Every Social Movement to Know for AP United States History

Abolitionist Movement

A movement aimed at eradicating slavery in the United States, gaining momentum in the early 19th century.

Frederick Douglass

A former slave and powerful orator whose autobiographies and speeches highlighted the brutality of slavery.

Harriet Tubman

An abolitionist known for leading enslaved individuals to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

William Lloyd Garrison

Founder of The Liberator, an influential abolitionist newspaper that condemned slavery.

Underground Railroad

A secret network aiding the escape of thousands of enslaved people to free states and Canada.

Women’s Suffrage Movement

A movement for women’s right to vote, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Public Demonstrations

Parades, protests, and pickets used as strategies in the women's suffrage movement.

Seneca Falls Convention

The 1848 event where Elizabeth Cady Stanton created the Declaration of Sentiments.

Labor Movement

A movement aimed at achieving fair wages and safe working conditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Knights of Labor

An organization advocating for an eight-hour workday and inclusive membership.

Progressive Era Reform Movement

A movement addressing issues from industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption between the 1890s and 1920s.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A key legislation aimed at breaking up monopolistic corporations to promote fair competition.

Anti-War Movement

A coalition opposing U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Vietnam War

A conflict that spurred significant public protest and a broad anti-war movement in the U.S.

Environmental Movement

A movement advocating for conservation and pollution control, emerging in the mid-20th century.

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

A foundational text of modern environmentalism exposing pesticide dangers.

LGBTQ+ Rights Movement

A movement advocating for equal rights and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Obergefell v. Hodges

The 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

Temperance Movement

A campaign aimed at reducing alcohol consumption, leading to Prohibition with the 18th Amendment.

Native American Rights Movement

A movement advocating for Native sovereignty, cultural preservation, and land rights in the 1960s and 70s.

Populist Movement

A movement advocating for the rights of farmers and laborers in the late 19th century.

Black Power Movement

A movement emphasizing self-determination and pride in African American identity in the 1960s and 70s.

Chicano Movement

A movement focused on Mexican American civil rights and cultural pride.

Disability Rights Movement

A movement seeking equity and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

A 1990 law mandating accessibility in public spaces and protection against discrimination.

Anti-Apartheid Movement

A global campaign opposing South Africa's apartheid system.

Nelson Mandela

A key activist in the anti-apartheid movement who highlighted the struggle against apartheid internationally.