APUSH Vocab 2024 (3)

arable

capable of producing crops; suitable for farming; suitable to the plow and for tillage

bonanza

rich mass of ore, as found in mining

severalty

regarding an estate, especially land, the condition of being held or owned by separate and individual right; private land ownership

subjugate

to bring under complete control or subjection; to conquer or master

dry farming

type of farming practiced in arid regions without sufficient irrigation, such as planting drought-resistant crops, or especially by maintaining a fine surface mulch that protects the natural soil moisture from evaporation

husbandry

cultivation or production of plants or animals

ghost dance

religious movement that swept the Plains Indians in 1890; stemming from the preaching of a Paiute named Wokova, it promised that whites would disappear and natives would have peace and prosperity

sooner

a person who settled on land in the west, especially oklahoma, before its official opening in order to gain the first claim allowed by law

extortion

crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one’s office or authority; charging an oppressive or excessive price or interest; blackmail

landslide

an overwhelming majority of votes that sweeps a political party or candidate into office

populism

the political philosophy of the ‘people’s party of america’ (ca. 1892); grass-roots democracy; working class activism; egalitarianism; appealing to or concerned with the aims of ordinary people

quorum

minimum number of members in a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a simple majority

logrolling

the trading of favors, usually votes for legislation, by politicians in a ‘quid pro quo’ manner

bimetallism

the use of 2 metals, especially gold and silver, as a monetary standard or as a ‘legal tender,’ usually at a predetermined ratio (1:16 ounces); the opposite of the ‘gold standard’ (using only one metal)

slush fund

unregulated money used for bribing public officials, carrying on corruptive propaganda, or any other illicit purposes

imperialism

the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies

isolationism

national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with foreign countries

hegemony

leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others; aggression or expansionism by large or more powerful nations in an effort to achieve world domination

chaurinism

zealous and aggressive patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; biased devotion to any group, culture, attitude, or cause

indemnity

sum of money paid as compensation for a loss or other financial burden, especially a sum exacted by a victor in a war as a condition of peace

fiat

an authoritative decree or order

coup d’etat

(french for ‘strike’ or ‘blow to the state’) sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government; the violent alteration or overthrow of an existing government by a small group

yellow journalism

newspaper that specialized in sensationalistic reporting beginning in the late 19th century, and which are generally associated with the inflammation rhetoric leading up to the spanish-american war

jingoism

loud and excessive patriotism, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose/chauvinist rhetoric

protectorate

a relationship of partial control (and protection) assumed by a superior power over a dependent country or region

isthmus

narrow strip of land, bordered on both sides by water, connecting two larger bodies of land (such as panama)

concession

grant of land or property, especially by a government, in return for services or for a particular use

partition

to divide into parts

pulpit

an elevated or raised platform or lectern, in a church or a chapel, from which the preacher delivers a sermon (pres. T.R. called the Exec. branch a ‘bully pulpit’)

corollary

any proposition that follows from, and is often appended to, one already proven or accepted (roosevelt corollary)

progressivism

wide ranging, 20th century reform movement that advocated government activism to mitigate the problems created by urban industrialization; emphasized by belief in empirical social science, morality, and administrative efficiency

arbitration

the settling of differences or a dispute by a 3rd party or persons, chosen or agreed to by the disputants, who then imposes a legally binding decision

muckraker

journalists in the early 20th century exposed the corruption of big business, government, or social injustice