Muckrakers
Journalists who exposed corruption and abuses in politics and business during the Progressive Era.
17th Amendment
Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.
Initiative, Referendum, Recall
Processes that allow citizens to propose legislation, vote on legislation, and remove elected officials from office, respectively.
Florence Kelly
A social and political reformer who worked to improve labor conditions and advocate for women's suffrage.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
Site of a deadly fire in 1911 that led to improved factory safety standards.
Square Deal
President Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program focusing on consumer protection, natural resource conservation, and control of corporations.
Elkins Act
A law that prohibited discriminatory railroad freight rates.
The Jungle
An exposé on the meatpacking industry written by Upton Sinclair, highlighting unsanitary practices.
Meat Inspection Act
Legislation that mandated federal inspection of meat products.
Pure Food and Drug Act
Regulation that aimed to prevent the sale of contaminated food and drugs.
Conservation
The practice of protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment.
16th Amendment
Allowed the federal government to collect an income tax.
Bull Moose Party
A progressive political party formed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
A civil rights organization founded in 1909 to advocate for the rights of African Americans.
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
An organization formed to fight for women's right to vote.
William Seward
U.S. Secretary of State known for purchasing Alaska from Russia.
Queen Liliuokalani
The last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom who was overthrown in 1893.
Alfred Thayer Mahan
A naval officer whose ideas on sea power influenced naval strategy worldwide.
Pan American Conference
A series of meetings held to promote cooperation among the Americas.
Jingoism
An aggressive nationalist policy favoring war.
Yellow Journalism
Sensationalized news reporting that exaggerated facts to attract readers.
De Lome Letter
A private letter from a Spanish official criticizing President McKinley, which fueled U.S. tensions with Spain.
Teller Amendment
A provision that disclaimed any intention of the U.S. to annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War.
Treaty of Paris
The 1898 treaty that ended the Spanish-American War and ceded territories to the U.S.
Insular Cases
A series of Supreme Court cases that determined the application of the Constitution in U.S. territories.
Platt Amendment
Legislation outlining the conditions for U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs.
Sphere of Influence
A region where one nation has exclusive rights and privileges, often for trade.
Open Door Policy
A U.S. policy aimed at ensuring equal trading rights in China.
Boxer Rebellion
An anti-foreign uprising in China that aimed to end foreign influence.
Big Stick Diplomacy
The policy of negotiating peacefully while threatening with the military.
Roosevelt Corollary
An extension of the Monroe Doctrine asserting U.S. intervention in Latin America.
Great White Fleet
The U.S. Navy's fleet that sailed around the world to showcase American naval power.
Dollar Diplomacy
The U.S. policy of using economic power to influence foreign affairs.
Moral Diplomacy
Wilson's approach to foreign relations that aimed to condemn imperialism and support democracy.
Neutrality
The policy of not taking sides in a conflict.
Lusitania
A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat, influencing U.S. public opinion against Germany.
Preparedness
The policy of building up military forces in anticipation of potential conflict.
Zimmerman Telegram
A secret message from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S.
Bolsheviks
A faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party that led the Russian Revolution in 1917.
American Expeditionary Force (AEF)
The U.S. military forces sent to Europe during World War I.
Wilson’s 14 Points
President Wilson's plan for peace after World War I.
Treaty of Versailles 1919
The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations on Germany.
Henry Cabot Lodge
A leading Republican senator who opposed the League of Nations.
League of Nations
An international organization established after World War I to promote peace.
National War Labor Board
An agency created to mediate labor disputes during World War I.
Liberty Bonds
Government bonds sold to finance the war effort during World War I.
Committee on Public Information
A government agency established to influence public opinion during World War I.
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Laws that criminalized dissent against the war effort.
Schenck v. United States
A Supreme Court case that upheld limits on free speech during wartime.
Selective Service Act
A law that required men to register for military service.
Great Migration
The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North during and after World War I.