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American Ideals

Core values of equality, liberty, rights, opportunity, and democracy | These ideals guide the Constitution and justify government authority based on protecting freedoms

Enlightenment and Natural Rights

18th-century philosophy arguing people are born with inherent rights | Inspired democratic revolutions and limited government theory

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker who argued for natural rights and consent of the governed | Direct influence on the Declaration of Independence

Social Contract

Agreement between people and government for protection of rights | Justifies government power and the right to overthrow tyranny

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring separation from Britain | Established natural rights and popular sovereignty as U.S. foundations

Thomas Jefferson

Primary author of the Declaration of Independence | Articulated Enlightenment ideals in American governance

Frederick Douglass

Former slave and abolitionist leader | Exposed contradictions between American ideals and slavery

U.S. Constitution

Framework for U.S. government | Creates limited government, separation of powers, and federalism

Inalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away | Core justification for liberty and resistance to tyranny

Checks and Balances

System preventing one branch from dominating | Protects liberty by limiting power

Separation of Powers

Division of government into three branches | Prevents abuse of authority

Limited Government

Government power restricted by law | Ensures protection of individual rights

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments | Balances unity with local control

Popular Sovereignty

Government authority comes from the people | Foundation of democracy

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting civil liberties | Guarantees individual freedoms

Sectionalism

Loyalty to regional interests | Led to political conflict and Civil War tensions

13th, 14th, 15th Amendments

Ended slavery, granted citizenship, protected voting rights | Expanded democracy and civil rights

Social Darwinism and Laissez-faire

Belief that government should not interfere in the economy | Justified inequality and limited regulation

Trusts

Large business combinations controlling markets | Led to monopolies and reform movements

Captains of Industry vs Robber Barons

Debate over industrial leaders as heroes or exploiters | Highlights economic inequality issues

Progressive Movement

Reform movement addressing industrial problems | Expanded government regulation and democracy

Muckrakers

Journalists exposing corruption | Sparked public support for reforms

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

Novel exposing meatpacking abuses | Led to federal regulation

Meat Inspection Act and Federal Food and Drugs Act

Laws regulating food and medicine | Increased consumer protection

Theodore Roosevelt as Progressive President

Advocated reform and regulation | Expanded federal authority

Trust Busting and Sherman Antitrust Act

Government action against monopolies | Promoted fair competition

Labor Unions

Organizations protecting workers | Improved wages and working conditions

Political Machines

Organizations controlling city politics | Highlighted corruption and need for reform

Social Gospel Movement

Religious movement promoting social reform | Linked morality to reform efforts

Settlement Houses

Community centers aiding immigrants | Addressed urban poverty

Tenement Act of 1901

Law improving housing standards | Improved urban living conditions

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Deadly factory fire | Led to labor safety laws

NAACP and ADL

Civil rights organizations | Fought discrimination

Nativists

Opposed immigration | Influenced restrictive policies

Taft and Wilson as Progressive Presidents

Presidents who continued reforms | Expanded regulation

NAWSA, NWP, Silent Sentinels

Women’s suffrage organizations | Led to voting rights

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote | Expanded democracy

Manifest Destiny

Belief in U.S. territorial expansion | Justified westward and overseas growth

Motives for Imperialism

Economic, political, military, and cultural reasons | Drove U.S. expansion abroad

Open Door Policy

Policy supporting free trade in China | Protected U.S. economic interests

Annexation of Hawaii

U.S. takeover of Hawaii | Expanded American influence in the Pacific

Bayonet Constitution

Forced constitution in Hawaii | Enabled U.S. control

Spanish-American War

1898 war between U.S. and Spain | Marked rise of U.S. imperialism

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized news reporting | Influenced public opinion for war

Annexation of the Philippines

U.S. acquisition after war | Sparked imperialism debates

Big Stick Diplomacy

Roosevelt’s aggressive foreign policy | Expanded U.S. power

Roosevelt Corollary

U.S. policy to intervene in Latin America | Justified intervention

Moral Diplomacy

Wilson’s foreign policy based on morals | Promoted democracy abroad

Dollar Diplomacy

Using economic power to influence nations | Expanded U.S. economic control

Isolationism

Avoiding foreign alliances | Shaped early U.S. policy

Committee of Public Information

WWI propaganda agency | Influenced public opinion

Espionage Act and Sedition Act

Laws limiting speech during wartime | Restricted civil liberties

Schenck v. United States

Supreme Court case limiting free speech | Established “clear and present danger” test

Return to Normalcy

Post-WWI desire for stability | Shaped conservative policies

Warren G. Harding

1920s president | Symbolized limited government

First Red Scare

Fear of communism | Led to civil rights violations

Immigration Act of 1924

Restricted immigration | Reflected nativism

Sacco and Vanzetti

Controversial trial of immigrants | Showed bias and fear of radicals

Scopes Trial

Trial over teaching evolution | Highlighted modernism vs traditionalism

A. Mitchell Palmer and Palmer Raids

Government crackdown on radicals | Violated civil liberties

Ku Klux Klan

White supremacist group | Reflected racial and social tensions

Calvin Coolidge

Pro-business president | Supported laissez-faire policies

18th and 21st Amendments and Prohibition

Alcohol ban and repeal | Demonstrated social conflict

Bootleggers and Organized Crime

Illegal alcohol trade | Showed failures of Prohibition

Great Migration

African Americans moved north | Changed demographics and culture

Harlem Renaissance

African American cultural movement | Expanded artistic expression

Roaring Twenties

Economic boom | Highlighted consumer culture

1920s Women and Flappers

Women challenging traditional roles | Changed social norms

Radio

Mass communication medium | Unified national culture

Henry Ford, Model T, Mass Production

Assembly line production | Made goods affordable

Mass Production, Consumerism, Advertising

Industrial growth and consumption | Fueled economic expansion

Causes of the Great Depression

Economic weaknesses and instability | Explains economic collapse

Installment Buying and Market Speculation

Buying on credit and risky investing | Increased instability

Herbert Hoover

President during the crash | Favored limited government response

Bonus Army March

WWI veterans protest | Showed economic desperation

Rugged Individualism

Belief in self-reliance | Limited early relief efforts

Reconstruction Finance Corporation

Government loans to businesses | Attempted recovery

Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act

High tariffs on imports | Worsened Depression

Dust Bowl

Severe drought and dust storms | Increased poverty and migration

Franklin D. Roosevelt

New Deal president | Expanded government role

Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady and reform advocate | Expanded social activism

Fireside Chats

Radio addresses by FDR | Built public trust

New Deal

Series of federal programs | Redefined government responsibility

Relief, Recovery, Reform

Goals of the New Deal | Addressed economic crisis

First 100 Days

Early New Deal legislation | Established reform momentum

Emergency Banking Act and Bank Holiday

Stabilized banks | Restored confidence

FDIC and SEC

Banking and stock regulations | Protected consumers

AAA and NIRA

Agricultural and industrial reforms | Supported recovery

CCC and WPA

Work relief programs | Reduced unemployment

Social Security Act

Old-age pensions and benefits | Created safety net

Conservative and Radical Opposition

Criticism of the New Deal | Shaped policy limits

FDR’s Court Packing Plan

Proposal to expand Supreme Court | Tested separation of powers

Impact of New Deal on Women

Expanded roles but limited equality | Mixed results

Impact of New Deal on African Americans

Economic aid with discrimination | Partial advancement

Overall Impact of the New Deal

Permanent expansion of federal government | Foundation of modern welfare state