The Roaring Twenties: Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on the Roaring Twenties.

World War I

A global war originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918, involving many world powers.

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

A major American military campaign during WWI that helped turn the tide in favor of the Allies.

U.S. Creditor Nation

A status achieved by the U.S. post-WWI where it was the largest lender to foreign nations.

League of Nations

An international organization established after WWI aimed at promoting peace but rejected by the U.S.

Isolationism

A foreign policy stance where a country avoids political and military involvement in international affairs.

Demobilization

The process of disbanding troops and transitioning from a wartime to a peacetime economy.

Inflation

A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

Consumer Credit

The use of credit, such as loans or credit cards, to purchase goods and services.

Mass Production

The manufacture of goods in large quantities, often using assembly lines.

The Lost Generation

A term used to describe a group of American writers in the 1920s who were disillusioned by the aftermath of WWI.

Gertrude Stein

An American avant-garde writer and art collector who coined the term 'Lost Generation'.

Modernism

An artistic movement that broke away from tradition and embraced new ideas and styles during the 20th century.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement during the 1920s where African American artists and writers celebrated Black culture.

Nativism

The policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.

Eugenics

A controversial movement aimed at improving the genetic composition of the human population.

Emergency Quota Act (1921)

Legislation that established numerical limits on immigration to the U.S. based on national origin.

Immigration Act of 1924

Law that further restricted immigration to the U.S. and established quotas based on populations in 1890.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

A white supremacist organization that rose in prominence in the 1920s, targeting various ethnic and racial minorities.

Scopes Trial

A 1925 legal case challenging a Tennessee law that banned the teaching of evolution in schools.

Flapper

A young woman in the 1920s who challenged traditional norms of behavior and dress.

Jazz Age

A term for the 1920s, signifying the decade's cultural and musical revolution led by jazz music.

Sacco and Vanzetti Trial

A highly publicized trial of two Italian immigrants accused of murder, controversial for its anti-immigrant bias.

The Great Migration

The movement of millions of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North between 1916 and 1970.

Red Summer

A term used to describe the race riots and violence in the U.S. during the summer of 1919.

New Negro Movement

A cultural and intellectual movement during the Harlem Renaissance emphasizing Black self-expression and pride.

Alain Locke

An influential philosopher and key figure in the Harlem Renaissance known for promoting African American culture.

W.E.B. Du Bois

An African American civil rights activist and a co-founder of the NAACP who advocated for higher education for Blacks.

Langston Hughes

A prominent poet and social activist known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance.

Zora Neale Hurston

An author and anthropologist associated with the Harlem Renaissance, known for exploring the lives of Black women.

African American Identity

A cultural and social identity shaped by history, struggle, and pride within the African American community.

Cultural Blending

The merging of different cultural elements to create diverse expressions in art, literature, and social behavior.

Moral Crusade

An aggressive movement aiming to enforce specific moral standards in society.

Social Tensions

Conflicts that arise from differing beliefs and practices within a society.

Cultural Modernism

A movement characterized by a break from traditional styles and themes in art, literature, and philosophy.

Economic Vulnerabilities

Weaknesses in an economy that can lead to financial crises or downturns.

Consumer Culture

A societal framework where personal worth is measured by the types and amounts of goods purchased.

Technological Innovation

The introduction of new technologies and methods that enhance productivity and standards of living.

Prohibition

The legal banning of the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the U.S.

Cultural Experimentation

The exploration and incorporation of new ideas and forms in artistic and social expressions.

Civic Reform

Efforts to improve political and social systems, typically associated with increasing democratic participation.

Urban Centers

Highly populated cities that serve as economic and cultural hubs.

Civic Engagement

Participation in activities that promote community or civic life, such as voting or activism.

Cultural Identity

The identity or feeling of belonging to a particular cultural group.