Key Terms in U.S. History and Social Movements

Activism

Vigorous campaigning by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks to bring about social change, such as ending segregation.

Aggregate

The mass or group of diverse populations that came together to form the rapidly growing U.S. population during the 19th century.

Agrarian

The focus on agriculture and farmers' way of life, as envisioned by Thomas Jefferson.

Arable

The type of land, fit for growing crops, offered to settlers by the Homestead Act of 1862 to encourage westward expansion.

Assimilation

The government policy of forcing Native American children into boarding schools to absorb them into Euro-American culture.

Bipartisan

Cooperation across party lines, as seen in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Burgeoning

The rapid growth and expansion of the U.S. industrial economy during the late 19th century.

Chattel

The dehumanizing practice of treating enslaved Africans in the American South as property, bought and sold with no legal rights.

Coalesced

The process of the thirteen colonies uniting to form a single front against British rule during the American Revolution.

Coup d'état

A sudden, decisive political action to overthrow a government, such as U.S.-backed interventions in Latin America during the Cold War.

De-humanizing

The treatment of enslaved people as property and the use of racial slurs that strips individuals of their dignity.

Demographic

The population changes caused by the Great Migration, which shifted the statistical characteristics of the U.S. population.

Dissemination

The act of spreading information widely, as seen with abolitionist literature like The Liberator.

Evangelism

The religious zeal exhibited during the Second Great Awakening by preachers traveling to convert individuals and inspire social reform.

Folk art

Quilts made by enslaved African Americans that reflect cultural heritage and community life.

Gerry-mandering

The practice of redrawing electoral districts to give one political party an unfair advantage, as seen in Massachusetts in 1812.

Grassroots

A type of movement that starts at the community level, exemplified by the Civil Rights Movement driven by local organizations like the SNCC.

Homogenous

The idea of a uniform American culture challenged during the Gilded Age by the arrival of millions of immigrants.

Humanitarian

Efforts to promote human welfare, as exemplified by Jane Addams founding Hull House to aid immigrants and the poor.

Ideology

The competing systems of ideas and ideals represented by capitalism and communism during the Cold War.

Imperialism

The U.S. acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.

Insurrection

A type of violent rebellion, exemplified by the Whiskey Rebellion, which was an uprising by farmers against a federal tax.

Lobbying

The practice by corporations like Standard Oil to influence lawmakers to secure favorable policies during the Gilded Age.

Martial Law

The temporary imposition of military authority in parts of the South after the Civil War to enforce federal policies.

Monopoly

The exclusive control of entire industries, as seen with companies like Carnegie Steel and Standard Oil in the late 19th century.

Oligarchy

The Southern plantation system was controlled by a small elite of wealthy landowners.

Precedent

The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison established judicial review.

Profiteering

During World War I, some businesses charged excessively high prices for essential goods.

Ratification

The U.S. Constitution required approval by nine of the thirteen states.

Secession

In 1860-1861, eleven Southern states withdrew from the Union, forming the Confederacy.

Socio-economic

The Great Depression caused widespread hardship, affecting unemployment, poverty, and homelessness.

Stimulus

The New Deal programs of the 1930s aimed to revive the economy by creating jobs and building infrastructure.

Subjugation

The forced removal and military conquest of Native Americans during the 19th century aimed to bring them under control.

Urbanization

The late 19th century saw millions of Americans moving to cities like New York and Chicago.

Xenophobia

The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) was a result of fear and discrimination against immigrants.

Capitalism

The Industrial Revolution was fueled by private ownership and free markets.

Socialism

During the Progressive Era, some reformers advocated for government ownership of industries to reduce inequality.

Communism

The Cold War was a conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, which sought to create a classless society.

Covert

During the Cold War, the CIA conducted secret operations to combat communism.

Overt

The Marshall Plan was a public effort to rebuild Europe after World War II.

Multilateral

The United Nations is an alliance of multiple countries working toward common goals.

Unilateral

The Monroe Doctrine was a declaration by the U.S. without involving other nations.

Conservative

The Reagan Revolution of the 1980s emphasized limited government and traditional values.

Liberal

The New Deal programs expanded the role of government in addressing economic and social problems.

Cosmopolitan

New York City in the early 20th century attracted people from around the world, fostering cultural diversity.

Parochial

Some Americans in the 1920s held narrow views, opposing immigration and global engagement.

Fundamentalism

The Scopes Trial highlighted the clash between traditional religious beliefs and modern science.

Didactic

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin aimed to teach readers about the evils of slavery.

Immigration

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw millions of Europeans coming to the U.S.

Emigration

During the Irish Potato Famine, many Irish people left their homeland to settle in the U.S.

Humanitarian

During World War II, organizations like the Red Cross provided aid to refugees and prisoners of war.

Insurrection

The January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.