Apush terms
the civilian conservation corps
a new deal program that hired unemployed men to work on natural conservation projects
manifest destiny
a notion held by a nineteenth-century americans that the united states was destined to rule the continent, from the atlantic the pacific
the truman doctrine
president truman's policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology
warren g. harding
president who called for a return to normalcy following world war i
congregationalists
puritans who wanted to reform the anglican church from within
battle of lexington and concord (1775)
the first battle of the revolutionary war, fought in massachusetts, in which british troops had moved from boston toward lexington and concord to seize the colonists' military supplies and arrest revolutionaries
act of toleration (1649)
the first colonial statue granting religious freedom to all christians; happened because most people in maryland were protestant, and catholics wanted religious freedom
the knights of labor
the first effort to create national union; was open to everyone but lawyers and bankers, however has a vague program, no clear goals, and weak leadership and organization
the sherman antitrust act (1890)
the first federal action against monopolies; extensively used by theodore roosevelt for trust-busting (initially misused against labor unions)
janet reno
the first female attorney general
the "starving time" (1609-1610)
the winter of 1609 to 1610 was known as the "starving time" to the colonists of virginia (only sixty members of the original four hundred colonists survived)
franklin d. roosevelt
thirty-second u.s. president; he began the new deal programs to help the nation out of the great depression, and he was the nation's leader during most of world war ii
"40 acres and a mule"
this slogan was created when the federal government settled nearly ten thousand black families on abandoned plantation land (they often times received a single mule for their property); it was an attempt to give the black families a new start
pinckney's treaty (1795)
this treaty between the u.s. and spain which gave the u.s. the right to transport goods on the mississippi river and to store goods in the spanish port of new orleans
the spoils system
a system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends with jobs and/or promotions
the underground railroad
a system of secret routes used by escaping slaves to reach freedom in the north or in canada
sharecropping
a system used on southern farms after the civil war in which farmers worked land owned by someone else in return for a small portion of the crops
the zimmerman telegram (1917)
a telegram germany sent to mexico to convince mexico to attack the u.s.; led to the u.s. joining world war i
the gilded age
a time period that looked good on the outside, despite the corrupt politics and growing gap between the rich and poor
george wallace
alabama governor best known for his pro-segregation attitudes during the civil rights movement
frederick jackson turner
an american historian who said that humanity would continue to progress as long as there was new land to move into; the frontier provided a place for homeless and solved social problems
thomas edison
an american inventor best known for inventing the electric light bulb, acoustic recording on wax cylinders, and motion pictures
cahokia
an ancient settlement of southern Indians, located near present day st. louis; served mainly as a trading center
the united nations
an international organization formed after world war ii to promote international peace, security, and cooperation
the league of nations
an international organization formed to promote cooperation and peace among nations
the american suffrage association
an organization that fought for women's suffrage amendments to state constitutions
w.e.b. du bois
fought for african american rights; helped to found niagra movement to fight for and establish equal rights (this movement later led to the establishment of the naacp)
huguenots
french protestants influenced by john calvin
the axis powers
germany, italy, japan
the national association for the advancement of colored people (naacp)
a civil rights organization established in the united states as a bi-racial endeavor to advance justice for african americans
the baby boom
a cohort of individuals born in the united states just after world war ii in a time of relative peace and prosperity; these conditions allowed for better education and job opportunities, encouraging high rates of both marriage and fertility
massachusetts bay colony
a colony founded by john winthrop; the "city upon a hill"
royal colony
a colony under the direct control of a monarch
joint-stock company
a company whose stock is owned jointly by the shareholders
the space race
a competition of space exploration between the united states and soviet union
"don't ask, don't tell"
a compromise measure under which homosexual servicemen and servicewomen could remain in the military if they did not openly declare their sexual orientation
iroquois
a confederacy of five tribes originally inhabiting the northern part of new york state, consisting of the seneca, cayuga, oneida, onondaga and mohawk
powahatan cofederacy
a confederacy of several native american tribes that rose to power in virginia, under chief powhatan's leadership
the spanish-american war
a conflict between the united states and spain, in which the u.s. supported the cubans' fight for independence
the gulf of tonkin
a congressional resolution that authorized president johnson to commit u.s. troops to south vietnam and fight a war against north vietnam
the first continental congress (1774)
a convention of delegates from the colonies called in to discuss their response to the passage of the intolerable acts
the second continental congress (1775)
a convention of delegates from the colonies, who, having previously sent the olive branch petition, moved incrementally towards independence, adopting the declaration of independence, and acting as the de facto national government
robert kennedy
a democrat who ran for president promoting civil rights and other equality based ideals; he was assassinated before the campaign was over, leaving nixon to take the presidency, but instilled hope in many americans
scalawags
a derogatory term for southerners who were working with the north to buy up land from desperate southerners
the wilmot proviso (1846)
an amendment that sought to prohibit slavery from territories acquired from mexico; it was introduced by pennsylvania congressman david wilmot, but the failed amendment ratcheted up tensions between north and south over the issue of slavery
the hartford convention (1814)
a meeting of federalist delegates from new england inspired by federalist opposition to the war of 1812; contributed to the death of the federalist party during the "era of good feelings"
the my lai massacre (1968)
a military assault on a small vietnamese village, in which american soldiers under the command of second lieutenant william calley murdered hundreds of unarmed vietnamese civilians, mostly women and children; the atrocity produced outrage and reduced support for the war in america and around the world when details of the massacre and an attempted cover-up were revealed
the suez crisis (1956)
a military attack on egypt by britain, france, and israel; the attack followed egypt's decision to nationalize the suez canal after the withdrawal of an offer by britain and the united states to fund the building of the aswan dam
conscription
a military draft
john lewis
a miner known for creating the united mine workers; he helped found the cio and was responsible for the fair labor standards act
stephen douglas
a moderate, who introduced the kansas-nebraska act in 1854 and popularized the idea of popular sovereignty
the gold standard
a monetary system in which paper money and coins are equal to the value of a certain amount of gold
the civil rights movement
a movement in the united states led primarily by blacks in an effort to establish the civil rights of individual black citizens
tenement housing
a multifamily urban dwelling, usually overcrowded and unsanitary
the era of good feelings
a name for president monroe's two terms; a period of strong nationalism, economic growth, and territorial expansion
the second bank of the united states (1816)
a national bank overseen by the federal government, given a twenty year charter; the purpose of the bank was to regulate state banks, which had grown rapidly since the first bank of the u.s. expired
john muir
a naturalist who believed the wilderness should be preserved in its natural state; he was largely responsible for the creation of yosemite national park in california
the works progress administration
a new deal agency that helped create jobs for those that needed them; it created around nine million jobs working on bridges, roads, and buildings
revivalism
a new era of religious leaders who preached and wrote books denoucing the evils of popular entertainment and alcohol
the bosnia conflict
a new nation that quickly became embroiled in a bloody civil war between muslims and christians; the united states sent a negotiator to settle the struggle, richard holbrooke, who brought the warring parties together and crafted an agreement to partition bosnia
planned parenthood
a nonprofit organization that does research into and gives advice on contraception, family planning, and reproductive problems
carpetbaggers
a northerner who went to the south immediately after the civil war; one who tried to gain political advantage or other advantages from the disorganized situation in southern states
f. scott fitzgerald
a novelist and chronicler of the jazz age; is novel "the great gatsby" is considered a masterpiece of the time period
the proclamation of 1763
a proclamation from the british government which forbade british colonists from settling west of the appalacian mountains, and which required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east
black power
a slogan used to reflect solidarity and racial consciousness, used by malcolm x; it meant that equality could not be given, but had to be seized by a powerful, organized black community
environmentalism
a social movement dedicated to protecting the earth's life support systems for us and other species
susan b. anthony
a social reformer who campaigned for women's rights, temperance, who was also an abolitionist; helped form the national woman suffrage association
john c. calhoun
a south carolina senator; advocated for state's rights, limited government, and nullification
fourteen points (1918)
a statement given by wilson declaring that world war i was being fought for a moral cause and calling for postwar peace in europe; the speech laid out a policy of free trade, open agreements, democracy and self-determination, with point fourteen advocating for a league of nations to be established that would keep world peace (most of these points would not be realized, and the u.s. would fail to join the league of nations, but this speech would still serve as a model for the more successful atlantic charter the followed world war ii)
jazz
a style of music characterized by the use of improvisation; popular during the roaring twenties
the great awakening (1739-1744)
a sudden outbreak of religious fervor that swept through the colonies; one of the first events to unify the colonies
elizabeth cady stanton
a suffragette who organized the first convention on women's rights, held in seneca falls, new york; here she issued the declaration of sentiments which declared men and women to be equal and demanded the right to vote for women
the silver standard
a system by which the value of a currency is defined in terms of silver, for which the currency may be exchanged
sonar
a system for the detection of objects under water and for measuring the water's depth by emitting sound pulses and detecting or measuring their return after being reflected
the caucus system
a system in which members of a political party meet to choose their party's candidate for president or decide policy
socialism
a system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production
"pet" banks
a term used by jackson's opponents to describe the state banks that the federal government used for new revenue deposits in an attempt to destroy the second bank of the united states (this practice continued even after the charter for the second bank of the united states expired)
the silent majority
a term used by president nixon to describe americans who opposed the counterculture
communism
a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state
the hydrogen bomb
a thermonuclear bomb which uses the fusion of isotopes of hydrogen
grenada
a tiny caribbean island seized by a radical military council, which Reagan ordered the u.s. military to reclaim; it was a quick action that made him appear decisive and gained much popular support from both americans and grenadians
brook farm
a transcendentalist utopian experiment, put into practice by transcendentalist, former unitarian minister, george ripley at a farm in west roxbury, massachusetts; the community was inspired by the socialist concepts of charles fourier (fourierism was the belief that there could be a utopian society where people could share together to have a better lifestyle)
huron confederacy
a unified group of iroquoian-speaking native american tribes; stood with the french when the french went to war with the iroquios
the general agreement on tariffs and trade
a united nations agency created by a multinational treaty to promote trade by the reduction of tariffs and import quotas
harriet tubman
a united states abolitionist, born a slave on a plantation in Maryland, who became a famous conductor on the underground railroad leading other slaves to freedom in the north
rachel carson
a united states biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife
beatniks
a united states youth subculture that rebelled against the mundane horrors of middle class life
shakers
a utopian group that splintered from the quakers; believed that they and all other churches had grown too interested in this world & neglectful of their afterlives (prohibited marriage and sexual relationships and practiced celibacy)
the berlin wall
a wall separating east and west berlin built by east germany to keep citizens from escaping to the west
world war i
a war between the allies (russia, france, britai, italy, the united states, japan, romania, serbia, belgium, greece, portugal, and montenegro) and the central powers (germany, austria-hungary, turkey, and bulgaria)
the war of 1812
a war between the united states and england, who was trying to interfere with american trade with france
salem witch trials (1692)
a wave of hysteria that swept through massachusetts regarding outrageous religious convictions and proposed witchcraft
the first red scare
a widespread fear of communism in the u.s. after the revolution in Russia
labor strikes
a work stoppage intended to force an employer to respond to demands
john brown
abolitionist who was hanged after leading an unsuccessful raid at harper's ferry
roe v. wade (1973)
abortion rights fall within the privacy implied in the fourteenth amendment
the ten percent plan (1863)
abraham lincoln's proposed plan for reconstruction; introduced before the end of the war allowing louisiana, tennessee, and arkansas to establish fully functioning governments; called for states to be reintegrated into the union when ten percent of their voters had taken an oath of allegiance to the u.s. and pledged to abide by emancipation
martin van buren
advocated for lower tariffs and free trade, and by doing so maintained support of the south for the democratic party; he succeeded in setting up a system of bonds for the national debt
zora neale hurston
african american writer and folklore scholar who played a key role in the harlem renaissance
exodusters
african americans who moved from the post- reconstruction south to kansas.
the new south
after the civil war, southerners promoted a new vision for a self-sufficient southern economy built on modern capitalist values, industrial growth, and improved transportation; henry grady played an important role in advocating this vision
frederick douglass
an american abolitionist and writer who escaped slavery and became a leading African American spokesman and writer; he published his biography, "the narrative of the life of frederick douglass", and founded the abolitionist newspaper, the north star
thurgood marshall
an american civil rights lawyer; the first black justice on the supreme court and a tireless advocate for the rights of minorities and the poor
douglass macarthur
an american commander during the war against japan; headed american occupation governemnt of japan after the war and commanded u.n. forces during the korean war
the sierra club
an american environmental organization; helped promote the protection of the environment and nature
ulysses s. grant
an american general and the eighteenth president of the united states; he achieved international fame as the leading union general in the american civil war
john marshall
an american jurist and politician who served as the chief justice of the u.s. supreme court and helped establish the practice of judicial review
colin powell
an american military general and leader during the persian gulf war; he played a crucial role in planning and attaining america's victory in the persian gulf and panama (he was also the first black four star general and chairman of the joint chief of staff)
eugene o'neill
an american playwright of tragedy; the author of "the iceman cometh", "long day's journey into night", and "moon for the misbegotten"
the "war on terror"
an american policy under president george w. bush to fight global terrorism in all its forms
whig party
an american political party formed to oppose president andrew jackson and the democrats; they stood for protective tariffs, national banking, and federal aid for internal improvements
countee cullen
an american romantic poet, and one of the leading african-american poets of his time; associated with generation of poets of the harlem renaissance
the open door policy
an american statement that the government did not want colonies in china, but favored free trade there (regarding all countries)
henry david thoreau
an american transcendentalist who was against a government that supported slavery; he wrote down his beliefs in walden, and he started the movement of civil-disobedience when he refused to pay the toll-tax to support the mexican war
the taft-hartley act (1947)
an anti-union law passed by an increasingly conservative congress over truman's veto; prohibited the states to ban union-shop agreements (to become anti-union "right to work" states), forbade union contributions to candidates in federal elections, forced union leaders to swear in affidavits that they were not communists, and mandated an eighty day cooling off period before carrying out strikes; this enraged labor unions, who called it a "slave labor" law (helped contribute to massive decline in unions)
bacon's rebellion (1676)
an armed rebellion in virginia against governor william berkeley, who had the support of the british government; forces from england came to virginia to suppress the resistance and reform the colonial government to one that was more directly under royal control
shay's rebellion (1786)
an armed uprising of western massachusetts debtors seeking lower taxes and an end to property foreclosures; though it was quickly put down, the insurrection inspired fears of "mob rule" among leading revolutionaries
the sand creek massacre
an attack on a village of sleeping cheyenne indians by a regiment of colorado militiamen; resulted in the death of more than two hundred members
the battle of the alamo
an attack on the Alamo mission in san antonio by mexican forces during the texas revolution
the oklahoma city bombing (1995)
an attack on the alfred p. murrah federal building in downtown oklahoma city; it remained the most destructive act of terrorism committed in the united states until september eleventh, killing one hundred sixty eight people and destroying or damaging three hundred twenty four buildings (the official investigation, known as "okbomb", was the largest criminal investigation case in American history, and the u.s. government passed the antiterrorism and effective death penalty act as a result)
court-packing
an attempt of roosevelt to appoint one new supreme court justice for every sitting justice over the age of seventy who had been there for at least ten years; he wanted to prevent justices from dismantling the new deal (plan died in congress and made opponents of new deal very angry)
the seneca falls convention (1848)
an early and influential women's rights convention at which the push for women's suffrage first gained national prominence, whose leaders were lucretia mott and elizabeth cady stanton; while there, they wrote the declaration of rights and sentiments
ida wells-barnett
an early leader in the civil rights movement; she documented the extent of lynching in the united states, and was also active in the women's rights movement and the women's suffrage movement
the fair deal
an economic extension of the new deal proposed by president truman that called for higher minimum wage, housing and full employment; it led only to the housing act and the social security act due to opposition in congress
the panic of 1819
an economic panic caused by extensive speculation and a decline of european demand for american goods, along with mismanagement within the second bank of the united states; often cited as the end of the era of good feelings
supply-side economics
an economic philosophy that holds the sharply cutting taxes will increase the incentive people have to work, save, and invest; greater investments will lead to more jobs, a more productive economy, and more tax revenues for the government.
mercantilism
an economic system to increase a nation's wealth by government regulation of all of the nation's commercial interests
trickle-down economics
an economic theory that holds that money lent to banks and businesses will trickle down to consumers
john maynard keynes
an english economist who advocated the use of government monetary and fiscal policy to maintain full employment without inflation
salutary neglect
an english policy of relaxing the enforcement of regulations in its colonies in return for the colonies' continued economic loyalty
specie circular (1836)
an executive order issued by andrew jackson requiring payment for government land to be in gold and silverl; ed to inflation and rising prices
lewis and clark expedition
an expedition sent by thomas jefferson to explore the northwestern territories of the united states
libertarianism
an ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in moral, economic, and social life
washington's farewell address
in which he warned americans not to get involved in european affairs (isolationism), not to make permanent alliances, not to form political parties, and to avoid sectionalism
the iraq war
in which the u.s. successfully took down a dominating dictator
chief little turtle
indian chief who formed the western confederation in the northwest territories and led his followers to many victories against u.s. forces; his forces were defeated at the battle of fallen timbers, which led to the signing of the treaty of greenville
fireside chats
informal talks given by fdr over the radio; sat by White House fireplace and gained the confidence of the people
settlement houses
institutions that provided educational and social services to poor people
the iranian hostage crisis
iranian fundamentalists seized the american embassy in tehran and held fifty-three american diplomats hostage for over a year; wreaked the Carter presidency,and the hostages were finally released the day ronald reagan became president
the election of 1824
john quincy adams was elected president over andrew jackson after the election was decided by the house of representatives in what was termed the corrupt bargain
virginia company
joint-stock company from london that received a charter from king james I for land in the new world; the charter guaranteed new colonists the same rights as people back in england
yellow journalism
journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers
gloria stienem
journalist, political activist, and ardent supporter of women's liberation movement
muckrakers
journalists who attempted to find corruption or wrongdoing in industries and expose it to the public
indentured servitude
labor under contract to an employer for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for their transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities; was often used as a replacement of slave labor, but with fairly similar exploitative working conditions
encomiendas
land grants that included the right to demand labor or taxes from Native Americans
the selective service act (1917)
law passed by congress that required all men from ages twenty-one to thirty to register for the military draft
the chinese exclusion act (1882)
law that suspended chinese immigration into america (the ban was supposed to last ten years, but it was expanded several times and was essentially in effect until world war ii); the first significant law that restricted immigration into the united states of an ethnic working group
the interstate commerce act (1887)
law that was designed to regulate the railroad industry; created the interstate commerce commission to ensure that railroads complied with the new regulations
personal liberty laws
laws passed by northern states forbidding the imprisonment of escaped slaves
navigation acts (1651-1673)
laws passed by the english parliament that forced the colonists to buy goods only from england, sell goods that colonists made only to england, import non-english goods using english ports and pay a tax on these goods, and prohibited the colonies from making certain goods that england already made
chief joseph
leader of nez perce indians; fled with his tribe to canada instead of reservations, but u.s. troops came and fought and brought them back down to reservations
dwight d. eisenhower
leader of the allied forces in europe then was elected to be president of the united states
eugene v. debs
leader of the american railway union, he voted to aid workers in the pullman strike; he was jailed for six months for disobeying a court order after the strike was over
mao zedong
leader of the communist party in china that overthrew jiang jieshi and the nationalists; established china as the people's republic of china
political bosses
leaders of political machines that bribed citizens in order to receive votes
battle of the fallen timbers (1794)
led by general anthony wayne, the u.s. army defeated the shawnee, wyandot, and other native american peoples; resulted in the treaty of greenville in which the chiefs surrendered claims to the ohio territory
democratic-republican party
led by thomas jefferson, this party believed people should have political power, favored strong state governments, emphasized agriculture and strict interpretation of the constitution, were pro-french, and opposed the national bank
plessy v. ferguson (1896)
legalized segregation in publicly owned facilities on the basis of "separate but equal"
the emergency quota act (1921)
legislation that limited immigration to three percent of the people of their nationality living in the u.s.
the jim crow laws
limited rights of blacks; examples of results of these laws were literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and poll taxes, which limited black voting rights
the election of 1860
lincoln, the republican candidate, won because the democratic party was split over slavery; as a result, the south no longer felt like it has a voice in politics and a number of states seceded from the union
the battle of fort sumter (1861)
marked the beginning of the american civil war; seen as a military victory in the south and a political victory for the lincoln administration because the south had opened hostilities
the securities and exchange commission
monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds
the colored farmer's alliance
more than one million southern black farmers organized and shared complaints with poor white farmers; however the history of racial division in the south made it hard for white and black farmers to work together in the same organization
the great migration
movement of over three hundred thousand african americans from the rural south into northern cities
upton sinclair
muckraker who shocked the nation when he published "the jungle", a novel that revealed gruesome details about the meat packing industry in chicago; the book was fiction but based on the things sinclair had seen
rock and roll
music that grew out of rhythm and blues; became popular in the decade directly after world war ii
metacomet
native American also known as king phillip who fought against european settlers in king philip's war
the reconstruction act (1867)
necessary requirements for the former confederate states to be readmitted to the union
praying towns
new england settlements where indians from various tribes were gathered to be christianized (converted)
the american socialist party
new political party formed during the gilded age by eugene v. debs
middle colonies
new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware
the sacco and vanzetti trial (1921)
nicola sacco and bartolomeo vanzetti were italian immigrants and known atheists and anarchists unjustly accused of killing a paymaster and a guard in a daylight robbery of a shoe factory (a notorious trial followed); during the trial, the judge and jury appeared overtly prejudiced against sacco and vanzetti because of their immigrant background and their political beliefs; it dragged on for seven years, while protestors around the world organized rallies to show support and demand a new trial for the two doomed men (in the end, both men were executed)
the quebec act (1774)
nullified many of the western claims of the coast colonies by extending the boundaries of the province of quebec to the ohio river on the south and to the mississippi river on the west; the concessions in favor of the roman catholic church also roused much resentment among protestants in the colonies as some colonials took it as a sign that britain was planning to impose catholicism upon the colonies
john f. kennedy
president during part of the cold war, the superpower rivalry, and the cuban missile crisis; other events his term saw were the building of the berlin wall, the space race, and the early events of the vietnamese war
george h.w. bush
president during the gulf war; was able to quickly bring the war to a conclusion while suffering relatively few casualties (resulted in the second-highest approval rating of any president)
the washington naval conference (1921)
president harding invited delegates from europe and japan, where they agreed to limit production of war ships, to not attack each other's possessions, and to respect china's independence
jefferson davis
president of the confederate states of america
common sense (1776)
thomas paine's pamphlet urging the colonies to declare independence and establish a republican government; the widely read pamphlet helped convince colonists to support the revolution
the dawes act (1887)
tried to civilize indians and make them more little settlers by giving them land to farm; instead it harmed their native culture
woodrow wilson
twenty-eighth president of the united states, who was known for world war i leadership, creating the federal reserve, the federal trade sommission, the clayton antitrust act, his progressive income tax, lower tariffs, allowing women's suffrage, and the treaty of versailles; he sought a fourteen points post-war plan, created the league of nations (however failed to receive u.s. support), and won a nobel peace prize
william mckinley
twenty-fifth president responsible for spanish-american war, philippine-american war, the annexation of hawaii, and imperialism; was eventually assassinated by an anarchist
benjamin harrison
twenty-third republican president; overall a poor leader who introduced the Mmckinley tariff and increased federal spending to a billion dollars
martin luther king jr.
u.s. baptist minister and civil rights leader; a noted orator, he opposed discrimination against blacks by organizing nonviolent resistance and peaceful mass demonstrations
the monroe doctrine (1823)
u.s. foreign policy regarding latin american countries; stated that further efforts by european nations to colonize land or interfere with states in north or south america would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring u.s. intervention
sojourner truth
united states abolitionist and feminist who was freed from slavery and became a leading advocate of the abolition of slavery and for the rights of women
william lloyd garrison
united states abolitionist who published an anti-slavery journal
rosa parks
united states civil rights leader who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in montgomery, alabama, and so triggered the national civil rights movement
horace mann
united states educator who introduced reforms that significantly altered the system of public education
eli whitney
united states inventor of the mechanical cotton gin
william jennings bryan
united states lawyer and politician who advocated free silver and prosecuted john scopes for teaching evolution in a tennessee high school
joseph mccarthy
united states politician who unscrupulously accused many citizens of being communists
charles g. finney
urged people to abandon sin and lead good lives in dramatic sermons at religious revivals
joseph pulitzer
used yellow journalism in competition with hearst to sell more newspapers; he also achieved the goal of becoming a leading national figure of the democratic party
richard nixon
vice president under eisenhower, and later the thirty-seventh president of the united states; the first and only president to resign from office
gangsters
violent organized crime members who took over the job of supplying alcohol to speakeasies
the peace corps
volunteers who help third world nations and prevent the spread of communism by getting rid of poverty; involved africa, asia, and latin america
world war ii
war between the allies and the axis powers, involving most countries in the world; the snited states joined the allies several years into the war, helping them to victory
the watergate scandal
a break-in at the democratic national committee offices in the watergate complex in washington was carried out under the direction of white house employees; disclosure of the white house involvement in the break-in and subsequent cover-up forced president nixon to resign to avoid impeachment
the northwest ordinance (1787)
a federal order that divided the northwest territory into smaller territories and created a plan for how the territories could become states
feminism
a female movement for gender equality
dred scott
a black slave who had lived with his master for five years in the illinois and wisconsin territories; backed by interested abolitionists, he sued for freedom on the basis of his long residence on free soil (the ruling on the case was that he was a black slave and not a citizen, so he had no rights)
the gospel of wealth
a book written by carnegie that described the responsibility of the rich to be philanthropists; this softened the harshness of social darwinism as well as promoted the idea of philanthropy
the panic of 1837
a financial crisis in the united states that led to an economic depression
the battle of little big horn (1876)
(also called custer's last stand) an engagement between the combined forces of the lakota and northern cheyenne tribes against the seventh cavalry of the united states army; the most famous of all of the indian wars, the remarkable victory for the lakota and northern cheyenne occurred near the little bighorn river in eastern montana territory (the u.s. cavalry detachment, commanded by lieutenant colonel george armstrong custer, lost every soldier in his unit)
checks and balances
A fundamental principle of American government, guaranteed by the constitution, whereby each branch of the government has some measure of influence over the other branches and may choose to block procedures of the other branches
j.p. morgan
A highly successful banker who bought out carnegie; with carnegie's holdings and some others, he launched u.s. steel and made it the first billion dollar corporation
halfway covenant (1662)
A puritan compromise that allowed the unconverted children of puritans who had fallen away from the church to become halfway members of the church; the covenant allowed these halfway members to baptize their own children even though they themselves were not full members of the church because they had not experienced full conversion (massachusetts ministers accepted this compromise and it signified a drop in the religious zeal or mission that had characterized massachusetts in its change in the religious character of new england society)
sir walter raleigh
An english adventurer and writer, who founded the first english colony in america on roanoke island in present-day north carolina; this colony, however, failed and is now known as the "lost colony"
the american federation of labor (afl)
Combination of national craft unions representing labor interests in wages, hours, and safety; rather than revolutionary changes, they sought a better working life
john rolfe
Jamestown colony leader who showed that tobacco could be grown successfully in Virginia; husband of pocahontas
jamestown
The first permanent english settlement in North america, founded in east virginia
tecumseh
a Shawnee chief who, along with his brother, tenskwatawa and a religious leader known as the prophet, worked to unite the northwestern indian tribes; the league of tribes was defeated by an american army led by william henry harrison at the battle of tippecanoe (tecumseh was killed fighting for the British during the war of 1812 at the battle of the thames)
proprietory colony
a colony created by a grant of land from a monarch to an individual or family
rationing
a limited portion or allowance of food or goods; limitation of use
al gore
clinton's vice president
gerald ford
republican who pardoned nixon
black codes
southern laws designed to restrict the rights of the newly freed black slaves
war hawks
southerners and westerners who were eager for war with Britain; they had a strong sense of nationalism, and they wanted to takeover british land in north america and expand
the afghanistan war
soviet war to preserve communist rule in afghanistan; opposed by the u.s. funded mujahideen (nicknamed the "vietnam of the u.s.s.r.")
juan de onate
spanish conquistador and governor of the spanish province of new mexico; in the acoma pueblo uprising of 1598 his soldiers killed over eight hundred native americans
schneck v. the united states (1919)
speeches may be punished by the government if they create a clear-and-present-danger test of illegal acts
the war powers resolution (1973)
spelled out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval
fannie lou hamer
spokesperson for the mississippi freedom democratic party at the democratic convention
"stalwarts and half-breeds"
stalwarts were the conservatives of the republican party that opposed the existing patronage and opposed friendly relations between the north and south; half-breeds were the more liberal republicans and wanted reforms of patronage under rutherford b. hayes (patronage is rotation of office)
the great depression
starting with collapse of the u.s. stock market, it was a period of worldwide economic stagnation and depression; heavy borrowing by european nations from u.s. during world war i contributed to instability in european economies, and there sharp declines in income and production as buying and selling slowed down; dealing with widespread unemployment, countries raised tariffs to protect their industries, and america stopped investing in europe (lead to loss of confidence that economies were self adjusting, and president hoover was blamed for it)
land grant colleges
state educational institutions built with the benefit of federally donated lands
the civil rights cases
state supreme court cases ruled that constitutional amendments against discrimination applied only to the federal and state governments, not to individuals or private institutions (thus the government could not order segregation, but restaurants, hotels, and railroads could); gave legal sanction to jim crow laws
the clayton antitrust act (1914)
strengthened the sherman antitrust act by spelling out specific activities businesses could not do
evangelicalism
stresses the importance of personal conversion and faith as the means of salvation
federalists
supporters of the constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures
tariff of 1828 (the tariff of abominations)
tariff passed by congress that imposed very high taxes on imports; southerners protested because it increased the cost of the manufactured good they bought, and it was said to have been passed not to raise money but to protect the interests of northern manufacturers at the expense of southern farmers
tariffs
taxes on imported goods
mulattoes
term commonly used for people of mixed african and european blood
the lower south
texas, louisiana, mississippi, alabama, florida, georgia, and south carolina
the continental army
the american army formed for and during the american revolutionary war
containment
the american policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world
social darwinism
the belief that only the fittest survive in human political and economic struggle
the glorious revolution (1688)
the bloodless coup in england when james II gave up the throne to his daughter mary and her husband william; they reigned in a constitutional monarchy, and no catholic has been monarch since james II
george grenville
the british minister who raised a storm of protest by passing the stamp act
east india tea company
the british trading company that was the main source of tea in the trans-atlantic trading triangle
the new frontier
the campaign program advocated by j.f.k; he promised to revitalize the stagnant economy and enact reform legislation in education, health care, and civil rights
the hull house (1889)
the chicago settlement house for immigrants founded by jane addams
decolonization
the collapse of colonial empires; following world war ii, practically all former colonies in asia and africa gained independence
dominion of new england (1686)
the combination of the colonies of massachusetts, rhode island, new hampshire, and connecticut into a single province headed by a royal governor (governor andros); the british ended the dominion in 1692, when the colonists revolted and drove out governor andros
slavery
the condition of being owned by another person and being made to work without wages
the korean war
the conflict between communist north korea and non-communist south korea; the united nations (led by the united states) ultimately helped south korea
samuel gompers
the creator of the american federation of labor; he provided a stable and unified union for skilled workers
adlai stevenson
the democratic candidate who ran against eisenhower; his intellectual speeches earned him and his supporters the term "eggheads"
j. edgar hoover
the director of the federal bureau of investigation who investigated and harassed alleged radicals
nullification
the doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the constitution
james k. polk
the eleventh president who wanted to settle the oregon boundary dispute with britain, to aquire California, and to incorperate texas into the union
timothy mcveigh
the extremist responsible for the bombing of the murrow federal building in oklahoma city
james buchanan
the fifteenth president of the united states; he tried to maintain a balance between proslavery and antislavery factions, but his moderate views angered radicals in both north and south, and he was unable to forestall the secession of south carolina
the potsdam conference (1945)
the final wartime meeting of the leaders of the united states, britain, and the soviet union; truman, churchill, and stalin discussed the future of europe, but their failure to reach meaningful agreements soon led to the onset of the cold war
jackie robinson
the first african american player in the major league of baseball; his actions helped to bring about other opportunities for african americans
hiram revels
the first african american senator
mayflower compact (1620)
the first agreement for self-government in america; signed by the forty-one men on the aayflower and set up a government for the plymouth colony
articles of confederation (1781)
the first american constitution that established the united states as a loose confederation of states under a weak national Congress, which was not granted the power to regulate commerce or collect taxes; the articles were replaced by a more efficient constitution in 1789
the national road
the first highway built by the federal government; it stretched from pennsylvania to illinois and was a major overland shipping route and an important connection between the north and the west
maryland toleration act (1649)
the first law on religious tolerance in the british north america; allowed freedom of worship for all christians - including catholics - in maryland, but sentenced to death anyone who denied the divinity of jesus
george washington
the first president of the united states; commander-in-chief of the continental army during the american revolution
alexander hamilton
the first secretary of the treasury; he advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt
bill of rights (1791)
the first ten amendments to the united states constitution; they were proposed to assuage the fears of anti-federalists
condoleezza rice
the first woman appointed as national security advisor by president bush
woodward and bernstein
the two reporters who dug deeper into the watergate break-in and uncovered the real scandal
the somalia conflict (1992)
the u.s. sent in troops after three hundred thousand noncombatants died from famine and clan warfare
the american expeditionary force
the u.s.. forces, led by general john pershing, who fought with the allies in europe during world war i
the department of housing and urban development
the united states federal department that administers federal programs dealing with better housing and urban renewal
illegal immigration
the unlawful entry of people from other nations into the united states
the mexican-american war
the war between the united states and mexico in which the united states acquired one half of the mexican territory
the national bank
a bank chartered, or licensed, by the national government
liberalism
a belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity
popular sovereignty
a belief that ultimate power resides in the people
david walker
a black abolitionist who called for the immediate emancipation of slaves; he wrote the "appeal to the colored citizens of the world", which called for a bloody end to white supremacy (he believed that the only way to end slavery was for slaves to physically revolt)
jesse jackson
a black candidate for the democratic nomination who attempted to appeal to minorities, but eventually lost the nomination to michael dukakis
the black panthers
a black political organization that was against peaceful protest and for violence if needed; the organization marked a shift in policy of the black movement, favoring militant ideals rather than peaceful protest
the erie canal (1825)
a canal between the new york cities of albany and buffalo; the canal, considered a marvel of the modern world at the time, allowed western farmers to ship surplus crops to sell in the north and allowed northern manufacturers to ship finished goods to sell in the west
spanish mission system
a chain of missions established by franciscan monks in the spanish southwest and california that forced indians to convert to catholicism and work as agricultural laborers
the haymarket square riot (1886)
a chicago labor protest organized to protest the treatment of workers at the mccormick harvester company as well as methods used by police in dealing with protestors; ended abruptly when an unknown assailant threw a bomb that killed seven police officers, and eight anarchists were convicted of conspiracy as a result (the public blamed trade unions for the violence)
louis armstrong
a leading african american jazz musician during the harlem renaissance; he was a talented trumpeter whose style influenced many later musicians
ida tarbell
a leading muckraker and magazine editor; she exposed the corruption of the oil industry with her work a history of standard oil
william randolph hearst
a leading newspaperman of his times, he ran the new york journal and helped create and propagate "yellow journalism"
referendum
a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate
blacklisting
a list of people suspected to be communists, people on the list were prevented from finding work
the chinese revolution
a long revolutionary process that began with the overthrow of the chinese imperial system and ended with the triumph of the communist Party under the leadership of mao zedong
ernest hemingway
a lost generation writer, spent much of his life in france, spain, and cuba during world war i; his notable works include a farewell to arms
lydia maria child
a massachusetts born abolitionist and women's rights advocate; she wrote novels about slavery, women's rights and indian rights
d-day (1944)
a massive military operation led by american forces in normandy; the pivotal battle led to the liberation of france and brought on the final phases of world war ii in europe
XYZ affair (1797)
a diplomatic conflict between france and the united states when american envoys to france were asked to pay a hefty bribe for the privilege of meeting with the french foreign minister; many in the u.s. called for war against france, while american sailors and privateers waged an undeclared war against french merchants in the caribbean
roger williams
a dissenter who clashed with the massachusetts puritans over the separation of church and state; because of this, he was banished and then founded the colony of rhode island
henry clay
a distinguished senator from Kentucky who ran for president five times until his death; he was a strong supporter of the american system, a war hawk in the war of 1812, speaker of the house of representatives, and known as "the great compromiser" (outlined the compromise of 1850 with five main points, but unfortunately died before it was passed)
the great society
a domestic program in the administration of president lyndon b. johnson that instituted federally sponsored social welfare programs
annapolis convention (1786)
a dozen commissioners form new York, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, and virginia met to discuss reform of interstate commerce regulations, to design a u.s. currency standard, and to find a way to repay the federal government's debts to revolutionary war veterans; little was accomplished, other than the delegates coming to an agreement that a further convention should be held to discuss changes to the form of the federal government (a precursor to the constitutional convention)
mother jones
a dressmaker in chicago until a fire destroyed her business; she then devoted her life to the cause of workers, supporting striking railroad workers in pittsburg, traveling around the country organizing coal miners, and campaigning for improved working conditions
the bay of pigs invasion (1961)
a failed invasion of cuba when a force of twelve hundred cuban exiles, backed and trained by the united states, landed at the bay of pigs
xenophobia
a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers
the federal trade commission (1914)
a federal agency established to investigate and stop unfair business practices
fort sumter
a federal fort in the harbor of charleston, south carolina; the confederate attack on the fort marked the start of the civil war
the proclamation of neutrality (1793)
a formal announcement issued by president washington, declaring the united states a neutral nation in the conflict between britain and france
alger hiss
a former state department official who was accused of being a communist spy and was convicted of perjury; the case was prosecuted by richard nixon
inflation
a general and progressive increase in prices
amnesty
a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution
the sinking of the lusitania (1915)
a german u-boat sank the british passenger liner lusitania, which was actually carrying ammunition, despite the american civilian passengers onboard; led to the u.s. joining world war i
seven year's war (1756-1763)
a global conflict between the european great powers; the french and indian war was a part of this greater conflict
the teapot dome scandal (1921)
a government scandal involving a former united states navy oil reserve in wyoming that was secretly leased to a private oil company
robert lafollette
a great debater and political leader who believed in libertarian reforms; he was a major leader of the progressive movement from wisconsin
the southern christian leadership conference (1957)
a group founded by martin luther king jr. to fight against segregation using nonviolent means
the grange movement (1867)
a group of agrarian organizations that worked to increase the political and economic power of farmers; they opposed corrupt business practices and monopolies, upported relief for debtors, and although technically they weren't a political party, local granges led to the creation of a number of political parties, which eventually joined with the growing labor movement to form the progressive party
the lost generation
a group of american writers that rebelled against america's lack of cosmopolitan culture in the early twentieth century; many moved to cultural centers such as london or paris in search for literary freedom (prominent writers included t.s. eliot, ezra pound, and ernest hemingway)
sons of liberty
a group of colonists who formed a secret society to oppose british policies at the time of the american revolution
the vietcong
a group of communist guerrillas who, with the help of north vietnam, fought against the south vietnamese government in the wietnam war
las gorras blancas (the white caps)
a group of mexican americans living in new mexico who attempted to protect their land and way of life from encroachment by white landowners
copperheads
a group of northern democrats who opposed abolition and sympathized with the south during the civil war
strict constructionism
a judicial philosophy that believes the constitution should be interpreted in a closed way, limited to things explicitly stated
loose constructionism
a judicial philosophy that believes the constitution should be interpreted in an open way, not limited to things explicitly stated
the voting rights act (1965)
a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to african-american suffrage
patrick henry
a leader of the american revolution and a famous orator who spoke out against british rule of the american colonies; "give me liberty or give me death"
the geneva accords (1954)
a peace agreement between ho chi minh's communists and the french after the french loss at dien bien phu that divided vietnam into the communist-controlled north and the non-communist south until unification elections could be held; diem cancelled the elections when he realized the communists would win, further escalating the violence
the hampton roads conference (1865)
a peace conference held between the united states and the confederate states aboard the steamboat the river queen to discuss the terms to end the civil war
the camp david accords (1978)
a peace treaty between egypt and israel; hosted by u.s. president jimmy carter and caused egypt to be expelled from the arab league (was the first treaty of its kind between israel and an arab state)
the sexual revolution
a period in u.s. history of increased sexual permissiveness
the harlem renaissance
a period of african-american achievements in art and music and literature
the dust bowl (1935)
a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the u.s. prairies; severe drought and a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent wind erosion caused the phenomenon
stagflation
a period of slow economic growth and high unemployment while prices rise
the gold rush
a period when thousands of people came to california in search of gold
transcendentalism
a philosophy pioneered by ralph waldo emerson in which each person has direct communication with God and nature, and there is no need for organized churches; it incorporated the ideas that mind goes beyond matter, intuition is valuable, that each soul is part of the great spirit, and each person is part of a reality where only the invisible is truly real (promoted individualism, self-reliance, and freedom from social constraints, and emphasized emotions)
the marshall plan (1947)
a plan to revive the war-torn economies of europe; offered thirteen billion dollars in aid to western and southern europe with the condition that they wouldn't go communist (helped contain communism in europe and helped the u.s. economy as europe bought from u.s. businesses to rebuild)
perestroika
a policy initiated by mikhail gorbachev that involved restructuring of the social and economic status quo in communist russia towards a market based economy and society
nativism
a policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones
isolationism
a policy of non-participation in international economic and political relations
detente
a policy of reducing cold war tensions that was adopted by the united states during the presidency of richard nixon
jacksonian democracy
a policy of spreading more political power to more people; characterized by the saying "for the common man"
glasnost
a policy of the soviet government allowing freer discussion of social problems
the montgomery bus boycott (1955)
a political and social protest campaign that started montgomery, alabama; intended to oppose the city's policy of racial segregation on its public transit system (followed rosa park's arrest for protesting by refusing to give up her seat for a white citizen)
the whitewater scandal
a political controversy that began with the real estate dealings of bill and hillary Clinton and their associates, in the whitewater development corporation, which had ultimately been a failed business venture; claimed that clinton, while he was the governor of arkansas, pressured an advisor to provide an illegal three hundred thousand dollar loan
john breckenridge
a political leader who favored the extension of slavery
the militia movement
a political movement of paramilitary groups in the united states; members of the movement typically refer to themselves as militia, "unorganized militia" (was basically a right-wing extremist movement consisting of armed paramilitary groups that believed in anti government, conspiracy oriented ideology)
conservatism
a political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes
tammany hall
a political organization within the democratic party in new york city seeking political control by corruption and bossism
the democratic party
a political party formed by supporters of andrew jackson after his presidential election
the populist party
a political party formed to represent mainly farmers, favoring the free coinage of silver and government control of railroads and other monopolies
the monica lewinsky scandal
a political sex scandal emerging from a sexual relationship between president bill clinton and a white house intern, monica lewinsky; eventually led to the impeachment of president clinton
students for a democratic society
a popular college student organization that protested the shortcomings of american life, most notably racial injustice and the vietnam war; it led thousands of campus protests before it split apart
whiskey rebellion (1794)
a popular uprising of whiskey distillers in southwestern pennsylvania in opposition to an excise tax on whiskey; in a show of strength and resolve by the new central government, washington put down the rebellion with militia drawn from several states
the head start
a preschool program for children from low-income families that also provides healthcare, nutrition services, and social services
the first bank of the united states (1791)
a privately owned bank that operated as both a commercial bank and fiscal agent for the u.s. government; based in philadelphia, the bank was granted a twenty year charter by congress
star wars missile defense system
a program launched by ronald reagan against nuclear attack; proposed the construction of an elaborate computer-controlled, anti-missile defense system capable of destroying enemy missiles in outer space (critics claimed that this could never be perfected)
the vietnam war
a prolonged war between the communist armies of north vietnam who were supported by the chinese and the soviet union and the non-communist armies of south vietnam who were supported by the united states
hubert humphrey
a prominent liberal senator from minnesota dedicated to the promotion of civil rights, he served as johnson's vice-president from and ran an unsuccessful personal campaign for the presidency the following term
"read my lips: no new taxes!"
a promise that bush made in his convention speech, but later broke
the equal rights amendment (1923)
a proposed constitutional amendment, which stated that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or by any state on account of sex"
the kent state massacre
a protest to the war that lead to the national guard called in and shooting students because they burned the rotc building
anne hutchinson
a puritan woman that disagreed with the puritan church in massachusetts bay colony, resulting in her eventual banishment from the colony, and later the formation of the rhode island colony
the wade-davis bill (1864)
a radical republican plan for reconstruction that required fifty percent of a state's voters to take an "iron clad" oath of allegiance and a state constitutional convention before the election of state officials; pocket-vetoed by lincoln and was instead replaced by the ten percent plan
cornelius vanderbilt
a railroad owner who built a railway connecting chicago and new york; he popularized the use of steel rails in his railroad, which made railroads safer and more economical
nat turner's rebellion
a rebellion in which nat turner led a group of slaves through virginia in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow and kill planter families
dorothea dix
a reformer and pioneer in the movement to treat the insane as mentally ill; she was responsible for improving conditions in jails, poorhouses and insane asylums throughout the u.s. and canada and she succeeded in persuading many states to assume responsibility for the care of the mentally ill (she served as the superintendant of nurses for the union army during the civil war)
florence kelley
a reformer who worked to prohibit child labor and to improve conditions for female workers
new england
a region of northeastern united states comprising of maine, new hampshire, vermont, massachusetts, rhode island, and connecticut
the sun belt
a region of the u.s. mostly comprised of southeastern and southwestern states
the southeast asia treaty organization
a regional defense pact pulled together by dulles to prevent the "fall" to communism of south vietnam, laos, and cambodia
puritans
a religious group who wanted to purify the church of england; came to america looking for religious freedom and settled in the massachusetts bay area
"boom and bust"
a rise in an economy, followed by a downturn as the economy falls due to items losing value
the gag rule
a rule limiting or preventing debate on an issue
robert smalls
a sailor and later a union naval captain, he was highly honored for his feats of bravery and heroism; he became a congressman after the civil war
the iran-contra affair
a scandal including arms sales to the middle east in order to send money to help the contras in nicaragua, even though congress had objected
adam smith
a scottish economist who wrote the wealth of nations a precursor to modern capitalism
andrew carnegie
a scottish-born american industrialist and philanthropist who founded the carnegie steel company
the second great awakening
a second revival of religious feeling and belief
the manhattan project
a secret u.s. project for the construction of the atomic bomb
the civil war
a sectional war in the united states fought over disagreements between the north and south based on economic issues, political issues, and the looming issue of slavery
king phillip's war (1675)
a series of battles in new hampshire between the colonists and the wompanowogs, led by a chief known as king philip; the war was started when the massachusetts government tried to assert court jurisdiction over the local indians (the colonists won with the help of the mohawks, and this victory opened up additional indian lands for expansion)
the intolerable acts (1774)
a series of punitive measures passed in retaliation for the boston tea party; they closed the port of boston, revoked a number of rights in the massachusetts colonial charter, and expanded the quartering act to allow for the lodging of soldiers in private homes (in response, colonists convened the first continental congress and called for a complete boycott of british goods)
the new deal
a series of reforms enacted by the franklin roosevelt administration, with the goal being the end of the great depression
bleeding kansas (1856)
a series of violent conflicts in the kansas territory between anti-slavery and pro-slavery factions over the status of slavery
the suez canal
a shipping canal in northeastern egypt linking the red sea with the mediterranean sea
the panama canal
a shipping canal that cut across the isthmus of panama (organized and created by the united states)
the emancipation proclamation (1863)
after the union victory at antietam, lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, which declared slaves free in territories still in rebellion; this did not apply to border slave states because lincoln feared it would push them into cession, and he also felt he could only free slaves as a war measure under his power as commander-in-chief; however, hearing of this, many slaves fled to union armies, and this turned federal forces into armies of liberation (also made european intervention for the south much less likely since europe was anti-slavery)
the franco-american alliance (1778)
agreement by france to fund the american military and make loans to the american colonies; the french were keen on seeing the british lose territory as they had in the french and indian war
the homestead act (1862)
allowed a settler to acquire as much as one hundred sixty acres of land by living on it for five years, improving it, and paying a nominal fee of about thirty dollars; instead of public land being sold primarily for revenue, it was now being given away to encourage a rapid filling of empty spaces and to provide a stimulus to the family farm (however, it turned out to be a cruel hoax because the land given to the settlers usually had terrible soil and the weather included no precipitation, many farms were failed until "dry farming" took root on the plains)
the fugitive slave act (1850)
allowed government officials to arrest any person accused of being a runaway slave; all that was needed to take away someone's freedoms was word of a white person and northerners were required to help capture runaways if requested (suspects had no right to trial)
the missouri compromise (1820)
allowed missouri to enter the union as a slave state, maine to enter the union as a free state, and prohibited slavery north of latitude 36˚ 30' within the louisiana territory
the north american free trade agreement
allowed the opening of borders between the united states, mexico, and canada
judicial review
allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws
the great compromise (1787)
also known as the connecticut compromise; the measure which reconciled the new jersey and virginia plans at the constitutional convention, giving states proportional representation in the house and equal representation in the senate; the compromise broke the stalemate at the convention and paved the way for subsequent compromises over slavery and the electoral college
the immigration act (1924)
also known as the johnson-reed act; federal law limiting the number of immigrants that could be admitted from any country to two percent of the amount of people from that country who were already living in the u.s.
john adams
america's first vice-president and second president; sponsor of the american revolution in massachusetts, and wrote the massachusetts guarantee that freedom of press "ought not to be restrained"
boston tea party (1773)
american colonists calling themselves the sons of liberty, disguised as mohawk indians, boarded three british ships and dumped british tea into the boston harbor
loyalists
american colonists who remained loyal to britain and opposed the war for independence
patriots
american colonists who were determined to fight the british until american independence was won
thomas paine
american revolutionary leader and pamphleteer who supported the American colonist's fight for independence and supported the french revolution
ralph waldo emerson
american transcendentalist who was against slavery and stressed self-reliance, optimism, self-improvement, self-confidence, and freedom; he was a prime example of a transcendentalist and helped further the movement
battle of saratoga (1777)
american victory over british troops in that was a turning point in the american revolution
william henry harrison
an American military leader, politician, the ninth President of the United States, and the first President to die in office; his death created a brief constitutional crisis, but ultimately resolved many questions about presidential succession left unanswered by the constitution until passage of the twenty-fifth amendment (led u.s. forces in the battle of tippecanoe)
the roosevelt corollary
an addition to the monroe doctrine asserting america's right to intervene in latin american affairs
langston hughes
an african american poet who described the rich culture of african american life using rhythms influenced by jazz music; he wrote of african american hope and defiance, as well as the culture of harlem and also had a major impact on the harlem renaissance
booker t. washington
an african american progressive who supported segregation and demanded that african american better themselves individually to achieve equality
the central intelligence agency
an agency created after world war ii to coordinate american intelligence activities abroad; it became involved in intrigue, conspiracy, and meddling as well
the national security council
an agency in the executive office of the president that advises the president on national security
the berlin airlift
an airlift that supplied food and fuel to citizens of west berlin when the russians closed off land access to berlin
the military industrial complex
an alleged alliance between military leaders and corporate leaders; the phrase was coined by president eisenhower in his farewell address, when he warned the future u.s. political stage of the dangers of such a thing
the platt amendment (1901)
an amendment added to cuba's constitution by the cuban government, after pressure from the united states; it provided that cuba would make no treaties that compromised its independence or granted concessions to other countries without u.s.. approval (the amendment was later abrogated)
fundamental orders of connecticut (1639)
first constitution in written history; established a representative government made up of a legislature elected by the people and a governor chosen by the legislature
neo-conservatism
an ideology which brings together a belief in fiscal conservatism, that is a return to classical liberalism (increase the free market, decrease the size of government), with a social conservatism, that is a call to return to traditional notions of social and political morality, with state as moral authoritarian figure
the "cross of gold" speech
an impassioned address by william jennings bryan, in which he attacked the "gold bugs" who insisted that u.s. currency be backed only with gold
boston massacre (1770)
an incident in which british soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists who were teasing and taunting them (five colonists were killed); boston's radicals used to incident to wage an anti-british propaganda war
the national aeronautics space administration
an independent agency of the united states government responsible for aviation and spaceflight
pontiac's rebellion (1763)
an indian uprising after the french and indian war, led by an ottawa chief named pontiac; they opposed British expansion into the western ohio valley and began destroying british forts in the area (however, attacks ended when pontiac was killed, and the war was a failure for the indians in that it did not drive away the British, but the widespread uprising prompted the British government to modify the policies that had provoked the conflict)
the organization of the petroleum exporting countries
an international economic organization whose member countries all produce and export oil
the north atlantic treaty organization
an international organization created by the north atlantic treaty for purposes of collective security
loyalty oath
an official statement that a person is loyal to the u.s. government and does not seek its overthrow, which a person is required to swear to be true
the palmer raids
an operation coordinated by attorney general mitchel palmer in which federal marshals raided the homes of suspected radicals and the headquarters of radical organization in thirty-two cities
habeas corpus
an order to produce an arrested person before a judge; constitutional protection against unlawful imprisonment
labor unions
an organization formed by workers to strive for better wages and working conditions
the freedmen's bureau
an organization run by the union army to care for and protect southern blacks after the civil war
the los angeles riots
an outbreak of violence caused by the acquittal of four white policemen of beating an african american (rodney King) motorist in los angeles
pueblo revolt (1680)
an uprising of indians in santa fe against Spanish colonization (the pueblo killed four hundred spanish and drove the remaining 2,000 settlers out of the province); twelve years later the spanish returned and were able to reoccupy New Mexico with little opposition (the spanish were more accommodating of indian culture afterwards)
the republic of texas
and independent nation that was created after texans defeated mexico in the texas revolution
the seminole wars
andrew jackson initiated these wars by crossing the border into spanish florida to attack a seminole tribe that was harboring runaway slaves
the communist party of america
another group of radical leftists that were slightly less popular; also advocated the nationalization of business
phyllis schlafly
anti-feminist who led the campaign to defeat the equal rights amendment claiming it would undermine the traditional american family
chester a. arthur
appointed customs collector for the port of new york; corrupt and implemented a heavy spoils system
thomas jefferson
author of the declaration of independence, and the third president of the united states
harriet beecher stowe
author of uncle tom's cabin
the civil rights act (1964)
banned discrimination in public accommodations, prohibited discrimination in any federally assisted program, outlawed discrimination in most employment, and enlarged federal powers to protect voting rights and to speed school desegregation; this and the voting rights act helped to give african-americans equality on paper, and more federally-protected power so that social equality was a more realistic goal
the eighteenth amendment (1919)
banned the making, selling, and transporting of alcoholic beverages in the u.s.
harry s. truman
became president when fdr died; gave the order to drop the atomic bomb
calvin coolidge
became president when harding died of pneumonia; was known for practicing a rigid economy in money and words, and acquired the name "silent cal" for being so soft-spoken (he was a true republican and industrialist and believed in the government supporting big business)
the yalta conference (1945)
between stalin, roosevelt, and churchill; confirmed what was discussed in the tehran conference about setting up united nations, and stalin promised to allow democratic elections in countries taken by russia
joseph stalin
bolshevik revolutionary, head of the soviet communists and the dictator of the soviet union; he led the soviet union with an iron fist, using five-year plans to increase industrial production and terror to crush opposition
virtual representation
british governmental theory that parliament spoke for all british subjects, including americans, even if they did not vote for its members
impressment
british practice of taking american sailors and forcing them into military service
redcoats
british soldiers who fought against the colonists in the american revolution; called this because of their bright red uniforms
calvinists
followers of john calvin and his religion, including the beliefs of "predestination"
brown v. the board of education (1954)
brown claimed that topeka's racial segregation violated the constitution's equal protection clause because the city's black and white schools were not equal to each other and never could be; unanimously held that the racial segregation of children in public schools violated the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment; (overruled plessy v. ferguson's "separate but equal" doctrine and would eventually led to the desegregation of schools across the south)
the tennessee valley authority (1933)
built a hydroelectric network that supplied cheap power while also developing a flood-control system, recreational facilities, and soil conservation program; first federal business to compete with private enterprises
dick cheney
bush's vice president and a wyoming representative who was attacked numerous times for his considerable power given to him by the president and his policy-making
the compromise of 1850
california admitted as free state, territorial status and popular sovereignty of utah and new mexico, resolution of texas-new mexico boundaries, federal assumption of texas debt, slave trade abolished in d.c., and a new fugitive slave law; advocated by henry clay and stephen a. douglas
the national organization for women
called for equal employment opportunity and equal pay for women; also championed the legalization of abortion and passage of an equal rights amendment to the constitution
flappers
carefree young women with short, "bobbed" hair, heavy makeup, and short skirts; the flapper symbolized the new "liberated" woman of the but many people saw the bold, boyish look and shocking behavior of flappers as a sign of changing morals (though hardly typical of american women, the flapper image reinforced the idea that women now had more freedom)
henry cabot lodge
chairman of the senate foreign relations committee; a leader in the fight against participation in the league of nations
the hawley-smoot tariff (1930)
charged a high tax for imports thereby leading to less trade between america and foreign countries along with some economic retaliation; worsened the depression
malcolm x
charismatic black muslim leader who promoted separatism during the civil rights movement
earl warren
chief justice who used a loose interpretation to expand rights for both african-americans and those accused of crimes
social gospel
christian faith practiced as a call not just to personal conversion but to social reform
george whitefield
christian preacher whose tour of the english colonies attracted big crowds and sparked the first great awakening; leader of the "new lights"
mormons
church founded by joseph smith with headquarters in salt lake city, utah; a religious group that emphasized moderation, saving, hard work, and risk-taking
matthew perry
commodore of the u.s. navy who opened up japan with the treaty of kanagawa
ho chi minh
communist leader of north vietnam, led the fight against the french and then the americans to reunify the country
minutemen
companies of civilian soldiers who boasted that they were ready to fight on a minute's notice
dred scott v. sandford (1857)
concluded that the u.s. congress lacked the constitutional authority to bar slavery in the territories.; this decision narrowed the scope of national power, while it enhanced that of the states
the persian gulf war
conflict between iraq and a coalition of countries led by the united states to remove iraqi forces from kuwait, which they had invaded in hopes of controlling their oil supply; avery one sided war with the united states' coalition emerging victorious
the cuban missile crisis
confrontation bewteen u.s. and the soviet union over soviet missiles in cuba; nearly led to a worldwide nuclear war, but was, fortunately, deescalated before it could get that far
the contract with america
congressman newt gingrich had republican candidates sign a document in which they pledged their support for such things as a balanced budget amendment, term limits for members of congress, and a middle-class tax cut
pequot war (1637)
connecticut and massachusetts soldiers joined with narragansett allies to set fire to the main pequot village, killing five hundred on pequot indians in the process
minstrel shows
consisted of white actors in blackface, in which they'd perform comedy routines, dances, and instrumental solos; while today this is seen as racist, it does speak to the profound effect african american music had on american music
monopolies
corporations that gain complete control of the production of a single good or service
the federal reserve act (1913)
created a central banking system, consisting of twelve regional banks governed by the federal reserve board; it was an attempt to provide the united states with a sound yet flexible currency (the board it created still plays a vital role in the american economy today)
the federal bureau of investigation
created after the russian revolution to prevent radicals from taking over; headed by j. edgar hoover
the social security act (1935)
created both the social security program and a national assistance program for poor children, usually called the afdc
the public works administration (1935)
created for both industrial recovery and for unemployment relief; headed by the secretary of the interior harold l. ickes, it aimed at long-range recovery and spent four billion dollars on thousands of projects that included public buildings, highways, and parkways
the kansas-nebraska act (1854)
created nebraska and kansas as states and gave the people in those territories the right to chose to be either a free or slave state through popular sovereignty; repealed the missouri compromise and destroyed the whig party (led to the emergence of the republican party)
jimmy carter
created the department of energy and the department of education; he was criticized for his return of the panama canal zone, and because of the soviet war in afghanistan and he enacted an embargo on grain shipments to u.s.s.r. and boycotted the 1980 olympics in moscow; his last year in office was marked by the takeover of the american embassy in iran, fuel shortages, and the soviet invasion of afghanistan, which caused him to lose to ronald regan in the next election
fidel castro
cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in and established a marxist socialist state in Cuba
aswan dam
dam across the nile river in egypt; created lake nassar and helped to create more farmland
pocahontas
daughter of chief powhatan, who was one of the first to marry an englishman; paved the way for future english-native american relations
the pendleton civil service reform act (1883)
decided that government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit instead of political affiliation
the free-soil party (1848)
dedicated to opposing slavery in newly acquired territories such as oregon and the ceded mexican territory; its candidate in the election of 1848 was former president martin van buren
the united states constitution (1789)
delineates the national frame of government; its first three articles entrench the doctrine of the separation of powers, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral congress, the executive, consisting of the president, and the judicial, consisting of the supreme court and other federal courts; articles four, five and six entrench concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and of the states in relationship to the federal government; article seven establishes the procedure subsequently used by the thirteen States to ratify it
hoovervilles
depression shantytowns, named after the president whom many blamed for their financial distress
three-fifth's compromise (1787)
determined that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of apportioning taxes and representation; the compromise granted disproportionate political power to southern slave states
interventionism
direct involvement by one country in another country's affairs
medgar evers
director of the n.a.a.c.p. in mississippi and a lawyer who defended accused blacks; he was murdered in his driveway by a member of the klu klux klan
bartolome de las casas
dominican priest who spoke out against the spanish mistreatment of native americans
proxy wars
during the cold war, local or regional wars in which the superpowers armed, trained, and financed the combatants
the square deal
economic policy by roosevelt that favored fair relationships between companies and workers
the american system
economic program advanced by henry clay that included support for a national bank, high tariffs, and internal improvements; emphasized a strong role for federal government in the economy
john foster dulles
eisenhower's secretary of state who wanted to "roll back" communism
the interstate highway act (1956)
eisenhower's twenty yearr plan to build forty-one thousand miles of highway; the largest public works project in history
the compromise of 1877
ended reconstruction; republicans promised to remove military from the south, appoint a democrat to the executive cabinet, and a approve a federal budget for railroad construction and levees on the mississippi river
the treaty of paris (1783)
ended the revolutionary war, recognized the independence of the american colonies, and granted the colonies the territory from the southern border of canada to the northern border of florida, and from the atlantic coast to the mississippi River
the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki (1945)
ended world war ii in the cbi theater
john smith
english explorer who helped found the colony of jamestown
freedmen
enslaved people who had been freed by the civil war
marbury v. madison (1803)
established judicial review (by order of supreme court justice john marshall) in reponse to adam's "midnight judges"
the fair labor standards act (1938)
established minimum living standards for workers engaged in interstate commerce, including provision of a federal minimum wage
griswold v. connecticut (1956)
established that there is an implied right to privacy in the u.s. constitution
john d. rockefeller
established the standard oil company, the greatest, wisest, and meanest monopoly known in history
gideon v. wainwright (1963)
extended to the defendant the right of counsel in all state and federal criminal trials regardless of their ability to pay
the good neighbor policy
f.d.r.'s foreign policy of promoting better relations with latin america by using economic influence rater than military force in the region
economies of scale
factors that cause a producer's average cost per unit to fall as output rises
american colonization society
feflecting the focus of early abolitionists on transporting freed blacks back to africa, the organization established liberia, a west-african settlement intended as a haven for emancipated slaves
mercy otis warren
female patriot who wrote poems to convince others to join the patriot cause
trusts
firms or corporations that combine for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices
john jay
first chief justice of the supreme court, negotiated with british for washington
the embargo act (1807)
forbade american trading ships from leaving u.s. harbors; meant to force britain and france to change their policies towards neutral vessels by depriving them of american trade (it was difficult to enforce because it was opposed by merchants and everyone else whose livelihood depended upon international trade, and also hurt the national economy, so it was replaced by the non-intercourse act)
the currency act (1764)
forbade the colonists from printing their own currency and instead required them to use hard currency (gold and silver), which was in short supply in the colonies
dollar diplomacy
foreign policy created under president taft that had the u.s. exchanging financial support for the right to "help" countries make decisions about trade and other commercial ventures; basically, it was exchanging money for political influence in latin america and the caribbean
hudson river school
founded by thomas cole, is was the first native school of landscape painting in the u.s.; attracted artists rebelling against the neoclassical tradition, and was famous for the many painted scenes of new york's hudson river
american antislavery society
founded by william lloyd garrison and other abolitionists; garrison burned the constitution as a proslavery document and argued for "no union with slaveholders" until they repented for their sins by freeing their slaves
the neutrality acts
four acts originally designed to help avoid american involvement in world war ii by preventing loans to those countries taking part in the conflict; they were later modified to allow aid to great britain and other allied nations
the agricultural adjustment act (1933)
gave farmers money to reduce crop size to reduce production (passed to bring up the value of crops)
the emergency banking relief bill (1933)
gave the president power over the banking system and set up a system by which banks would be reorganized or reopened
universal manhood suffrage
giving all adult men the right to vote, whether they owned property or not
the most favored nation trade status
granted to countries that were eligible for the lowest tariff rate set by the united states
the nineteenth amendment (1920)
granted women the right to vote; its ratification capped a movement for women's rights that dated to the seneca falls convention (although women were voting in state elections in twelve states when the amendment was passed, it enabled eight more million women to vote in the following presidential election)
the allied powers (triple entente)
great britain, france, russia
lowell, massachusetts
grew to be the second largest city in new england with the arrival of the boston manufacturing company; a famous historical site where women worked in mills and slept in company boarding houses
the freedom riders
group of civil rights workers who took bus trips through southern states to protest illegal bus segregation
pilgrims
group of english protestant dissenters who established the plymouth colony in massachusetts; sought religious freedom in the new world
the moral majority
group that supported reagan; wanted the u.s. to return to conservative, religious values
the farmer's alliances
groups of farmers of those in sympathy with farming issues, who sent lectures from town to town to educate people about agricultural and rural issues
utopian communities
groups of people who tried to form a perfect society
uncle tom's cabin (1852)
harriet beecher stowe's widely read novel that dramatized the horrors of slavery; it heightened northern support for abolition and escalated the sectional conflict
hamilton's financial plan
he wanted to pay off all war debts, raise government revenues, and create a national bank
samuel slater
he was a British mechanic that moved to america and invented the first american machine for spinning cotton; he is known as "the father of the factory system" and he started the idea of child labor in america's factories
the impeachment of andrew johnson (1868)
he was impeached on eleven articles detailing "high crimes and misdemeanors"; his primary charge was the violation of the tenure of office act when he removed edwin mcmasters stanton, secretary of war (whom the tenure of office act was largely designed to protect), from office
"boss" tweed
head of Tammany Hall; led the tweed reign, a group of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city
mikhail gorbachev
head of the soviet union whose foreign policy brought an end to the cold war and whose domestic policy introduced major reforms
worcester v. georgia (1832)
held that native americans were entitled to federal protection from the actions of state governments which would infringe on the tribe's sovereignty; ignored by the jackson administration
the christian evangelical movement
helped to mobilize other like-minded citizens to support the republican party and bring together various conservative groups from new right
the cult domesticity
idealized view of women and the home; painted women as a self-less caregiver for children and a refuge for her husband
mutually assured destruction
if either u.s. or the u.s.s.r. was hit with a nuclear weapons they would respond with the same
the townshend acts (1767)
imposed a tax-to be paid at american ports-on items produced in britain and sold in the colonies, including paper, glass, lead, paint, and tea; suspended the new york assembly for refusing to provide british troops with supplies; established an american board of customs and admiralty courts to hear cases of smuggling (led to a boycott of british goods, the circular letters, john dickinson's "letters from a pennsylvania farmer," and unrest in boston)
the scopes "monkey" trial (1925)
occurred when tennessee schoolteacher john scopes was arrested for teaching the theory of evolution despite a state law banning it; the legal battle was fought by clarence darrow and william jennings bryan, two of the nation's most famous lawyers
the tet offensive (1968)
one of the largest military campaigns of the vietnam war, launched by forces of the viet cong and north vietnamese army against the forces of south Vietnam, the united states, and their allies; it failed militarily, but had an enormous psychological impact on the u.s., showing that the war was far from over, and proving that the government was lying about the war
aaron burr
one of the leading democratic-republicans of new york, and served as a u.s. Senator from new york; he was the principal opponent of alexander hamilton's federalist policies, and in the election of 1800, tied with jefferson in the electoral college (the house of representatives awarded the presidency to jefferson and made burr vice- president)
the homestead strike (1892)
one of the most violent strikes in u.s. history; against the homestead steel works, part of the carnegie steel company, and happened out of anger because of wage cuts (the riot was ultimately put down by the pinkerton police and the state militia, and the violence further damaged the image of unions)
the fourteenth amendment (1868)
one of the reconstruction amendments; granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the u.s., prohibited state and local governments from depriving persons of life, liberty, or property without certain steps being taken to ensure fairness, and required each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its jurisdiction
the thirteenth amendment (1865)
one of the reconstruction amendments; outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime
the fifteenth amendment (1870)
one of the reconstruction amendments; prohibited the government from using a citizen's race, color, or previous status as a slave as a voting qualification
the opec oil embargo (1973)
opec placed an embargo on oil sold to israel's supporters; caused worldwide oil shortage and long lines at gas stations in the u.s.
anti-federalists
opponents of the american constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption
committees of correspondence
organized by patriot leader samuel adams, it was a system of communication between patriot leaders in new england and throughout the colonies; they provided the organization necessary to unite the colonies in opposition to parliament (the committees sent delegates to the first continental congress)
bakke v. university of california (1978)
outlawed quotas and ordered that alan bakke be admitted to medical school; however, the court also upheld the principle of affirmative action, explaining that race or ethnicity could be counted as a plus in an applicant's file as long as it did "not insulate the individual from comparison with other candidates"
headright system
parcels of land consisting of about 50 acres which were given to colonists who brought indentured servants into America; used by the virginia company to attract more colonists
paxton boys (1764)
part of an armed march on philadelphia by scotts-irish frontiersmen in protest against the quaker establishment's lenient policies toward native americans
the declaratory act (1776)
passed alongside the repeal of the stamp act; it reaffirmed parliament's unqualified sovereignty over the north american colonies
alien and sedition acts (1798)
passed by Federalists and signed by president adams; increased the waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from five to fourteen years, empowered the president to arrest and deport dangerous aliens, and made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials
the labor disputes act (1943)
passed in reaction to a disconcerting number of strikes in essential industries; this allowed government takeover of businesses deemed necessary to national security, which gave the government authority to settle labor disputes
separatists
people who wanted to have a separate, or different church; also known as pilgrims
forty-niners (1849)
people who went to California during the gold rush
french revolution (1789)
period of radical social and political change throughout europe that began with an uprising against the king of france
the national industrial recovery act
permitted all workers to join unions of their choice, allowed workers to bargain collectively for wage increases and benefits, allowed workers to go on strike to try to force employers to meet their demands
the stamp act (1765)
placed a tax on almost all printed materials in the colonies
september eleventh (2001)
planes hijacked by terrorists that eventually crashed into the world trade center in new york city; blame pinned on al qaeda and osama bin laden, who were sought out in attempt to completely destroy terrorism
kentucky and virginia resolutions (1798)
political declarations in favor of states' rights, written by thomas jefferson and james madison, in opposition the the alien and sedition acts; maintained that states could nullify federal legislation they regarded as unconstitutional
huey long
political leader from louisiana who criticized the new deal
the progressive party
political party that emerged from the taft-roosevelt battle that split the republican party
radical republicans
political party that favored harsh punishment of southern states after civil war
the know-nothing party
political party that was anti-catholic and anti-immigrant
jonathan edwards
preacher during the first great awakening; "sinners in the hands of angry god"
ronald reagan
president who ran on a campaign based on the common man and "populist" ideas; while president, he developed reagannomics, the trickle down effect of government incentives, and he cut out many welfare and public works programs; his meetings with gorbachev were the first steps to ending the cold War, and he was also responsible for the iran-contra affair which bought the hostages with guns
benjamin franklin
printer, author, inventor, diplomat, statesman, and founding father; one of the few americans who was highly respected in europe, primarily due to his discoveries in the field of electricity
assembly line manufacturing
production divided into steps; standardized interchangeable parts are made and each worker does one part
the virginia plan (1787)
proposed a plan for government in which the national government would have supreme power and a legislative branch would have two houses with representation determined by state population
the lousiana purchase (1803)
purchased by thomas jefferson for fifteen million dollars
the mckinley tariff (1890)
raised tariffs to the highest level they had ever been; big business favored these tariffs because they protected u.s. businesses from foreign competition
the sugar act (1764)
raised tax revenue in the colonies for the crown; it also increased the tax on foreign sugar imported from the west indies
the "corrupt bargain"
refers to the presidential election of 1824 in which henry clay, the speaker of the house, convinced the house of representatives to elect john quincy adams rather than andrew jackson.
the indian removal act (1830)
removed all indians east of the mississippi to an "indian territory" where they would be "permanently" housed (passed by congress under the jackson administration)
the non-intercourse act (1809)
replaced the embargo act, but unlike the embargo act, which forbade American trade with all foreign nations, this act only forbade trade with france and britain; it did not succeed in changing british or french policy towards neutral ships, so macon's bill number two replaced it.
the congressional election of 1994
republicans made a "contract with america"; republicans won control of both the house and senate for first time since 1954
christian fundamentalism
requires individuals who believe in a strict, literal interpretation of the bible as the foundation of the christian faith
the suburbs
residential areas surrounding a city; shops and businesses moved to suburbia as well as people
temperance
restraint or moderation, especially in regards to alcohol or food
new nationalism
roosevelt's progressive political policy that favored heavy government intervention in order to assure social justice
cherokee nation v. georgia (1831)
ruled that Indians were not independent nations but dependent domestic nations which could be regulated by the federal government
citizens united v. the federal election commission
ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures
miranda v. arizona (1966)
ruled that those subjected to in-custody interrogation be advised of their constitutional right to an attorney and their right to remain silent
maroons
runaway slaves who gathered in mountainous, forested, or swampy areas and formed their own self-governing communities; raided plantations for supplies, had military skills from africa
william h. seward
senator of new york; antislavery and argued that God's moral law was higher than the constitution
segregation
separation of people based on racial, ethnic, or other differences
the clean air act
set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants
the ghost dance movement (1890)
set of dances and rites that grew from the want to bring back native american lands; through these dances, native americans believed they could make whites disappear and form a new earth
andrew johnson
seventeenth president of the united states, who became president when lincoln was killed; he opposed radical republicans who passed reconstruction acts over his veto, and was the first u.s. president to be impeached, surviving senate removal by only one vote
the tripartite pact (1940)
signed between the axis powers, where they pledged to help the others in the event of an attack by the u.s.
jay's treaty (1794)
signed in the hopes of settling the growing conflicts between the u.s. and britain; it dealt with the northwest posts and trade on the mississippi river, but was unpopular with most americans because it did not punish britain for the attacks on neutral american ships (it was particularly unpopular with france, because the u.s. also accepted the british restrictions on the rights of neutrals)
abraham lincoln
sixteenth president of the united states; saved the union during the civil war and emancipated the slaves of the time
stono uprising (1739)
slave rebellion in which slaves stole supplies, killed storekeepers, and liberated a few fellow slaves (resulted in harsher slave regulation)
"54'40 or fight!"
slogan of those wanting to take all of oregon; numbers (54 40') was line of latitude where people wanted oregon border (the border of oregon was actually set at the line 49' but president polk, which upset most citizens)
confederate states
south carolina, texas, louisiana, mississippi, alabama, florida, and georgia
the dixiecrats
southern democrats who opposed truman's position on civil rights; they caused a split in the democratic party
the force bill (1833)
the force bill authorized president jackson to use the army and navy to collect taxes on the tariffs of 1828 and 1832; south carolina's ordinance of nullification had declared these tariffs null and void, and south carolina would not collect taxes on them (however, the force act was never invoked because congress passed it the same day as the compromise tariff of 1833, so it became unnecessary)
japanese internment camps
the forcible relocation of approximately one hundred ten thousand japanese americans to housing facilities called "war relocation camps", in the wake of japan's attack on pearl harbor
bill clinton
the forty-second president who advocated economic and healthcare reform; the second president to be impeached
jane addams
the founder of hull house, which provided english lessons for immigrants, daycares, and child care classes
the declaration of independence (1776)
the fundamental document establishing the u.s. as an independent nation; it declared the thirteen colonies independent from britain and offered reasons for the separation, which in turn laid out the principles for which the Revolution was fought
the federal deposit insurance corporation
the government agency that insures customer deposits if a bank fails
republican motherhood
the idea that american women had a special responsibility to cultivate "civic virtue" in their children
pearl harbor (1941)
the japanese wanted to continue their expansion into asia, but the u.s. had placed an extremely restrictive embargo on japan in the hopes of curbing japan's aggression; the japanese then decided to launch a surprise attack against the united states at pearl harbor, hawaii (the united states abandoned its policy of isolationism and entered world war ii by declaring war on japan the following day)
geroge III
the king of england during the revolutionary war and all the taxation issues prior
the battle of gettysburg (1863)
the largest and bloodiest battle of the american civil war (union victory); when coupled with general ulysses s. rant's victory in vicksburg the next day, it was considered to be the turning point of the war; lincoln used the dedication ceremony for the gettysburg national cemetery to honor the fallen union soldiers and redefine the purpose of the war in his historic gettysburg address
u.s. steel
the largest steel company of the u.s., created by j.p. morgan by merging andrew carnegie's carnegie steel and several other steel companies together; at the time, the largest corporation in existence
the standard oil company
the largest unit in the american oil industry; it was outlawed by the supreme court of ohio, and was eventually replaced by the standard oil company of new jersey.
the wounded knee massacre (1890)
the last major encounter between native americans and the u.s. army; remembered today as one of the great injustices perpetrated against native americans by the u.s. government
henry kissinger
the main negotiator of the peace treaty with the north vietnamese; secretary of state during Nixon's presidency
the spanish influenza
the most serious epidemic in u.s. history; returning world war i troops brought home a resurgence of virus, and the many public victory celebrations helped the disease spread even more (more american civilians were killed by the disease than all the u.s. combat deaths during the twentieth century combined); ultimately, the death rate shortened the average life span in the united states by ten years before the illness mysteriously disappeared
sherman's march to the sea (1864)
the name commonly given to william tecumseh sherman's campaign from the captured city of atlanta to the port city of savannah; he inflicted significant damage-particularly to industry and infrastructure-as well as to civilian property (destroyed much of the south's physical and psychological capacity to wage war)
"city upon a hill"
the name for the massachusetts bay colony, coined by winthrop to describe how their colony should serve as a model of excellence for future generations
the oregon treaty
the negotiation of the border between oregon and canada
rutherford b. hayes
the nineteenth president of the united states, was famous for being part of the hayes-tilden election in which electoral votes were contested in four states (most corrupt election in u.s. history)
36'30
the parallel set that divided the louisiana territory between free and slave states (excepting missouri)
albany plan of union (1754)
the plan proposed by benjamin franklin that sought to unite the thirteen colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the crown
the cold war
the power struggle between the soviet union and the united states after world war ii
lyndon b. johnson
the president to signed the civil rights act into law and the voting rights act; he wanted a war on poverty, and to win he set a few goals, including the great society, the economic opportunity act, and other programs that provided food stamps and welfare to needy families (he also created a department of housing and urban development and his most important legislation was probably the passing of medicare and medicaid)
nation-building
the process by which inhabitants of a given territory—irrespective of ethnic, religious, or linguistic differences—come to identify with symbols and institutions of their nation-state
the lend-lease act (1941)
the program under which the u.s. supplied the united kingdom, the soviet union, china, france, and other allied nations with vast amounts of war material
the simpson-mazzoli act
the reagan-era law which provided amnesty to many immigrants and toughened border controls
abigail adams
the wife of john adams; during the revolutionary war, she wrote many letters to her husband describing life on the homefront, and also urged her husband to remember america's women in the new government he was helping to create
haitian revolution (1791)
the rebellion in saint domingue led by toussaint l'ouverture, an educated slave on a sugar plantation, who aimed to defeat british forces seeking to seize the island and then reestablish french authority; the slave uprising led to the establishment of haiti as an independent nation
the chesapeake
the region of virginia and maryland; in contrast to new england, this region was distinguished by indentured servants, cash crops, and african slavery
puritanism
the religion of a group of religious dissidents who came to the new world so they would have a location to establish a "purer" church than the one that existed in England
herbert hoover
the republican candidate who assumed the presidency, promising the american people prosperity and attempted to first deal with the depression by trying to restore public faith in the community
newt gingrich
the republican speaker of the house; he pushed for more conservative legislation during clinton's presidency
women's suffrage
the right of women to vote
state's rights
the rights and powers held by individual u.s. states rather than by the federal government
the middle passage
the route in between the western ports of africa to the caribbean and southern u.s. that was also known as the slave trade
the trail of tears (1838)
the route taken by native americans as they were relocated to oklahoma
donald rumsfield
the secretary of defense; agreed that locating and striking at terrorists outside the u.s. would be difficult
andrew jackson
the seventh president of the united states, who, as a general in the war of 1812, defeated the British at new orleans; as president he opposed the bank of america, objected to the right of individual states to nullify disagreeable federal laws, and increased the presidential powers
john quincy adams
the sixth president and author of the adams-onis treaty, in which spain gave the united states florida in exchange for the united states dropping its claims to texas; the monroe doctrine was also mostly adams' work
james madison
the so-called "father of the constitution," federalist leader, and fourth president of the united states
the new jersey plan (1787)
the so-called "small-state plan" put forth at the philadelphia convention, proposing equal representation by state, regardless of population, in a unicameral legislature (small states feared that the more populous states would dominate the agenda under a proportional system)
nikita khrushchev
the soviet leader during the cuban missile crisis; famous for denouncing stalin and allowed criticism of stalin within russia
mcculloch v. maryland (1819)
the supreme court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank using the constitution's supremacy clause; the court's broad interpretation of the necessary and proper clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers
john tyler
the tenth president of the united states when harrison died, and was responsible for the annexation of mexico after receiving mandate from polk; opposed many parts of the whig program for economic recovery
the oregon territory
the territory of oregon, washington, and portions of what became british columbia, and canada; land claimed by both u.s. and britain and held jointly under the convention of 1818
protectionism
the theory or practice of shielding a country's domestic industries from foreign competition by taxing imports
the domino theory
the theory that believed if one nation went under communist control, then neighboring nations will also submit to communist control
laissez-faire economics
the theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property
millard fillmore
the thirteenth president of the united states
the bonus expeditionary force (1932)
the thousands of world war i veterans, who insisted on immediate payment of their bonus certificates, they marched on washington; violence ensured when president hoover ordered their ten villages cleared
the treaty to guadalupe hidalgo (1848)
the treaty that ended the mexican war, granting the u.s.. control of texas, new mexico, and california in exchange for fifteen million dollars
the treaty of versailles (1919)
the treaty that ended world war i; most important part was the forced blame on germany and her other allies
wampanoags
the tribe whose chief, metacom, known to the colonies as king phillip, united many tribes in southern new england against the english settlers
the russian revolution (1917)
the tsar was forced to give up throne and assassinated; because of this, the u.s. found it easier to take the allies' side in world war i
james garfield
the twentieth president of the united states
grover cleveland
the twenty-second and twenty-fourth democratic present; honest and hardworking, fought corruption, vetoed hundreds of wasteful bills, created the interstate commerce commission and worked in civil service reform, and supported a violent suppression of strikes
william howard taft
the twenty-seventh president of the u.s; he angered progressives by moving cautiously toward reforms and by supporting the payne-aldrich tariff (he lost roosevelt's support and was defeated for a second term)
theodore roosevelt
the twenty-sixth president, known for conservationism, trust-busting, the hepburn act, safe food regulations, the "square deal," the panama canal, the great white fleet; won the nobel peace prize for negotiation of peace in the russo-japanese war
the olive branch petition (1775)
was adopted by the continental congress in an attempt to avoid a full-blown war with britain; it affirmed american loyalty to britain and entreated the king to prevent further conflict (however, it was ultimately rejected by the crown and prompted the colonists towards a full-scale revolution)
margeret sanger
was an american sex educator, nurse, and birth control activist; sanger coined the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the united states, and established planned parenthood
the middle east oil crisis
when egypt and syria attacked israel, america send to aid to israel; the main reason the u.s. got involved was due to the fact that the arabs cut off oil shipments to u.s., and this would cause oil prices to soar (the embargo was eventually lifted)
the nullification crisis (1832)
when south carolina refused to pay the tax rate set by the tariff of 1828, jackson sends troops into south carolina, despite him being a state's rights enthusiast, to enforce the tariff; to this he had to get congress to nullify the force act (congress did so and allowed jackson to send troops to south carolina)
harper's ferry, west virginia
white abolitionist john brown's raid on this location was an attempt to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a united states weapon's arsenal; his raid was defeated by a detachment of u.s. marines led by colonel robert e. lee
the klu klux klan
white supremacist group that terrorized african americans
the atlantic charter (1941)
world war ii alliance agreement between the united states and Britain; included a clause that recognized the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live (indicated sympathy for decolonization)
