APUSH Regents

Gentleman’s Agreement

An informal understanding between the United States and Japan in the early 20th century, where Japan agreed to limit the emigration of its citizens to the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. addressing the treatment of Japanese Americans.

Wilson’s 14 Points

A statement of principles for peace to be used for negotiations to end World War I, proposed by President Woodrow Wilson. The points emphasized self-determination, free trade, and the establishment of a League of Nations to ensure lasting peace.

Gentleman’s Agreement

An informal understanding between the United States and Japan in the early 20th century, where Japan agreed to limit the emigration of its citizens to the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. addressing the treatment of Japanese Americans.

Wilson’s 14 Points

A statement of principles for peace to be used for negotiations to end World War I, proposed by President Woodrow Wilson. The points emphasized self-determination, free trade, and the establishment of a League of Nations to ensure lasting peace.

Truman Doctrine

The U.S. policy established in 1947 to provide political, military, and economic assistance to countries resisting communism, specifically aimed at Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program initiated in 1948 aimed at economic recovery in Europe following World War II, providing financial aid to help rebuild European economies and prevent the spread of communism.

Eisenhower Doctrine

U.S. foreign policy declared in 1957, offering military and economic assistance to Middle Eastern countries resisting communist aggression.

Nixon Doctrine

U.S. policy announced in 1969 that aimed to reduce American military involvement in Asian conflicts, emphasizing support to allies to defend themselves against communist threats.

22nd Amendment

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1951 that limits U.S. presidents to two terms in office, establishing a maximum of ten years for anyone who assumes the presidency mid-term.

26th Amendment

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1971 that lowered the voting age to 18 years, ensuring that citizens who are 18 years or older cannot be denied the right to vote.

Compromise of 1850

A series of legislative measures aimed at resolving tensions between slave and free states, including California's admission as a free state and the Fugitive Slave Act.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

The federal law enacted in 1890 to combat monopolistic practices by prohibiting contracts, combinations, or conspiracies that restrain trade or commerce.

Interstate Commerce Commision

A regulatory agency established in 1887 to oversee the railroad industry and ensure fair rates and practices in interstate commerce.

Emergency Quota Act

A 1921 law that established numerical limits on immigration to the United States, favoring immigrants from Northern and Western Europe while restricting those from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Dawes Act

A 1887 law aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land and granting them US citizenship.

Clayton Anti-Trust Act

A 1914 federal law that aimed to strengthen antitrust protections and prevent anti-competitive practices by prohibiting certain business practices and supporting labor unions.

Lend Lease Act

A 1941 program that provided military aid to foreign allies during World War II, allowing the US to supply Britain and other nations with war materials.

Americans with Disabilities Act

A 1990 civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in various areas, including employment, public accommodations, and transportation.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

A 1964 congressional resolution that authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war, significantly escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

War Powers Act

A 1973 law that limits the President's ability to engage U.S. forces in military actions without congressional approval. The Act mandates that the President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and limits military engagement to 60 days without congressional consent.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The treaty was signed on September 3, 1783, and established boundaries for the new nation, granting the U.S. control over land from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River.

Treaty of Ghent

The treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, restoring pre-war boundaries and trade relations.

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

A series of agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at curtailing the manufacture of strategic ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.

Populist Party

A political party in the United States in the late 19th century that sought to represent the interests of farmers and laborers, advocating for issues like currency reform and government ownership of railroads.

Federalist Party

The first political party in the United States, formed in the 1790s, that supported a strong national government and was led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton. It advocated for a loose interpretation of the Constitution and supported industrial development.

Democratic Republicans

A political party in the early United States that emerged in opposition to the Federalist Party, advocating for agrarian interests, states' rights, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

War of 1812

A military conflict between the United States and Great Britain that lasted from 1812 to 1815, primarily caused by British interference with American shipping and the expansionist desires of American settlers.

Mexican War

A conflict between US and Mexico; expansionist desires of US, annexation of Texas.

Spanish American War

Ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas; US acquisition of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines. Marked US emergence as a world power.

Causes of the Great Depression

Stock market crash, bank failures, government policies

Impacts of the Great Depression

unemployment, low industrial production, deflation, agricultural crisis, New Deal, Dust Bowl, gov. intervention.

Progressives

aimed to address problems arising from rapid industrialization and urbanization. Gov action, improve conditions, fix monopolies.

Relief, Recovery, and Reform

CCC; AAA; SSA

New Deal Criticism

intervened too much

Amendment Process

proposal, ratification

Judicial Interpretation

the way in which the judiciary construes the law

Delegated Powers

federal gov

Implied Powers

granted to the US gov that are not explicitly stated in the constitution.

Denied Powers

denied to nation and state gov branches to maintain balance and fairness.

Concurrent Powers

both federal and state gov

Reserved Powers

state gov

Solid South

electoral voting block for the democratic party between the end of Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Act

Radical Republicans

complete and permanent eradication of slavery.

Missouri Compromise

Missouri was a slave state, Maine was a free state, divided on 36’30

Carpetbagger

Northerners who moved to the south seeking political and economic opportunities during reconstruction.

United Nations

international organization; keep the peace; 1945

Warsaw Pact

1955 soviet union and east european allies (satellite states) against NATO

38th Parallel

Korea dividing line

McCarthyism

anti-communism, making accusations with no evidence; senator Joseph McCarthy; red scare

Warren Court

liberal, expanded civil rights and judicial power

Great Society

Lyndon B Johnson; eliminate poverty and racial injustice; expand social welfare programs

Watergate

political scandal; nixon administration attemps to cover up the break in at Democratic National Committee HQ in Watergate Hotel; led to nixon’s resignation

Stagflation

Stagnant growth, high unemployment, and high inflation.

Collective Bargaining

workers through union negotiate contracts with their employers to determine the terms of their employment.

Lobby

efforts by individuals or groups to influence government decisions, particularly legislation.

Free Silver

movement advocating for the unlimited coinage of silver alongside gold, to increase money supply and ease debt burdens.

Great Awakening

religious revivals in the colonies in the mid-1700s; Johnathan Edwards, George Whitfield, Baptists and Methodists increased.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

repealed Missouri Compromise, popular sovereignty for slavery, split up Kansas and Nebraska

Federal Reserve System

managed the nation’s money supply, regulate banks to prevent financial instability; 12 regional banks overseen by the federal board

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalism over facts; exaggeration and emotional appeals; Pulitzer and Hearst

Jingoism

aggressive nationalism, eagerness for military force in foreign policy.

The Maine

sank in Havana harbor, led to Spanish American war (US blamed Spain)

Lusitania

British ship sunk by a German U-boat; killed 128 Americans, influenced our entry into WWI

Treaty of Versailles

Formally ended WWI, placed harsh punishments on Germany, League of Nations, War guilt Clause; US did not sign treaty

Treaty of Paris (1947)

Ended WWII

League of Nations

created in the Treaty of Versailles, created to ensure lasting peace after WWI, isolationist US senators did not approve.

Coolidge Prosperity

Period of economic growth during Coolidges’ presidency, Roaring Twenties; increase in consumer spending, tax cuts, reduced government spending.

flapper

young women in 1920s who embraced a more liberal lifestyle; short skirts, bobbed hair, taste for jazz and nightlife.

WRA camps

internment camps (War Relocation Authority camps)

Camp David Accords

pair of political agreements signed by Egyptian President and Israeli Prime Minister (facilitated by Jimmy Carter) in 1978; led to a peace treaty in 1979, which formally ended the state of war between Egypt and Israel.

Point 4 Program

foreign policy initiative launched in 1949 by Harry Truman; aimed to provide technical assistance and economic aid to underdeveloped areas in Africa, Asia and Latin America. (Fourth point in Truman’s 1949 inaugural address)

NATO

military alliance (1949) established by US and several Western European nations; formed to provide security against the USSR and its influence in Cold War; collective defense (an attack against one member is considered an attack against all)

HUAC

House Committee on Un-American Activities; congressional committee (1938) to investigate alleged disloyalty (communist ties); often associated with McCarthyism.

Little Rock

1957; nine African American students faced resistance integrating into a previously all-white high school; pivotal moment in Civil Rights Movement

Affirmative Action

policies and practices designed to address past and present discrimination by promoting opportunities for historically excluded groups (racial minorities and women) in education, employment, etc.

Peace Corps.

US gov agency (1961) to promote world peace and friendship through volunteer service; sends American volunteers to developing nations to assist with various projects in areas such as education, health, agriculture, etc.

Bay of Pigs

failed 1961 US-sponsored attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist government in Cuba; CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs, but were quickly defeated; embarrassment for Kennedy administration, heightened Cold War tensions.

Guerilla Warfare

military actions conducted by small, irregular forces (civilians), using tactics like ambushes, raids, and sabotage to harass and weaken a larger, more conventional enemy

Supply-Side Economics

theory arguing that stimulating the economy by increasing the production of goods and services is the most effective way to promote economic growth; tax cuts, deregulation, reduced government spending can lead to overall economic prosperity.

Patriot Act

enacted in response to 9/11; expanded surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism (electronic monitoring).