U.S. History: Gilded Age to Reagan Era

Gilded Age

A period in US history from the late 19th century characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and social issues such as inequality and corruption.

Populist Movement Goals

The goals included the free coinage of silver, regulation of railroads, and other reforms to support farmers and laborers.

Haymarket Riot

A labor protest in 1886 in Chicago that turned violent, involving workers advocating for an eight-hour workday, impacting the labor movement by associating it with violence.

Social Darwinism

A belief that the principles of natural selection and survival of the fittest apply to human societies, often used to justify social inequality.

Political Machines

Organizations that used patronage and corruption to maintain power in cities, often providing services in exchange for votes.

Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed

Tammany Hall was a New York City political organization led by Boss Tweed, known for its corrupt practices and influence in the Democratic Party.

Jacob Riis and How the Other Half Lives

A book by Jacob Riis that documented the living conditions of the urban poor in New York City, highlighting social issues and advocating for reform.

Battle of Little Big Horn

A 1876 battle between US forces led by General Custer and Native American tribes, resulting in a significant victory for the Native Americans.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls multiple stages of production, from raw materials to final products.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy where a company acquires or merges with competitors to increase market share.

Dawes Act

An 1887 law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land and reducing tribal landholdings.

Zimmermann Telegram

A secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the US during WWI, which helped sway US public opinion toward entering the war.

African Americans in WWI

Their involvement was significant as they served in segregated units and contributed to the war effort, leading to increased calls for civil rights post-war.

Rationing during WWI

A system implemented to conserve resources and supplies for the war effort, affecting food, fuel, and other commodities.

Role of the Automobile in the 1920s

The automobile transformed American society by increasing mobility, contributing to suburbanization, and spurring economic growth through assembly line production.

Margaret Sanger

A reformer who led the birth control movement, advocating for women's reproductive rights and access to contraception.

Spanish American War

A conflict in 1898 resulting in the US gaining territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, marking the US's emergence as a global power.

George Creel and WWI

He was responsible for the Committee on Public Information (CPI), which aimed to influence public opinion and promote support for the war.

Goal of the Progressive Movement

To address social issues caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption through reforms in government, labor, and women's rights.

Woodrow Wilson and Race Relations

Wilson's administration was marked by regressive policies on race, including segregation in federal offices and a lack of support for civil rights.

Philosophies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois

Washington advocated for vocational education and economic self-reliance, while Dubois emphasized civil rights and higher education for African Americans.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1919 treaty that ended WWI, imposing heavy reparations on Germany and establishing the League of Nations, which faced opposition in the US Senate.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, celebrating African American art, literature, and music.

Hoover's Response to the Depression

Hoover believed in limited government intervention and encouraged voluntary measures by businesses to address the economic crisis.

Hoovervilles

Shantytowns named after President Hoover, where homeless people lived during the Great Depression.

Huey Long's Plan

Huey Long proposed the 'Share Our Wealth' program, advocating for wealth redistribution to combat the Great Depression.

Island Hopping

A military strategy used by the Allies in WWII to capture strategic islands in the Pacific while bypassing heavily fortified ones.

AAA

The Agricultural Adjustment Act aimed to boost agricultural prices by reducing surpluses through crop production limits.

Treatment of Japanese Americans in WWII

Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and interned in camps due to wartime fears of espionage and sabotage.

Zoot Suit Riots

A series of riots in 1943 in Los Angeles between servicemen and Mexican American youths wearing zoot suits, reflecting racial tensions.

Lend-Lease Act

A program during WWII that allowed the US to supply Allied nations with war material while keeping the US neutral.

US Home Front during WWII

The economy shifted to wartime production, with increased employment and rationing of consumer goods.

Bonus Army

A group of WWI veterans who marched on Washington in 1932 demanding early payment of bonuses; the government responded with force.

Reasons for Dropping the Atomic Bomb

To hasten Japan's surrender in WWII and to avoid a costly invasion of the Japanese mainland.

Double V Campaign

A campaign during WWII advocating for victory against fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home.

Causes of the Great Depression

Factors included stock market speculation, bank failures, reduction in consumer spending, and drought conditions.

Sit-ins in Greensboro, NC

A series of nonviolent protests against segregation at lunch counters, marking a significant event in the civil rights movement.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating barriers to voting for African Americans, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Containment

A foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Marshall Plan

A US program providing aid to Western Europe after WWII to rebuild economies and prevent the spread of communism; the USSR rejected the aid.

Tet Offensive

A major North Vietnamese surprise attack during the Vietnamese New Year in 1968, significantly impacting US public opinion on the war.

Criticism of the 1950s

Some criticized the decade for its conformity, consumerism, and lack of social progress, particularly regarding civil rights.

Bay of Pigs

A failed invasion of Cuba by US-backed Cuban exiles in 1961, which increased Cold War tensions.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A congressional resolution that authorized military action in Vietnam following alleged attacks on US ships.

Joseph McCarthy

A US Senator known for his anti-communist pursuits and the term 'McCarthyism,' which involved aggressive investigations and accusations.

1960s Protests

Various groups protested against the Vietnam War, civil rights issues, and social injustices, seeking change in American society.

Truman Doctrine

A US policy established in 1947 to provide military and economic assistance to countries resisting communism.

US Reaction to Sputnik Launch

The launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957 prompted the US to increase investment in education and technology, leading to the Space Race.

Johnson's Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice, including Medicare and Medicaid.

The Feminine Mystique

A book by Betty Friedan that sparked the second wave of feminism by addressing women's dissatisfaction with traditional roles.

Conformity and Suburbanization in the 1950s

The 1950s saw a rise in suburban living and a culture of conformity, exemplified by developments like Levittowns.

US Tactics in Vietnam

The US employed tactics such as airstrikes, search-and-destroy missions, and ground troop deployments, but faced challenges in achieving success.

Kent State Incident

In 1970, National Guardsmen shot and killed four students during a protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State University.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, which brought the world close to nuclear war.

Goals of Martin Luther King, Jr.

To achieve civil rights through nonviolent protest, advocating for racial equality and justice.

Nixon and Vietnamization

A policy aimed at reducing American involvement in the Vietnam War by transferring combat responsibilities to South Vietnamese forces.

Nixon's Policy of Détente

A foreign policy aimed at easing tensions between the US and the Soviet Union through diplomatic negotiations.

Nixon and SALT I Treaty

The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks treaty signed in 1972 aimed at curbing the arms race between the US and the USSR.

Nixon's Resignation

Nixon resigned in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal, which undermined public trust in government.

Significance of the Watergate Scandal

The scandal led to a decline in public trust in government and increased skepticism about political leaders.

Jimmy Carter and the Iran Hostage Crisis

A crisis in which 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days, significantly impacting Carter's presidency.

American Economy in the 1970s

The economy faced challenges such as stagflation, characterized by high inflation and unemployment.

Immigration to the US in the 20th Century

Most immigrants in the last 20 years of the 20th century came from Asia and Latin America, influenced by immigration law reforms in 1965.

Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative

A proposed missile defense system intended to protect the US from nuclear missile attacks during the Cold War.

Reaganomics

An economic policy based on supply-side economics, advocating for tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending.