AHSGE Test Vocabulary

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AHSGE Test Vocabulary
Social Studies
Mrs. Julie Turner School Improvement
Specialist Dothan City Schools
Dr. Patrick Cain SEHS Assistant Principal Elmore
County Schools
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Nationalism
the unique cultural identity of a people based on
common language, religion, and national symbols
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Militarism Reliance on military strength
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Mobilization the process of assembling troops and
supplies and making them ready for war
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Imperialism The extension of a nations power
over other lands
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Ratification approval by the states
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Embargo Prohibiting entry or departure of ships
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Preamble The Preamble states the purpose of
establishing a new government under the
Constitution. The Preamble does not establish
any law.
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Carpetbaggers People who came from the North to
do business in the South after the Civil War.
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Progressivism 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.
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Open Door Policy A policy that allowed each
foreign nation in China to trade freely in the
other nations spheres of influence.
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Reconstruction The reorganization and rebuilding
of the former Confederate states after the Civil
War.
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Monopoly A company that is the only supplier for
its particular industry.
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Yellow Press A type of journalism that is
sensational, biased, and often false reporting
for the sake of attracting readers.
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Social 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.
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Emancipation 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.
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Rationing The giving out of scarce items on a
limited basis
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Attrition The act of wearing down by constant
harassment or attack.
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Racism Prejudice or discrimination against
someone because of his or her race
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Conservative A person who believes government
power, particularly in the economy should be
limited in order to maximize individual freedom.
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Scalawags Southerners who supported
Reconstruction.
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Conquistador Spanish for conqueror, the men who
led the expeditions to conquer the Americas.
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Columbian Exchange Series of complex societal and
environmental interactions between Europe and the
Americas begun with Columbuss first voyage
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Impressment A kind of legalized kidnapping in
which people are forced into military service.
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Manifest Destiny Idea popular in the United
States during the 1800s that the country must
expand its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean
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Abolitionists People who were for the immediate
ending of slavery.
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Temperance Moderation in or abstinence from
alcohol
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Utopia Community based on a vision of a perfect
society sought by reformers
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Spoils System Practice of handing out government
jobs to supporters replacing government
employees with the winning candidates supporters
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Nullification Theory that states have the right
to declare a federal law invalid
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Secession Withdrawal from the Union
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Populism Political movement founded in the 1890s
representing mainly farmers, favoring free
coinage of silver and government control of
railroads and other large industries
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Muckraker A journalist who uncovers abuses and
corruption in a society
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Rough Riders A volunteer cavalry regiment,
commanded by Leonard Wood and Theodore Roosevelt,
that served in the Spanish-American-Cuban War.
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Roosevelt 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.
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Crusades 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
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Reformation 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.
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Compromise A series of congressional measures
intended to settle the major disagreements
between free states and slave states
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Urbanization The growth of cities