U.S. History 25-26 Midterm

Rural? Urban?

Rural= farms Urban= cities

Civil War & Reconstruction

A period from 1861 to 1877 marked by the conflict between the Northern states and Southern states, followed by efforts to rebuild and integrate the Southern states into the Union.

Industrialization, Urbanization, Immigration

The transformation of the U.S. economy and society from agrarian to industrial, characterized by rapid urban growth and waves of immigrants from the 1850s to the early 1900s.

Progressive Movement

A social and political movement from 1890 to 1920 aimed at addressing issues caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption in government.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, prevalent in the U.S. from 1890 to 1914.

World War I

A global conflict from 1914 to 1919 involving many of the world's great powers, primarily fought in Europe.

Reconstruction

The period after the Civil War focused on rebuilding the South and integrating freed slaves into society.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States who led the country during the Civil War and worked to end slavery.

Andrew Johnson

The 17th President of the United States who succeeded Lincoln and oversaw the early Reconstruction era.

Radical Republicans

A faction of the Republican Party during Reconstruction that advocated for civil rights for freed slaves and harsh policies against the Southern states.

13th Amendment

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.

14th Amendment

An amendment that granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and provided equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

An amendment that prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Ulysses S. Grant

The 18th President of the United States and a Union general during the Civil War.

Sharecropping

A system of agriculture where a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in exchange for a share of the crops produced.

Poll Taxes

Fees required to vote, often used to disenfranchise poor and minority voters.

Literacy Tests

Tests administered to prospective voters to prove their literacy, often used to disenfranchise African American voters.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Plessy v. Ferguson

An 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Rutherford B. Hayes

The 19th President of the United States known for ending Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.

Compromise of 1877

An agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election and resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.

Western Expansion

The period of American territorial expansion westward during the 19th century.

Exodusters

African Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in the late 19th century seeking land and opportunity.

Buffalo Soldiers

African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War.

The Pacific Railway Act

Legislation that authorized the construction of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

Transcontinental Railroad

A railroad that connected the eastern U.S. with the western territories, facilitating transportation and commerce.

Homestead Act of 1862

A law that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, encouraging westward migration.

Manifest Destiny

• The thought that European Americans were destined by their god and given right to expand westward to spread their “way of life”

• They thought they were chosen by god to do this

Sand Creek Massacre

An 1864 attack by Colorado U.S. Volunteer Cavalry on a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village, resulting in the deaths of many Native Americans.

Reservations

Areas of land designated for Native American tribes, often resulting in loss of traditional lands.

The Indian Wars

A series of conflicts between the U.S. government and Native American tribes during the late 19th century.

Little Bighorn

The site of a major battle in 1876 where Native American forces led by Sitting Bull defeated U.S. Army troops led by George A. Custer.

George A. Custer

A U.S. Army officer and cavalry commander known for his defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Sitting Bull

A Lakota leader who played a crucial role in resisting U.S. government policies and led his people during the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Buffalo

Large grazing mammals that were central to the culture and economy of many Native American tribes.

Nomad

A person who moves from place to place rather than settling permanently, often in search of food or grazing land.

Chief Joseph

Leader of the Nez Perce tribe known for his resistance against U.S. government policies and his famous surrender speech.

Ghost Dance

A religious movement among Native Americans in the late 19th century that sought to restore their lands and way of life.

Wounded Knee Massacre

An 1890 confrontation between U.S. troops and Lakota Sioux that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Native Americans.

Dawes Act

An 1887 law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land.

Assimilation

The process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture of another group, often leading to the loss of their original identity.

Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889

A race for land in Oklahoma where settlers claimed land that had been previously designated as Indian Territory.

Indian Training School

Institutions established to educate Native American children in Euro-American culture and practices.

Census of 1890

A population count that revealed the closing of the American frontier and the shift towards urbanization.

Frontier

The edge of settled territory in the U.S., often associated with westward expansion and exploration.

Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis

An argument that the American frontier shaped the nation's character and democracy.

Industrialization

The process of developing industries in a country or region on a wide scale.

Assembly Line

A manufacturing process in which parts are added in a sequential manner to create a finished product efficiently.

Urbanization

The process by which cities grow as more people move from rural areas to urban centers.

Gilded Age

A period in U.S. history characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and political corruption.

Laissez-faire

An economic philosophy of minimal government intervention in the economy.

Corporation

A legal entity that is separate from its owners, allowing for limited liability and the ability to raise capital.

Capitalism

An economic system where private individuals own and control property and businesses.

Stocks

Shares of ownership in a company that can be bought and sold.

Robber Barons

(Negative) Ruthless businessmen who would stop at nothing to achieve great wealth. Such men were accused of exploiting workers, ignoring horrible working conditions and imposing unfair labor practices.

Captains of Industry

(Positive) Inventive and hard-working business leaders who positively transformed the American economy (increased productivity, expanded markets, provided jobs, etc.). Such men were praised for their skills and philanthropy (charity).

John D. Rockefeller

An American oil industry business magnate and philanthropist, co-founder of the Standard Oil Company.

Andrew Carnegie

A steel industry leader and philanthropist known for his role in the expansion of the American steel industry.

Monopoly

Monopoly = one company dominates an industry (mono means one)

Trust

Trust = team of companies working together to dominate an industry (though one company usually dominates the trust, such as Rockefeller's Standard Oil Trust)

Waves of Immigration

The different periods during which large numbers of people immigrated to the U.S., each with distinct characteristics.

Push Factor

Conditions that drive people to leave their home country, such as war or economic hardship.

Pull Factor

Conditions that attract people to a new country, such as job opportunities or political freedom.

Nativism

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

Chinese Exclusion Act

An 1882 law that prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S.

Immigration Quota 1924

Legislation that established limits on the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S. from specific countries.

Compulsory Public Education

Laws requiring children to attend school, aimed at increasing literacy and education levels.

Jacob Riis

A journalist and social reformer known for his work on urban poverty and living conditions in the late 19th century.

Tenements

Overcrowded and often unsanitary apartment buildings where many immigrants lived in urban areas.

Unions

Organizations formed by workers to protect their rights and interests, often advocating for better wages and working conditions.

Haymarket Affair

An 1886 labor protest in Chicago that turned violent, leading to a backlash against labor movements.

Sweatshop

A workplace where workers are employed for long hours at low wages and under poor conditions.

Political Machine

A political organization that uses patronage and other means to maintain control over a city or state.

Tammany Hall

A New York City political organization known for its corruption and influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

A tragic industrial disaster in 1911 that resulted in the deaths of 146 garment workers, leading to reforms in labor laws.

Overproduction

A situation where the supply of goods exceeds demand, often leading to economic downturns.

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power.

Deflation

A decrease in the general price level of goods and services, often leading to reduced economic activity.

Grange Movement

A social and political movement among farmers in the late 19th century aimed at promoting their interests.

Populist Party

A political party formed in the 1890s that represented the interests of farmers and laborers.

Direct Election of Senators (17th Amendment)

An amendment that established the direct election of U.S. senators by popular vote.

Recall Elections

A political process through which voters can remove an elected official from office before the end of their term.

Spoils System (Patronage)

A practice in which a political party gives government jobs to its supporters as a reward for their loyalty.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

An 1883 law that established a merit-based system for federal employment and reduced the influence of patronage.

Direct Primary

An election in which voters directly select candidates for office, rather than through party leaders.

Trust-Busting Presidents

Presidents who actively sought to break up monopolies and regulate corporations to promote competition.

Graduated Income Tax (16th Amendment)

An amendment that allows the federal government to impose an income tax based on an individual's ability to pay.

Sherman Antitrust Act

An 1890 law aimed at preventing monopolies and promoting competition in business.

Clayton Antitrust Act

An 1914 law that strengthened antitrust laws and protected the rights of labor unions.

Square Deal

President Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program focused on consumer protection, natural resource conservation, and curbing corporate excess.

Temperance Movement

A social movement aimed at reducing or prohibiting the consumption of alcohol.

Prohibition (18th Amendment)

An amendment that prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S.

Women's Vote (19th Amendment)

An amendment that granted women the right to vote in the United States.

Jane Addams

A social reformer and activist known for her work in founding settlement houses and advocating for women's rights.

Settlement Houses

Community centers established in urban areas to provide social services and education to immigrants and the poor.

Ida B. Wells

An African American journalist and activist known for her anti-lynching campaigns and advocacy for civil rights.

Booker T. Washington

An African American educator and leader who advocated for vocational education and economic self-reliance.

W.E.B. DuBois

An African American sociologist and civil rights activist who co-founded the NAACP and advocated for political and social equality.

Muckrakers

Journalists and writers who exposed corruption and social injustices in the early 20th century.

Ida Tarbell

A muckraking journalist known for her investigative work on the Standard Oil Company.