APUSH Period 7 VOCAB

Laissez Faire

Economic philosophy with limited government interference in the marketplace leaving producers and consumers free to make economic decisions.

Theodore Roosevelt

26th U.S. president (1901–1909), pursued progressive reforms such as trust-busting, labor protections, and consumer safety measures like the Pure Food and Drug Act. He constructed of the Panama Canal and the Roosevelt Corollary, which expanded American influence in the Western Hemisphere

Bull Moose Party

The party advocated for progressive reforms, including women’s suffrage, labor protections, social welfare programs, and stricter regulation of corporations

New Nationalism

• Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive platform in the 1912 election, advocating for strong federal regulation of business and labor protections.

• Emphasized social justice reforms, including women’s suffrage, income taxes, and social insurance programs.

• Focused on using government power to balance the interests of business, labor, and the public.

Hepburn Act

Passed in 1906, the act strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) by granting it the authority to set maximum railroad rates. Expanded federal regulatory power over railroads, pipelines, and other transportation industries.

Pure Food and Drug Act / Meat Inspection Act

• The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) banned the sale of contaminated food and medicines and required truthful labeling.

• The Meat Inspection Act (1906) mandated sanitary standards and federal inspections for meatpacking facilities.

Upton Sinclair and The Jungle

• Upton Sinclair was a muckraker whose 1906 novel The Jungle exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.

• The book prompted public outrage and led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.

Northern Securities Case

• In 1902, Roosevelt’s administration used the Sherman Antitrust Act to break up the Northern Securities Company, a railroad monopoly.

• The case was a landmark victory for federal trust-busting efforts.

• Established Roosevelt as a progressive reformer who challenged corporate power.

Payne-Aldrich Tariff

Passed in 1909 under President Taft, it aimed to lower tariffs but ultimately retained high rates on many goods.

William Howard Taft

• Served as the 27th president (1909–1913) and later as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the only person to hold both offices.

• Supported antitrust reforms but faced criticism from progressives for his conservative policies, like the Payne-Aldrich Tariff.

Woodrow Wilson

• The 28th U.S. president (1913–1921), known for his progressive “New Freedom” domestic agenda.

• Led the U.S. during World War I and was instrumental in the creation of the League of Nations.

New Freedom

• Woodrow Wilson’s domestic policy platform focused on breaking up monopolies and restoring competition.

• Emphasized smaller government and lower tariffs to benefit small businesses.

Clayton Antitrust Act

• Passed in 1914 to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act by explicitly outlawing certain anti-competitive practices.

• Protected labor unions and agricultural organizations from being prosecuted under antitrust laws.

Federal Reserve Act / Federal Trade Commission

• The Federal Reserve Act (1913) established the Federal Reserve System, creating a central bank to regulate the money supply and stabilize the economy.

• The Federal Trade Commission (1914) was created to prevent unfair business practices and promote competition.

Pinchot-Ballinger Scandal

• A controversy during Taft’s presidency involving conservation policies and public land management.

• Gifford Pinchot, a conservationist, accused Richard Ballinger, Secretary of the Interior, of selling public lands to private interests.

• The scandal alienated progressives and contributed to the Republican Party split in 1912.

Niagara Movement

Founded in 1905 by W.E.B. Du Bois and others, it called for immediate civil rights and an end to racial discrimination.The movement laid the groundwork for the creation of the N.A.A.C.P.

N.A.A.C.P.

•  sought to advance civil rights and eliminate racial discrimination.

• Played a key role in challenging segregation laws and advocating for equal rights through litigation and activism.

Anti-Imperialist League

Argued that imperialism violated the principles of self-determination and democracy.

Spanish-American War and the Treaty of Paris

• Conflict between the U.S. and Spain, sparked by Cuban independence struggles and yellow journalism.

• The Treaty of Paris ended the war, granting the U.S. control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines and ending Spanish colonial rule.

“Big Stick” Policy

Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy approach, emphasizing diplomacy backed by the threat of military force.

Dollar Diplomacy

• A foreign policy under President Taft, encouraging U.S. investment in Latin America and East Asia to promote stability and American interests.

• Aimed to replace military intervention with economic influence.

Moral Diplomacy

• President Wilson’s foreign policy, promoting democracy and moral principles in international relations.

• Sought to support nations with democratic values and opposed imperialism.

Teller Amendment

• Passed in 1898, it declared that the United States would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War.

• Asserted U.S. support for Cuban independence and limited its territorial ambitions.

• Helped gain domestic and international support for U.S. intervention in the war.

Platt Amendment

• Passed in 1901, it restricted Cuba’s sovereignty by allowing U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs and establishing a U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay.

• Required Cuba to avoid treaties compromising its independence and to maintain low public debt.

Sussex Pledge/Submarine Warfare (U Boats) / Lusitania

• The Sussex Pledge (1916) was Germany’s promise to limit unrestricted submarine warfare after the sinking of passenger ships like the Lusitania in 1915.

• U-Boats (German submarines) were a key weapon in Germany’s naval strategy, targeting Allied and neutral ships.

• The resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 contributed to U.S. entry into World War I.

Zimmerman Note

• A 1917 secret telegram from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance if the U.S. entered World War I.

• Promised Mexico the return of lost territories (Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico) if it joined Germany.

Schenck v. U.S.

A 1919 Supreme Court case that upheld the Espionage Act and limited free speech during wartime.

14 Points and League of Nations

• outlined his vision for post-World War I peace, emphasizing self-determination, free trade, and disarmament.

• The League of Nations, proposed in the 14th point, aimed to provide a forum for resolving international conflicts without war.

• Although the League was established, the U.S. Senate rejected membership, reflecting isolationist sentiments.

Square Deal

• Theodore Roosevelt’s domestic policy aimed at balancing the interests of business, labor, and consumers.

• Focused on trust-busting, consumer protection, and conservation of natural resources.

“Return to Normalcy”

• Warren G. Harding’s 1920 campaign slogan, emphasizing a return to pre-World War I policies and a focus on domestic issues.

• Advocated for less government intervention in the economy and isolationism in foreign affairs.

• Marked a shift away from progressive reform and toward conservative policies.

Red Scare / Palmer Raids

•  fueled by fears of communism, anarchism, and radicalism following the Russian Revolution.

• led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, targeted suspected radicals and immigrants, often violating civil liberties.

Warren G. Harding

• The 29th president (1921–1923), known for his pro-business policies and advocacy for a “return to normalcy.”

• His administration was plagued by scandals, including the Teapot Dome scandal.

• Died in office in 1923, leaving Vice President Calvin Coolidge to assume the presidency.

Calvin Coolidge

• The 30th president (1923–1929), known for his laissez-faire economic policies and belief in limited government intervention.

• Presided over the economic prosperity of the “Roaring Twenties.”

• Famous for his restraint in government spending and his nickname, “Silent Cal.”

Scopes “Monkey Trial”

A 1925 legal case in Tennessee over the teaching of evolution in public schools.

National Origins Act (1921, 1924)

• The 1921 act established immigration quotas based on 3% of each nationality’s U.S. population from the 1910 census.

• The 1924 act reduced quotas to 2% and used the 1890 census, heavily restricting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Lost Generation

A term describing a group of American writers in the 1920s who were disillusioned by World War I and critical of materialism in U.S. society. Their works often explored themes of alienation, moral decay, and the quest for meaning.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement during the 1920s centered in Harlem, New York, celebrating African American art, literature, music, and identity.

Bonus Army

• A group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington, D.C., in 1932 to demand early payment of promised bonuses.

• President Hoover ordered the military to disperse the protest, leading to violent clashes and public backlash.

Prohibition and Volstead Act

• established by the 18th Amendment (1920), banned the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcoholic beverages.

•  provided enforcement measures for Prohibition.

18th Amendment and 21st Amendment

• The 18th Amendment (1919) instituted Prohibition, banning the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol.

• The 21st Amendment (1933) repealed Prohibition, ending the nationwide alcohol ban.

Sacco and Vanzetti

• Italian immigrants and anarchists, were convicted of robbery and murder in 1921.

• Their trial was widely criticized for bias against their political beliefs and ethnicity.

Teapot Dome Scandal

• A major political scandal during Harding’s administration involving the secret leasing of federal oil reserves to private companies.

• Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for leasing rights.

Dawes Plan

• A 1924 plan to restructure Germany’s reparations payments following World War I, easing its economic burden.

• Provided loans from U.S. banks to stabilize the German economy and promote recovery.

• Helped reduce tensions between Germany and Allied nations during the interwar period.

Kellogg-Briand Pact

• A 1928 international agreement that renounced war as a tool for resolving conflicts.

• Signed by major powers, including the U.S., France, and Germany, but lacked enforcement mechanisms.

Glass Steagall Act

• A 1933 law that separated commercial and investment banking to reduce financial risk.

• Created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to protect bank deposits.

• A key part of New Deal financial reforms during the Great Depression.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

• A 1930 tariff that raised U.S. import duties to protect domestic industries.

• Provoked retaliation from other nations, worsening the global economic depression.

1st Hundred Days and New Deal

• Refers to the first months of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency in 1933, when he implemented key New Deal programs.

• Focused on relief for the unemployed, recovery for the economy, and reform of the financial system.

Court-Packing Scheme

• A controversial 1937 proposal by FDR to add more justices to the Supreme Court to secure support for New Deal legislation.

• Viewed as an attempt to undermine judicial independence and expand executive power.

• Unsuccessful

The “Brain Trust”

• A group of advisors and experts who helped FDR develop New Deal policies.

• Included academics and economists like Raymond Moley and Rexford Tugwell.

• Played a key role in shaping innovative solutions to the Great Depression.

Keynesian Economics

• An economic theory advocating for government intervention to stabilize the economy during downturns.

• Promoted increased public spending to boost demand and reduce unemployment.

• Influenced New Deal policies and later government economic strategies.

Stimson Doctrine

• A 1932 policy declaring that the U.S. would not recognize territorial acquisitions made by force, in response to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria.

• Reaffirmed U.S. commitment to international law and opposition to aggression.

• Highlighted growing tensions in East Asia before World War II.

Good Neighbor Policy

• FDR’s approach to improving relations with Latin America, emphasizing non-intervention and cooperation.

• Withdrew U.S. troops from countries like Haiti and Nicaragua and promoted mutual respect.

• Strengthened hemispheric solidarity during World War II.

Lend-Lease Act

• A 1941 program that allowed the U.S. to supply Allied nations with military equipment and supplies during World War II.

• Marked a shift from neutrality to active support for the Allies, particularly Britain and the Soviet Union.

• Played a critical role in the Allied war effort and solidified the U.S. as the "Arsenal of Democracy."

Nye Committee

• A Senate committee (1934–1936) led by Senator Gerald Nye that investigated the financial interests behind U.S. involvement in World War I.

• Suggested that arms manufacturers and bankers had influenced the U.S. to enter the war for profit.

Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941

A series of laws aimed at keeping the U.S. out of foreign conflicts by banning arms sales and loans to nations at war.

Atlantic Charter

• A 1941 joint declaration by FDR and Winston Churchill outlining Allied goals for the postwar world.

• Advocated for self-determination, free trade, and collective security through an international organization.

• Laid the groundwork for the creation of the United Nations.

Appeasement

• A policy of making concessions to aggressive powers to avoid conflict, associated with Britain and France’s response to Hitler in the 1930s.

• The Munich Agreement (1938) allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in hopes of preventing war.

Conferences: Casablanca, Tehran, Cairo, Yalta, Potsdam

• Key Allied meetings during World War II to strategize and plan for the postwar world.

• Casablanca (1943): Planned the invasion of Italy and demanded unconditional surrender from Axis powers.

• Tehran (1943): Coordinated plans for D-Day and discussed postwar division of Germany.

• Yalta (1945): Addressed postwar Europe, including the establishment of the United Nations and Soviet control of Eastern Europe.

Potsdam (1945): Finalized terms for Japan’s surrender and addressed tensions between the U.S. and the USSR.

Executive Order 9066

• Issued by FDR in 1942, it authorized the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

• Over 120,000 individuals, most U.S. citizens, were forcibly relocated to internment camps.

Korematsu v. United States

• A 1944 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of Japanese internment camps during World War II.

• Argued that national security concerns justified the exclusion of Japanese Americans.

Bond Drives

• Government campaigns during World War II encouraging citizens to buy war bonds to finance military efforts.