Honors US History Final Exam

William McKinley

25th U.S. President (1897-1901), led the U.S. during the Spanish-American War. His presidency marked America's emergence as a world power, acquiring territories like the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Theodore Roosevelt

26th U.S. President (1901-1909), progressive reformer and trust-buster. Known for the Square Deal, conservationism, and strengthening U.S. global presence with the Panama Canal and 'Big Stick' diplomacy.

William Howard Taft

27th U.S. President (1909-1913) and later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Continued some progressive reforms but was seen as more conservative, leading to a split in the Republican Party.

Woodrow Wilson

28th U.S. President (1913-1921), led the U.S. through WWI. Advocated the League of Nations in his 14 Points, but the U.S. did not join due to Senate opposition, reflecting isolationism.

Warren Harding

29th U.S. President (1921-1923), known for his 'Return to Normalcy' campaign. His presidency was marred by corruption scandals like Teapot Dome, reflecting post-WWI conservative politics.

Calvin Coolidge

30th U.S. President (1923-1929), pro-business conservative. Presided over economic growth during the 'Roaring Twenties' but resisted government intervention in the economy.

Herbert Hoover

31st U.S. President (1929-1933), in office during the start of the Great Depression. Criticized for inadequate response to economic collapse; believed in limited government intervention.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

32nd U.S. President (1933-1945), led U.S. through Great Depression and WWII. Created the New Deal programs, expanded federal power, and helped defeat fascism in WWII.

Harry Truman

33rd U.S. President (1945-1953), succeeded FDR. Made the decision to drop atomic bombs, launched the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, and led the U.S. into the Korean War.

Dwight Eisenhower

34th U.S. President (1953-1961), WWII Allied Supreme Commander. Promoted Cold War containment, created the Interstate Highway System, and warned against the 'military-industrial complex.'

John F. Kennedy

35th U.S. President (1961-1963), known for youth and charisma. Faced Cold War crises like the Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis; pushed civil rights before his assassination.

Lyndon Johnson

36th U.S. President (1963-1969), succeeded JFK. Passed Civil Rights Act of 1964, launched the Great Society, but lost public support over the Vietnam War.

Richard Nixon

37th U.S. President (1969-1974), resigned due to the Watergate scandal. Opened relations with China, promoted détente with USSR, but undermined trust in the government with the scandal.

Jimmy Carter

39th U.S. President (1977-1981), former Georgia governor. Faced economic troubles and Iran Hostage Crisis; known for Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.

Ronald Reagan

40th U.S. President (1981-1989), conservative icon. Promoted 'Reaganomics,' ended Cold War tensions, and strengthened the military.

William Jennings Bryan

Populist leader and three-time Democratic presidential candidate. Significance: Advocated for farmers and silver standard; famously prosecuted Scopes Trial against evolution.

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Naval strategist who emphasized sea power. Significance: Influenced U.S. imperialism; believed control of seas meant global dominance.

George Dewey

U.S. Admiral during Spanish-American War. Significance: Defeated Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, expanding U.S. influence in Asia.

Herbert Spencer

Philosopher who applied Darwinism to society ('Social Darwinism'). Significance: Justified imperialism, racism, and laissez-faire capitalism.

Samuel Gompers

Founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Significance: Pushed for skilled workers' rights through collective bargaining.

J. Pierpont Morgan

Powerful financier and banker. Significance: Helped stabilize the U.S. economy during panics; symbol of Gilded Age capitalism.

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil, richest man of his era. Significance: Created monopolies; symbol of industrial power and robber barons.

Andrew Carnegie

Steel magnate and philanthropist. Significance: Represented vertical integration and the 'Gospel of Wealth.'

Queen Liliuokalani

Last monarch of Hawaii. Significance: Overthrown by American interests; her removal led to U.S. annexation.

Leon Czolgosz

Anarchist who assassinated President McKinley in 1901. Significance: His act brought Theodore Roosevelt to power and spurred anti-anarchist laws.

General Douglas MacArthur

U.S. general in WWII and Korean War. Significance: Led Pacific campaigns; fired by Truman for insubordination during Korea.

Charles de Gaulle

Leader of Free France during WWII. Significance: Ally of the U.S.; later resisted U.S. influence during Cold War Europe.

Elvis Presley

Cultural icon of 1950s rock and roll. Significance: Symbolized youth rebellion, cultural shift, and blending of musical traditions.

Chairman Khrushchev

Soviet leader during the Cold War and Cuban Missile Crisis. Significance: Faced off with Kennedy; his policies triggered global nuclear fears.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader of Cuba after the 1959 revolution. Significance: Major Cold War figure; ally of USSR and opponent of U.S. influence.

Medgar Evers

NAACP leader assassinated in Mississippi in 1963. Significance: His murder galvanized the Civil Rights Movement.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Baptist minister and leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Significance: Advocated nonviolence and led key protests and marches, like the March on Washington.

Robert Kennedy

U.S. Attorney General and senator, JFK's brother. Significance: Advocated civil rights and anti-war policies; assassinated in 1968.

Barry Goldwater

Conservative senator and 1964 Republican presidential candidate. Significance: Sparked rise of modern conservative movement.

Tenement

Overcrowded urban apartment housing. Significance: Symbolized poor immigrant conditions during industrialization.

Sinking of the Maine

U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor, 1898.

Significance

Led to Spanish-American War after "Remember the Maine!" slogan.

Industrialization

Shift to factory-based economy. Significance: Transformed society, labor, urban growth, and class tensions.

Imperialism

Policy of expanding a nation's power through colonies. Significance: U.S. joined global empires by acquiring overseas territories.

Isolationism

Policy of avoiding foreign entanglements. Significance: Dominated U.S. foreign policy between WWI and WWII.

Zimmerman Note

German telegram proposed alliance with Mexico. Significance: Angered Americans and pushed the U.S. toward WWI.

League of Nations

International peace organization after WWI. Significance: U.S. refused to join, weakening its authority.

Foes of Farmers in the 1920s

Overproduction, falling prices, high debt. Significance: Precursor to Great Depression for rural America.

Great Depression

Severe global economic downturn in 1930s. Significance: Led to massive unemployment and New Deal reforms.

First "Hundred Days"

FDR's first months in office with rapid legislation. Significance: Marked beginning of active federal response to crisis.

Pearl Harbor

Japanese attack on U.S. naval base, December 7, 1941. Significance: Brought U.S. into WWII.

ABC-1 Agreement

WWII strategy to defeat Germany before Japan. Significance: Guided Allied military planning.

Japanese Internment Camps

WWII relocation of Japanese-Americans. Significance: Violated civil liberties out of wartime fear.

Truman Doctrine

Pledged aid to countries resisting communism. Significance: Initiated Cold War containment policy.

NATO

Military alliance formed in 1949. Significance: Collective defense against Soviet aggression.

Interstate Highway Act

1956 act building nationwide roads. Significance: Stimulated economy, suburbs, and defense mobility.

Sputnik

First satellite, launched by USSR in 1957. Significance: Started U.S.-Soviet space race.

Bay of Pigs

Failed 1961 invasion of Cuba. Significance: Embarrassed Kennedy and strengthened Castro.

Flexible Response

JFK's military strategy using varied tactics. Significance: Replaced massive retaliation; allowed conventional options.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 standoff over Soviet missiles in Cuba. Significance: Nearly caused nuclear war; resolved by diplomacy.

Militant

Aggressively active in promoting a cause. Significance: Describes groups like the Black Panthers in the Civil Rights era.

Doves

Opponents of the Vietnam War. Significance: Pushed for peace and helped end U.S. involvement.

Hawks

Supporters of the Vietnam War. Significance: Advocated military escalation.

Green Berets

U.S. Army Special Forces. Significance: Used in counterinsurgency during Vietnam.

Reconcentration

Spanish policy in Cuba moving civilians into camps. Significance: Caused outrage, led to Spanish-American War.

Operation Rolling Thunder

U.S. bombing campaign in Vietnam. Significance: Failed to break enemy morale, escalated war.

Tet Offensive

1968 VietCong surprise attack. Significance: Turned U.S. opinion against the war.

The "Establishment"

Dominant political and social order.

Collective Security

Alliance system to prevent war.

Reparations

Payments after war by losing side.

McCarthyism

Anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s.

Free World

Democratic nations opposing communism.

Totalitarianism

Government with total control over public/private life.

Self-Determination

Right of people to choose government.

Anarchists

People who oppose all government.

Recession

Temporary economic downturn.

Laissez-faire

Hands-off government in economy.

Yellow Dog Contract

Employer-employee contract banning union membership.

Socialism

System where the government owns means of production.

Inflation

General rise in prices.

Trust

Monopoly or combination of businesses.

Deflation

Decrease in general price levels.

Free Enterprise

Capitalist economy with minimal government control.

Affirmative Action

Policies favoring groups historically discriminated against.

Watergate (secret tapes)

Nixon's scandal involving illegal recordings and cover-up.

Nuclear Proliferation

Spread of nuclear weapons.

Pork Barrel

Government spending for local projects.

Containment

U.S. Cold War policy to stop communism.

Dawes Severalty Act

1887 law to assimilate Native Americans.

March on Washington (1963)

Civil rights rally led by MLK.

Freedom Riders

Interracial activists challenging segregation on buses.

Sit-In

Peaceful protest tactic used at segregated lunch counters.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 Supreme Court case upholding "separate but equal."

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 case ending segregation in schools.