U.S. History Midterm Study Guide

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts and terms for the U.S. History midterm exam.

Declaration of Independence

A document declaring the colonies' independence from British rule.

Northwest Ordinance

A law that established a procedure for admitting new states to the Union.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, creating a weak federal government.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework of government.

Federalist Beliefs

Support for a strong central government and the ratification of the Constitution.

Anti Federalist Beliefs

favored weaker central government; favored state sovereignty.

Federalist & Anti Federalist Papers

Essays arguing for and against the ratification of the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War focused on rebuilding the South and integrating freed slaves.

Reconstruction Amendments

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments aimed at integrating former slaves into society.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law regardless of race.

15th Amendment

Granted African American men the right to vote.

Jim Crow Laws

State laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Industrialization

The transition to widespread manufacturing and production in the economy.

Working Conditions in Gilded Age

Often unsafe and unsanitary environments with long hours and low wages.

Urbanization

The migration of people from rural areas to cities.

Living Conditions in Gilded Age

Usually overcrowded, poor sanitation, and inadequate housing conditions in cities.

Labor Unions

Organized groups of workers advocating for better working conditions and wages.

Indian Residential Schools

Institutions aimed at assimilating Native American children by removing them from their families.

Progressive Era

A period of social activism and political reform in the United States from the 1890s to 1920s.

The Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North.

Robber Barons

Wealthy industrialists who were accused of exploiting workers and resources.

Pure Food & Drug Act

A law regulating the labeling and safety of food and pharmaceuticals.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A law prohibiting monopolistic business practices.

Temperance Movement

A social movement aiming to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption.

Women’s Suffrage Movement

A movement advocating for women's right to vote.

Progressive Amendments

The 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Amendments aimed at social and political reforms.

16th Amendment

Allowed the federal government to impose an income tax.

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of U.S. senators by the voters.

18th Amendment

Prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote.

Spanish-American War

A conflict resulting in the U.S. gaining territories from Spain in 1898.

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret message from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S.

Lusitania Sinking

The sinking of a British ocean liner by a German submarine that contributed to U.S. involvement in WWI.

M.A.I.N. Causes of WWI

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism as the main causes of World War I.

WWI Technological Advances

Innovations like tanks, airplanes, and chemical warfare that changed combat.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations on Germany.

League of Nations

An international organization formed after WWI to promote peace; ultimately ineffective.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem during the 1920s.

Jazz Age

A period in the 1920s characterized by the popularity of jazz music and dance.

Flapper Girls

Young women in the 1920s who challenged social norms with their fashion and behavior.

Roaring 1920s

A decade of economic prosperity and cultural change in the United States.

Great Depression Causes

Various factors including stock market crash, bank failures, and reduction in consumer spending.

American Consumerism

A culture focused on the purchase of goods and services.

Stock Market Crash

The dramatic decline in stock prices in 1929 that contributed to the Great Depression.

Life during the Great Depression

Characterized by high unemployment, widespread poverty, and economic hardship.

The Dust Bowl

A severe drought that affected the Southern Plains in the 1930s, leading to agricultural collapse.

Hooverville

Shantytowns built by homeless people during the Great Depression.