Social Studies - Final Exam, Review Guide

1. Constitutional Convention

- Meeting in 1787 to draft the US Constitution.

2. Living Document

- Adaptable to changing times.

- Bill of Rights: Guarantees fundamental rights.

3. Executive Branch

- President and agencies.

- Enforces laws, commander-in-chief.

4. Legislative Branch

- Congress (Senate, House).

- Makes laws, controls budget.

5. Congress Members

- Senate: 100 members, House: 435 members.

6. Judicial Branch

- Supreme Court and federal courts.

- Interprets laws, ensures Constitutionality.

- Supreme Court: 9 judges for balance.

7. Bill to Law Process

- Proposal, committee review, debate, vote, presidential approval.

8. US Constitution

- Framework of government, rights, laws.

9. President Election

- Electoral College vote based on state results.

10. Causes of WWI (MAIN)

- Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism.

11. US Role

- Initially neutral, later joined Allies.

12. WWI Start

- Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

13. WWI Advancements

- Trench warfare, chemical weapons, tanks.

14. Women in WWI

- Worked in factories, nursing, support roles.

15. Allied & Central Powers

- Allies: UK, France, Russia; Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary.

16. US Neutrality

- Benefited economically, avoided conflict.

17. Wilson’s “Peace Without Victory”

- Seek peace, not domination.

18. Depression Causes

- Stock market crash, bank failures, drought.

19. Roosevelt’s Efforts

- New Deal: Programs to stimulate economy.

20. Dust Bowl

- Severe drought causing soil erosion.

21. Speculation

- Risky investment for quick profit.

22. Buying on Margin

- Borrowing to invest in stocks.

23. Dictatorships

- Germany (Hitler), Italy (Mussolini), USSR (Stalin).

24. Appeasement

- Policy to avoid conflict through concessions.

25. WWII Start

- German invasion of Poland.

26. WWII Advancements

- Radar, atomic bomb, blitzkrieg (fast warfare).

27. US Role

- Initially neutral, later joined Allies after Pearl Harbor.

28. Event Leading to US Entry

- Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

29. Lend-Lease Act

- Aid to Allies without direct involvement.

30. Major WWII Battles

- D-Day, Battle of Stalingrad, Midway.

31. Yalta Conference

- Allied leaders plan post-war Europe.

32. Holocaust

- Genocide of Jews and others.

33. Pacific vs. European Theater

- Different tactics, geography, enemies.

34. Island Hopping

- US strategy to capture key islands.

35. Marshall Plan

- US aid to rebuild post-war Europe.

36. United Nations

- International peacekeeping organization.

37. G.I. Bill

- Benefits for WWII veterans.

38. Nuremberg Trials

- Trials for Nazi war crimes.

39. Cold War

- Tension between US and USSR.

40. Containment

- US policy to stop spread of communism.

41. Brinksmanship

- Willingness to go to the brink of war.

42. Capitalism vs. Communism

- Economic systems: Free market vs. state control.

43. Soviet Influence in Eastern Europe

- Imposed communist governments.

44. Sputnik

- Soviet satellite, sparked space race.

45. Berlin Blockade

- Soviet blockade of West Berlin.

46. Korean War Borders

- Korea remained divided.

47. Blacklists

- Lists of suspected communists.

48. NAACP

- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

49. Terrorist Group

- Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

50. Civil Rights Actions

- Boycotts, marches, legal challenges.

51. Voting Rights

- Faced discrimination, literacy tests.