SOCIAL STUDIES FACT CARDS CALIFORNIA EDITION

Indians	Ranchos	States	Countries
Explorers	Governors	Presidents	Religions
Missions	Counties	Texas Indians	Wonders
Mission Life	History by Decades	Northeast Indians	Early Civilizations

California Indians
Traditional way of life in about 1770 for each of more than 50 native California groups. Includes location, houses, food, tools, clothing, trade, and ceremonies.

[Top of Page]

Explorers
Get off to a good start on the study of California history with the story of the early explorers. They came by sea and by land, beginning in the mid-1500s. Thirty explorers who visited California before 1850 are covered.

[Top of Page]

Individual Missions
One card on each of the 21 missions, with quick facts on location, founding, history, buildings & grounds, unique features, and the mission today. Includes site diagrams for each mission, plus ideas for making a model of a mission, with suggestions for building materials, construction techniques, and finishing details.

[Top of Page]

Mission Life
Details of the furniture, clothing, food, and activities going on inside the rooms and workshops of a typical California mission at the height of the mission period. Gives a view of what being inside the mission was like for most of the people who lived there in the early 1800s.

[Top of Page]

Ranchos
Between 1784 and 1846, Spanish and Mexican governors of California granted large tracts of land to individuals. The herds of cattle that grazed on these ranchos formed the basis of the California economy of the first half of the 19th century. Topics covered include becoming the owner of a rancho, people of the ranchos, home life on the rancho, rancho food, fiestas and fun, horses and horsemanship, rancho cattle, hide and tallow trade, and the end of the ranchos. Plus one card each on 17 individual ranchos from San Diego to Shasta County. The stories of these ranchos and the people who lived on them were chosen to illustrate the varieties of experiences of this formative period of California's history.

[Top of Page]

Governors
One-page biographies of each of the men who have served as governor of the State of California, from Peter Burnett in 1849 to Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004. These profiles show the background and character of the governor plus the significant events of his administration. An introduction covers the Spanish and Mexican governors of Alta California as well as the U.S. military governors before 1849. Illustrated with historic photographs of each governor.

Top of Page]

Counties
Quick facts on each of the 58 counties in California. Includes the history of the county, its topography and geography, and its population and economy. For each county, endangered species are listed, as are national and state parks. Maps show the location of each county within the state.

[Top of Page]

History by Decades
An overview of the history of California presented through the significant events of each decade. Beginning with a card on Native Californians before the Spanish arrived, this set includes a card on each decade from the 1760s through the 2000s. For most decades, four topics have been chosen for their importance in California history, and to give the flavor of the decade. Examples of topics from the 1860s include the Pony Express arriving in San Francisco, the completion of the transcontinental telegraph lines, the founding of the University of California, and the Central Pacific Railway joining the Union Pacific, linking California to the east.

[Top of Page]

States
A wealth of quick information about each state. You'll find the basic up-to-date facts and figures of each state's geography, climate, population, history, and economy. Also includes harder-to-get statistics such as the percent of the population born in the state and in the U.S., and median household incomes. Includes all the state symbols as well as a list of endangered species. The government section keeps you current with the names, political parties, and terms of office of the governor and U.S. senators, plus the number of electoral college votes.

[Top of Page]

Presidents
Quick facts on each of the 42 men (from George Washington through George W. Bush) who have served as president of the United States. Traces the events that have shaped the characters and lives of our presidents from birth to the grave (or to today). For each president, you will find vital personal statistics plus physical characteristics, ancestry, and religion. A brief biography of the childhood years and early career as well as a biography of the First Lady are included. Also includes election statistics and inauguration facts, administration highlights, cabinet posts, what was happening in America and the world at the time, what the president did after his term ended, and interesting facts and tidbits.

[Top of Page]

Texas Indians
Quick facts on the history, settlements, appearance, traditional clothing, food, tools, ceremonies and customs of tribes who lived in Texas before 1900. Plus cards with more information on amusements, beliefs, the buffalo, houses, family life, horses, maize, and picture writing.

[Top of Page]

Northeast Indians
Quick facts on Indians of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the northeast coastal regions for each of 31 distinct groups. These groups make up the eastern tribes of the Algonquian and Iroquois people. Provides an account of the everyday lives of the Indians before the arrival of European settlers. Each card covers their settlements, tribal organization, houses, food, clothing, tools, and religion.

[Top of Page]

Countries
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, here are up-to-date profiles of each of the 193 independent countries of the world. You'll catch the "flavor" of the country. You'll find basic facts and figures about the land, the climate, and animals and plants. A section on the people gives population statistics, ethnicities, religion, languages, and education, as well as quick facts on popular foods, sports, music, and holidays. Some famous people connected with the country are noted. The history section traces the habitation of the area from ancient times, and the political history of the country to current times. Statistics and facts about money, unemployment, inflation rate, industries, crops, natural resources, and trade give a picture of the economic situation. The government section keeps you current with the names of the chief of state, head of government, and ambassadors, plus information on government structure and voting rights. Points of interest in the country round out the profile. Included are a map, plus a picture and description of the national flag.

[Top of Page]

Religions
The major religions of the world are covered here, with information on the history, beliefs, and sacred writings of each religion. The manner of worship, including sacraments and symbols, is discussed, as are holidays and festivals. Membership worldwide is quoted. There are separate cards for major denominations within religions.

[Top of Page]

World Wonders
Quick facts on 28 man-made wonders of the ancient world. For each, you will learn what it looked like, why and how it was built, something about the civilization that created it, and what is at the site today, plus a host of other fascinating facts about each construction. Includes not only the 7 traditional Wonders of the Ancient World, but three other sets of "7 Wonders" spanning the continents, enhancing students' study of early civilizations around the world.

[Top of Page]

Early Civilizations
Quick facts on more than 30 of the earliest civilizations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Catch the flavor and unique qualities of ancient cultures.

[Top of Page]