US history reading quiz 2

populist party

an organization committed to a radical restructuring of American society and an end to laissez-faire

william jennings bryan

A major Populist and Democratic politician who ran for president in 1896. He opposed the gold standard and supported using silver to make money more available to poorer Americans

frontier thesis

Frederick Jackson Turner's idea that the American frontier was essential to American history because it helped create American democracy and culture and gave people opportunities for a fresh start

utopia

A supposedly perfect society without the problems and flaws found in the real world. Progressives believed society could potentially be transformed into a utopia.

white mans burden

The belief that white people had a responsibility to colonize and govern supposedly “lesser” races in order to help or civilize them

spanish american war

A war between the United States and Spain in 1898. The U.S. defeated Spain, Cuba gained independence, and the United States took control of former Spanish territories such as the Philippines.

fordism

Henry Ford's system combining mass production and mass consumption, supported by higher wages that allowed workers to purchase consumer goods

social gospel

A Progressive movement that emphasized using government action to address poverty, corruption, and social problems and promote social justice.

pure food and drug act

A Progressive Era law supported by Theodore Roosevelt that created health and safety regulations and inspectors to ensure food and other products were produced under sanitary conditions.

new nationalism

Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive political platform during the 1912 election. It supported adapting government and society to modern conditions and using government to address problems such as inequality and unfair treatment of workers.

new freedom

Woodrow Wilson's Progressive political platform during the 1912 election. Wilson wanted government to evolve, strengthen the presidency, and place more power in administrative experts.

theodore teddy roosevelt

Progressive Republican president who believed government should act as an “honest broker” between labor and business. He supported regulating big businesses, breaking up monopolies, and conservation.

woodrow wilson

Progressive Democrat and president who believed government needed to evolve with modern society. He supported a stronger presidency and an administrative state run by government experts.

john muir

Founder of the Sierra Club and an important figure in the conservation movement. He supported protecting natural resources and setting aside government land for national parks.

honest broker

Theodore Roosevelt's idea that the government should act as a referee between labor and capital, rather than automatically supporting either workers or businesses.

social darwinism (progessive era)

The belief that government could actively shape human evolution and help create a supposedly “perfect” human being. This idea was connected to eugenics

buck v bell

An 8–1 Supreme Court decision that upheld Virginia's compulsory sterilization law, allowing the government to sterilize people it considered “unfit.”

the black stork

A movie based on the controversy surrounding doctor Harry Haiselden and his decision not to save a sickly baby. The film presented Haiselden as a hero and promoted ideas associated with eugenics