Understanding Human Differences - Chapter 5: Race and Oppression

Vocabulary flashcards covering key historical concepts, laws, leaders, and events related to the experiences of Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans.

Iroquois League

A Native American governance structure borrowed by Benjamin Franklin to create his Albany Plan, which became the basis for the Articles of Confederation.

Indian Sovereignty

A principle affirming the legal right of Indian nations to define themselves on their own terms and to behave as unique cultural and legal entities.

Treaty

A legal document negotiated between two or more sovereign nations.

Booker T. Washington

An African American leader who founded Tuskegee and trained Black people primarily for menial jobs.

W.E.B. Du Bois

An African American leader who advocated for stronger academic education for Black citizens.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Federal legislation that forbade racial discrimination in public accommodations, federally assisted programs, public facilities, and education.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Federal legislation enacted to protect Black voting rights in the United States.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court decision that declared racial segregation in schools to be unconstitutional.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Laws enacted in 1882, 1892, and 1902 that permanently outlawed Chinese immigration to the United States.

Gentleman's Agreement of 1908

An agreement in which Japan agreed to end Japanese immigration to the U.S., with exceptions for family members and Picture Brides.

Picture Brides

A matchmaking mechanism permitted under the Gentleman's Agreement of 1908 between Japanese men residing in the U.S. and families in Japan.

Nisei

Second-generation Japanese individuals born in the U.S. who were American citizens by birth and allowed to purchase or lease land in their names.

Model Minority Myth

A stereotype using Asian American achievements to argue that race does not prevent hard workers from succeeding, serving as a distraction from ongoing racial discrimination.

Bracero Program

A World War II program in which the U.S. government imported agricultural and manual labor workers from Mexico.

Zoot Suit Riots

Wartime conflicts in Los Angeles where American servicemen assaulted Mexican youth wearing Zoot Suits.

Jones Act of 1917

Legislation that gave Puerto Ricans the option to become American citizens.

Operation Bootstrap

An economic development program in Puerto Rico that created 140,000 jobs, expanded tourism, and raised average personal income from $118 in 1940 to $1200 in 1970.

League of United Latin American Citizens

An organization that encouraged Latinos to become U.S. citizens.