8th Grade US History Dictionary

Word

Definition

Absolved

to set free or release, as from some duty, obligation, or responsibility

Allegiance
apparent

loyalty or devotion to some person, group, cause, or the like.

capable of being easily perceived or understood; plain or clear; obvious: The solution to the problem
was apparent to all.

candid

honest; impartial

congress

a group of people who leave their native country to form in a new land a settlement subject to, or
connected with, the parent nation.
a formal meeting or assembly of representatives for the discussion, arrangement, or promotion of
some matter of common interest.

declare

to announce officially; proclaim: to make known or state clearly, especially in explicit or formal terms:

dissolved

to undo (a tie or bond); break up

draft (in writing)

Endowed

a first or preliminary form of any writing, subject to revision, copying, etc.

to trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, especially stealthily or by gradual
advances.
to provide with

establishment

to install or settle in a position, place, business, etc.

grievance

a wrong considered as grounds for complaint, or something believed to cause distress: Inequitable
taxation is the chief grievance.

colony

encroachment

history

1. the branch of knowledge dealing with past events 2. the record of past events and times, especially
in connection with the human race.

human rights

fundamental rights, especially those believed to belong to an individual and in whose exercise a
government may not interfere, as the rights to speak, associate, work, etc.

inalienable

not transferable to another or capable of being repudiated

independent

not subject to another's authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free:

infringement

to commit a breach or infraction of; violate or transgress

injuries

harm or damage that is done or sustained

Liberty

freedom from external (outside) or foreign rule (another country); independence.

ought

political

used to express duty or moral obligation

A complete publication of generally less than 80 pages stitched or stapled together and usually
having a paper cover.
A short treatise or essay, generally a controversial tract, on some subject of contemporary interest: a
of, pertaining to, or involving the state or its government

pursuit

an effort to secure or attain

repudiated

to reject with denial

revolt

to break away from or rise against constituted authority, as by open rebellion; cast off allegiance or
subjection to those in authority; rebel; mutiny: to revolt against the present government.

seizure

taking possession of an item, property, or person legally or by force.

self-evident

evident in itself without proof or demonstration

submitted

to present for the approval, consideration, or decision of another or others:

traitor

a person who betrays another, a cause, or any trust.

trespass

an offense, sin, or wrong.

Truths

a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like:

Tyranny

1. arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority. Synonyms: despotism,

absolutism, dictatorship. 2. oppressive or unjustly severe government on the part of any ruler.

pamphlet

usurpations

an act of usurping; wrongful or illegal encroachment, infringement (violation), or seizure (taking

possession of item or property).