National Board Social Studies
James Madison
Strict constructionist, 4th president, Father of the Constitution, leads nation through War of 1812
Homo Sapiens
Dates from 75,000 to 115,000 years old and are the species modern man belongs to. AKA "wise men" because of the use of tools and thinking/ reasoning.
1787 Constitutional Convention
Delegates met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to revise the Articles of Confederation; instead they wrote a new constitution and formed a federal system of government
Boston Tea Party
Demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who (disguised as Indians) raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor as a protest to taxes on tea
Ponce De Leon
Discovered and claimed Florida (Land of the Flowers) for Spain while looking for the Fountain of Youth 1513 and St. Augustine the first permanent European colony was established in 1565 to keep the French out.
17th Amendment
Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state legislatures)
7th Amendment
Right to jury in civil trials.
Pre-colonial NE Woodland Cultures
"Deerskin clothing, birch bark canoes, wigwams, and longhouses are characteristic of this region. The Iroquois, Ojibwe, and Algonquin are all indigenous.
14th Amendment
(1) All persons born in the U.S. are citizens; (2) no person can be deprived of life, liberty or property without DUE PROCESS OF LAW; (3) no state can deprive a person of EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws. Second of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War.
25th Amendment
(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job. (2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one, and congress must approve
Bill of Rights
A statement of fundamental rights and privileges ( the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution) added in 1791.
U.S. Presidential Powers
*Appointment of: Ambassadors, public Ministers, Supreme Court Judges and other Officers of U.S. not otherwise provisioned for by Constitution *Make treaties between two or more independent nations *Veto * Commander and Chief of Armed Forces In short the President is the head of the executive branch of the government and is responsible for the execution of laws made by the legislature through Foreign and Domestic Policy.
McCulloch Vs. Maryland
1819 The state of Maryland taxed banknotes produced by the Bank of the United States, claiming that the Bank was unconstitutional. Using implied powers, Marshall countered that the Bank was constitutional and ruled that Maryland was forbidden from taxing the Bank.
Monroe Doctrine
1823 - A statement of foreign policy which proclaimed that Europe should not interfere in affairs within the United States or in the development of other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Senator Joseph McCarthy
1950s; Wisconsin senator claimed to have list of communists in American gov't, but no credible evidence; took advantage of fears of communism post WWII to become incredibly influential; "McCarthyism" was the fearful accusation of any dissenters of being communists
Brown VS. Topeka Board of Education
1954 Supreme court case that overturned Plessy Vs. Ferguson ruling; ruled "separate but equal" education system is "inherently unequal". This upheld rights guaranteed under 14th amendment. Rationale: Minorities separated from the majority will not/ cannot have access to the same experiences and opportunities; therefore, separate can never be equal in education.
George Washington
1st President of the United States, was commander of the Continental Army who accepted surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. Served two terms
Boston Massacre
1770 The first bloodshed of the Amercan Revolution, as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans
First U.S. flag
1777 Continental Congress adopted first 13 star union flag.
Great Compromise
1787 Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house
James Monroe
1817 - He was the fifth President of the United States. He is the author of the Monroe Doctrine. Served two terms.
New Amsterdam
A 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherlands. City and colony was seized by the English in 1664. Dutch surrendered without a battle. Later became the city now known as New York City.
Philadelphia
A city in Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River. Established as a Quaker colony by William Penn and others in 1681, it was the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the adoption of the Constitution in 1787. First capital of the U.S. until moved to Washington D.C. in 1800.
Zheng He
A court ambassador in Ming Dynasty. He made 7 voyages from 1405 - 1433 C.E. to southern Asia, India, Arabia, and Africa to display the wonders and power of China to these lesser powers as China would not remain apart from the world forever. He also collected gifts for China. The routes he traveled were based on the experience of Chinese merchants with the currents and weather of the Indian Ocean.
Gold Rush
A period from 1848 to 1856 when thousands of people came to California in order to search for gold.
Pre-colonial SE Woodland Cultures
A typical settlement consisted of a town centre (where the nobles lived) surrounded by farms (where most of the commoners lived and worked). Sometimes dotted with mounds, which served as platforms for temples and houses.Peoples include the Caddo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw.
13th Amendment
Abolished slavery. First of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War (1865-70)
24th Amendment
Abolishes poll taxes
Pre- colonial North America Arctic Cultures
Aleuts lived in the now Alaskan arctic. Eskimos lived in the now Canadian, Alaskan, and eastern Siberian arctic. The Inuit lived in Greenland and the now Canadian Arctic while the Yupik lived in Alaska and eastern Siberia arctic. The arctic region was predominantly located in now NE Canada, upper NW Canada, and part of now Alaska.
John Adams
America's first Vice-President and second President. Sponsor of the American Revolution in Massachusetts, and wrote the Massachusetts guarantee that freedom of press "ought not to be restrained."
Missouri Compromise
An agreement in 1820 between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States concerning the extension of slavery into new territories
Law of Supply and Demand
An economic concept that states that the price of a good rises and falls depending on how many people want it and depending on how much of the good is available. Prices rise with lack of availability and fall when there is a surplus.
Pre - colonial Southwest Cultures
Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo were cultures of the U.S. and thrived in river communities despite the deserts they lived in.
Judicial Powers
Are placed in the Supreme Court and lower courts as deemed necessary by congress. Specific to Supreme Court: Redress Diversity Jurisdiction Subject Matter Jurisdiction dealing with federal law Precedent Stasis Decisis
Congressional Powers
Article 2 Section 8 of constitution gives the legislature or congress 27 expressed powers. A few are: Declare War Raise and fund army Regulate trade and commerce Levy taxes Borrow Money Investigate activities Impeach President Make laws for execution of expressed powers Many implied powers as well
War of 1812
Britain and France were both hindering American trade and merchants, US agreed that if one country would lift trade bans, they would end trade with the other - France did, ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. War between the U.S. and Great Britain which lasted until 1814, ending with a renewed sense of American nationalism.
Washington D.C.
Capital of the US was moved here in 1800 during Washington's presidency. The secretary of treasury, Hamilton, nationalized the debt (80 million). The south was suspicious because the southern states didn't owe that much debt. Hamilton promised the new capital would be built in the south so the southerners could watch over affairs. This appeased them and ended in DC.
Plymouth Colony
Colony formed by the Pilgrims when they arrived at Plymouth Rock in 1620. The colonies government was based on Mayflower Compact which was a contract signed by the 41 male colonists from the Mayflower.
Ethnic Strife
Conflict between groups of people with different language and culture often a result of ethnic nationalism. Much of Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia are affected by ethnic strife. Egypt is one of the few exceptions. Much of the ethnic strife is between Hindus, Muslims, and animists.
20th Amendment
Congress begins on January 30th; President starts on January 20th
27th Amendment
Congressional pay raises are not begin until the next election
Cotton Production in U.S. 1811-1859
Cotton went from being a minor crop in Mid -Atlantic states to being the major crop of the south by 1859 largely due to the invention of Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin. This lead to a larger and more stable slave population in the south to work the plantations.
Pre- colonial North America Sub-arctic Cultures
Cree encompasses most of Alaska and Canada. Subarctic peoples hunted various animals (notably caribou) and fished; in winter, many navigated the frozen landscape with snowshoes and toboggans. Most of the Cree and Athabaskan peoples.
1st Amendment
Freedom of religion (the establishment clause prevents Congress from creating a state-sponsored religion and the exercise clause prevents the government from impeding the religious beliefs of Americans); freedom of speech (seditious speech, defamatory speech, and "fighting words" are not protected); freedom of press; and freedom of assembly
16th Amendment
Gives Congress the power of income tax
23rd Amendment
Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)
8th Amendment
Government cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail. Meaning of "cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded, non-murder crimes...
11th Amendment
One State cannot be sued by another state federal courts from hearing cases lodged against a state
Thomas Jefferson
He was a delegate from Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and wrote the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the third President of the United States for two terms.
Yorktown
In 1781 during the American Revolution the British under Cornwallis surrendered after a siege of three weeks by American and French troops
Judiciary Act of 1789
In 1789 Congress passed this Act which created the federal-court system. The act managed to quiet popular apprehensions by establishing in each state a federal district court that operated according to local procedures.
Intolerable Acts
In response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troop's in barns and empty houses
Cotton Gin
Invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 but not copyrighted until 1807. It revolutionized clean cotton production with greater efficiency. With easier cotton production the market for cotton increased.
Marco Polo
Italian explorer from Venice; spent many years in China or near it until his return to Europe in 1295 . He was an associate of Kublai Khan who asked Pope Clement IV to send 100 wise men to teach Christianity and Western Science to his people through father and uncle. At 17 he accompanied his father, uncle, and two friars to China with gifts and letters from Pope Tedaldo. The journey took 3 1/2 years to travel 5600 miles while avoiding the route previously taken by his father and uncle. He served in several court posts before returning to Venice 17 years later. His travels sparked interest in higher learning resulting in the establishment of universities.
Christopher Columbus
Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to China (1451-1506). He made 4 voyages and first landed in the Bahamas on October 12.
22nd Amendment
Limits the president to two terms.
4th Amendment
No "unreasonable" searches and seizures without a warrant or probable cause that a search will produce evidence of a crime; Exclusionary Rule.
Pre-Civil War Immigrants to USA
Northern and Western Europeans
Paris Peace Conference of 1919
Peace conference run by the allied powers to discuss terms of the Treaty of Versailles at end of WW1
Vasco Da Gama
Portuguese explorer. In 1497-1498 he led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India, opening an important commercial sea route. Took advantage of the prevailing winds when sailing south around Africa by not hugging its coastline. He had been commissioned and provisioned by the Portuguese government under King Manuel I to find a maritime route to the East. Established trade ports at Mozambique and Calicut.
10th Amendment
Powers not expressly given to federal government by the Constitution are reserved to states or the people. Also known as "reserved powers amendment" or "states' rights amendment"
18th Amendment
Prohibition of alcohol
21st Amendment
Repeal of Prohibition
3rd Amendment
Restricts quartering of troops in private homes.
5th Amendment
Right of Accused Persons/ Indictment of Grand Jury (1) No Self-Incrimination (Miranda) (2) No Double Jeopardy (defendant cannot be tried again on the same, or similar charges) (3) No deprivation of life liberty or property without "due process of law" (fair treatment) (4) Eminent domain
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms a well regulated miltia is neccessary to the security of a free country
Lewis and Clark
Sent on an expedition by Jefferson in 1804 to gather information on the United States' new land and map a route to the Pacific. They kept very careful maps and records of this new land acquired from the Louisiana Purchase. They were guided in part by Sacajewia
First Continental Congress
September 1774, delegates from twelve colonies sent representatives to Philadelphia to discuss a response to the Intolerable Acts
15th Amendment
States cannot deny any person the right to vote because of race. Third of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War. First Voting Rights Amendment (with 19, 24 & 26)
26th Amendment
States cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)
19th Amendment
States cannot deny the right to vote based on gender
Marbury Vs. Madison
The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, in this case the Judiciary Act of 1789.
Manifest Destiny
This expression was popular in the 1840s. Many people believed that the U.S. was destined to secure territory from "sea to sea," from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This rationale drove the acquisition of territory.
Louisiana Purchase
The U.S., under Jefferson, bought the Louisiana territory from France, under the rule of Napoleon, in 1803. The U.S. paid $15 million for the Louisiana Purchase, and Napoleon gave up his empire in North America. The U.S. gained control of Mississippi trade route and doubled its size.
Leif Ericson
The Viking explorer believed to be the first European to reach the New World (in about 1000 AD). Landed in Newfoundland which was called Vinland.
Social Norms
The implicit or explicit rules a group has for the acceptable behaviors, values, and beliefs of its members
Declaration of Independence
The document written by Thomas Jefferson, recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Jakota Triangle
The easternmost region of the East Asian realm, consisting of Japan, (South) Korea, and Taiwan. This region consists of large cities, numerous exports, and increasing consumption of raw materials.
Jamestown
The first successful English settlement in the Virginia colony founded in May, 1607. Harsh conditions nearly destroyed the colony but in 1610 supplies arrived with a new wave of settlers. The settlement became part of the Virginia Company of London in 1620. The population remained low due to lack of supplies until agriculture was solidly established. Jamestown grew to be a prosperous shipping port when John Rolfe introduced tobacco as a major export and cash crop.
U.S. Supreme Court
The highest court in the land which has original jurisdiction in all cases involving ambassadors, consuls, other public ministers, and cases in which a state is a party. First organized in 1790 with 1 chief judge and 5 associate judges. Hears first case in 1792.
6th Amendment
The right to counsel in criminal trials (1) Speedy and public trial (2) Accused must be told charges (3) right to counsel (free lawyer if poor) (4) right to jury in criminal cases
GNP
The sum of all goods and services produced in a nation in a year
GDP
The total market value of all final goods and services produced annually in an economy
American Revolution
The war between Great Britain and its American colonies, 1775-83, by which the colonies won their independence. Colonists rebelled against the Intolerable Acts
Women's suffrage
The western U.S. was early in offering this while many of the eastern states did not until the 19th Amendment was passed while the mid-west was split.
Shay's Rebellion
This conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the Articles of Confederation and admit the weak central government was not working; uprising led by Daniel Shays in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms of those who could not pay the taxes
Articles of Confederation
This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781during the revolution. the document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage
Pre-colonial Plains Cultures
Tribes Blackfoot, Sioux, and Comanche are plains peoples. There lives changed with the arrival of horses from Spain's colonies as they turned from agriculture to hunting from horseback by following the herds.
Pre-colonial NW Coast Cultures
Tribes including Chinook, Tinglit, and Haida created the only "highly stratified" hunter gatherer society.
Pre-colonial CA Cultures
Tribes such as Wappo and Pomo were hunter gatherers in the forests, deserts, and grasslands. Acorn bread was a common staple food after the poison was extracted from ground acorn pulp.
Native Americans
U.S. government made promises in the form of many treaties which were broken and their lands were taken.
9th Amendment
Unenumerated Rights Amendment. Citizens have unenumerated rights in addition to those stated in the Constitution. Not been developed by Supreme Court. Not everything can be written down.
Expansion of European colonial rule in Africa
Was greatest from 1850 - 1900
Densely Populated River Valleys
Yangtze, Indus, Ganges, Nile, Tigris - Euphrates.......
Juan de Onate
a descendant of a wealthy Spanish family who, in 1598, took control of the Rio Grande region and the Pueblo region of what is now New Mexico for Spain.
Mecca
joint capital (with Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia
12th Amendment
separation of votes for President and Vice President
Varanasi
the holiest city of Hinduism that is found on the Ganges River
Miranda VS. Arizona
the supreme court case in which the court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police. Decision based on rights given in 5th Amendment.
Treaty of Versailles
the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded exorbitant reparations from the Germans
