Title: AHSGE Test Vocabulary
1AHSGE Test Vocabulary
Social Studies
Mrs. Julie Turner School Improvement
Specialist Dothan City Schools
Dr. Patrick Cain SEHS Assistant Principal Elmore
County Schools
2Nationalism
the unique cultural identity of a people based on
common language, religion, and national symbols
3 Militarism Reliance on military strength
4Mobilization the process of assembling troops and
supplies and making them ready for war
5Imperialism The extension of a nations power
over other lands
6Ratification approval by the states
7Embargo Prohibiting entry or departure of ships
8Preamble The Preamble states the purpose of
establishing a new government under the
Constitution. The Preamble does not establish
any law.
9Carpetbaggers People who came from the North to
do business in the South after the Civil War.
10Progressivism A political movement that crossed
party lines which believed that industrialism and
urbanization had created many social problems and
that government should take a more active role in
dealing with these problems.
11Open Door Policy A policy that allowed each
foreign nation in China to trade freely in the
other nations spheres of influence.
12Reconstruction The reorganization and rebuilding
of the former Confederate states after the Civil
War.
13Monopoly A company that is the only supplier for
its particular industry.
14Yellow Press A type of journalism that is
sensational, biased, and often false reporting
for the sake of attracting readers.
15Social Darwinism Drawing from Darwins
observation of animals in the wild. This
philosophy states that only the strongest
survive. Life is a contest for the survival of
the fittest.
16Emancipation Proclamation President Lincoln
issued the Emancipation Proclamation, on January
1, 1863, freeing the slaves in Confederate
states, while maintaining slavery in the border
states loyal to the Union.
17Rationing The giving out of scarce items on a
limited basis
18Attrition The act of wearing down by constant
harassment or attack.
19Racism Prejudice or discrimination against
someone because of his or her race
20Conservative A person who believes government
power, particularly in the economy should be
limited in order to maximize individual freedom.
21Scalawags Southerners who supported
Reconstruction.
22Conquistador Spanish for conqueror, the men who
led the expeditions to conquer the Americas.
23Columbian Exchange Series of complex societal and
environmental interactions between Europe and the
Americas begun with Columbuss first voyage
24Impressment A kind of legalized kidnapping in
which people are forced into military service.
25Manifest Destiny Idea popular in the United
States during the 1800s that the country must
expand its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean
26Abolitionists People who were for the immediate
ending of slavery.
27Temperance Moderation in or abstinence from
alcohol
28Utopia Community based on a vision of a perfect
society sought by reformers
29Spoils System Practice of handing out government
jobs to supporters replacing government
employees with the winning candidates supporters
30Nullification Theory that states have the right
to declare a federal law invalid
31Secession Withdrawal from the Union
32Populism Political movement founded in the 1890s
representing mainly farmers, favoring free
coinage of silver and government control of
railroads and other large industries
33Muckraker A journalist who uncovers abuses and
corruption in a society
34Rough Riders A volunteer cavalry regiment,
commanded by Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt,
that served in the Spanish-American-Cuban War.
35Roosevelt Corollary An extension of the Monroe
Doctrine, announced by President Theodore
Roosevelt in 1904, under which the United States
claimed the right to protect its economic
interests by means of military intervention in
the affairs of Western Hemisphere nations.
36Crusades A series of Christian military
expeditions to the Middle East between A.D. 1096
and 1270, intended to drive the Muslims from the
Holy Land
37Reformation A religious movement in 16th-century
Europe, growing out of a desire for reform in the
Roman Catholic Church and leading to the
establishment of various Protestant churches.
38Compromise A series of congressional measures
intended to settle the major disagreements
between free states and slave states
39Urbanization The growth of cities