HIST+2020+Midterm+Exam+Study+Guide--Spring+2026

History 2020 – Midterm Exam Study Guide

Section One: Short Answer (50 pts)

Key Topics and Terminology

  • Radical Republicans

    • Description of their goals during Reconstruction and impact on policy.

  • Farmers’ Alliance

    • Purpose of the movement and its influence on agricultural policies.

  • Freedmen’s Bureau

    • Established to aid newly freed slaves, providing education and support.

  • Populist beliefs

    • Description of Populism, including involvement of the Ku Klux Klan.
    • Example: Activism and intimidation tactics used by the KKK.

  • Key Figures:

    • Mary E. Lease
    • Role in the Farmers’ Alliance and her speeches promoting Populist ideals.
    • William Jennings Bryan
    • Impact on American politics, particularly his role in the Populist movement.

  • 14th & 15th Amendments

    • 14th Amendment: Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and provides equal protection under the laws.
    • 15th Amendment: Prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

  • Failures of Reconstruction

    • Examination of social, economic, and political factors contributing to the failure of Reconstruction efforts.

  • The Progressives

    • Definition and key characteristics of the Progressive movement in the early 20th century.
    • Example: Response to issues such as industrialization and urbanization.

  • Redeemers

    • Southern wing of the Democratic Party that sought to overthrow Radical Republican rule.

  • Progressive beliefs

    • Includes views as expressed in the Plessy v. Ferguson case which upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

  • Nativism

    • Concern over immigration and its implications on American society.

  • NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

    • Founded to fight for civil rights and against racial discrimination.

  • Key Figures

    • Alice Paul
    • Notable suffragist known for her role in the women's rights movement.
    • Ida B. Wells
    • Journalist and activist who fought against lynching and for civil rights.

  • 16th & 17th Amendments

    • 16th Amendment: Allows Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states.
    • 17th Amendment: Establishes the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.

  • Tammany Hall

    • A political organization in New York City known for its corrupt practices and Democratic Party affiliation.

  • Theodore Roosevelt

    • His views on government involvement in business and progressive reforms.

  • Social Gospel Movement

    • A religious movement that applied Christian ethics to social problems, particularly issues of social justice and inequality.

  • Jose Marti

    • Influence on Cuban independence and advocacy for Latin American solidarity.

  • Panic of 1893

    • A nationwide economic depression resulting from overextension in railroad investments.

  • Filipino Insurrection

    • Armed conflict between the First Philippine Republic and the U.S. following the Spanish-American War.

  • Grover Cleveland

    • His presidency marked by controversies such as the Pullman Strike and economic challenges.

  • San Juan and Kettle Hills

    • Key battles during the Spanish-American War highlighting U.S. military engagement.

  • Alexander Graham Bell

    • Inventor of the telephone and his contribution to communications.

  • Woodrow Wilson’s beliefs/background

    • Advocate for democratic principles and his limited liability policies within regulatory frameworks.

  • Federal Reserve Act

    • Established the Federal Reserve System as the central banking system of the U.S.

  • Trusts & Holding Companies

    • Corporate structures that dominate industries; influences on the economy and regulation.

  • General John J. Pershing

    • Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during WWI.

  • John D. Rockefeller

    • Founder of Standard Oil and significant figure in the development of the petroleum industry.

  • Lusitania

    • British ocean liner sunk by a German U-boat, influencing U.S. entry into WWI.

  • Ellis Island

    • Main entry point for immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

  • Great Migration

    • Movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North.

  • Tenements

    • Urban dwellings that housed impoverished families; often overcrowded and unsafe.

  • Espionage & Sedition Acts

    • Laws that suppressed dissent during WWI.

  • Muckrakers

    • Journalists who exposed corruption and social issues in the early 20th century.

  • Meuse-Argonne Offensive

    • Major engagement of American forces during WWI aimed at breaking German lines.

  • Bison

    • Importance of bison to Native American culture and the ecological impact of their near extinction.

  • Treaty of Versailles

    • Ended WWI, redrew borders, and imposed reparations on Germany.

  • Homestead Act

    • Provided land to settlers in the West, encouraging migration and development.

  • Henry Ford

    • Revolutionized manufacturing through the assembly line; impact on industry and labor.

  • Sodbusters

    • Farmers who settled and farmed the plains, facing numerous challenges such as drought and economic hardship.

  • KDKA

    • First radio station to air a commercial broadcast, showcasing changes in media.

  • Harlem Renaissance

    • Cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, influential in shaping American culture.

  • Prohibition
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