Social Studies Study Guide

Ice Age migration

The movement of people to the Americas during the Ice Age, facilitating the settlement of Native American tribes.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches.

Renaissance

A cultural movement in Europe characterized by a revival of interest in the arts and sciences.

The Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, outlining the structure and functions of the national government.

Checks and balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

Civil War

A conflict between northern and southern United States from 1861 to 1865, primarily over issues such as slavery and states' rights.

The Reconstruction Era

The period following the Civil War during which the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Progressive Era

A period of social activism and political reform in the United States from the 1890s to the 1920s.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that took place during the 1930s.

Barbarossa

A code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II.

Operation Overlord

The code name for the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, during World War II.

Cold War

A state of political hostility between the Soviet Union and the United States from 1947 until 1991.

Red Scare

A period of intense fear of communism and radical leftism in the United States post World War I and II.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice and legal equality for African Americans and other marginalized groups in the 1950s and 1960s.