SS Praxis (5089)

Checks and balances

System allowing branches of government to limit each other’s power

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments

Judicial review

Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Separation of powers

Division of government into legislative executive and judicial branches

Popular sovereignty

Idea that government power comes from the people

Rule of law

Principle that everyone must follow the law

Civil liberties

Freedoms protected from government interference

Civil rights

Rights guaranteeing equal treatment under the law

Judicial branch

Branch responsible for interpreting laws

Legislative branch

Branch responsible for making laws

Executive branch

Branch responsible for enforcing laws

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual freedoms

Declaration of Independence

Document declaring independence from Britain

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government creating a weak national government

Constitution

Document outlining the structure of U.S. government

Constitutional Convention

Meeting where delegates created the Constitution

Great Compromise

Agreement creating a bicameral Congress

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement regarding representation of enslaved people

Federalists

Supporters of a strong national government

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution wanting stronger state governments

Marbury v. Madison

Supreme Court case establishing judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court case strengthening federal power

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court case ending school segregation

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court case supporting “separate but equal”

Civil Rights Movement

Movement ending segregation and racial discrimination

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Law protecting voting rights

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Law banning discrimination

Women’s suffrage movement

Movement fighting for women’s right to vote

Stonewall Riots

1969 protests sparking modern LGBTQ+ rights movement

Harlem Renaissance

African American cultural movement of the 1920s

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Protest against segregated buses led by Rosa Parks

March on Washington

1963 civil rights demonstration featuring MLK’s speech

Freedom Rides

Interracial rides challenging segregation laws

Sit-in Protests

Nonviolent protests occupying segregated public spaces

Little Rock Nine

Group integrating Central High School in Arkansas

Women’s Liberation Movement

Movement advocating gender equality

Chicano Movement

Movement supporting Mexican American civil rights

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Movement supporting Native American rights

Gay Rights Movement

Movement advocating LGBTQ+ equality

American Revolution

War for independence from Britain

French Revolution

Revolution overthrowing monarchy in France

Industrial Revolution

Shift from handmade goods to factory production

Scientific Revolution

Period of scientific discovery and experimentation

Enlightenment

Movement emphasizing reason and natural rights

Renaissance

Revival of classical learning and art in Europe

Feudalism

Medieval system based on land and loyalty

Imperialism

Domination of weaker regions by stronger nations

Nationalism

Strong pride and loyalty to one’s nation

Industrialization

Growth of factories and machine production

Urbanization

Growth of cities

Globalization

Increasing connection among world economies and cultures

World War I

Global conflict from 1914–1918

World War II

Global conflict from 1939–1945

Cold War

Political tension between U.S. and Soviet Union

Containment

U.S. policy stopping spread of communism

Holocaust

Nazi genocide during WWII

Genocide

Deliberate destruction of a group of people

Allied Powers

Alliance including U.S. Britain Soviet Union and France during WWII

Axis Powers

Alliance including Germany Italy and Japan during WWII

United Nations

International organization promoting peace

Berlin Wall

Wall dividing East and West Berlin during Cold War

Cuban Missile Crisis

Cold War confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba

Korean War

Cold War conflict in Korea

Vietnam War

Cold War conflict in Southeast Asia

Pearl Harbor

Japanese attack bringing U.S. into WWII

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty ending WWI and punishing Germany

Nazism

Totalitarian ideology led by Adolf Hitler

Fascism

Authoritarian nationalist political ideology

Communism

System where government controls property and production

Socialism

System advocating government ownership of industries

Capitalism

Economic system based on private ownership and free markets

Supply and demand

Economic principle determining prices

Scarcity

Limited resources compared to unlimited wants

Opportunity cost

Value of the next best alternative given up

GDP

Value of all goods and services produced

Inflation

General increase in prices over time

Tariff

Tax on imported goods

Comparative advantage

Producing goods at lower opportunity cost

Recession

Decline in economic activity

Federal Reserve

U.S. central banking system

Labor union

Organization protecting workers’ rights

Muckrakers

Journalists exposing corruption and social problems

Great Depression

Severe worldwide economic crisis beginning in 1929

New Deal

FDR programs responding to Great Depression

Latitude

Lines measuring distance north and south

Longitude

Lines measuring distance east and west

Human geography

Study of people cultures and populations

Physical geography

Study of landforms climate and environment

Cultural diffusion

Spread of ideas and customs between cultures

Push factors

Reasons causing people to leave an area

Pull factors

Reasons attracting people to a place

Migration

Movement of people from one place to another

Silk Road

Trade routes connecting Europe and Asia

Mesopotamia

Early civilization between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Hammurabi’s Code

Early written code of laws

Confucianism

Chinese philosophy emphasizing order and respect

Daoism

Chinese philosophy emphasizing harmony with nature

Shintoism

Japanese religion focused on spirits and nature

Buddhism

Religion focused on enlightenment and ending suffering

Hinduism

Indian religion emphasizing karma and reincarnation