Railroad subsidies
Government grants of land or money to railroad companies to build railroads in the West.
stock watering
Price manipulation by strategic stock brokers of the late 1800s. The term for selling more stock than they actually owned in order to lower prices, then buying it back.
granger laws
Grangers state legislatures in 1874 passed law fixing maximum rates for freight shipments. The railroads responded by appealing to the Supreme Court to declare these laws unconstitutional
Wabash v. Illinois
1886 - Stated that individual states could control trade in their states, but could not regulate railroads coming through them. Congress had exclusive jurisdiction over interstate commerce.
ICC
Interstate Commerce Commission, a federal regulatory agency that governed over the rules and regulations of the railroading industry.
McKinley Tariff
1890 tariff that raised protective tariff levels by nearly 50%, making them the highest tariffs on imports in the United States history
Gold Standard
A monetary system in which paper money and coins are equal to the value of a certain amount of gold
Sherman Antitrust Act
First federal action against monopolies, it was signed into law by Harrison and was extensively used by Theodore Roosevelt for trust-busting. However, it was initially misused against labor unions
Pullman Strike
in Chicago, Pullman cut wages but refused to lower rents in the "company town", Eugene Debs had American Railway Union refuse to use Pullman cars, Debs thrown in jail after being sued, strike achieved nothing
Pullman Strike
in Chicago, Pullman cut wages but refused to lower rents in the "company town", Eugene Debs had American Railway Union refuse to use Pullman cars, Debs thrown in jail after being sued, strike achieved nothing
pork barrel
Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in a congressional district.
party machines
A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.
Grantism
A 19th century term for political corruption during the Gilded Age. Which included bribery scandals, abuses of the spoils system and political cronyism.
Indian Agent
a government appointed person who communicated and negotiated with the Indians
Customs House
taxes on imports collected, hayes created first one for merit rewards instead of spoils
Half-Breeds, Stalwarts, and Mugwumps
1880s
*Factions of the Republican Party in the 1880s
*Half-Breeds: supported civil service reform and merit appointments to government
*Stalwarts: Opposed civil service reform and supported the protective tariff
*Mugwumps: Group that left Republican Party to become Democrats; this group heavily favored civil service reform and mistrusted James Blaine as the presidential nominee because it suspected his involvement in past corruption
*The election of 1880 united Garfield, a Half-Breed, and Vice President Chester Arthur, a Stalwart
Garfield's Assassination
patronage and spoils system: government appointments were treated as rewards for those who served winning party--reform of this became urgent after Garfield shot and killed in 1881
Chester A. Arthur
Appointed customs collector for the port of New York - corrupt and implemented a heavy spoils system. He was chosen as Garfield's running mate. Garfield won but was shot, so Arthur became the 21st president.
Pendleton Civil Service Act
(1883): Did away with the "spoils system" and made the hiring of federal employees merit based.
Social Darwinism
The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.
gospel of wealth
This was a book written by Carnegie that described the responsibility of the rich to be philanthropists. This softened the harshness of Social Darwinism as well as promoted the idea of philanthropy.
Menlo Park
New Jersey village west of New York City where Thomas Edison established the world's first industrial research laboratory in 1876. He lived there until his wife's death in 1884.
Immigrant Ghettos
urban areas which was often the destination of foreigners that came to the USA; became prominent in the late 19th century; provided community yet faced challenges of poverty and crime; aided by settlement houses
Strikes in the Gilded Age
Most of all of them start with wage cuts and unfair work conditions. Labor strikes and the national guard is called in by the Robber Barrons. They had so much power that any strike was pointless.
Knights of Labor
1st effort to create National union. Open to everyone but lawyers and bankers. Vague program, no clear goals, weak leadership and organization. Failed
AFL
A labor union formed in 1886 by Samuel Gompers in order to voice the working class (only highly skilled laborers). It fought against labor forces and debated work conditions for skilled workers. Utilized Strikes.
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.
Homestead Strike
1892 steelworker strike near Pittsburgh against the Carnegie Steel Company. Ten workers were killed in a riot when "scab" labor was brought in to force an end to the strike.
laissez-faire capitalism
an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference
overspeculation
A cause of the stock market crash in 1929; buying stocks with borrowed money.
Ethnic Ghettos
An area where people from a specific racial or ethnic background live as a group in seclusion, voluntarily or involuntarily
Parochial Schools
a private school supported by a particular church or parish.
Gilded Age Immigration
began to see an influx of Eastern and Southern Europeans, such as Italians, Poles, and Jews, and less Northern and Western Europeans; approximately 10 million immigrants entered during this time; Ellis Island constructed; many worked in factories, mills, etc.
Chinese Exclusion Act
(1882) Denied any additional Chinese laborers to enter the country while allowing students and merchants to immigrate.
Social Gospel
A movement in the late 1800s / early 1900s which emphasized charity and social responsibility as a means of salvation.
Vertical Integration
Practice where a single entity controls the entire process of a product, from the raw materials to distribution
Horizontal Integration
Type of monopoly where a company buys out all of its competition. Ex. Rockefeller
Robber Barons
Refers to the industrialists or big business owners who gained huge profits by paying their employees extremely low wages. They also drove their competitors out of business by selling their products cheaper than it cost to produce it. Then when they controlled the market, they hiked prices high above original price.
Carnegie Steel
Steel giant that dominated the industry. Run by rags to riches legend Andrew Carnegie who later teamed up with J.P. Morgan to form U.S. Steel, the first billion dollar corporation in 1900.
Gospel of Success
Justification for the growing gap between rich and poor during the Industrial Revolution. The "Gospel" centered on the claim that anyone could become wealthy with enough hard work and determination. Writers like Horatio Alger incorporated this ideology into their work.
patronage/kickback system
this system was central to the spoils system. political bosses would coerce the people to vote for a politician, who would award governmental contracts to certain companies (which would help out their businesses), who would pay political bosses back with kickbacks
Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall
an American politician most notable for being the "boss" of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the politics of 19th century New York City and State.
Thomas Nast
A famous caricaturist and editorial cartoonist in the 19th century and is considered to be the father of American political cartooning. His artwork was primarily based on political corruption. He helped people realize the corruption of some politicians
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
March 1911 fire in New York factory that trapped young women workers inside locked exit doors; nearly 50 ended up jumping to their death; while 100 died inside the factory; led to the establishment of many factory reforms, including increasing safety precautions for workers
Muckrakers
1906 - Journalists who searched for corruption in politics and big business
Initiative, Referendum, Recall
Initiative: people have the right to propose a new law. Referendum: a law passed by the legislature can be reference to the people for approval/veto. Recall: the people can petition and vote to have an elected official removed from office. These all made elected officials more responsible and sensitive to the needs of the people, and part of the movement to make government more efficient and scientific.
secret ballot
Anonymous voting method that helps to make elections fair and honest
Greenbacks
Name for Union paper money not backed by gold or silver. Value would fluctuate depending on status of the war (plural)
Specie Resumption Act
issued by Congress, limited reduction of greenbacks, full resumption of specie payment by Jan. 1879, causes deflation angering farmers and workers.resumed gold standard
Coinage Act
In 1873, Congress demonitized silver. This caused a drop in silver value and increased deflation.
panic of 1873
Four year economic depression caused by overspeculation on railroads and western lands, and worsened by Grant's poor fiscal response (refusing to coin silver
The "Crime of 1873" refers to
Coinage Act
Greenback Labor Party (1878)
Political party devoted to improving the lives of laborers and raising inflation, reaching its high point in 1878 when it polled over a million votes and elected fourteen members of Congress.
Bland-Allison Act
1878 - Authorized coinage of a limited number of silver dollars and "silver certificate" paper money. First of several government subsidies to silver producers in depression periods. Required government to buy between $2 and $4 million worth of silver. Created a partial dual coinage system referred to as "limping bimetallism." Repealed in 1900.
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
Required the government to purchase an additional 4.5 million ounces of silver bullion each month for use as currency.
Panic of 1893 Causes
Companies and individuals had borrowed too much, companies went bankrupt-many lost there jobs
grange
Originally a social organization between farmers, it developed into a political movement for government ownership of railroads
Farmers' Alliance
A Farmers' organization founded in late 1870s; worked for lower railroad freight rates, lower interest rates, and a change in the governments tight money policy
populists
A party made up of farmers and laborers that wanted direct election of senators and an 8hr working day
Free Silver
Political issue involving the unlimited coinage of silver, supported by farmers and William Jennings Bryan
Bi-metalism
supporting American currency with silver and gold, instead of just using gold; goal of Populism
Cross of Gold Speech
An impassioned address by William Jennings Bryan at the 1896 Deomcratic Convention, in which he attacked the "gold bugs" who insisted that U.S. currency be backed only with gold.
Election of 1896: candidates and issues
William McKinley-Republican, North, industry and high tariffs. Williams Bryan-Democrat, West and South, farmers and low tariffs. The main issues were the coinage of silver and protective tariffs.
war of 1812
A war (1812-1814) between the United States and England which was trying to interfere with American trade with France.
Nullification Crisis
A sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by the Ordinance of Nullification, an attempt by the state of South Carolina to nullify a federal law - the tariff of 1828 - passed by the United States Congress.
Tariff of Abominations
Tariff passed by Congress in 1828 that favored manufacturing in the North and was hated by the South
clay compromise
He devised the Compromise Tariff which provided for a gradual lowering of duties between 1833-1842. The Force Bill authorized the president to use arms to collect customs duties in South Carolina. Without the compromise, he believed that the Force Bill would produce a civil war.
Morrill Tariff Act
Increased duties back up to 1846 levels to raise revenue for the Civil War.
Cleveland and taxes
proposed that congress set over tariff rates- since there was a growing surplus in the federal treasury and the government did not need the added tax revenue
Billion Dollar Congress
gave pensions to Civil War veterans, increased government silver purchases, and passed McKinley Tariff Act of 1890
Wilson-Gorman Tariff
Meant to be a reduction of the McKinley Tariff, it would have created a graduated income tax, which was ruled unconstitutional.
Payne-Aldrich Tariff
a set of tax regulations, enacted by Congress in 1909, that failed to significantly reduce tariffs on manufactured goods
Underwood-Simmons Tariff
1914, lowered tariff, substantially reduced import fees. Lost tax revenue would be replaced with an income tax that was implemented with the 16th amendment.
Indian Removal Act
Passed in 1830, authorized Andrew Jackson to negotiate land-exchange treaties with tribes living east of the Mississippi. The treaties enacted under this act's provisions paved the way for the reluctant�and often forcible�emigration of tens of thousands of American Indians to the West.
Oklahoma Land Rush
1889; former Indian lands;opened up for settlement, resulting in a race to lay claim for a homestead (Boomers and Sooners)
Desert Land Act
1906, Federal government sold arid land cheaply on the condition that the purchaser irrigate the thirsty soil within 3 years.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
to manage Indian removal to western lands, Congress approved the creation of a new government agency
Dawes Severalty Act
Bill that promised Indians tracts of land to farm in order to assimilate them into white culture. The bill was resisted, uneffective, and disastrous to Indian tribes
dime novels
sometimes identified as pulp fiction, these cheaply produced and low-priced novels were popular in the United States beginning in the 1860s
mahan
Author of "The Influence of Sea Power" in which he argued a strong navy was essential for the protection of American interests
New Manifest Destiny
In the 1890s, fears that natural resources would soon disappear and that alternative sources would have to be found abroad. Protests led to a push for a more aggressive foreign policy while others considered acquiring colonies that might expand our world market.
Yellow Press
newspapers that used sensational headlines and exaggerated stories in order to promote readership
Hawaiian Annexation (July 1898)
Hawaii was an import station for US ships in trading (Pearl Harbor). A number of Americans that lived there was growing and dominating econ and political life there. Americans took away land from ancient civilization Debate over annexation went on until 1898 when republicans took office& approved it.
Spanish-American War
In 1898, a conflict between the United States and Spain, in which the U.S. supported the Cubans' fight for independence
Cuban Revolution
the revolution led by Fidel Castro and a small band of guerrilla fighters against a corrupt dictatorship in Cuba
USS Maine
Ship that explodes off the coast of Cuba in Havana harbor and helps contribute to the start of the Spanish-American War
Teller and Platt Amendments
Legislation that promised the US would not annex Cuba after winning the Spanish-American war/ a treaty between the U.S. and Cuba that attempted to protect Cuba's independence from foreign intervention. It permitted extensive U.S. involvement in Cuban international and domestic affairs for the enforcement of Cuban independence.
Open Door Notes
message send by secretary of state John Hay in 1899 to Germany, Russia, Great Britain, France, Italy & Japan asking the countries not to interfere with US trading rights in China.
Boxer Rebellion
A 1900 Uprising in China aimed at ending foreign influence in the country.
Monroe Doctrine
an American foreign policy opposing interference in the Western hemisphere from outside powers
Roosevelt Corollary
Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force
Gun Boat Diplomacy
use of military force to achieve diplomatic objectives
Big Stick Diplomacy
Diplomatic policy developed by T.R where the "big stick" symbolizes his power and readiness to use military force if necessary. It is a way of intimidating countries without actually harming them and was the basis of U.S. imperialistic foreign policy.
Panama Revolution
The Isthmus of Panama had been part of Columbia. U.S. tried to negotiate with Columbia to build the Panama Canal. Columbia refused, so U.S. encouraged Panama to revolt. Example of Big Stick diplomacy.
Jane Addams
1860-1935. Founder of Settlement House Movement. First American Woman to earn Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 as president of Women's Intenational League for Peace and Freedom.
Temperance and Prohibition
champions of reform were divided over this issue, urban Progressives recognized saloons were headquarters of political machines, little sympathy to movement, rural reformers believed they could clean up morals by eliminating it
Suffragettes
People who campaigned for women's right to vote in the late 1800's and early 1900's.
Steffens
journalist who wrote :The Shame of the Cities", took an extreme view of urban politics
florence kelley
reformer who worked to prohibit child labor and to improve conditions for female workers
Muller v. Oregon
1908 - Supreme Court upheld Oregon state restrictions on the working hours of women as justified by the special state interest in protecting women's health
Lochner v. New York
overturns new york law setting 8 hr maximum working hours for bakery workers- 1905
LaFollette
The governor of Wisconsin and leader of the progressive movement, he championed control of big business, better working conditions for workers, and treating business the same as people are treated.
Square Deal
Economic policy by Roosevelt that favored fair relationships between companies and workers
Bully Pulpit
the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public
Anthracite Coal Strike
1902 United Mine Workers of America strike in eastern Pennsylvania which threatened to cause an energy crisis requiring the federal government to intervene on the side of labor (first time)
Hepburn and Elkins Act
Regulated railroads in order to discourage their abuse of the farmers etc; worked to support the Interstate Commerce Act (ICC)
Newlands Reclamation Act
1902 act authorizing federal funds from public land sales to pay for irrigation and land development projects, mainly in the dry Western states
The Jungle
This 1906 work by Upton Sinclair pointed out the abuses of the meat packing industry. The book led to the passage of the 1906 Meat Inspection Act.
Pure Food and Drug Act
1906 - Forbade the manufacture or sale of mislabeled or adulterated food or drugs, it gave the government broad powers to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs in order to abolish the "patent" drug trade. Still in existence as the FDA.
Russo-Japanese War
A 1904-1905 conflict between Russia and Japan, sparked by the two countries' efforts to dominate Manchuria and Korea
Gentlemen's Agreement
Agreement when Japan agreed to curb the number of workers coming to the US and in exchange Roosevelt agreed to allow the wives of the Japenese men already living in the US to join them
Roosevelt Panic of 1907
short economic downturn; blamed on roosevelt for changing economy by unsettling the industries with his anti-trust tactics. (blamed for his square deal progressive reform)
New Nationalism
Roosevelt's progressive political policy that favored heavy government intervention in order to assure social justice
Bull Moose Party
nickname for the new Progressive Party, which was formed to support Roosevelt in the election of 1912
The real 'trustbuster'?
William howard taft broke up 90 trusts
Rule of Reason
before ruling on the legality of certain business practices, a court examines why they were undertaken and what effect they have on market competition
Pinchot-Ballinger Affair
Taft appointed Ballinger as secretary of interior. Ballinger removed nearly one million acres from government protection
Evidence of corruption was given to Pinchot
1910 Congressional Elections
The old-school Republicans and new/Progressive Republicans split the vote, thus the Democrats won heavily in the House of Rep's 228 seats - 161 seats
Split in Republican Party
Theodore Roosevelt warned William Howard Taft to stay away from tariff reform because it would
Triple Wall of Privilege
President Wilson called for an all-out war on the tariff, the banks, and the trusts.
Federal Reserve Act
law that created the modern banking system
Brandies Brief
during the case muller v orgeon where he spoke about inherent differences between men and women in the workplace.
John J. Pershing
US general who chased Villa over 300 miles into Mexico but didn't capture him
Sussex Pledge
Germans would not sink merchant & passenger (non-military) vessels. Wilson - "any little . . . [U-boat] commander can put is into war at any time by some calculated outrage". Violated later with the later resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare
Zimmerman Note
Written by Arthur Zimmerman, a german foreign secretary. In this note he had secretly proposed a German- Mexican alliance. He tempted Mexico with the ideas of recovering Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The note was intercepted on March 1, 1917 by the U.S. government. This was a major factor that led us into WWI.
American Expeditionary Force
the U.S. forces, led by Gen. John Pershing, who fought with the allies in Europe during WWI
War Industries Board
Agency established during WWI to increase efficiency & discourage waste in war-related industries.
Causes of WWI
1)Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, 2)imperialism, 3)nationalism, 4)Alliance System, 5)militarism
Selective Service Act
Law passed by Congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft
Sedition Act of 1918
made it illegal for americans to speak disloyaly about the US government, constitution, or flag
Schneck v. US
Free speech limited in clear and present danger
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty that ended WW I. It blamed Germany for WW I and handed down harsh punishment.
14 points
(1918) President Woodrow Wilson's plan for organizing post World War I Europe and for avoiding future wars.
Convoy System
the protection of merchant ships from U-boat-German submarine-attacks by having the ships travel in large groups escorted by warships
Trenches, poison gas, tanks
Three new weapons that were used in World War I
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
in World War I, the final Allied offensive that brought about the end of the war
Big Four
The Big Four were the four most important leaders, and the most important ones at the Paris Peace Conference. They were Woodrow Wilson- USA, David Lloyd George- UK, George Clemenceau- France, and Vittorio Orlando- Italy.
League of Nations
an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations
Black Codes
Laws denying most legal rights to newly freed slaves; passed by southern states following the Civil War
Plessy v. Ferguson
a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal
W.E.B. DuBois
Co-founded the NAACP to help secure legal equality for minority citizens.
Negro Baseball League
This was a baseball league that was just for African-Americans, this league wanted to be separated from all whites. Andrew Foster created it. Jackie Robinson integrated baseball in 1947 when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Back to Africa Movement
Encouraged those of African decent to return to Africa to their ancestors so that they could have their own empire because they were treated poorly in America.
Harding and Coolidge
favored policies that aided the growth of business
Return to Normalcy
a return to the way of life before World War I, was United States presidential candidate Warren G. Harding's campaign promise in the election of 1920.
Immigration Quota Act 1924
cut quota for foreigners to 2% instead of 3%, marked end of unrestricted immigration in US
Tea Pot Dome
biggest scandal of Harding's administration; Secretary of Interior Albert Fall illegally leased government oil fields in the West to private oil companies; Fall was later convicted of bribery and became the first Cabinet official to serve prison time (1931-1932).
Dawes Plan
A plan to revive the German economy, the United States loans Germany money which then can pay reparations to England and France, who can then pay back their loans from the U.S. This circular flow of money was a success.
Scopes Trial
1925 court case in which Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan debated the issue of teaching evolution in public schools
Fundamentalism
Literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect).
Harlem Renaissance
A literary and artistic movement celebrating African-American culture.
Lost Generation
Americans who became disillusioned with society after World War I
Volstead Act
Bill passed by Congress to enforce the language of the 18th Amendment. This bill made the manufacture and distribution of alcohol illegal within the borders of the United States.
Flappers
Young women in the 1920s who challenged social traditions with their dress and behavior
Gangsterism
prohibition spawned these crimes; organized crime of bootlegging alcohol and bribing public officials to keep quiet; also got involved in prostitution and gambling
Lindbergh
United States aviator who in 1927 made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean (1902-1974)
Causes of the Great Depression
stock markets crashed, unemployment rising, the dustbowl, overproduction of everything, layoffs,buying on credit
black friday
When Fisk and Gould bought a large amount of gold, planning to sell it for a profit. In order to lower the high price of gold, the Treasury was forced to sell $4 million in gold from its reserves.
Hoovervilles
Depression shantytowns, named after the president whom many blamed for their financial distress
Smoot-Hawley Tariff
One of Herbert Hoover's earliest efforts to protect the nation's farmers following the onset of the Great Depression. Tariff raised rates to an all-time high.
Dust Bowl
Region of the Great Plains that experienced a drought in 1930 lasting for a decade, leaving many farmers without work or substantial wages.
Election of 1932: candidates, issues
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt, beat the Republican, Herbert Hoover, who was running for reelection. FDR promised relief for the unemployed, help for farmers, and a balanced budget.
Bank Holiday 1933
Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared that all banks were to be closed on March 6, 1933. A few days later he allowed the reopening of economically sound banks.
Alphabet Soup
Term used to refer to the group of New Deal programs created to provide "Relief, Reform, and Recovery" for American citizens, banks, and businesses during the Great Depression.
21st Amendment
Amendment which ended the Prohibition of alcohol in the US, repealing the 18th amendment
Stock Market Crash (Black Tuesday)
Speculation and Buying on Margin caused this to crash on Black Tuesday in 1929 causing a chain reaction in the economy.
Black Tuesday--October 29th when stock market prices took the steepest dive-stocks lost $10-$15 billion in value.
Farming Crisis
during WWI farmers made huge profits and over extended themselves, when the market fell off, they couldn't afford their mortgages, and the banks took their farms, houses, and lands (RC)
Rugged Individualism
Herbert Hoover's belief that people must be self-reliant and not depend upon the federal government for assistance.
soup kitchens and bread lines
places that provided free food during the great depression
Bonus Marchers
veterans who went to Washington demanding promised payment 2) moved into a Hooverville in Washington 3) Hoover cleared them out => two veterans were shot => diminished view of Hoover
First Hundred Days
This term refers to March 4 to June 16, 1933. During this period of dramatic legislative productivity, FDR laid out the programs that constituted the New Deal. Today, presidents are often measured by their actions in the same period of time
Fireside Chats
informal talks given by FDR over the radio; sat by White House fireplace; gained the confidence of the people
Glass-Steagall Act
(Banking Act of 1933) - Established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and included banking reforms, some designed to control speculation. Repealed in 1999, opening the door to scandals involving banks and stock investment companies.
Tennessee Valley Authority
A relief, recovery, and reform effort that gave 2.5 million poor citizens jobs and land. It brought cheap electric power, low-cost housing, cheap nitrates, and the restoration of eroded soil.
Schechter v. US
In 1935, the Supreme Court declared the National Recovery Administration (NRA) unconstitutional. (p. 505)
Indian Reorganization Act
1934 - Restored tribal ownership of lands, recognized tribal constitutions and government, and provided loans for economic development.
Social Security Act
(FDR) 1935, guaranteed retirement payments for enrolled workers beginning at age 65; set up federal-state system of unemployment insurance and care for dependent mothers and children, the handicapped, and public health
Fair Labor Standards Act
1938 act which provided for a minimum wage and restricted shipments of goods produced with child labor
Cash and Carry
Britain and France could buy goods from the United States if they paid in full and transported them.
Lend-Lease Act
allowed sales or loans of war materials to any country whose defense the president deems vital to the defense of the U.S
Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, Japan
Good Neighbor Policy
President Franklin Roosevelt's policy intended to strengthen friendly relations with Latin America
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by Japan on December 7, 1941. The Japanese were hoping to cripple the American fleet, which had been enforcing Embargo, which denied Japan the raw materials it needed to increase their power and this attack failed leading to Japan's defeat.
causes of wwii
Aggression by Germany, Italy, Japan, Nationalism, Failed Treaty of Versailles, Appeasment
Appeasement
Accepting demands in order to avoid conflict
germany first
despite attack on Pearl Harbor, Allies strategy was to defeat Nazi Germany first
operation torch
Codename for allied invasion of North Africa from Novermber 1942 to September 1943
Second Front
The Russians were suffering heavy casualties fighting the German invasion of Russia. Stalin urged the Allies to open a "second front" in the west to relieve the pressure on the Russians. The Allies did so, but only after a long delay.
Operation Overlord
the code name for the Allied invasion of Europe at Normandy on June 6, 1944; also known as D-Day
Big Three
allies during WWII; Soviet Union - Stalin, United Kingdom - Churchill, United States - Roosevelt
Nye Commission
1936, led by Senator Gerald Nye, revealed corruption of American arms manufacturers, some of whom had been supplying Fascist governments with weapons, others calling for entry to WWI
Spanish Civil War
In 1936 a rebellion erupted in Spain after a coalition of Republicans, Socialists, and Communists was elected. General Francisco Franco led the rebellion. The revolt quickly became a civil war. The Soviet Union provided arms and advisers to the government forces while Germany and Italy sent tanks, airplanes, and soldiers to help Franco.
fall of france
June 1940 France and most of Europe was conquered by Germany. Left Britain alone against Hitler
Battle of Britain
An aerial battle fought in World War II in 1940 between the German Luftwaffe (air force), which carried out extensive bombing in Britain, and the British Royal Air Force, which offered successful resistance.
Casablanca Conference
A wartime conference held at Casablanca, Morocco that was attended by de Gaulle, Churchill, and FDR. The Allies demanded the unconditional surrender of the axis, agreed to aid the Soviets, agreed on the invasion Italy, and the joint leadership of the Free French by De Gaulle and Giraud.
island hopping
A military strategy used during World War II that involved selectively attacking specific enemy-held islands and bypassing others
VE Day
May 8, 1945; victory in Europe Day when the Germans surrendered
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Two Japanese cities on which the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs to end World War II.
Internment Camps
Detention centers where more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were relocated during World War II by order of the President.
Korematsu v. US
1944 Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court upheld the order providing for the relocation of Japanese Americans. It was not until 1988 that Congress formally apologized and agreed to pay $20,000 2 each survivor
War Production Board
During WWII, FDR established it to allocated scarce materials, limited or stopped the production of civilian goods, and distributed contracts among competing manufacturers
Rosie the Riveter
A propaganda character designed to increase production of female workers in the factories. It became a rallying symbol for women to do their part.
braceros
Mexican workers hired to perform farm labor during World War II
Zoot Suit Riots
A series of riots in L.A. California during WW2, soldiers stationed in the city and Mexican youths because of the zoot suits they wore.
Yalta and Potsdam
conferences held to discuss the end of WWII and the future of Germany
Berlin Airlift
airlift in 1948 that supplied food and fuel to citizens of west Berlin when the Russians closed off land access to Berlin
Warsaw Pact
Alliance against democracy, supporting communism
Truman Doctrine
1947, President Truman's policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology, mainly helped Greece and Turkey
red china
Communist China beginning in 1949.
Atomic Energy Commission
Created in 1946 to oversee the research and production of atomic power.
john foster dulles
Eisenhower's tough-talking secretary of state who wanted to "roll back" communism
Massive Retaliation
The "new look" defense policy of the Eisenhower administration of the 1950's was to threaten "massive retaliation" with nuclear weapons in response to any act of aggression by a potential enemy.
McCarthyism
unscrupulously accusing people of disloyalty (as by saying they were Communists)
domino theory
A theory that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control.
Eisenhower Doctrine
Policy of the US that it would defend the Middle East against attack by any Communist country
Suez Crisis
crisis in which Britain and France attempted to seize control of the Suez canal from Egypt
U2 Incident
The incident when an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The U.S. denied the true purpose of the plane at first, but was forced to when the U.S.S.R. produced the living pilot and the largely intact plane to validate their claim of being spied on aerially. The incident worsened East-West relations during the Cold War and was a great embarrassment for the United States.
Cold War Causes
USSR and USA emerge as the worlds two main superpowers with different political views, democracy vs. Communism, US, France, Great Britain wanted democracy, Soviets were Communist and wanted a buffer of countries in Eastern Europe, West trying to contain Communism, fear of capitalism, democracy, negotiate instead of fight
bay of pigs
An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba in 1961, which was sponsored by the United States. Its purpose was to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
brinkmanship
A policy of threatening to go to war in response to any enemy aggression.
Flexible Response
the buildup of conventional troops and weapons to allow a nation to fight a limited war without using nuclear weapons
Test Ban Treaty
1963