American History Midterm Study Guide
Chapter 5: An Industrial Nation
The American West
Main Idea: In the late 1800's, Americans moved West in increasing numbers. They established mining, ranching, and farming operations,
but in the process, they also destroyed the traditional way of life of the Native Americans they encountered.
Key Terms and People:
1. Battle of the Little Big Horn
battle between the US Army led by Lt. George Armstrong Custer and Sioux forces led by Chief Sitting Bull; the Sioux won the battle.
2. Sitting Bull
American Indian leader who became the head chief of the entire Sioux nation.
3. George Armstrong Custer
American army officer who was killed with his troops in the Battle of Little Big Horn
4. Dawes Act
legislation passed by Congress that split up Indian reservation lands among individual Indians and promised them citizenship.
5. Homestead Act
a law passed by Congress to encourage settlement in the West by giving government owned land to small farmers.
Review Questions:
How did changing government policies lead to conflicts with Native Americans in the West? P. 143
As the government began to seize lands that had been home to Native Americans and force them onto reservations, native groups fought
back.
What opportunities and challenges did farmers face on the Great Plains? P. 147-148
Land was available but conditions were harsh and water was scarce. New technologies (windmills, plows and farm machinery) helped, and
railroads took produce to eastern markets.
Life at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
Main Idea: In the late 1800's, waves of immigrants were arriving from southern and eastern Europe. Discrimination was a daily reality for
many Americans. Meanwhile the government was plagued by corruption, although reformers began to make efforts toward change.
Key Terms and People:
1. Settlement house
neighborhood center staffed by professionals and volunteers for education, recreation, and social activities in poor areas.
2. Jane Addams
social worker and activist, she was the co-founder of the Hull House, an organization that focused on the needs of immigrants.
3. Populist Party
a political party formed in 1892 that supported free coinage of silver, work reforms, immigration restrictions, and government ownership of
railroads and telegraph and telephone systems.
Review Questions:
What challenges did new immigrants face when they came to the United States? P. 157
Discrimination, took low paying jobs and lived in crowded tenements
Why did farmers want currency backed by silver? P. 160
So that there would be more money in circulation therefore allowing farmers to charge more for farm goods
Chapter 6: The Progressives
Progressivism
Main Idea: Progressives focused their attentions on improving the lives of the urban poor, changing dangerous and unfair working
conditions, and reforming government.
Key Terms and People:
1. Muckrakers
a term coined for journalists who “raked up” and exposed corruption and problems of society
2. Upton Sinclair; The Jungle
muckraker who wrote the Jungle which exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry which led to consumer protection laws
Review Questions:
How did the Progressives fight to reform the workplace?
Campaigned to prohibit child labor, limit working hours, initiate minimum wage laws
What was the significance of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire?
New state laws were passed to require dramatic new fire safety measures, factory inspections, and sanitation improvements
Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal
Main Idea: President Theodore Roosevelt pushed for many Progressive reforms in business and the environment. His program, called the
Square Deal, sought to balance the needs of business and industry leaders and those of workers and consumers.
Key Terms and People:
1. Square Deal
Theodore Roosevelt's 1904 campaign slogan; expressed his belief that the needs of workers, business, and consumers should be balanced,
and called for limiting the power of trusts, promoting public health and safety, and improving working conditions
2. Pure Food and Drug Act
(1906) law that forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of food and patent medicine containing harmful ingredients, and required
that containers of food and medicines carry ingredient labels
3. Newlands Reclamation Act
a law that allowed the federal government to build irrigation projects to make lands more productive
Review Questions:
How did Roosevelt attempt to regulate big business? P. 184-185
Through legislation (Sherman Anti-trust Act), trust-busting, railroad regulations, Meat Inspection and Pure Food and Drug Acts
What was Roosevelt’s view on conservation? P. 187
He believed that each generation had a duty to protect and conserve natural resources for future generations, created National Park System
Taft and Wilson
Main Idea: Progressive reforms continued during the Taft and Wilson presidencies, focusing on business, banking, and certain civil rights
reforms. During this time, women won the vote. Despite the many reforms that Progressives campaigned for, they did not fight for the civil
rights of African Americans.
Key Terms and People:
1. William Howard Taft
Angered progressives by moving cautiously toward reforms, supported Payne-Aldrich tariff, lost Roosevelt's support
2. Woodrow Wilson
League of Nations, direct election of senators, prohibition, women's suffrage, enacted child labor laws, created Federal Reserve System
3. Federal Reserve Act
law that created a central fund from which banks could borrow to prevent collapse during a financial panic
Review Questions:
How did Taft’s approach to progressivism split the Republican Party? P. 190
He was too cautious in such a progressive era and wanted to limit reforms. He signed the Payne Aldrich tariff (high taxes) and lacked
commitment to conservation efforts.
What was Wilson’s New Freedom reform plan? P. 191
He called for tariff reductions, banking reform, and strong anti-trust legislation (Clayton Anti-trust Act).
Chapter 7: Entering the World Stage
The Lure of Imperialism
Main Idea: The United States joined other industrialized nations in the scramble for empire. For economic, military, and nationalistic reasons,
the United States annexed Hawaii and extended its influence in China and Japan.
Key Terms and People:
1. Imperialism
the practice of extending a nation's power by gaining territories for a colonial empire
2. Bayonet constitution
a constitution the king of Hawaii was forced to sign which severely restricted his power and deprived most Hawaiians of the vote
Review Questions:
What inspired the imperialist activity of the late 1800’s? P. 201
The desire for new markets, resources, military and refueling bases, nationalism and the desire for more territory
Why was Hawaii an ideal acquisition for the United States? P. 202
It was a good place for coaling stations and naval bases and had a profitable sugar industry
The Spanish American War
Main Idea: The Spanish-American War resulted in a resounding defeat for Spain and the relinquishing of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the
Philippines to U.S. control. In the aftermath of war, American expansionists and anti-imperialists debated whether to annex the Philippines.
Key Terms and People:
1. yellow journalism
the reporting of exaggerated stories in newspapers to increase sales
2. de Lome letter
a letter written by Spain's minister to the United States that was published in a major newspaper; the letter ridiculed President McKinley and
outraged many Americans
3. USS Maine
Ship docked in Cuban harbor that mysteriously blew up, blamed Spain
4. Rough Riders
a cavalry regiment organized by Theodore Roosevelt; consisted of college athletes, cowboys, ranchers, miners, and Native Americans
5. Battle of San Juan Hill
battle in the Spanish-American War in which 8,000 U.S. soldiers fought to seize control over San Juan Hill; led by Roosevelt and the Rough
Riders
Review Questions:
Why did Americans get war fever? P. 207
Newspapers created sensational accounts of events in Cuba
Why did the de Lome letter raise such an outcry? P. 208
It criticized and ridiculed President McKinley for not responding to events in Cuba
Chapter 8: World War I
A World Crisis
Main Idea: Rivalries among European nations led to the outbreak of war in 1914. The assassination of an Austrian archduke led to rapid
declarations of war, and soon most of Europe was drawn into World War I. Changes in military technology and strategies made World War I a
new and deadlier kind of war.
Key Terms and People:
1. Archduke Franz Ferdinand
assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, this event sparked WWI
2. MAIN causes of WWI
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism
3. Central Powers
alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire
4. Allied Powers
alliance between Britain, France, and Russia; later joined by the United States in World War I
5. Trench warfare
a form of combat in which soldiers dug trenches, or deep ditches, to seek protection from enemy fire and to defend their positions
Review Questions:
What was WWI also known as?
The Great War
Why did the war quickly reach a stalemate? P. 235-236
Soldiers dug trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire and defend their positions, neither side could advance.
The United States in WWI
Main Idea: The United States tried to stay neutral in World War I, but hostile German acts soon convinced President Wilson and Congress
that war was inevitable. The United States sent troops to France, where they helped turn the tide for the Allies. The Central Powers agreed to
an armistice on November 11, 1918.
Key Terms and People:
1. Lusitania
British ship sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915
2. Isolationism
a policy in which a nation avoids entanglement in foreign wars
3. U-boats
small submarines named after the German word unterserboot, which means “undersea boat”
4. Sussex Pledge
a pledge Germany issued which included a promise not to sink merchant vessels “without warning and without saving human lives”
5. Zimmermann Note
a telegram sent to a German official in Mexico before World War I; it proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico
6. Selective Service Act
act which required men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register to be drafted into the armed forces
Review Questions:
Why did American businesses do more business with the Allies than Germany? P. 239
It was easy to sell goods to Allies and we had a greater cultural tie with Great Britain and France
Why did the German's strategy concerning the Zimmermann note backfire? P. 240
The British intercepted the note, notified Americans - it was published in newspapers and more people wanted to declare war on Germany.
The Home Front
Main Idea: The U.S. government mobilized its resources for the war effort. It sold Liberty bonds to pay for the war and regulated industry to
fulfill the needs of the troops overseas. It encouraged women to take on the jobs left vacant by men who joined the military. The government
also campaigned to win the support of public opinion and minimize dissent.
Key Terms and People:
1. Liberty Bonds
bonds that American citizens bought that helped to pay for the costs of World War I
2. National War Labor Board
created by President Wilson, this board mediated disputes between workers and management and set policies that improved working
conditions
3. Propaganda
information designed to influence public opinion
4. Schenck v. United States
an important court case that explained the limits of the First Amendment
Review Questions:
How did the government mobilize the economy for the war effort? P. 247-248
The government raised taxes, borrowed money through liberty bonds to finance the war, and regulated industry, food, and fuel in order to
supply the troops.
How did the government try to influence public opinion about the war? P. 251
It created the Committee on Public Information to oversee a nationwide campaign of propaganda.
Peace Without Victory
Main Idea: At the Paris Peace Conference, the Allies hammered out a peace treaty. Some, but not all, of Wilson’s Fourteen Points were
included in the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty also called for Germany to pay heavy reparations for its role in the war. In the United States,
the Senate hotly debated the treaty. Many senators objected to the idea of the United States joining the League of Nations, and eventually
the Senate rejected the treaty.
Key Terms and People:
1. Fourteen Points
President Woodrow Wilson's plan for organizing post-World War I Europe and for avoiding future wars
2. League of Nations
international body of nations formed in 1919 to prevent wars
3. Big Four
name given to the leaders of the Allied Powers who dominated the Paris Peace Conference following the Allied victory in World War I
4. reparations
payments designed to make up for the damage of something (war damages)
5. Treaty of Versailles
treaty ending World War I that required Germany to pay huge war reparations and established the League of Nations
Review Questions:
What was resolved at the Paris Peace Conference? P. 255-256
Germany has to disarm, pay reparations, and take blame for the war. The League of Nations is established.
What was the impact of WWI on the United States and the world? P. 258-259
The war left millions of people dead, European economies were devastated, but the US emerged as a leading economic power.
Chapter 9: From War to Peace
Postwar Havoc
Main Idea: Far from feeling safe and at peace, many Americans in the postwar years saw threats in a variety of forms, including labor
unrest, rising immigration, and radical political ideas.
Key Terms and People:
1. Red Scare
widespread fear of communism
2. A. Mitchell Palmer
opponent of communism, ordered the Palmer raids against radicals and aliens during the Red Scare
3. Palmer Raids
a series of government attacks on suspected radicals in the United States led by the U.S. attorney general, A. Mitchell Palmer
4. Sacco and Vanzetti
Italian immigrants who were found guilty of murder and robbery; evidence was circumstantial and more focus was put on their belief in
anarchy (no government) and that they were foreign born
Review Questions:
What were the causes and effects of the Red Scare? P. 271-272
Causes - fear of communism and foreigners Effects - it was a crime to want to overthrow the government, Palmer raids, aliens deported.
How did the United States limit immigration after WWI? P. 274
It established immigration quotas and almost eliminated immigration from Asian countries
A New Economic Era
Main Idea: The increasing availability of consumer goods—from cars to household appliances—helped inspire a growing economic boom in
the 1920s.
Key Terms and People:
1. Henry Ford
business leader who revolutionized factory production through the use of the assembly line and popularized the affordable automobile
2. Assembly line
a mass-production process in which a product moved forward through many work stations, where workers performed specific tasks
3. Installment buying
paying for an item over a period of time with a series of small payments
4. Credit
system of borrowing money from banks to make purchases, then paying it back later with interest
Review Questions:
How did both the auto industry and the nation change during the 1920's? P. 279
Amazing growth in the auto industry, increased demand for steel, glass, rubber, gas - boom in the travel industry, cities and suburbs grew.
What were some qualities of the new consumer of the 1920's? P. 280
Many were eager to buy new electrical appliances, bought on credit or installments
Chapter 10: The Roaring Twenties
American Life Changes
Main Idea: The changing American culture of the 1920s was reflected in new roles for women and an increase in urbanization.
Key Terms and People:
1. Flapper
a young woman in the 1920s who wore her hair bobbed, wore makeup, dressed in flashy, skimpy clothes, and lived a life of independence
and freedom
2. Fundamentalism
a belief in the literal interpretation of a particular religion's doctrine or holy books (bible)
3. Evolution/Charles Darwin
theory which holds that inherited characteristics of a population change over generations and that as a result of these changes, new species
sometimes arise
4. Scopes Trial
teacher John Scopes was found guilty of teaching the theory of evolution; conflict of religion and science
5. Bootlegger
people who smuggled liquor during Prohibition
6. Speakeasy
illegal bars where alcohol was served during Prohibition
Review Questions:
Why did fundamentalists want to ban teaching evolution in schools? P. 298
They believed teaching evolution undermined religious faith.
What was Prohibition and how did it affect the nation? P. 299
Outlawed sale and distribution of alcohol, people bought bootleg liquor, frequented speakeasies or made their own liquor.
The Harlem Renaissance
Main Idea: Centered in New York City’s Harlem community, African American culture experienced a renaissance of literature, music, and art.
Key Terms and People:
1. Great Migration
the major relocation of African Americans to northern cities from 1910 and into the 1920's
2. Harlem Renaissance
a blossoming of African American art and literature that began in the 1920's
Review Questions:
Why did many African Americans decide to move North in the early 1900's? P. 303
Freedom from racial tensions and discrimination, more jobs and economic opportunities.
What was the purpose of the NAACP? P. 304
To end discrimination and mistreatment of African Americans
Chapter 11: The Great Depression
The Great Crash
Main Idea: The American stock markets, which had ballooned in value and helped fuel the economic optimism of the 1920s, collapsed in
1929. The crash had effects far beyond the losses by investors.
Key Terms and People:
1. Herbert Hoover
As president failed to effectively deal with the Great Depression
2. Buying on Margin
buying stocks with loans from brokers
3. Black Tuesday
Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the day that the stock market crashed
Review Questions:
What economic factors and conditions made the economy appear prosperous in the 1920's? P. 321
High gross national product, low unemployment, satisfied workers (welfare capitalism) rising prices of stocks
What were the effects of the crash on the economy of the United States and the world? P. 326-327
Banks failed, investor lost money, consumers stopped buying, nearly 3 million lost their jobs, global trade and economic activity declined
Americans Face Hard Times
Main Idea: In the Great Depression that followed the 1929 stock market crash, millions of people lost their jobs, their savings, and their
homes. In some parts of the country, environmental catastrophe added to the suffering.
Key Terms and People:
1. Great Depression
the most severe economic downturn in the history of the United States
2. Hooverville
makeshift shantytowns that sprung up during the Great Depression; named for President Hoover
3. Dust Bowl
a nickname for the Great Plains regions hit by drought and dust storms in the early 1930's
Review Questions:
How did the Great Depression affect the minds and spirits of Americans? P. 331-332
Many felt that they had failed as individuals, some were angry, and some felt that the nation had failed its hardworking citizens.
What caused the Dust Bowl? P. 332
Careless agriculture practices that led to erosion, soil exhaustion