Chapters 6-10 Vocabulary Flashcards
minister
In politics, a person appointed by the head of state to take charge of some department or agency of government
domestic
concerning the internal affairs of a country
autocratic
marked by strict authoritarian rule, without consent or participation by the populace
peasant
a farmer or agricultural laborer, sometimes legally tied to the land
coureurs des bois
French-Canadian fur trappers; literally “runners of the woods”
voyagers
French-Canadian explorers, adventurers, and traders
flotilla
a fleet of boats, usually smaller vessels
ecological
concerning the relations between the biological organism and their environment
mutinous
concerning revolt by subordinate soldiers or seamen against their commanding officers
strategic
concerning the placement and planned movement of large-scale military forces so as to gain advantage, usually prior to actual engage me with the army
guerrilla warfare
unconventional combat waged by small military units using hit-and-run tactics
sallies (sally)
In warfare, very rapid military movements, usually by small movements, against an enemy force of position
siege
a military operation of surrounding and attacking a fortified place, often over a sustained period
regulars
trained professional soldiers, as distinct from militia or conscripts
commissions
an official certification granting a commanding rank in the armed forces
patronage
a system which benefits, including jobs, money, or protection are granted in exchange for political support
mercantilism
the economic theory that all parts of an economy should be coordinated for the good of the whole state; hence, that the colonial economics should be subordinated for the benefit of an empire
depreciate
to decrease on value, as in the decline of the purchasing power of money
veto
the constitutional right of a ruler or executive to block legislation passed by another unit of government
monopoly
the complete control of a product or sphere of economic activity by a single producer or business
admiralty courts
In British law, special administrative courts designed to handle maritime cases without a jury
virtual representation
the political theory that a class of a persons is represented in a lawmaking body without direct vote
nonimportation agreement
pledges to boycott, or decline to purchase, certain goods from abroad
mulatto
a person of mixed African and European ancestry
duty (duties)
a customs tax on the export or import of goods
propaganda (propagandist)
a systematic program or particular materials designed to promote certain ideas; sometimes but not always the term is used negatively, implying the use of manipulative or deceptive means (a propagandist is one who engages in such practices)
boycott
an organized refusal to deal with some person, organization, or product
inflation
an increase in the supply of currency relative to the goods available, leading to a decline in the purchasing power of money
desert
to leave official government or military service without permission
mercenary
a professional soldier who serves in a foreign army for pay
indictment
a formal written accusation charging someone with a crime
dictatorship
a form of government characterized by absolute state power and the unlimited authority of the ruler
neutral
a nation or person not talking sides in a war
civilian
a citizen not in military service
traitor
one who betrays a country by aiding an enemy
confiscate
to seize private property for public use, often as a penalty
envoy
a messenger or agent sent by a government on official business
rabble
a mass of disorderly and crude common people
arsenal
a place for making or storing weapons and ammunition
isolationist
concerning the belief that a country should take little or no part in forgiven affairs, especially through alliances or wars
heredity
passed down from generation to generation
blockade
the isolation of a place by hostile ships or troops
privateer
a private vessel temporarily authorized to capture or plunder enemy ships in wartime
graft
taking advantage of one’s official position to gain money or property by illegal means
disestablish
to separate an official state church from its connection with the government
emancipation
setting free from servitude or slavery
chattel
an article of personal or movable property; hence the term applied to slaves, since they were considered the personal property of their owners
abolitionist
an advocate of the end of slavery
ratification
the confirmation or validation of an act (such as the constitution) by an authoritative approval
bill of rights
a list of fundamental freedoms assumed to be central to society
speculators (speculation)
those who buy property, goods, or financial instruments not primarily for use but in anticipation of profitable resale after general rise in value
township
in America, a surveyed territory six miles square; the term also refers to a unit of local government, smaller than a country, that is often based on those survey units
territory
in American government, an organized political entity not yet enjoying the full and equal status of a state
annex
to make a smaller territory or political unit part of a larger one
requisition
a demand for something issued on the basis of public authority
foreclosure
depriving someone of the right to redeem mortgaged property because the legal payments on the loan have not been kept up
quorum
the minimum number of persons who must be present in a group before it can conduct valid business
anarchy
the theory that formal government is unnecessary and wrong in principle; the term is also used generally for lawless or antigovernmental disorder
bicameral, unicameral
referring to a legislative body with two houses (bicameral) or one (unicameral)
census
an official count of population; in the United States, the federal census occurs every ten years
public debt
the debt of a government or nation to individual creditors, also known as the national debt
cabinet
the body of official advisers to the head of a government; in the United States, it consists of the heads of the major executive departments
circuit court
a court that hears cases in several designated locations rather that a single place
fiscal
concerning public finances - expenditures and revenues
assumption
the appropriation or taking on of obligations not originally one’s own
excise
a tax on the manufacture, sale, or consumption of certain products
stock
the shares of capital ownership gained from investing in a corporate enterprise; the term also refers to the certificates representing such shares
medium of exchange
any item, paper or otherwise, used as money
despotism
arbitrary or tyrannical rule
impress
to force people or property into public service without choice; conscript
assimilation
the merging of diverse cultures or peoples into one
witch-hunt
an investigation carried on with much publicity, supposedly to uncover dangerous activity but actually intended to weaken the political opposition
compact
an agreement or covenant between states to perform some legal act
nullification
in American politics, the assertion that a state may legally invalidate a federal act deemed inconsistent with its rights or sovereignty
