AHS US History Essential Vocab

domesticate

to breed, train, or grow (an animal or plant) for human use

agriculture

the science or occupation of farming

ancestor

a person who was in someone's family in past times

monotheism

the belief in only one god

hierarchy

a system in which people or things are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status

colony

an area that is controlled by or belongs to a country and is usually far away from it

economy

the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought in a country or region

mercantilism

an economic system in which there is strict governmental regulation of the entire national economy

parliament

the group of people who are responsible for making the laws in some forms of government

repeal

to officially make (a law) no longer valid

boycott

to refuse to buy, use, or participate in (something) as a way of protesting

martial law

control of an area by military forces rather than by the police

inflation

a continual increase in the price of goods and services

egalitarian

aiming for equal wealth, status, etc., for all people

republic

a country that is governed by elected representatives and by an elected leader (such as a president) rather than by a king or queen

ratify

to make (a treaty, agreement, etc.) official by signing it or voting for it

tariff

a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

campaign

a series of activities designed to produce a particular result

doctrine

a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true

migrate

to move from one country or place to live or work in another

entrepreneur

a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money

famine

a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat

suffrage

the right to vote in an election

strike

a period of time when workers stop work in order to force an employer to agree to their demands

byproduct

something that is produced during the production or destruction of something else

abundant

existing in large amounts

manufacturer

a person or company that makes a product

ingenuity

skill or cleverness that allows someone to solve problems, invent things, etc.

corruption

dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people

commission

a group of people who have been given the official job of finding information about something or controlling something

regulate

to make rules or laws that control (something)

consolidate

to join or combine together into one thing

stock

a portion ( "share") of the value of a company which can be bought, sold, or traded as an investment

monopoly

complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market

social Darwinism

the hypothesis that those who work hard will become successful

corporation

a large business or organization that, under the law, has the same rights as an individual

reimburse

to pay someone an amount of money equal to the amount that person has already spent

wage

an amount of money that a worker is paid based on the number of hours, days, etc., that are worked

advocate

to argue for or support a cause or policy

collective bargaining

group negotiation

socialism

an economic and political system based on government control of business and property, and an equal distribution of wealth

freight

goods that are carried by ships, trains, trucks, or airplanes

arbitration

a process of settling an argument or disagreement in which the people or groups on both sides present their opinions and ideas to a third person or group

crusade

a major effort to change something

persecution

to treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs

pogrom

the organized killing of many helpless people, usually because of their race or religion

emigrate

to leave a country or region to live elsewhere

annex

to take control of (a territory or place)

ordeal

an experience that is very unpleasant or difficult

ethnic

associated with or belonging to a particular race or group of people who have a culture that is different from the main culture of a country

nativism

the policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.

urbanization

the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more and more people begin living and working in central areas

assimilate

to cause (a person or group) to become part of a different society, country, etc.

tenement

a large building that has apartments or rooms for rent and that is usually in a poorer part of a city

inadequate

not enough or not good enough

sanitation

the process of keeping places free from dirt, infection, disease, etc., by removing waste, trash and garbage, by cleaning streets, etc.

appoint

to choose (someone) to have a particular job; to give (someone) a position or duty

reform

to improve (someone or something) by removing or correcting faults, problems, etc.

curriculum

the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.

oppression

to treat (a person or group of people) in a cruel or unfair way

segregation

the practice or policy of keeping people of different races, religions, etc., separate from each other

constitutionality

being allowed by or in agreement with a constitution

specialization

to limit your business or area of study to one specific subject

sector

an area of an economy; a part of an economy that includes certain kinds of jobs

progressive

using or interested in new or modern ideas especially in politics and education

promote

to help (something) happen, develop, or increase

foster

to help (something) grow or develop

socialism

a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government rather than by individual people and companies

muckraker

someone (such as a reporter) who tries to find embarrassing or shocking information about famous people or industries

constituents

any one of the people who live and vote in an area

initiative

a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem

referendum

an event in which the people of a county, state, etc., vote for or against a law that deals with a specific issue; a public vote on a particular issue

recall

a way in which a public official may be removed from office by a special vote of the people; also: a request by a company for people to return a product that has a defect or problem

temperance

the practice of drinking little or no alcohol

conservation

the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources

restraint

a way of limiting, controlling, or stopping something

administration

a government or part of a government that is identified with its leader (such as a U.S. president or British prime minister)

revenue

money that is made by or paid to a business or an organization

liberal

believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change

jurisdiction

the power or right to make judgments about the law, to arrest and punish criminals, etc.

lobbying

to try to influence government officials to make decisions for or against something

predecessor

a person who had a job or position before someone else

welfare

money or aid given by the government to help an individual, company, or group

imperialism

a policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining control over other areas of the world

dominant

more important, powerful, or successful than most or all others

missionaries

people who go to foreign countries to do religious work

annex

to take control of (a territory or place)

capitalism

a way of organizing an economy so that the things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, ships, etc.) are owned by individual people and companies rather than by the government

guerilla

a member of a usually small group of soldiers who do not belong to a regular army and who fight in a war as an independent unit

protectorate

a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one

exile

a situation in which you are forced to leave your country or home and go to live in a foreign country

impose

to force someone to accept (something)

market

an area (such as a country or part of a country) where a product or service can be sold; the specific type of people who may buy a product

commerce

activities that relate to the buying and selling of goods and services

opponent

a person, group, etc., that is against something (such as an action, law, or system)

province

any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into

canal

a man-made waterway

neutral

not supporting either side of an argument, fight, war, etc.

militarism

the opinions or actions of people who believe that a country should use military methods, forces, etc., to gain power and to achieve its goals

nationalism

a feeling that people have of being loyal to and proud of their country often with the belief that it is better and more important than other countries