Final Exam Study Guide for Social Studies 8

Cultural Region

A geographic area defined by shared cultural traits.

Culture

The beliefs, customs, arts, and institutions of a particular group of people.

Resolution

A formal expression of opinion or intention made by an official body.

Loyalist

A colonist who remained loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution.

Patriot

A colonist who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution.

Petition

A formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority concerning a particular cause.

Mercenary

A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power.

Blockade

An act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.

Siege

A military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building.

Ratify

To sign or give formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.

Ambush

A surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781, which established a weak federal government.

Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, drafted in 1787, which outlines the framework of the national government.

Constitutional Convention

The gathering in 1787 where delegates drafted the Constitution of the United States.

Electoral College

The body of electors established by the Constitution, responsible for electing the President and Vice President.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to promote the ratification of the Constitution and explain its provisions.

Great Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature, balancing the interests of large and small states.

Northwest Ordinance

A law passed in 1787 that established a method for admitting new states to the Union from the Northwest Territory.

Northwest Territory

The region of land northwest of the Ohio River, which was organized by the Northwest Ordinance.

Ratify

To formally approve or confirm a law or amendment.

Republic

A form of government in which the country is considered a 'public matter' and is not the private concern of the rulers.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that determined that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for representation and taxation purposes.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with some measure of influence over the other branches.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for enforcing laws, headed by the President.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Interest Group

An organization of people who share common objectives and actively seek to influence public policy.

Interstate Commerce

Trade and other commercial interactions that cross state lines, which Congress has the power to regulate.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws and actions of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government responsible for making laws, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Majority Rule

A principle that the greater number should exercise greater power in decision-making.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee individual rights and freedoms.

Double Jeopardy

A legal doctrine that prevents an individual from being tried twice for the same offense.

Due Process

A legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person, ensuring fair treatment.

Self-Incrimination

The act of exposing oneself to prosecution by being forced to respond to questions whose answers could incriminate oneself.

Warrant

A legal document authorizing a police officer or other official to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out other actions.

Environment

The natural world, including land, water, and climate, that affects living organisms.

Migrate

To move from one region or habitat to another.

Natural Resource

Materials or substances occurring in nature that can be used for economic gain.

Colony

A territory under the control of a country, often settled by people from that country.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World.

Conquistadores

Spanish explorers and conquerors of the Americas.

Missionaries

Individuals sent to promote their religion in a foreign country.

Slavery

The practice of owning individuals as property and forcing them to work.

Cash Crop

A crop produced for commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

Charter

A written grant by a country's legislative or sovereign power, outlining the rights and privileges of a corporation or group.

Democratic

Relating to a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement made by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower to establish a government and abide by its rules.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances.

Slave Trade

The historical trade of enslaved people, particularly from Africa to the Americas.

Middle Colonies

The group of colonies that included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

New England

The northeastern region of the United States, including states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Subsistence Farming

Farming that provides enough food for the farmer and their family but not enough for sale.

Triangular Trade

A historical trade route that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Slave Code

Laws that defined the status of enslaved people and the rights of masters.

Representative Government

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Immigration

The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.

Apprentice

A person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer.

Militia

A military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency.

Iroquois Confederacy

A historically powerful northeast Native American confederation of tribes.

Writ of Assistance

A written order issued by a court instructing a law enforcement official to perform a specific task.

Boycott

A refusal to buy or use goods and services as a form of protest.

Rebellion

An act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler.

Propaganda

Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Committee of Correspondence

A group of colonists who exchanged letters and information about colonial affairs.