Social Studies 8 – STAAR Review Flashcards

A collection of flashcards covering key terms and concepts for Social Studies 8, prepared for STAAR Review.

Abolitionism

Movement to end slavery.

Boycott

A refusal to buy certain goods.

Declaration of Independence

Document written in 1776 declaring American independence from Great Britain.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order by President Lincoln in 1863 that freed slaves in the Confederate states.

Federalism

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

Great Compromise

An agreement that established a bi-cameral legislature, combining the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Monroe Doctrine

A policy established in 1823 which warned European nations against colonization in the Americas.

Popular Sovereignty

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

Acquisition of New Territories

The act of gaining new land and territories, often referring to U.S. expansion in the 19th century.

Mercantilism

An economic system that aimed to increase a nation's wealth through trade regulation and accumulation of hard currency.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in conformity with the constitution.

Industrialization

The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.

Triangular Trade

A historical term indicating trade patterns between three ports or regions.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Secession

The action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.

Civil Disobedience

The refusal to comply with certain laws as a peaceful form of political protest.

Trail of Tears

The forced relocation of Native American nations from their homelands, resulting in great hardship.

Radical Reconstruction

The period during which the Radical Republicans in Congress took control of Reconstruction efforts.

Nullification

The idea that a state can invalidate, or nullify, any federal law it deems unconstitutional.

Civil War

A conflict between Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) from 1861 to 1865 primarily over slavery.

Economic Opportunity

The chance to improve one's financial situation through work or entrepreneurship.

William Penn

Quaker leader who founded Pennsylvania as a haven for religious freedom.

Thomas Paine

Political activist and writer, author of 'Common Sense' and 'The American Crisis', advocating for independence and revolution.

John Locke

Philosopher whose ideas on natural rights influenced American political thought.

French and Indian War

A conflict in North America from 1754-1763, part of a worldwide struggle between France and Great Britain.