DCUSH prior knowledge quiz

oligarchy

small group holds power

communism

the government controls the economy/propert, aiming for a classless societyy

socialism

the government provides or controls key services/industries

capitalism

private individuals own businesses and property; companies compete for customers; prices are shaped by supply and demand; people choose jobs, goods, and investments

command economy

economic system often used in communist states, where the government controls production, prices, and the distribution of goods

mayflower compact

established early self-government in the colonies and set a precedent that governments gain authority from the consent of the governed

declaration of independence

declared the American colonies independent from Britain and introduced the idea that governments must protect natural rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)

articles of confederation

first U.S. national government ; created a weak central governments that revealed problems like lack of taxation power and difficulty enforcing laws

U.S. constitution

created the current framework of U.S. government establishing federalism, separation of powers, and a stronger central government

bill of rights

first 10 amendments to the constitution that protect individual freedoms such as speech, religion, press, and due process

federalist papers

essays written to support ratification of the constitution by explaining how it would protect liberty while maintaining an effective government

e pluribus unun

latin phrase meaning “out of many, one,” showing that the United States is made up of many states and people United into one nation. This was the original motto of the U.S. until “in God we trust” became the official motto in 1956

protestant reformation (1500s)

challenged the Catholic church and reshaped religion and politics across europe

columbian exchange (after 1492)

transferred plants, animals, diseases, and people between europe, Africa, and the Americas, dramatically changing populations and economies

enlightenment (1600s-1700s)

spread ideas about natural rights, democracy, and government by consent that influenced the american revolution

atlantic slave trade (1500s-1800s)

forced millions of Africans into slavery and shaped the economic development of the americas

american revolution (1775-1783)

created the united states and introduced ideas of republican government based on enlightenment principles

french revolution (1789-1799)

spread revolutionary ideas about liberty and equality while reshaping european politics

industrial revolution (1700s-1900s)

rise of factories and urbanization

world war I (1914-1918)

global conflict

bolshevik revolution (1917)

established the first communist state in Russia and set the stage for global ideological conflict in the 20th century

great depression (1929-1939)

worldwide economic collapse

world war II (1939-1945)

major global war- axis powers (germany, italy, japan) vs allied powers (great britain, soviet union, united states, china)

cold war

a global ideological struggle between capitalism (the U.S.) and communism (the Soviet union) that influenced wars, politics, and alliances worldwide

civil rights movement (1950s-1960s)

advanced legal and social equality in the united states and influenced global human rights movements

fall of the soviet union (1991)

ended the cold war, dissolved the world’s largest communist state, and left the united states as the dominant global superpower