| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Great Depression | A severe economic crisis in the 1930s characterized by widespread unemployment, falling prices, and reduced consumer spending that had profound effects on the U.S. economy and society. |
| New Deal | Franklin Roosevelt's program of government policies and agencies designed to provide relief to the poor, stimulate economic recovery, and reform the American economic system during the Great Depression. |
| political realignment | A significant shift in which political party different groups of voters supported, as ethnic groups, African Americans, and working-class communities increasingly identified with the Democratic Party. |
| populist movements | Political movements that appealed to common people and advocated for economic reforms to address the hardships of the Great Depression. |
| radical movements | Political and social movements that advocated for fundamental changes to the American economic and political system during the Great Depression. |
| recovery | Economic improvement and restoration of business activity and employment following the Great Depression. |
| reform | Structural changes to the American economic system and government regulation implemented through New Deal policies. |
| regulatory agencies | Government organizations created during the New Deal to oversee and control specific aspects of the American economy. |
| relief | Government assistance and aid provided to help people in poverty and economic hardship during the Great Depression. |
| union movements | Organized labor efforts by workers seeking better wages, working conditions, and economic security during the 1930s. |
| urbanization | The process of population concentration in cities and the growth of urban areas as a result of migration and industrial development. |
| war production | The manufacturing and supply of military equipment, weapons, and materials needed to support military operations during wartime. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| American interests | The political, economic, and strategic goals and objectives pursued by the United States in domestic and foreign policy. |
| American liberalism | A political ideology emphasizing government intervention in the economy and society to promote social welfare and individual rights. |
| Axis powers | The alliance of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy defeated by the United States and its allies in World War II. |
| economic instability | Periods of economic uncertainty characterized by fluctuating markets, unemployment, and unpredictable business conditions. |
| global leadership | A position of international influence and authority in political, military, and economic affairs. |
| Great Depression | A severe economic crisis in the 1930s characterized by widespread unemployment, falling prices, and reduced consumer spending that had profound effects on the U.S. economy and society. |
| internal migration | The movement of people within the United States from one region or area to another. |
| international migration | The movement of people from one country to another, often in search of economic opportunity or to escape difficult conditions. |
| limited welfare state | A government system that provides social and economic assistance to citizens while maintaining a mixed economy, developed during the New Deal era. |
| mass culture | Standardized cultural products and values produced for and consumed by large populations, particularly through media and entertainment. |
| mass unemployment | Widespread joblessness affecting a large portion of the working population. |
| national security | The protection of a nation's interests, territory, and citizens from external threats. |
| Pacific | The Pacific Ocean region where the United States acquired territories and pursued imperial expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| political corruption | Dishonest or unethical conduct by government officials and politicians. |
| Progressive Era | The early 20th century period of American history characterized by reform movements addressing political corruption, economic inequality, and social problems. |
| Progressives | Early 20th century reformers who advocated for greater government action to address political corruption, economic instability, and social concerns. |
| rural, agricultural economy | An economy based primarily on farming and natural resource extraction, characteristic of pre-industrial America. |
| territorial ambitions | American desires to acquire and control territory beyond its continental borders in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| urban, industrial economy | An economy centered on manufacturing and city-based production, led by large corporations and factories. |
| Western Hemisphere | The half of Earth containing North and South America, which became a focus of U.S. foreign policy and influence. |
| world power | A nation with significant global political, military, and economic influence capable of affecting international affairs. |
| World War I | The global conflict (1914-1918) that intensified American debates about the nation's international role and security interests. |
| World War II | The global conflict (1939-1945) in which U.S. participation transformed American society and established the nation as a global superpower. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| fascism | An authoritarian political ideology characterized by centralized power, nationalism, and often militarism and suppression of opposition. |
| international investment | The practice of using capital and financial resources to influence economic development and political relationships in other nations. |
| isolationism | A U.S. foreign policy tradition of avoiding political and military involvement in the affairs of other nations. |
| military intervention | The use of armed forces by one nation to influence political or military outcomes in another nation. |
| peace treaties | Formal agreements between nations to end conflicts and establish terms for international relations and cooperation. |
| totalitarianism | A system of government in which the state exercises complete control over all aspects of public and private life. |
| unilateral foreign policy | A foreign policy approach in which a nation acts independently without coordinating with other countries or international organizations. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| civil liberties | Individual rights and freedoms protected by law, including freedom of speech, religion, and due process. |
| Great Depression | A severe economic crisis in the 1930s characterized by widespread unemployment, falling prices, and reduced consumer spending that had profound effects on the U.S. economy and society. |
| industrial base | A nation's capacity to manufacture goods and weapons, particularly the factories, infrastructure, and workforce needed for production. |
| internment of Japanese Americans | The forced relocation and confinement of Japanese Americans during World War II based on national origin and wartime fears. |
| mass mobilization | The large-scale organization and deployment of a nation's resources, population, and economy to support war efforts. |
| migration | The movement of people from one region or country to another, often in search of better opportunities or resources. |
| racial segregation | The forced separation of people based on race, particularly the legal and social separation of African Americans from white Americans in the United States. |
| socioeconomic positions | A person's or group's social status and economic standing in society, including income, education, and occupation. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Allied cooperation | The military and political alliance and coordination between the United States, Soviet Union, Britain, and other nations against the Axis powers. |
| atomic bombs | Nuclear weapons used by the United States against Japan in August 1945 to end World War II in the Pacific. |
| Axis powers | The alliance of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy defeated by the United States and its allies in World War II. |
| D-Day invasion | The Allied amphibious invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, which opened the Western Front against Nazi Germany. |
| fascist | An authoritarian political ideology characterized by extreme nationalism, militarism, and centralized autocratic government, opposed to democracy and individual freedoms. |
| Holocaust | The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators during World War II. |
| island-hopping | A military strategy used by the United States in the Pacific War involving the selective capture of strategically important islands while bypassing others to advance toward Japan. |
| Japanese wartime atrocities | Brutal acts and war crimes committed by Japanese forces during World War II against civilians and prisoners of war. |
| militarist | An ideology that emphasizes military strength, military solutions to political problems, and the glorification of military power and warfare. |
| Nazi concentration camps | Prison camps established by Nazi Germany to imprison and systematically murder millions of people, particularly Jews and other groups deemed undesirable. |
| racial segregation | The forced separation of people based on race, particularly the legal and social separation of African Americans from white Americans in the United States. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Allied victory | The successful conclusion of World War II by the Allied powers, including the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain, over the Axis powers. |
| postwar peace settlements | The diplomatic agreements and treaties negotiated after World War II to establish new international order and resolve territorial and political issues. |
| war-ravaged | Describing regions, particularly Asia and Europe, that were severely damaged and devastated by the destruction and violence of World War II. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| American identity | The shared characteristics, values, and sense of belonging that define what it means to be American, shaped by historical events and cultural developments. |
| American interests | The political, economic, and strategic goals and objectives pursued by the United States in domestic and foreign policy. |
| American liberalism | A political ideology emphasizing government intervention in the economy and society to promote social welfare and individual rights. |
| Axis powers | The alliance of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy defeated by the United States and its allies in World War II. |
| global, political, and military leadership | The position of international dominance and influence achieved by the United States following World War II. |
| Great Depression | A severe economic crisis in the 1930s characterized by widespread unemployment, falling prices, and reduced consumer spending that had profound effects on the U.S. economy and society. |
| internal migration | The movement of people within the United States from one region or area to another. |
| international migration | The movement of people from one country to another, often in search of economic opportunity or to escape difficult conditions. |
| limited welfare state | A government system that provides social and economic assistance to citizens while maintaining a mixed economy, developed during the New Deal era. |
| mass culture | Standardized cultural products and values produced for and consumed by large populations, particularly through media and entertainment. |
| national security | The protection of a nation's interests, territory, and citizens from external threats. |
| Pacific | The Pacific Ocean region where the United States acquired territories and pursued imperial expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Progressive Era | The early 20th century period of American history characterized by reform movements addressing political corruption, economic inequality, and social problems. |
| Progressives | Early 20th century reformers who advocated for greater government action to address political corruption, economic instability, and social concerns. |
| rural, agricultural economy | An economy based primarily on farming and natural resource extraction, characteristic of pre-industrial America. |
| territorial ambitions | American desires to acquire and control territory beyond its continental borders in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| urban, industrial economy | An economy centered on manufacturing and city-based production, led by large corporations and factories. |
| Western Hemisphere | The half of Earth containing North and South America, which became a focus of U.S. foreign policy and influence. |
| World War I | The global conflict (1914-1918) that intensified American debates about the nation's international role and security interests. |
| World War II | The global conflict (1939-1945) in which U.S. participation transformed American society and established the nation as a global superpower. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| anti-imperialists | Opponents of American overseas territorial expansion who argued against extending U.S. territory beyond its continental borders. |
| competition with European empires | The rivalry between the United States and European powers for global influence, territory, and resources in the late 19th century. |
| economic opportunities | Prospects for financial gain and prosperity that motivated settlers to migrate westward, including farming, mining, and trade. |
| imperialists | Advocates who supported American expansion of territory, culture, and institutions to peoples around the globe in the late 19th century. |
| isolationism | A U.S. foreign policy tradition of avoiding political and military involvement in the affairs of other nations. |
| racial theories | Pseudo-scientific ideologies used to justify both imperialist expansion and anti-imperialist resistance during the late 19th century. |
| self-determination | The principle that peoples have the right to determine their own political status and form of government without external interference. |
| Western frontier | The expanding boundary of American settlement and territorial control that was perceived as 'closed' by the 1890s. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| involvement in Asia | Increased American political, military, and economic engagement in Asian affairs following the Spanish-American War. |
| island territories | Overseas possessions acquired by the United States, including lands in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. |
| nationalist movement | A political movement seeking independence or self-determination for a particular nation or people, such as the Filipino independence movement. |
| Spanish-American War | A conflict in 1898 between the United States and Spain that resulted in American victory and territorial expansion. |
| U.S. acquisition | The process by which the United States obtained control of new territories as a result of the Spanish-American War. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| conservationists | Advocates who supported the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources through scientific management and government regulation. |
| economic inequality | The unequal distribution of income and wealth among individuals and groups in society. |
| expand democracy | Progressive efforts to increase popular participation in government through reforms like direct primaries and recall elections. |
| federal legislation | Laws passed by Congress at the national level to implement government policies and programs. |
| immigration restriction | Policies limiting immigration that some Progressives supported, reflecting divisions within the movement. |
| moral reform | Progressive efforts to address social problems and improve public morality through legislation and social change. |
| muckraking | Investigative journalism practiced by Progressive Era journalists who exposed political corruption, social injustice, and economic inequality. |
| national parks | Protected areas of land established and managed by the government to preserve natural landscapes and resources for public benefit. |
| overuse of natural resources | The excessive exploitation and depletion of natural resources beyond sustainable levels, a concern addressed by both preservationists and conservationists. |
| political corruption | Dishonest or unethical conduct by government officials and politicians. |
| popular participation in government | Direct involvement of citizens in democratic processes, which some Progressives advocated to expand through reforms. |
| preservationists | Advocates who sought to protect natural resources and wilderness areas from development and human use by preserving them in their natural state. |
| professional and technical experts | Specialists and trained professionals whom some Progressives believed should make government decisions to increase efficiency. |
| Progressive reform movement | An early 20th-century movement seeking to address political corruption, social injustice, and economic inequality through various reforms at local, state, and federal levels. |
| prohibition | A Progressive constitutional amendment banning the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. |
| regulate the economy | Government intervention through laws and policies to control business practices and prevent monopolies, a key Progressive goal. |
| social injustice | Unfair or unequal treatment of individuals or groups in society, which Progressives sought to address through reform. |
| women's suffrage | A Progressive constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote in elections. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Allies | The coalition of nations including Britain, France, and Russia that fought against the Central Powers in World War I, which the U.S. supported through its entry into the war. |
| American Expeditionary Forces | The U.S. military forces sent to Europe during World War I, whose entry helped shift the balance of the conflict in favor of the Allies. |
| democratic principles | Values based on democratic governance and self-determination that Wilson argued the U.S. should defend by entering World War I. |
| humanitarian principles | Values centered on human welfare and the protection of human rights, which Woodrow Wilson cited as justification for U.S. entry into World War I. |
| League of Nations | An international organization proposed after World War I to maintain peace, which the U.S. Senate refused to allow the United States to join. |
| neutrality | The policy of not taking sides in a conflict or war, which the United States initially maintained at the beginning of World War I. |
| noninvolvement | A U.S. foreign policy tradition of avoiding military and political entanglement in European affairs. |
| Treaty of Versailles | The peace treaty ending World War I that the U.S. Senate refused to ratify, despite Wilson's involvement in its negotiation. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Great Migration | The large-scale movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban centers in the North and West during and after World War I in search of economic opportunity and to escape racial discrimination. |
| immigration quotas | Legal limits on the number of immigrants allowed to enter a country, often based on national origin or ethnicity. |
| labor activism | Organized efforts by workers to advocate for better working conditions, wages, and rights through strikes, unions, and other collective actions. |
| migration patterns | The movement of people from one geographic location to another, including the causes and consequences of such movements over time. |
| nativism | A political movement that favors native-born citizens over immigrants and seeks to restrict immigration and immigrant rights. |
| Red Scare | A period of intense anti-communist fear and suspicion in the United States, characterized by investigations, accusations, and policies targeting suspected communists. |
| segregation | The forced separation of people based on race, enforced through laws and social practices, particularly in the American South. |
| war production | The manufacturing and supply of military equipment, weapons, and materials needed to support military operations during wartime. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| consumer goods | Products manufactured for purchase and use by individual consumers rather than for business or industrial purposes. |
| mass media | Forms of communication and entertainment designed to reach large audiences, such as radio and cinema. |
| national culture | Shared beliefs, values, customs, and practices that Americans developed to define themselves as a unified nation during the early 19th century. |
| personal mobility | The ability of individuals to move freely and travel from place to place, often enabled by technological innovations like automobiles. |
| regional cultures | Distinct cultural practices, traditions, and identities specific to particular geographic areas or regions within a nation. |
| standards of living | The level of material comfort and access to goods, services, and amenities available to individuals or groups in a society. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ethnic groups | Communities of people who share a common cultural heritage, ancestry, or national origin. |
| ethnic identities | The cultural, social, and personal identities associated with a particular ethnic or national group, including shared traditions, heritage, and values. |
| gender roles | Socially defined expectations and behaviors associated with being male or female in a particular society. |
| Harlem Renaissance | A cultural and intellectual movement in the 1920s centered in Harlem, New York, where African American artists, writers, and musicians created new forms of art and literature expressing Black identity and experience. |
| immigration quotas | Legal limits on the number of immigrants allowed to enter a country, often based on national origin or ethnicity. |
| internal migration | The movement of people within the United States from one region or area to another. |
| international migration | The movement of people from one country to another, often in search of economic opportunity or to escape difficult conditions. |
| modernism | A cultural and artistic movement that rejected traditional forms and values, embracing new experimental styles in art, literature, and thought. |
| nativism | A political movement that favors native-born citizens over immigrants and seeks to restrict immigration and immigrant rights. |
| popular culture | Forms of entertainment, art, and cultural expression that appeal to and are created by the general public, including music, literature, film, and fashion. |
| regional identities | The cultural and social characteristics that distinguish different geographic regions and their populations. |
| urban centers | Cities and metropolitan areas that serve as centers of economic, social, and cultural activity. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| American liberalism | A political ideology emphasizing government intervention in the economy and society to promote social welfare and individual rights. |
| credit instability | Periods of uncertainty and volatility in the availability and terms of borrowed money in the financial system. |
| financial regulatory system | Government institutions and rules designed to oversee and control banking and financial markets to prevent crises. |
| Great Depression | A severe economic crisis in the 1930s characterized by widespread unemployment, falling prices, and reduced consumer spending that had profound effects on the U.S. economy and society. |
| industrial economy | An economy based on manufacturing and large-scale production of goods by factories and corporations. |
| market instability | Periods of significant fluctuation and uncertainty in stock prices and financial markets. |
| mass unemployment | Widespread joblessness affecting a large portion of the working population. |
| rural economy | An economy centered on farming and the production of crops and livestock. |
| urban economy | An economy based in cities and centered on industrial and commercial activities. |
| welfare state | A system in which the government provides social and economic support programs to its citizens. |