Chapters 16-20 Vocabulary

Question 0

medievalism

Answer 0

devotion to the social values, customs, or beliefs thought to be characteristics of the European Middle Ages

Question 1

oligarchy

Answer 1

rule by small elite

Question 2

middlemen

Answer 2

in commerce, those who stand between the producer and the retailer or consumer

Question 3

racism

Answer 3

belief in the superiority of one race over another or behavior reflecting such a belief

Question 4

bankruptcy

Answer 4

legally, the condition of being declared unable to meet legitimate financial obligations or debts, requiring special supervision by the courts

Question 5

overseer

Answer 5

someone who governs or directs the work of another

Question 6

sabotage

Answer 6

intentional destruction or damage of goods, machines, or productive processes

Question 7

fratricidal

Answer 7

literally, concerning the killing of brothers; the term is often applied to the killing of relatives or country men in feuds or civil wars

Question 8

barbarism

Answer 8

the condition of being crude, uneducated, or uncivilized

Question 9

caucus

Answer 9

an unofficial organization or consultation of like minded people to plan a political course or advance their cause, often within some larger body

Question 10

royalty

Answer 10

the share of the proceeds from work paid to an investor, author, composer, and so on

Question 11

default

Answer 11

to fail to pay loan or interest due

Question 12

repudiate

Answer 12

To refuse to accept responsibility for paying a bill or debt.

Question 13

protectorate

Answer 13

The relation of nation a strong nation to a weak one under its control and protection.

Question 14

colossus

Answer 14

Anything of extraordinary size and power

Question 15

resolution

Answer 15

In government, a formal statement of policy or judgment by a legislature, but requiring no legal statute.

Question 16

intrigue

Answer 16

A plot or scheme formed by secret, underhanded means.

Question 17

parallel

Answer 17

In geography, the imaginary lines parallel to the earth’s equator, marking latitude. There are 360 degrees of latitude on the globe.)

Question 18

deadlock

Answer 18

To completely block or stop action as a consequence of the mutual pressure of equal and opposed forces.

Question 19

dark horse

Answer 19

In politics, a candidate with little apparent support who unexpectedly wins a nomination or election.

Question 20

mandate

Answer 20

In politics, the belief that an official has been issued clear by the electorate a charge to pursue some particular policy goal.

Question 21

platform

Answer 21

The campaign document stating a party’s or candidate’s position on the issues, and upon which they “stand” for election.

Question 22

indemnity

Answer 22

A repayment for loss or damage inflicted.

Question 23

self-determination

Answer 23

In politics, the right of a people to assert its own national identity or form of government without outside influence.

Question 24

homestead

Answer 24

A family home or farm with buildings and land sufficient for survival.

Question 25

sanctuary

Answer 25

A place of refuge or protection, where people safe are safe from punishment by the law

Question 26

fugitive

Answer 26

A person who flees from danger or prosecution.

Question 27

topography

Answer 27

The precise surface features and details of a place-for example, rivers, bridges, hills-in relation to one another.

Question 28

mundane

Answer 28

Belonging to this world, as opposed to the spiritual world.

Question 29

statecraft

Answer 29

The art of government leadership.

Question 30

isthmian (isthmus)

Answer 30

Concerning a narrow strip of land connecting two larger bodies of land.

Question 31

mikado

Answer 31

A title of the Japanese emperor used by foreigners.

Question 32

cloak-and-dagger

Answer 32

Concerning the activities of spies or undercover agents, especially involving elaborate deceptions.

Question 33

manifesto

Answer 33

A proclamation or document aggressively asserting a controversial position or advocating a daring course of action.

Question 34

booster

Answer 34

One who promotes a person or enterprise, especially in a highly enthusiastic way.

Question 35

puppet government

Answer 35

A government set up and controlled by outside forces.

Question 36

bigoted

Answer 36

Blindly or narrowly intolerant.

Question 37

public domain

Answer 37

Land or other things belonging to the whole nation, controlled by the federal government.

Question 38

apportionment

Answer 38

The allotment or distribution of legislative representatives in districts according to population. (re-apportionment occurs after each census according to growth or loss of population.)

Question 39

splintering

Answer 39

Concerning the small political groups left after a larger group has divided or broken apart.

Question 40

affidavit

Answer 40

A sworn, written testimony usually attested to by a notary public or legal officer.

Question 41

martyr

Answer 41

One who is tortured or killed for adherence to a belief.

Question 42

border state

Answer 42

The northernmot slave states contested by North and South; during the Civil War the four border states (Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri) remained within the Union, though they contained many Confederate sympathizers and volunteers.

Question 43

balance of power

Answer 43

The distribution of political or military strength among several nations so that no one of them becomes too strong or dangerous

Question 44

moral suasion

Answer 44

The effort to move others to a particular course of action through appeals to moral values and beliefs, without the use of enticements or force.

Question 45

martial law

Answer 45

The imposition of military rule above or in place of civil authority during times of war and emergency.

Question 46

ultimatum

Answer 46

A final proposal or demand, as by one nation to another, that if rejected, will likely lead to war.

Question 47

loophole(d)

Answer 47

Characterized by small exceptions or conditions that enable escape from the general rule or principle.

Question 48

squadron

Answer 48

A special unit of warships assigned to a particular naval task.

Question 49

arbitration

Answer 49

The settlement of a dispute by putting the mandatory decision in the hands of a third, neutral party.

Question 50

Mediation

Answer 50

Using the services of a third party to promote negotiations and suggest solutions, but without the power of mandatory decision-making.

Question 51

habeas corpus

Answer 51

in law, a judicial order requiring that a prisoner be brought before a court at a specified time and place in order to determine the legality of the imprisonment (literally, “produce the body.”)

Question 52

arbitrary

Answer 52

Governed by indeterminate preference or whim rather than by settled principle or law

Question 53

quota

Answer 53

the proportion or share of a larger number of things that a smaller group is assigned to contribute

Question 54

greenback

Answer 54

United States paper currency, especially that printed before the establishment of the Federal Reserve System

Question 55

graft

Answer 55

the corrupt acquisition of funds, through outright theft or embezzling or through questionably legal methods like kickbacks or insider training

Question 56

profiteer

Answer 56

one who takes advantage of a shortage of supply to charge excessively high prices and thus reap large profits