Unit 6: American Ascendency (1890-1945)

Isolationism

The traditional belief that the United States should refrain from involvement in overseas politics, alliances, or wars, and confine its national security interest to its own borders

Militarism

The political orientation of a people or a government to maintain a strong military force and to be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the South to the industrial centers of the Northeast and the Midwest.

Stocks on Margin

The practice of allowing investors to purchase a stock for only a fraction of its price and borrow the rest at high interest rates

Women’s Suffrage

The campaign to allow female voters

Nationalism

Political ideology that stresses people's membership in a nation

Treaty of Versailles

The resolution to WWI that squarely blamed Germany by demanding billions in reparations and destroying German military infrastructure

Prohibition

The prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol between 1920 and 1933

Island Hopping

American military strategy in WWII to slowly claim territory across the Pacific, leading to the eventual defeat of Japan

Alfred Thayer Mahan

A captain and admiral in the Navy who was a prominent supporter of Imperialism

Zimmerman Telegram

A message from Germany to Mexico—decoded and shared by the British—that urged Mexico to invade the US to keep the US occupied in exchange for German support for Mexico taking back parts of the Mexican Cession

3 R’s

A popular way to describe the New Deal, referring to relief, recovery, and reform

Open Door Policy

The principle that all countries should have equal access to any of the ports open to trade in China

League of Nations

International organization founded in 1919 to promote world peace and cooperation but greatly weakened by the refusal of the United States to join. Sometimes considered a precursor to the modern UN.

Tariffs

Tax on imports

Imperialism

A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically

Philippines

Spanish colony in the Pacific whom the US helped free from the Spanish, but soon after took as their own colony

Pearl Harbor

Naval base in Hawaii attacked by Japanese aircraft on December 7, 1941. The sinking of much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet brought the United States into World War II.

Hiroshima

The first city to face nuclear attacks during World War II

Puerto Rico

Given to the US by Spain as a payment for the cost of the Spanish American War

Hawaii

U.S. wanted Hawaii so their sugar could be sold in the U.S. duty free, but Queen Liliuokalani opposed so Sanford B. Dole overthrew her in 1893, William McKinley convinced Congress to annex Hawaii in 1898

Okinawa

The scene of the last great U.S. amphibious campaign in World War II. It Showed that the Japanese would "fight to the death"

Normandy

Site of Allied invasion of occupied France, the turning point in WWII

Alaska

Purchased by the US from Russia in 1867 for $7.2M - significant because it removed foreign powers from the continent

USS Maine Destroyed

A U.S. battleship exploded and sank in Havana Harbor; 260 Americans died. Although it was later concluded that it was an internal explosion caused by a fire in the coal bunker, the sinking provided an excuse for those eager for war with Spain.

Spanish-American War

War over the European control of Cuba, American won and gained: Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and an alliance with Cuba

Boxer Rebellion (1899)

An uprising in China directed against foreign influence. It was suppressed by an international force of some eighteen thousand soldiers, including Americans. It paved the way for the revolution of 1911, which led to the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912.

Sinking of the Lusitania (1915)

A British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat during WWI. 128 Americans died. The sinking greatly turned American opinion against the Germans, helping the move towards entering the war.

WWI (US Joins, Apr 1917)

The first, modern global war, started by the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The war is remembered for its violence and destruction, costing over 20 million lives and billions of dollars.

Roaring 20’s (1920’s)

One of the most significant decades in US History because of the great changes that came about in American society, including the rise of consumerism, technology, and social and creative expression.

Great Depression (1929-1939)

The economic crisis and period of low business activity in the U.S. and other countries, roughly beginning with the stock-market crash in 1929 and approximately ending with the start of the next war.

New Deal (1933-1936)

President FDR's precursor of the modern welfare state. His programs were meant to combat economic depression and it enacted a number of social insurance measures and used government spending to stimulate the economy.

WWII (US Joins, Dec 1941)

The second, modern global war, starting less than 2 decades after the last. A significant portion of the world was involved, divided into Axis and Allied powers.