Chapter 1. U. S. History

Academic Vocabulary: Academic Words - Olsen Amy E. 2012

Chapter 1. U. S. History

Challenges Faced

Before the United States became a country, immigration was a part of the American experience. Tired of being persecuted for their religious beliefs, the Pilgrims set sail from Plymouth, England, in 1620. They did not seek martyrdom by leaving England to settle in the New World, just the opportunity to freely practice their religion. The 101 passengers faced being destitute as they left in September with two months of rough seas before them and arrival in a rugged, barely charted land as winter approached.

Still, like future immigrants, they felt foe challenges were worth foe rewards. They took animals and seed to start a new colony, and despite many hardships, they survived. A new country was set in motion, and settlers steadily continued arriving.

The nineteenth century was to see a period of mass migration. In 1846 the potato crop began to fail in Ireland, and economic and political problems hit other European countries. Many Europeans saw America as a place for autonomy. There they believed they would be free to start their own businesses or farms and make their own religious and political decisions.

Of course, many did not come without ambivalence. It was difficult to leave family, friends, and a way of life they had known for years. It was political oppression, starvation, and a hope for a better future for themselves and their children that induced most people to come to America. Records show close to 24 million people arrived in the United States between 1880 and 1920. An immigration period of such magnitude has not been repeated in the United States.

Most immigrants have done their utmost to find, a place in American society. Balancing a respect for their original

country with their new homes has not always been easy. Maybe one of the hardest aspects has been placating the second and third generations who have not always understood the traditions of their parents and grandparents as they try to fit into American life. Many young people wonder why they must wear traditional clothing to celebrate holidays whose significance they don't really understand or why they must eat traditional foods when they want hamburgers and French fries. But these con­flicts tend to resolve themselves with time as families ascertain how to combine customs from the old country with new ones from America to form a multicultural society, taking the best from the many lands that make up this New World.

Predicting

For each set, write the definition on the line next to the word to which it belongs. If you are unsure, return to the reading on page 8, and underline any context clues you find. After you've made your predic­tions, check your answers against the Word List on page 13. Place a checkmark in the box next to each word whose definition you missed. These are the words you'll want to study closely.

Self-Tests

1 Finish these fictitious historical sentences. The year the sentence relates to is given in parentheses. Use each word once.

Vocabulary list

autonomy

destitute

placated

utmost

magnitude

ascertained

persecuted

ambivalence

induced

martyrdom

1. The of the American colonists is over. Yesterday's Boston Tea Party shows the British what we think of taxation without representation. (1773)

2. Explorers Lewis and Clark report that the… of the West is "amazing." (1806)

3. President Lincoln has been trying his… to keep the Union together. (1860)

4. Sitting Bull leads… Indians into battle at Little Bighorn. (1876)

Vocabulary list

autonomy

destitute

placated

utmost

magnitude

ascertained

persecuted

induced

5. Yesterday's earthquake in San Francisco has left thousands of citizens ... . (1906)

6. Another suicide has been ... by the recent stock market crash. A man jumped to his death from a fifth-story window today. (1929)

7. Sources have ... that Adolph Hitler's ultimate goal is world domination. The United States prepares to enter the war. (1941)

8. Those involved in isolated incidents of bra burnings say that the act symbolizes women's ... (1968)

9. The American people will not be ... by empty promises. Polls report that President Nixon must resign. (1974)

10. A recent study shows that the prevalence and sometimes misuse of cell phones and computers has lead to a(n) ... in some Americans about the benefits of technology. (2008)

2 Match each word with its synonym in Set One and its antonym in Set Two.

Synonyms

Set One

1. ambivalence

a. encourage

2. ascertain

b. uncertainty

3. martyrdom

c. harass

4. induce

d. discover

5. persecute

e. suffering

Antonyms

Set Two

6. utmost

f. rich

7. magnitude

g. insignificance

8. autonomy

h. anger

9. placate

i. dependence

10. destitute

j. least

3 Match the historical event to the rest of the sentence that completes the idea about the event's significance. You may need to do some research or consult a dictionary.

1. Landing on the moon

a. has created feelings of ambivalence depending on whether one is stuck in gridlock or enjoying the open road.

2. The Great Depression

b. was fought because the South wanted autonomy.

3. The Civil War

c. led to martyrdom for those who would not admit to powers they didn't have.

4. The Declaration of Independence

d. left millions of people destitute.

5. The Salem witch trials

6. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Fort

7. The invention of the automobile

8. The Nineteenth Amendment

9. Prohibition

10. Building the Panama Canal

e. was of the utmost concern because it took a ship two months to sail from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean during the Spanish-American War.

f. was a document of such magnitude that it led to the formation of a new country.

g. tried to placate concerns about the evils of drinking.

h. helped scientists ascertain what it is made of.

i. gave women the right to vote, ending years of persecution.

j. induced money-hungry people to head to California.

Interactive Exercise

Answer the following questions dealing with U.S. history.

1. Name two groups that have been persecuted.

2. Name two situations that have "induced people to fight for changes in laws.

3. The magnitude of the car's influence on American life continues to this day. Give three examples of its effects.

4. What are two kinds of autonomy people have fought for?

5. Name an event that you think must have caused ambivalence in some people.

6. Name two events that have made people destitute.

7. What are two possible actions the government can take to placate angry citizens?

8. Which invention do you think has had the utmost influence on society? Why?

9. Name two ways you could ascertain which candidate you should vote for in the next election for mayor or governor.

10. What two beliefs might a person hold that could lead to martyrdom?

Answers to the analogies practice in the Getting Started section on page 5:

1. b 2. a 3. d 4. c 5. sleep 6. huge 7. warmth 8. beverage

Words to Watch

Which words would you like to practice with a bit more? Pick 3-5 words to study, and list them below. Write the word and its definition, and compose your own sentence using the word correctly. This extra practice could be the final touch to learning a word.

Word

Definition

Your Sentence

l.



2.



3.



4.



5.