Unit 2 Overview: American History

These flashcards cover important vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on American history, including events and policies that shaped the nation.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, founded in 1607 for financial gain.

Bacon's Rebellion

A rebellion in 1676 led by Nathaniel Bacon against the Governor of Virginia, stemming from dissatisfaction with government collaboration with Native Americans.

House of Burgesses

The first representative assembly in the American colonies, established in Virginia.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims establishing self-governance in Plymouth Colony.

Salutary Neglect

The British policy of allowing the colonies considerable freedom to self-govern as long as they remained economically loyal.

Sugar Act

A 1764 act aimed at reducing the smuggling of sugar and molasses and raising revenue from the colonies.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest against British taxes, where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive measures passed by Britain in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 advocating for independence from Britain.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order issued by Lincoln in 1863 freeing slaves in Confederate-held territory.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the expansion of the U.S. across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The 1848 treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, resulting in U.S. acquisition of territories including California and New Mexico.

Wilmot Proviso

An unsuccessful 1846 proposal to ban slavery in territory acquired from Mexico.

Bleeding Kansas

A term referring to the violent conflicts in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.

Dred Scott Case

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 that ruled African Americans were not citizens and had no standing to sue.

The New Deal

A series of programs and reforms enacted by Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression.

Isolationism

A foreign policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.

Lend-Lease Act

A 1941 program under which the U.S. supplied Allied nations with war material in World War II.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s for African Americans to gain equal rights.

Prohibition

A nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933.

Isolationism

U.S. practice of not getting involved in foreign affairs after WWI, marked by the Senate vetoing the League of Nations.

Neutrality Acts (1935-1937)

Laws aimed at making it harder for the U.S. to become involved in foreign conflicts.

Nye Committee

A committee that suggested the U.S. was pushed into WWI by bankers.

Dawes Plan (1924)

A plan where the U.S. loaned money to Germany, which was used to pay Britain and France, who in turn paid the U.S. back.

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

An agreement among 63 nations to not resort to war as a means of conflict resolution.

U.S. reactions to fascism (pre-WWII)

Rise of fascism in Italy and France concerned Americans, particularly regarding Hitler's practices resembling Southern slavery.

German Expansion

Germany's expansion during WWII was concerning to the U.S. after France fell.

Japanese Expansion

Japanese actions in Asia raised concerns during the pre-WWII period.

Cash and Carry

U.S. practice where Britain could obtain supplies but had to pay in cash and transport them on their own ships.

Lend Lease

A program to supply Britain with war materials with the expectation of repayment.

Pearl Harbor

A Japanese attack that provoked U.S. involvement in WWII, ending isolationism.

War Production Board

Government agency that coordinated with private corporations to ramp up war production.

Women in the Workforce

During WWII, women took on jobs traditionally held by men, challenging gender norms.

Tuskegee Airmen

A group of African-American military pilots who served in WWII, symbolizing African-American contributions.

A. Philip Randolph

Civil rights activist who organized a march on D.C. focused on military discrimination.

Executive Order 8802

An order banning racial discrimination in the military and investigating racial issues.

Double Victory Campaign

The effort for both victory against the Axis powers and victory over racism at home.

Bracero Program

A program that brought in Mexican workers for American agriculture during WWII.

Zoot Suit Riot

A series of riots in L.A. resulting from racial tensions involving Mexican-American youths.

Japanese Internment Camps

Camps where Japanese-Americans were concentrated during WWII, particularly under Executive Order 9066.

Korematsu v. United States

A Supreme Court case that upheld the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic depression that took place during the 1930s, impacting factories and employment levels in the U.S.

U.S. Mobilization

The process during WWII that led to the end of the Great Depression through increased government spending and employment.

Unemployment reduction

During WWII mobilization, unemployment dropped by 85% as millions of Americans found jobs in war-related industries.

GDP Increase

The U.S. GDP increased by 50% during the war due to government spending focused on military production.

FDR's Arsenal for Democracy

Term used by Franklin D. Roosevelt to describe the U.S. role in supplying allies with military equipment during WWII.

Refurbishment of factories

Old factories were refurbished for production of war materials during World War II, employing many individuals.

Women in non-traditional jobs

Women began working in roles traditionally held by men during WWII, such as welding and construction, challenging stereotypes.

Women's professional baseball league

Formed during WWII as women took on roles in sports while men were drafted into military service.

Tuskegee Airmen

A group of African-American military pilots who were recognized for their contributions during WWII, combating racial stereotypes.

A. Philip Randolph's march on D.C.

A planned march organized to fight against discrimination in the military, ultimately leading to Executive Order 8802.

Executive Order 8802

Established by FDR to investigate and eliminate racial discrimination in the military and defense industries.

Double Victory Campaign

A campaign aimed at achieving victory against Axis powers abroad and fighting racism at home.

Bracero Program

Initiated during WWII to bring Mexican laborers into the U.S. for agricultural work, leading to racial tensions.

Zoot Suit Riot

A series of riots in Los Angeles in the 1940s fueled by racial tensions between servicemen and Mexican-American youths.

Japanese internment

The forced relocation and internment of Japanese-Americans in camps during WWII due to national security concerns.

FDR's Executive Order 9066

An order that authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, leading to widespread civil liberties violations.

Korematsu v. United States

A landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the government's decision to intern Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Civil liberties

Rights and freedoms that protect individuals from government actions, which were restricted for Japanese-Americans during WWII.

Women in sports

Women began participating in sports typically reserved for men, creating new opportunities as the war effort increased.

4 million individuals employed

During WWII mobilization, an additional 4 million people found work, reflecting the scale of government involvement in the economy.

War Production Board

Established to oversee the conversion of industries to war production and to manage the allocation of resources.

Manufacturing focus

The U.S. government coordinated with the private sector to prioritize the manufacturing of war materials during WWII.

Restriction of civil liberties

Government actions during WWII that limited the rights of certain groups, particularly Japanese-Americans.

Increased racial tensions

The influx of Mexican workers and the internment of Japanese-Americans contributed to heightened racial tensions in the U.S.

War economy

An economy that is focused on production for military goods and services, heavily influencing U.S. industry during WWII.

Military discrimination

Disparities in treatment within the military based on race, which activists like A. Philip Randolph sought to combat.

Support for Allies

Early in WWII, the U.S. provided support for Britain under policies like Cash and Carry and Lend-Lease.

Cash and Carry

A policy allowing countries at war to purchase goods from the U.S. if they paid in cash and transported them themselves.

Lend-Lease program

A program that allowed the U.S. to supply military aid to foreign nations, primarily Britain, during WWII.

Role of American women

During WWII, American women took on significant roles in manufacturing and other fields previously reserved for men.

Impact of WWII on minorities

World War II opened new opportunities for African-Americans and other minorities, despite ongoing racial discrimination.