. Readers will be encouraged to think critically about whether or not the balance of power in U.S. government is truly balanced"--Provided by the publisher.