Social Studies part of the Praxis Exam

3 branches of government

• legislative (makes the laws)

• executive (enforces the laws)

• judicial (interprets the laws)

levels of government

• local

• state

• federal

checks and balances

principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power

separation of powers

a model that divides the government into separate branches, each that has separate and individual powers

popular sovereignty

power of the government comes from the people

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

declared the 13 American colonies as independent from Great Britain

U.S. constitution (1787)

made the framework for the American federal government, outlining its structures, powers, and rights of citizens

Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments)

spells out Americans rights in relation the government

1st amendment

freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and right to petition

2nd amendment

right to keep and bear arms

4th amendment

unreasonable searches and seizures

13th amendment

abolished slavery

14th amendment

all persons born in the US guarantees equal protection under the law

15th amendment

prohibits denial of the right to vote based on race

19th amendment

granted women the right to vote

civic responsibilities

• voting

• obeying laws

• jury duty

• paying taxes

Indigenous people groups (before colonization)

• Maya

• Aztecs

• Inca

life in New England (during colonial America)

focused on trade, fishing, shipbuilding, and small scale farming due to rocky soil and harsh climate

life in the South (during colonial America)

had fertile land and warm climate, so thrived on large scale agriculture, crops like tobacco and cotton

American Revolution

causes - taxation (no taxation without representation)

key events - Boston Tea Party (colonists dressed as Native Americans and dumped boxes of tea into the Boston Harbor) AND the Declaration of Independence

Civil War

causes - slavery, state vs. federal rights

leaders - Abe Lincoln, Jefferson Davis

outcome - Emancipation, preserved the Union

Civil Rights Movement

leaders - MLK, Rosa Parks

events - Montgomery Bus boycott, March on Washington

womens rights

Seneca Falls convention (first womens right convention in New York)

Ancient civilizations

• Greece

• Rome

• Egypt

• China

Global trade routes

• Silk Road

• Atlantic trade

continents

• Asia

• Africa

• Europe

• Australia

• North America

• South America

• Antarctica

oceans (5)

• Pacific

• Atlantic

• Indian

• Arctic

• Southern

needs vs. wants

water vs. apple watch

goods and services

buying groceries and having someone mow the lawn

supply and demand

how much products we have vs. how much do we needs

scarcity

limited resources vs. unlimited wants

opportunity cost

the next best thing you give up

trade and barter

buying a car and trading wheat for shoes