Themes midterm vocab

Northwest Ordinance

1787 law that established a procedure for territorial expansion.

Louisiana Purchase

1803 acquisition of land from France, doubling the size of the U.S. for $15 million.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

A federally funded expedition to explore the Northwest of America.

Monroe Doctrine

1823 declaration that the U.S. would oppose efforts by outside powers to control nations in the Western Hemisphere.

Andrew Jackson

The seventh president of the U.S., serving from 1829 to 1837.

Indian Removal

Policy of forced displacement of American Indian tribes from eastern U.S. to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that white Americans had the divine right to expand westward.

Mexican-American War

Conflict fought between 1846 and 1848 in areas including Texas and California.

Irish Immigration

Movement of Irish people to the U.S. in the 19th century, driven by religious conflicts and economic conditions.

Homestead Act

1862 law that encouraged western migration by providing settlers with land.

Indian Territory

Land reserved for the forced resettlement of Native Americans.

Child Labor

Work that deprives children of their childhood, prevalent until the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Annexation of Texas

Texas was declared a U.S. state and admitted to the Union as the 28th state.

American Federation of Labor

A national union providing support and resources to trade and craft workers.

Blacklisting

The practice of denying someone employment opportunities.

Haymarket Affair

A violent confrontation between police and labor protesters advocating for workers' rights.

Progressive Movement

Efforts aimed at making society better through regulation and reform.

Andrew Carnegie

Scottish-American industrialist who led the expansion of the American steel industry.

J.D. Rockefeller

Guiding force behind the creation and development of the Standard Oil Company.

J.P. Morgan

American financier and investment banker active during the Gilded Age.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

American businessman known for his wealth in railroads and shipping.

Gilded Age

A period characterized by political corruption and wealth inequality in the late 1800s.

Muckrakers

Journalists who expose wrongdoing in politics or business.

Philanthropists

Individuals who donate to charitable causes.

Chinese Exclusion Act

1882 law that prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the U.S.

Industrialization

The growth and development of industry in a country.

Urbanization

Increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas.

Immigration

Process by which individuals become permanent residents or citizens of another country.

Business Trusts

Agreements where a trustee manages property or assets for beneficiaries.

Social Darwinism

Belief that society should not interfere with individuals' pursuit of success.

Jim Crow Laws

State laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Nativists

People who seek to protect native-born Americans' interests over immigrants.

Open Immigration Policy

Position advocating for minimal restrictions on migration.

Robber Baron

Industrialists whose practices are regarded as unethical.

Transcontinental Railroad

Railroad that linked the eastern U.S. to the west.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Regulated monopolies to promote fair competition.

Meat Inspection Act

Law enforcing sanitary standards in meat processing.

Pure Food and Drug Act

Regulates the sale of misbranded food and drugs.

Suffragists

Individuals advocating for women's voting rights.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote.

NAACP

Organization aimed at abolishing segregation and promoting civil rights for African Americans.

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Economic principle suggesting minimal government interference in business.

Primaries

Elections to determine candidates for upcoming elections.

Secret Ballot

Voting method ensuring privacy of votes cast.

Referendum

Process allowing citizens to approve or reject laws passed by the legislature.

Recall

Procedure for voters to remove officials from office before the next election.

USS Maine

Battleship sent to Cuba in 1898 to protect American interests.

Conservation

Efforts to prevent the waste of natural resources, control pollution and protect the environment.

Poll Taxes

Fees required to vote, often used to restrict voting.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court case that established the separate-but-equal doctrine.

Federal Trade Commission

Agency enforcing antitrust laws and consumer protection.

Spanish-American War

Conflict leading to U.S. expansion and the end of Spain's overseas empire.