APUSH 6-8

Industrialization and Capitalism

The period saw the rise of capitalism and big business due to industrialization and technological advances, leading to the accumulation of vast fortunes by figures like Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Rockefeller. This era was marked by economic downturns and financial panics due to aggressive financial practices.

Migration and Urbanization

Migration within and to the United States increased during this time, with cities becoming hubs of economic growth attracting diverse groups like African Americans, Asians, and Europeans. Tensions arose as different ethnic groups competed for control of the Western frontier.

Intellectual and Cultural Movements

The "Gilded Age" witnessed the emergence of new intellectual movements like Social Darwinism and the Gospel of Wealth. These ideologies attempted to justify wealth inequality and urged the wealthy to aid the less fortunate. Cultural tensions persisted nationwide.

Citizens' Rights Debates

Intensified debates over citizens' rights, particularly regarding gender and race, characterized the period. The Plessy v. Ferguson case marked a setback for African Americans, upholding racial segregation and hindering progress made post-Civil War.

Transcontinental Railroad

The Transcontinental Railroad connected the U.S. from Atlantic to Pacific, accelerating frontier development. Figures like Cornelius Vanderbilt and Leland Stanford played key roles in its construction, with the Promontory Point marking its completion.

AFL

Made up of skilled laborers, making it harder to replace workers with scabs during strikes.

Collective bargaining

Negotiating between owners and a group of employees representing all others.

Closed shops

Businesses where all employees must be union members to prevent labor exploitation.

Strikebreaking

Breaking a strike to avoid concessions, often involving violence or replacement workers.

Homestead Strike

Major 1892 strike at Carnegie Steel, marked by violence and government intervention.

Pullman Palace Car Company

Produced rail cars, faced strikes due to wage cuts, leading to federal intervention.

Grover Cleveland

22nd and 24th President, involved in labor disputes and the Venezuelan crisis.

Turner’s “Frontier Thesis”

Idea that the frontier shaped American character, influencing democracy and individualism.

Forty-Niners

Immigrants seeking gold in California during the 1849 gold rush.

Greenback Party

Third party advocating for monetary reform, later merging into the Populist Party.

National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry

Founded to empower farmers against railroad owners.

Populist Party

Advocated for silver standard, income tax, and ownership of utilities.

Munn v

Supreme Court ruling allowing states to regulate businesses serving public interest.

Interstate Commerce Act

First federal regulation of private industry, focusing on railroad companies.

Battle of Little Bighorn

Sioux victory over U.S. forces, led by Lt. Colonel Custer.

Dawes Severalty Act

Stripped tribes of land rights, granted individual families land and citizenship.

Plessy v

Upheld segregation with “separate but equal” doctrine, partially overturned later.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Restricted Chinese immigration to the U.S., reflecting xenophobic sentiments.

Tammany Hall

Notorious political machine in New York City led by Boss Tweed.

Social Gospel

Movement advocating for social justice and improving the lives of the less fortunate.

Women’s Christian Temperance Union

Founded in 1873, advocated for prohibition to address issues like domestic violence, misspent wages, and adultery caused by alcohol over-consumption. Led by Frances Willard, later supported women’s suffrage and conducted missionary work.

Anti-Saloon League

Established in 1893, became a leading prohibition advocacy group by incorporating modern business practices to achieve its goals effectively.

Social Darwinists

Applied Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to society, promoting the idea of "survival of the fittest" to explain economic and social differences.

Trickle down economics

Economic theory advocating low taxes for businesses and the wealthy to stimulate the economy, benefiting society as a whole.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Co-founder of NAWSA in 1890, a suffragist and abolitionist who played a key role in the Seneca Falls conference and the Declaration of Sentiments.

Gilded Age

Period from 1870s to 1900 marked by economic growth and inequality, leading to reforms in the Progressive Era.

Rutherford B

Nineteenth President who ended Reconstruction, enacted civil service reform, and intervened in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1881

Reformed the civil service system by promoting merit-based appointments over the spoils system.

Farmers’ Alliance

Alliance of farmers that influenced politics and evolved into the Populist Party advocating for reforms like a silver standard and direct election of senators.

William Jennings Bryan

Democratic nominee known for his “Cross of Gold” speech advocating bimetallism and progressive policies, later involved in the Scopes Monkey Trial.

Social Gospel

A Protestant movement advocating social justice and reform in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, emphasizing the duty of Christians to help the less fortunate, especially the poor.

Joseph Pulitzer

A key figure in yellow journalism, associated with the Democratic Party, and founder of the Pulitzer Prize for achievements in journalism.

Muckrakers

Investigative journalists during the Progressive Era who exposed corruption and spurred reform, as termed by Theodore Roosevelt.

Direct primaries

A process where state voters nominate candidates directly, introduced in Wisconsin in 1906 by Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette.

Square Deal

President Theodore Roosevelt's progressive policy platform involving trust-busting, pro-labor laws, and environmental conservation.

Federal Reserve System

Established in 1913, comprising 12 regional banks to regulate the nation's monetary policy and serve as the lender of last resort for private banks.

Clayton Antitrust Act

A 1914 law strengthening trust-busting provisions and protecting labor unions from prosecution under the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Henry Ford

Applied scientific management principles to revolutionize factory production, leading to the creation of the affordable Ford Model T.

Calvin Coolidge

The 30th President known for his small-government conservatism and laissez-faire economic policies, succeeding Warren G. Harding.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The 32nd President who served from 1933 to 1945, implementing the New Deal in response to the Great Depression and leading the U.S. through World War II.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

Led the U.S. through the Great Depression and most of World War II, approved the Manhattan Project, and laid the groundwork for the postwar international system. Concealed his disability after a 1921 polio bout.

New Deal

Series of domestic policy initiatives by FDR to combat the Great Depression through massive government spending, avoiding potential revolutions. Included programs like the Public Works Administration and Social Security Act.

Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady of the U.S., U.N. Delegate, and chair of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Vocal supporter of civil rights and instrumental in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Brain Trust

Group of economists, professors, and politicians advising FDR on economic and political policy, akin to Andrew Jackson’s Kitchen Cabinet.

Emergency Banking Relief Act

Passed in 1933 to reopen solvent banks after the Bank Holiday, announced in FDR's fireside chats.

National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)

Protected workers' rights and organized labor, setting work hours, minimum wages, and price floors, later ruled unconstitutional in 1935.

Fair Labor Standards Act

Passed during the Second New Deal, established federal minimum wage, maximum work hours, and ended child labor.

Nineteenth Amendment

Ratified in 1920, granting women the right to vote, leading to the formation of the League of Women Voters.

Booker T

Advocated for economic success before social equality for African Americans, known for the accommodation approach. Contrast with W. E. B. Du Bois.

Harlem Renaissance

Cultural flowering in Harlem during the 1920s, changing perceptions of African Americans and contributing to American culture.

Seward’s Folly

Nickname for the 1867 purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million, later revealed to be a valuable acquisition due to the discovery of gold and oil.

Yellow journalism

Sensationalized journalism aimed at increasing newspaper readership, often at the expense of accuracy.

Teller Amendment

Added to the war declaration on Spain, promising Cuba's independence post-war, which was not fully honored.

Spanish-American War

Conflict between the US and Spain, involving US intervention in Cuba and acquisition of territories like the Philippines and Puerto Rico.

Rough Riders

Volunteer force led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War, known for their role in the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Treaty of Paris of 1898

Ended the Spanish-American War, transferring territories like Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico to the US.

Insular Cases

1901 court ruling stating that inhabitants of conquered territories did not necessarily have the same rights as US citizens.

Platt Amendment

1903 policy post-Spanish-American War giving the US significant control over Cuba.

Open Door Policy

Policy ensuring equal trade access to China, advocated by Secretary of State John Hay.

Big stick diplomacy

Teddy Roosevelt's foreign policy involving threats of military force alongside peaceful negotiations.

Roosevelt Corollary

Addition to the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt, justifying US intervention in Latin America.

U-boat

German submarines in World War I, infamous for attacks like the sinking of the Lusitania.

Zimmerman Telegram

German diplomatic message proposing an alliance with Mexico against the US, contributing to US entry into WWI.

Fourteen Points speech

President Wilson's 1918 speech outlining US war aims and peace terms in WWI.

War Industries Board

WWI agency controlling production, wages, and prices.

Selective Service Act

Instituted the draft for American males aged 21-35 during WWI.

Espionage Act

1917 law targeting antiwar activists and German-Americans during WWI.

Sedition Act (1918)

Law limiting free speech during WWI, particularly targeting antiwar activists.

League of Nations

International organization proposed by Wilson in his Fourteen Points, aimed at maintaining peace.

Reservationists

Group led by Senator Lodge supporting League of Nations ratification with reservations.

Irreconcilables

Group led by Senators Johnson and Borah opposing League of Nations ratification.

Red Scare

Period of social anxiety and paranoia about communist and anarchist infiltration post-WWI.

Adolf Hitler

Führer of Germany during WWII, responsible for the Holocaust and European fronts of the war.

Treaty of Versailles

Harsh peace treaty ending WWI, contributing to Germany's economic turmoil and rise of Hitler.

Benito Mussolini

Italian Prime Minister and fascist leader, aiming to create a new Italian Empire.

Joseph Stalin

Soviet dictator who ruled with an iron fist, purging millions and allying with Hitler before WWII.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister during WWII, known for his opposition to Hitler and leadership during the war.

Atlantic Charter

Policy statement by Roosevelt and Churchill in 1941, emphasizing free trade and self-determination post-WWII.

Pearl Harbor

Infamous Japanese surprise attack on the US naval base in Hawaii, leading to US entry into WWII.

Big Three

Label for Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin, the major Allied leaders in WWII.

Yalta Conference

1945 meeting of the Big Three finalizing postwar plans for Europe and the United Nations.

United Nations

Intergovernmental organization established in 1945 to mediate international disputes.

Dwight D

Supreme Commander of the Western Allies in Europe during WWII, later serving as US President.

D-Day

Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, marking the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France during WWII.

Battle of the Bulge

Last major German offensive on the Western Front during WWII.

Final Solution

Nazi plan for the extermination of Jewish people, leading to the Holocaust.

V-E Day

Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on May 8, 1945.

Harry S

US President who led the country through the end of WWII and the beginning of the Cold War.

Harry S

Thirty-third President of the United States who ascended to the presidency upon FDR's death. He ordered the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan and oversaw the final phases of World War II.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Japanese cities destroyed in 1945 by atomic bombs. Hiroshima was struck on August 6 by the "Little Boy" bomb, killing 80,000 instantly and 135,000 in the long-term total. Nagasaki was struck on August 9 by the "Fat Man" bomb, killing another 80,000 in total.

Office of War Information

Established during World War II to produce radio shows and news reels to inform Americans about events overseas and boost morale.

Rosie the Riveter

American propaganda symbol during World War II that celebrated women's war work.

Navajo code talkers

American Indian volunteers during World War II who translated U.S. documents into their native language to prevent enemy deciphering.

Executive Order 9066

Issued by President Roosevelt in 1942, leading to the internment of 100,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II.

GI Bill

A 1944 law providing funding for education and home loans for returning soldiers, contributing to the postwar "baby boom."