Jim Crow

Jim Crow

A policy of racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. Appeared around the late 19th century following the reconstruction era. Jim crow policy stripped black voters of basic civil rights. It was a historical significant because it shows white supremacy and inequality across the south.

Eugenics

A popular movement aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human population through forced sterilization and selective breeding. It was really popular during the progressive era, early 20th century. It targeted marginalized groups such as the poor and minorities. It has historical significant because it led to the forced sterilization of over 60,000 Americans and influenced anti immigrant legislation

Buck v. Bell

A landmark US supreme court case during 1927 regarding sterilization laws. Originated in virginial where a young women challenged the states right to forcibly sterilize her. The ruling legally legitimized the eugenics movement. Historically significant because it shows progressive era obsession with science and social engineering. This paved way for 100000+ forced sterilizations.

Turner Thesis

A historical essay delivered at chicago around late 1800s. Turner argued that moving west and conquering the wild frontier is what made Americans independent bur no more open frontier left to settle. This idea is important because it made Americans worry that their national identity would be lost w/ no new land to conquer. This fear helped pus the US to start taking over islands like hawaii

Teller Amendment

A special promose made by US congress around late 1800s. Passed before US went to war with spain over cuba. It promised the world that America would not take over cuba once the war is won. Told that US military would leave the island as soon as the cuban people were free. It is impotant because it was meant to show that America was fighting for freedom.

Platt Amendment

A law passed in 1900s that became part of Cuba’s new constitution. It replaced teller amendment and gave US massive control over Cuba. Stated that the US military can invade cuba whenever and force cuba to lease land. This law is important because it proved that america was becoming one with extreme power.

Spanish-American War

A war fought between the US and Spain in 1898. Happened mostly in Cuba and the Philippines after American battleship exploded in Cuban harbor. Important because it ended Spain’s old empire and turned America into a global superpower.

Philippine American War

A bloody war from late 1800 to early 1900 between the us and Filipino fighters. The war started because US bought the Philippines from Spain instead of letting the people rule themselves. The fight turned brutal and many innocent civilians died. This is important because it showed American expansion and a violent war.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A law created around the late 1800s. Created because white workers blamed the Chinese immigrants for taking away their jobs and lowering wages. This law banned all new Chinese people from entering the US and those already living here to be unable to become citizens. Important because it was the first time in US history to ban a specific group based on their race. Aimed at keeping foreigners out of the US.

Geary Act

A strict law passed in late 1800s to extend the Chinese exclusion act by another 10 years. Requires Chinese residents living in US to carry a special identity card. If caught without this card, face deportation. important because it created the country’s first large scale government system to watch an immigrant group and stripped Chinese people of their basic legal rights and treated them like a criminal.

Fong Yue Ting v. United States

A case around late 1800s. Started when 3 Chinese men were arrested and faced being deported due to not carrying identity cards. Ruled that federal government has right to deport immigrants whenever they want. This decision is important because it gives congress unlimited power over immigration laws.

Wilmington Insurrection

A overthrow of a city government in NC around late 1800s. A large mob of white supremacists used weapons to force the legally elected city leaders out of office. The mob killed a lot of black citizens and driving them away. This event is historically important because it was the only successfully overthrown violence to make U S history

Plessy v. Ferguson

A supreme court cased decided in late 1800s. Started when a man named homer sat in a train car reserved for only white passengers as someone who was partly black. The court ruled against him creating the famous phrase “separate but equal.” Important because it gave the government official blessing to racial segregation.

Black Codes

A restrictive law passed by southern state right after the civil war ended. This law basically controls free African Americans and force them to work to gain very little currency. Code made it illegal for black people to buy land, vote, etc. This is important in history because it shows that the south still refused to treat blacks as equal.

Williams v. Mississippi

A supreme court case around late 1800s (1898). When a black man named henry argued that Mississippi’s voting laws were unfair because it kept black people off of voting booth. The court ruled against them saying the laws were legal because actual law doesn’t mention race. important to history because it allowed south to loophole laws against black people.

Civil rights cases

Five different cases combined since it was similar and went to court. The court compared it to an older law saying that private businesses cannot discriminate based on race. Ruled the law unconstitutional saying the 14th amendment only stops government from discriminating not private owners. This decision is important because it stopped the federal government from protecting black citizens from racism everyday .

Populist Party (people party)

The Populist Party, also called the People's Party, was a powerful third-party movement that formed in the early 1890s. It was started by struggling farmers from the West and South who were angry at greedy railroads, powerful banks, and big corporations. They demanded changes like an income tax, the direct election of senators, and government ownership of railroads to help regular working families. This party is historically important because it brought millions of working-class people together to fight economic unfairness. Even though the party eventually faded away, almost all of their ideas were later turned into real laws.

Convict Leasing

A cruel labor system used across the south from late 1800s to early 1900s. This system states that southern states rented out prisoners to do labor for a fee. The prisoners were almost all black men who were forced to work for no pay in highly dangerous areas. This system is historically important because it acted as a legal replacement of slavery.

Square Deal

President Theodore Roosevelt’s domestic plan for the country during his presidency during early 1900s. Focusing on protecting consumers, controlling massive corporations, and conserving nature. He used government power to break up harmful monopolies. This is important because it changed the role of the american president.

Roosevelt Corollary

The Roosevelt Corollary was a 1904 addition to the Monroe Doctrine articulated by President Theodore Roosevelt. It declared that the U.S. would intervene in Latin American affairs as an "international police power" to prevent European nations from collecting debts by force and to maintain regional stability.

Social Darwinism

A popular theory in the late 1800s that took ideas about evolution and applied them to human society. Thinkers argued that wealth and success were a struggle for survival meaning the rich was naturally the fittest humans. believed the government should never help pore people and it was important in history because it gave rich people a perfect excuse to exploit workers and pay low wages.

Robber Barons

A negative nickname given to rich business owners in late 1800s. Calling them ruthless because of them wiping out competitions and crushing labor unions

Civil War Amendments (13, 14, 15)

Ratified during the mid 1800s and also known as the reconstruction amendments. These amendments ended slavery in the US, ensured citizenship, and also due process and “equal protection of laws".” It was very important as these rights are the foundational pillars of modern civil rights in the US

Wounded Knee Massacre

The slaughter of 150+ men, women, and children by the US army at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. This was due to US soldier trying to arrest Sitting Bull, and ending up shooting and killing him. This tragedy is widely known as the end of the frontier and Native American resistance against US colonization.

Ida B. Wells

She was a journalist and civil right pioneer who led an international crusade against lynching in the mid 1900s. She fought tirelessly for women’s suffrage and racial equality. She is important in history for exposing the truth about lynching, and utilizing the power of the press.

New Freedom/New Nationalism

This term was promoted by Roosevelt and the progressive party. Says that big business is part of modern life so the federal government needs to create powerful regulations to control giant corporations.

Banana Wars

U.S military intervention in central america and the caribbean to protect commercial profits of powerful american corporations. This was between late 1800s to early 1900s. This marked agressive U.S economic imperialism.

Robber Barrons

A bad term used by social critics to describe ultra wealthy and unethical American businessman’s who exploited workers. This was during the glided age. This is historically significant because it was a moment that triggered massive public backlash.

Social Gospel

Peace Policy

Dawes Act

Mississippi Plan

Jones v. U.S

Settlement Houses

Radical Reconstruction