APUSH 7A Vocab

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S. engaged in imperialism by acquiring territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Schenk vs. U.S.

A 1919 Supreme Court case where the Court upheld the conviction of Charles Schenk for distributing anti-war pamphlets, ruling that speech could be restricted if it posed a "clear and present danger" to national security.

Ida Tarbell

A muckraker and investigative journalist whose articles exposed the monopolistic practices of the Standard Oil Company, contributing to the development of antitrust laws.

Preservationists

Individuals who believed in the complete protection of natural areas from human exploitation, advocating for the creation of national parks and reserves where no development would occur.

League of Nations

An international organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among nations, though the U.S. did not join, largely due to opposition in the Senate.

Espionage & Sedition Acts

Laws passed during World War I that restricted free speech by making it a crime to interfere with military operations or to criticize the U.S. government, its war efforts, or its allies.

War Industries Board

A U.S. government agency created during World War I to coordinate the production and distribution of war materials, ensuring that the military had the supplies it needed to fight the war.

Platt Amendment

A 1901 amendment to the Cuban Constitution that allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs and maintain a naval base at Guantanamo Bay, effectively making Cuba a U.S. protectorate.

Jane Addams

A social reformer and co-founder of Hull House in Chicago, which provided services to the poor, particularly immigrants, and advocated for social reforms like women's suffrage and child labor laws.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1919 treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh penalties on Germany and redrawing European borders. The U.S. Senate did not ratify it, preventing the U.S. from joining the League of Nations.

Conservationists

Individuals who advocated for the careful management and preservation of natural resources. Conservationists, like Theodore Roosevelt, supported the creation of national parks and forests.

Moral Diplomacy

A foreign policy approach, championed by President Woodrow Wilson, that aimed to promote democratic principles and human rights abroad, as opposed to imperialism or coercive diplomacy.

Muller vs. Oregon

A 1908 Supreme Court case in which the Court upheld state laws limiting women’s working hours, citing the need to protect women's health and well-being.

Jacob Riis

A muckraking journalist and photographer who exposed the harsh living conditions of the urban poor, particularly in New York City, with his influential work How the Other Half Lives.

16th Amendment

Ratified in 1913, it authorized the federal government to collect an income tax, providing a significant source of revenue for the government.

Frank Norris

A novelist and muckraker whose work, The Octopus, exposed the corrupt practices of the railroad industry and its control over California's agriculture.

Sierra Club

Founded in 1892, the Sierra Club is one of the oldest and most influential environmental organizations in the U.S., advocating for the preservation of wilderness and the protection of public lands.

 Treaty of Paris

The 1898 treaty that ended the Spanish-American War, granting the U.S. control over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and marking the beginning of American imperialism in the Pacific.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act

A 1914 law that strengthened earlier antitrust legislation by prohibiting specific practices that restricted competition, such as price discrimination and corporate mergers that would lead to monopolies.

Dollar Diplomacy

President William Howard Taft’s policy of using American economic investment to influence foreign governments, particularly in Latin America and East Asia, in an effort to enhance U.S. interests.

Henry Cabot Lodge

A prominent U.S. senator and opponent of the Treaty of Versailles, especially its provision for the League of Nations. He led the opposition to U.S. membership in the League.

17th Amendment

Ratified in 1913, it established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people, rather than being chosen by state legislatures.

Upton Sinclair

A muckraking author who exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry in his novel The Jungle, leading to reforms such as the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.

Muckrakers

Journalists and writers in the early 20th century who exposed corruption, social injustices, and abuses in business, politics, and society, leading to reforms in areas such as labor rights and corporate regulation.

Yellow Journalism

A style of sensationalist journalism that exaggerates or fabricates stories to attract readers, famously used by newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer in the lead-up to the Spanish-American War.

Sherman Anti-Trust

A 1890 law aimed at curbing monopolies and promoting competition, making it illegal to restrain trade or commerce by forming trusts or conspiracies.

Big Stick Diplomacy

A foreign policy strategy employed by Theodore Roosevelt, which emphasized the use of military power and the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick," suggesting that the U.S. would act forcefully when necessary.

 Committee on Public Info

A U.S. government agency created during World War I to promote pro-war propaganda, including posters, films, and speeches, to generate support for the war effort.

   Alien & Sedition Acts

A series of laws passed in 1798 that made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and allowed the government to imprison or deport immigrants deemed dangerous, as well as restrict speech critical of the government.

18th Amendment

Ratified in 1919, it prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States, initiating Prohibition.

 Teller Amendment

A 1898 declaration by the U.S. Congress that, after the Spanish-American War, the U.S. would not annex Cuba, but would leave control to the Cuban people once independence was achieved.