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- $Unique_ID{USH00261}
- $Pretitle{19}
- $Title{United States History 1600-1987
- U.S. History - Glossary}
- $Subtitle{}
- $Author{Immigration and Naturalization Service}
- $Affiliation{US Department of Justice}
- $Subject{country
- war
- government
- decisions
- one's
- search
- side
- warrant
-
- }
- $Volume{M-288}
- $Date{1987}
- $Log{}
- Book: United States History 1600-1987
- Author: Immigration and Naturalization Service
- Affiliation: US Department of Justice
- Volume: M-288
- Date: 1987
-
- U.S. History - Glossary
-
- Abolish
- To do away with; to put an end to.
-
- Affirm
- To declare firmly; to maintain to be true.
-
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Drinks which contain alcohol, such as beer, wine and liquor.
-
- Ally
- Group or country which helps another, usually in times of war.
-
- Armaments
- War equipment, weapons, supplies.
-
- Assassinate
- To murder a well-known person.
-
- Assert
- To force recognition of (one's rights, authority).
-
- Assume
- To take over or take responsibility for.
-
- Autonomy
- The right to make policies for or govern oneself. Usually, refers to
- governments rather than people.
-
- Blockade
- Attempt by a country to stop the trade and travel of another country by
- sealing off its ports and coastline.
-
- Boycott
- To refuse to have dealings with an organization (country) so as to show
- disapproval.
-
- Campaign
- An attempt to convince people to vote for someone for public office.
-
- Casualty
- One injured, killed, captured, or missing in action during a war.
-
- Centralized Government
- Policies are made at the national level, rather than at the local level.
-
- Civil Rights
- Rights which belong to a person because of his or her being a member of a
- particular society; for example, an American.
-
- Civilian
- People not in the military.
-
- Coinage
- Act of making metal into coins.
-
- Commander in Chief
- The top leader of the armed forces. In the United States, the Commander in
- Chief is also the President.
-
- Compromise
- To settle differences by agreeing to accept less than what was wanted.
-
- Confirmation
- Supporting evidence for an idea or statement.
-
- Controversial
- Relating to issues about which people have and express opposing views.
-
- Controversy
- A discussion in which opposing views are stated.
-
- Convoy
- A group of vehicles organized to protect each other while traveling.
-
- Democratic Institutions
- Groups or organizations in which decisions are made by votes of the members.
-
- Demonstrate
- To protest, or to make one's opinion or feelings known about a cause, issue,
- etc.
-
- Desegregate
- To open to all people, regardless of race.
-
- Direct Democracy
- The people vote to make all the decisions about their government.
-
- Discrimination
- Being treated differently, usually worse, for some characteristic such as
- race, religion, national origin or sex. Discrimination is discouraged in the
- U.S.
-
- Domestic
- Of, from or within a country's own territory.
-
- Draft
- To force people to enroll in military service.
-
- Execute
- To carry out.
-
- Executive Power
- Special powers or privileges which the leader of the executive branch is
- given.
-
- Fanatic
- A person who holds extreme views.
-
- Federal
- Belonging to the nation.
-
- Freedom of Religion
- The right for people to choose how to worship or to not worship at all. The
- government may not interfere with each person's choice.
-
- Hierarchy
- An arrangement by rank.
-
- Impeachment Proceedings
- Trial to determine whether a public official is guilty of committing crimes.
-
- Indispensable
- Essential; absolutely necessary.
-
- Industrial Capacity
- Ability to produce manufactured goods.
-
- Industrialized
- Made up of manufacturing businesses which use machines to produce goods;
- usually as opposed to rural economies which depend on farming.
-
- Inevitable
- Sure to happen; certain.
-
- Interdependent
- Relying on or needing the support of each other.
-
- Intervention
- The act of interfering or involving oneself in the affairs of another nation.
-
- Isolation
- The act of staying away from others.
-
- Isolationism
- The belief that one should stay away from others.
-
- Joint Resolution
- Referring to the U.S. Congress, a statement passed by both Houses, and having
- the power of law if signed by the President or passed over his/her veto.
-
- Jury
- A group of people chosen to hear a case in court. The jury makes a decision
- based upon the evidence.
-
- Landslide
- In elections, to win by a large majority; a great victory.
-
- Legally Binding
- Upheld by the law; must be obeyed; lawful.
-
- Legislature
- A group of people with authority to make laws for a political unit, such as a
- state or country.
-
- Majority
- More than half. Winning most elections requires more than half of the votes.
-
- Malice
- Desire to harm others or to see others suffer.
-
- Merchant Marine
- The ships of a nation which are used for trading and commerce.
-
- Militia
- The citizens in a state who do not belong to the armed forces but who are
- called to duty in case of an emergency.
-
- Militiamen
- The citizens in a state who do not belong to the armed forces but who are
- called to duty in case of an emergency.
-
- Minority
- Less than half.
-
- Minute Men
- Men who fought for American independence. They were given the name Minute Men
- because they stayed with their families and at their jobs, but promised to be
- ready to fight at any time.
-
- Mutually Dependent
- Relying on or needing the support of each other; same as interdependent.
-
- Nationalism
- A feeling of interest, loyalty and devotion to one's country.
-
- Nationalistic
- Feeling interest in, loyalty and devotion to one's country.
-
- Negotiate
- To discuss to bring about a compromise on an issue to reach an agreement.
-
- Negotiation
- The act of discussing to bring about a compromise on an issue to reach an
- agreement.
-
- Negotiator
- A person who discusses an issue, trying to reach an agreement .
-
- Neutral
- Not taking sides with one country or another.
-
- Optimistic
- Expecting a favorable or successful outcome.
-
- Peaceful Coexistence
- Countries which have differences with each other agree to try to maintain
- peace.
-
- Peers
- People who are similar to each other in rank, position, etc.
-
- Platform
- The stated principles of a political party or candidate for public office.
-
- Precedent
- An action which serves as an example or rule for similar situations.
-
- Proclamation
- A public statement or announcement.
-
- Prohibit
- To refuse to allow; to forbid.
-
- Propaganda
- The spreading of information of a given view or interest.
-
- Propose
- To suggest; to put forward a plan.
-
- Quartering
- Housing or providing living space.
-
- Quota
- An allotment; the maximum number or proportion of persons who may be admitted.
-
- Ratify
- To approve or confirm formally; to make valid and binding.
-
- Ration
- To restrict or limit the amount, as during wartime.
-
- Recognize
- To accept the reality or existence of (a government).
-
- Reform
- Change which makes something better; correction of a problem.
-
- Regulate
- To make rules for; to control.
-
- Repeal
- To take back or recall, usually a law.
-
- Representative Assemblies
- Groups which make the decisions of government. The representatives are
- elected by the people to make the decisions.
-
- Representative Democracy
- The people choose or elect officials to make decisions for them about their
- government. On some issues, however, the people vote, rather than their
- representatives.
-
- Search Warrant
- A legal document police are required to have to search (look for thoroughly) a
- home or person. The search warrant describes what the police believe they
- will find, and why they believe that person has it. The police can obtain a
- search warrant only if they can show that there is reason to believe the
- person has committed a crime.
-
- Sectional Rivalry
- Arguments and competition between different areas of a country.
-
- Sectionalism
- Feeling of loyalty and devotion to local interests (rather than to one's
- country).
-
- Simple Majority
- More than half; same as majority.
-
- Sovereign
- Having absolute authority over a territory or space.
-
- Speculation
- Buying and selling, especially stocks, in hopes of making money from changes
- in the market.
-
- Stabilize
- To put in balance; to hold steady.
-
- Stalemate
- A situation in which it is impossible for either side to move or take action.
-
- Suffragette
- Woman who worked to obtain the right to vote for women.
-
- Surplus
- An amount beyond what is needed, such as a surplus of funds.
-
- Surrender Unconditionally
- The winning side in a war sets all the terms or conditions to the peace
- settlement.
-
- Tariff
- A tax on goods imported into or exported out of a country.
-
- Tariff Barriers
- High taxes on imported products which are designed to limit the number of
- foreign-made goods entering a country.
-
- Testify
- To give evidence under oath.
-
- Total War
- War that involved every individual and all the resources of the country.
- Also, usually means that civilian as well as military targets were attacked.
-
- Trench Warfare
- A strategy of war in which ditches (trenches) are dug in the ground for the
- troops to hide in while they shoot at the enemy troops, who are also in
- trenches.
-
- Try
- To put a person accused of a crime on trial.
-
- Turmoil
- A lack of order or regular arrangement.
-
- Turning Point
- Decisive moment; a time at which something changes.
-
- Unconditional
- Without terms or limits.
-
- Unconditional and Immediate Surrender
- The winning side in a war sets all the terms or conditions to the peace
- settlement. The winning side also wants the losing side to surrender right
- away.
-
- Unified
- Acting as one, with the same ideas, goals and plans.
-
- Veto
- Power of the head of the executive branch to keep a bill from becoming law.
-
- Warrant
- Same as search warrant.