APUSH UNIT 7.5-7.14KEY TERMS

Zimmermann Telegram - Definition

A secret German communication urging Mexico to join the Central Powers in exchange for regaining lost territories if the U.S. entered World War I

Zimmermann Telegram - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - This event directly contributed to the U.S. joining the war

Lusitania - Definition

A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, killing over 1,000 people, including Americans

Lusitania - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation - This event escalated U.S. opposition to Germany and pushed the nation closer to war

Fourteen Points - Definition

President Woodrow Wilson's post-war plan for peace, emphasizing self-determination and the League of Nations

Fourteen Points - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time - The plan represented a shift toward multilateral diplomacy, though not all points were adopted

Selective Service Act - Definition

A 1917 law requiring men to register for the draft to build the U.S. military for World War I.

Selective Service Act - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – This act enabled the U.S. to mobilize for war effectively.

Great Migration - Definition

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban centers in the North for economic opportunities during World War I.

Great Migration - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – It marked a major demographic shift and highlighted ongoing racial tensions.

Espionage & Sedition Acts - Definition

Laws passed during World War I that restricted speech critical of the government and war effort.

Espionage & Sedition Acts - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – These acts reflected wartime fears and had lasting effects on free speech rights.

Assembly Line - Definition

A manufacturing process popularized by Henry Ford that increased production efficiency.

Assembly Line - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It spurred mass production and consumerism in the U.S.

Radio - Definition

A technological innovation that became a primary medium for entertainment and information in the 1920s.

Radio - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – It transformed how people consumed information and entertainment.

Harlem Renaissance- Definition

A cultural movement celebrating African American art, music, and literature during the 1920s.

Harlem Renaissance - Historical Thinking Skill

Comparison – It showcased the contrast between traditional values and new cultural expressions.

Scopes Trial - Definition

A 1925 legal case that debated the teaching of evolution versus creationism in public schools.

Scopes Trial - Historical Thinking Skill

Comparison – It contrasted the differing views on science and religion in American society.

Prohibition - Definition

The nationwide ban on the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol from 1920 to 1933 under the 18th Amendment.

Prohibition - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It caused significant societal and legal challenges, leading to its eventual repeal.

Ku Klux Klan (1920s) - Definition

A revival of the white supremacist group that targeted African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.

Ku Klux Klan (1920s) - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – The Klan’s resurgence demonstrated the persistence of racial and cultural tensions.

Stock Market Crash of 1929 - Definition

A catastrophic collapse of stock prices that marked the beginning of the Great Depression.

Stock Market Crash of 1929 - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It directly led to the Great Depression and reshaped global economies.

Dust Bowl - Definition

A severe drought and series of dust storms in the 1930s that devastated the Great Plains.

Dust Bowl - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – It exposed the vulnerability of farmers to environmental and economic challenges.

Hoovervilles - Definition

Shantytowns built by homeless Americans during the Great Depression, named sarcastically after President Hoover.

Hoovervilles - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – They symbolized the consequences of inadequate government response to the economic crisis.

Social Security Act - Definition

A 1935 law that created a government pension system for retired and unemployed workers.

Social Security Act - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – It marked a lasting shift in the government’s role in providing for citizens’ welfare.

Tennessee Valley Authority - Defintion

A New Deal program that provided jobs, electricity, and flood control in the Tennessee Valley region.

Tennessee Valley Authority - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It demonstrated how federal programs could address regional disparities.

Works Progress Administration - Definition

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

Works Progress Administration - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It provided immediate economic relief and long-term infrastructure improvements.

Washington Naval Conference - Defintion

A 1921-1922 conference aimed at reducing naval arms among major world powers.

Washington Naval Conference - Historical Thinking Skill

Comparison – It showcased differing international approaches to disarmament.

Good Neighbor Policy - Definition

A U.S. policy under FDR promoting non-intervention and cooperation with Latin American countries.

Good Neighbor Policy - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – It marked a shift from earlier interventionist policies.

Neutrality Acts - Definition

Laws passed in the 1930s to prevent U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts by banning arms sales to warring nations.

Neutrality Acts - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – They influenced U.S. foreign policy in the lead-up to World War II.

War Production Board - Definition

A government agency that coordinated the production of war materials during World War II.

War Production Board - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It played a critical role in the U.S.’s ability to mobilize for war.

Rosie the Riveter - Definition

A cultural icon representing women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II.

Rosie the Riveter - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – It challenged traditional gender roles and expanded opportunities for women.

Executive Order 9066 - Definition

An order that authorized the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Executive Order 9066 - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It reflected wartime fears and had long-lasting implications for civil liberties.

D-Day (Operation Overlord) - Definition

The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944.

D-Day (Operation Overlord) - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It marked a decisive moment in the Allied victory over Axis powers.

Manhattan Project - Definition

A secret U.S. project to develop the atomic bomb during World War II.

Manhattan Project - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It revolutionized warfare and reshaped global power dynamics.

Tuskegee Airman - Definition

A group of African American military pilots who served in World War II, breaking racial barriers and proving the capabilities of Black aviators.

Tuskegee Airman - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – Their contributions challenged racial discrimination and influenced civil rights advancements in the military and beyond.

Yalta Conference - Definition

A 1945 meeting between Allied leaders to plan postwar Europe’s reorganization.

Yalta Conference - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It shaped the geopolitical landscape of the postwar world.

The Marshall Plan - Definition

A U.S. program that provided economic aid to rebuild European nations after World War II, aiming to prevent the spread of communism.

The Marshall Plan - Historical Thinking Skill

Causation – It contributed to Europe’s recovery and helped contain the influence of the Soviet Union.

United Nations - Definition

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

United Nations - Historical Thinking Skill

Continuity and Change Over Time – It represented a new commitment.