Team US History
2014/15 School Year
U.S. HISTORY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
1. Industrialization: The process in which a society or country transforms itself from a primarily
agricultural society into one based on the manufacturing of goods and services.
2. Manifest Destiny: Argument that the United States was destined to expand across North America.
3. Labor Union: An organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect
and further the rights and interests of the workers.
4. Gilded Age: a period of U.S. history in the late 1800’s noted for political corruption, financial
speculation, and the opulent lives of wealthy industrialists and financiers.
5. Cultural Diffusion: when customs, beliefs and social activities are spread through different ethnicities,
religions, nationalities as people come in contact with one another.
6. Emancipation Proclamation: Presidential decree, effective January 1, 1863, that freed slaves in
Confederate-held territory.
7. Reconstruction: Federal government's effort between 1865 and 1877 to repair the damage to the South
caused by the Civil War and to restore southern states to the Union
8. Nativism: The policy of protecting the interests of native-born inhabitants against those of immigrants.
9. Reconstruction Amendments: Nickname given to the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments which ended
slavery and secured voting rights and equal protection for African Americans.
10. Plessey v. Ferguson: Court case which legalized segregation and, by doing so, established the
constitutionality of the rule of "separate but equal."
11. Ku Klux Klan: Group of white southerners against Radical Reconstruction. They challenged attempts
at racial equality by intimidating blacks, and others.
12. Entrepreneur: a person who organizes and manages a business, usually with considerable initiative
and risk.
13. William (Boss) Tweed: New York City politician who was able to defraud taxpayers out of millions
of dollars; he would eventually become symbolic of the greed and corruption of the Gilded Age.
14. Rugged Individualism: belief not only in personal liberty and self-reliance but also in free economic
and social competition.
15. Assimilation: taking on the traits of another culture to such a degree that the assimilating group
becomes socially indistinguishable from other members of the society.
16. Monopoly: Complete control of a product or service. Many of these appeared during the post CivilWar industrialism. Allowed America to progress but at the same time controlled prices and competition.
17. Thomas Edison: an American inventor and businessman whose inventions included the phonograph,
the motion picture camera, and the electric light bulb
18. Sherman Anti-Trust Act: Law passed in 1890 that outlawed any combination of companies that
restrained trade or commerce. Early attempt to outlaw monopolies.
19. Philanthropy: concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of
money, property, or work
20. Monroe Doctrine: Presidential declaration in 1823 which stated that the United States would oppose
efforts of any outside power to control a nation in the Western Hemisphere
21. Urbanization: movement of populations toward the city; expansion of population, industry and
infrastructure within a small geographical space.
22. Americanization: Process in which over-time immigrant groups take on the customs and institutions
of the United States.
23. Klondike Gold Rush: Movement of an estimated 100,000 people and equipment to Alaska in search
of gold between 1897-1899.
24. American Federation of Labor (AFL): Sought to organize only skilled workers in a network of
smaller unions, each devoted to a specific craft.
25. Social Gospel: the application of Christian principles to Progressive Era problems including
alcoholism, crime, racial tensions and child labor.
26. Homestead Act: 1863 law that offered 160 acres of western land to settlers - resulted in the quick
settlement of the West.
27. Foreign Policy: a policy pursued by a nation in its dealings with other nations, designed to achieve
national objectives.
28. Reservations: System by which the federal government set aside a specified area of land for Native
Americans.
29. Dawes Act: 1887Act of Congress by which the federal government sought to assimilate Native
Americans into the mainstream culture.
30. Massacre at Wounded Knee: 1890 shooting by army troops of a group of unarmed Sioux. Marked
the end of any widespread Native American resistance to the U.S. government.
31. Populist Party: Political group formed in 1892 to advocate a larger money supply and other economic
reforms being called for by farmers. Supported going off the Gold Standard to raise prices.
32. Alfred Thayer Mahan: author and Naval historian, whose book The Influence of Sea Power on
History was a major cause for the European naval arms race in the 1890s
33. Sanford B. Dole: essential in the westernization of Hawaii, was appointed by President McKinley as
the provisional President of the Republic of Hawaii in 1900.
34. Laissez-Faire: A government policy of not interfering in private business.
35. Open Door Policy: a failed proposal by American Secretary of State, John Hay to allow multiple
Imperial powers access to China, with none of them in control of that country.
36. Chinese Exclusion Act: Law passed in 1882 that prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the
country
37. Gentlemen's Agreement: 1907 agreement between the United States and Japan that restricted
Japanese immigration.
38. Tenements: Crowded apartment buildings with poor standards of sanitation, safety, and comfort
39. Ellis Island: Place in the New York Harbor where immigrants were required to undergo a physical
examination before entering the United States.
40. Settlement House: Community center organized to provide various services to immigrants.
41. Imperialism: the policy of extending the rule or authority of a nation over foreign countries, or of
acquiring and holding colonies.
42. Third Party: American political parties which are neither Democrat nor Republican, often formed by
groups with specific political or social issues that are not being addressed by either party.
43. Upton Sinclair: Author, progressive and muckraker who wrote over 100 books, the most famous of
which The Jungle exposed dangerous and unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry.
44. National Park Service: the U.S. federal agency that was created on August 25, 1916 to manages all
national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties.
45. Susan B. Anthony: prominent progressive and woman’s rights activist, co-founder of the Women’s
Christian Temperance Movement, was a key force in the fight for women’s suffrage.
46. Booker T. Washington: African American leader from the late 1800s until his death in 1915;
founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama; encouraged African Americans to learn trades and become
economically self-sufficient before calling for equal rights.
47. NAACP: Organization formed in 1910 to advance the cause of African Americans by fighting for
equal rights. Created in part by W.E.B. DuBois.
48. Yellow Journalism: Type of newspaper coverage that emphasized sensational stories of crime and
scandal. Used these hyped stories to increase newspaper circulation.
49. Jim Crow: System of laws that segregated public services by race, beginning in the 1890's
50. U.S.S. Maine: Was sunk by an explosion in a Cuban harbor in 1898. Newspaper coverage blamed its
sinking on the Spanish.
51. Roosevelt Corollary: 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine in which the President asserted the
right of the United States to intervene in Latin American nations to ensure stability in the Western
hemisphere.
52. Panama Canal: Created a shorter route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans
53. Dollar Diplomacy: President Taft's policy of encouraging American investment abroad.
54. Socialism: An economic and political philosophy that favors public control of property when it is
deemed a basic human necessity.
55. Muckrakers: Journalists who uncover wrongdoing on the part of politicians or corporations. Term
created by Theodore Roosevelt.
56. Interstate Commerce Act: 1887 law that regulated railroads and other interstate businesses
57. Pure Food and Drug Act: Outlawed interstate transportation of impure or diluted foods and the
deliberate mislabeling of foods and drugs
58. Conservationist: Person concerned with the care and protection of natural resources through
"managed use".
59. Federal Reserve System: Nation's central banking system, established in 1913, which has
successfully regulated the supply of money in the U.S.
60. 19th Amendment: Gave women suffrage, the right to vote. Ratified in 1920
61. Sussex Pledge: Pledge by the German government in 1916 that its submarines would warn ships
before attacking.
62. John J. Pershing: officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in
World War I, credited with efficiently preparing young American forces for war.
63. Battle of Argonne Forest: final offensive by Allied forces in WWI, led to the eventual surrender by
Germany; largest number of American causalities of any single American military offensives.
64. League of Nations: International organization, formed after World War I, which aimed to promote
security and peace for all members.
65. Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points for Peace: President Wilson’s plan for post WWI Europe; included
were freedom of the Seas, a league of Nations and a push toward democracy and free governments.
66. Treaty of Versailles (WWI): peace treaty ending WWI which stripped Germany of its economic and
military power, bitterness over the treaty eventually helped strengthen the NAZI party.
67. Henry Cabot Lodge: American Senator who opposed American involvement in the League of
Nations and pushed for Congressional approval of all Declarations of War.
68. Isolationism: the policy of isolating one's country from the affairs of other nations by declining to
enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments or international agreements.
69. Palmer Raids: During these, the Attorney General rounded up several hundred suspected
communists. These were done to ease the fears of Americans during the "red scare" of the 1920s.
70. Calvin Coolidge: President who said, "The business of America is business"; Epitomized laissez-faire
policy by cutting back on the government's role in the economy.
71. “Return to Normalcy”: campaign promise by United States presidential candidate Warren G.
Harding’s in the election of 1920, marked a shift toward American isolationism in the 1920’s.
72. Flapper: Term coined during the 1920s to describe a young woman with a fondness for dancing and
brash actions.
73. Charles Lindbergh: Aviator who became an international hero when he made the first solo flight
across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Young and old looked up to this hero because he epitomized
traditional values while using new technology.
74. Teapot Dome Scandal: Scandal in which the Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall leased Navy
petroleum reserves to private oil companies at low rates without competitive bidding.
75. Harlem Renaissance: African American cultural awakening of the 1920s - blacks made contributions
in art, literature and music.
76. Scopes Monkey Trial: 1925 court case in Tennessee that focused on the issue of teaching evolution
in public schools
77. Henry Ford: founded the Ford Motor Company, revolutionized assembly line production, his ModelT made the dream of an affordable car possible for millions of Americans.
78. Prohibition: the legal prohibiting of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks for common
consumption, aka Temperance Movement
79. Frances Willard: American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Her influence
was instrumental in the passage of 19th Amendment.
80. Social Darwinism: Theory that society should do as little as possible to interfere with people's pursuit
of success - survival of the fittest for human beings.
81. Eugenics: the study of improving the qualities of the human species by discouraging reproduction by
persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits.
82. Marcus Garvey: African American leader from 1919 to 1926 who urged African Americans to return
to their "motherland" of Africa; provided early inspiration for "black pride" movements.
83. Tin Pan Alley: collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the
popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
84. Great Migration: (1910-1930) movement of about 1.6 million African Americans, who left mostly
rural areas to migrate to northern and Midwestern industrial cities.
85. Hoovervilles: Makeshift shelters of the homeless during the early years of the Great Depression.
86. Bonus Army: Group of World War I veterans and their families who in 1932 protested in
Washington, D.C., to receive their pensions early.
87. 100 Days: Period at the start of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency in 1933, when Congress passed many
New Deal programs.
88. FDIC: Program where the government insured bank deposits for up to $5000
89. Huey Long: Louisiana politician in 1930s; suggested the "Share Our Wealth" program that called for
the redistribution of large fortunes by means of grants to families; assassinated in 1935.
90. WPA: Gave the unemployed work in building construction and arts programs
91. Flying Tigers: nickname given to The 1st American Volunteer Group of pilots who protected China
from invasion by the Japanese in WWII.
92. Tuskegee Airmen: the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces,
served during World War II
93. Victory Gardens: civilian gardens which helped to ration canned goods for American soldiers during
WWI and WWII. Rationing places civilians on a fixed allowance of goods during times of war.
94. US Office of War Information: coordinated the release of war news for domestic use, promote
patriotism, warn of foreign spies and attempted to recruit women into war work.
95. Lend-Lease Act: 1941 law that authorized the President to provide aid to any nation whose defense
he believed was vital to American security. Allowed the U.S. to send weapons to Britain during the
early years of WWII.
96. Yalta Conference: February, 1945 meeting between Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt in which the
leaders discussed plans for the post-war world and Stalin promised to allow free elections in Eastern
Europe. The breaking of this promise led in part to the Cold War.
97. Potsdam Conference: July, 1945 meeting between Churchill, Stalin and Truman in which leaders
discussed post-war punishments for Axis powers and set an ultimatum for Japanese surrender.
98. Manhattan Project: Secret American program during World War II to develop an atomic bomb
99. "Rosie the Riveter": Term used to symbolize the many women who worked in defense industries
during World War II.
100. Executive Order 9066: Presidential order that called for the internment of Japanese-Americans who
were considered to security risks by military leaders.
101. George Patton: best known for his leadership as an American general during World War II, he also
developed a reputation for a sometimes-controversial gruff outspokenness.
102. Dwight Eisenhower: the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star
general in the United States Army during World War II.
103. Omar Bradley: a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during
World War II; command of all U.S. ground forces invading Germany from the west.
104. Bataan Death March: Murder of nearly 10,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war by Japan
during World War II.
105. Navajo Code Talkers: use of Navajo by the United States Marine Corps at the beginning of World
War II to transport and translate messages in their native language.
106. "Iron Curtain": Winston Churchill's term for the extension of Communist control over Eastern
Europe.
107. Truman Doctrine: 1947 declaration that stated that the United States would militarily support
nations that were being threatened by communism. Created initially to stem the tide of communism in
Greece and Turkey.
108. Containment: American policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world.
109. Marshall Plan: the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after
the end of World War II in order to prevent the spread of Soviet communism
110. Berlin Airlift: response to a soviet blockade of allied controlled sections of Berlin, successfully
brought food and medical supplies to allied controlled areas of Berlin.
111. HUAC: Congressional committee that investigated Communist influence in the United States in the
1940's and 1950's.
112. McCarthyism: The "witch hunt" for communists in the United States government during the 1950s.
113. Venona Papers: a secret collaboration of the United States and United Kingdom intelligence
agencies involving decoding messages sent by the Soviet Union, the majority during World War II.
114. Brinkmanship: Policy of using the threat of nuclear war in order to protect national interests.
115. Sputnik: First artificial satellite to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. The U.S.
responded by creating NASA and the National Defense Education Act.
116. Thurgood Marshall: lawyer, civil rights activist and first African American justice appointed to the
Supreme Court.
117. Affirmative Action: the encouragement of increased representation of women and minority-group
members, especially in employment.
118. GI Bill: Law passed in 1944 that helped returning WWII veterans buy homes and pay for college.
119. Beat Generation: Group highlighted by writers and artists who stressed spontaneity and spirituality
instead of apathy and conformity.
120. Cuban Missile Crisis: 1962 crisis that arose between the United States and the Soviet Union over a
Soviet attempt to deploy nuclear missiles 90 miles off the coast of Florida.
121. Brown v. Board of Education: 1954 case in which the Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation in
public schools. Reversed Plessey v. Ferguson.
122. Great Society: President Lyndon Johnson's proposals to aid public education, provide medical care
for the elderly, and eliminate poverty.
123. Peace Corps: Federal program established to send volunteers to help developing nations around the
world.
124. Barry Goldwater: American Senator often credited for sparking the resurgence of the American
conservative political movement in the 1960s
125. Betty Friedan: women’s rights activist, her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique is often credited with
sparking the "second wave" of American feminism in the 20th century.
126. SCLC: Civil rights organization formed in 1957 by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that encouraged
nonviolence and boycotts to accomplish Civil Rights reform.
127. Civil Rights Act of 1964: Signed into law by President Johnson, most far reaching Civil Rights
legislation in US History, outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
128. Voting Rights Act of 1965: Signed into law by President Johnson, prohibits any state or local
government from imposing any voting law that results in discrimination against racial or language
minorities.
129. Malcolm X: African American civil rights leader during 1950s and 1960s; spoke for using all means
of resistance, including violence; assassinated in 1965.
130. Black Power: African American movement seeking unity and self-reliance. Struck fear into some
Americans who saw this movement as advocating only violence.
131. Roe v. Wade: 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion
132. Cesar Chavez: Latino leader from 1962 to his death in 1993; organized the United Farm Workers
(UFW) to help migratory farm workers gain better working conditions and higher pay.
133. Dolores Huerta: a labor leader and civil rights activist who, along with César Chávez, co-founded
the National Farmworkers Association.
134. AIM: Organization formed in 1968 to help Native Americans.
135. EPA: Government organization formed in 1970 to deal with issues such as air and water pollution.
136. Ho Chi Minh: Leader of the Communist party in Indochina after World War II; led Vietnamese
against the French, then North Vietnamese against the United States in the Vietnam War.
137. Ngo Dinh Diem: Leader of South Vietnam, 1954-1963; supported by United States, but not by
Vietnamese Buddhist majority; assassinated in 1963.
138. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: 1964 congressional resolution authorizing President Johnson to take
any military action he felt necessary in Vietnam.
139. Tet Offensive: 1968 attack by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces throughout South Vietnam.
The North lost all battles and had enormous casualties, but the effect was to turn American public
opinion against the war.
140. Pentagon Papers: Secret government study of United States involvement in the Vietnam War, made
public in 1971 by Daniel Ellsburg.
141. Credibility Gap: a political term most frequently used to describe public skepticism about the
Lyndon B. Johnson administration's statements and policies on the Vietnam War.
142. Vietnamization: President Nixon's policy of replacing American military forces with those of South
Vietnam in an attempt to lessen the American role in Vietnam.
143. War Powers Act: 1973 law limiting the President's power to send American troops abroad.
144. Détente: relaxing of Cold War tensions by President Nixon, favored increased trade and financial
stability over protection of global human rights.
145. Watergate: Scandal involving illegal activities that ultimately led to the resignation of President
Nixon in 1974..
146. Iran Contra Affair: Scandal during the Regan administration in which Colonel Oliver North took
blame for illegally selling weapons to Iran in order to fund a rebel group in Nicaragua.
147. Reaganomics: Economic Theory which favors the economic stability of the wealthy or supply side
in order to create investment in the working class. Sometime referred to as “trickle down” economics.
148. Persian Gulf War: After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the United States led a 34 Nation
Coalition into War with Iraq to free Kuwait and limit Iraq’s ability to create nuclear weapons.
149. Sonia Sotomayor: Appointed by President Obama in 2009, the first Hispanic Supreme Court
Justice.
150. USA Patriot Act: Allows the government to monitor electronic communications in order to flush out
potential acts of terror.