AP US history unit 7

Key Historical Events and Concepts

Legal Cases and Acts

• Abrams v. United States (1919): A landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the conviction of individuals who distributed leaflets opposing U.S. involvement in World War I. This case is significant for its interpretation of free speech under the First Amendment, emphasizing the limits of free expression, especially in times of war.

• Muller v. Oregon (1908): An influential case in which the Supreme Court upheld a state law limiting women’s working hours to ten per day. It was a pivotal moment in labor law that recognized the need for special protections for women in the workforce, marking a shift towards recognizing women's rights in labor.

• National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act, 1935): A foundational statute in U.S. labor law that granted workers the right to form unions and engage in collective bargaining. This act aimed to protect the rights of employees and employers, enhancing workers' rights and encouraging unionization.

• Fair Labor Standards Act (1938): Legislation that established minimum wage, overtime pay eligibility, recordkeeping, and youth employment. This act aimed to protect workers from unfair labor practices by setting standards for wages and hours worked, fundamentally improving labor conditions.

Economic Policies and Submissions

• Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA, 1933): An ambitious law aimed at boosting agricultural prices by reducing surpluses. The AAA paid farmers to cut back on production, thereby increasing prices and income for farmers, which was crucial during the economic strains of the Great Depression.

• New Deal (1933-1939): A series of programs and reforms enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. The New Deal included measures to provide relief for the unemployed, recovery of the economy, and reforms to prevent another depression, including the establishment of Social Security and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

• Hawley-Smoot Act (1930): A tariff act that raised duties on many imports to protect American industry. While it aimed to boost domestic manufacturing, it led to retaliatory tariffs from other countries and contributed to a decline in international trade, aggravating the Great Depression.

Significant Periods in American History

• Great Depression (1929-1939): A severe worldwide economic downturn characterized by massive unemployment, bank failures, and plummeting industrial output. The Great Depression led to significant changes in government policy and the role of the federal government in the economy.

• Dust Bowl (1930s): A period of severe dust storms caused by drought and poor agricultural practices that devastated farmland in the Great Plains. This environmental disaster displaced hundreds of thousands of farmers, leading to mass migrations, particularly to California.

• Harlem Renaissance (1920s): A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s. It was marked by the flourishing of African American literature, music, visual arts, and a new cultural identity, reinforcing the push for civil rights and racial equality.

Political Movements and Alliances

• America First Committee (1940-1941): A non-interventionist group that opposed American entry into World War II, advocating for neutrality and isolationism. The committee attracted notable figures, including Charles Lindbergh, and reflected the sentiments of many Americans who were reluctant to engage in overseas conflicts.

• Women’s Suffrage (19th Amendment, 1920): A movement that sought to secure the right to vote for women in the United States, culminating in the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. The suffrage movement included a wide array of strategies, from peaceful protests to more militant actions, and its success was a landmark achievement for women's rights.

• Progressivism (1890s-1920s): A political movement that aimed to address social issues, political corruption, and economic inequality through reforms. Progressives advocated for measures such as women’s rights, labor rights, antitrust laws, and direct democracy initiatives like recall and referendum.

Wars and Military Engagements

• World War I (American Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1918): The U.S. military participation involved sending troops to Europe to assist allies against the Central Powers, which included significant battles such as those at Verdun and the Meuse-Argonne. The war's conclusion led to substantial changes in American society and politics, including the Treaty of Versailles.

• World War II (D-Day, Battle of Iwo Jima, 1944-1945): Key battles where American forces played decisive roles. D-Day (June 6, 1944) marked the Allied invasion of German-occupied France, while the Battle of Iwo Jima (February-March 1945) was crucial for American strategy in the Pacific Theater, becoming iconic for the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi.

Social Issues and Movements

• Eugenics (late 19th-early 20th centuries): A movement aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding and sterilization. It was often associated with discriminatory practices and policies, particularly against marginalized communities, and has left a controversial legacy.

• Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s): A pivotal struggle for social justice aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans, marked by significant events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington. Organizations like the NAACP played key roles in advocating for legislative changes and civil rights protections.