Progressive Era and World War I Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts, events, and figures from the Progressive Era and World War I, providing definitions and explanations to facilitate study for the exam.

Progressivism

A movement (1890-1920) largely made up of the middle class advocating for reforms such as women's suffrage, trust-busting, and improved working conditions.

Muckrakers

Investigative journalists of the Progressive Era who exposed societal issues and corruption, such as Jacob Riis and Upton Sinclair.

Initiative

A reform allowing individuals to propose legislation directly to voters.

Referendum

A process where voters can directly vote on a particular legislative proposal or constitutional amendment.

Recall

A political process through which voters can remove an elected official from office.

Direct Primary

A primary election where voters directly select candidates for the general election, instead of party leaders.

Muller v. Oregon (1908)

A landmark decision that upheld laws protecting female workers based on the premise of women's physical weakness.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

A tragic industrial disaster in 1911 that led to reforms in workplace safety regulations.

16th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that established a federal income tax.

17th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that mandated the direct election of U.S. senators by voters.

18th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol (Prohibition).

19th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote.

Wilson's 14 Points

A statement of principles used for peace negotiations to end World War I, emphasizing self-determination and the establishment of the League of Nations.

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret communication from Germany proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the United States, which helped spur U.S. entry into WWI.

Espionage Act (1917)

Legislation that punished individuals for anti-war activities, curtailing free speech during wartime.

Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban centers in the North for job opportunities during and after World War I.

Cash and Carry Policy

A policy allowing countries at war to purchase U.S. arms as long as they transported them on their own ships and paid in cash.

Lend-Lease Act (1941)

A U.S. policy to provide military aid to foreign nations during World War II, notably Great Britain.

Rosie the Riveter

A cultural icon representing women who worked in factories during World War II.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement in the 1920s characterized by the flourishing of African American arts, literature, and intellectual life.

Neutrality Acts (1935, 1937, 1939)

Legislation aimed to prevent American involvement in foreign conflicts by restricting arms sales and loans to warring nations.

Battle of Midway

A pivotal naval battle in June 1942 that marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

D-Day

The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, which was a significant turning point in World War II in Europe.