Paideia Semester 2 Final study
Chapter 15 “Immigrants and Urbanization”
Push and pull factors
Reasons people leave their home country (push) and are drawn to a new one (pull), such as war or poverty (push) and job opportunities (pull).
Network theory
The idea that immigrants follow paths established by previous migrants from their community.
Immigration waves
Periods of large-scale immigration, often influenced by global or domestic events.
Ellis Island
Main immigration processing center on the East Coast (New York), primarily for European immigrants.
Angel Island
Immigration station on the West Coast (San Francisco), primarily for Asian immigrants.
Melting pot theory and assimilation
The concept that different cultures blend into a single American identity; assimilation is the process of adopting the dominant culture.
Nativism
The belief in protecting native-born citizens over immigrants; often led to anti-immigrant policies.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
Law that prohibited Chinese labor immigration to the U.S., first major restriction based on nationality.
Gentleman’s Agreement (1907)
Informal agreement between the U.S. and Japan to limit Japanese immigration.
Urbanization
The growth of cities due to industrialization and immigration.
Americanization movement
Programs to assimilate immigrants into American culture, especially language and customs.
Ethnic enclaves or ethnic communities
Neighborhoods with high concentrations of one ethnicity, offering cultural familiarity and support.
Problems caused by rapid urbanization
Overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate housing, and rise in crime.
Social Gospel Movement
Religious-based movement aimed at improving living conditions for the urban poor.
Settlement houses
Community centers that offered services to immigrants and the poor in urban areas.
Jane Addams
Leader in the settlement house movement; co-founder of Hull House in Chicago.
Political machines
Organized political groups that controlled city politics and provided services in exchange for votes.
Political boss
Leader of a political machine who controlled votes and city contracts.
Graft
Illegal use of political influence for personal gain.
Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall
Notorious New York political boss and his political machine known for corruption.
Patronage
Giving government jobs to political supporters.
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
Law that ended patronage by requiring government jobs to be awarded based on merit.
Chapter 16.2 & 16.3 - “Expanding Public Ed.” & “Segregation and Discrimination”
Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute
African American leader who promoted vocational education; founded Tuskegee Institute.
W. E. B. Du Bois & the Niagara Movement
Civil rights activist who pushed for political and social equality; co-founded the NAACP.
Voting restrictions
Laws like literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses that prevented African Americans from voting.
Jim Crow laws
Laws enforcing racial segregation in the South.
Grandfather clause
Allowed people to vote only if their grandfathers had voted, excluding many African Americans.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Supreme Court decision that upheld segregation under "separate but equal."
Lynching
Mob execution, often by hanging, without legal trial; used to terrorize African Americans.
Ida B. Wells
Journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching campaign.
Poll tax
A fee required to vote, used to suppress African American suffrage.
Debt peonage
A system where workers are bound in servitude until they pay off debts.
Mandatory minimums and 3 strikes law
Laws requiring fixed sentences for certain crimes and harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
R#26 “Smashup”
Factors for American Imperialism
Economic interests, military strength, and a belief in cultural superiority drove the U.S. to expand overseas.
The annexation of Hawai’i
The U.S. overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani and annexed Hawai’i in 1898 for economic and military advantages.
The Spanish-American War: causes and effects
Caused by the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine and yellow journalism. Resulted in U.S. gaining control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Yellow journalism, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer
Sensationalized news used to sway public opinion and stir up support for the Spanish-American War.
U.S.S. Maine
A U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor, leading to calls for war against Spain.
Open Door Policy and China
U.S. policy that promoted equal trading rights in China and the preservation of China's territorial integrity.
Anti-Imperialist League
Group that opposed U.S. expansion and imperialism, especially in the Philippines.
Foreign policies of McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson
McKinley: Imperialism
Roosevelt: Big Stick Diplomacy
Taft: Dollar Diplomacy
Wilson: Moral Diplomacy
Panama Canal
U.S.-built canal through Panama to connect Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, important for trade and military movement.
Roosevelt Corollary
Extension of the Monroe Doctrine stating the U.S. would act as a police power in Latin America.
Chapter 17 “Progressive Era”
progressive movement
Reform movement seeking to address problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption.
Muckraker
Journalists who exposed corruption and societal issues to promote reform.
Woodrow Wilson
Progressive president who implemented reforms like the Federal Reserve Act and Clayton Antitrust Act.
Suffrage
The right to vote, especially referring to the movement to grant women voting rights.
Clayton Antitrust
Strengthened antitrust laws and protected labor unions from being targeted as monopolies.
Susan B. Anthony Act
Also known as the 19th Amendment; granted women the right to vote in 1920.
Theodore Roosevelt
Progressive president known for trust-busting and conservation efforts; promoted the Square Deal.
Square Deal
Roosevelt's domestic policy aimed at fairness: conservation, consumer protection, and control of corporations.
Federal Reserve System
Central banking system created in 1913 to regulate the economy and control monetary policy.
Prohibition
Movement to ban alcohol, leading to the 18th Amendment; aimed at reducing crime and social problems.
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; fought for civil rights and against racial discrimination.
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
Major organization that worked for women's voting rights through a state-by-state approach.
National Women’s Party (NWP)
More radical suffrage group that used protests and civil disobedience to push for the 19th Amendment.
19th Amendment (1920)
Gave women the legal right to vote in federal elections.
Pure Food & Drug Act
Law that required accurate labeling of ingredients and banned harmful substances in food and medicine.
Goals of conservation
Protect natural resources and land for future generations; supported by Roosevelt and other progressives.
WWI Lecture, Ch 19.3, & Ch 20 - The 1920s, Jazz Lecture
Causes of WWI
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism (MAIN), along with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Industrialized warfare
Use of modern weapons and machinery like machine guns, tanks, and poison gas, increasing the scale and death toll of war.
Trench warfare
A type of combat where troops fight from trenches, leading to stalemates and harsh conditions.
Isolationism
U.S. policy of avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts and alliances, especially after WWI.
Propaganda
Information spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause, used extensively during WWI.
The Great Migration
Movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban North for jobs and to escape racism.
War economy
Economy focused on producing goods and services to support the war effort.
Post-war recession, causes and effects
Economic slowdown after WWI caused by inflation, reduced demand, and unemployment.
Resurgence of the KKK
Revival of the Ku Klux Klan targeting African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.
Quota Acts
Laws limiting immigration by setting quotas based on nationality.
Flappers and the “Twenties Woman”
Women who challenged traditional norms through fashion, behavior, and attitudes toward independence.
Gender norms and the double standard
Unequal expectations for behavior between men and women, especially regarding sexuality and work.
Public and private spheres
Distinction between men’s roles in public life (work, politics) and women’s roles in private life (home, family).
Prohibition
The banning of alcohol production, sale, and consumption under the 18th Amendment (1919–1933).
Calvin Coolidge
U.S. President known for promoting business growth and limited government interference.
Installment plan
A system of buying goods on credit with regular payments over time.
Automotive industry
Revolutionized by Henry Ford’s assembly line; helped stimulate economic growth and mobility.
Fundamentalism
Religious movement emphasizing literal interpretation of the Bible; opposed modern science.
Scopes trial
1925 trial of a teacher accused of illegally teaching evolution; symbolized conflict between science and religion.
Harlem Renaissance
Cultural revival of African American art, music, and literature in the 1920s centered in Harlem, NYC.
Jazz music
Popular genre emerging from African American communities, symbolizing cultural change and modernism.
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; fought for civil rights through legal action.
Marcus Garvey
Black nationalist who promoted pride, economic independence, and a return to Africa movement.
Langston Hughes
Prominent Harlem Renaissance poet known for celebrating Black life and advocating for racial equality.
Literature, performance, and music
Key components of the Harlem Renaissance used to express African American identity and pride.
A “superficial prosperity”
The 1920s appeared wealthy on the surface but hid underlying economic weaknesses.
The Great Depression & New Deal
Causes of the economic crisis
Stock market crash of 1929, bank failures, overproduction, underconsumption, and speculation.
Smoot-Hawley tariff
High tariff that worsened the Depression by reducing international trade.
Major problems/effects of Depression
Massive unemployment, homelessness, bank failures, poverty, and psychological trauma.
The Dust Bowl
Severe drought and soil erosion in the Great Plains during the 1930s, displacing many farmers.
FDR’s Fireside Chats
Radio addresses by Franklin D. Roosevelt to reassure and inform the public during the Depression.
Examples of relief, recovery, and reform
Relief: CCC, WPA (helped the unemployed)
Recovery: NRA, AAA (boosted economy)
Reform: FDIC, Social Security (prevented future crises)
Increased power of labor movements
New Deal legislation strengthened labor unions and workers’ rights.
The AFL and the CIO
American Federation of Labor (skilled workers) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (unskilled/industrial workers) fought for labor rights.
New Deal Coalition
Diverse group of voters (labor unions, minorities, urban poor) who supported the Democratic Party and FDR.
Major New Deal programs (a big bullet point)
Social Security Act: provided pensions and unemployment insurance.
FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation): protected bank deposits.
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): regulated the stock market.
WPA (Works Progress Administration): created jobs in construction and the arts.
CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps): provided jobs for young men in environmental projects.
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority): built dams and provided electricity to the rural South.
AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act): reduced farm production to raise prices.
NLRB (National Labor Relations Board): protected workers’ rights to unionize and bargain.
World War II
Rise of fascism
Emergence of authoritarian governments in Germany, Italy, and Japan promoting nationalism and dictatorship.
Isolationism
U.S. policy of avoiding foreign entanglements; dominant before Pearl Harbor.
Allied and Axis forces
Allies: U.S., Britain, USSR, France; Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan.
American support of Allied powers before Pearl Harbor
Through Lend-Lease Act and other aid to Britain and USSR.
“Arsenal of Democracy”
Term used by FDR to describe U.S. supplying weapons and goods to Allies.
Technological & scientific developments
Radar, atomic bomb (Manhattan Project), improved medicine and weaponry.
Mortality trends
High civilian and military casualties, especially in USSR and China; Holocaust killed 6 million Jews.
Mass mobilization, in military and industry
Draft and war production transformed the U.S. economy; factories produced war goods.
Changes for women on the homefront
Women took on industrial jobs ("Rosie the Riveter") and supported the war effort.
African Americans on the homefront
Migration to cities for defense jobs; faced discrimination; "Double V" campaign for victory against fascism and racism.
Berube, Coming Out Under Fire
Book exploring LGBTQ+ experiences in the military during WWII, highlighting the hidden history of gay service members.
Cold War
Causes of the Cold War
Tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union after WWII due to ideological differences (capitalism vs. communism) and competing global interests.
NATO and the Warsaw Pact
NATO: Military alliance of Western powers formed in 1949.
Warsaw Pact: Soviet-led military alliance of Eastern bloc countries formed in 1955 in response to NATO.
Mutually assured destruction & nuclear deterrence
Doctrine that both superpowers had enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, discouraging direct conflict.
American foreign policy during the Cold War
Focused on containing communism, supporting allies, and intervening globally to stop Soviet influence.
Truman Doctrine
U.S. policy to provide aid to countries resisting communism, beginning with Greece and Turkey in 1947.
Marshall Plan
U.S. economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe after WWII and prevent the spread of communism.
Domino theory
Belief that if one country fell to communism, nearby nations would follow.
Bay of Pigs & Cuban Missile Crisis
Bay of Pigs (1961): Failed U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by exiles.
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba; nearly led to nuclear war.
Dr. Strangelove
Satirical 1964 film by Stanley Kubrick critiquing Cold War logic and nuclear arms race.
The “Red Scare” and the H.U.A.C.
Red Scare: Fear of communist influence in the U.S.
HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee): Investigated alleged communist activity, targeting Hollywood and government employees.
Decolonization in the “Third World”
Former colonies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America gained independence post-WWII, becoming battlegrounds for Cold War influence.
Proxy war
Conflict where superpowers supported opposing sides without direct confrontation (e.g., Korea, Vietnam).
Détente
Period of eased tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the 1970s, including arms control agreements like SALT.
Postwar Boom Lecture & Chapter 28 - Johnson & the Great Society
GI Bill
Law passed in 1944 that provided benefits to WWII veterans, including college tuition, low-interest home loans, and unemployment benefits.
The American middle class
Grew significantly in the postwar period due to rising incomes, homeownership, and access to education and jobs.
Suburbanization
Mass movement of Americans to suburbs after WWII, driven by affordable housing, highways, and the GI Bill.
Expansion of higher education
Colleges and universities grew rapidly due to the GI Bill and demand from baby boomers.
Redlining
Discriminatory housing policy that denied loans to people in non-white or “high-risk” neighborhoods.
Baby boom
Dramatic increase in birth rates from 1946–1964 following WWII.
Youth culture
Emerged in the 1950s–60s as teens developed distinct music, fashion, and social norms.
Rock & Roll
Popular music genre that combined blues, jazz, and country; symbol of youth rebellion in the 1950s.
Harrington, The Other America
Book (1962) by Michael Harrington exposing poverty in the U.S. and inspiring support for Johnson’s Great Society.
Great Society programs (a big bullet point)
A set of domestic initiatives launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice. Key programs included Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and the Economic Opportunity Act.
Warren Supreme Court decision
Refers to major liberal rulings under Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953–1969), expanding civil rights, due process, and liberties (e.g., Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona)
Chapter 29 - Civil Rights
Effects of WWII on grassroots organizing
Wartime service and economic contributions by Black Americans increased calls for equality and civil rights.
Emmett Till
14-year-old Black boy murdered in Mississippi in 1955, sparking national outrage and galvanizing the civil rights movement.
Plessy v. Ferguson and Jim Crow laws
1896 Supreme Court decision that upheld "separate but equal" segregation laws, reinforcing systemic racism.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
1954 Supreme Court ruling that declared school segregation unconstitutional.
Desegregating public interstate transportation
Supreme Court rulings and activism (e.g., Freedom Rides) enforced integration on buses and terminals.
Ella Baker and the SNCC
Civil rights organizer who helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, promoting grassroots leadership.
Freedom Rides of 1961
Activists rode interstate buses into the segregated South to challenge non-enforcement of Supreme Court decisions.
Dr. King and the SCLC
Martin Luther King Jr. led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, emphasizing nonviolent protest.
Birmingham Campaign and Project “C”
1963 protests against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, met with violent resistance; gained national attention.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Landmark law banning segregation and discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.
Freedom Summer of 1964
Voter registration drive in Mississippi led by civil rights groups; faced intense violence and resistance.
Fannie Lou Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
Activist who helped form the MFDP to challenge the exclusion of Black voters and delegates from the Democratic Party.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Banned literacy tests and other barriers to Black voting; allowed federal oversight of elections in certain states.
Selma March
Protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, for voting rights; met with police violence on “Bloody Sunday.”
De jure vs de facto segregation
De jure: segregation by law (e.g., Jim Crow); de facto: segregation by practice or social norms.
Malcolm X and Black nationalism
Civil rights leader who advocated for Black pride, self-defense, and separation from white institutions.
Black Panther Party
Militant organization founded in 1966 advocating for self-defense, community programs, and Black empowerment.
Civil Rights Act of 1968
Also known as the Fair Housing Act; prohibited discrimination in housing based on race, religion, national origin, or sex.
Chapter 30 - Vietnam War (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Domino theory
Belief that if one nation fell to communism, others in the region would follow.
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Supply route used by North Vietnam to send troops and supplies to the Viet Cong in South Vietnam.
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Congressional resolution in 1964 giving President Johnson broad powers to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
Chemical warfare
Use of defoliants like Agent Orange and napalm by the U.S. to destroy jungle cover and enemy crops.
Experiences of soldiers in Vietnam
Harsh jungle conditions, guerrilla warfare, and low morale due to unclear mission and lack of support at home.
Credibility gap
Public skepticism about the truthfulness of government statements regarding the war.
Relationship between The Great Society and the Vietnam War
War diverted funds and attention from domestic social programs, undermining Johnson’s Great Society agenda.
Military draft
Mandatory conscription system that disproportionately affected working-class and minority men.
Anti-war organizations and actions
Groups like SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) organized protests, teach-ins, and demonstrations against the war.
Tet Offensive
Massive surprise attack by the Viet Cong in 1968; turned U.S. public opinion against the war.
Vietnamization
Nixon’s policy of gradually withdrawing U.S. troops and transferring combat roles to South Vietnamese forces.
Silent majority
Nixon's term for Americans who supported the war and traditional values but were not vocal.
Pentagon Papers
Leaked government documents showing officials misled the public about the war’s progress.
War Powers Act
1973 law requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops; aimed to limit executive power.
Long term effects of the Vietnam War
Loss of trust in government, PTSD among veterans, reluctance to intervene militarily abroad ("Vietnam Syndrome").
Lecture on The Counterculture
Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and the UFWOC
Co-founders of the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee; led nonviolent efforts for labor rights, especially for Latino farmworkers.
Russell Means, American Indian Movement
Native American activist and prominent leader in AIM, which advocated for Indigenous rights and sovereignty.
Occupation of Alcatraz
1969 protest by Native American activists claiming the island under treaty rights; symbolized Indigenous resistance.
Gloria Steinem
Feminist leader and journalist who co-founded Ms. magazine; advocated for gender equality.
Roe v. Wade
1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, citing a woman’s right to privacy.
Equal Rights Amendment
Proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights regardless of sex; passed Congress but failed state ratification.
Beat Movement
1950s literary and cultural movement rejecting conformity, consumerism, and traditional values.
Sexual Revolution
Cultural shift in the 1960s-70s challenging traditional sexual norms, partly fueled by the birth control pill and changing attitudes toward sexuality.
Yawp, “The Unraveling”
Kerner Commission
1968 report that concluded America was moving toward two separate and unequal societies—one Black, one white—urging reforms to address racial inequality.
Emergence of subcultures
Rise of alternative lifestyles and communities (e.g., hippies, punk, LGBTQ+), reflecting resistance to mainstream norms.
Democratic National Convention, 1968
Held in Chicago and marked by violent clashes between anti-war protesters and police; reflected deep divisions in American society.
Assassinations of 1968
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were both assassinated, intensifying national grief and unrest.
New Federalism
Nixon’s plan to shift power from the federal government to the states, often through revenue sharing.
Law and order politics
Nixon’s appeal to voters seeking a tough stance on crime and civil unrest, often with racial undertones.
Nixon’s “madman” strategy
Foreign policy tactic where Nixon aimed to appear unpredictable and willing to use extreme measures to pressure adversaries.
Nixon’s Southern strategy
Republican plan to gain political support in the South by appealing to white voters' backlash against civil rights reforms.
President Nixon’s foreign policy
Focused on détente with the Soviet Union and opening diplomatic relations with China.
The Watergate scandal and its effects
Nixon’s administration attempted to cover up a break-in at the Democratic National Committee; led to Nixon’s resignation and increased public distrust of government.
Stonewall Riots
1969 uprising by LGBTQ+ individuals against police harassment at the Stonewall Inn in NYC; a catalyst for the modern gay rights movement.
Chapter 33 - The Conservative Tide
Entitlement program
Government programs that provide guaranteed benefits to specific groups, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Conservatives often viewed these as costly and inefficient.New Right
A late-20th-century conservative movement that focused on social issues like opposition to abortion, support for prayer in schools, and criticism of affirmative action. Advocated a return to traditional family values.Affirmative action
Policies aimed at increasing representation of minorities and women in employment and education. Supported by liberals but criticized by conservatives.Reverse discrimination
A term used by opponents of affirmative action to argue that it unfairly disadvantages white people, especially white men.Conservative coalition
An alliance of business leaders, middle-class voters, disaffected Democrats, and fundamentalist Christian groups aiming to shrink the size of government and promote conservative values.Moral Majority
A political organization founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell that played a key role in mobilizing conservative Christians and promoting socially conservative causes.Ronald Reagan
40th U.S. president (1981–1989); former actor and governor of California. Known for conservative policies, reducing taxes, shrinking government, and taking a hard stance against the Soviet Union.Reaganomics
Reagan's economic policy combining budget cuts, tax cuts, and increased defense spending. Intended to stimulate investment and economic growth.Supply-side economics
The theory that lower taxes on businesses and individuals will lead to more investment, job creation, and economic growth—benefits would "trickle down" to all Americans.Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
Reagan’s proposed missile defense system (nicknamed “Star Wars”) intended to protect the U.S. from Soviet nuclear attacks using space-based lasers and other technology.Sandra Day O’Connor
The first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, nominated by Reagan in 1981.Deregulation
The cutting back of federal regulation of industry, especially in areas like oil, banking, and transportation, to encourage competition and efficiency.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal agency established to regulate pollution and protect the environment; under Reagan, it faced budget cuts and less aggressive enforcement.Geraldine Ferraro
First woman nominated for vice president by a major political party (Democratic Party, 1984).L. Douglas Wilder
First African American elected governor of a U.S. state (Virginia, 1989).Lauro Cavazos
First Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Cabinet (Secretary of Education under Reagan).Antonia Coello Novello
First Hispanic and first female Surgeon General of the United States, appointed by George H. W. Bush.Jesse Jackson
African American civil rights leader and Democratic presidential candidate in the 1980s; promoted a "Rainbow Coalition" to unite minority groups.George Bush (George H. W. Bush)
Reagan’s vice president and 41st U.S. president; continued many of Reagan’s conservative policies and led the nation during the Gulf War.AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
A deadly disease that emerged in the early 1980s; initially ignored by many in government, it became a major public health crisis by the end of the decade.Pay equity
The concept of equal pay for work of equal value, aimed at closing the wage gap between men and women.