US History Louisiana LEAP 2025 Review Terms

Interstate Commerce Commission

a former independent federal agency that supervised and set rates for carriers that transported goods and people between states

Plessy v. Ferguson

A 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal

Interstate Commerce Act

Created at the request of Populists which regulated Railroads.

Ghost Dance

a religious dance of native Americans looking for communication with the dead

Cornelius Vanderbilt

United States financier who accumulated great wealth from railroad and shipping businesses (1794-1877)

Andrew Carnegie

United States industrialist and philanthropist who endowed education and public libraries and research trusts (1835-1919)

John D. Rockefeller

Was an American industrialist and philanthropist. Revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of modern philanthropy.

robber barons

Rich guys who made money through immoral means.

Standard Oil Company

Founded by John D. Rockefeller. Largest unit in the American oil industry in 1881. Known as A.D. Trust, it was outlawed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1899. Replaced by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey.

Knights of Labor

1st effort to create National union. Open to everyone but lawyers and bankers. Vague program, no clear goals, weak leadership and organization. Failed

American Federation of Labor

a federation of North American labor unions that merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877

Railroad strike that crippled the US first nationwide strike, 10 governors used their militias to break

laissez faire

the doctrine that government should not interfere in commercial affairs

social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.

trickle down theory

decreased income taxes for the wealthy would promote business and therefore the whole economy

Jane Addams

the founder of Hull House, which provided English lessons for immigrants, daycares, and child care classes

William Randolph Hearst

United States newspaper publisher whose introduction of large headlines and sensational reporting changed American journalism (1863-1951)

Woman's Christian Temperance Union

an organization that blamed alcohol for crime, poverty, and violence against women and children, and fought against it.

The Anti-Saloon League

..., Started in the 1890s and was against saloons and drinking

The Gilded Age

1877-1900; rapid industrialization, urbanization, immigration; rise of big business and the labor movement; the Populist movement

Chinese Exclusion Act

(1882) Denied any additional Chinese laborers to enter the country while allowing students and merchants to immigrate.

Tammany Hall

a political organization within the Democratic Party in New York city (late 1800's and early 1900's) seeking political control by corruption and bossism

Social Gospel

Movement led by Washington Gladden - taught religion and human dignity would help the middle class over come problems of industrialization

ghettos

city slum areas inhabited by minority groups living there due to social or economic pressures

tenement

a rundown apartment house barely meeting minimal standards

political machines

Corrupt organized groups that controlled political parties in the cities. A boss leads the machine and attempts to grab more votes for his party.

temperance

restraint or moderation, especially in regards to alcohol or food

farmer's alliance

A Farmers' organization founded in late 1870s; worked for lower railroad freight rates, lower interest rates, and a change in the governments tight money policy

populist party

U.S. political party formed in 1892 representing mainly farmers, favoring free coinage of silver and government control of railroads and other monopolies

gold bug

Democrats and Republicans opposed to free silver and who supported the gold standard because tehy feared implications to currency value with free silver.

muckrakers

This term applies to newspaper reporters and other writers who pointed out the social problems of the era of big business. The term was first given to them by Theodore Roosevelt.

northern securities company

A railroad monopoly formed by J.P. Morgan and James J. Hill which violated Sherman Antitrust Act

federal trade commission

an independent agency of the United States fedeal government that maintains fair and free competition

national american women suffrage association

organization formed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others to promote the vote for women

national women's party

a women's organization founded in 1916 by Alice Paul that fought for women's rights during the early 20th century in the United States, particularly for the right to vote on the same terms as men

niagara movement

in 1905 Dubois started this movement at Niagara Falls, and four years later joined with white progressives sympathetic to their cause to form NAACP, the new organization later led to the drive for equal rights.

league of women voters

League formed in 1920 advocating for women's rights, among them the right for women to serve on juries and equal pay laws

National Association for the advancement of colored people (NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was a civil rights organization for ethnic minorities. This is the largest organization in the US, so it has a lot of influence, meaning that minorities had more hope for equality.

panic of 1893

Serious economic depression beginning in 1893. Began due to rail road companies over-extending themselves, causing bank failures. Was the worst economic collapse in the history of the country until that point, and, some say, as bad as the Great Depression of the 1930s.

"cross of gold" speech

An impassioned address by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Deomcratic Convention, in which he attacked the "gold bugs" who insisted that U.S. currency be backed only with gold.

progressive era

time at the turn of the 20th century in which groups sought to reform America economically, socially, and politically

great migration

movement of over 300,000 African American from the rural south into Northern cities between 1914 and 1920

pendleton civil service act of 1881

This act reformed the corrupt patronage system of obtaining civil service jobs. No longer could political cronyism secure government positions - all potential civil service employees had to take an exam to prove their worthiness.

seventeenth amendment

allowed americans to vote directly for U.S senators

square deal

Progressive concept by Roosevelt that would help capital, labor, and the public. It called for control of corporations, consumer protection, and conservation of natural resources. It denounced special treatment for the large capitalists and is the essential element to his trust-busting attitude. This deal embodied the belief that all corporations must serve the general public good.

elkins act

(1903) gave the Interstate Commerce Commission more power to control railroads from giving preferences to certain customers

hepburn act

This 1906 law used the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate the maximum charge that railroads to place on shipping goods.

the Jungle

novel by Upton Sinclair which called for reform in the meat-packing industry

Pure Food and Drug Act

the act that prohibited the manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure of falsely labeled food and drugs

Meat Inspection Act

=Law that authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to order meat inspections and condemn any meat product found unfit for human consumption.

Mann-elkins act

=passed in 1910, it empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) for the first time to initiate rate changes, extend regulation to telephone and telegraph companies and set up a Commerce Court to expedite appeals from the ICC rulings

16th amendment

==Amendment to the United States Constitution (1913) gave Congress the power to tax income.

underwood tariff bill

=Congressional measure to provide the a substantial reduction of rates, and the first ever implementation of a graduated income tax on incomes $3000+

federal reserve act

=a 1913 law that set up a system of federal banks and gave government the power to control the money supply

federal reserve system

=the central bank of the United States

clayton antitrust act

New antitrust legislation constructed to remedy deficiencies of the Sherman Antitrust Act, namely, it's effectiveness against labor unions

nineteenth amendment

granted women the right to vote in 1920

birth of a nation

Controversial but highly influential and innovative silent film directed by D.W. Griffith. It demonstrated the power of film propaganda and revived the KKK.

triangle shirtwaist factory

this factory kept doors locked to avoid theft trapping workers inside when a fire erupted; alerted reformers to the terrible conditions of industrial workers

initiative, referendum, and recall

These were three changes intended to increase the individual voter's influence in government. It gives a person the power to propose laws, states that certain laws passed by the state legislature do not take effect unless they are approved by a majority of the citizens, and strengthens the control of voters over elected officials.

spoils system

the system of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power

patronage

(politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

direct primaries

an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election

Jacob Coxey

Populist who led Coxey's Army in a march on Washington DC in 1894 to seek government jobs for the unemployed.

Theodore Roosevelt

26th President of the United States

Ida Tarbell

A leading muckraker and magazine editor, she exposed the corruption of the oil industry with her 1904 work A History of Standard Oil.

Jacob Riis

Early 1900's muckraker who exposed social and political evils in the U.S. with his novel "How The Other Half Lives"; exposed the poor conditions of the poor tenements in NYC and Hell's Kitchen

Samuel Gompers

United States labor leader (born in England) who was president of the American Federation of Labor from 1886 to 1924 (1850-1924)

Mother Jones

United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)

Carrie Chapman Catt

Spoke powerfully in favor of suffrage, worked as a school principal and a reporter ., became head of the National American Woman Suffrage, an inspiried speaker and abrilliant organizer. Devised a detailed battle plan for fighting the war of suffrage.

Booker T. Washington

African American progressive who supported segregation and demanded that African American better themselves individually to achieve equality.

W.E.B. Du Bois

fought for African American rights. Helped to found Niagra Movement in 1905 to fight for and establish equal rights. This movement later led to the establishment of the NAACP

Archduke Francis Ferdinand

heir to the throne of Austria Hungary; assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a bosnian serb.; sparked WWI

Rough Riders

Volunteer soldiers led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish American War

Great White Fleet

1907-1909 - Roosevelt sent the Navy on a world tour to show the world the U.S. naval power. Also to pressure Japan into the "Gentlemen's Agreement."

Committee on Public Information

It was headed by George Creel. The purpose of this committee was to mobilize people's minds for war, both in America and abroad. Tried to get the entire U.S. public to support U.S. involvement in WWI. Creel's organization, employed some 150,000 workers at home and oversees. He proved that words were indeed weapons.

Big Four

Woodrow Wilson (US president), Georges Clemenceau (French premier), David Lloyd George (British prime minister), Vittorio Orlando (Italian prime minister)

League of Nations

an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations

Socialists

person who supports community ownership of property and the sharing of all profits

Seward's Folly or Seward's Icebox

William Seward (secretary of State) bought Alaska from the Russians in 1867 in an attempt to spread American influence. He was criticized by the press for his choice, but public attitude changed after the discovery of gold.

Spanish-American War

In 1898, a conflict between the United States and Spain, in which the U.S. supported the Cubans' fight for independence

Boxer Rebellion

A 1900 Uprising in China aimed at ending foreign influence in the country.

Gentleman's Agreement

an informal agreement between the United States and the Empire of Japan whereby the U.S. would not impose restriction on Japanese immigration or students, and Japan would not allow further immigration to the U.S.

Great War

a war between the allies (Russia, France, British Empire, Italy, United States, Japan, Rumania, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Montenegro) and the central powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria) from 1914 to 1918

Communist Revolution

A political revolution in Russia beginning in 1917. The Bolsheviks, now known as Communists, overthrew Czar Nicholas II and created a socialist government based upon the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Also know as the Bolshevik Revolution.

Red Scare

a period of general fear of communists

Teller Amendment

Legislation that promised the US would not annex Cuba after winning the Spanish-American war

Platt Amendment

Legislation that severely restricted Cuba's sovereignty and gave the US the right to intervene if Cuba got into trouble

Open Door Policy

A policy proposed by the US in 1899, under which ALL nations would have equal opportunities to trade in China.

Roosevelt Corollary

Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force

Sussex Pledge

In response to the German torpedoes Sussex steamer, Wilson told Germany that if they didnt stop sinking merchant ships with warning, he would break diplomatic relations.

Fourteen Points

President Woodrow Wilson's plan for a just world bases on the Allies' aims to end World War I

No secret treaties, freedom of the seas, no tariffs, reduce

arms, adjust colonial claims, establish an association of

nations

Selective Services Act

This 1917 law provided for the registration of all American men between the ages of 21 and 30 for a military draft. The age limits were later changed to 18 and 45.

Espionage Act

This law, passed after the United States entered WWI, imposed sentences of up to twenty years on anyone found guilty of aiding the enemy, obstructing recruitment of soldiers, or encouraging disloyalty. It allowed the postmaster general to remove from the mail any materials that incited treason or insurrection.

Sedition Act

made it a crime to write, print, utter, or publish criticism of the president of government

Schenck vs United States

under the Espionage Act of 1917, a person can not use the first ammendment as protection when speaking against the US government and military

jingoism

extreme, chauvinistic patriotism, often favoring an aggressive, warlike foreign policy

yellow journalism

sensationalist journalism

dollar diplomacy

diplomacy influenced by economic considerations

moral diplomacy

foreign policy proposed by President Wilson to condemn imperialism, spread democracy, and promote peace