6th Grade Social Studies Benchmark Study Guide (Spring 2012)
Governments of Europe and Australia
Type of
Government
Head of State
United Kingdom
Parliamentary
Democracy
Prime Minister
- Chosen by the
Parliament
Monarch (currently
Queen Elizabeth II)
- Chosen by
heredity
Chief of State
Parliament (bicameral – 2 houses)
Legislative Branch
of Government
(makes the laws)
How Legislative
Branch is chosen
-
Voting Age
House of
Commons:
Members are
elected by
popular vote to
serve five-year
terms unless the
House is
dissolved earlier.
House of Lords:
No elections
18
Russia
Federal Republic
Federation
President
- Chosen by a
Federal
Convention for
a 5 year term
Chancellor
- elected by an
majority of the
Federal
Assembly for a
four-year term
2 Houses (bicameral)
- Federal Council
or Bundesrat
-
-
Germany
Federal
Assembly or
Bundestag
-
Federal Council
or Bundesrat:
No elections
-
Federal
Assembly or
Bundestag:
members
elected by
popular vote for
a four-year term
18
President
- Elected by
popular vote for
a four-year term
(eligible for a
second term)
Premier
- Appointed by
the president
with the
approval of the
State Duma
Federal Asssembly
(bi-cameral – 2
houses)
- Federal Council
(upper house)
-
State Duma
(lower house)
-
Federal Council:
Members
appointed for
four-year terms
-
State Duma:
Members
elected by
popular vote to
serve four-year
terms
18
Australia
Parliamentary
Democracy
Prime Minister
- Chosen by the
Parliament
Monarch (currently
Queen Elizabeth II)
- Chosen by
heredity
Governor General
- Appointed by the
monarch on the
recommendation
of the prime
minister
Parliament (bicameral – 2 Houses)
- Senate
-
House of
Representatives
-
Senate: Elected
by popular vote
-
House of
Representatives:
Elected by
popular vote
18
Economies of Europe and Australia
United Kingdom
Germany
Russia
Australia
Mixed
Mixed
Mixed
Mixed
Type of Economy
What is a mixed economy?
-
Characteristics of a mixed economy include:
o A combination of a command economy and a market economy
o A combination of private businesses and government controlled businesses
o Makes and regulates the rules on how businesses should operate (for example businesses should
operate fairly and not make products that harm or kill people)
o Encourages entrepreneurship
World Events After World War II
Holocaust
Cold War
Collapse of Soviet Union
Reunification of Germany
The Holocaust was the purposeful killing of six million Jews by Adolf Hitler and
the Nazis. Hitler wanted to kill the Jews because he believed that they were the
reason for all of Germany’s problems after World War I.
The Cold War was an era of hostility (tension) between the United States (and
our democratic allies) and the Soviet Union (and their communist allies) that
began after World War II. During the fifties and sixties, the threat of nuclear
attack loomed large, much the way the fear of another terrorist attack concerns
us today. The Soviet Union and the United States competed for power and to be
the most powerful country on Earth. It was a battle between democracy and
communism. The United States and the Soviet Union were superpowers.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 ended the Cold War. Communism was
ended and the Soviet Union was broken up into Russia and several smaller
democratic countries. A truce (peaceful agreement) over nuclear weapons was
reached between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The end of communism in the Soviet Union resulted in the end of communism in
eastern Germany. As a result, the Berlin wall was torn down and Germany was
reunified into one, democratic country.
Latin America’s History & Geography
History
The Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas were the first early civilizations to live in Latin America. The Mayas
mysteriously disappeared, but the Aztec and Inca civilizations came to an end after contact with European
explorers. Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes arrived in Latin America around 1519 and wanted the Aztec
riches (gold and silver) that he found. He captured the leader of the Aztecs, Montezuma, and in a later battle
between the Aztecs and Cortes’s soldiers was captured and then killed. Another Spanish conquistador, Francisco
Pizarro, arrived in Latin America around 1531 and met the Incas. Pizarro, like Cortes wanted the riches of the
Incas. Inca leader, Athuallpa, was captured and Pizarro had him killed. Many Aztec and Inca died because of the
diseases (such as the flu, small pox, and measles) brought by the Europeans. The Native Americans (native Latin
Americans) had never been exposed to those diseases before. Many Native Americans also died in battle with the
Europeans in a fight over their land and riches. Even though the Maya, Aztec, and Inca empires came to an end
their ancestors still live and carry out their traditions throughout Mexico and Central and South America.
With the end of the Aztec and Inca empires came the colonization of Central and South America by the
Europeans. Spain and Portugal are the two main European countries that colonized Central and South America.
This is why Spanish and Portuguese are the two main languages of Central and South America. This is also why
Roman Catholic is the major religion of the region. Another result of the colonization of Latin America by
Europeans is the creation of several different ethnic groups. Mulattoes are people of European and African
descent. Mestizos are people of European and Native American (native Latin Americans) descent.
Latin America would not be under European control forever. Three leaders from Latin America rose up to
protest the unfair treatment of Latin Americans by the Europeans. Those three leaders, all men, were FrançoisDominique Toussaint L’Ouverture, Miguel Hidalgo, and Simon Bolivar. François-Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture
led a slave army and defeated the French to end the French colony. His defeat of the French and end of the French
colony lead to the creation of the country of Haiti. Haiti is the only country to be formed as a result of a revolt of
slaves. Miguel Hidalgo, known as the Father of Mexico, led a peasant army against the Spanish to lead Mexico to
independence. Simon Bolivar, known as “The Liberator” of South America led many armies to end Spanish rule in
South America. Because of Bolivar’s efforts the countries of Bolivia (named after Simon Bolivar), Columbia,
Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela were created.
In more modern times the struggle for the equal treatment of Latin Americans continued. In the country of
Cuba, Fidel Castro led a revolution against then president Fulgencio Baptista. Baptista was once elected president
of Cuba, but when he declared himself dictator this made many Cubans upset because they had poor healthcare,
education and living conditions. After the Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, Castro became the leader and
dictator of Cuba and formed a communist government; the only communist government in the western
hemisphere. The Soviet Union, once a communist country, became friends with Fidel Castro and communist Cuba.
The relationship between Cuba and the Soviet Union caused tension between them and the United States.
Tensions between Cuba and the United States almost caused a war over differences about nuclear weapons. This
was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Fidel Castro is still the leader of communist Cuba and tensions between
Cuba and the United States still exist today.
The Zapatistas were a groups of Mexicans who fought for the improved rights and living conditions of the
native people of Mexico. In 1994, when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect
between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Zapatistas were upset. The Zapatistas were upset because
they thought Mexican farmers would not be able to compete with cheaper food prices from the United States.
Fighting between the Zapatistas and the Mexican government occurred. It ended but the Zapatistas did not go
away. The Zapatistas still fight for equal treatment and pay the people of Mexico today.
Geography
Location
-
Population
Distribution
Climate
Natural
Resources
Brazil
Largest country in South
America
Eastern side of South
America
Borders the Atlantic Ocean
-
-
Most people live along the
coast
-Largest Portuguesespeaking country in South
America
-
Mostly hot and tropical
Temperate (mild) climate in
the south
-
-
-
-
Bauxite
Gold
Iron Ore
Manganese
Nickel
Platinum
Timber
Hydropower (water power)
Petroleum
Uranium
-
Cuba
Caribbean island
about 90 miles
south of Florida
Gulf of Mexico to
the northwest and
the Atlantic Ocean
to the northeast
About 20% of
Cubans live in
Havana, the capital
city
Havana is the
largest city
-
-
-
Tropical
Dry Season
(November to April)
Rainy Season (May
to October)
-
Cobalt
Nickel
Iron Ore
Cooper
Salt
Timber
Petroleum
-
-
Mexico
Southern border of
the United States
Coasts on the Pacific
Ocean, Gulf of
Mexico, and the
Caribbean Sea
-
-
Largest Spanishspeaking country in
the world
Nearly 20% of
people live in
Mexico City
-
Generally dry and
warm
Hottest (June to
August)
Wettest (June to
August)
Petroleum
Natural Gas
Silver
Copper
Gold
Lead
Zinc
Timber
-
-
-
Venezuela
Northeast part of
South America
Coasts on Caribbean
Sea and Atlantic
Ocean
Just north of the
equator
Caracas is the
largest city
(hometown of
Simon Bolivar)
Most people live in
the northern
highlands
(mountains) and
along the coast
Hot and tropical
climate
Cooler in the
mountains
Rainfall varies by
region
Petroleum
Natural Gas
Iron Ore
Gold
Diamonds
Bauxite
Hydropower (water
power)
Other Minerals
Environmental Issues in Latin America
Country/Region
Mexico City, Mexico
Environmental
Issue
Air Pollution
Causes
-
Venezuela
Oil Spills
Brazil
Destruction of the
Amazon Rain Forest
(Deforestation)
-
The location of Mexico City (at the bottom
of a volcano). Allows toxic gases to be
trapped in the atmosphere
Toxic carbon dioxide gas emissions from
cars and factories
Oil spilling in the Caribbean Sea
Leaking oil tanks and pumps
Trees being cut down to make roads
through the rain forest
Cutting down trees for wood to make
products such as furniture
Slash and Burn: Cutting down trees and
burning the land to make land for farming
land.
Solutions
-
Plant more trees
Make more efficient cars
Carpool and use mass
transit (busses and trains)
-
Better equipment
Better training for workers
Stop slash and burn
Reduce or limit the
number of trees being cut
down