Honors United States History Final Exam Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts from Honors US History, including Reconstruction, the Progressive Era, American Imperialism, World War I, the Roaring 20s, and the Great Depression.

What is Reconstruction?

The period following the Civil War focused on rebuilding the Southern states and addressing the status of formerly enslaved African Americans.

Why is Reconstruction important to American history?

It laid the groundwork for racial integration and redefined federal-state relations, but its failures contributed to long-lasting racial inequality.

What did the 13th Amendment (1865) do?

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

What did the 14th Amendment (1868) do?

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and guaranteed equal protection under the law.

What did the 15th Amendment (1870) do?

Prohibited denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (for men).

What are Black Codes?

Laws passed by Southern states to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans.

What is segregation?

The enforced separation of racial groups in public facilities and businesses.

What is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)?

A white supremacist terrorist organization that used violence and intimidation to prevent African Americans from exercising their rights.

What is sharecropping?

An agricultural system where landowners provided land and supplies in exchange for a share of the crops, trapping Black and poor white farmers in a cycle of debt.

What is convict labor?

A system where prisoners were leased to private companies for labor under harsh conditions.

What is Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutionality of segregation under the doctrine of 'separate but equal'.

What is the Progressive Era?

A period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States, aiming to address problems caused by industrialization and political corruption.

Why is the Progressive Era important to American history?

They led to reforms in labor laws, consumer protection, environmental conservation, and democratic processes.

Who were the Muckrakers?

Investigative journalists who exposed social and political corruption through their writings.

What is Economic Imperialism?

Control through economic dominance and trade.

What is Political Imperialism?

Control through political influence or direct rule.

What is Military Imperialism?

Control through military force or the threat of it.

What is Cultural Imperialism?

Influence through the spread of a nation's culture and values.

What happened with Japan in 1853 regarding American Imperialism?

Commodore Perry and the opening of trade.

What was the Alaska Purchase of 1867?

Purchase from Russia.

What happened with Hawaii in 1898 regarding American Imperialism?

Annexation after American planters' revolt.

What happened with Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines in 1898 regarding American Imperialism?

Acquired after the Spanish-American War.

What were the Open Door Notes (1899-1900)?

U.S. policy advocating for equal trading rights for all nations in China.

What was the Platt Amendment (1901)?

Amendment to the Cuban Constitution granting the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and establish the Guantanamo Bay naval base.

What is Dollar Diplomacy?

Foreign policy under President Taft that used economic influence to promote U.S. interests.

What is Imperialism?

Policy of extending a stronger country's power and influence over weaker countries.

What is the Panama Canal?

A man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, built by the United States in Panama.

What was the Treaty of Paris (1898)?

Agreement that ended the Spanish-American War, with Spain relinquishing its claim over Cuba.

Why did the US enter World War I (1917)?

German unrestricted submarine warfare, the Zimmerman Telegram, and economic ties with the Allied powers.

What was the Great Depression?

A severe and prolonged economic downturn with widespread unemployment and bank failures.

What was the New Deal (1933-1939)?

A series of programs enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression, focusing on relief for the unemployed.