Download 8th Grade Social Studies Vocab Unit 2

US History Unit 2 Vocabulary
Word
Meaning
revolution
a forcible overthrow
of a government or
social order in favor
of a new system
rebel
a person who rises in
opposition or armed
resistance against an
established
government or ruler.:
"Tory rebels" "rebel
forces"
militia
a military force that is
raised from the civil
population to
supplement a regular
army in an
emergency
tyranny
cruel and oppressive
government or rule.:
"the removal of the
regime may be the
end of a tyranny"
repeal
revoke or annul (a law or
congressional act).: "the
legislation was repealed five
months later"
Symbol
Notes
boycott
withdraw from
commercial or social
relations with (a
country, organization,
or person) as a
punishment or protest
independence
the fact or state of
being independent.:
"Argentina gained
independence from
Spain in 1816"
petition
a formal written
request, typically one
signed by many
people, appealing to
authority with respect
to a particular cause
natural rights/Bill of
Rights
the first ten
amendments to the
US Constitution,
ratified in 1791 and
guaranteeing such
rights as the
freedoms of speech,
assembly, and
worship
Common Sense
good sense and
sound judgment in
practical matters
Declaration of
Independence
The Declaration of
Independence is the
statement adopted by
the Continental
Congress meeting at
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania on July
4, 1776, which
announced that the
thirteen American
colonies, then at war
with Great Britain,
regarded themselves
as thirteen newly
independent
sovereign states, and
no longer a part of
the British Empire.