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13th Amendment

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime (1865).

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and provided equal protection under the law (1868).

15th Amendment

Prohibited federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous servitude (1870).

16th Amendment

Gave Congress the power to levy a federal income tax (1913).

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote (1913).

18th Amendment

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages (1919); later repealed.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote (1920).

20th Amendment

Changed the dates of congressional and presidential terms; known as the “Lame Duck” Amendment (1933).

21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition (1933).

Adams-Onis Treaty

1819 treaty in which Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and set boundaries between the U.S. and Spanish territories.

Admiral Chester Nimitz

Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II; key leader in the naval battles of the Pacific.

Affirmative Action

Policy aimed at increasing opportunities for historically marginalized groups in education and employment.

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

New Deal program that paid farmers to reduce crop production to raise prices (1933).

Al Capone/Organized Crime

Infamous gangster during Prohibition who led a criminal empire in Chicago; symbolized the rise of organized crime.

Albany Plan

Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies; it was rejected.

Alien & Sedition Acts

1798 laws under President John Adams that restricted speech critical of the government and allowed deportation of non-citizens.

Al Qaeda

Islamist extremist terrorist organization responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks; founded by Osama bin Laden.

American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

U.S. troops sent to Europe during World War I under General John J. Pershing.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Labor union founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers, focused on skilled workers and better wages/conditions.

American Indian Movement (AIM)

Activist group founded in 1968 to address issues of Native American rights and sovereignty.

American Liberty League

Conservative group formed in the 1930s to oppose Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies.

Americans with Disabilities Act

1990 law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, and more.

Annexation of Texas

The 1845 incorporation of the Republic of Texas into the United States, leading to tensions with Mexico.

Anne Hutchinson

Puritan dissenter in Massachusetts who advocated religious freedom and was banished for challenging church authority.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the U.S. Constitution’s ratification; favored strong state governments and a Bill of Rights.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution (1781–1789); created a weak central government with limited powers.

Atlanta Compromise

1895 speech by Booker T. Washington promoting vocational education and economic self-reliance for Black Americans.

Atlantic Charter

1941 agreement between FDR and Churchill outlining post-WWII goals like self-determination and free trade.

Bank holiday

FDR’s 1933 emergency measure to close banks temporarily and restore confidence during the Great Depression.

Bank of the United States

National bank proposed by Alexander Hamilton to stabilize the economy and establish federal credit.

Battle of Midway

June 1942 WWII naval battle where the U.S. defeated Japan, marking a turning point in the Pacific Theater.

Battle of Tippecanoe

1811 conflict between U.S. forces and Native warriors led by Tecumseh’s brother; U.S. victory weakened Native resistance.

Bay of Pigs

Failed 1961 U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by exiles aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Bacon’s Rebellion

1676 revolt of Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor Berkeley’s administration and Native policy.

Babe Ruth

Legendary baseball player of the 1920s, known for his home runs and impact on popularizing the sport.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution; guaranteed individual liberties and limited federal power (1791).

Birmingham Campaign

1963 civil rights protests in Alabama, led by MLK Jr., that highlighted racial segregation and police brutality.

Black Codes

Laws passed in Southern states after the Civil War to restrict the freedom and rights of African Americans.

Black Hawk War

1832 conflict between the U.S. and Native Americans led by Black Hawk; resulted in Native defeat and land loss.

Black Panthers

Revolutionary Black nationalist and socialist organization active in the 1960s–70s; advocated for self-defense and community programs.

Black Tuesday

October 29, 1929; the stock market crash that marked the beginning of the Great Depression.

Bleeding Kansas

Violent clashes in the 1850s over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state.

Bonus Army

Group of WWI veterans who marched on Washington in 1932 demanding early payment of promised bonuses; forcibly removed.

Boston Massacre

1770 incident in which British soldiers killed five colonists during a confrontation; fueled anti-British sentiment.

Bracero Program

Agreement between the U.S. and Mexico (1942–1964) allowing Mexican laborers to work temporarily in the U.S.

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 Supreme Court decision declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Bull Moose Party

Progressive political party formed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 after splitting from the Republican Party.

Burke-Wadsworth Act

1940 law establishing the first peacetime draft in U.S. history.

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Supreme Court case that effectively resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush.

Camp David Accords

1978 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel brokered by President Jimmy Carter.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, leading to a thirteen-day standoff.

Great Depression

Severe worldwide economic depression during the 1930s, marked by high unemployment and widespread hardship.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964 congressional resolution that granted President Johnson broad powers to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.

Homestead Act

1862 law providing 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, in an effort to encourage westward expansion.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official, potentially leading to removal from office.

League of Nations

An international organization founded after World War I aimed at promoting peace but ultimately failed to prevent World War II.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies instituted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression to promote economic recovery.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the U.S., consisting of nine justices, with ultimate jurisdiction over all federal cases.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating various forms of racial discrimination in voting.