U.S. Government, History, Geography, Economics, and Reading Skills

U.S. Government & Civics

  • Three Branches:
    • Legislative: makes laws
    • Executive: enforces laws
    • Judicial: interprets laws
  • Checks and Balances among branches
  • Constitution & Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments)
  • Declaration of Independence: purpose & year (1776)
  • Voting rights amendments: 13th, 15th, 19th, 26th
  • Law-making process: Congress → President → Supreme Court
  • Federal vs. State powers

U.S. History Highlights

  • American Revolution: Independence
  • Civil War: North vs South, slavery, Lincoln
  • Reconstruction post-Civil War
  • Great Depression & New Deal (FDR)
  • Civil Rights Movement (1950s-60s, MLK Jr., Rosa Parks)
  • Women’s Rights Movement
  • Major wars: WWI, WWII, Vietnam

Geography & Map Skills

  • 7 continents and 5 oceans:
    • Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, Southern
  • Directions: N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW
  • U.S. regions: Northeast, South, Midwest, West
  • Major rivers: Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
  • Important mountain ranges: Rockies, Appalachians
  • Map skills: legends, scales, latitude, longitude, charts, tables, graphs

Economics Basics

  • Supply & Demand:
    • Supply ↑ → Price ↓; Supply ↓ → Price ↑
  • Market vs. Command economy
  • Taxes and government spending
  • GDP: total value of goods/services
  • Role of government in the economy

Reading & Analysis Skills

  • Identify main idea, supporting evidence, and author’s point of view
  • Distinguish fact vs. opinion
  • Detect bias in sources
  • Read & interpret political cartoons
  • Use data from graphs and charts
  • Practice inferences: what is implied, not stated

Test-Day Prep

  • Take 1-2 full GED Social Studies practice tests
  • Review every missed question