High School Diploma Social Studies Syllabus

Social Studies syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Social Studies in High School Diploma, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   United States History

   5 topics

   • Founding of the Nation
     • Colonial era and the American Revolution
     • Constitution and the new republic
   • Expansion and Civil War
     • Westward expansion and Manifest Destiny
     • Causes of the Civil War
     • Reconstruction
   • Industrialization and Reform
     • The Gilded Age and immigration
     • Progressive Era reforms
   • The United States in the World
     • World War I and the 1920s
     • Great Depression and the New Deal
     • World War II
   • Postwar and Modern America
     • Cold War
     • Civil Rights Movement
     • Contemporary issues
2. 2

   World History

   5 topics

   • Ancient Civilizations
     • Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the river valleys
     • Classical Greece and Rome
   • Medieval and Early Modern Eras
     • Feudalism and major empires
     • Renaissance and Reformation
   • Age of Exploration and Revolution
     • Global exploration and colonialism
     • Enlightenment and political revolutions
   • Industrialization and Imperialism
     • Industrial Revolution
     • Nineteenth-century imperialism
   • The Twentieth Century and Beyond
     • World wars and their consequences
     • Decolonization and globalization
3. 3

   US Government and Civics

   4 topics

   • Foundations of American Government
     • Enlightenment influences and founding principles
     • Federalism and separation of powers
   • The Constitution and Bill of Rights
     • Structure of the Constitution
     • Civil liberties and civil rights
   • The Three Branches
     • Legislative branch and lawmaking
     • Executive branch and the presidency
     • Judicial branch and the courts
   • Citizenship and Participation
     • Elections, voting, and political parties
     • Rights and responsibilities of citizens
4. 4

   Geography

   4 topics

   • Physical Geography
     • Landforms, climate, and biomes
     • Maps, scale, and projections
   • Human Geography
     • Population and migration
     • Urbanization and settlement patterns
   • Cultural Geography
     • Language, religion, and cultural regions
     • Globalization and cultural diffusion
   • Human-Environment Interaction
     • Resource use and sustainability
     • Environmental challenges
5. 5

   Economics

   4 topics

   • Fundamental Concepts
     • Scarcity, opportunity cost, and choice
     • Supply and demand
   • Microeconomics
     • Markets and market structures
     • Role of businesses and labor
   • Macroeconomics
     • GDP, inflation, and unemployment
     • Fiscal and monetary policy
   • Personal Finance
     • Budgeting, saving, and credit
     • Investing and managing risk

Social Studies flashcards for High School Diploma

24 of 57 cards from the Social Studies deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What document, adopted on July 4, 1776, declared the thirteen American colonies independent from Britain, and who was its principal author?

   The Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson.

2. What was the first governing document of the United States, and what was its central weakness?

   The Articles of Confederation; it created a weak central government with no power to tax or regulate trade.

3. What 1787 compromise resolved how states would be represented in Congress?

   The Great (Connecticut) Compromise, creating a bicameral legislature: equal representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House.

4. What 1803 land purchase from France roughly doubled the size of the United States?

   The Louisiana Purchase, bought under President Thomas Jefferson for about $15 million.

5. What was the belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the North American continent?

   Manifest Destiny.

6. What was the main issue that divided North and South leading to the Civil War, and which document freed enslaved people in rebelling states?

   Slavery; the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) freed enslaved people in Confederate states.

7. Which three constitutional amendments are known as the Reconstruction Amendments, and what did each do?

   13th abolished slavery; 14th granted citizenship and equal protection; 15th gave Black men the right to vote.

8. What term describes the wealthy business leaders of the late 1800s like Carnegie and Rockefeller, viewed either as 'captains of industry' or 'robber barons'?

   Industrialists (industrial tycoons).

9. What early 1900s reform movement sought to fix problems caused by industrialization, such as corruption, monopolies, and poor working conditions?

   The Progressive Movement.

10. What 1890 law was the first federal action to outlaw monopolistic business practices?

    The Sherman Antitrust Act.

11. What U.S. foreign policy statement warned European powers against further colonization in the Americas?

    The Monroe Doctrine (1823).

12. What event directly caused the United States to enter World War II?

    The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

13. What was the U.S. policy of preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War?

    Containment.

14. What 1954 Supreme Court case ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional?

    Brown v. Board of Education.

15. What 1964 law banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin?

    The Civil Rights Act of 1964.

16. Which four river-valley civilizations are considered the cradles of early civilization?

    Mesopotamia (Tigris-Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), the Indus Valley, and China (Yellow River).

17. What form of government did ancient Athens develop that gave power to its citizens?

    Democracy (direct democracy).

18. What body of Roman law became the foundation for many modern legal systems?

    Roman law (notably the Twelve Tables and later Justinian's Code).

19. What social and economic system organized medieval Europe around land exchanged for service and loyalty?

    Feudalism.

20. What 1215 English document limited the king's power and influenced later ideas of constitutional government?

    The Magna Carta.

21. What cultural rebirth of art and learning began in Italy around the 14th century?

    The Renaissance.

22. What 16th-century religious movement, begun by Martin Luther, split Western Christianity?

    The Protestant Reformation.

23. What term describes the exchange of crops, animals, people, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds after 1492?

    The Columbian Exchange.

24. What intellectual movement of the 1600s-1700s emphasized reason, individual rights, and challenged absolute monarchy?

    The Enlightenment.

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