APUSH Unit 7 -- WWI, Great Depression, WW2

The Great War

Another name for World War I, which was renamed after World War II.

Allies

The nations that supported each other during World War I, including Servia, Belgium, France, Russia, Japan, Montenegro, and Great Britain.

Central Powers

A coalition during World War I consisting mainly of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

Woodrow Wilson

The president of the United States during World War I who initially advocated for neutrality.

Unrestricted submarine warfare

A policy used by Germany that involved the sinking of merchant ships without warning.

Lusitania

A British ocean liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, causing the deaths of 128 Americans.

Sussex Pledge

An agreement made by Germany during World War I to stop sinking unarmed merchant ships.

Zimmerman Note

A secret communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the United States.

Russian Revolution

The 1917 revolution that led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas and the establishment of a democratic government in Russia.

'Make the world safe for democracy'

A phrase used by Woodrow Wilson to justify the United States' entry into World War I.

The Good War

A term used to describe World War II, primarily due to the justification of US involvement in stopping fascism and the Holocaust.

Fascism

A far-right political ideology historically present in Italy, Germany, and to some extent Spain and Japan during the 1920s to 1940s.

Turning Point Battles

Key battles in World War II, such as Stalingrad (European theater) and Coral Sea and Midway (Pacific theater), that significantly altered the course of the war.

Atomic Bombs

Nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S. in 1945, cited controversially as the cause of Japan's surrender.

Soviet Invasion

The military attack by Soviet troops on Japanese-held territories that contributed significantly to Japan's surrender in WWII.

Lend-Lease Act

A policy that allowed the U.S. to supply Allied nations with war materials before entering World War II, marking a step toward U.S. involvement in the war.

Four Freedoms

A speech by FDR that articulated four fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Double V Campaign

A campaign by African Americans during WWII that aimed for victory against fascism abroad and racism at home.

Bracero Program

A series of laws and diplomatic agreements between the U.S. and Mexico that encouraged Mexican laborers to work in the U.S. during WWII.

Executive Order 9066

An order that led to the internment of Japanese Americans in camps during World War II.

Military-Industrial Complex

The relationship between a country's military and the defense industry that supplies it, significantly influential in U.S. policy after WWII.

Nye Committee

A committee that investigated the causes of U.S. entry into WWI and concluded that financial interests were a driving factor.

Holocaust

The genocide of approximately six million Jews during World War II, orchestrated by Nazi Germany.

Munich Conference

A 1938 conference that is often referenced as a failed act of diplomacy, highlighting the complexities of preventing war.

Colonialism in WWII

The conflict's connection to past imperialist practices by nations like Britain and France, questioning moral grounds against fascism.

FDR's Second Bill of Rights

A proposal by Franklin Delano Roosevelt asserting that everyone should have the economic rights necessary for security and well-being.

Pearl Harbor

The U.S. naval base attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941, leading to U.S. entry into World War II.

GDP Growth during WWII

The significant doubling of the U.S. GDP from 1940 to 1945 attributed to war mobilization efforts.

Jeannette Rankin

The first woman elected to Congress, known for her pacifist stance and opposition to the war declaration against Japan.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted throughout the 1930s.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies designed by FDR to promote economic recovery and social reform during the Great Depression.

Black Tuesday

October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.

Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930

An act that raised tariffs on thousands of imports, leading to a decline in international trade.

Hoovervilles

Shantytowns erected by homeless individuals during the Great Depression, named derisively after President Hoover.

Bonus Army

A group of WWI veterans who marched to Washington, D.C., demanding bonus payments for their service.

Fireside Chats

Radio talks given by FDR to explain his policies and reassure the public during the Great Depression.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

A New Deal program that provided jobs for young men in environmental projects.

National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)

A law aimed at stimulating industrial recovery through fair competition and collective bargaining.

Social Security Act of 1935

A law that established a system of old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and aid for the disabled.

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

A law designed to reduce agricultural surpluses and stabilize prices.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

A New Deal agency that employed millions of people to carry out public works projects.

Dust Bowl

A period of severe dust storms in the 1930s, caused by drought and poor agricultural practices, displacing many families.

Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)

A New Deal program that provided financial aid to the unemployed and poor through job creation.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

A New Deal program created to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley.

National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)

A law that protected the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively.

Fair Labor Standards Act

Legislation that established minimum wage, maximum hours, and prohibited oppressive child labor.

The American Liberty League

An organization formed in the 1930s to oppose FDR's New Deal, viewing it as too socialistic.

Influenza Pandemic

A deadly epidemic in 1918 that infected 25% of Americans and killed 675,000 in the U.S. and at least 50 million worldwide.

Nativism

Prejudice against foreign-born people, evident through immigration quotas and the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

The Great Migration

The movement of hundreds of thousands of African Americans from the South to northern industrial cities seeking better opportunities.

The Red Scare

A period of intense fear of communism and radical leftism following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

The Palmer Raids

A series of government actions led by A. Mitchell Palmer aimed at arresting and deporting radical leftists and anarchists in the U.S.

Sacco and Vanzetti

Two Italian anarchists charged with robbery and murder whose trial highlighted issues of nativism and bias against immigrants.

Emergency Quota Act (1921)

Law limiting immigration from the Eastern hemisphere to 3% of the population based on the 1910 census.

Prohibition

The nationwide ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol due to the 18th Amendment, which aimed to reduce social problems.

Al Capone

A notorious Chicago gangster who led a massive bootlegging operation during Prohibition and was eventually convicted for tax evasion.

The Scopes Trial

A famous legal case in 1925 where a teacher was tried for teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act, symbolizing the clash between science and religion.

Fundamentalism

A religious movement emphasizing a strict interpretation of the Bible and often opposing modernist views during the 1920s.

Speakeasies

Secret bars or clubs that illegally sold alcohol during Prohibition.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

A hate group that re-emerged in the 1920s, promoting white supremacy and opposing immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and African Americans.

The 21st Amendment

The constitutional amendment that repealed Prohibition, unique for being the first amendment to revoke another.

Unrestricted submarine warfare

A type of naval warfare in which submarines sink merchant ships without warning, often resulting in the loss of unarmed ships.

Treaty of Versailles

A treaty that ended WWI, imposing severe punishments on Germany, including loss of territory, demilitarization, and war reparations.

Article X

A provision in the Treaty of Versailles that required member nations to assist in enforcing the League of Nations' mandates, which was seen as undermining US sovereignty.

Espionage Act

A law passed during WWI that prohibited interference with military operations or support of US enemies during wartime.

Sedition Act

An extension of the Espionage Act that made it a crime to speak or write against the government, military, or flag.

The Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the South to the North for better opportunities, driven by push factors like racism and pull factors like factory jobs.

Nineteenth Amendment

An amendment to the US Constitution that granted women the right to vote.

'Clear and present danger'

A legal standard used by the Supreme Court to determine when limitations can be placed on First Amendment rights, stating that speech can be prohibited if it poses a significant risk.

Cultural ties to Great Britain

Historical connections and shared beliefs between the US and Great Britain, influencing the US's decision to join the Allies in WWI.

Wilson’s justification for entering WWI

President Wilson declared that the US would enter the war to make the world 'safe for democracy' and to restore 'freedom of the seas.'

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often leading to the desire for independence or dominance.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, often resulting in the domination of one nation over others.

Militarism

The belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war, often characterized by an arms race and a focus on military preparedness.

Bismarck's Unification

The process of uniting German states under the leadership of Otto Von Bismarck and Kaiser William I in January 1871.

Dual Entente

An alliance formed by France and Russia before World War I.

Triple Alliance

An alliance formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before World War I.

Splendid Isolation

Britain's foreign policy of avoiding involvement in continental alliances and focusing on its own empire.

Black Hand

A secret nationalist society in Serbia that was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Rasputin

A controversial figure in Russian history, known for his influence over the royal family and his role in Russian politics leading up to the revolution.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's military strategy to quickly defeat France in the west before turning to fight Russia in the east.

The New Deal

FDR's administration's policies aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression.

Agrarian Society

A society primarily engaged in agriculture, with government perceived as a potential harm to individual autonomy.

Keynesian Economics

An economic theory stating that government intervention is necessary to ensure economic stability and growth.

Bonus Army

A group of World War I veterans who protested in Washington D.C. for their bonus payments during the Great Depression.

Smoot-Hawley Tariff

A 1930 act that raised tariffs on many imports, which contributed to a decline in international trade during the Great Depression.

Social Security Act of 1935

A law that provided financial support to senior citizens, helping to transform their status from the poorest age group to the wealthiest.

Harlan County War

A labor conflict that lasted from 1931 to 1939, reflecting the struggles of coal miners against oppressive conditions.

First New Deal vs. Second New Deal

The First New Deal focused on immediate economic recovery, while the Second New Deal emphasized social justice and safety nets.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

A New Deal agency that provided jobs for millions of unemployed Americans in various public works projects.

Dust Bowl

A period of severe dust storms in the 1930s that severely damaged agriculture in the U.S. Great Plains.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

A New Deal agency aimed at providing navigation, flood control, electricity generation, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley.

Labor Unions

Organizations formed by workers to protect their rights and improve working conditions, particularly during the New Deal era.

FDR's 'Brains Trust'

A group of academic advisors who helped shape FDR's policies during the New Deal, emphasizing the importance of expertise in governance.

Crisis Intervention

The government's actions during economic downturns to stabilize and support the economy and the citizens affected.

Civil Rights Movement

A social movement advocating for the rights and equality of African Americans, gaining momentum post-New Deal.

Economic Indicators

Statistical measures that provide information about the economic performance, such as GDP, unemployment rates, and consumption levels.

Capacity of the Federal Government

The expanded role of the federal government in economic affairs as a response to the Great Depression, resulting in increased spending and employment.

Interstate Commerce Clause

A provision in the U.S. Constitution that grants Congress the power to regulate trade between states, relevant in evaluating New Deal legislation.

Conservative Criticism of the New Deal

Arguments suggesting that government intervention poses economic dangers while preserving the status quo benefiting certain economic classes.