U.S. History Mid-Term Exam Review
Post-Civil War America:
 The main reason for the rapid settlement of the Great Plains during the late 1800s was that Congress
passed the ______________Act allowing people to claim public land and convert it to private property.
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The industrial revolution brought about a change in America in which it became a largely _________
society built around industry in large cities.
In the late 1800s, the Supreme Court’s decision in ___________________________created a legal
justification for segregation laws referred to as “___________ _______ ____________.”
In the late 1800’s, local political bosses gained support through bullying tactics. They supplied new
immigrants with jobs and cheap housing in ethnic burrows in exchange for votes and support.
Progressivism:
 Jane Addams’s Settlement House movement in Chicago was meant to help poor immigrants assimilate
to American society and become successful.
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The Sherman ______________ Act made it possible for the federal government to dissolve business monopolies
Upton Sinclair’s book __________________________ contributed to a change in the relationship between
government and business because gov’t. regulations required the inspection of food products
Imperialism:
 In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States became involved in _________________ American
primarily to protect its economic interests
 Support at the turn of the 20th century for America to complete the __________________________ Canal was
fueled by the time it took to transport goods from the east to west coast of the United States
 After the ________________-_________________ War, the acquisition of new territories allowed
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for the expansion of U.S. commercial trade and led a new focus on an international economy rather
than a domestic economy.
Hawaiian citizens protested the forced annexation of the islands as a U.S. __________________ after
the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy
WWI (______-______):
 A stalemate developed in ______________ and soldiers dug _______________ and set up barbed wire and
landmines in “no man’s land” as machine guns caused massive casualties.
 Technology like the ____________, long range artillery, and poisonous _________ were developed in an
attempt to break the stalemate of trench warfare.
 The U.S. remained neutral at the beginning of the war. Events that directly affected the US:
o ________________________ sinking civilian cruiseliners in the atlantic
o The ____________________________ showed that Germany was trying to involve Mexico in attacking
the USA.
 Upon entering World War I, the United States enlarged its military by passing the _____________________ Act
 The inexperienced American soldiers were called “___________ ____________,” like they were not ready yet.
 General Pershing became an American hero of WWI. He prepared the inexperienced soldiers and created an
effective war machine.
 The “________________ ___________________________” saw many African-Americans from the south move
north to industrial jobs in major cities because many white American men were off at war in Europe.
 During WWI, the U.S. passed the espionage act of 1918, which suspended certain freedoms of ______________.
Roaring 20’s:
 President ______________________ pledged a “return to normalcy” in America after its years of war in Europe
(WWI). He meant that it was time for America to heal and restore itself to a normal way of life.
 ______________ Ford and the ____________________________ become a staple of American culture. He uses
__________________ ____________ production to sell more cars. With “expendable” cash, Americans buy
more and more automobiles and it becomes a staple of economic strength for the US that still endures today.
 Mass-produced automobiles made travel more affordable for many people.
 The 19th Amendment provided _____________________________________________________
Roaring 20’s:
 The 21st Amendment is known as _____________________. It was moral legislation. It outlawed making, or
selling _____________. It lasted from 1920-________. It was repealed (taking away) because it had caused too
much growth in ____________________.
 Ladies of the twenties who would go out on the town in short flashy dresses were known as “_______________”
because of the way their dresses flapped around when they walked and danced. Flappers were a sign of a
women’s rights movement and their opposition to authority.
 The _________________ ________________________ brought about a rebirth of African-American culture such
as Jazz music, art, and dance.
 People began borrowing money from banks in order to “speculate” in the _______________________________.
When the stock market crashed due to over speculation and a down turn in international _____________, banks
failed and people lost all of their ______________.
 The ________________-_________________ Tariff was the largest tax on imports in the US history. It was
meant to protect US agriculture and industry from foreign competition. Instead, Europe raised its tariffs and
international trade dropped dramatically…this will lead up to the Great ______________________________.
 In 1929, the stock market ________________ because of business overproduction, stock speculation caused
bank failures, and restrictions on international trade.
Great Depression (1930’s):
 The Great Depression resulted in the unemployment of approximately _______% of Americans. Without jobs,
many Americans had to:
o Resort to bread lines for free hand outs
o Lost their businesses
o Lost their homes/farms
 President _________________ _______________ believed in “laisse Faire” economics. This philosophy believes
that if the government keeps its “hands off” business, the economy will correct itself.
 When it didn’t he tried to legislate changes with things like the Reconstruction _________________ Corporation
(which authorized the US Treasury to make loans to help banks and other large businesses) but it was too
late…the Great Depression was inevitable, and he lost the next election to _______________________________
 Hoover believed that the American people would endure and out last the economic down turn due to what he
referred to as America’s “rugged______________________________.”
 __________ was a virus that spread thru the U.S. during the early 20th century, paralyzing thousands (including
FDR). The “March of Dimes” was an organization started to raise money for research into a cure. This
organization’s efforts led to the vaccine that children around the world receive today.
 The “________ bowl” refers to a prolonged drought and poor farming techniques used in the Great Plains region
of America. It caused crop failures and erosion of fertile _______. It led to farmers in places like Oklahoma to
lose their farmers and migrate to ______________________ where they competed with Mexican immigrants for
farming jobs.
 N____________ were Americans who believed that the US should block immigration to protect American
culture as well as jobs.
FDR and the “New Deal:”
 FDR was elected in _________ under a campaign of a “New Deal.”
 Roosevelt believed that Government had the duty to protect economic stability through ___________________
business.
 FDR increased the size of government thru his New Deal programs:
o FDICo TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) o ____________________ Act (1935): the most important measure of the New Deal; was created to help
the elderly and needy. It made the government more responsible for the people’s economic welfare.
 It provided workers with unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and insurance if they died
early. Workers and they employers each paid new contributions to fund these benefits (!!!)
o This legislation is the beginning of a society that would be able to depend on the government when
under economic hardships.
FDR and the “New Deal:”
o Federal Emergency Relief Act (1933):
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Civilian Conservation Corps (1933):
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Public Works Administration (1933):
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Works Progress Administration (1935):
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The Federal Housing Administration
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to reassure the American public during uncertain economic
times by delivering a series of evening radio speeches known as ____________________________
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The ________________ ___________ was built in Nevada/Arizona to provide resources to a growing population
that needed water for crop irrigation and as a supply for the people living in this arid part of America.
In 1937, some of FDR’s “New Deal” ideas to reorganize the government were challenged in the
______________________ Court. When the Supreme Court sided with businesses, FDR attempted to increase
the number of ______________ so that he could appoint new Judges who would agree with his ideas.
___________________opposed this, thinking that he would have too much power, like a Dictator.
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WWII (______-______):
 The US remained _________________ at the beginning of WWII based on the Monroe Doctrine (US will stay out
of ______________________ affairs unless it directly affects the _______).
 FDR believed that no country could remain isolated from the rest of the world and events because it would
eventually jeopardize its own peace. FDR used this idea for why he felt that America SHOULD have been
involved in ________ earlier.
 The __________________ Attacked ___________ _____________ (in Hawaii) on _________________________.
The Japanese chose to attack because U.S. trade sanctions on their country had caused shortages in resources
vital to their imperialist goals. Without resources like oil, gas, and rubber they would soon lose the ability to
wage ______ at all.
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The _____________________ defeat the Americans at the Bataan Peninsula. Many of the U.S. soldiers
involved in the event died during a forced march to a prison camp in the Philippines
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In 1944, The American and British troops embarked on what was to be called a “Great Crusade” against Nazi
tyranny. It was called Operation Overlord, or “______________.” The Allied forces would send over _________
soldiers across the __________ Channel onto the beaches of Normandy in occupied ______________.
The government issued ration books during World War II in order to ensure the fair distribution of scarce goods
at home. Participating was a way that Americans could feel like they were helping.
The U.S. used _______________soldiers to encode messages so that the enemy could not understand when
they were secretly listening. The Navajo language was impossible for the enemy to decode.
The skill and courage of the _______________-American “Tuskegee Airmen” served to break down barriers to
minorities serving in the military.
President ___________________’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on__________________________ and
___________________ Japan was made to save the lives of American soldiers had they invaded Japan. Shortly
after, Japan ___________________________.
His decision to drop atomic bombs initiated an arms race with the Soviet Union which was part of the beginning
of the “Cold War.”
In 1997, Vernon Baker was awarded the Medal of Honor. Baker was the only living African American veteran of
World War II ever to receive the medal.
The _______ amendment was passed shortly after WWII. It limited the election of the President to only two
terms. This was in response to FDR being elected four times and dying in office during a time of war.