APUSH Period 7 Vocabulary

Alfred Thayer Mahan – Naval strategist who wrote The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890), advocating for a strong navy to achieve global dominance.

Queen Liliuokalani – Last monarch of Hawaii; opposed U.S. annexation but was overthrown by American-backed forces in 1893.

Pan-American Conference (1889) – Meeting led by Secretary of State James Blaine to foster economic and political cooperation among the Americas.

Jingoism – Extreme nationalism favoring aggressive foreign policy, prominent before the Spanish-American War.

Cuban Revolt (1895-1898) – Cuban insurgents fought for independence from Spain, leading to U.S. intervention in the Spanish-American War.

Yellow Journalism – Sensationalist and exaggerated news reporting by papers like New York Journal (Hearst) and New York World (Pulitzer), fueling war sentiment.

De Lôme Letter (1898) – Leaked letter from a Spanish diplomat criticizing President McKinley, worsening U.S.-Spain relations.

Teller Amendment (1898) – Stated that the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the Spanish-American War.

Platt Amendment (1901) – Gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuba and maintain a naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Sphere of Influence – A region where a foreign power controls trade and economic activities, especially in China during imperialism.

George Dewey – U.S. naval commander who led the victory at Manila Bay in the Spanish-American War.

Emilio Aguinaldo – Filipino nationalist leader who fought against Spanish rule and later against U.S. occupation.

Rough Riders – Volunteer cavalry unit led by Theodore Roosevelt, famous for its charge at San Juan Hill in Cuba.

Hawaii – Annexed by the U.S. in 1898, after the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and increasing American economic interests.

Theodore Roosevelt – 26th U.S. president; advocated for the “Big Stick” foreign policy, conservation, and progressive reforms.

Open Door Policy (1899) – U.S. policy ensuring equal trade access in China and preventing European monopolies.

Boxer Rebellion (1900) – Anti-foreign uprising in China suppressed by an international coalition, including U.S. troops.

Panama Canal (1904-1914) – U.S.-built canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, facilitated by supporting Panama’s independence from Colombia.

William Howard Taft – 27th president; promoted Dollar Diplomacy, emphasizing economic investment in foreign policy.

Dollar Diplomacy – Taft’s policy of using U.S. financial power to influence Latin America and East Asia.

Roosevelt Corollary (1904) – Extension of the Monroe Doctrine; stated the U.S. could intervene in Latin America to maintain stability.

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) – Conflict between Russia and Japan; mediated by Roosevelt, who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Puerto Rico – Gained by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War; governed under the Foraker Act and later granted U.S. citizenship (1917).

Woodrow Wilson – 28th president; led during World War I, championed the League of Nations, and pushed for Moral Diplomacy.

Moral Diplomacy – Wilson’s policy of supporting democratic governments and opposing imperialism.

Pragmatism – Philosophical movement emphasizing practical action and experimentation, influential in Progressive Era reforms.

Ida Tarbell – Muckraker journalist who exposed Standard Oil’s monopolistic practices in The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904).

Jacob Riis – Photojournalist and author of How the Other Half Lives (1890), exposing urban poverty and tenement conditions.

Muckrakers – Investigative journalists who exposed corruption and social injustices during the Progressive Era.

Florence Kelley – Social reformer advocating for labor laws, child labor restrictions, and working conditions for women.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) – Deadly factory fire in New York City that led to improved workplace safety laws.

16th Amendment (1913) – Allowed Congress to impose a federal income tax.

17th Amendment (1913) – Established direct election of U.S. senators.

18th Amendment (1919) – Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol (Prohibition).

Square Deal – Theodore Roosevelt’s domestic policy promoting consumer protection, corporate regulation, and conservation.

Mann-Elkins Act (1910) – Strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission’s ability to regulate telecommunications and railroads.

The Jungle (1906) – Upton Sinclair – Novel exposing the meatpacking industry’s unsanitary conditions, leading to food safety laws.

“Bull Moose” Party (1912) – Progressive Party led by Theodore Roosevelt after his split with the Republican Party.

Booker T. Washington – Black leader who promoted economic self-improvement and vocational training for African Americans over immediate civil rights.

W.E.B. Du Bois – Civil rights activist and co-founder of the NAACP; opposed Washington’s gradualism and demanded immediate equality.

NAACP (1909) – Civil rights organization founded to fight racial discrimination and promote African American rights.

Alice Paul – Suffragist leader who pushed for the 19th Amendment and led the National Woman’s Party.

19th Amendment (1920) – Granted women the right to vote.

Lusitania (1915) – British passenger ship sunk by Germany, killing 128 Americans and pushing the U.S. toward WWI.

Preparedness – Wilson’s policy of military buildup before U.S. entry into WWI.

Zimmerman Telegram (1917) – German message urging Mexico to attack the U.S.; its interception led to American entry into WWI.

John J. Pershing – U.S. general who led the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I.

George Creel – Head of the Committee on Public Information; used propaganda to support U.S. involvement in WWI.

Bolsheviks – Russian communist group that led the 1917 Revolution, resulting in the Soviet Union’s formation.

Fourteen Points (1918) – Wilson’s plan for postwar peace, advocating self-determination and the League of Nations.

League of Nations (1920) – International peacekeeping organization proposed in Wilson’s Fourteen Points; the U.S. did not join.

Henry Cabot Lodge – Republican senator who opposed the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, advocating for isolationism.

Self-Determination – The right of people to choose their own government; a key principle in Wilson’s Fourteen Points.

Reparations – Payments imposed on Germany after WWI under the Treaty of Versailles to compensate the Allies for war damages.

Mobilization – The process of preparing and organizing troops and resources for war.

Liberty Bonds – Government-issued bonds sold to American citizens to finance WWI.

Spanish Flu (1918-1919) – Global influenza pandemic that killed millions, including over 600,000 Americans.

Schenck v. United States (1919) – Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Espionage Act, stating that speech posing a "clear and present danger" (e.g., anti-draft pamphlets) is not protected by the First Amendment.

Selective Service Act (1917) – Required men aged 21-30 to register for the military draft during WWI.

The Red Scare (1st) (1919-1920) – Fear of communism and radical leftist movements in the U.S. after the Russian Revolution.

Palmer Raids (1919-1920) – Government-led raids under Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, targeting suspected anarchists and communists.

Nativism – Favoring native-born Americans over immigrants, leading to restrictive immigration policies.

Sacco & Vanzetti – Italian anarchists convicted and executed in 1927 for robbery and murder, amid widespread belief that they were victims of anti-immigrant bias.

The Great Migration – Mass movement of African Americans from the South to Northern cities for jobs and better opportunities during and after WWI.

Fundamentalism – Religious movement emphasizing a literal interpretation of the Bible, clashing with modern scientific ideas.

Traditionalism – Emphasis on long-standing cultural and religious values, often opposing modernist influences.

Henry Ford – Industrialist who revolutionized automobile production with the assembly line and mass production of the Model T.

Assembly Line Process – Manufacturing method introduced by Henry Ford that increased efficiency and reduced production costs.

Art Deco – Popular architectural and design style of the 1920s-30s, characterized by bold geometric patterns and lavish ornamentation.

Charles Lindbergh – First person to complete a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic in 1927 (Spirit of St. Louis).

Modernism – A cultural movement embracing innovation, new technology, and progressive social attitudes, challenging traditional values.

Scopes Trial (1925) – Legal case in which John Scopes was tried for teaching evolution in Tennessee, highlighting the clash between science and religion.

“Scarface” Al Capone – Infamous Chicago gangster who profited from Prohibition-era bootlegging; convicted of tax evasion in 1931.

Margaret Sanger – Birth control advocate and founder of Planned Parenthood.

Harlem Renaissance – Cultural movement celebrating African American art, literature, and music in the 1920s, centered in Harlem, New York.

“Jazz Age” – Term coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald to describe the 1920s, highlighting the era’s music, cultural change, and loose morals.

Marcus Garvey – Black nationalist leader who promoted Pan-Africanism and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

Warren G. Harding – 29th president (1921-1923), known for his “Return to Normalcy” campaign and scandals like Teapot Dome.

“Return to Normalcy” – Harding’s campaign slogan promising a return to pre-WWI policies of isolationism and limited government.

Teapot Dome Scandal – Political scandal in which Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall illegally leased government oil reserves in exchange for bribes.

Calvin Coolidge – 30th president (1923-1929), known for pro-business policies and a laissez-faire approach to the economy.

Herbert Hoover – 31st president (1929-1933), blamed for inadequate response to the Great Depression.

Alfred E. Smith – Democratic presidential candidate in 1928; first Catholic to run for president, lost to Hoover.

Great Depression (1929-1939) – Economic crisis marked by high unemployment, bank failures, and widespread poverty.

Black Tuesday (October 29, 1929) – Stock market crash that marked the start of the Great Depression.

Federal Reserve – The U.S. central banking system, responsible for monetary policy and regulating banks.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff (1930) – High tariff that worsened the Great Depression by reducing international trade.

Bonus Army/Bonus March (1932) – WWI veterans who marched on Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of promised bonuses; forcibly removed by the military.

RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation, 1932) – Hoover’s agency that provided loans to banks and businesses in an attempt to combat the Great Depression.

19th Amendment (1920) – Granted women the right to vote.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) – 32nd president (1933-1945); led the U.S. through the Great Depression and WWII, introduced the New Deal.

21st Amendment (1933) – Repealed Prohibition (18th Amendment).

Three Rs – Roosevelt’s New Deal goals: Relief (for the unemployed), Recovery (of the economy), and Reform (to prevent future crises).

First New Deal (1933-1935) – Early programs focused on economic recovery and financial reform, including bank regulation and job creation.

Fireside Chats – FDR’s radio broadcasts that reassured and informed the American public about his policies.

New Deal Programs:

• AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act) – Paid farmers to reduce crop production to stabilize prices.

• PWA (Public Works Administration) – Funded large infrastructure projects to create jobs.

• CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) – Provided jobs for young men in environmental conservation projects.

• TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) – Brought electricity and flood control to rural areas in the South.

• NRA (National Recovery Administration) – Encouraged fair business practices and labor protections.

• SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) – Regulated the stock market to prevent fraud.

• FHA (Federal Housing Administration) – Provided loans to help people buy homes.

• CWA (Civil Works Administration) – Short-term jobs program for infrastructure projects.

• WPA (Works Progress Administration) – Created jobs in public works, arts, and education.

FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) – Insured bank deposits to restore public confidence in the banking system.

Social Security Act (1935) – Established pensions for retirees, unemployment insurance, and aid for disabled and needy families.

Eleanor Roosevelt – First Lady, social reformer, and advocate for civil rights, women’s rights, and humanitarian causes.

Huey P. Long – Louisiana senator and populist who criticized FDR’s New Deal, promoting his Share-the-Wealth program before his assassination in 1935.

Father Charles E. Coughlin – Catholic priest and radio broadcaster who initially supported FDR but later criticized the New Deal, promoting anti-Semitic and pro-fascist views.

Dr. Francis E. Townsend – Physician who proposed an old-age pension plan that influenced Social Security.

Share-the-Wealth Program – Huey Long’s plan to redistribute wealth by taxing the rich to provide a guaranteed income for all Americans.

Second New Deal (1935-1938) – A new wave of reforms focusing on social welfare, labor rights, and economic security, including Social Security and the WPA.

Court Reorganization Plan (1937) – FDR’s failed attempt to add more justices to the Supreme Court to secure rulings favorable to the New Deal.

Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) – Established a federal minimum wage, maximum work hours, and restricted child labor.

Dust Bowl – Severe drought and soil erosion in the 1930s that displaced many Great Plains farmers.

Okies – Displaced farmers from the Dust Bowl, many of whom migrated to California in search of work.

Indian Reorganization Act (1934) – Reversed the Dawes Act by restoring tribal ownership of land and promoting Native American self-government.

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) – International treaty that outlawed war as a means of resolving disputes, though it lacked enforcement mechanisms.

Dawes Plan (1924) – U.S. financial plan that restructured Germany’s World War I reparations payments and stabilized the German economy.

Good Neighbor Policy – FDR’s policy of non-intervention in Latin America, improving U.S.-Latin American relations.

Fascism – Authoritarian ideology that prioritizes nationalism, militarism, and dictatorial rule, as seen in Italy and Germany.

Benito Mussolini – Fascist dictator of Italy (1922-1943), allied with Hitler in World War II.

Adolf Hitler – Nazi leader of Germany (1933-1945), responsible for World War II and the Holocaust.

Nazi Party – Hitler’s totalitarian political party that ruled Germany, promoting extreme nationalism, anti-Semitism, and territorial expansion.

Isolationism – U.S. foreign policy in the 1930s, avoiding involvement in European conflicts.

Neutrality Acts (1935-1937) – Laws restricting arms sales and loans to warring nations to keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts.

America First Committee – Isolationist group that opposed U.S. involvement in World War II, led by figures like Charles Lindbergh.

Francisco Franco – Fascist leader of Spain who gained power after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) with support from Germany and Italy.

Winston Churchill – British Prime Minister during WWII, known for his leadership and alliance with the U.S. and Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin – Communist dictator of the Soviet Union, an ally in WWII but later a Cold War adversary.

Blitzkrieg – "Lightning war"; Germany’s fast-moving warfare strategy used to quickly conquer Poland and France.

Cash and Carry (1939) – U.S. policy allowing warring nations to buy arms with cash and transport them using their own ships, favoring Britain.

Lend-Lease Act (1941) – Allowed the U.S. to send military aid to Allies like Britain and the Soviet Union without immediate payment.

Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) – Japanese attack on a U.S. naval base in Hawaii, leading to America’s entry into WWII.

War Production Board (WPB) – Government agency that coordinated the production of war materials during WWII.

Manhattan Project – Secret U.S. research program that developed the atomic bomb.

Office of War Information (OWI) – Government agency that managed wartime propaganda and promoted public support for WWII.

Women’s Army Corps (WAC) – Branch of the U.S. Army that allowed women to serve in non-combat roles during WWII.

Smith v. Allwright (1944) – Supreme Court case that ruled racial restrictions on voting in primaries unconstitutional.

Tuskegee Airmen – All-Black military pilot group that served heroically in WWII.

Braceros – Mexican workers brought to the U.S. during WWII to fill agricultural labor shortages.

Korematsu v. U.S. (1944) – Supreme Court ruling that upheld Japanese American internment as a wartime necessity.

“Rosie the Riveter” – Symbol of women’s contributions to the war effort in industrial jobs.

Dwight D. Eisenhower – Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during WWII; later became the 34th U.S. president.

D-Day (June 6, 1944) – Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France (Normandy), turning the tide of WWII in Europe.

Battle of Midway (1942) – Major naval battle in the Pacific where the U.S. defeated Japan, marking a turning point in WWII.

Island Hopping – U.S. military strategy in the Pacific, capturing key islands to move closer to Japan.

Kamikaze – Japanese suicide pilots who crashed planes into U.S. warships.

Douglas MacArthur – U.S. general who led forces in the Pacific and oversaw Japan’s postwar occupation.

J. Robert Oppenheimer – Scientist who led the Manhattan Project in developing the atomic bomb.

Nagasaki & Hiroshima (August 6 & 9, 1945) – Japanese cities destroyed by U.S. atomic bombs, leading to Japan’s surrender.

USS Missouri (September 2, 1945) – Site of Japan’s official surrender, ending WWII.

Harry S. Truman – 33rd president (1945-1953), made the decision to drop atomic bombs and shaped early Cold War policies.

Casablanca Conference (1943) – Meeting between Churchill and FDR, agreeing on unconditional Axis surrender and planning the Italian campaign.

Yalta Conference (1945) – WWII meeting between FDR, Churchill, and Stalin to discuss postwar Europe and the United Nations.

The United Nations (1945-present) – International organization founded after WWII to promote global peace and cooperation.

Atomic Weapons – Nuclear bombs developed during WWII, first used on Japan, later shaping the Cold War arms race.