This document provides a social studies ABC book that defines and summarizes important social studies terms. Each letter of the alphabet covers a different term, event, person, or concept. Some of the terms covered include the American Revolution, Battle of Gettysburg, Congress, Declaration of Independence, economy, First Amendment, government, Holocaust, and more. The summaries for each term are brief, typically one to three sentences in length.

1. Social Studies ABC Book
By: Marcie Stewart

2. A- American Revolution
 Mercantilism and the cost of the French and Indian war were the main reasons for
this war. The colonies waged war on England for their independence.

4. B – Battle of Gettysburg
 This battle was fought in 1863 and more than 50,000 soldiers from the North and
South lost their lives. This was considered the bloodiest battle of the American Civil
War.

6. C - Congress
 Congress is the legislative branch of the nation. The have many duties including
making laws, collecting taxes, coining money and regulating it’s value, and can
declare war.

8. D – Declaration of Independence
 This is the document drawn up by the Second Continental Congress that severed
the colonies ties to England. It was signed on July 4th, 1776 by 56 delegates. The
Declaration has 5 sections an introduction, a list of truths that the colonist self
evident, a list of abused by the king, a list of facts of how the colonies tried to help
parliament, and the last section is a summary of the action taken.

10. E – Economy
 The wealth of a region or country in terms of production of goods and
consumption of products.

12. F – First Amendment
 This amendment protects our freedom of speech, press, relion,, assembly and
petition.

14. G - Government
 Government is an agency of the federal government that governs the nation, state,
or community. Some of the most known types of government are Communism,
Socialism, Democracy, and Monarchy.

16. H - Haulocaust
 Act of genocide to exterminate the Jewish population during World War ll. Hitler
devised his master plan and killed 5 to 6 million Jews using concentration camps.

18. I – Interior Highlands
 This is part of the interior continental United States. States included in this area are
Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and part of Oklahoma and Kansas. The Ozark
mountains are also in this region.

20. J – Judicial Branch
 This branch is composed of the federal court system. The supreme court is part of
the judicial branch of government. Other courts included in this branch are district
courts, appeal courts, bankruptcy courts, and federal courts.

22. K – Karl Marx
 Known for coming up with the socialist party. Karl Marx was born on March 14th
and died in 1883. He was of German descent.

24. L – Longitude and Latitude
 Latitude lines are horizontal lines on the Earth that measure the distance North and
South of the equator.
 Longitude lines are vertical lines running North and South going East and West.
The prime meridian is known as the 0 degree line of Longitude.

26. M - Monarchy
 A Monarchy is a form of government lead by a King of Queen. This person can
have supreme powers and could become a dictator. A Monarchy could also be
limited in power and only have ceremonial powers.

28. N – Natural Resources
 These are resources found in nature. They include things like air, water, and plants.
Diamonds and minerals can also be a form of natural resource.

30. O – Open Door Policy
 This was instituted by Congress and allowed all nations equal opportunity to trade
with China. This allowed for imperialism and had a huge impact on the United
States trade system.

32. P – Pueblo Indians
 The Pueblo Indians originated from the Anasazi tribe that settled on the Rio
Grande and intermarried with the local population. The Pueblo’s produced drought
resistant corn and squash which was the foundation of their diet. They survived the
Spanish conquest and Colonization period.

34. Q - Quest
 A quest was known as a trip during the age of discovery.

36. R – Reconstruction Era
 The reconstruction era started after the Civil War was over. It was from 1865 to
1877 and it was for the rebuild of the southern states because that was where most
of the war was fought. It was also the emotional reconstruction of the nation after
the war.

38. S - Slavery
 Large numbers of Africans were brought to the US by the Dutch. They worked on
plantations and were treated poorly. They were treated as property that could be
bought and sold at the will of the plantation owner

40. T – Temperance Movement
 This movement prohibited the consumption of alcohol in the United States. It
began in the 1830’s and by 1855 thirteen states had already passed laws that
prohibited the use of alcohol.

42. U – United States of America
The United States is a country comprised of 50 states covering a large portion of North
America. It also includes Alaska and Hawaii. Major cities include New York, Washington
DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

44. V - Virginia
 The Jamestown colony was formed in Virginia . It was the first permanent English
colony

46. W – War of Terrorism
 In 2001 terrorist flew planes into the world Trade Center. The attack on the twin
towers killed more than 3000 people. As a result America declared war and
attacked the Taliban in Afghanistan.

48. X – XYZ Affair
 Diplomatic incident between the French and United States diplomates that resulted
in the Quasi – War. The diplomats were able to restore peace within the convention
of 1800. This is also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine

50. Y – Yalta Conference
 This was a conference held by the three Allied leaders during World War II. It
consisted of Franklin D Rosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. They met to
plan the final defeat and occupation of Nazi Germany.

52. Z - Zedong
 China’s communist leader from 1935 until his death. He was chairman of the
Peoples Republic of China and remained chairman until his death in 1976.