American History Test 2

Progressivism

The movement of the early 20th century, based upon ‘forward progress.’ This quickly garnered support, with policies such as women’s suffrage, child labor restrictions, ending corruption and supporting Prohibition.

Muckrakers

Progressive journalists in the 20th century that attempted to go undercover in order to expose the corruption within businesses and governments. The term was coined by Theodore Roosevelt derogatorily, but caught on colloquially. Inspired progressive reform

Upton Sinclair

A muckraker that went undercover in the meatpacking industry and in 1906 the publishing of the Jungle exposing the disgusting conditions. Inspired the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act

The Jungle

Sinclair’s book that inspired the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act

Pure Food and Drug Act

One of the first examples of progressive reform, allowed gov’t to inspect and clear products. you could no longer lie on labels, additives were banned and drugs required ingredient lists

Prohibition

The progressive reform that aimed to ban alcohol. Movement was inspired by over consumption of alcohol, 3x as much as today. Eventually became an amendment that made production and transport illegal. Did not work, blatantly ignored and led to rise of organized crime.

Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt’s presidential plan, included regulating big business, conservation of natural resources, protecting consumers by tighter inspections and stopping government corruption. Trust busting

Roosevelt Corollary

Placed alongside the Monroe Doctrine, involved the US saying it would act as the leading force of the Americas. Led to government intervention in places in Latin America, said to expand sphere of influence.

William Howard Taft

President in 1908, was very close with TR, very conservative Republican that ran after TR left to hunt in Africa. Large trust buster and him and TR caused the republican party to split

Theodore Roosevelt

President from 1900-1908, became more progressive as his career went on. Known for his trust busting reforms, progressive reforms like the food and drug act, as well as conservation of nature. Ended the russo-japanese war

New Nationalism

Government should solve its people’s problems, fight for the people. Involved in trust busting. Philosophy of TR and Bull Moose party. Encouraged direct democracy.

Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) was the 28th President of the United States (1913–1921). A scholar and former governor of New Jersey, he is best known for leading the country through World War I and advocating for the establishment of the League of Nations to promote international peace. His domestic agenda, known as the New Freedom, focused on reducing tariffs, reforming the banking system, and breaking up monopolies. Wilson also championed progressive reforms such as the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Trade Commission. His leadership during the war, combined with his idealistic vision for global diplomacy, shaped U.S. foreign policy and the modern world order. Was a racist, brought segregation to DC and showed Birth of a Nation in the White House.

New Freedom

Wilson’s domestic policy involving the breakup of trusts, reducing tariffs, reforming the banking system. Encouraged progressive reforms

Federal Reserve System

The Federal Reserve System, established in 1913, is the central banking system of the United States. It regulates the nation's money supply, manages inflation, supervises and regulates banks, and provides financial services to the government and public. The system consists of twelve regional banks and is overseen by the Board of Governors.

Pancho Villa

Former Mexican presidential candidate that held a grudge with America bc they didn’t support him. In response, he led a small army into NM and pillaged some towns, killing many. Wilson took 16000 American soldiers and marched into Mexico to find him, he was not found.

Lusitania

Passenger ship that was smuggling war supplies that was sunk of the coast of Ireland by German U-boats. Was carrying 128 American passengers. Wilson attempted to keep peace by demanding an apology, which was given and a promise not to attack passenger ships.

Bolsheviks

The communist revolutionaries in Russia that overthrew the government in the middle of WWI, causing Russia to back out of the war. These people scared Americans as communists do, they wanted global communist revolt

Zimmerman Telegram

Happened in 1917, Germany sent a message to Canada and Mexico to invade America to get some land to keep America out of Europe. Intercepted by British intelligence and sent to America. Led to America’s entrance in WWI.

“14 Points'“

The Fourteen Points were a set of principles proposed by Woodrow Wilson in 1918 to promote lasting peace after World War I. They called for open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, self-determination for nations, and the establishment of the League of Nations to ensure collective security and prevent future conflicts.

Herbert Hoover

President from 1928-1932, was the leader of the food commission in WWI, became president as the Great Depression started. Encouraged people to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” Did not do enough cooperation with business to aid in the Depression, widely detested

Sedition Act

Passed in 1918, made it illegal to criticize the US government and flag. Mail and news sources were censored, blatantly against the 1st amendment and was repealed after the war.

Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace agreement that officially ended World War I in 1919. It was signed at the Palace of Versailles in France, primarily focused on punishing Germany for its role in the war. The treaty imposed harsh penalties, heavy reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions on Germany. It also established the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at maintaining peace.

Warren G. Harding

Low intelligence man, ran on “Return to normalcy.” He was an unmotivated and disloyal man who cheated on his wife and did nothing as president, with some saying he was a member of the KKK. His cabinet was the most corrupt of all time. He died in his term in 1923.

Calvin Coolidge

VP for Harding, silent man favoring a limited government. Was president from 1923 after Harding’s death to 1929 end of his term. Left economy to itself, possibly setting up the Depression. Oversaw the ‘Roaring 20's’

Teapot Dome

Happened in 1923, member of Harding’s cabinet sold government land to private business for a ‘gratuity’ in their pocket. Was a massive government scandal and all involved saw themselves deposed and charged

Charles Lindbergh

First pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean from NY to Paris, was a major figure in American Aviation. Later became a supporter of American Isolationism and sympathized with the Nazi party

Scopes “Monkey” Trial

Teacher in Dayton TN that taught evolution in a classroom to incite a spectacle. They called in William Jennings Bryan as the prosecutor and the trial became a circus. The fine was later paid by the TN government to cover up the embarrassment.

Franklin Delanor Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) and the only president to serve four terms. He led the country through the Great Depression and most of World War II. Roosevelt implemented the New Deal, a series of economic programs designed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to Americans suffering from the Depression. Key initiatives included Social Security, banking reforms, and the establishment of agencies like the Works Progress Administration (WPA). FDR also played a central role in shaping Allied strategy during World War II and establishing the United Nations after the war. His leadership reshaped the role of the federal government and expanded its influence in American life. Roosevelt died in office in 1945, just months before the end of WWII.

New Deal

FDR’s domestic policy encouraging ‘bold experimentation.’ Involved the ‘alphabet programs’ aimed at improving American life through the Depression. Notable programs include the SEC, CCC, and TVA

SEC

Security and Exchange Commission. Involved the regulation of the stock market and enforcement of the rules there. Requires companies to disclose financial information and fights fraud/market manipulation.

NRA

National Recovery Administration, aimed to regulate industry, establish fair wages and improve working conditions. Tried to force businesses to follow certain practices, was later ruled unconstitutional.

CCC

Civilian Conservation Corp, involved young men getting a job in helping preserve nature by planting trees, establishing reserves, fire towers etc. Helped supply jobs

WPA

Works Progress Administration, made to provide jobs. Improved infrastructure and underwent various domestic projects like the reorganization of Key West and the highway that leads there.

TVA

Tennessee Valley Authority, managed the TN River which runs through 6 states hit particularly hard by the Depression. Built dams, power plants and infrastructure to improve the life of the people there.

AAA

The AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act) was a New Deal program passed in 1933 to help farmers by reducing crop surplus and raising prices. It paid farmers to cut production, aiming to stabilize the agricultural economy during the Great Depression. The Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional in 1936.

Social Security Act

The Social Security Act, passed in 1935 as part of FDR’s New Deal, established a system of financial support for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled. It created Social Security, which provides retirement benefits funded through payroll taxes, as well as unemployment insurance and aid for vulnerable groups

Pearl Harbor

December 7th, 1941, the day that shall forever live in infamy, Japanese pilots attacked the Hawaiian naval base early in the morning, the action that brought the US directly into WW2. Was done in response to economic sanctions

Operation Overlord

The plan for the invasion of Europe by the allies, Dwight Eisenhower was in charge. First landing occured on ‘D-Day,’ June 6th. It was the largest scale military operation ever, and still is.

Dwight Eisenhower

Decorated military general in WW2, led Operation Overlord and other large military events, became the first commander of NATO after WW2

Harry S. Truman

FDR’s VP when he died, became president but as VP was kept out of the loop with American operations, was the one who made the decision to nuke Japan to end the war in the Pacific.

Yalta

Postwar meeting between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill in Yalta. Divided Germany into occupation zones, established the UN with the USSR on the security council and USSR said there would be free elections in eastern Europe (lie).

Manhattan Project

Scientific development of the nuclear weapon in America. The first testing occurred in New Mexico where all who saw knew of its destructive power. There were 2 confirmed Russian spies on the project.

Hiroshima

Japanese city that became the first site of nuclear bombing in the world. There was an army base within the city. The explosion caused over 60000 casualties and leveled the city. Occurred on August 6th, 1945.

Nagasaki

Site of the second and most recent nuclear bombing. This city had a naval base and was based in parabolic hills which slightly damped the blast. Still killed 36000 on August 9th, 1945