Allied Powers: The coalition of nations that opposed the Central Powers in World War I, primarily composed of France, Britain, Russia, Italy, and later, the United States.
Anti-Imperialist League: An organization founded in 1898 to oppose the expansion of the U.S. empire and the annexation of territories like the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.
Anti-Saloon League: A group formed in the late 19th century advocating for the prohibition of alcohol, eventually leading to the 18th Amendment (Prohibition).
“Banana Republic”: A term for politically unstable countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that rely heavily on a single agricultural export, often controlled by foreign corporations.
Big Stick Diplomacy: President Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy approach, emphasizing military strength ("speak softly and carry a big stick") to assert U.S. dominance in Latin America.
Birth of a Nation: A controversial 1915 film directed by D.W. Griffith, known for its racist portrayal of African Americans and its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan.
Bootlegging: The illegal production, distribution, and sale of alcohol during Prohibition (1920-1933).
Business Cycle: The natural fluctuation of economic activity over time, characterized by periods of expansion, peak, recession, and recovery.
Central Powers: The alliance during World War I, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
Chicago Riot of 1919: A race riot in Chicago sparked by racial tensions and violence, part of the broader "Red Summer" of 1919.
Comm. on Public Information (CPI): A U.S. government agency created during World War I to influence public opinion and promote support for the war through propaganda.
De Lome Letter: A 1898 letter written by the Spanish Ambassador to the U.S., calling President McKinley weak, which fueled anti-Spanish sentiment and contributed to the Spanish-American War.
Dollar Diplomacy: A policy under President William Howard Taft, aimed at expanding American economic influence in Latin America and East Asia through loans and investments.
Espionage Act (1917): A law passed during World War I that made it a crime to interfere with military operations or support enemies of the U.S.
Foraker Act (1900): Legislation that established a civilian government in Puerto Rico following the Spanish-American War.
Fourteen Points: A proposal by President Woodrow Wilson in 1918 outlining principles for peace and the establishment of a League of Nations after World War I.
Graduated Income Tax: A system of taxation where the rate of tax increases as the income of the individual or corporation rises.
Great Migration: The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North between 1916 and 1970, seeking better economic opportunities and escape from racial discrimination.
Isolationism: A foreign policy stance where a country avoids entangling alliances and remains uninvolved in international conflicts.
Isthmus: A narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses, like the Isthmus of Panama.
Harlem Renaissance: A cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, New York, celebrating African American culture.
Hull House: A settlement house founded by Jane Addams in Chicago in 1889, providing social services to immigrants and the poor.
Jingoism: Extreme nationalism and a foreign policy based on aggressive militarism and the belief in national superiority.
League of Nations: An international organization formed after World War I, intended to prevent future conflicts, though the U.S. did not join.
Lusitania: A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, leading to the deaths of 128 Americans and contributing to the U.S. entering World War I.
Missionary Diplomacy: President Wilson's policy of promoting democracy and moral principles abroad, particularly in Latin America.
Muckrakers: Journalists in the early 20th century who exposed corruption, social injustices, and abuses of power in government and industry.
Muller v. Oregon (1908): A U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld labor laws protecting women workers by recognizing their special needs for protection from overwork.
NAACP: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded in 1909 to promote civil rights and combat racial discrimination.
National War Labor Board: Established during World War I to mediate disputes between workers and employers to prevent strikes and ensure wartime production.
Niagara Movement: A movement founded in 1905 by W.E.B. Du Bois and others, advocating for civil rights and the full equality of African Americans.
Open Door Policy: A U.S. policy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that advocated for equal trading rights in China and the prevention of monopolies by European powers.
Panama Canal: A man-made waterway across the Isthmus of Panama, built by the U.S. to facilitate faster maritime travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (completed in 1914).
Platt Amendment (1901): An amendment to the Cuban constitution, allowing the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs and to establish naval bases in Cuba.
Propaganda: Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a particular political cause or point of view.
Progressive: A political movement in the early 20th century that aimed to address social, political, and economic issues like corruption, inequality, and industrial abuses.
Progressive Amendments: Refers to the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which dealt with issues such as income tax, direct election of senators, prohibition, and women's suffrage.
Prohibition: The nationwide ban on alcohol in the U.S. from 1920 to 1933, established by the 18th Amendment.
“Red Summer”: A period of intense racial violence and race riots in the U.S. during the summer and fall of 1919.
Roosevelt Corollary: An addition to the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt, asserting the right of the U.S. to intervene in Latin America to stabilize economic and political situations.
Rough Riders: A volunteer cavalry unit led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War, famous for its charge up San Juan Hill.
Russo-Japanese War: A conflict between Russia and Japan (1904-1905) over imperial expansion in Asia, with Japan emerging victorious.
Salvation Army: A Christian organization founded in 1865, focused on social welfare and providing aid to the poor, homeless, and needy.
Schenck v. the U.S. (1919): A Supreme Court case that upheld the conviction of a man who had distributed anti-draft leaflets, establishing the "clear and present danger" test for limiting free speech.
Sedition Act (1918): Legislation that extended the Espionage Act, making it illegal to criticize the government or the war effort during World War I.
Selective Service Act (1917): The law that authorized the U.S. government to draft men into military service during World War I.
Self-determination: The principle that nations have the right to choose their own government and political status without external influence.
Seward’s Folly: The nickname given to the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, initially seen as a poor decision but later proven to be valuable.
Settlement House: A community center offering social services, education, and healthcare to poor urban residents, particularly immigrants.
Spanish-American War (1898): A brief conflict between the U.S. and Spain, resulting in the U.S. annexing territories such as Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam.
Spheres of Influence: Areas in which a foreign power has exclusive rights to control trade and investments, often found in China during the late 19th century.
Submarine: A watercraft capable of underwater operation, notably used during World War I for stealth attacks on enemy ships (i.e., German U-boats).
Suffrage: The right to vote in elections, particularly women's suffrage, which was achieved with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
The Jungle: A 1906 novel by Upton Sinclair that exposed the unsanitary conditions in the U.S. meatpacking industry, leading to reforms in food safety.
Treaty of Portsmouth (1905): The peace treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War, mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.
Treaty of Versailles (1919): The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations on Germany and redrawing borders in Europe and the Middle East.
U-boat: A German submarine, particularly known for its role in World War I, where it sank civilian ships, including the Lusitania.
United Fruit Company: A U.S. company that had a dominant role in the economies of several Central American countries, leading to the term "banana republic."
USS Maine: A U.S. battleship whose explosion in Havana Harbor in 1898 sparked the Spanish-American War.
War Industries Board: A U.S. government agency during World War I responsible for overseeing the production of war materials.
WCTU (Women's Christian Temperance Union): An organization founded in 1874 advocating for the prohibition of alcohol.
“White Man’s Burden”: A concept popularized by Rudyard Kipling’s poem, suggesting that it was the duty of white colonial powers to "civilize" non-white populations.
Yellow Fever: A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which caused significant death and disruption, especially in tropical regions.
Yellow Journalism: Sensationalized news reporting, often exaggerating or distorting the truth to sell more newspapers, especially during the Spanish-American War.
Zimmermann Telegram: A secret German message intercepted by the British in 1917, proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the U.S., which contributed to U.S. entry into World War I.
Jane Addams: A pioneering social worker and founder of Hull House, a settlement house that helped immigrants in Chicago.
Emilio Aguinaldo: Filipino revolutionary leader who fought for independence from Spain and later the United States.
Susan B. Anthony: A leading figure in the women's suffrage movement.
Louis Brandeis: The first Jewish U.S. Supreme Court Justice and a progressive reformer.
William Jennings Bryan: A three-time Democratic presidential candidate and advocate for populism, silver-backed currency, and progressive reforms.
Lucy Burns: A leader in the suffrage movement and co-founder of the National Woman's Party.
Carrie Chapman Catt: A suffragist leader who helped secure the passage of the 19th Amendment.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Co-founder of the NAACP and a prominent African American civil rights activist.
Robert La Follette: Progressive politician and reformer, known for his work as Governor of Wisconsin and U.S. Senator.
Queen Liliuokalani: The last monarch of Hawaii, overthrown in 1893 during the U.S. annexation of Hawaii.
William McKinley: U.S. President during the Spanish-American War and the annexation of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
Albert Thayer Mahan: A naval officer whose writings emphasized the importance of sea power in national strategy.
Alice Paul: A leading suffragist and co-founder of the National Woman’s Party.
Theodore Roosevelt: U.S. President, known for his progressive reforms, trust-busting, and leadership in the Spanish-American War.
Margaret Sanger: A leader in the birth control movement and founder of Planned Parenthood.
Upton Sinclair: Author of The Jungle, which exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton: A leading figure in the women's suffrage movement and co-organizer of the first women's rights convention.
Lincoln Steffens: A muckraking journalist known for his exposés on political corruption.
William Howard Taft: U.S. President and later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; known for his trust-busting policies.
Booker T. Washington: African American educator and leader, advocating for vocational training and economic self-reliance.
Woodrow Wilson: U.S. President during World War I, known for his progressive domestic reforms and the League of Nations.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Co-founder of the NAACP and a prominent advocate for civil rights, emphasizing the importance of higher education and political activism.