Social studies terms

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which all eligible citizens vote for representatives to pass laws for them

Bicameral

A branch of gov. that is divided into 2 parts ; called houses

Checks and balances

A system of gov. in which each branch of government has its own responsibilities and limits the power of other branches

Conservative

beliefs in establishing practices in politics and societies

Gerrymandering

to change the boundaries of an election district to favor one party or class

Lobbyists

people who went with legislators to try to persuade them to support the interest of their clients

Disinformation

False or misleading info that is intended to dicieve others

Appeal

a formal request for a higher court to review the decision of a lower one

Fiscal

relatives to government finances

Abstain

to choose not to do something or to choose not to vote

municipal

relatives to city government

ordiances

laws

Civic responsibility

the duties of a citizen

Enumerate

To establish a number or list

Petition

a written document that people sign to show they support a specific change or action

Aquaculture

the practice of rearing fish or water animals for commercial purposes

Interdependant

When things or people are related in such a way that each needs and depends on the other

Globalization

a process by which economics became more connected and business begin to operate across borders

Outsource

To obtain goods or services from an outside supplier instead of using a local source

Exported

a product that is sent to another county to be sold there

Import

a product that is brought into a country to be sold there

Tariffs

a tax to be paid on certain imports or exports

Incentives

something that encourages a person or business to do something or work harder

Hemispheres

a half of the earth

Physical Features

a natural formation on the earther surface such as a mountain, river, or coastal plain

Geology

the study of how earth was formed and how it continues to change

Levees

a wall or embankment built along a river to prevent flood lines

Floodplains

flat, low lying land near a river that is prone to flooding

Reservoirs

an area of water to collect, either to prevent flooding or to be a seed as a water source

Tributaries

a river or stream that flows into a larger body of water, such as a river or lake

Aquifers

an underground reservoir that forms when fresh water becomes trapped between two layers of sediment

Natural Resources

a material that has economic value in its natural state such as timber, fresh water, minerals, or fertile land

Sustainable

methods of harvesting natural materials that do not use up or destroy their supply

Deforestation

a rapid loss of all of the trees in an area due to widespread loggings, also called clear cutting

Hydroelectric

the use of flowing water to generate electricity

Ecosystem

a community of living things that interact with and depend on each other in a certain environment

Indigenous

native, or occurring naturally in a place

Voluntary Migration

choosing to move to another place

Forced Migration

the relocation of a person or group of people without their consent

Regions

an area with distinct physical, and cultural charcteristics

Plateaus

a flat area with a high elevation

Landforms

a natural feature of the earths surface

Boomtowns

a town that experiences sudden population growth due to a heavy discovered valuable source

Loess

very fine white or yellow sandy oil

Archaeology

The study of human history by analyzing artifacts and examining sites

Artifacts

human made items that past people used in daily life

Bias

prejudice for or against something or someone, usually in an unfair way

Rituals

a formal ceremony or series of acts with special meaning that is always performed in the same way

Animism

the religous belief that everything in nature, living or dead, has a spirit

Matriarchy

a family or social structure in which relationships, property, and often political power are traced through women

Colonizing

to send settlers to a place and establish control over it

Prosperity

the state of being succesful in material or financial terms

Enslaved

to make someone the legal property of another person

Conquistador

a spanish conqueror

Immunity

resistance to disease

Indentured Servant

a poor person who agreed to work for someone who paid for their travel expenses to a colony

Mercantilism

the economic theory that colonies exist to bring profit to the colonizing country

Diaspora

the spreading out of people from their original homeland over a wide area

Nationalism

intense pride a support for ones own country

Antebellum

a time before a war, most often the years before the American Civil war

Alliance

a relationship or union formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries in a time of war

Cartography

the process or trade of making maps

Chronometer

a timepiece that keep accurate time regardless of movement, temperature, or humidity

Impress

to kidnap and force into naval service for another country

Displaced

a person or group of people who have been forced to leave their home due to circumstances outside of their control

Syllabary

a set written characters for a language, which every character represents a syllable or another part of a spoken word

Apprentice

someone who spends a period of time learning a job or skill from a master of that job or skill

Rivalry

a tense, long-term competition between two people or groups

Platform

the formal statement of a political part’s beliefs and policies

Coalition

a group of people or group of countries that has joined together for a common purpose

Scandal

an event that shocks observers because of behavior that is morally wrong or illegal

Manifest Destiny

the belief that Americans were destined by God to control and populate the land between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

Cede

to give control of something, usually territory to another person or government

Emancipate

to set free

Sectionalsim

supporting the interests of a particular region or state rather than the interests of the whole country

Abolitionists

people who supported the permanent end of slavery

Textiles

cloth or other woven fabric

Popular sovereignty

a government that is based on the will or consent of the people often carried out by voting

Nullify

to make legally null and void

Secede

to seperate from a nation or state become independant

Martyr

a person who is killed or suffers greatly for a political or religous cause

Sovereignty

self rule, indpendence ; freedom from external control

Arsenal

a government storage facility for 

weapons and ammunition 

artifact: human-made items that past people 

used in daily life

Blockade

an act of war in which one 

combatant uses ships to keep any supplies or people from going to or coming from its enemy's ports 

Unanimous

agreed to or voted on by everyone

Enlist

to join the military

Intervention

an action taken to provide 

assistance 

Reinforcements

extra personnel, food, or other 

supplies 

Contraband

an enslaved person who escaped 

to Union-held territory during the Civil War 

Recruiting

to enlist a person in the military redlining:

Martial Law

the control of an area by military 

forces rather than the police or local government 

Guerilla

soldiers who do not belong to a 

regular army, but fight on their own with no direction from military leaders

Racism

a system of privilege, advantage, and power that establishes laws and practices because of prejudice based on race 

Prejudice

 an unfair dislike or even hatred for a 

person or group because of differing 

characteristics like race, gender, religion

Terrain

the physical characteristics and landforms in a particular place 

textile: cloth or other woven fabric

Inflation

a rise in the general price of goods 

and services 

Skirmishes

a short unplanned battle during a 

war 

Massacres

the violent killing of many people in 

a short period of time 

Total War

 unrestricted warfare that seeks to 

completely destroy an enemy's supplies and morale 

Ratified

to give formal approval of a document, 

such as a treaty, contract, or agreement