This monograph suggests that social studies will be improved if classroom teachers concentrate on mastering concepts rather than facts. It explains how teachers can help students understand events and trends in American history by investigating general concepts such as capitalist institutional development, the interaction of historical circumstances, and basic American values. Specific concepts (defined as tool concepts) which help high school students interpret historical data include culture, custom, mores, values, enculturation, acculturation, culture lag, manifest function, latent function, role, and institution. Questions which can be posed in an inquiry approach in social studies classes stress one or several of these concepts. Sample questions include "how do Americans reach to authority?""what is the role of the individual in a pre-literate society?""why do Americans place such a high value on liberty?" and "how has economic development in the United States been influenced by American cultural values?" (DB)