Apush Progressive Era Quiz

Dollar Diplomacy (1910s) – A U.S. foreign policy under President William Howard Taft that aimed to expand American influence abroad by using economic investments and loans rather than military intervention.

Roosevelt Corollary (1904) – An extension of the Monroe Doctrine by President Theodore Roosevelt, asserting that the U.S. had the right to intervene in Latin American nations to maintain stability and prevent European interference.

Pancho Villa (1878–1923) – A Mexican revolutionary leader who led raids into the U.S. in 1916, prompting an unsuccessful American military expedition led by General John J. Pershing to capture him.

Allies (WWI) – The coalition of nations, including Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and later the U.S., that fought against the Central Powers during World War I.

American Expeditionary Force (AEF, 1917–1918) – The U.S. military force, led by General John J. Pershing, that fought in Europe during World War I, significantly contributing to the Allied victory.

Central Powers (WWI) – The opposing coalition in World War I, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

General John J. Pershing (1860–1948) – The commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, known for leading U.S. troops in key battles and insisting on keeping American forces independent from European control.

Lusitania (1915) – A British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. This event increased anti-German sentiment in the U.S. and contributed to America’s entry into World War I.

Trench Warfare – A type of combat used in World War I, where soldiers fought from deep ditches to protect themselves from enemy fire, leading to prolonged and deadly battles.

Triple Alliance – A pre-World War I military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Italy later switched sides to join the Allies.

Triple Entente – A pre-World War I alliance between France, Britain, and Russia, which later became the core of the Allied Powers.

Zimmermann Telegram (1917) – A secret message from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S., promising Mexico the return of lost territories (Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico). Its interception by Britain and publication in the U.S. helped push America into World War I.

"Great Migration" (1916–1970) – The mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to northern and western cities, seeking better job opportunities and escaping racial discrimination, especially during and after World War I.

Ludlow Massacre (1914) – A violent attack by the Colorado National Guard and private company guards on striking coal miners and their families in Ludlow, Colorado, resulting in several deaths. It highlighted tensions between labor and industrial interests in the early 20th century.

Nineteenth Amendment (1920) – The constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote, marking a major victory for the women’s suffrage movement in the U.S.

Alice Paul (1885–1977) – A women's rights activist and suffragist who led the National Woman’s Party, advocating for more aggressive tactics, including protests and hunger strikes, to secure the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902) – A leading figure in the early women's rights movement, co-organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention (1848), and co-author of the Declaration of Sentiments.

Eugene Debs (1855–1926) – A socialist leader and five-time presidential candidate who founded the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and led labor strikes, including the Pullman Strike.

Father John Ryan (1869–1945) – A Catholic priest who supported social justice, labor rights, and progressive economic reforms based on the principles of the Social Gospel.

Gifford Pinchot (1865–1946) – A leading conservationist and head of the U.S. Forest Service under President Theodore Roosevelt, known for advocating the sustainable use of natural resources.

Ida Tarbell (1857–1944) – A pioneering muckraker journalist who exposed the corrupt practices of Standard Oil in The History of the Standard Oil Company, leading to antitrust actions.

Lincoln Steffens (1866–1936) – A muckraker journalist who wrote The Shame of the Cities, exposing corruption in municipal governments.

Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) – A progressive lawyer and the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, known for advocating for workers’ rights and limiting monopolies.

Robert La Follette (1855–1925) – A progressive governor and senator from Wisconsin who championed reforms such as direct primaries, railroad regulation, and corporate taxation.

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868–1963) – A co-founder of the NAACP and advocate for immediate civil rights for African Americans, opposing Booker T. Washington’s gradualist approach.

Jane Addams (1860–1935) – A prominent social reformer and founder of Hull House, she played a key role in the settlement house movement, advocating for social justice and women's suffrage.

"Bad Trusts" – Large corporations that used unfair practices, such as monopolies and price-fixing, harming consumers and competition. Progressives sought to regulate or break them up.

"Good Trusts" – Businesses that were large but operated fairly and efficiently, benefiting the public; progressives, including Theodore Roosevelt, believed they should be regulated rather than dismantled.

"Bull Moose" Party (1912) – A progressive political party formed by Theodore Roosevelt after splitting from the Republican Party, advocating for direct democracy, women's suffrage, and business regulation.

Federal Reserve Act (1913) – A law establishing the Federal Reserve System, which created a centralized banking system to regulate currency and prevent financial crises.

Interstate Commerce Act (1887) – A federal law that aimed to regulate railroads and prevent monopolistic practices, marking one of the first attempts at government regulation of big business.

New Freedom (1912) – Woodrow Wilson’s political platform that sought to eliminate monopolies, lower tariffs, and reform the banking system to promote small businesses.

New Nationalism (1910) – Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive platform advocating for a strong federal government to regulate business, support workers, and promote social justice.

Newlands Act (1902) – A law that funded irrigation projects in the West to promote agriculture and settlement.

Panic of 1907 – A financial crisis that led to bank failures and economic instability, prompting calls for banking reform and the eventual creation of the Federal Reserve.

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) – A law that regulated the food and pharmaceutical industries, requiring honest labeling and banning harmful substances.

Referendum – A political process in which voters directly approve or reject a law or policy proposed by the legislature.

Hetch Hetchy (1906–1913) – A controversial dam project in Yosemite National Park that divided conservationists; John Muir opposed it, while Gifford Pinchot supported it for urban water needs.

Hull House (1889) – A famous settlement house founded by Jane Addams in Chicago, providing social services and education to immigrants and the poor.

IWW ("Wobblies") – A radical labor union that sought to unite all workers, including unskilled laborers, and advocated for revolutionary changes to capitalism.

Muckrakers – Investigative journalists who exposed corruption, poor working conditions, and social injustices, influencing progressive reforms.

Municipal Reforms – Efforts to eliminate corruption in city governments, including the introduction of city managers, nonpartisan elections, and public ownership of utilities.

NAACP (Founded in 1909) – The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization that fought for African American civil rights through legal challenges and activism.

Prohibition (1920–1933) – The nationwide ban on alcohol enforced by the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, supported by temperance movements.

Settlement Houses – Community centers in urban areas that provided social services, education, and support for immigrants and the poor.

Social Gospel – A religious movement that applied Christian ethics to social issues like poverty and labor rights, advocating for reforms.

Social Work – A profession that emerged during the Progressive Era, focusing on improving social conditions through advocacy and direct aid.

Tammany Hall – A powerful Democratic political machine in New York City known for corruption but also for helping immigrants, particularly the Irish.

Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929) – An economist and social critic who wrote The Theory of the Leisure Class, criticizing conspicuous consumption and wealth inequality.

Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire (1911) – A factory fire in New York City that killed 146 workers, mostly young women, leading to stronger workplace safety regulations.

Western Progressives – Reformers in the western U.S. who focused on land conservation, direct democracy measures (initiative, referendum, recall), and labor rights.

Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU, Founded 1874) – A leading organization in the temperance movement, advocating for Prohibition and women's rights.

Woman’s Club Movement – A progressive-era movement in which women organized clubs to promote social reform, education, and civic engagement.