Period 7 APUSH Vocab

Alfred Thayer Mahan

A U.S. naval officer and historian who argued that control of the sea was crucial to world dominance and advocated for a strong navy.

Queen Liliuokalani

The last monarch of Hawaii, overthrown in 1893 after U.S. business interests backed a coup; she tried unsuccessfully to restore Hawaii’s independence.

Pan-American Conference

A series of international meetings initiated by the U.S. to foster economic cooperation and solidarity among Western Hemisphere countries, with the first meeting in 1889.

Jingoism

Extreme nationalism and patriotism, often linked with aggressive foreign policy and military intervention.

Cuban Revolt

A series of uprisings in Cuba against Spanish rule, leading to U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized and exaggerated newspaper reporting that played a role in stirring public emotions and swaying opinion during the Spanish-American War.

De Lome Letter

A letter criticizing President McKinley by the Spanish ambassador, which, when published, fueled anti-Spanish sentiment in the U.S.

Teller Amendment

An amendment asserting that the U.S. would not annex Cuba but would allow the Cuban people to control their own government.

Platt Amendment

A 1901 amendment giving the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuba’s affairs and establish a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Sphere of Influence

A geographic area where a foreign power has exclusive trading rights and control over resources.

George Dewey

U.S. naval officer known for defeating the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

Emilio Aguinaldo

Leader of the Filipino independence movement against Spanish rule and later against American colonization.

Rough Riders

A volunteer cavalry regiment led by Theodore Roosevelt known for their charge up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.

Hawaii

An island group annexed by the U.S. in 1898, becoming a state in 1959 after the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani.

Theodore Roosevelt

The 26th U.S. president known for progressive policies, the Spanish-American War role, and Panama Canal construction.

Open Door Policy

A U.S. policy seeking equal trading rights for all nations in China and preserving China's territorial integrity.

Boxer Rebellion

A violent uprising in China (1899-1901) against foreign influence, suppressed by an international coalition.

Panama Canal

A man-made waterway completed in 1914, significantly reducing shipping routes between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

William Howard Taft

The 27th U.S. president known for 'Dollar Diplomacy' to influence Latin America and Asia through economic power.

Dollar Diplomacy

A foreign policy that promoted American business interests abroad, particularly in Latin America and East Asia.

Roosevelt Corollary

The 1904 addition to the Monroe Doctrine claiming U.S. intervention rights in Latin America to maintain stability.

Russo-Japanese War

A war (1904-1905) between Russia and Japan over territorial disputes, with the U.S. brokering peace.

Puerto Rico

An island acquired by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War, it became a U.S. territory with citizens lacking voting representation.

Woodrow Wilson

The 28th U.S. president known for his leadership in World War I and proposal for the League of Nations.

Moral Diplomacy

Wilson's foreign policy focusing on promoting democratic ideals and human rights over economic interests.

Pragmatism

A philosophical approach emphasizing practical consequences and real-world results as keys to truth.

Ida Tarbell

A pioneering investigative journalist known for her exposé on Standard Oil.

Jacob Riis

A journalist who exposed living conditions of the urban poor in 'How the Other Half Lives,' influencing social reform.

Muckrakers

Journalists investigating and exposing corruption and social injustices in politics and business during the early 20th century.

Florence Kelley

A social reformer advocating for improved labor conditions, especially for women and children.

Triangle Shirtwaist fire

A tragic factory fire in 1911 in NYC, killing 146 workers, highlighting the need for labor reforms.

16th Amendment

An amendment authorizing Congress to levy an income tax, shifting the tax burden to the wealthy.

17th Amendment

An amendment establishing the direct election of U.S. senators by the people.

18th Amendment

An amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages (Prohibition).

Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt’s domestic program focused on fairness in business, labor, and consumer protection.

Mann-Elkins Act

A 1910 law expanding the regulatory powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

The Jungle

A 1906 novel exposing unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to reforms.

“Bull Moose” Party

A progressive political party formed by Theodore Roosevelt after a split in the Republican Party.

Booker T. Washington

An African American educator advocating for vocational education and gradual equality.

W.E.B. Du Bois

An African American scholar and civil rights activist co-founding the NAACP.

NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, formed in 1909 to advocate for African American civil rights.

Alice Paul

A suffragist who campaigned for the 19th Amendment and women's rights.

19th Amendment

The amendment granting women the right to vote.

Lusitania

A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, contributing to U.S. entry into World War I.

Preparedness

A policy involving military build-up adopted by Wilson before U.S. entry into WWI.

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret German proposal to Mexico to ally against the U.S., intercepted and influencing U.S. entry into WWI.

John J. Pershing

Commander of U.S. Expeditionary Forces in WWI.

George Creel

Head of the Committee on Public Information during WWI, promoting war propaganda.

Bolsheviks

A Marxist party in Russia that seized power during the 1917 revolution, leading to a communist government.

Fourteen Points

Wilson's principles for peace post-WWI aimed at addressing causes of the war.

League of Nations

An international organization created post-WWI to promote cooperation, which the U.S. didn't join.

Henry Cabot Lodge

A Republican senator key in opposing U.S. membership in the League of Nations after WWI.

Self-Determination

The principle that a people should have the right to govern themselves.

Reparations

Payments made by a country for damages caused during a war, primarily enforced on Germany after WWI.

Mobilization

The process of preparing a country's resources for war.

Liberty Bonds

War bonds sold to finance the U.S. war effort during WWI.

Spanish Flu

A pandemic in 1918-1919 killing millions, affecting post-WWI recovery.

Schenck v. United States

A 1919 Supreme Court case ruling speech can be restricted if it poses a clear and present danger.

Selective Service Act

A 1917 law authorizing draft for WWI.

The Red Scare (1st)

A period of fear of communism in the U.S. post-WWI.

Palmer Raids

Raids led by A. Mitchell Palmer targeting suspected radicals in 1919 and 1920.

Nativism

A belief favoring native-born inhabitants over immigrants.

Sacco & Vanzetti

Italian immigrants controversially convicted of murder in 1921, sparking protests.

The Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the South to the North between 1916 and 1970 for better opportunities.

Fundamentalism

A conservative religious movement advocating literal interpretation of the Bible.

Traditionalism

A belief in maintaining established customs in the face of social change.

Henry Ford

Founder of Ford Motor Company, innovator of the assembly line process.

Assembly Line Process

A manufacturing process where each worker performs a specific task in sequence.

Art Deco

A 1920s-1930s design style characterized by bold shapes and vibrant colors.

Charles Lindbergh

Aviator who made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927.

Modernism

A cultural movement seeking to break from traditional norms and embrace innovation.

Scopes Trial

A 1925 legal case challenging the ban on teaching evolution in schools.

“Scarface” Al Capone

A notorious gangster who dominated organized crime during Prohibition.

Margaret Sanger

An advocate for birth control and women's reproductive rights, founding Planned Parenthood.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement in the 1920s celebrating African American culture.

“Jazz Age”

A term reflecting the cultural transformations of the 1920s characterized by jazz music.

Marcus Garvey

A political leader advocating for Black nationalism and Pan-Africanism.

Warren G. Harding

The 29th president known for scandals and the slogan 'Return to Normalcy'.

“Return to Normalcy”

Harding's campaign slogan promising a return to pre-WWI conditions.

Teapot Dome

A political scandal involving bribery for leasing government oil reserves.

Calvin Coolidge

The 30th president known for pro-business policies and economic conservatism.

Herbert Hoover

The 31st president during the onset of the Great Depression.

Alfred E. Smith

Governor of New York and the first Catholic presidential nominee in a major party.

Great Depression

A severe global economic downturn beginning in 1929.

Black Tuesday

October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed.

Federal Reserve

The central banking system of the U.S. responsible for regulating money supply.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

A high tariff law passed in 1930 that worsened the Great Depression.

Bonus Army/Bonus March

A protest by WWI veterans demanding early payment of bonuses, ended violently.

RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation)

An agency created in 1932 to provide financial support during the Great Depression.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The 32nd president known for his leadership during the Great Depression and WWII.

21st Amendment

The amendment repealing Prohibition in 1933.

Three Rs

Principles of Roosevelt's New Deal: Relief, Recovery, Reform.

First New Deal

Roosevelt's initial reforms addressing the Great Depression.

Fireside Chats

Roosevelt's radio broadcasts to directly communicate with the American public.

New Deal Programs

Programs initiated by Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression.

FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

An agency created to insure bank deposits and restore trust in the banking system.

Social Security Act

A 1935 law providing unemployment insurance and pensions.

Eleanor Roosevelt

First lady known for her advocacy for civil rights and social reform.

Huey P. Long

A populist politician advocating wealth redistribution during the Great Depression.

Father Charles E. Coughlin

A critic of the New Deal who advocated for more radical economic policies.