period seven: 1890-1945

frontier thesis

theory developed by frederick jackson turner arguing that frontier + westward expansion is part of america's destiny → expand democracy, relieve urban tension

imperialists

supporters of continuing westward expansion + manifest destiny who believed in the superiority of american institutions + whiteness

anti-imperialists

those who opposed expansion, believing that self determination (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) should apply to everyone
isolationists → colonizing would involve the us in international conflicts

uss maine

ship that exploded in havana harbor allegedly because of the spanish; cause of the spanish-american war

teller amendment

congressional authorization of the spanish-american war stating that the us had no intent of establishing political control over cuba

platt amendment

policy somewhat reversing the teller amendment stating that the us would keep its naval bases in cuba + could intervene in its affairs to maintain order

international darwinism

the idea that survival of the fittest applied to competition among nations + races over colonies, power, and influence → extension of manifest destiny

pan-american conference

conference that created an organization of cooperation between the us and latin american countries + established the pan-american union

open door policy

policy proposed by the us under which all nations would have equal trading rights in china in order to prevent the us from losing access to it as other nations had already established influence

boxer rebellion

rebellion of working class chinese nativists who wanted to remove foreigners, the sum of reparations for which weakened its imperial regime

gentlemen's agreement

san francisco legalizes segregation of japanese children, us agreed to stop if japan limited immigration to the us

muckrakers

investigative journalists who exposed corruption in american society

upton sinclair

muckraker, author of the jungle

ida tarbell

muckraker, author of history of the standard oil company (exposé on john rockefeller)

scientific management/taylorism

idea that to increase efficiency, large jobs were broken into small steps and workers performed one task over + over

pragmatism

practical approach to morals, ideas, and knowledge
experimentation with laws to find a well-functioning democratic society → rejected laissez-faire capitalism

16th amendment

amendment that established income tax

17th amendment

amendment that established the direct election of us senators

federal reserve act

policy that established a national banking system with 12 district banks supervised by a federal reserve board

clayton antitrust act

strengthened the sherman antitrust act by making it illegal for businesses to not allow activities such as strikes + the formation of unions

square deal

compromise that stated that 10% wage increase, 9-hour workday; employers don't have to recognize unions following a 1902 coal strike that almost left americans in the cold

the jungle

book written by upton sinclair on the horrors of workers' experiences in factories, led to increased food safety through the pure food and drug + meat inspection acts

socialist labor party/socialist party of america

political party that emphasized the welfare of the working class, were generally more radical than progressives, and that advocated for an 8-hour workday, pensions for employees, and public ownership of utilities

child labor act

policy that prohibited the shipment of goods produced by workers under the age of 14

new freedom

term coined by woodrow wilson to emphasize the limiting of big business + big government through supporting small businesses + ending corruption

national urban league

organization established to improve job opportunities and housing for black people, especially those moving from southern to northern cities

great migration

mass movement of black people from the south to the north during/after wwi to seek economic opportunity

national american women's suffrage association

suffragettes arguing that women's empowerment helps them to better take care of their families

national women's party

militant suffragettes led by alice paul focusing on presidential/congressional support for the 19th amendment

19th amendment

amendment giving women the right to vote

red scare

anti-communist hysteria caused by the 1917 russian revolution and perceived threat of communism's spread therein

palmer raids

invasions that searched for evidence of socialist/ communist sympathies + practiced mass incarceration of suspects

18th amendment

amendment that prohibited alcohol as enforced by the volstead act

21st amendment

amendment repealing the 18th (prohibition) amendment

conservation

the movement to protect the environment + natural resources

lusitania

british passenger ship carrying 128 american citizens that was sunk by a german u-boat that led to the prohibition of unwarned sinking of passenger ships

sussex

american merchant ship sunk by germany

sussex pledge

promise made by germany to america that stated that germany would not sink passenger or merchant ships without warning

national defense act

policy that expanded the size of the military and allowed for congressional commission of warship construction

zimmerman telegram

a message intercepted by england from germany that was attempting to incite a war between mexico and the us to prevent american entry into wwi

selective service act

policy that registered all american men, aged 21-30 (later 18-45) for a military draft

total war

military strategy in which a country leverages all available assets + resources towards war

sedition act (of 1918)

policy that made it illegal to publicly criticize the government

wilson's fourteen points

detailed list of war aims written by president wilson

treaty of versailles

document that ended wwi
europe wanted revenge against germany → aimed to disarm it, strip it of its colonies, and require heavy monetary reparations

league of nations

an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations, originally envisioned by us president wilson (though the us never joined)

irreconcilables

members of congress who didn't accept american admission into the league of nations no matter what

reservationists

members of congress who could accept american admission into the league of nations if reservations were added to article x

dawes plan

post-wwi cycle of payment between the us, germany, and england/france
england + france paid debts to us → us loaned germany money to rebuild its economy → germany paid reparations to england + france
eased international financial problems, collapsed during great depression

harlem renaissance

development + celebration of black culture following the great migration, specifically in new york city; new forms of art (eg. jazz) emerged

modernism

religious movement to accept the theory of evolution without having to abandon religious beliefs

fundamentalism

religious movement to reject the theory of evolution and accept the bible as literal truth

productivity

scientific management (taylorism) increased efficiency in manufacturing, leading to mass production + mass consumption

assembly line

adaptation of scientific management/taylorism originally developed by henry ford in his auto manufacturing factories

energy tech

increased use of oil + electricity to power factories + fuel new vehicles

mass culture

homogenous culture created by the popularization of movies + radio shows → perpetuated a centralized idea of what the ideal american "should" be

scopes monkey trial

trial of evolution v creationism; showed the public that fundamentalism can't defend itself against modern principles

reconstruction finance corporation

agency established by hoover during the great depression in an attempt to support railroads, banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions with the belief that these benefits would "trickle down" to aid the general public

farm holiday association

organization established by farmers in an attempt to reverse the drop in prices by stopping all grain harvested in 1932 from reaching the market → collapsed following violence

20th amendment

amendment that shortened the "lame duck" period between presidential election + inauguration

keynesian economics

economic theory that opposed laissez-faire, arguing that "hands-on" government intervention is necessary at times to benefit the economy

laissez-faire

idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs

judicial reorganization bill

remove supreme court as a barrier to roosevelt's legislation by allowing roosevelt to add six additional judges → was rightfully viewed as a court-packing bill and struck down

congress of industrial organizations

branch of the american federation of labor that broke off to form its own organization arguing in favor of universal membership

fair labor standards act

policy that provided for a minimum wage and restricted shipments of goods produced with child labor

glass-steagall act

policy that increased the regulation of banks + aimed to control speculation

federal deposit insurance corporation/fdic

organization that insured bank deposits up to $5,000 with federal dollars as the failure of banks had caused the great depression

social security act

policy that established the collection of a portion of a worker's wages to be paid back to them upon retirement

american liberty league

anti-new deal organization established by republicans who wanted to prevent the new deal from subverting the us' economic + political systems

dust bowl

poor farming practices, drought, and high winds blew away top soil of agricultural regions, many migrated east to find factory jobs, and the soil conservation service was established to teach better farming practices

manchuria

japan violated the open door policy + league of nations by invading manchuria, threatening world peace
the league of nations proved unable to maintain peace

good neighbor policy

roosevelt wanted to maintain hoover's policy of good relations with latin america because
1. dollar diplomacy was no longer profitable due to the depression
2. roosevelt wanted allies against the rise of fascist regimes in europe

neutrality acts

series of policies promoting american isolationism
1935: authorized the president to stop arms shipments, forbade citizens from traveling on belligerent ships
1936: forbade loans to belligerents
1937: forbade shipment of arms to opposing sides in the spanish civil war

america first committee

organization established to push isolationists sentiment among american citizens + discourage us entry into wwii
established in response to america's support of england, members eg. charles lindbergh

cash + carry act

congress allowed belligerent ships to purchase american supplies if they
1. paid in cash
2. transported the good themselves
only benefits england as they control the seas

land-lease act

policy that replaced cash + carry to allow england to purchase any arms they needed on credit

atlantic charter

pledge in which roosevelt + churchill affirmed general principles for peace after the war: self-determination, no territorial expansion, + free trade

casablanca conference

conference during which the us + uk demanded unconditional surrender from the axis powers

teheran conference

conference during which the us, uk, + ussr planned to liberate france + have soviets invade germany

korematsu v us

supreme court case that ruled that the forced relocation of japanese americans to internment camps was constitutional

island hopping

a military strategy used during wwii that involved selectively attacking specific enemy-held islands and bypassing others

yalta conference

conference during which allies planned a postwar world in which germany would be divided into occupation zones, free elections would be held in eastern europe, the soviets would enter the war against japan, and the united nations would be formed

potsdam conference

conference during which the us, uk, + ussr demanded unconditional surrender from japan + decided to hold war crime trials of nazis

nuremberg trials

post-wwii war crime trials of nazi leaders in nuremberg, germany

roosevelt collary (roosevelt)

roosevelt's addition to the monroe doctrine stating that the us held the right to intervene in latin american affairs to preserve law and order

dollar diplomacy (taft)

taft's belief in the use of a country's financial power to extend its international influence (economic influence > military force)

moral diplomacy

wilson's policy to condemn imperialism, spread democracy, and promote peace in foreign affairs

elkins act

law that gave the interstate commerce commission more power to control railroads from giving preferences to certain customers

hepburn act

law that used the interstate commerce commission to regulate the maximum charge that railroads to place on shipping goods

bank holiday

closed all banks until government examiners could investigate their financial condition; only sound/solvent banks were allowed to reopen

indian reorganization act

restored tribal ownership of lands, recognized tribal constitutions and government, and provided loans for economic development