US History STAAR Guide

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from U.S. history needed for the STAAR exam.

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the 1st President of the United States.

Declaration of Independence

A document listing grievances against King George III and justifying the colonies' separation from England.

Unalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Federalist Papers

Essays written to encourage ratification of the Constitution, authored by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison.

Articles of Confederation

The first form of government established by the thirteen states, later replaced by the U.S. Constitution due to its weaknesses.

Separation of Powers

Divides the government's powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States should expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans.

Homestead Act

A law that provided 160 acres to anyone willing to settle land in the West.

Social Gospel

A movement applying Christian ethics to social issues, especially social justice.

McCarthyism

The practice of accusing individuals of being Communists without substantial evidence, named after Senator Joe McCarthy.

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court decision that declared segregation in public schools illegal.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance formed among Western nations in 1949.

Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson's program that aimed to address social issues such as health care and civil rights.

War Powers Act

A law limiting the President's ability to deploy military forces without Congressional approval.

Rationing

Government restrictions on the availability of certain goods during wartime.

Dust Bowl

A period of severe dust storms in the 1930s that greatly damaged agriculture in the United States.