NW Period 7 Flashcards: 1890-1945, Progressive Era & World Wars

Open Door Policy

U.S. diplomatic approach in the late 19th and early 20th centuries advocating for equal access to trade and investment in China, particularly during the period of foreign spheres of influence.

Social Darwinism

Ideology applying Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection to human society, justifying social inequality and laissez-faire capitalism as natural and inevitable.

Spanish-American War

Conflict between the United States and Spain in 1898, resulting in American victory and acquisition of territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalist and biased reporting, often characterized by exaggeration and manipulation of facts, used by newspapers like the New York Journal and the New York World to inflame public opinion and provoke support for war during the Spanish-American War.

USS Maine

U.S. naval ship that exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, Cuba, in 1898, leading to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, though the cause of the explosion remains disputed.

Panama Canal

Waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, constructed by the United States between 1904 and 1914, facilitating maritime trade and military mobility.

Roosevelt Corollary

Addition to the Monroe Doctrine articulated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, asserting the right of the United States to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and protect American interests.

Dollar Diplomacy

Foreign policy approach under President William Howard Taft advocating for economic investment and financial leverage to promote U.S. interests abroad, particularly in Latin America and East Asia.

Queen Liliuokalani

Last monarch and queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii, overthrown in 1893 in a coup led by American settlers and eventually annexed by the United States.

Annexation of Hawaii

Formal incorporation of the Hawaiian Islands into the United States in 1898, following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and pressure from American business interests.

Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan

American naval officer and strategist, author of "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" (1890), advocating for naval expansion and the importance of naval supremacy in international relations.

White Man's Burden

Concept popularized by Rudyard Kipling's poem (1899), justifying imperialism as a duty of Western nations to uplift and civilize non-white peoples.

Jingoism

Aggressive and belligerent nationalism, often advocating for military intervention and expansionist policies, particularly evident in public sentiment leading up to the Spanish-American War.

William McKinley

25th President of the United States (1897-1901), known for his leadership during the Spanish-American War, adoption of the gold standard, and support for American expansionism.

Treaty of Paris (Spanish-American War)

Agreement signed in 1898 ending the Spanish-American War, in which Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States, and recognized Cuban independence.

Platt Amendment

Amendment to the Cuban constitution imposed by the United States in 1901, granting the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and maintain military bases, effectively making Cuba a protectorate.

Anti-Imperialist League

Organization founded in 1898 opposing American imperialism and the annexation of the Philippines, advocating for the principles of self-determination and anti-colonialism.

Muckrakers

Journalists and writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who exposed corruption, social injustices, and abuses of power in society, sparking reform movements.

17th Amendment

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1913) establishing the direct election of U.S. senators by the people of each state, rather than by state legislatures.

Initiative Process

Political reform allowing citizens to propose legislation directly through a petition process, bypassing state legislatures.

Referendum Process

Political reform allowing citizens to vote directly on proposed legislation, either accepting or rejecting laws passed by legislatures.

Direct Primary

Electoral reform allowing party members to select candidates for public office through direct voting, rather than through party conventions.

Hull House

Settlement house founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in Chicago in 1889, providing social services and education to immigrant communities.

Jane Addams:

Social reformer and leader in the settlement house movement, co-founder of Hull House and advocate for women's suffrage, peace, and social justice.

NAWSA (National American Woman Suffrage Association)

Organization formed in 1890 advocating for women's suffrage, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and others.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Tragic industrial fire in 1911 at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City, resulting in the deaths of 146 garment workers and leading to workplace safety reforms.

The Jungle

Novel by Upton Sinclair (1906) exposing the unsanitary and exploitative conditions of the meatpacking industry, leading to food safety reforms and the Meat Inspection Act.

National Consumers League

Organization founded in 1899 advocating for consumer rights, workplace safety, and fair labor practices.

Settlement Houses

Community centers in urban areas, often run by middle-class reformers, providing social services, education, and assistance to immigrant and working-class communities.

Anti-Saloon League

Temperance organization founded in 1893 advocating for prohibition of alcohol, influencing state and national policy.

Hatchet Granny

Nickname for Carrie Nation, temperance activist known for her aggressive tactics, including smashing saloons with a hatchet, in her campaign against alcohol.

Margaret Sanger

Birth control advocate and founder of the American Birth Control League (later Planned Parenthood), promoting access to contraception and women's reproductive rights.

Teddy Roosevelt

26th President of the United States (1901-1909), known for his progressive reforms, conservation efforts, and "trustbusting" policies to regulate big business.

Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt's domestic policy agenda, advocating for fairness in economic and social issues, including consumer protection, conservation, and regulation of monopolies.

Pure Food and Drug Act

Federal law passed in 1906 regulating the sale of food and drugs, requiring accurate labeling and banning the adulteration and misbranding of products.

Meat Inspection Act

Federal law passed in 1906 regulating the meatpacking industry, requiring federal inspection of meat products to ensure sanitary conditions and consumer safety.

US Forest Service

Federal agency established in 1905 under President Theodore Roosevelt to manage and conserve national forests and grasslands.

William Howard Taft

27th President of the United States (1909-1913) and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, known for his trustbusting efforts (more extreme than his predecessor, Teddy Roosevelt) and expansion of the civil service.

16th Amendment

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1913) authorizing Congress to levy an income tax on individuals and corporations.

Bull Moose Party

Progressive political party formed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, advocating for social and political reforms, including women's suffrage and labor rights.

Clayton Antitrust Act

Federal law passed in 1914 strengthening existing antitrust legislation and prohibiting unfair business practices, including price discrimination and exclusive contracts.

Woodrow Wilson

28th President of the United States (1913-1921), known for his progressive domestic policies, including the Federal Reserve System and the Clayton Antitrust Act, and for leading the country during World War I.

Federal Trade Commission

Federal agency established in 1914 to promote fair competition and consumer protection by investigating and prosecuting unfair business practices.

Federal Reserve System

Central banking system established in 1913 to regulate the nation's monetary policy, control the money supply, and stabilize the economy.

Birth of a Nation

Controversial silent film released in 1915, directed by D.W. Griffith, glorifying the Ku Klux Klan and perpetuating racist stereotypes, leading to protests and debates over censorship.

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

Civil rights organization founded in 1909, advocating for racial equality, anti-lynching laws, and voting rights for African Americans.

W.E.B. Du Bois

African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist, co-founder of the NAACP and advocate for racial equality, education, and social justice

Booker T. Washington

African American educator and leader of the Tuskegee Institute, advocating for vocational education and economic self-reliance for African Americans, but criticized for his accommodationist approach to racial segregation.

American Expeditionary Force

U.S. military force sent to Europe during World War I under the command of General John J. Pershing, contributing significantly to the Allied victory.

War Industries Board

U.S. government agency established during World War I to coordinate the production of war materials and regulate industry for maximum efficiency.

Committee on Public Information

U.S. government agency created during World War I to promote public support for the war effort through propaganda and information campaigns.

Fourteen Points

President Woodrow Wilson's post-World War I plan for peace, advocating for principles such as self-determination, disarmament, and the creation of the League of Nations.

League of Nations

International organization established after World War I to promote peace and security through collective security and diplomacy, but ultimately failed to prevent World War II.

Allied Powers (WWI)

Coalition of countries, including France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and later the United States, that fought against the Central Powers during World War I.

Central Powers (WWI)

Coalition of countries, including Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria, that fought against the Allied Powers during World War I.

Lusitania

British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, contributing to U.S. entry into World War I due to the loss of American lives.

Sussex Pledge

German promise in 1916 to stop unrestricted submarine warfare after the sinking of the Sussex ferry, helping to avert U.S. entry into World War I at the time.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Naval warfare tactic used by Germany during World War I, involving the sinking of merchant ships without warning, leading to significant loss of civilian lives and contributing to U.S. entry into the war.

Zimmermann Telegram

Secret diplomatic communication sent by Germany to Mexico in 1917, proposing a military alliance against the United States, intercepted by British intelligence and a factor in U.S. entry into World War I.

Liberty Bonds

Government bonds sold during World War I to finance the war effort, promoted through patriotic campaigns and used to raise funds from the American public.

Lever Food and Fuel Control Act

U.S. law passed in 1917 granting the government authority to regulate and ration food and fuel supplies during World War I.

National Security League

American organization founded during World War I to promote military preparedness and patriotism, advocating for a strong national defense and support for the war effort.

Espionage Act

U.S. law passed in 1917 prohibiting interference with military operations and support for enemies during wartime, leading to the suppression of dissent and free speech.

Great Migration

Mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North between 1916 and 1970, seeking economic opportunities and fleeing racial discrimination and violence.

Red Scare

Period of intense anti-communist hysteria and government repression in the United States after World War I, fueled by fears of radicalism and revolutionary movements.

Palmer Raids

Series of government raids and arrests targeting suspected radicals and immigrants deemed subversive during the Red Scare, led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.

National Origins Act

U.S. immigration law passed in 1924 establishing strict quotas based on nationality, restricting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and favoring Northern and Western Europeans.

Scopes Trial

1925 trial in Tennessee challenging a state law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools, highlighting the conflict between science and religion in American society.

Jazz Age

eriod in the 1920s characterized by the popularity of jazz music, cultural innovation, and social change, particularly in urban centers like New York City and Chicago.

Flapper

Young, fashionable woman of the 1920s characterized by unconventional behavior, including bobbed hair, short skirts, and a liberated lifestyle.

Lost Generation:

Term coined by writer Gertrude Stein to describe the disillusioned post-World War I generation, including writers such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, who criticized traditional values and sought meaning in a changing world.

Harlem Renaissance

Cultural and artistic movement of the 1920s centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, celebrating African American identity and creativity through literature, music, and art.

Model T

Affordable automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company beginning in 1908, revolutionizing transportation and contributing to the growth of the automotive industry.

Calvin Coolidge

30th President of the United States (1923-1929), known for his conservative policies, advocacy for limited government, and economic prosperity during the Roaring Twenties.

Emergency Quota Act

U.S. immigration law passed in 1921 establishing quotas based on nationality to limit immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Speakeasies

Illegal bars or nightclubs that operated during Prohibition, serving alcoholic beverages in defiance of the law.

Charles Lindberg

American aviator who made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927, becoming a national hero and symbolizing the spirit of adventure and technological progress.

Clara Bow

American actress and Hollywood's first "It Girl," known for her vivacious personality and popularizing the flapper image in silent films of the 1920s.

Langston Hughes

African American poet, novelist, and playwright, a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, known for his works celebrating African American culture and experiences.

Zora Neale Hurston

African American author and anthropologist, associated with the Harlem Renaissance, known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937) and contributions to African American folklore.

Herbert Hoover

31st President of the United States (1929-1933), known for his response to the Great Depression, including unsuccessful efforts to address economic hardship and social unrest.

Hoovervilles

Informal settlements or shantytowns that emerged during the Great Depression, named after President Herbert Hoover, reflecting widespread poverty and homelessness.

Dust Bowl

Environmental disaster in the 1930s caused by drought, over-farming, and soil erosion in the Great Plains, leading to agricultural collapse and mass migration

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

Protectionist trade policy passed in 1930 raising tariffs on imported goods, exacerbating the effects of the Great Depression by reducing international trade.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

U.S. government agency established in 1933 to insure bank deposits and restore confidence in the banking system during the Great Depression.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

New Deal program established in 1933 to provide employment and conservation work for young men during the Great Depression, focusing on reforestation and public works projects.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

New Deal program established in 1933 to develop the Tennessee River Valley region through infrastructure projects, including dams for flood control and hydroelectric power generation.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

New Deal agency established in 1935 to provide employment through public works projects, including construction, arts, and cultural programs.

Wagner Act

Also known as the National Labor Relations Act (1935), U.S. law protecting the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively, promoting labor unions and fair labor practices.

New Deal Coalition

Political alliance of diverse groups, including labor unions, minorities, farmers, and urban voters, supporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt and New Deal policies.

Scottsboro Boys

Nine African American teenagers falsely accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1931, highlighting racial injustice and the unequal treatment of African Americans in the criminal justice system.

Black Tuesday

October 29, 1929, the day of the stock market crash that marked the beginning of the Great Depression, leading to widespread economic hardship and financial collapse.

Fireside Chats

Series of radio broadcasts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression and World War II, aimed at explaining government policies and reassuring the public.

FDR

32nd President of the United States (1933-1945), known for his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II, and his New Deal programs.

Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady of the United States (1933-1945), social reformer, and humanitarian, advocating for civil rights, women's rights, and humanitarian causes during her husband's presidency.

Election of 1936

Presidential election won by Franklin D. Roosevelt in a landslide, solidifying the Democratic Party's dominance and realigning American politics around New Deal liberalism.

Huey Long

Louisiana politician and senator, known for his populist and authoritarian leadership style, advocating for wealth redistribution and social reforms through his "Share Our Wealth" program.

First Hundred Days

Initial period of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency (1933) marked by rapid legislative activity and the implementation of New Deal programs to address the Great Depression.

Isolationism

Foreign policy doctrine advocating for non-intervention and limited involvement in foreign affairs, particularly prevalent in the United States during the interwar period.

Yalta Conference

1945 meeting between Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, discussing post-World War II reorganization of Europe and plans for the defeat of Nazi Germany.