7th Grade Social Studies Final Exam Review

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions from the 7th Grade Social Studies curriculum in preparation for a final exam.

Declaration of Independence

The document written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the colonies' independence from Britain.

Patriot

Colonists who wanted to fight the British for American independence.

Proclamation of 1763

An act prohibiting colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Ethan Allen

Leader of the Green Mountain Boys.

The shot heard ‘round the world

Refers to the actions of the minutemen at Lexington and Concord.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence.

Declaratory Acts

The act that granted British Parliament the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies in all cases.

Valley Forge

The location where Patriot forces endured a winter of terrible suffering.

Marquis de Lafayette

French nobleman who became Washington’s trusted aide.

New York City

The city captured by William Howe in 1777, causing Congress to flee.

Loyalist strength

Strongest in New York.

Green Mountain Boys

The militia group that defeated Burgoyne’s troops at Bennington, Vermont.

Hessians

Mercenaries hired by Britain during the American Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris

Agreement in which Americans allowed British merchants to collect debts.

Yorktown

The victory after which the British recognized the United States as an independent nation.

Republic

A government in which citizens rule through elected representatives.

Federal system

The division of powers between the national government and the states.

Federalists

Supporters of the new Constitution.

Great Compromise

The agreement suggesting a bicameral legislature.

Constitution

The final authority under the federal system.

Bicameral

Type of legislature established by most states.

Northwest Ordinance

Law that helped stop the spread of slavery to the West.

Checks and balances

System that keeps any one branch of government from gaining too much power.

Separation of powers

The most distinctive feature of the U.S. government.

States’ rights

Theory spelled out in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments added to the Constitution.

Caucuses

Meetings held by Federalists and Republicans to prepare for an election.

Judiciary Act of 1789

The act establishing a federal court system.

Federalists beliefs

Support for free trade and a national bank.

Political parties

What George Washington considered a grave danger to the new nation.

Alien Act

Law that made it more difficult for aliens to become citizens.

Nullify federal laws

What Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions suggested states might do.

Democratic-Republicans

Believed in strong state governments and rule by the people.

Judicial review

When the Supreme Court reviews and rules on acts of other branches.

Battle of Plattsburgh

Battle after which the British decided the war in North America was too costly.

Election of 1800

Decided by the House of Representatives.

Tecumseh

Leader who built a strong confederacy among Native Americans.

Oliver Hazard Perry

Commander who destroyed the British naval forces on Lake Erie.

Natural rights

Belief that all people have inherent rights.

Virginia Plan

Proposed by Edmund Randolph.

Partisan

Favoring one side of an issue.

Writ of assistance

Legal document permitting searches.

Tea Act

Act that benefited the East India Company.

Stamp Act

Tax on printed materials.

Committee of Correspondence

Organized to unite protesters opposed to British rule.

Intolerable Acts

Prevented supplies from being shipped to Boston.

Sons of Liberty

Organized protests against British rule.

Guerrilla warfare

Hit-and-run war technique.

Baron von Steuben

Taught battle tactics to the Patriots.

Mercenary

A hired soldier.

Custom duties

Taxes on foreign imported goods.

Embargo

Ban on trade with another country.

having two separate lawmaking chambers

bicameral

a special condition in a formal document

clause

a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives

democracy

a fall in value

depreciate

The Confederation had trouble with _____ issues.

financial

to give up

abandon

George Washington

Who was elected president in 1789?