terms

Bonanza farms

Large scale farming operations in the late 19th century that utilized advanced farming techniques and machinery.

Ghost dance

A Native American spiritual movement in the late 19th century that sought to restore native lands and ways of life.

Coxey's Army

A protest march by unemployed workers from the United States that took place in 1894.

Fordism

A system of production that emphasizes mass production, standardized products, and assembly lines pioneered by Henry Ford.

Scientific management

A management theory that focuses on the efficiency of production processes and worker productivity.

Muller v. Oregon

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1908 that upheld restrictions on female workers' hours, citing women's health and societal interests.

Selective Service Act

A law enacted during World War I that authorized the federal government to draft men into military service.

Espionage Act

A 1917 law that imposed severe penalties for espionage, sabotage, or promoting insubordination in the military.

Askin v. Children's Hospital

A Supreme Court case that addressed issues related to child labor and employment rights.

Teapot Dome

A political scandal in the early 1920s involving the secret leasing of federal oil reserves.

McNary-Haugen Bill

A proposed law in the 1920s that aimed to support farmers by raising domestic prices and balancing the agricultural market.

ACLU

American Civil Liberties Union, an organization dedicated to defending civil rights and liberties in the United States.

Schenck v. U.S.

A Supreme Court case that upheld convictions for anti-draft pamphlets under the Espionage Act, establishing the 'clear and present danger' test.

Fundamentalism

A religious movement characterized by a strict interpretation of scripture and opposition to modernist interpretations of faith.

Civilian Conservation Corps

A New Deal program that provided jobs for young men in environmental conservation projects.

Tennessee Valley Authority

A New Deal agency created to provide economic development and public power in the Tennessee Valley.

Agricultural Adjustment Act

A 1933 law aimed at boosting agricultural prices by reducing surpluses and paying farmers to limit production.

Share Our Wealth Movement

A political initiative led by Huey Long during the Great Depression aimed at redistributing wealth.

Scottsboro Case

A 1930s legal case involving nine African American teenagers accused of raping two white women, highlighting racial injustices.

House Un-American Activities Committee

A congressional committee investigated alleged communist influence in the U.S. during the mid-20th century.

Lend-Lease Act

A U.S. program during WWII that provided Allies with supplies and military equipment.

Bracero Program

A series of laws and diplomatic agreements between the U.S. and Mexico allowing for temporary labor migration.

Double V Campaign

A campaign during WWII advocating for victory abroad over fascism and at home over racial discrimination.

V-J Day

Victory over Japan Day, marking Japan's surrender during WWII on September 2, 1945.

Potsdam Conference

A 1945 meeting of Allied leaders to discuss post-war order and issues after Germany's surrender.

Yalta Conference

A 1945 meeting between Allied leaders to discuss the reorganization of post-war Europe.

NSC-68

A key U.S. policy document that called for a significant military increase to counter the Soviet threat.

Korean War

Conflict from 1950-1953 between North Korea (with support from China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (with U.N. and U.S. support).

Decolonization

The process of dismantling colonial empires and granting independence to colonized nations post-WWII.

Totalitarianism

A political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

Fair Deal

President Truman's domestic policy agenda that aimed at social reforms and economic growth post-WWII.

Taft-Hartley Act

A 1947 law that restricted the activities and power of labor unions.

Dixiecrats

A segregationist political party formed in 1948 in opposition to civil rights for African Americans.

McCarran-Walter Act

A 1952 law that restricted immigration based on national security concerns.

Levittown

A planned suburban community built in the post-WWII era, symbolizing the American dream of homeownership.

League of United Latin American Citizens

An organization founded to advocate for the rights and interests of Hispanic Americans.

New Left

A political movement in the 1960s that focused on civil rights, social justice, and antiwar activism.

Students for a Democratic Society

A student organization formed in 1960 advocating for civil rights and participatory democracy.

Port Huron Statement

A manifesto written by members of the Students for a Democratic Society outlining their political views and objectives.

Counterculture

A social movement in the 1960s that rejected mainstream norms and promoted alternative lifestyles.

Griswold v. Connecticut

A Supreme Court case that ruled that the Constitution protects a right to privacy, including marital contraception.

Affirmative Action

Policies designed to improve opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.

Title IX

A federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs or activities.

Détente

The easing of strained relations, especially between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War.

Pentagon Papers

A top-secret Department of Defense study of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam, leaked in 1971.

War Powers Act

A 1973 law intended to limit the U.S. president's power to engage military forces without congressional approval.

Vietnam Syndrome

A term used to describe the reluctance of the U.S. to engage in military intervention after the Vietnam War.

Stagflation

An economic condition characterized by stagnant growth, high unemployment, and high inflation.

Deindustrialization

The process of industrial decline, often leading to economic and social challenges in affected communities.

Helsinki Accords

A 1975 agreement among 35 nations aimed at improving relations between the Communist bloc and the West.

Neoconservatives

A political movement that emerged in the U.S. advocating for the promotion of democracy and interventionist foreign policy.

Iran-Contra Affair

A political scandal in the 1980s involving the secret sale of arms to Iran to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement, a trade deal between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico aimed at reducing trade barriers.

Clinton’s Impeachment

The impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1998 by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.