HISTORY EC TERMS

Chinese Exclusion Act

(1882) Denied any additional Chinese laborers to enter the country while allowing students and merchants to immigrate. importance: racism, was a law restricting immigration which is what made our country

Manifest Destiny

1800s belief that Americans had the right to spread across the continent. this is significant because Americans accomplished this and it changed our country forever

Homestead Act

1862 - Provided free land in the West to anyone willing to settle there and develop it. important because it encouraged westward migration and populated the western area of America.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

1883 law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons importance: hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage

Interstate Commerce Act

1887 law passed to regulate railroad and other interstate businesses importance: prevented monopolistic practices of railroad companies which were taking advantage of their necessity

Sherman Antitrust Act

1890 law banning any trust that restrained interstate trade or commerce importance: it authorized the federal government to institute proceedings against trusts in order to dissolve them

Spanish-American War

1898 war that began when the United States demanded Cuba's independence from Spain importance: produced a peace treaty that caused the Spanish to loose claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States.

Boxer Rebellion

1899 rebellion in Beijing, China started by a secret society of Chinese who opposed the "foreign devils". The rebellion was ended by British troops. importance: was a revolt in China

Muckrakers

1906 - Journalists who searched for corruption in politics and big business importance: revealed corruptions to common people

Scopes Trial

1925 court case in which Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan debated the issue of teaching evolution in public schools importance: decided what can be taught in schools

Lusitania

A British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat on May 7, 1915. 128 Americans died. importance: The sinking greatly turned American opinion against the Germans, helping the move towards entering the war

Grandfather Clause

A clause in registration laws importance: allowed some people who do not meet registration requirements to vote

Standard Time Zones

A condition created by the railroad companies because efficient RR transportation needed to be regulated and directed importance: changed the way clocks are set (hourly difference) and allowed for more effective timing for railroad systems because 12:00 would have the sun above your head everywhere

Teapot Dome Scandal

A government scandal involving a former United States Navy oil reserve in Wyoming that was secretly leased to a private oil company in 1921 importance: allowed oil to be drilled on public land

Trust (business)

A group of corporations run by a single board of directors importance: allowed for monopolies

Monopoly

A market in which there are many buyers but only one seller. importance: there would be complete control of a product or business by one person/group

Militarism

A policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war importance: allows for faster reaction when war hits because you are prepared

Open Door Policy

A policy proposed by the US in 1899, under which ALL nations would have equal opportunities to trade in China. importance: ALL nations would have equal opportunities to trade in China.

Americanization movement

A program to teach American culture to immigrants and assimilate them into American society importance: damaged a diversity of cultures in America; less popular to immigrate to America; immigrants were treated poorly

Ku Klux Klan

A secret society created by white southerners in 1866 that used terror and violence to keep African Americans from obtaining their civil rights. importance: racism; kept blacks from obtaining rights

Social Gospel Movement

A social reform movement that developed within religious institutions and sought to apply the teachings of Jesus directly to society Importance: preached to help the poor; popularized service to lower class

Tenant Farming

A system in which farm workers supply their own tools and rent farmland for cash It is important because it was an effective method to make money and provide space for farmers and became very popular

Booker T. Washington

African American progressive who supported segregation and demanded that African American better themselves individually to achieve equality importance: cultivated the spread of vocational schools and colleges for African Americans across the South

Exodusters

African Americans who moved from post-reconstruction South to Kansas. its significant because it increased Northern populations and also increased the number of available workers

Progressive Party

Also known as the "Bull Moose Party", this political party was formed by Theodore Roosevelt in an attempt to advance progressive ideas importance: split the Republican Party in 1912

Speakeasies

An illegal bar where drinks were sold, during the time of prohibition. It was called a Speakeasy because people literally had to speak easy so they were not caught drinking alcohol by the police. importance: illegal selling of alcohol

The Allies

Britain, France, and Russia- Later joined by Italy importance: won WWI

Settlement Houses

Community centers located in the slums and near tenements that gave aid to the poor, especially immigrants importance: supported lower class and immigrants

Installment Plans

Customers could buy goods by making a small down payment followed by additional monthly payments with interest importance: made expensive items more available to more people

John D. Rockefeller

Established the Standard Oil Company using horizontal integration importance: was an extremely large monopoly

Roosavelt Corollary

Extension of the Monroe Doctrine in 1904 stating that the U.S. had the right to intervene in order to "stabilize" the economic affairs of small states in the Caribbean and Central America, if they were unable to pay their international debts. Importance: Established the foundation later for FDR's "Good Neighbor" policy --> establishment of "protectorates"

Amelia Earhart

First female pilot to cross the Atlantic. She disappeared while trying to fly around the world. importance: first female pilot to cross atlantic; feminism

"Gold Bugs" vs. "Silverites"

Gold bugs wanted dollars to be backed in gold and silverites wanted silver to be the form of payment it is significant because the two groups showed there was support for both monetary systems, explaining the altercation between the two which ended in the election of 1896

graft

Illegal use of political influence for personal gain importance: effected the honesty of elections and society

The Central Powers

In World War I the alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary and other nations allied with them in opposing the Allies. importance: lost WWI

Assembly Line

In a factory, an arrangement where a product is moved from worker to worker, with each person performing a single task in the making of the product. importance: improved efficiency of production

Yellow Journalism

Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers importance: affects readers views on certain topics

Gilded Age

Late 1800s to Early 1900s - time of large increase in wealth caused by industrialization importance: greater industrialization however enlarged the gap between rich and poor people; corrupt politics

Selective Service Act

Law passed by Congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft importance: required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft

Jim Crow Laws

Laws designed to enforce segregation of blacks from whites importance: promoted racism

Louis Armstrong

Leading African American jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance; he was a talented trumpeter importance: his style influenced many later musicians.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

March 1911 fire in New York textile factory that trapped young women workers inside by locked exit doors Importance: death of over 100 women; led to the establishment of many factory reforms, including increasing safety precautions for workers

Zimmerman Note

Message proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico where Germany proposed an alliance against USA importance: was intercepted and brought the US into WWI

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People importance: fought against racism

prohibitionist

One who favors the prohibition by law of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. importance: affect the sale of alcohol

19th ammendment

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920 importance: Gave women the right to vote

17th Amendment

Passed in 1913, this amendment to the Constitution calls for the direct election of senators by the voters instead of their election by state legislatures. importance: Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state legislatures)

Isolationist

People who wanted the United States to stay out of world affairs importance: wanted to stay out of WWI

Charels Lindbergh

Piolit, first person to fly across the Antlantic ocean, "Lucky Lindy." importance: first solo, nonstop flight across the atlantic

Vertical Integration

Practice where a single entity controls the entire process of a product, from the raw materials to distribution importance: new system for business instead of horizontal integration

Election of 1912

Presidential campaign involving Taft, T. Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wilson. Taft and Roosevelt split the Republican vote, enabling Wilson to win importance: Wilson became president; president in WW1

collective bargaining

Process by which a union representing a group of workers negotiates with management for a contract importance: made unions stronger and popularized higher quality working standards

Election of 1896

Republican William McKinley defeated Democratic-Populist William Jennings Bryan. McKinley won promoting the gold standard, pluralism, and industrial growth. this is important because it was a win for gold bugs regarding the altercation between the two monetary sytems

Panama Canal

Ship canal cut across the isthmus of Panama by United States, it opened in 1915. importance: It cost $400,000,000 to build. made trade routes shorter

16th Amendment

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. importance: allows the federal government to collect income tax

Social Darwinism

The belief that only the fittest survive in human political and economic struggle. importance: used to justify imperialism, racism, eugenics and social inequality

Upton Sinclair, The Jungle

Upton Sinclair's best-known novel, The Jungle. Exposed the dangerous working conditions as well as the unsavory products created by the Chicago meat-packing industry of the early twentieth century. importance: inspired Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act

Wilson 14 points

Woodrow Wilson's plan for post-war peace: no secret treaties; freedom of the seas; removal of economic barriers; reduction of arms; adjust colonial claims importance: not much impact; was denied by senate

Plessy v. Ferguson

a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal importance: supported racism because there was no definition of "equal"

Referendum

a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate importance: it is a direct vote by an electoral on a proposal

Monroe Doctrine

an American foreign policy opposing interference in the Western hemisphere from outside powers importance: show of nationalism, the doctrine had no major impact until later in the 1800s.

Gentleman's Agreement

an agreement between the United States and Japan where the U.S. would not impose restrictions on Japanese immigration or students, Importance: Japan would not allow further immigration to the U.S.

The Grange

an association formed by farmers in the last 1800s this is important because farmers shared information about crops, prices, and supplies which improved farming and farmers' lives

League of Nations

an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations importance: would drag US into European conflicts, did not join

Philippine-American War

armed conflict between the Philippines and the United States from 1899-1902. It was a continuation of the Philippine struggle for independence. The Philippines declared war on the US and it became a savage conflict with guerilla warfare. Importance: Villages were destroyed, civilians were murdered, and prisoners were tortured

corruption

dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power importance: effected the soundness of elections

W.E.B. DuBois

encouraged blacks to resist systems of segregation and discrimination importance: 1st black to earn Ph.D. from Harvard; helped create NAACP in 1910

Patronage

granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support importance: damaged the soundness of elections and made voting more difficult to reinforce; allowed for bribery and blackmail

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian in 1914 importance: assassination sparked WWI

Scabs

hired by employers as replacement workers when unions went on strike they are important because they dulled the effects of strikes and made it harder for unions to achieve what they were fighting for

Great Migration

movement of over 300,000 African American from the rural south into Northern cities between 1914 and 1920 importance: increased black population in the north

Tammany Hall

notorious political machine; NY city; Marcy Tweed also know as Boss Tweed became head in 1863 importance: controlled New York City and New York State politics; helped immigrants

Populism

political party which support the concerns of ordinary people it is important because this encouraged a sense of shared identity among different groups within a society

suffragist

someone who campaigns for voting rights importance: supported women's right to vote

civil service

the permanent professional branches of a government's administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians. importance: carried out the work of the government

Treaty of Versailles

the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded exorbitant reparations from the Germans importance: ended WWI

Bimetallism

the use of both gold and silver as a basis for a national monetary system it is significant because it became an alternative to the gold standard. it was debated for a long time in America which was the better option

Anti-Imperialists

those who opposed annexation of the Phillipines, declaring it unconstitutional to do so. importance: opposed annexation of the Phillipines

Espionage and Sedition Acts

two laws, enacted in 1917 and 1918, that imposed harsh penalties on anyone interfering with or speaking against U.S. participation in WWI importance: violated 1st amendment rights; hundreds arrested