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American History > Midyear Exam Review > Flashcards

Midyear Exam Review Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the system of checks and balances within the American government?

A

-A fundamental principle of American government, guaranteed by the Constitution, whereby each branch of the government (executive, judicial, and legislative) has some measure of influence over the other branches and may choose to block procedures of the other branches.

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2
Q

What is unrestricted submarine warfare and what did it cause?

A

-Unrestricted submarine warfare is a type of naval warfare in which submarines sink vessels such as freighters and tankers without warning.

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3
Q

Who argued for “Life, Liberty, and Property”? and what U.S. founding document did this influence?

A

John Locke- Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson)

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4
Q

Explain the social contract between the U.S. and Great Britain and which document broke this contract between the two countries?

A
  • The U.S. is a colony of Great Britain and they are supposed to be treated equally and be under the same laws as British citizens.
  • Declaration of Independence
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5
Q

What was the Lusitania, what happened to it, when, and why was it significant?

A

-British ocean liner that was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915
128 Americans died. Made many Americans want to enter WWI

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6
Q

Explain the First Red Scare?

A

-The rounding up and deportation of several hundred immigrants of radical political views by the federal government in 1919 and 1920. This “scare” was caused by fears of subversion by communists in the United States after the Russian Revolution

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7
Q

What do anti-federalists believe system of government should be?

A

-The Anti-Federalists were a group of diverse individuals that formed to oppose the ratification (passage) of the new federal Constitution in 1787. They were united by their fear of a powerful and potentially oppressive national government, a government dominated by wealthy aristocrats, and the absence of a bill of rights in the new Constitution.

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8
Q

Who were the federalists and what did they want our system of government to be?

A

-Supporter of federal government; especially : a supporter of the U.S. Constitution
They were also a major political party in the early years of the U.S. that wanted a strong central government

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9
Q

What is TOTAL WAR?

A

-a war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, especially one in which the laws of war are disregarded.

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10
Q

Which countries suffered the most deaths in WWI

A 
Austro-Hungary= 900,000
Germany= 1,600,000
Italy= 700,000
France= 1,400,000
Great Britain= 650,000
Russia= 1,750,000
U.S.A.= 50,000
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11
Q

Who wrote the 14-point program?

A

-President Woodrow Wilson

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12
Q

What was the main goal of the 14-point program?

A
  • World Peace

- League of Nations

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13
Q

What started the Palmer Raids, what were the Raids about, who was involved, and why was it an infringement on our first amendment rights?

A
  • Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer and other prominent political figures were sent by bombs in the mail
  • They assumed Communists and Anarchists sent them the bombs and went on raids to put the suspected subversives in jail/deport them
  • Goes against the first amendment rights of freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly.
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14
Q

Where did immigrants settle in the United States and why?

A

-Cities/urban areas because more jobs are in urban areas than in rural areas.

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15
Q

Explain Nativism.

A

-The policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants. Xenophobic belief that Native-born Americans are better than immigrants within a given country.

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16
Q

How many European immigrants came to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century?

A

-Roughly 20 million immigrants.

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17
Q

What are Unions and what are their goals and techniques to achieve these goals?

A
  • An organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests; a labor union.
  • Strikes, protests, negotiations
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18
Q

What was the occupation of a large number of Chinese Immigrants arriving in the country in the late 19th century?

A

-Railroad Workers

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19
Q

Provide 3 examples of voting discrimination that was taking place following Reconstruction in the South towards African Americans.

A
  • KKK intimidation
  • Poll Taxes
  • Literacy Tests
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20
Q

List 7 inventions of the late 19th century. (Patent drawing packet)

A
  • Automobile
  • Cash Register
  • Lightbulb
  • Phonograph/Gramophone
  • Elevator
  • Movie Camera
  • Sewing Machine
  • Telephone
  • Typewriter
  • Washing Machine
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21
Q

What is a transcontinental railroad line and why was it significant?

A
  • A train route across the United States, finished in 1869. It was the project of two railroad companies: the Union Pacific built from the east, and the Central Pacific built from the west. The two lines met in Utah.
  • Connected the country and made travel much easier
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22
Q

What is the Chinese exclusion Act of 1882?

A

-It was one of the most significant restrictions on free immigration in US history, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers.

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23
Q

Explain the De Lome telegram and what war did it help to start and why.

A
  • The De Lôme letter, a note written by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States, to Don José Canelejas, the Foreign Minister of Spain, reveals De Lôme’s opinion about the Spanish involvement in Cuba and US President McKinley’s diplomacy.
  • Spanish-American War
  • Americans were upset that another country was talking badly about our President and our country.
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24
Q

Explain the difference between a Robber Baron and a Captain of Industry.

A
  • Robber Baron: An American capitalist who acquired a fortune in the late nineteenth century by ruthless means.
  • Captain of Industry: A business leader whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributes positively to the country in some way.
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25
Q

What were the major problems in American society that Progressive Reformers were trying to fix (list at least 5)?

A
  • Corruption in Business
  • Urban issues: overcrowding, disease, etc..
  • Working Conditions: hours, wages, danger, etc..
  • Women’s Rights
  • Immigration Reform
  • Prohibition
  • Civil Rights issues
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26
Q

List the members of the Triple Entente (Allies).

A
  • Russia
  • France
  • Great Britain
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27
Q

List the members of the Central Powers.

A
  • Germany
  • Austro-Hungary
  • Italy
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28
Q

Explain the significance of the U.S.S. Maine and how what war it helped start and why.

A
  • A U.S. Naval ship that exploded mysteriously in the Havana Harbor.
  • Spanish-American war
  • Americans assumed Spain blew up the ship and wanted to go to war to gain Imperialist possessions.
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29
Q

What is the Treaty of Versailles? Who did it affect the most and why?

A
  • The Treaty that ended WWI

- Germany: Placed huge reparations, took away military power and land.

30
Q

How much did Germany have to pay in reparations because of the Treaty of Versailles in modern dollars?

A

-400-500 Billion dollars

31
Q

What are muckrakers (Progressive Era)? and what were they trying to accomplish?

A

-Journalists who search for and expose real or alleged corruption, scandal, especially in politics.

32
Q

What are political machines?

A
  • A political machine is a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses (usually campaign workers), who receive rewards for their efforts.
33
Q

What two main groups did the K.K.K. in the 1920s discriminate against and why?

A
  • Catholics: feared they were more loyal to Pope than to America
  • Immigrants: bringing in new ideas, culture, language, ideas, and were making the country illiterate and uneducated
34
Q

Explain Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” and what it helped to improve during the Progressive Era.

A
  • The Jungle is a 1906 novel written by the American journalist and novelist Upton Sinclair. Sinclair wrote the novel to portray the harsh conditions and exploited lives of immigrants in the United States
  • It helped to improve the food industry
35
Q

What replaced the Articles of Confederation and why?

A
  • U.S. Constitution
  • Articles of Confederation did not have an Executive Branch, National court systems, different currencies between states, COULD NOT COLLECT TAXES
36
Q

What is Prohibition and who supported it?

A
  • The prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol in the US between 1920 and 1933.
  • Progressives, women, KKK
37
Q

Where did Americans from rural areas move to in the United States in the late 19th century and why?

A
  • Moved to Cities

- More jobs in the cities

38
Q

What is the Declaration of Independence.

A
  • The fundamental document establishing the United States as a nation, adopted on July 4, 1776. The declaration was ordered and approved by the Continental Congress and written largely by Thomas Jefferson.
  • Broke the social contract between the United States and Great Britain
39
Q

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

A

-Thomas Jefferson

40
Q

Explain the League of Nations and the purpose of this organization.

A
  • An international organization established after World War I under the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.
  • To establish world peace and protect against future world conflicts
41
Q

What is women’s suffrage?

A
  • Women’s right to vote

- 19th Amendment (1920)

42
Q

What time period is the 19th century, 20th century, and 21st century?

A
  • 19th (1800-1899)
  • 20th (1900-1999)
  • 21st (2000-2099)
43
Q

What freedoms does the Constitution guarantee?

A
  • Bill of rights
  • 1st 10 amendments
  • Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly
44
Q

What are the Jim Crow Laws? Provide Examples

A
  • The Jim Crow laws were racial segregation laws enacted after the Reconstruction period in Southern United States, at state and local levels, and which continued in force until 1965, which mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities in Southern states
  • no walking along railroads
  • no interracial marriage
  • segregation of all public spaces
  • segregated military
  • ETC…
45
Q

How long did the Spanish-American war last?

A

-Only 15 weeks

46
Q

What is the Zimmerman Telegram?

A
  • The message came as a coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann, on January 16, 1917 to Mexico.
  • It was an attempt to persuade Mexico to attack the United States and promised to return all of the territory they had lost in the Mexican-American war.
47
Q

Explain the Articles of Confederation.

A
  • The original constitution of the US, ratified in 1781, which was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789.
  • There were many problems with it including: Could not tax citizens, no national currency, no executive branch, weak central government, no national army, etc..
48
Q

What are two positive things that occurred when the Articles of Confederation was in place?

A
  • Won the Revolutionary war

- Northwest Ordinance of 1787

49
Q

What are two negative things that occurred when the Articles of Confederation was in place?

A
  • Couldn’t collect taxes
  • No national currency
  • No executive branch
  • No national army
  • etc..
50
Q

What are poll taxes and who were they meant to affect?

A
  • A tax applied to voters

- African Americans

51
Q

What are literacy tests and who were they meant to affect?

A

-Southern state legislatures employed literacy tests as part of the voter registration process starting in the late 19th century.Literacy tests, along with poll taxes and extra-legal intimidation, were used to deny suffrage to African-Americans.

52
Q

What four territories did the United States acquire after winning the Spanish-American war?

A
  • Cuba
  • Guam
  • Puerto Rico
  • The Philippines
53
Q

List 4 positives of Imperialism.

A
  • Spread Christianity
  • Gain Natural Resources
  • Modernize Natives
  • New technology
  • Civilize Natives
54
Q

List 4 Negatives of Imperialism.

A
  • Destroys Culture
  • Destroys Religion
  • Takes Natural Resources
  • Wars/Revolutions/Deaths
  • Exploitation of Native Peoples (Slavery/servitude)
55
Q

Describe an immigrant’s journey to Ellis Island.

A
  • Took 2-3 Months

- Hot, dirty, cramped, diseased (many people became ill on the trip), lack of food

56
Q

Describe an immigrant’s process once they arrived at Ellis Island.

A
  • They were required to undergo a medical inspection to make sure they were fit to enter America.
  • Those who did not pass the test were sent back
  • Needed to have at least $25 with them so that they could afford a place to stay until they found employment.
  • They would also be sent back if they did not have enough money
  • Once they were allowed to enter New York City they were often preyed upon by political machines to try and receive votes.
57
Q

What is social darwinism?

A

-The theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals. Social Darwinism was used to justify imperialism, and racism and to discourage intervention and reform.

58
Q

What does Militarism mean?

A

-Militarism is a belief that a strong military force should be maintained and used aggressively to defend or promote national interests.A belief that you need to devote a lot of money to military and build the largest military that you can.

59
Q

What does Alliance system mean?

A

-Defense agreement among nations promising to protect each other if one goes to war or another nation declares war on them.

60
Q

What does Nationalism mean?

A

-Feeling of intense loyalty to one’s country or group

61
Q

What does Imperialism mean?

A

-It is a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Usually a larger more powerful nation taking over a smaller weaker one.

62
Q

Why is the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand significant?

A

-It was the spark that started WWI

63
Q

What is tenant farming?

A

-Farming by a farmer who rents rather than owns the land.

64
Q

What is sharecropping?

A

-Providing someone with land and equipment in return for a percentage of the crops yield

65
Q

What is debt-peonage?

A
  • Debt-peonage is a system where an employer compels a worker to pay off a debt with work.
  • Was often used as another form of slavery where in reality people could never pay off their debt.
66
Q

What is the convict-leasing system?

A
  • Prisoners were sold to private companies and forced to work.
  • They were sold for months at a time
  • Much worse than slavery because if they died from exhaustion more could be rented from prisons.
  • In slavery, slaves were treated better because they were the individual property of their owner and often did not want to seriously harm them, which could damage their ability to turn a profit.
67
Q

Explain the Bolshevik revolution?

A

-It was a revolution in Russia in 1917–1918, also called the October Revolution, that overthrew the czar and brought the Bolsheviks, a Communist party led by Lenin, to power.

68
Q

Why did America enter WWI?

A
  • Lusitania (1915)
  • Zimmerman telegram
  • Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare
69
Q

What is the Bill of Rights and what group wanted it to be a part of the Constitution?

A
  • The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791 and guaranteeing such rights as the freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship.
  • The ANTI-FEDERALISTS
70
Q

List the positive changes of the American city in the late 19th century.

A
  • Population growth
  • Technological innovations
  • Job opportunities
71
Q

List the negative changes of the American city in the late 19th century.

A
  • Overcrowding
  • Disease
  • Discrimination
  • Crime
  • Dirty
  • Factory working conditions: dangerous, dirty, long hours, little pay
72
Q

Why was the American city changing in the late 19th century? (At least 3 reasons)

A

-Industrial expansion: There was a maturing of the industrial economy, rapid expansion of big business, development of large-scale agriculture, and the rise of national labor unions and industrial conflict.
An outburst of technological innovation in the late 19th century fueled this headlong economic growth. However, the accompanying rise of the American corporation and the advent of big business resulted in a concentration of the nation’s productive capacities in fewer and fewer hands. Mechanization brought farming into the realm of big business as well, making the United States the world’s premier food producer
-Population growth in cities: There was an unprecedented amount of immigration in the United States. Between 1880 and 1900, cities in the United States grew at a dramatic rate. Owing most of their population growth to the expansion of industry, U.S. cities grew by about 15 million people in the two decades before 1900. Many of those who helped account for the population growth of cities were immigrants arriving from around the world. A steady stream of people from rural America also migrated to the cities during this period. Between 1880 and 1890, almost 40 percent of the townships in the United States lost population because of migration.
-Urbanization: Workers moved towards manufacturing centers in cities and towns seeking jobs in factories as agricultural jobs became less common. Urbanization in America in the late 1800’s was also driven by the massive influx of unskilled immigrants who also flocked to the industrial cities to start their new life in America, the land of opportunity.

American History (10 decks)

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