| No. | Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Abolitionist | Activist who fought to end slavery. |
| 2. | Affordable Care Act | Landmark U.S. health law. |
| 3. | All-nighter | Staying awake all night. |
| 4. | Amendment | Official change to the U.S. Constitution. |
| 5. | Appalachians | Mountain range in the eastern U.S. |
| 6. | Apple pie | Symbol of traditional American culture. |
| 7. | Ballpark figure | Rough estimate. |
| 8. | Barbecue | Social event centered on grilling. |
| 9. | Baseball | America’s “national pastime.” |
| 10. | Bayou | Swampy water area in Louisiana. |
| 11. | Bigfoot | Mythical North American creature. |
| 12. | Bill of Rights | First ten amendments to the Constitution. |
| 13. | Blizzard | Severe snowstorm. |
| 14. | Blue state | State that usually votes Democrat. |
| 15. | Bluegrass | American roots music style. |
| 16. | Blues | Music genre rooted in African American traditions. |
| 17. | Boomtown | Rapidly growing city. |
| 18. | Bootleg | Illegally made or distributed liquor. |
| 19. | Broadway | New York theater district. |
| 20. | Burger | Iconic American food staple. |
| 21. | Campfire | Outdoor fire for cooking and gathering. |
| 22. | Catch-22 | No-win situation. |
| 23. | Checks and balances | System of shared government power. |
| 24. | Civil Rights Movement | Struggle for racial equality. |
| 25. | Cold War | U.S.–Soviet rivalry without direct fighting. |
| 26. | Dime a dozen | Very common. |
| 27. | Digital divide | Gap in internet access. |
| 28. | Drive-in | Outdoor movie theater for cars. |
| 29. | Drive-thru | Service window for cars. |
| 30. | Electoral College | Body that elects the president. |
| 31. | Emancipation Proclamation | Order freeing enslaved people. |
| 32. | Everglades | Wetland ecosystem in Florida. |
| 33. | Fake news | False information presented as fact. |
| 34. | Filibuster | Delaying tactic in the Senate. |
| 35. | Founding Fathers | Leaders who established the U.S. |
| 36. | Fourth of July | Independence Day holiday. |
| 37. | Frontier | Unsettled or unexplored region. |
| 38. | Gerrymandering | Manipulating district lines for advantage. |
| 39. | Gig economy | Temporary contract work system. |
| 40. | Gold Rush | 19th-century rush for gold in California. |
| 41. | Grand Canyon | Iconic natural landmark in Arizona. |
| 42. | Gravy train | Easy source of money. |
| 43. | Great Depression | Severe 1930s economic downturn. |
| 44. | Great Plains | Vast central grasslands. |
| 45. | Greenback | Slang for U.S. paper money. |
| 46. | Highway patrol | State police unit for roads. |
| 47. | Hollywood | Center of the U.S. film industry. |
| 48. | Hollywood ending | Overly happy conclusion. |
| 49. | Hotdog | Popular American street food. |
| 50. | Hustle | Energetic effort or side job. |
| 51. | Impeachment | Charging an official with misconduct. |
| 52. | Jazz | Uniquely American music genre. |
| 53. | Jazz Age | Cultural era of the 1920s. |
| 54. | Lame duck | Official with little influence before leaving. |
| 55. | Lobbyist | Person influencing lawmakers for groups. |
| 56. | Lottery | Game of chance for money. |
| 57. | Manifest Destiny | Belief in U.S. expansion westward. |
| 58. | Mardi Gras | New Orleans carnival festival. |
| 59. | Melting pot | Metaphor for cultural diversity. |
| 60. | Mississippi River | Major U.S. waterway. |
| 61. | Moonshine | Illegally made liquor. |
| 62. | Nickel-and-dime | Small charges that add up. |
| 63. | Niagara Falls | Famous U.S.–Canada waterfall. |
| 64. | Opioid crisis | Widespread drug epidemic. |
| 65. | Preamble | Introduction to the Constitution. |
| 66. | Prohibition | Alcohol ban from 1920–1933. |
| 67. | Red state | State that usually votes Republican. |
| 68. | Red tape | Excessive bureaucracy. |
| 69. | Reconstruction | Period after the Civil War. |
| 70. | Road trip | Long journey by car. |
| 71. | Roadside diner | Classic small-town eatery. |
| 72. | Route 66 | Historic American highway. |
| 73. | Selfie | Self-taken photo. |
| 74. | Sheriff | Elected local law enforcement officer. |
| 75. | Side hustle | Secondary income source. |
| 76. | Silicon Valley | Hub of technology companies. |
| 77. | Skyscraper | Very tall building. |
| 78. | Smithsonian | Group of national museums. |
| 79. | Snowbird | Person who moves south for winter. |
| 80. | Social media | Online platforms for communication. |
| 81. | Statue of Liberty | Symbol of freedom and immigration. |
| 82. | Student debt | Loans for higher education. |
| 83. | Super Bowl | U.S. football championship game. |
| 84. | Swing state | State that can vote either way. |
| 85. | Tech boom | Rapid rise of technology sector. |
| 86. | Thanksgiving | Holiday of gratitude and feasting. |
| 87. | Times Square | Famous New York landmark. |
| 88. | Town hall | Public meeting for discussion. |
| 89. | Trail of Tears | Forced Native American removal. |
| 90. | Uncle Sam | National personification of the U.S. |
| 91. | Universal healthcare | System providing care to all citizens. |
| 92. | Veto | President’s power to reject legislation. |
| 93. | Voting rights | Laws governing access to voting. |
| 94. | Watergate | Scandal leading to Nixon’s resignation. |
| 95. | White House | U.S. president’s residence. |
| 96. | Wild West | Frontier period of expansion and lawlessness. |
| 97. | Y’all | Southern contraction of “you all.” |
| 98. | Yankee | Northerner or American in general. |
| 99. | Yellowstone | First U.S. national park. |
| 100. | Yosemite | Iconic California national park. |