Definitions for Week 5
Write a sentence of your own making for each word. Remember, they do NOT have to be Gold Rush/California related.
Statehood:
Statehood is the condition of being an official state in the United States. When a territory gains statehood, it becomes a state with its own government, elected representatives, and the same rights and responsibilities as the other states.
Constitution:
A constitution is a written document that explains how a government works, what powers its leaders have, and what rights and responsibilities its citizens have. It serves as the basic set of rules for a state or country.
Delegate:
A delegate is a person chosen to represent a group of people at a meeting or convention. Delegates share ideas, discuss important issues, and help make decisions on behalf of the people they represent.
Example: In 1849, delegates from different parts of California met in Monterey to write the California Constitution and prepare California for statehood.
Supply and Demand:
Supply and demand is the economic idea that prices are affected by how much of something is available (supply) and how many people want it (demand). When demand is high and supply is low, prices usually rise. When supply is high and demand is low, prices usually fall.
Example: During the Gold Rush, thousands of people needed food, tools, and clothing. Because there were not enough supplies for everyone, prices became very expensive.
Inflation:
Inflation is when the prices of goods and services increase over time, making money buy less than it did before. It often happens when many people are competing to buy the same things.
Example: During the Gold Rush, inflation caused the cost of food, tools, and housing to rise because so many miners and settlers needed supplies at the same time.
Legacy:
A legacy is something important that is left behind by a person, group, or event and continues to have an effect on people in the future.
Example: The Gold Rush left a lasting legacy by helping California grow quickly, bringing people from around the world, and leading to California's statehood in 1850.
