History Midterm Vocab

Advertising

Methods used to promote and sell products.

Allied Powers

Countries that fought together in World War I, including Britain, France, and the U.S.

Americanization

The process of making / helping immigrants adopt American culture.

Amusement Park

A place with rides, games, and entertainment.

Angel Island

The main immigration processing center in California for Asian immigrants.

Annexation

Taking over land and adding it to a country.

Antitrust

Laws designed to prevent monopolies and encourage competition.

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting, often before a peace treaty is signed.

Boxer Rebellion

A Chinese uprising against foreign influence in 1900.

Central Powers

Countries that fought against the Allies in World War I, including Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A law that banned Chinese immigration to the U.S.

Conservation

The protection and preservation of natural resources.

Conspicuous Consumption

Buying expensive things to show off wealth.

Consumerism

The focus on buying and selling goods.

Cultural Heritage

Traditions, customs, and beliefs passed down through generations.

Department Store

A large store that sells many types of products.

Dollar Diplomacy

U.S. policy of using economic power to influence other countries.

Ellis Island

The main immigration processing center in New York for European immigrants.

Ethnic Neighborhood

A community where people of the same culture live together.

Frederick Law Olmsted

A landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York.

Gilded Age

A period of rapid economic growth but also social problems in the late 1800s.

Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the South to Northern cities for jobs.

Immigrant

A person who moves to a new country to live permanently.

Infrastructure

Basic facilities like roads, bridges, and water systems.

Initiative

A process where citizens propose new laws by petition.

Jingoism

Extreme nationalism that supports aggressive foreign policy.

League of Nations

An international group formed after World War I to maintain peace.

Literacy Rate

The percentage of people who can read and write.

Mass Culture

Shared entertainment, fashion, and ideas spread through media.

Mass Transit

Public transportation systems, like buses and trains.

Middle Class

A social group between the rich and poor, often with stable jobs.

Muckraker

A journalist who exposes corruption or social problems.

Nativism

Favoring native-born citizens over immigrants.

New Nationalism

Theodore Roosevelt’s plan for strong government regulation of business.

Open Door Policy

A U.S. policy that allowed all countries to trade with China.

Panama Canal

A man-made waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Progressivism

A movement to improve society through reforms in government and business.

Propaganda

Information used to influence people's opinions or actions.

Pull Factors

Reasons people move to a new country, like jobs or freedom.

Push Factors

Reasons people leave their home country, like war or poverty.

Ragtime

A lively style of early jazz music.

Recall

A process that allows voters to remove an elected official from office.

Referendum

A public vote on a proposed law.

Reparations

Payments made by a defeated country to make up for war damages.

Rough Riders

A volunteer cavalry unit led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War.

Rural-to-Urban Migration

The movement of people from the countryside to cities.

Selective Service Act

A law that required men to register for the military draft.

Skyscraper

A very tall building made with steel frames.

Social Darwinism

The belief that stronger people or nations will naturally dominate weaker ones.

Sphere of Influence

An area where a foreign country controls trade and economy.

Suburbs

Residential areas located outside of big cities.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Temperance

A movement to reduce or ban alcohol consumption.

Tenements

Overcrowded and poorly built apartment buildings in cities.

Total War

A war that affects all parts of society, including civilians and the economy.

Trench Warfare

A type of fighting in World War I where soldiers lived and fought in deep ditches.

Urban Planning

The design and organization of cities and towns.

Vaudeville

A type of variety show with comedy, music, and acts.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized or exaggerated news to attract readers.

Zoning Laws

Rules that control how land and buildings can be used in cities.