American Cultural Studies and History Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering US regional differences, cultural theory, history from early exploration through the Cold War, and the American political system.

Northeast (19th Century)

The cultural and economic center of the USA that provided a 'brain' and new, progressive thoughts.

Middle Atlantic

The source of 'muscles' or working labor where hard work and savings are typical for the region.

Midwest

Described as the most typical region of the USA where democracy and equality are dominant, and people are characterized as open, friendly, and honest.

Southwest

A region rich in ethnic groups and mormons where manual labor is highly valued but considered suitable only for the lower class.

West (California)

A region of optimism, progress, freedom, and a high level of eccentricity; described as the most cultural part of the USA.

Cultural landscape

A scientific field of cultural studies interconnecting concepts of identity, history, and cultural memory of a land, including material and intangible components.

Intangible component of landscape

Includes people’s way of thinking, feelings, acting, and sense of belonging (identity).

Sense of place

An aspect in cultural context that integrates users with a place to fulfill needs for living, work, or relaxation.

Psychological dimension of place

The dimension where a place acquires sense through people’s experience, response, and perception.

Spiritual dimension of place

The representation of people’s beliefs and memories associated with a location.

Visual dimension of place

The intangible heritage consisting of images in films, books, or articles that shape human perception and expectations.

Fantastic cultural landscape

A land to which a symbolic or spiritual meaning is ascribed, including myths, legends, and symbols.

Ideal cultural landscape

A land that meets characteristics of the 'ideal' of a given time, often manifested in architecture.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Author of Tusculanae Disputationes ($45\,bc$) who used the term 'cultura' to mean the 'cultivation of the soul.'

Johann G. Herder

Scholar who rejected the theory of non-cultural nations, considering culture a universal characteristic of all mankind.

Immanuel Kant's definition of culture

An axiological definition describing culture as a group of positive values that contribute to the humanization of man.

Edward B. Tylor

The creator of the scientific definition of culture ($1871$), defining it as a complex whole including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, and custom.

UNESCO Modern definition of culture ($2000$)

A set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual, and emotional features of society including lifestyles, value systems, and traditions.

Cultural Relativism

The concept that each culture must be studied as a unique phenomenon and understood only in the context of its own norms and values.

Multiculturalism

An ideology of independent coexistence of different ethnic groups with no obligation to meet, mix, or cooperate.

Interculturalism

A concept promoting proactive dialogue, exchange, and understanding between people of different backgrounds, viewing cultural boundaries as flexible.

Intercultural Competence

The ability to communicate in intercultural situations manifested in cognitive, affective, and action levels without compromising integrity.

Melting Pot / Salad Bowl

Stereotypical definitions of American culture where various ethnic ingredients maintain their uniqueness while creating a unique mix.

Transnational identity

Identity formed beyond national and virtual borders, including religion, language, and ethnic background.

Hybrid Identity

A contextual entity characterized by mixed racial/ethnic origin, forming a 'third space' or 'third hybrid species.'

Amerindians

Distant ancestors who came from Asia via a bridge of ice (now Bering Strait) approximately $12,000$ years ago.

Leif Ericson

A Viking from Iceland who reached North America in about $ad\,1000$ and named it 'Vinland the Good.'

Christopher Columbus

Italian adventurer who landed on San Salvador on $12\,october\,1492$ while searching for a route to Asia.

Amerigo Vespucci

Italian sailor who confirmed the discovery of a new continent; America is named in his honor.

Jamestown ($1607$)

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established by the Virginia Company.

Indentured servants

People who promised to work for a fixed number of years (often $7$) in exchange for food, clothes, and passage to America.

Mayflower Compact

A political establishment resembling an early democracy signed by the Pilgrims in $1620$.

Puritans

Followers of John Calvin who wanted to build an ideal community ('city on a hill') and escape religious intolerance in England.

Roger Williams

Founder of Rhode Island who advocated for the separation of church and state and complete religious freedom.

William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania and member of the Quakers (Society of Friends).

Brain Drain

A phenomenon where the USA recruits skilled professionals, reducing the skilled workforce in their home countries.

Homestead Act ($1862$)

Offered free farms in the West to citizens or those intending to become citizens if they were the head of a family and at least $21$ years old.

Eli Whitney

Inventor of the cotton gin and pioneer of the 'mass production' system using interchangeable parts for guns.

Monroe Doctrine ($1823$)

A warning to European nations not to interfere in Latin American affairs to ensure the safety of the United States.

Roosevelt Corollary ($1904$)

An addition to the Monroe Doctrine stating the US would intervene in Latin American neighbors to ensure internal stability.

Lusitania

The sinking of this ship in $may\,1915$ angered Americans and contributed to their eventual entry into WWI.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central federal government and regional state or local governments.

Checks and Balances

A system ensuring no branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each to limit the actions of the others.

Democrats (Symbol)

Associated with the Donkey, symbolizing strength and resilience, first used as an insult for Andrew Jackson.

Republicans (Symbol)

Associated with the Elephant, symbolizing power, stability, and reliability.

Caucus

A public, in-person meeting where voters gather to discuss and determine support for candidates rather than using a secret ballot.

Seven-Year War (French and Indian War)

A conflict ($1756\text{--}1763$) between France and Britain that led to Britain winning an empire but also to conflicts with American colonists over taxes.

Stamp Act ($1765$)

A British law requiring special tax stamps on newspapers, licenses, and legal papers, leading to the cry 'no taxation without representation.'

Missouri Compromise ($1820$)

An agreement where slavery was permitted in Missouri but banned in territory west and north of it.

Emancipation Proclamation ($september\,1862$)

An order stating that as of $1\,january\,1863$, all slaves in areas of the Confederacy were free.

Reconstruction Act ($march\,1867$)

Dismissed white governments in the South and placed them under military rule to protect the rights of newly freed blacks.

Black Code

Laws passed by white Southerners to keep blacks uneducated, landless, and without the right to vote or serve on juries.

Grandfather Clause

A rule that allowed voting only if a person's grandfather was qualified to vote in $1865$, effectively disenfranchising most blacks.

Wall Street Crash ($29\,october\,1929$)

Also known as 'Terrifying Tuesday,' where $16.5\,million$ shares were sold, leading to the Great Depression.

New Deal

FDR's program of government agencies (CCC, WPA, AAA) designed to help the nation recover from the depression.

Manhattan Project

A top-secret research scheme that spent $2,000\,million$ dollars on the production and testing of the first atomic bomb.

Marshall Plan ($1947$)

A US program that offered economic help to European countries after WWII to combat the spread of communism.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country (like Vietnam) fell under communist rule, others in Asia would follow.

Vietnamization

Richard Nixon’s strategy to reduce American involvement in the Vietnam War by transferring military responsibilities to South Vietnam.

The Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson's plan to turn the US into a country where everyone received fair treatment through programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

A $1972$ agreement between Nixon and the Soviets to slow down the nuclear arms race.

Perestroika and Glasnost

Reforms introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev meaning 'restructuring' and 'openness,' leading to the end of the Cold War.