APUSH 250-700

Gadsden Purchase

The 1853 treaty where the U.S. bought parts of southern Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico for the southern transcontinental railroad.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Law allowing popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, leading to sectional disagreements and the formation of the Republican Party.

Bleeding Kansas

Period of violence in Kansas due to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, with pro and anti-slavery settlers fighting for control.

John Brown

Led the Pottawatomie Massacre in 1856, part of Bleeding Kansas, and later the raid on Harpers Ferry.

Dred Scott v

1857 Supreme Court decision upholding slavery in U.S. territories and denying black citizenship.

Abraham Lincoln

Led the U.S. through the Civil War, preserved the Union, abolished slavery, and modernized the economy.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Focused on slavery's impact on American politics, including the "House-Divided" Speech in 1858.

Freeport Doctrine

Stephen Douglas' response allowing territories to exclude slavery by not passing laws supporting it.

John Brown's attack on Harper's Ferry

Electrified the South, intensified fears of slave rebellions, and created a martyr for abolitionists.

Election of 1860

Split the Democratic Party over popular sovereignty, leading to secession and the formation of the Confederate States of America.

Crittenden Compromise

Unsuccessful proposal to enshrine slavery in the U.S. Constitution, introduced in 1860.

Fort Sumter

South Carolina location where Confederate forces fired the first shots of the Civil War in 1861, igniting the conflict.

Causes of the Civil War

Mainly slavery, states vs. federal rights, economics, and the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

Border States

Slave states that did not secede during the formation of the Confederacy in 1860-1861.

First Battle of Bull Run

First major battle of the Civil War, dispelling Northern illusions of a swift victory.

Jefferson Davis and Alexander P

President and Vice President of the Confederate States of America, respectively.

Robert E

Confederate General involved in many battles, including defeats at Antietam and Gettysburg.

Antietam

Bloodiest single-day battle in American history in 1862, leading to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

Ulysses S

Union General who defeated Lee at Appomattox Court House, ending the Civil War, and later became President.

Lincoln's use of wartime powers

Included suspending habeas corpus, conscription, taxes, and military courts during the Civil War.

Spanish-American War

Conflict between the U.S and Spain in 1898, caused by support for Cuban and Filipino independence and the explosion of the USS Maine.

De Lôme Letter

Private letter criticizing President McKinley, published in American newspapers, fueling support for war with Spain.

Maine Explosion

1898 explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor, leading to assumptions of Spanish involvement and contributing to the Spanish-American War.

Teller Amendment

U.S declaration of war against Spain amendment, ensuring Cuba's independence post-war.

Theodore Roosevelt

Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Cuban revolution, played a role in expanding American influence.

Rough Riders

Volunteer cavalry led by Roosevelt, prominent in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Hawaii, Liliuokalani

Queen of Hawaii who faced American annexation efforts due to economic interests.

Treaty of Paris, 1899

Ended the Spanish-American War, granting independence to Cuba and ceding territories to the U.S.

Philippine Annexation and Rebellion

Conflict between the U.S and the Philippines post-annexation, lasting from 1898 to 1902.

Anti-Imperialist League

Opposed U.S annexation, lost the political fight against the annexation of the Philippines.

Platt Amendment (1901)

Gave the U.S control over Cuban foreign policy and the right to intervene in Cuba.

Open Door Policy

U.S policy seeking access to China and equal privileges for all nations in China.

Boxer Rebellion

Chinese revolt against foreigners, particularly Westerners, suppressed by an international military force.

“Speak softly and carry a big stick”

Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy of negotiation backed by military strength.

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

President Teddy Roosevelt's extension of the Monroe Doctrine, allowing the U.S to intervene in the affairs of neighboring countries to maintain order and sovereignty.

Gentlemen’s Agreement

Informal agreement between the U.S and Japan in 1907-08 to ease tensions, involving the repeal of Japanese-American school segregation in exchange for Japan restricting emigration passports.

Dollar Diplomacy

President Taft's policy to advance U.S economic interests overseas by extending American investments, notably seen in the Caribbean through financial leverage.

Mexican Expeditionary Force, John J

American expeditionary force led by General Pershing into Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa, following clashes during the Mexican Revolution.

Progressivism

Political movement prominent in the 1916 Presidential Campaign, with Wilson's conservative and progressive sides differing on war and humanitarian approaches.

Muckrakers

Authors and journalists in the early 20th century exposing political and economic corruption, leading to reforms and federal laws like the Pure Food & Drug Act.

Direct primary

Voting process allowing voters to indicate their party's candidate preference for an upcoming election.

Robert LaFollette, The Wisconsin Idea

Political reforms advocated by Robert M. La Follette, Sr., focusing on progressive reforms in Wisconsin.

17th Amendment – Direct election of senators

Amendment enabling the direct election of senators by the voting public during elections.

Initiative, referendum, recall

Powers reserved for voters to propose or repeal legislation and remove elected officials from office through petition.

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

A revolutionary syndicalist labor union founded in Chicago in 1905, aiming to unite all working-class people into "one big union" organized by industry.

New Nationalism v

Contrasts Wilson's emphasis on small enterprise and free markets with Roosevelt's support for trust consolidation and federal regulation.

Underwood Tariff (1913)

U.S. legislation that reduced average tariff rates and reintroduced a federal income tax in 1913.

Federal Reserve Act (1914)

Legislation creating the Federal Reserve System to oversee monetary policy and establish economic stability in the U.S.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914)

Ensures fair competition in the marketplace and regulates company behavior to promote lower prices, quality, innovation, and choice.

Federal Trade Commission

Independent U.S. agency enforcing civil antitrust law and promoting consumer protection alongside the Department of Justice Antitrust Division.

Marshall Plan

American initiative post-WWII to aid Europe economically and prevent the spread of Soviet Communism.

Berlin Airlift

327-day operation to supply West Berlin after Soviet blockade in 1948.

NATO; Warsaw Pact

NATO was a defense alliance, Warsaw Pact a counter by Communist countries.

NSC-68, Arms race

Commitment to large military and nuclear weapons development.

Korean War; UN police action

Conflict between North and South Korea with UN involvement.

HUAC

Investigating committee on un-American propaganda and communist influence.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg case

Couple accused of spying for Soviets and executed in 1953.

Joseph McCarthy; McCarthyism

Campaign using unfair allegations and investigations.

Eisenhower Years, 1952-1960

Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency with "Modern Republicanism."

Federal Highway Act (1956)

Authorized the construction of highways across the U.S.

John Foster Dulles, brinkmanship

Advocated aggressive stance against Communism.

Dien Bien Phu; Geneva Accords

Split Vietnam into North and South after the First Indochina War.

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese communist revolutionary and politician.

Domino theory

Geopolitical theory suggesting spread of democracy in neighboring countries.

Hungarian Revolt (1956)

Attempted revolution against Hungarian government and Soviet influence.

Sputnik

First artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

NASA

U.S. agency responsible for space and aeronautics research.

Fidel Castro

Cuban revolutionary and politician leading Cuba from 1959 to 2008.

Military-Industrial Complex

Relationship between government, military, and businesses.

Brown v

Ruled state-sanctioned school segregation unconstitutional.

Nuclear accidents

Resulted in regulation on the Nuclear Industry and environmental contamination.

Clean Air Act (1970)

Supreme Court ruling that classified Greenhouse Gases as pollutants, leading to pollution control measures.

Clean Water Act (1972)

Legislation ensuring Americans' access to clean water and industry regulation.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency established under Richard Nixon to oversee environmental regulations.

Reaganomics

Economic policies by Ronald Reagan involving tax cuts for the wealthy and Trickle Down Economics.

Iran-contra scandal

Involved diverting funds from weapon sales to Iran to support the Contras in Nicaragua.

Sandinistas and contras

Conflict between the Sandinistas and Contras in Nicaragua over government control.

Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars")

Reagan's plan for space-based lasers to intercept Russian missiles.

Berlin Wall's fall

The dismantling of the Berlin Wall under Mikhal Gorbechov's leadership.

Gulf War; Operation Desert Storm

Military intervention to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

Whitewater; Monica Lewinsky

Scandals involving Bill Clinton, including the Monica Lewinsky affair.

Welfare reform

Changes to social welfare programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Food Stamps aimed at benefiting Americans.