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| huge exhibition/world fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America; designed by Daniel Burnham; featured state of the art architecture and arts and featured a prototype of what Chicago should look like; was the glitter of the Gilded Age |
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| Scottish-born American businessman, industrialist, and philanthropist; founded the Carnegie Steel Company in the 1870s, and quickly became one of the richest men in the world; is known as much for his philanthropy and large-scale donations to fund the establishments of libraries, schools, and universities |
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| term given to rich businessmen and bankers of the late 19th century who dominated their industries and made millions, even billions, of dollars, typically as the result of unfair business practices; e.g. the Vanderbilt’s; flaunted their wealth and lead to an “aristocracy of wealth” |
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| key American labor union leader; founder and first president of the American Federation of Labor in the late 19th century; promoted “pure and simple” unionism (less-than-radical), higher wages, and better working conditions |
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| A Dutch immigrant who became a famous American photographer and journalist; he used the poverty-stricken families and communities of New York City as his subjects; his work, “How The Other Half Lives” (1890) documented the filthiness and lack of hygiene in New York slums in the late 1800s |
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| the Democratic Party’s political machine that controlled a major part of New York City politics throughout the 1800’s and early 1900’s; Plunkitt, a state senator, was a major player in this political machine; used the spoils system and bribes to control party nominations and patronage |
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| a new wave of American immigrants in the late 1800s, primarily from Southern and Eastern Europe; many were fleeing discrimination, political oppression, and/or economic distress; this new wave spoke and looked different than the “old stock” immigrants, and as a result, were often discriminated against in America |
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| 1882; allowed the US to put a cap on the number of immigrants from China, and even sent some back; did not allow those who stayed to become citizens; prevented the assimilation of Chinese immigrants into American society, and instead, predominantly male, and therefore unruly, Chinatowns were formed |
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| American schools of the realist artistic movement of the early 1900s; students of these schools elevated common themes, such as street scenes, into art; help defined an American culture and unique form of art |
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| a system of agriculture in which the sharecropper (usually poor blacks) farmed someone else’s land for a share (usually over half) of the crop; often referred to as “financial slavery”, because even though the sharecropper was a free man, he had no money, and therefore was forced to farm someone else’s land |
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| Famous leader of the Sioux; best known for his defeat of General Custer in 1876; after defeating Custer, he flees to Canada, where he remains until 1881, at which time he surrenders to American forces |
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| a religious movement amongst Native American tribes; common in the late 1800’s, this “dance” increased Indian hostility against whites by preaching that the Gods would help the Native Americans in their fight; often credited with instigating the Wounded Knee massacre |
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| 1890; the final defeat of the Sioux and Sitting Bull, by American armed forces; often termed a “massacre”, as over 100 Sioux tribal members died; marked the end of Indian warfare against Americans as well as the end of Indian civilization in America |
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| US political strategy in which a political party , upon winning an election, gives government jobs to friends, relatives, etc… as an incentive to continue working for the party, rather than giving government jobs based on merit and credentials; term comes from the saying, “to the victor belongs the spoils” |
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| New York politician of the late 1800’s; head of the stalwarts—those favorable to the spoils system; was a strong supporter of Ulysses S. Grant as president |
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| 1883; law that ended the spoils system and placed federal employees on the merit system; it resulted due to a compromise between stalwarts and the Republican Party, implementing the merit system, and in return, allowing high tariffs to be established; passed in 1883 during President Arthur’s term |
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| a movement the U.S. throughout the 1870s; Greenbacks fought for increased monetary circulation through the issuing of paper currency and bimetallism (using both gold and silver as legal tender) and sought benefits for labor such as shorter working hours and a national labor bureau; tried to create their own local banks, but garnered very little support, and soon failed |
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| Sherman Silver Purchase Act |
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| law enacted in 1890 increasing the amount of silver in the American dollar’s value; the act quickly backfired, however, as people turned in their silver Treasury notes for gold dollars, depleting the nation’s gold reserve; as a result, the act was repealed by President Cleveland in 1893 |
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| presidential candidate of the Populist Party in the 1892 election; he was an opponent of the gold standard and national banks; as a result of being a Union veteran, he was not received well in the South; he stole votes from the Republicans, allowing Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland to become President |
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| was a three-time Democratic nominee for president, lost all three times; known for being a great speaker, supporter of silver-backed dollar, outspoken critic of banks and railroads; lost to McKinley in the 1896 Presidential election |
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| famous American muckraker and journalist of the late 1800’s; his works denounced the patronage favors of party machines, and increased public recognition of government and political corruption |
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| American birth control activist who founded who opened the first birth control clinic in the US in 1916; as a result of her work, women were no longer confined to the home as mothers/reproducers; founder of what would become Planned Parenthood |
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| governor of California who fought the railroad industry and its corruption; fought especially against the rebated railroad companies offered politicians in exchange for favors; indicted his own father, a senator, for conspiring with the railroads |
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| Northern Securities Company was a huge railroad trust formed in 1902; a conglomerate of railroads and banks; Teddy Roosevelt, as President, investigated violations of anti-trust laws of the time, and eventually manages to break it down by 1904; one of the first major antitrust cases |
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| 1902 US federal law that funded irrigation projects for the arid lands of the West; was Teddy Roosevelt’s “pet” law; aimed at the conservation of nature; the law helps the American West become one of the premier agricultural areas in the world |
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| a faction of the Republican Party who side with Teddy Roosevelt over Taft; in 1912, they split from the Republican Party and form the Progressive Party, |
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| author of “The Promise of American Life” (1910); greatly influenced Pres. Teddy Roosevelt to move from trust-busting to governmental regulation of big businesses |
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| 1913; first major reduction in tariffs on imports; it opens up competition in the country and competition with foreign industries; to replace the lost income, President Wilson imposes an income tax, the first of its kind since the Civil War |
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| In 1890, he wrote The Influence of Sea Power upon History. He was a proponent of building a large navy. He said that a new, modern navy was necessary to protect the international trade America depended on. |
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| led a Filipino revolution against the Spanish in 1896 and leads the Filipino resistance against American invasion; Surrenders in 1901, ending the Philippine-American War, and pledges his allegiance to the Americans |
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| formed in 1898 to battle the American annexation of Phillipines; an isolationist league founded by the likes of William Jennings Bryan, Jane Addams, and Andrew Carnegie; they opposed the American annexation of the Philippines; it was never strong, however, due to differences between the main members on domestic issues |
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| an amendment to the Monroe Doctrine by Teddy Roosevelt in 1904; asserted the right of the United States to intervene to stabilize the economic affairs of small nations in the Caribbean and Central America if they were unable to pay their international debts; established the US as “international policeman” |
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| the British cruise liner that was sunk by a German submarine in 1915; over 100 American tourists on board perished in the attack, that helped draw the Americans into WWI; led to the Sussex Pledge, which required the Germans to give warning before attacking merchant ships |
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| a coded telegram sent by the Foreign Secretary of Germany, Arthur Zimmermann, in 1917; this telegram was sent to the German ambassador in Mexico, proposing that Germany would help Mexico regain lost territories, if only they would attack the United States, thereby diverting resources of the US; British intercepted the telegram, however, and inform the Americans, which was another major factor in their decision to join the Allies in WWI. |
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| the final offensive of WWI, occurring in 1918; Americans had finally arrived in Europe in full force, and tilted the balance of war; over 26,000 American soldiers dies, but they defeated the German army, leading to German surrender, and the end of WWI |
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| campaign of American soldiers during WWI; aimed at preventing soldiers from sleeping with whores; urged sexual purity; campaign pamphlets claimed: “a German bullet is cleaner than a whore” and asked soldiers, “How can you look the American flag in the face if you’re dirty with gonorrhea?” |
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| 1918 law urged by President Wilson; in response to growing discontent against the war, this act made it unlawful for an American to criticize the war, whether via propaganda or other means; passed in response to Debs vs. United States |
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| foreign policy perspective of President Woodrow Wilson; advocates the spread and protection of democracy overseas in order to protect the democracy of America; also advocates anti-isolationism in order to ensure world peace and spread freedom; resulted from WWI |
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| controversial provision of the Treaty of Versailles, calling for a League of Nations; was President Wilson’s handiwork; Article X called all members of the League of Nations to deploy troops to repel aggression of any kind anywhere in the world; many people were against this, afraid the US would become “entangled” in the affairs of other countries |
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| a plan following WWI in 1924, attempting to allow the Allies to continue to collect war debts from the Germans; Germany defaulted on their debts, and France was nearing an invasion to seize material-rich land from Germany as collateral; the plan allowed for American businessmen to lend money to Germany, which in turn paid their reparations to Britain and France, which could pay back their loans to the United States; meant to open up trade throughout Europe and the US, but ultimately fails |
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| 1929 amendment to the Roosevelt Corollary, saying the US would intervene in Latin American only in case of emergency or security threats, rather than anytime their interests were at stake; overall didn’t change Latin American foreign policy much, as America continued to intervene in Latin America, claiming its economic stability was a threat to our national security |
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| committee that studied that causes of U.S. involvement in WWI in the 1930’s; it found that bankers and big businesses (esp. the automobile industry) had pressured President Wilson into joining the war, in order to profit; banks aimed to protect their loans abroad, and the automobile industry became very profitable after converting to defense production; led to the passing of neutrality laws |
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| early 1920’s scandal during Warren G. Harding’s relaxed presidency; then-U.S. Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall sold government property (oil field reserves in Wyoming) under that table to private syndicates, in exchange for bribes; Fall became very profitable, but was eventually indicted and sent to jail |
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| the practice of businesses providing welfare-like services to its employees; peaked during the 1920’s, as businesses aimed to prevent unionization by offering workers pension plans, health care, higher pay, and other compensations |
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| American pilot who completed the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 in his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis; he combined modern technology (airplane, etc) with small town values (morality); one of the most famous celebrities of the Roaring Twenties |
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| famous Italian American organized crime boss/ bootlegger; was active during the 1920’s and early 1930’s; led a crime syndicate dedicated to the smuggling and bootlegging of liquor during the Prohibition era, preying on the youthful rebellions known to the 1920’s; even had police and mayors on his payroll; was virtually untouchable until 1931, when he was convicted of tax invasion and sent to prison |
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| African American art movement of the 1920’s and 1930’s; black authors, artists, and intellectuals showcased their pride in their roots in their works; development of ethnic identity for African Americans |
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| American economist who, in 1929, predicted a stock market crash; recognized that unemployment rate going up and prices going down meant much economic duress in the future; no one listens, and the Great Depression begins shortly after |
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| 1930 law passed during Hoover’s tenure raising U.S. tariffs to record levels, in an attempt to help depression; immediately kills international trade, as other nations respond with their own tariffs; possibly worsened the Great Depression |
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| Reconstruction Finance Corporation |
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| agency founded in 1932 by President Hoover in the midst of the Great Depression; meant to lend money to ailing businesses, allowing them to recover financially, and ultimately aiding the workers of these companies; was unpopular, as the rewards to workers were not immediate |
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| 1932 - Facing the financial crisis of the Depression, WW I veterans marched to Washington DC and tried to pressure Congress to pay them their retirement pensions early. Congress, however, fails to approve such a bill, and President Hoover calls in the army to break up the demonstration; in the action, several veterans and citizens are killed |
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| Tennessee Valley Authority |
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| a “New Deal” corporation created in 1933 during the first one hundred days FDR’s presidency; designed to modernize the Tennessee Valley region, using experts and electricity to combat human and economic problem; the TVA built dams, conducted demonstrations projects for farmers, and engaged in reforestation attempting to rehabilitate the Tennessee Valley Area; Senator George W. Morris is attributed with founding the TVA |
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| Agricultural Adjustment Act |
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| a “New Deal” act passed in 1933 during the first one hundred days FDR’s presidency; the AAA cut crop production by paying farmers to reduce the acreage of land they harvested; less production of crops led to a rise in prices, aiding rural farmers, but not the urban poor or sharecroppers |
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| National Recovery Administration |
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| a “New Deal” government agency established in 1933 creating a code of fair competition (reducing destructive competition), which businesses and unions were urged to follow; the NRA established limits on raising and lowering prices, as well as when workers could go on strike; was popular with workers, and businesses who met the standards of the NRA often displayed NRA posters in their shop windows; ultimately, however, this “pet project” of FDR’s was struck down as unconstitutional, as businesses found ways to violate the code and use it to their advantage |
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| Doctor who opposed FDR’s New Deal; instead, in 1930’s, proposed an old-age pension plan in which retirees were guaranteed $200 a month to spend as they wanted; Townsend claimed that this would jumpstart the economy and propel the United States out of the Great Depression; plan fell through, however, as the pensions given to retirees would account for over half the national budget; Townsend’s proposal did influence FDR to introduce a Social Security system, although not as generous as Townsend’s plan |
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| another opponent of FDR’s New Deal; in 1930’s, instead proposes “Share-Our-Wealth” Society, which called for 100% taxation of the rich (those who made $1-million or more) and distribute this money amongst the poor; Long’s movement, although highly popular, never quite took off, as Long was quite corrupt and had many enemies; FDR sent federal agents to investigate Long; in 1935, Long was assassinated by Dr. Carl Weiss; Long influenced FDR to pass the Revenue Act, imposing taxes on higher income levels and corporations |
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| Works Progress Administration |
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| the largest of FDR’s New Deal agencies; established in 1935, headed by Harry Hopkins; the WPA put the unemployed directly on the government’s payroll, giving them temporary jobs in the mass construction of infrastructure and dams, etc; ever since, the government has had the responsibility of providing a type of welfare system |
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| 1935 US federal law replacing Section 7a of the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), which established the National Recovery Agency (NRA); it reaffirmed labor's right to unionize, prohibited unfair labor practices, and created the National Labor Relations Board, as well as establishing that a union (with majority’s support) has the power to bargain collectively; ends the blacklisting of union members |
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| term given to the realignment of the Democratic Party in the 1930’s; this “new” Democratic party consisted of union members, blacks, and new immigrants; Democratic majority results |
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| The Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO, proposed by Senator Huey Long in 1932, was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada; the CIO was more aggressive and militant than the American Federation of Labor (AFL); its leaders were often younger and used more radical tactics; The CIO strongly supported Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal Coalition |
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| recession of 1937-39 of sharp economic downturn in the United States. It was part of the Great Depression in the United States, and had serious political results, and helped strengthen the new Conservative Coalition. President Roosevelt began slowly cutting the funding of many New Deal organizations, a la Keynesianism--the government had intervened in an emergency, so now it was time to slowly cut funding and end government interference in the economy; obviously, the economy wasn’t quite ready, and FDR was forced to end several New Deal programs that involved spending money from the federal budget |
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| a coalition in American politics bringing together the conservative majority of the Republicans and a conservative, mostly Southern minority of the Democrats. The coalition largely controlled Congress during the late 1930's; key leaders were Senator Robert Taft and Richard Russell; held up many of FDR's New Deal programs, resulting in the "stalemate" of the New Deal; key leaders were Senators RObert Taft and Richard Russell |
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| created in 1935 as a subdivision of the Works Progress Administration; major part of FDR's second New Deal; assisted starving artists, actors, writers, and musicians with a monthly paycheck, resulting in an artistic movement celebrating FDR and his New Deal; could be considered propoganda by FDR in favor of his New Deal programs; |
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| given by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on October 5, 1937; called for an international "quarantine of the aggressor nations" as an alternative to the American neutrality and isolationism prevalent at the time; the speech was a response to aggressive actions by Italy and Japan, and suggested the use of economic pressure via trade embargoes, sanctions, etc; FDR never fully achieves this entire "quarantine", although he gradually received some permissions |
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| According to Turner, the American frontier was the “safety valve of America”, providing social stability; said humanity would continue to progress as long as there was new land to move into; Americans would expand westward in pursuit of freedom and/or better jobs; the thesis became popular at the end of the 19th century |
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| 1899; Secretary of State John Hay sent imperialist nations a note asking them to offer assurance that they would respect the principle of equal trade opportunities, specifically in the China market; theses notes stated that all nations should have equal commercial and industrial trade rights in China; |
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| this treaty, mediated by Teddy Roosevelt, formally ended the Russo-Japanese War; the treaty confirmed Japan's emergence as the pre-eminent power in East Asia, and forced Russia to abandon its expansionist policies there, but it was not well received by the Japanese public; negotiating the treaty in the U.S. increased U.S. prestige; Roosevelt received a Nobel Peace Prize for the mediation. |
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| treaty signed in 1903, leasing the Panama Canal Zone, allowing the Americans to start digging the canal; Bunau-Varilla was a French businessman, Hay was the Secretary of State; no Panamanians signed the treaty |
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| new breed of women during the Roaring Twenties; this new wave of feminism included shorter skirts, bobbed hair, and public drinking/smoking/swearing; called flappers because of the sound of their unbuckled shoes |
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| African American art movement of the 1920’s and 1930’s; black authors, artists, and intellectuals showcased their pride in their roots in their works; development of ethnic identity for African Americans |
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| phrase popularized by American author Ernest Hemingway, describing a group of American intellectuals who moved to Europe, some after serving in WWI; these particular intellectuals believed American progressivism had failed them, and sought new meaning in Europe |
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| Stock Market Crash--October 24, 1929--marking the start of the Great Depression |
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| act instituted in 1933 by FDR the day after his inauguration, shutting down all the banks to avoid withdrawals and exchange of money; reopens the banks several days later, restoring their credit; was only a temporary fix to the major banking problem during the Great Depression |
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| Public Works Administration |
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| Government program allowing 3.3 billion dollars to be spent on the construction of public works as a means of providing employment, stabilizing purchasing power, improving public welfare, and contributing to a revival of American industry; headed by Harold Ickes |
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