Social Studies - Final Exam, Review Guide

Constitutional Convention

Meeting in 1787 to draft the US Constitution.

Living Document

Adaptable to changing times; includes the Bill of Rights guaranteeing fundamental rights.

Executive Branch

Comprises the President and agencies, responsible for enforcing laws and serving as commander-in-chief.

Legislative Branch

Consists of Congress (Senate, House) with the power to make laws and control the budget.

Congress Members

Senate has 100 members, House has 435 members.

Judicial Branch

Includes the Supreme Court and federal courts, interprets laws, ensures Constitutionality, and has 9 judges for balance.

Bill to Law Process

Involves proposal, committee review, debate, vote, and presidential approval.

US Constitution

Serves as the framework of government, rights, and laws in the United States.

President Election

Determined by the Electoral College vote based on state results.

Causes of WWI (MAIN)

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism.

US Role

Initially neutral, later joined the Allies during WWI.

WWI Start

Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

WWI Advancements

Included trench warfare, chemical weapons, and tanks.

Women in WWI

Engaged in factory work, nursing, and support roles during the war.

Allied & Central Powers

Allies comprised UK, France, Russia; Central Powers included Germany and Austria-Hungary.

US Neutrality

Initially benefited economically and avoided direct conflict involvement.

Wilson’s “Peace Without Victory”

Aimed to seek peace without seeking domination.

Depression Causes

Stemmed from the stock market crash, bank failures, and drought.

Roosevelt’s Efforts

Implemented the New Deal programs to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression.

Dust Bowl

Caused by a severe drought leading to soil erosion in the US.

Speculation

Involved risky investments for quick profits.

Buying on Margin

Entailed borrowing to invest in stocks.

Dictatorships

Included Germany (Hitler), Italy (Mussolini), and the USSR (Stalin).

Appeasement

Policy aimed at avoiding conflict through concessions.

WWII Start

Initiated by the German invasion of Poland.

WWII Advancements

Featured radar, atomic bombs, and blitzkrieg tactics.

US Role

Initially neutral, later joined the Allies after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Event Leading to US Entry

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Lend-Lease Act

Provided aid to Allies without direct involvement in WWII.

Major WWII Battles

Included D-Day, Battle of Stalingrad, and Midway.

Yalta Conference

Allied leaders planned post-war Europe during this conference.

Holocaust

Refers to the genocide of Jews and others during WWII.

Pacific vs

Different tactics, geography, and enemies in the two theaters of WWII.

Island Hopping

US strategy to capture key islands during WWII.

Marshall Plan

US aid program to rebuild post-war Europe.

United Nations

International organization established for peacekeeping.

G.I

Provided benefits for WWII veterans.

Nuremberg Trials

Trials held for Nazi war crimes after WWII.

Cold War

Period of tension between the US and USSR.

Containment

US policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism.

Brinksmanship

Policy showing willingness to go to the brink of war.

Capitalism vs

Economic systems comparison between free market and state control.

Soviet Influence in Eastern Europe

Imposed communist governments in Eastern European countries.

Sputnik

Soviet satellite that sparked the space race.

Berlin Blockade

Soviet blockade of West Berlin during the Cold War.

Korean War Borders

Resulted in Korea remaining divided after the war.

Blacklists

Lists of suspected communists during the Red Scare.

NAACP

Stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Terrorist Group

Example includes the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

Civil Rights Actions

Involved boycotts, marches, and legal challenges for equality.

Voting Rights

Faced discrimination and literacy tests during the civil rights movement.