Blacks in the USA, Bill of Rights, Gettysburg Address & Declaration of Independence Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, German translations, and usage examples from all four historical document topics: Slavery & Black American History, The Gettysburg Address, The Bill of Rights, and The Declaration of Independence.

slavery

German: Sklaverei. Context: the history of slavery in the USA.

enslavement

German: Versklavung. Context: the experience of enslavement.

enslaved person

German: versklavte Person. Use instead of the outdated term "slave" when referring to a person.

slave trade

German: Sklavenhandel. Context: the transatlantic slave trade.

slave owner

German: Sklavenhalter. Context: a plantation owner who enslaved people.

plantation

German: Plantage. Context: a large plantation in the American South.

abolition

German: Abschaffung, insbesondere der Sklaverei. Context: the abolition of slavery.

abolitionist

German: Gegner/in der Sklaverei. Context: an abolitionist movement.

emancipation

German: Befreiung, Emanzipation. Context: emancipation from slavery.

Emancipation Proclamation

German: Emanzipationserklärung. Context: Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

to abolish

German: abschaffen / zunichtemachen. Context: to abolish slavery once and for all.

to enslave

German: versklaven. Context: Millions of people were enslaved.

exploitation

German: Ausbeutung. Context: economic exploitation.

oppression

German: Unterdrückung. Context: to suffer under oppression.

forced labour

German: Zwangsarbeit. Context: to be forced into labour.

bondage

German: Knechtschaft, Unfreiheit. Context: to live in bondage.

legacy

German: Erbe, Vermächtnis. Context: the legacy of slavery.

heritage

German: kulturelles/historisches Erbe. Context: African American cultural heritage.

ancestry

German: Abstammung. Context: to trace one's ancestry.

to deprive sb. of sth.

German: jdm. etw. vorenthalten. Context: to be deprived of basic rights.

to be stripped of sth.

German: etw. beraubt werden. Context: to be stripped of one's freedom.

to endure

German: ertragen, durchstehen / etwas aushalten. Context: to endure hardship.

to inherit

German: erben. Context: to inherit a legacy of inequality.

to shape

German: prägen. Context: History continues to shape society.

address, speech

German: Rede, Ansprache.

four score and seven years

German: $4 \times 20 + 7 = 87$.

to bring sth. forth

German: etw. hervorbringen.

to conceive sth.

German: etw. empfangen.

proposition

German: Aussage, These.

to dedicate sth (to sb)

German: etw. weihen, jmd. etwas widmen.

to consecrate sth.

German: etwas weihen.

to hallow sth.

German: etwas heiligen.

to detract sth.

German: etwas schmälern.

devotion

German: Hingabe.

to resolve sth

German: etwas beschließen, entscheiden.

to perish

German: verderben, untergehen.

the constitution

German: die Verfassung. Context: Britain does not have a written Constitution.

civil rights

German: Bürgerrechte. Definition: The rights that every person in a society has to be treated equally.

sufficient

German: ausreichend. Context: We are allowed sufficient time to get there.

founding fathers

German: Gründerväter. Definition: A person who starts or develops a new movement, institution or idea.

to be urged to do sth.

German: gedrängt werden, etw. zu tun. Context: The charity urged the government to reconsider its decision.

ratification

German: Ratifizierung. Definition: The act or process of making an agreement legally valid by voting or signing it.

amendment

German: Ergänzung, auch: Änderung. Definition: A small change or improvement that is made to a document or proposed new law.

to prohibit sth.

German: etw. verbieten. Context: The import of these products is prohibited by law.

freedom of speech

German: Redefreiheit. Definition: Right to express any opinion in public.

freedom of the press

German: Pressefreiheit. Definition: The right to publish news and opinions in the press without the government removing any of the information.

the right of the people to peaceably assemble / assemble peaceably

German: Versammlungsrecht. Definition: The right to have public meetings which is guaranteed by a law in the US.

grievance

German: Beschwerde. Context: He had been nursing a grievance against his boss for months.

militia

German: Miliz/Bürgerwehr. Context: He said he would call out the state militia if the rebels did not surrender.

the right to keep and bear arms

German: das Recht, Waffen zu haben und zu tragen. Context: People in the US have the right to keep and bear arms.

to infringe a rule / a law

German: Regel/Gesetz brechen. Context: The material can be copied without infringing copyright.

consent

German: Zustimmung. Context: The written consent of a parent is required.

to be unreasonable

German: unvernünftig/unfair sein. Context: The job was beginning to make unreasonable demands on his free time.

to violate a law / rule

German: ein Gesetz/Regel missachten. Context: The directive violates fundamental human rights.

indictment

German: Anklage. Definition: A sign that a system, society, etc. is very bad or very wrong.

controversy

German: Kontroverse. Context: The president resigned amid considerable controversy.

in the course of

German: im Laufe von / im Verlauf von. Context: In the course of human history, many empires have risen and fallen.

equal station

German: gleicher Rang / gleichberechtigte Stellung. Context: All nations should treat each other as equals with an equal station.

to entitle somebody to do sth.

German: jemandem das Recht geben / berechtigen (etw. zu tun). Context: Every citizen is entitled to freedom of speech.

to require sth

German: etw. erfordern / verlangen. Context: Respect for others requires honest communication.

to impel somebody to do sth.

German: jemanden antreiben / veranlassen etw. zu tun. Context: Hunger impelled them to seek food.

to be endowed by

German: ausgestattet / beschenkt werden von. Context: Humans are endowed by nature with reason and conscience.

unalienable (auch: inalienable) rights

German: unveräußerliche / unentziehbare Gesetze. Context: Human rights are unalienable and cannot be taken away.

the pursuit of happiness

German: das Streben nach Glück. Context: The constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness is central to American culture.

to secure these rights

German: um diese Rechte zu sichern / zu schützen. Context: Laws are created to secure these rights for all citizens.

to derive one’s just powers from…

German: seine rechtmäßige Macht ableiten von… Context: Democratic governments derive their just powers from the consent of the people.

to alter sth

German: etw. ändern / abändern. Context: The government decided to alter the existing tax laws.

to institute new government

German: eine neue Regierung einsetzen / gründen. Context: After the revolution, the citizens decided to institute a new government.

usurpations

German: widerrechtliche Aneignungen / Rechtsanmaßungen. Context: The dictator’s constant usurpations led to popular resistance.

candid

German: unvoreingenommen / ehrlich / aufrichtig. Context: To prove our point, let the facts be presented to a candid world.

to assent to laws

German: die Zustimmung zu Gesetzen. Context: The King refused his assent to laws passed by the parliament.

to plunder sb/sth.

German: jn./etw. plündern / ausrauben. Context: The enemy troops plundered several coastal towns.

to ravage sth.

German: etw. verwüsten / zerstören. Context: The storm ravaged the entire coastline.

rectitude

German: Rechtschaffenheit / Redlichkeit. Context: We appeal to the moral rectitude of our intentions.

allegiance

German: Treueid / Loyalität / Gefolgschaft. Context: Citizens swear an oath of allegiance to their country.

to levy war

German: Krieg erklären / Krieg führen. Context: Parliament alone had the authority to levy war.

to conclude peace

German: Frieden schließen. Context: The two nations signed a treaty to conclude peace.

to contract alliances

German: Bündnisse schließen. Context: Independent states have the power to contract alliances with foreign nations.

to establish commerce

German: Handel aufbauen / etablieren. Context: The agreement helped establish commerce between both countries.

divine providence

German: göttliche Vorsehung. Context: With a firm reliance on divine providence, they faced the future.

to pledge sth

German: etw. feierlich versprechen / geloben. Context: We pledge our allegiance to the cause of freedom.