APUSH Period 7


Progressive Era & Reform (Late 1800s–Early 1900s)

  • Muckrakers: Journalists who exposed corruption, social injustices, and abuses of power in business and government.

  • Progressivism: A reform movement aimed at addressing social problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption.

  • Trust-busting: Government activities aimed at breaking up monopolies and trusts to promote fair competition (notably under Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Taft).

  • Federal Reserve Act (1913): Established the Federal Reserve System to regulate the U.S. banking system and manage the economy.

  • Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): Strengthened antitrust laws and protected labor unions from being prosecuted as monopolies.

Imperialism & Foreign Policy (Late 1800s–Early 1900s)

  • Imperialism: Policy of extending a country's power through colonization, military force, or other means.

  • Spanish-American War (1898): A brief conflict where the U.S. defeated Spain and gained control of territories like the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

  • Roosevelt Corollary: Extension of the Monroe Doctrine stating the U.S. could intervene in Latin America to maintain stability.

  • Dollar Diplomacy: U.S. policy of using economic power to influence other countries, especially in Latin America.

World War I (1914–1918)

  • Fourteen Points: President Woodrow Wilson’s plan for post-WWI peace, promoting self-determination and the League of Nations.

  • Treaty of Versailles (1919): Ended WWI; blamed Germany for the war and imposed harsh penalties.

  • League of Nations: An international organization formed after WWI to prevent future conflicts (U.S. did not join).

1920s–1930s America

  • Harlem Renaissance: A cultural, social, and artistic movement centered in Harlem, celebrating African American culture.

  • Red Scare: Fear of communism spreading in the U.S., especially after the Russian Revolution.

  • Flappers: Young women in the 1920s who defied traditional norms with fashion, behavior, and attitudes.

  • Prohibition (1920–1933): The nationwide ban on alcohol sales and production, under the 18th Amendment.

  • Great Depression (1929–1939): A severe worldwide economic downturn starting with the U.S. stock market crash.

New Deal Era (1930s)

  • New Deal: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s programs aimed at economic recovery and social reform during the Great Depression.

  • Social Security Act (1935): Created a government pension system for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled.

  • Wagner Act (1935): Protected workers’ rights to unionize and bargain collectively.

World War II (1939–1945)

  • Lend-Lease Act (1941): Allowed the U.S. to supply Allied nations with military aid before officially entering WWII.

  • Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941): Japanese attack on a U.S. naval base in Hawaii, prompting U.S. entry into WWII.

  • Internment Camps: Places where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and confined during WWII.

  • D-Day (June 6, 1944): Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France, marking a turning point in the war in Europe.

  • Manhattan Project: Secret U.S. project to develop the atomic bomb.

  • Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Japanese cities where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs in August 1945, leading to Japan’s surrender.

  • United Nations: International organization founded in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation among countries.

  • War Production Board: U.S. government agency that coordinated production of war materials during WWII.

  • Zoot Suit Riots (1943): Violent clashes in Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youth.

  • Bracero Program: U.S.-Mexico agreement allowing Mexican laborers to work temporarily in the U.S. during labor shortages.