US History Finals Study Guide

What was the impact of European colonization on Native American populations?

Europeans had superior weapons and subjected Natives to harsh treatment, leading to the death of upwards of 90% of the Native population due to violence and diseases.

What was the significance of the Boston Massacre?

It was a violent confrontation where five colonists were killed while protesting British soldiers.

What does the Declaration of Independence state?

Adopted on July 4, 1776, it expresses Enlightenment ideals and lists grievances against the King for denying colonists' rights.

What were the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

It established a weak national government with no executive or judicial branches, Congress could not tax or enforce laws, and amendments required a unanimous vote.

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and create a new constitution.

What was the Virginia Plan?

It proposed three federal branches, a bicameral Congress based on population, and Federal Supremacy.

What was the New Jersey Plan?

It called for a stronger federal government with equal representation for states in Congress.

What was the Connecticut Compromise?

It combined elements of the Virginia Plan and established a bicameral Congress with equal Senate representation and House representation based on population.

What were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists debating?

They debated the ratification of the Constitution, with Federalists supporting a strong national government and Anti-Federalists favoring strong state governments.

What is Manifest Destiny?

The belief that America was destined to spread westward to the Pacific, viewed as a moral and democratic model for the world.

What were the economic differences between the North and South leading to the Civil War?

The North was industry-based while the South was agriculture-based, with the South depending on slavery and opposing high tariffs.

How did attitudes towards slavery differ between the North and South?

Southerners justified slavery and viewed themselves as superior, while many Northerners were abolitionists wanting to end slavery.

What political party was formed out of anti-slavery sentiments?

The Republican Party was formed, leading to the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

What event led to the secession of Southern states?

The election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, prompted 11 Southern states to secede and form the Confederate States of America.

What was the turning point of the Civil War?

The turning point came in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation and Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg.

What significant military action did Sherman take during the Civil War?

Sherman began his march to the sea in 1864, contributing to the North's victory.

Who surrendered to whom at the end of the Civil War?

General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia.

What happened shortly after the Civil War ended?

President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at the Ford Theatre.

Who took over the presidency after Lincoln's assassination?

Vice President Andrew Johnson assumed the presidency and faced the challenges of Reconstruction.

What were the Reconstruction Amendments aimed at?

Providing equal rights to newly freed slaves.

What does the 13th Amendment accomplish?

It abolished slavery.

What is established by the 14th Amendment?

Equal protection under the law and due process.

What right does the 15th Amendment grant?

Suffrage (the right to vote) to African American men.

What were Black Codes?

Laws established in many southern states that limited African American freedoms and movements.

What is sharecropping?

A system where poor farmers rented and worked land from large plantation owners, with most profits going to the landowners.

What was the outcome of Reconstruction for African Americans?

Reconstruction ended with little progress made to help African Americans.

What was the policy of 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man'?

A policy that led to the establishment of Indian Boarding schools aimed at forcing Native Americans to assimilate, resulting in cultural loss and abuse.

What advancements did industrialization bring to American life?

Improvements in transportation (railroads, automobiles, planes), communication (telegraphs, telephones), and new products (photography, phonographs, motion pictures).

Who were the Captains of Industry?

Big business leaders who stimulated the economy, employed thousands, increased productivity, and practiced philanthropy.

What is a Robber Baron?

A business leader who engaged in unethical practices to amass wealth while their employees struggled for living wages.

How did Social Darwinism justify monopolistic practices?

It argued that natural selection was the reason for the hardships experienced by smaller businesses and workers.

What did worker unions aim to achieve?

Higher wages, fewer hours, benefits, and safer working conditions.

What were the consequences of strikes by unions?

Strikes often turned violent as union workers fought to prevent scab workers from taking their jobs.

What was the Sherman Antitrust Act?

A law aimed at limiting monopolies, though the government often sided with businesses over unions.

What caused rapid urbanization in the late 19th century?

An influx of immigrants and Americans moving from farms to cities in search of factory jobs.

What problems arose from the rapid growth of cities?

Unsanitary conditions in tenements, increased crime, fires, and lack of plumbing/clean water.

What role did political machines play in cities?

They offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support, often engaging in corruption.

What does the 17th Amendment change about the election of senators?

It established that senators would be elected directly by the people instead of by state legislatures.

What is an initiative in the context of election reforms?

Legislation suggested by the people instead of by lawmakers.

What is a referendum?

A vote on initiatives proposed by the people.

What does recall allow voters to do?

Remove an elected official before the end of their term through a new election.

What was the suffrage movement?

A movement advocating for the right to vote, characterized by protests, parades, and demonstrations.

What did the 19th Amendment accomplish?

It granted all women in the United States the right to vote.

What was the temperance movement?

A movement that blamed alcohol for many societal problems, leading to the passage of the 18th Amendment.

What did the 18th Amendment do?

It outlawed the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States.

Why did new immigrants come to America?

To seek economic opportunities (the American Dream) and more freedoms, often settling in large cities and working in factories.

Who wrote and photographed the poor living conditions in 'How the Other Half Lives'?

Jacob Riis

What was Teddy Roosevelt's approach to governance?

He governed as a progressive, supporting common Americans through a 'Square Deal' and attacking monopolies.

Which muckraker influenced Roosevelt to regulate industries?

Upton Sinclair with his book 'The Jungle'.

What is imperialism?

It is when a more powerful nation conquers and controls other nations politically, economically, and socially.

What territories did the United States acquire after achieving Manifest Destiny?

Alaska, Hawaii, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

What role did yellow journalism play in the Spanish-American War?

It was used to drum up public support for the war with Spain, particularly after the USS Maine explosion.

What were the long-term causes of WWI?

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

How did militarism contribute to WWI?

Countries built up military capabilities, making weapons and recruiting soldiers.

What effect did secret alliances have on WWI?

They escalated tensions and ultimately led to widespread conflict.

What was the impact of nationalism leading up to WWI?

Countries promoted extreme pride in their culture, suggesting superiority over others.

What event nearly brought the US into WWI?

The sinking of the Lusitania by German submarines.

What was the Zimmerman Note?

An attempt by Germany to create an alliance with Mexico against the United States.

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

A flawed agreement that placed all blame on Germany and forced them to pay reparations.

What decade is referred to as 'The Jazz Age'?

The 1920s.

What significant change occurred for women in the 1920s?

The passing of the 19th Amendment, granting them the right to vote.

What were flappers known for in the 1920s?

They were young women who dressed and acted freely, popularizing new fashion and dance styles.

What was the Great Migration?

The movement of hundreds of thousands of African Americans from the deep south to Northern cities during WWI.

What cultural movement emerged in Harlem during the Great Migration?

The Harlem Renaissance, focusing on equality, heritage, and celebration of Black culture.

What triggered the Great Depression in 1929?

The Stock Market Crash caused by irresponsible speculation of unproven stocks.

What were other contributing factors to the Great Depression?

Various economic factors beyond the stock market crash contributed to the Depression.

What was President Hoover's belief regarding the economic downturn during the Great Depression?

He believed in a free capitalist system that would correct itself, leading to too little government action.

What was the unemployment rate during the Great Depression?

Up to 25% of the population was unemployed.

What were makeshift shacks in pop-up shantytowns during the Great Depression commonly referred to as?

Hoovervilles.

How were African Americans, especially sharecroppers, affected during the Great Depression?

They were already economically vulnerable and faced the worst impacts of the Depression.

What is the significance of John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath'?

It highlighted the struggles of white sharecroppers from Oklahoma, who were discriminated against as 'Oakies' in California.

What was FDR's central belief regarding government responsibility during the Great Depression?

He believed the government had a responsibility to help its citizens.

What is one of the biggest legacies of the New Deal?

Social Security, designed to provide relief to the elderly who can no longer work.

What was the purpose of some New Deal programs?

To reform industries (financial, farming, etc.) to prevent future economic turmoil.

How did New Deal programs often treat minority groups?

They often slighted African Americans and women, favoring whites.

What major change did the New Deal bring to the Federal government?

It changed the power and size of the Federal government, creating an ongoing role in Americans' lives.

What led to the rise of authoritarian regimes in Europe prior to WWII?

Uncertainty and depression.

What was the Munich Pact?

An agreement where European leaders attempted to appease Hitler by giving him the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia.

What military strategy did Hitler use to invade Poland in September 1939?

Blitzkrieg, or lightning war.

What event brought the US into WWII?

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Who were the Allied Powers during WWII?

British, France, Soviet Union, and USA.

Who were the Axis Powers during WWII?

Germany, Japan, and Italy.

What was the purpose of war bonds during WWII?

To help finance the war.

What was D-Day?

The single largest coordinated military event in history.

What was the significance of the Battle of the Bulge?

It was Hitler's last stand on the Western Front around Christmas 1944.

What strategy did the US use in the Pacific Theater during WWII?

Island-hopping strategy.

What were the names of the two cities where atomic bombs were dropped in August 1945?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What was the ideological divide during the Cold War?

The West (USA) with a Democratic capitalist system versus the Soviet Union with a communist system.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

A policy to provide financial (Marshall Plan) and military aid to countries at risk of falling to communism.

What was the Red Scare?

A period of paranoia in America about the threat of communism.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

A 13-month operation where American and British planes dropped supplies to West Berlin citizens during the Soviet blockade.

What was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

A negotiated deal where the Soviets removed missiles from Cuba and the US removed missiles from Turkey.

What was the impact of the Vietnam War on American public perception?

TV coverage and events like the Tet Offensive convinced many Americans that the war was unwinnable.