Key Concepts in U.S. History

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts in U.S. history based on lecture notes.

Presidential Reconstruction

President Andrew Johnson's lenient approach to reintegrating Southern states after the Civil War.

Congressional Reconstruction

Period aimed by Radical Republicans to ensure civil rights and equality for newly freed slaves, including passing the 14th and 15th Amendments.

Thaddeus Stevens

Leading Radical Republican who advocated aggressive Reconstruction policies and land redistribution.

40 Acres and a Mule

A proposal during Reconstruction for providing freed African American families with land and a mule for economic independence.

Freedmen’s Bureau

Federal agency that assisted freed slaves and poor whites in the South by providing various forms of support.

Oliver Kelley

Founder of the National Grange, which aimed to improve the welfare of farmers and challenge industrialists.

Tenure of Office Act

1867 law restricting the president's power to remove officeholders without Senate approval, relating to Andrew Johnson's impeachment.

Jim Crow Laws

State laws enforcing racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans in the Southern U.S.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Booker T. Washington

African American leader promoting vocational education and economic self-sufficiency for Black Americans.

Marcus Garvey

Founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) promoting Black nationalism and the 'Back to Africa' movement.

W.E.B. DuBois

Civil rights activist opposing accommodationist approaches, advocating for immediate equality for African Americans.

Andrew Carnegie

Scottish immigrant who led the U.S. steel industry and emphasized philanthropy.

John D. Rockefeller

Founder of Standard Oil, known for monopolizing the oil industry through aggressive business practices.

Black Codes

Laws aimed at restricting the freedoms of African Americans post-Civil War.

Urbanization: Problems

Challenges faced due to rapid urbanization, such as overcrowding and inadequate services.

Ethnic Ghettos

Neighborhoods dominated by specific immigrant groups, often facing poor living conditions.

Haymarket Riot

1886 labor strike in Chicago that led to a violent confrontation and backlash against labor movements.

Samuel Gompers

Founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) focused on improving wages and working conditions.

Homestead Strike

1892 violent clash at Carnegie's steel plant, illustrating labor struggles for better conditions.

Theodore Roosevelt

26th U.S. president known for progressive reforms and trust-busting.

USS Maine

Battleship explosion in Havana Harbor in 1898 that contributed to the start of the Spanish-American War.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

1911 industrial disaster leading to improved labor laws and workplace safety reforms.

Upton Sinclair

Author of 'The Jungle,' which exposed meatpacking industry conditions and led to food safety laws.

Federal Reserve System

Central banking system established in 1913 to stabilize and regulate the U.S. financial system.

War Revenue Act

WWI law that increased taxes to fund the U.S. war effort.

The Great Migration

Mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas seeking better opportunities.

Lusitania

British ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, influencing U.S. entry into WWI.

Zimmermann Telegram

Secret German proposal to Mexico to join WWI against the U.S., contributing to American involvement.

Alice Paul

Leader in the women’s suffrage movement and advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment.

Flappers

Young women in the 1920s who defied social norms, embracing new fashions and behaviors.

Volstead Act

1919 law enforcing Prohibition, banning the production and sale of alcohol.

Bonus Army Incident

1932 protest by WWI veterans in Washington, D.C., demanding early bonus payment.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

32nd U.S. president known for New Deal programs combating the Great Depression.

Fireside Chats

Radio broadcasts by FDR that aimed to connect with the American public during the Great Depression.

The New Deal

A series of reforms introduced by FDR to address economic hardships during the Great Depression.

Social Security Act

1935 legislation establishing a system for assistance to the elderly, unemployed, and disabled.

Lend Lease Act

1941 program allowing U.S. military aid to foreign nations during WWII without immediate payment.

Pearl Harbor

Surprise attack by Japan on December 7, 1941, leading U.S. entry into WWII.

Final Solution

Nazi plan for the systematic extermination of the Jewish population during the Holocaust.

Gouzenko Affair

1945 event involving a Soviet defector that raised fears of communist infiltration in the West.

McCarthyism

Campaign led by Senator McCarthy in the 1950s to root out alleged communists in the U.S.

Marshall Plan

U.S. initiative providing economic aid to Western Europe post-WWII to prevent communism.

Roe v. Wade

1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the U.S., highlighting privacy rights.

Iran-Contra Scandal

Political scandal involving secret arms sales to Iran to fund Nicaraguan rebels in the 1980s.

Anthracite Coal Strike

A 1902 strike by coal miners in Pennsylvania, which was resolved through intervention by Theodore Roosevelt. The strike highlighted the need for labor reforms and led to the first presidential mediation of a labor dispute.

Panama Canal

A massive engineering project that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was a key strategic and economic asset for the U.S. and completed under Roosevelt’s administration.

Bull Moose Party

The Progressive Party founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 after a split with the Republican Party. Roosevelt ran as its candidate, advocating for progressive reforms like workers’ compensation, women's suffrage, and unemployment insurance.

Jane Addams

A social reformer and founder of Hull House in Chicago, was a leading figure in the settlement house movement. Hull House provided a wide range of services to poor immigrants, including education, childcare, and job training. She is considered a pioneer in social work and a key advocate for social justice.

Hull House

A settlement house founded by Jane Addams in 1889, Hull House was designed to assist immigrants, especially poor working-class families, by providing a range of services including classes on literacy, vocational skills, and civic participation.

Florence Kelley

A social and political reformer who worked to improve conditions for women and children, was instrumental in the development of child labor laws and the establishment of juvenile detention centers. She was a leader in the movement to eliminate child labor and promote

Problems with Neutrality

Refers to the challenges the U.S. faced in maintaining neutrality during World War I. Despite a declaration of neutrality, the U.S. was drawn into the war due to attacks on American ships, such as the sinking of the Lusitania, and other factors including the Zimmermann Telegram.

Fourteen Points

A speech and peace plan presented by President Woodrow Wilson in 1918, outlining his vision for a post-World War I world based on self-determination, free trade, and the creation of an international peacekeeping organization (the League of Nations).

Automobile Revolution

The widespread adoption of the automobile, particularly with Henry Ford’s Model T, transformed American life in the 1920s. Mass production techniques like the assembly line made cars more affordable, leading to a surge in car ownership and changes in urban planning, such as the development of suburbs.

Herbert Hoover

The 31st President of the United States, who served from 1929 to 1933. His presidency coincided with the onset of the Great Depression, during which he faced significant criticism for his response to the economic crisis.

Banking Crisis

In 1933, amid the Great Depression, banks were failing at an alarming rate, and many Americans had lost their savings. In response, Roosevelt declared a "bank holiday," closing all banks for several days to prevent further panic. The government then enacted the Banking Act of 1933, which helped stabilize the banking system and restore public confidence.

Tennessee Valley Authority

A New Deal program that aimed to address economic development and environmental challenges in the Tennessee Valley region. It focused on flood control, generating hydroelectric power, and providing jobs to improve the economic conditions of one of the poorest regions in the U.S.

Operation Barbarossa

The German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, which marked the largest military operation in history. It led to the involvement of the Soviet Union in World War II as an ally of the U.S. and Britain against Nazi Germany.

V1 and V2 Rockets

Developed by Nazi Germany, the V1 and V2 rockets were early forms of guided missile technology used during World War II. The V2 was the first long-range guided ballistic missile, and the V1 was a precursor to modern cruise missiles.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. project during World War II to develop the atomic bomb. The project successfully created nuclear weapons, which were later used in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, effectively ending World War II.

Containment

A U.S. foreign policy strategy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism. It involved supporting countries and governments that were vulnerable to communist influence, either through military, economic, or diplomatic means. The policy was famously articulated by George Kennan.

Douglas MacArthur Controversy

During the Korean War, General Douglas MacArthur was insubordinate, publicly calling for expanded military actions, including the use of nuclear weapons. President Harry Truman disagreed with MacArthur's approach and fired him, causing a significant public and political uproar.

Massive Retaliation

A Cold War military strategy, introduced by Eisenhower in the 1950s, which promised that the U.S. would respond to any Soviet aggression with overwhelming nuclear force. It was intended to deter Soviet attacks and maintain American military superiority.

Strategic Defense Initiative

A proposed missile defense system introduced by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. It aimed to protect the U.S. from nuclear missiles using ground-based and space-based systems, though it faced criticism and was never fully implemented.

Mokhail Gorbachev

The last leader of the Soviet Union, introduced significant reforms such as Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring), which helped lead to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. He played a key role in the end of the Cold War.

SALT - Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

A series of negotiations and treaties between the U.S. and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting nuclear arms production. SALT I, signed in 1972, and SALT II, signed in 1979, were part of efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear war.

The Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice. Key elements included Medicare, Medicaid, civil rights legislation, and education reform.

Warren Commission

A government commission led by Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. It concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, though many Americans later questioned its findings.

Rodney King Incident

In 1991, Rodney King, an African American man, was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police officers, and the incident was captured on video. The acquittal of the officers involved in the beating sparked widespread riots in Los Angeles in 1992.

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh was the leader of North Vietnam and a key figure in the fight for Vietnamese independence from French colonial rule. He later led the communist forces during the Vietnam War, aiming to unite North and South Vietnam under a communist government. His leadership was pivotal in the eventual victory of North Vietnam.

Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, there was a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles stationed in Cuba. It brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. President Kennedy’s diplomatic negotiations with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev led to the removal of the missiles and a major de-escalation of tensions.

My Lai Incident

The My Lai Massacre, occurring in 1968 during the Vietnam War, involved U.S. soldiers killing hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, in a village they suspected of being a Viet Cong stronghold. The massacre was covered up for a year before it was exposed, leading to outrage and growing anti-war sentiment in the U.S.

Vietnamization

A policy initiated by President Richard Nixon aimed at transferring the responsibility for the Vietnam War from U.S. forces to South Vietnamese troops. It was part of Nixon’s plan to end American involvement in Vietnam while maintaining a non-communist South Vietnam.

Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger was a U.S. diplomat and National Security Advisor who played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Vietnam War, including negotiations for the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam and the opening of diplomatic relations with China (known as Ping Pong Diplomacy). He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his role in negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

A term used to describe the period of thawing relations between the United States and China during the early 1970s. It was sparked by a visit to China by the U.S. table tennis team, which helped pave the way for President Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to China, leading to the normalization of relations between the two countries.

Detente

The easing of Cold War tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the 1970s, marked by arms control agreements like the SALT treaties and the Helsinki Accords. It was a period where both sides sought to avoid direct military confrontation through diplomacy and negotiations.

Jimmy Carter

The 39th president of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. Carter's presidency was marked by efforts to resolve Middle East conflicts, including the Camp David Accords, and by the energy crisis and economic challenges. His administration was also characterized by an emphasis on human rights and environmental concerns.

Camp David Talks

A series of negotiations held in 1978 between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The resulting peace agreement led to Egypt becoming the first Arab country to recognize Israel, and Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula.

Muhammad Reza Pahlavi

The Shah of Iran, ruled from 1941 until he was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. His regime was marked by efforts to modernize and secularize Iran but was deeply unpopular due to widespread corruption and human rights abuses. The revolution led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Islamic Republic

Established in 1979 after the overthrow of the Shah. The revolution was led by Ayatollah Khomeini, who established a theocratic government based on Islamic law. This marked the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the modern era in Iran, with significant changes in both domestic and foreign policies.

9/11

On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by the terrorist group al-Qaeda. Four hijacked planes were used in the attacks: two hit the World Trade Center towers in New York, one struck the Pentagon, and the fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks, which led to widespread security reforms and the initiation of the War on Terror.

Hurricane Katrina

In 2005, struck the Gulf Coast, causing devastating damage, particularly in New Orleans. The government’s slow response to the disaster, especially at the federal level under President George W. Bush, led to widespread criticism and revealed deep flaws in disaster preparedness and response.

George Floyd Incident

In 2020, George Floyd, an African American man, was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on Floyd's neck during an arrest. The incident was recorded on video and sparked global protests against police brutality, systemic racism, and injustice. It became a key moment in the Black Lives Matter movement and led to renewed discussions about police reform and racial equity.

Rutherford Hayes

The 19th U.S. president (1877-1881) known for ending Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South, which led to the resurgence of white supremacist governments in Southern states.

Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882

A federal law that severely restricted Chinese immigration to the U.S., reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment in the West. It was the first significant law to restrict immigration based on race.

Ground Zero

The site of the former World Trade Center in New York City, where the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks destroyed the twin towers, and is now a memorial and a center for remembrance.

Sarah Diamond

An influential figure in advocating for women's rights and social justice in the early 20th century. She worked tirelessly to advance the suffrage movement and addressed issues such as labor rights and education reforms.

Brown v. Topeka Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case from 1954 in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. This decision was pivotal in the American civil rights movement, as it overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson.

Ku Klux Klan

A white supremacist hate group founded in the United States during Reconstruction, known for its acts of violence and terror against African Americans and their allies, aiming to maintain white supremacy.

Homestead Act & Western Expansion

Legislation enacted in 1862 that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, promoting westward expansion and settlement in the United States.

Union Pacific

A major railroad company created to construct the first transcontinental railroad in the United States, facilitating westward expansion and economic growth.

Reconstruction as a Social Revolution

The period after the Civil War focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society, leading to significant social and political changes.

Populist Party

A political party in the late 19th century that sought to represent the interests of farmers and laborers, advocating for reforms like the direct election of senators and monetary policy changes.

Dawes Severity Act

A law enacted in 1887 aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land and reducing communal tribal lands, ultimately undermining tribal sovereignty.

Wounded Knee

A massacre that occurred in 1890 where U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux, marking the end of armed Native American resistance in the Plains.

Sea Islands

A group of islands off the coast of South Carolina known for their unique Gullah culture, which developed from African slaves who were brought to work on plantations in the 19th century.

Little Big Horn

A battle in 1876 between U.S. forces led by General Custer and Native American tribes, notably the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne, resulting in a significant Native American victory.

The Second Great Removal

A series of forced relocations of Native American tribes during the 1830s, culminating in the Trail of Tears, which saw thousands removed from their ancestral lands.

Lakota Sioux

A Native American tribe originally from the Great Plains, known for their resistance against U.S. military forces and for their role in key historical events like the Battle of Little Big Horn.

Emancipated Slaves Exercise of Freedom

Refers to the actions and rights taken by former slaves to assert their independence and engage in society after the Civil War, including pursuit of education, employment, and civil rights.