American Character and Beliefs

Vocabulary Word List

PBL History-Am Lit
Rm. Y202

1. Immigration- The process and experience of people moving from one country to work and live
in another country.

2. Manifest Destiny- 19th Century doctrine that westward expansion of the United States was not
only inevitable but a God-given right.

3. Separation of Powers- Principle that divides power among the executive, legislative and
judicial branches of government.

4. Suffrage- the right to vote.

5. Globalization- Process by which national economies, politics, cultures, and societies mix with
those of other nations around the world.

6. Capitalism- An economic system in which individuals and businesses own the means of
production and make the production decisions.

7. Government Regulation- Exercise of governmental authority to control conduct

8. Civil Liberties- The individual freedoms that are guaranteed to Americans by the
Constitution, primarily by the Bill of Rights.

9. Foreign Policy- A country’s official principles, positions, and procedures for dealing with
forces outside its borders.

10. Judicial Review- Power of the Supreme Court to decide whether the acts of a president or laws
passed by Congress are constitutional.

11. Majority Rule- A doctrine by which a numerical majority of an organized group holds the
power to make decisions binding on all in the group.

12. Minority Rights- the same basic rights should be afforded to individual members of minority
groups as any other group.

American Character and Beliefs

 Vocabulary Concept Card Assignment
PBL History-Am Lit
Rm. Y202

Objective: Students will create vocabulary notecards within their groups all the given words
from the unit vocabulary list to illustrate their knowledge of the meanings of these words.

Directions:
 Divide your paper long ways and then place it horizontally.
 On the front cover, write the word you are defining. (Use as much of the paper as
possible.)
 On the inside of the card
o Top Portion- Write the definition of the word.
o Bottom Portion- Draw a picture to illustrate the meaning of the word or help
you remember the meaning of the word.
 On the back cover, use the word in a sentence.

American Character and Beliefs

Vocabulary Concept Card Assignment
PBL History-Am Lit
Rm. Y202

Objective: Students will create vocabulary notecards within their groups all the given words
from the unit vocabulary list to illustrate their knowledge of the meanings of these words.

Directions:
 Divide your paper long ways and then place it horizontally.
 On the front cover, write the word you are defining. (Use as much of the paper as
possible.)
 On the inside of the card
o Top Portion- Write the definition of the word.
o Bottom Portion- Draw a picture to illustrate the meaning of the word or help
you remember the meaning of the word.
 On the back cover, use the word in a sentence.