u.s. history’s eoc

Period: Westward Expansion

from about 1877 to 1900. America moves west after the Civil War, and confronts the Native American cultures there while using new technologies (plows, etc) to change the land

Homestead Act

Was a law that provided 160 acres to anyone who was willing to settle land in the west

Cattle Drives

As a demand for beef increased, cowboys drove herds of cattle along trails to be shipped to the east by railroad.

Dawes Act

U.S. law that attempted to assimilate Indians by giving them individual plots of land. It authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians.

Period: Gilded Age

about 1877 to 1900. Term coined by writer Mark Twain to describe what they believed to be an era of serious social problems hidden by a thin layer of gold and industrialization. A time of enormous growth in America with even bigger social concerns such as tenements and urbanization.

Andrew Carnegie

Industrialist businessman and philanthropist who controlled most of the steel industry.

John D. Rockefeller

Industrialist businessman and philanthropist who owned Standard Oil and controlled 90% of the oil industry in the late 1800s.

Monopolies

Situation in which one company controls an entire industry.

Trusts

Small companies join together to form one large company.

Laissez-Faire

The idea that government should not interfere with business practices.

Social Darwinism

The belief that the rich succeed because they are superior to the poor. This belief was applied to big business during the Gilded Age.

Sherman Antitrust Act

Outlawed business monopolies, but was not very effective at limiting the power of big business.

Labor Unions

Organizations that protected the interests of the worker. They created the 40-hour work week and dealt with dangerous working conditions. They also organized strikes. Famous labor unions included Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor.

Industrialization

The rise of a manufacturing economy and decline of an agriculture economy.

Urbanization

The large growth of cities. With urbanization came a large range of urban problems including sanitation, transportation, and crowded living conditions.

Jane Addams

She was the founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage.

Settlement Houses

Community centers, like the Hull House, that helped immigrants address the problems of horrible living conditions, disease, illiteracy, and unemployment.

Populism

A political idea that supported the rights and power of the people in their struggle against the privileged elite. Based among poor, white cotton farmers in the South.

Political Machines

Corrupt organized groups that controlled political parties in cities. A boss led the machine and attempted to grab more votes for their party. Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall are an example of political machines

Period: Progressivism

about 1900 - 1920. A time of social, political, and economic reform. Modern Progressivism was part of societal response to the vast changes, and problems, brought about by industrialization of the Gilded Age.

Muckraker

Reporters and writers who exposed corruption and the abuses of big business.

Suffrage

The right to vote

Initiative

Procedure by which citizens can propose a law to be placed on a ballot. Progressive idea lead to more citizen participation in our democracy.

Recall

Procedure by which a public official may be removed from office by popular vote. More democracy...

Referendum

Procedure by which voters can vote for a proposed initiative on a ballot. More democracy...

Prohibition

Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol.

Susan B. Anthony

Prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Early civil rights leader and co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Felt African Americans needed to actively confront injustice.

Upton Sinclair

Author of The Jungle, a book that described the terrible conditions of the meat packing industry and the struggles of immigrants who worked at them.

Ida B. Wells

African-American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s.

Woodrow Wilson

President during WWI, wrote the Fourteen Points and idea for League of Nations. He wanted to make the world "Safe for democracy."

Period: Imperialism- Late 1800's and early 1900's

Imperialism usually means a stronger country controls weaker territory through political, economic, or military means. US wanted overseas colonies to compete with other countries.

Theodore Roosevelt

Progressive and imperialist president. Used the 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up "bad" trusts/monopolies. Created National Park system. Eventually split to from Progressive Party to form "Bull Moose" Party.

Sanford B. Dole

In 1882 After US marines overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy, became President of Hawaii. He pushed for annexation of Hawaii as an American territory until it was made a territory in 1898.

The Role of missionaries in Imperialism

Felt duty to spread Christian religion and western values (language, law, capitalism) to the heathen masses. Especially effective in new US colonies in Pacific.

Alfred Thayer Mahan

U.S. Admiral who encouraged the U.S. to strengthen its naval power to a become a world power.

The Spanish-American War (1898)

brief war fought between US and Spain, mostly in Cuba and the Phillipines. Fueled by Expansionism, Yellow Journalism, the de Lome letter, and the USS Maine explosion.

Results of the Spanish American War

Spain loses most of its empire. The U.S. acquired the territories of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The U.S. increases its strength as a world power.

Panama Canal

Man-made waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Acquired by United States to quickly move the navy fleet.

Open Door Policy

Ensured that the U.S. could trade with China. When the partition of China by the European powers and Japan seemed imminent, the United States felt its commercial interests in China were threatened.

Period: WWI - War in Europe from 1914-1918. Militarism, Nationalism, Alliances, Imperialism

US joins War in 1917 after German attacks on shipping/Zimmerman Telegram and helps turn the war with millions of troops

General John Pershing

The commander of the American expeditionary force during WWI. Under his leadership, American forces helped end the stalemate and led the Allies to victory.

Henry Cabot Lodge

U.S. Senator who opposed the League of Nations. Lodge demanded Congressional control of declarations of war; Wilson refused and the United States Senate never ratified the Treaty of Versailles nor joined the League of Nations.

New weapons introduced during the WWI

Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, and airplanes were introduced.

Trench Warfare

Opposing side's attacked from the ditches instead of an open battlefield. Often a result of use of the new machine guns.

Stalemate

A situation where neither side could gain an advantage in combat...such as the trench warfare system in WWI

Battle of Argonne Forest

The battle that led to the surrender of the Germany army and the end of WWI. Also the battle where Alvin York won his Medal of Honor.

Wilson's Fourteen Points

President Wilson's proposal for peace after WWI. Wilson called for the freedom of the seas, ending secret treaties, a League of Nations, and other peaceful measures.

League of Nations

International organization formed after WWI to help solve disputes between countries. It had no real power, the U.S. did not join, and it was considered a failure after failing to prevent rise of dictators during 1930's.

Treaty of Versailles

The treaty that officially ended WWI. It blamed Germany for WWI and handed down harsh punishment. Germany was forced to pay reparations to the Allies for the cost of the war. The treatment of Germany in the treaty helped lead to the rise of Adolph Hitler and WWII.

Period: Roaring Twenties - period from 1920-1929

Marked by birth of the Modern USA - consumerism, economic boom and bust, and cultural transformations

The Red Scare

After WWI, Americans became very fearful of radical political theories. Immigrants were blamed for the violence, and the Palmer Raids targets immigrants' homes and businesses. Other examples of Nativism include the Sacco and Vanzetti Trial, anti-immigration laws (Emergency Quota Act and National Origins Act), and the rise of the "new KKK."

Sacco and Vanzetti

Anarchists and Italian immigrants accused of murder. They were sentenced to death. Because of their political stance and nationality they were not given a fair trial.

Marcus Garvey

Inspired racial pride in millions called "Back to Africa," black nation/economy; uniforms, parades showed unity/economy; uniforms, parades showed unity; convicted for stock fraud and deported to Jamaica

Henry Ford

Auto manufacturer who created the Model T and began to mass produce the automobile. He used the assembly line to speed up production and satisfy demand.

Charles Lindbergh

American pilot who made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Personified the "can-do" spirit of the Roaring 20's.

Warren G. Harding's Return to Normalcy

Promise to restore America to traditional moral values, and to adopt pro-business attitudes after our involvement in WWI. While European governments grew Harding shrank government with laissez faire capitalism. His administration known for corruption.

Teapot Dome Scandal

The prime example of corruption during Warren G. Harding's Presidency; involved Harding's Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall leasing U.S. naval oil reserves in Wyoming to private interests in exchange for bribes.

Flappers

Embracing new urban attitudes and fashions, Women began to demand more freedom and assert their independence during the 1920's.

The Scopes Trial

The famous "Monkey Trial" that pitted the teaching of creationism against Darwin's theory of evolution in Tennessee public schools. Modernism vs Traditionalism.

Jazz

Jazz is a popular musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in black communities in the Southern U.S. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. see "Harlem Renaissance"

The Great Migration

The mass migration of African-Americans to Northern cities from 1910 through both World Wars. They left the segregated south for industrial jobs in northern cities.

The Harlem Renaissance

Period of African-American cultural creativity in music, art, and literature centered in Harlem, New York. Langston Hughes was one famous poet.

Period: The Great Depression

Beginning with the stock market crash in 1929, a period of economic vulnerability and changes in the role of the federal government

Causes of the Great Depression

Decline in world trade, High protective tariffs , Overproduction of consumer goods , Buying stock on margin (borrowing) and market speculation for quick profit, Very unequal distribution of wealth , Decline in agriculture prices , Severe drought in the southern plains (dust bowl) ,Stock Market Crash of 1929 ("Black Tuesday)

Herbert Hoover

President when the Great Depression began. Criticized for allowing the Depression to continue. He was defeated when voters looked to the federal government for help.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933 -1945)

Defeated Hoover in 1932. Implemented the New Deal to help with the Great Depression. He gave fireside chats on the radio to communicate with the American public.

Dust Bowl

Term used to describe the area of the Great Plains where heavy droughts and had dried up the farmland.

The New Deal

Roosevelt's program to fight the Great Depression. It was a series of economic programs enacted in the United States between 1933 and 1936, and drastically enlarged the size of American government.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Insurance for people's bank accounts. One of the lasting reforms of the New Deal.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Government agency that regulated stock market, a New Deal reform

Social Security Act

The most important act of the New Deal. Social Security provides unemployment insurance, aid to the disabled, old age pensions, and insurance for families.

Court Packing

The Supreme court had declared several New Deal programs unconstitutional. FDR tried to add more members to the Supreme Court to pass his programs.

Period: World War II

started in 1939 with German invasion of Poland, for the USA, War years are 1941-1945.

World War II

December 7, 1941, Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Congress, with citizen's support, declared war on Japan. USA becomes a global superpower during the conflict.

Harry S. Truman

President of the U.S. during the last months of WWII. He made the decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan to end the war sooner and save U.S. service member lives.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

U.S. General in Europe during WWII. He was in charge of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day). He later served as the 34th President from 1953 until 1961.

General Douglas McArthur

U.S. General in charge of the Allied forces in the Pacific Ocean. Promised that " I shall return" after losing Philippines to Japan, and did.

Chester Nimitz

Soft spoken navy commander (Coral Sea, Midway, Solomon Islands, Philippine Sea, Leyte Guld, Iwo Jima, Okinawa). Overall Allied commander of the entire Pacific. From Fredricksburg, Texas.

Vernon J. Baker

awarded Medal of Honor in 1997 for heroic acts in Italy in 1945 (Black segregated 92nd infantry division)

CAUSES of WWII

Harsh treatment of Germany after WWI, The rise of dictators, fascism, extreme nationalism, and totalitarianism in Europe and Japan (Nazi Party in Germany), Germany's invasion of Poland, Germany's aerial attacks on Great Britain, Japans' invasion of China, Japans' attack on Pearl Harbor

Attack on Pearl Harbor

On December 7th 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor forcing the U.S. to enter the war.

Battle of Midway

Major turning point in the war in the Pacific. This pivotal battle dealt a severe blow to the Japanese Navy, after US sank 4 Japanese carrier ships.

Island Hopping

Allied naval strategy to reach Japan by taking one island at a time. Primarily focused on islands with airstrips.

The Atomic Bomb

Powerful weapon dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. War ended with surrender of Japanese in 1945.

The Holocaust

The mass murder of 6 million Jews and others in Nazi concentration camps. Led to the establishment of Israel by the United Nations in 1948.

Invasion of Normandy (D-Day)

( June 6th 1944) General Dwight D. Eisenhower led the Allied invasion of Axis-controlled France across the English Channel during WW2. The landings were part of the Allied invasion of Normandy. aka Operation Overlord, the invasion opened a second front against the Nazis, and was the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Internment of Japanese Americans

Over 100,000 Japanese Americans were forced to relocate to crowded prison camps were they were detained during WWII under Executive Order 9066. Raised questions about government authority during war. Supreme Court found internment legal in "Korematsu vs. US"

War Bonds

Individual Americans making a loan to the US so that the government can better support the war- an act of patriotism during WW2.

Victory Gardens

raising own food in order to help the war effort.

Tuskegee Airmen

flew thousands of missions in Mediterranean with skill, success; WWII's segregated infantry, facilitated desegregation of military by Truman (1948)

The Flying Tigers

Civilian volunteer fighter pilots who led first U.S. attack on Japanese in China; boosted U.S. morale.

The Navajo Code Talkers

were a group of Native Americans who served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and provided an unbreakable code based on their language that helped carryout top secret important missions.

Period: Early Cold War

Period after World War II with the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as world superpowers

GI Bill

A 1944 law that gave military veterans financial, education benefits, and helped them secure housing.

Suburbanization

Many people moved to communities built on the outskirts of major cities known as suburbs. Levittown, New York was the first suburb community.

The Baby Boom

The period from the end of WWII through mid-1960s was marked by unusually high birth rates. Baby boomers continue to impact American culturally and economically.

Rock N' Roll

A form of music that became popular in the 1950s - sometimes seen as rebellion against the conformity of the decade.

Great Society

LBJ's program that addressed America's social problems including health care, civil rights, and urban decay. Caused a profound rise in government's involvement in American life.