US History Exam 1

Reconstruction Amendments

The 13th (abolished slavery), 14th (granted citizenship and equal protection), and 15th (voting rights for African American men) amendments aimed to secure rights for freed slaves.

Freedman’s Bureau

Established in 1865 to assist former slaves with education, employment, healthcare, and legal matters.

Andrew Johnson/Impeachment

Johnson, Lincoln’s successor, was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act but was acquitted by one vote.

Election of 1876

Disputed election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden; led to the Compromise of 1877. and the end of reconstruction

Compromise of 1877

Informal agreement that awarded Hayes the presidency in exchange for the removal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction.

Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

Also known as Custer’s Last Stand, where Sioux and Cheyenne forces led by Sitting Bull defeated General Custer’s troops.

Battle of Wounded Knee (1890)

A massacre of Lakota Sioux by U.S. troops, marking the end of large-scale Native American resistance.

Frederick Jackson Turner

Historian known for the “Frontier Thesis,” arguing that the American frontier was essential in shaping the nation’s character

Transcontinental Railroad (Completed 1869)

Connected the East and West coasts, facilitating commerce, migration, and industrial expansion.

Industrial Triangle

Refers to major industrial centers, including Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago, which played key roles in U.S. economic growth.

Homestead Strike (1892)

A violent labor strike at Carnegie Steel’s Homestead plant; resulted in a crackdown on labor unions.

Post-Civil War Immigrants

Millions of immigrants, primarily from Southern and Eastern Europe, arrived seeking economic opportunities.

Ellis Island

Opened in 1892 as the main processing center for immigrants arriving on the East Coast.

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)

A Union veteran organization that influenced politics and advocated for veterans’ rights.

Gilded Age Presidents

ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison; characterized by political corruption and economic growth.

Pendleton Act (1883)

Established a merit-based civil service system, reducing the impact of political patronage.

Grover Cleveland

First president that Served two non-consecutive terms; known for opposing high tariffs and political corruption.

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Naval strategist who argued that a strong navy was key to global power in "The Influence of Sea Power upon History.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalist journalism used to sway public opinion, especially during the Spanish-American War. Making up lies that would anger the public, notably one about a american woman being strip searched by the spanish

USS Maine

U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898; led to U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.

Theodore Roosevelt

Led the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War; later became the 26th President, advocating for progressive reforms and imperial expansion.

Teller Amendment (1898)

Stated that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after winning the Spanish-American War.

Panama Canal (Completed 1914)

Strategic waterway built under Roosevelt’s leadership, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Spanish-American War (1898)

Fought between the U.S. and Spain, resulting in U.S. acquisition of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Great White Fleet (1907-1909)

A U.S. naval fleet sent on a world tour by Roosevelt to demonstrate American naval power.

Upton Sinclair

Muckraking journalist whose book The Jungle exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to food safety reforms.

Causes of World War 1

MAIN causes: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism; triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914

Zimmerman Telegram (1917)

A secret communication from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S.; helped push the U.S. into WWI.

Lusitania (1915)

British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat; over 100 Americans died, increasing tensions between the U.S. and Germany.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany’s military strategy to avoid a two-front war by quickly defeating France before turning to fight Russia.

Russian Revolution (1917)

Overthrew the czar and led to the rise of communism under Lenin, causing Russia to withdraw from WWI.

World War 1 (1914-1918)

Global war primarily involving European nations; the U.S. joined in 1917, aiding the Allied victory.

Ulysses S. Grant

Civil War general and 18th President, known for enforcing Reconstruction policies and battling corruption.