US History Semster 1 Final Flashcards
13th Amendment
abolished slavery
14th Amendment
Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws
15th Amendment (1870)
U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed
Jim Crow Laws
Limited rights of blacks. Literacy tests, grandfather clauses and poll taxes limited black voting rights
Freedman’s Bureau, 1865
Acted as a welfare agency to help the poor and war veterans. Largest accomplishment was in education. Helped establish about 3000 schools for freed blacks
Reconstruction
the period after the Civil War in the United States when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union
Social Darwinism
The application of ideas about evolution and “survival of the fittest” to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion and racial ideals
Jacob Riis
Early 1900’s muckraker who exposed social and political evils in the U.S. with his novel “How The Other Half Lives”; exposed the poor conditions of the poor tenements in NYC and Hell’s Kitchen
Nativism
A policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones
Traingle Shirtwaist Fire
crowded conditions, lack of workplace safety laws, negligent owners, and an ill-prepared fire department combined. led to deaths of young women working in the factory.
Laissez-faire
Policy that government should interfere as little as possible in the nation’s economy.
labor union
An organization of workers that tries to improve working conditions, wages, and benefits for its members
Theodore Roosevelt
26th president, known for: conservationism, trust-busting, Hepburn Act, safe food regulations, “Square Deal,” Panama Canal, Great White Fleet, Nobel Peace Prize for negotiation of peace in Russo-Japanese War
Captains of Industry or Robber Barons
Leaders of large, efficient corporations
Often gained wealth through questionable business means
Monopolies by these large companies led to demands by small businessmen and laborers for government regulation
Haymarket Riot
100,000 workers rioted in Chicago. After the police fired into the crowd, the workers met and rallied in Haymarket Square to protest police brutality. A bomb exploded, killing or injuring many of the police. The Chicago workers and the man who set the bomb were immigrants, so the incident promoted anti-immigrant feelings.
Sinclair/The Jungle
book exposed dangerous and unhealthy conditions of the meat packing industry
Immigration in the US 1860-1900
14,000,000 immigrants; traveled by steamship; 14-day trip; Eastern Europeans, Catholic Italians and Irish
Woodrow Wilson
28th president of the United States, known for World War I leadership, created Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Clayton Antitrust Act, progressive income tax, lower tariffs, women’s suffrage (reluctantly), Treaty of Versailles, sought 14 points post-war plan, League of Nations (but failed to win U.S. ratification), won Nobel Peace Prize
League of Nations
A world organization established in 1920 to promote international cooperation and peace. It was first proposed in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson, although the United States never joined the League. Essentially powerless, it was officially dissolved in 1946.
Victory Gardens
Backyard gardens; Americans were encouraged to grow their own vegetables to support the war effort
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke
Heir to the Austrian throne whose assassination by a Serbian nationalist on June 28, 1914, was the spark that ignited World War I.
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points
a statement of principles for peace that was to be used for peace negotiations in order to end World War I.
- End secret treaties
- open seas for trading
- reduce militarism
- respect for determination
- creations of a League of Nations
Black Hand
Serbian nationalist/terrorist group responsible for the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand which resulted in the start of World War I.
Dollar Diplomacy
Foreign policy created under President Taft that had the U.S. exchanging financial support ($) for the right to “help” countries make decisions about trade and other commercial ventures. Basically it was exchanging money for political influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Women’s Suffrage
Fighting for the the right of women to vote. Led to the 19th amendment
19th Amendment (1920)
Gave women the right to vote
Zimmerman Telegram
A telegram Germany Sent to Mexico to convince Mexico to attack the U.S.
Sinking of the Lusitania
Cruise ship that was sunk by German submarines and helped bring the US closer to involvement in WWI
Treaty of Versailles
the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded exorbitant reparations, loss of territories, and reduction of military from the Germans
Trench Warfare
Fighting with trenches, mines, and barbed wire. Horrible living conditions, great slaughter, no gains, stalemate, used in WWI.
Mustard Gas
a new invention in WWI - a yellow colored gas that was fired at the enemy - it caused blindness, damage to the lungs and death
Progressivism goals
protect social welfare, encourage productiveness, uphold moral values and generate economic reform
Progressivism
Sought to address the problems caused by rapid industrialization, urbanizations, immigrations, and political corruption. More government involvement and policies
Industrialization and Urbanization
people move to a city for jobs; as factories get started, they attract workers.
as workers move to a city, factories want to build there because of the workers.