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Homestead Act
Congress passed the Homestead Act on May 20th, 1862. It reassured western migration by accommodating settlers with 160 acres of public land; In return, the homesteaders had to pay a small fee and were required to complete five years of residence. -
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad was the project of the Union Pacific (built from the east), and the Central Pacific (from the west). The workers (predominantly Chinese) had to deal with harsh conditions such as bad roads, water shortages, extreme weather conditions and Indian attacks. The railroad connected the west and east coasts of the continental US.(The two lines met in Utah). It revolutionized transportation in the west and made goods and mail cheaper and faster to travel. -
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Transforming the West
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The Gilded Age
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Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor were the first mass labor organization created among America's working class. The union had an open-member policy for unskilled and skilled workers, including women, immigrants, and African Americans to bridge boundaries. They went on many strikes to try to accomplish their goals. Although they won several strikes for the eight-hour workday but ended up failing after Haymarket Riot since people associated them with the bombing at the Haymarket Square. -
Killing of the Buffalo
Buffalo was the source of life for Native Americans when they killed one they used nearly every part of it. Whites killed off many buffalo for food and fun which lead to the buffalo population to plummet, which was devastating to the natives. -
Laissez-Faire
Laissez-Faire is an economic policy that advocates government staying out of the business area; it theorizes everything will work itself out in a completely free market. -
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Becoming an Industrial Power
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Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (also known as the WCTU) was founded in 1874 by reformer Frances Willard and others that opposed alcohol consumption. This union of women was dedicated to the idea of the 18th Amendment and was the first nationwide organization to identify and condemn domestic violence. They used women's supposedly greater purity and morality as a rallying point. On its symbol, the white ribbon stood for a symbol of purity. -
Battle of Little Big Horn
The Battle of Little Big Horn was the most famous conflict between natives and whites. Whites invaded the Indians' lands and drove them on the warpath when gold was discovered in Black Hills Indian Reservation. George Custer underestimated their numbers he and his 600 men were wiped out by thousands of natives (a combination of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse). -
Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. It was able to transmit voices using electricity. The invention revolutionized communication since it increased the speed at which messages could be sent since they didn't have to be transcribed. It was a step up from the Telegraph which was just a pattern of clicks. -
Exodusters
Exodusters were African Americans who moved from post-reconstruction South to Kansas. They migrated to the west to look for better opportunities and to get away from the racial oppression such as the KKK, Black Codes, and Jim Crow Laws. -
Light Bulb
Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb which changed the way of life for thousands of Americans. Before they were developed, people only worked during the daytime since light sources were limited to oil lamps or the light of candles. -
Robber Barons
Robber Barons is a term that refers to the big business owners who became wealthy by shady business. For example, by paying their employee's meager wages, driving their competition out of business by selling their products at a lower price than it cost to produce it and when they manipulated the market, they hiked prices high above the original price. Ex. Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, and Rockefeller -
Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism applied ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies. Not only did it justify inequality but it encouraged individual competition and opposed government intervention in the natural order. It also defended businessmen's success and monopolization. Much of the upper class supported it since they believed that they were the fittest to survive in human political and economic struggle. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Congress passed this act in 1882, it outlawed Chinese immigration for ten years and explicitly denied naturalization rights to Chinese in the U.S. (not allowed to become U.S. citizens). It was the first time a specific ethnic group was restricted from immigration. It was put in place to protect jobs for whites since the Chinese were willing to work for much lower wages. -
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was entertainment in the late nineteenth century, which portrayed the West as full of adventure and romance. The "Wild West Show" was first organized by William F. Cody, also known as "Buffalo Bill." It sometimes included fake Indian attacks and tried to evoke the mythical romance of the Old West. Cody also starred in his shows and became famous throughout the nation. -
Time Zones
Time zones were established by major rail lines after transcontinental railroad because railroad schedules needed a consistent train schedule for departures and arrivals. It was quickly adopted and made rail transportation more efficient. The four introduced time zones were convenient (eastern, central, mountain, and Pacific) for legal, commercial, and social purposes. -
Farmer’s Alliance
The Farmer’s Alliance was the first "national" organization of the farmers. They wanted more readily available farm credits and federal regulation of the railroads. They fought against the dominance of the railroads and manufacturers and for change in the government's tight money policy since they felt inflation would make it easier to pay off their debts. They sponsored social gatherings were active in politics. This alliance led to the creation of the Populist party. -
Dawes Severalty Act
Dawes Severalty Act was an attempt to assimilate the Indians into the American population, promising Indians tracts of land to farm in return. It dismantled American Indian tribes. The bill tried to make rugged individualists out of the Indians, but it was resisted, ineffective, and disastrous to Indian tribes. -
Kodak Camera
George Eastman invented the Kodak camera, and it put the first simple camera into the hands of a world of consumers. The invention helped increase the popularity of photography in America since it became widely available. Their popular slogan for the said camera was "You press the button; we do the rest." The first Kodak was loaded with a film for 100 exposures and was at a price of $ 25. The simple cameras meant for amateur photographers were revolutionary. -
Settlement Houses
Settlement Houses were where immigrants came to live upon entering the U.S., information on how to get a job, among other things was presented (instruction were in English). The first Settlement House was the Hull House, which was opened by Jane Addams in Chicago in 1889. Educated middle-class women usually ran these centers. These houses became centers for reform in the women's and labor movements. -
Ward Boss
A Ward Boss helped work to secure the vote in all the precincts in the ward, or electoral district. Since they wanted party loyalty, they also aided the poor and gained their votes by doing favors. Political districts within cities were where ward boss controlled jobs, contracts, and provided services to get votes. They were managed by City bosses and served as the local vote gatherer. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
When the act passed, it banned the formation of any trust (good or bad), and it was the first law to limit monopolies. This act showed that the government was slowly moving away from laissez-faire ideals. It was passed to create a fairer competition in the workforce and because they wanted to stop monopoly businesses. -
Bicycle Craze
The Bicycle Craze was when there was an increased bicycle enthusiasm, popularity, and sales. Bicycling was a leading pastime. Bicycling appealed to adults as a recreational and a practical form of transportation. Bicycling was popular with all ages. When women started bicycling, it led to a change in women’s styles (skirts became shorter), and it started the movement toward decent roads. -
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was born on April 29, 1863. He identified himself as a businessman and a Democrat. Hearst was responsible for building the nation’s most prominent newspaper chain, taking over the news media empire. -
Picture Brides
Picture Brides were a Japanese system for arranged marriages involving the exchange of photos between families negotiating a marriage for men that had immigrated to the US. The Japanese women were immigrant workers wives who would gain citizenship by marriage in order to start a new life and ventured to Hawaii as contract laborers -
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Progressive Era
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Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was the one who set the standard for new steel mills since he established "Vertical Integration." His company (Carnegie Steel Company) dominated the American steel industry. He believed in Social Darwinism, and that open competition would get rid of weak businesses. He was also a major philanthropist. -
Sears & Roebuck
The Sears and Roebuck Company changed the lives of many.
People who were once isolated were introduced to new trends of fashion and home décor as well as technologies for the home available. They dominated the mail-order industry and were the largest of the mail-order companies. The catalog helped create a national market. It made things cheap and easy to buy, but it also produced lots of trash. -
City Beautiful Movement
The movement was inspired by the "Great White City" and led by Daniel Burnham. It strove to promote order and symmetry in the chaotic life of cities around the country. Among progressive architects and city planners, this was a turn-of-the-century movement. The shift to improving the environmental design that drew directly from the Beaux-arts school. They were beautifying the nation's new urban spaces with beautiful grand boulevards, welcoming parks, and monumental public buildings. -
World’s Colombian Exposition 1893
The World’s Columbian Exposition was a fair that was held in the city of Chicago; to display the White City's downtown area and the progress of American civilization such as new industrial technologies. Through the grand architecture that represented an ideal urban environment. The Fair honored art, architecture, and science. It was to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World. The term "White City" was used to refer to the architecture of the fairgrounds. -
Pullman Strike
Socialist Eugene Debs led the Pullman strike. Since Pullman drastically cuts wages and refused to lower rent in the "company town" it caused the railroad workers to become upset. Eugene Debs had American Railway Union refuse to use Pullman cars, and Debs was thrown in jail after being sued, brought a bad image on unions, and the strike achieved nothing. The whole ordeal highlighted both divisions within labor and the government's new willingness to use armed force to combat work stoppages. -
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush made about 100,000 people travel to the Yukon Region, a remote area of Canada. Prospectors went long distances and rough terrain to get to the Yukon Region to try to get rich. Only about 4,000 miners discovered very rich deposits of gold and became wealthy since the majority of the prospectors arrived after the best of the gold fields already have been claimed. -
Cross of Gold Speech
William Jennings Bryan delivered the Cross of Gold Speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Bryan supported bimetallism (free silver), which he believed would bring the nation prosperity. He spoke of the gold standard as a burden like the cross hence the name "Cross of Gold" Speech. He won the election of 1896 because he became popular off of his speeches. -
Treaty of Paris 1898
The Treaty of Paris 1898 brought a formal end to the Spanish-American war. America got Guam, Puerto Rico and they paid 20 million dollars for the Philippines and Cuba was freed from Spain because of the treaty. Most Republicans favored the Treaty, while most Democrats opposed it. The Senate Republicans won the ratification vote by a narrow vote. -
Rough Riders
The Rough Riders were the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. They were a group of American volunteer soldiers led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish American War. They charged up San Juan Hill during the battle of Santiago. Theodore Roosevelt organized it, and Roosevelt's role in the war made him a national figure. -
U.S.S. Maine Incident
The USS Maine was 1st U.S. Navy warship, but it blew up. There was a mysterious explosion that killed many American soldiers in the Bay of Havana Harbor; The U.S. (Newspapers) blamed Spain for the incident and used it as an excuse to go to war with Spain. The phrase "Remember the Maine" was used to spur the government to go to war. The Explosion the American battleship was caused in reality by an accidental explosion inside the ship, and not due to bombs or torpedoes from Spain. -
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Imperialism
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Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion was a rebellion in Beijing, China. It was started by a secret society of Chinese who opposed the "foreign devils." The traditionalist Chinese people who wanted to throw the foreigners out and were known for their martial arts. It aimed at ending foreign influence in the country since they blamed foreigners and institutions for the loss of the traditional Chinese way of life. British troops ended the uprising. -
Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt was a rising Republican politician who initially became the 25th Vice President of the United States. He served from March to September 1901 and shortly after became the 26th President himself. He served as President from September 1901 to 1909 and established a great legacy for himself by a factor of accomplishments that contributed to making the United States a more stabilized country. -
Platt Amendment
The Platt Amendment was a joint resolution the U.S. Congress that replaced the earlier Teller amendment. It insured U.S. involvement in Cuban affairs and gave legal standing to the U.S. claims to certain territories on the island including Guantánamo Bays Naval base. The amendment severely restricted Cuba's sovereignty and gave the U.S. the right to intervene if Cuba got into trouble. -
Teddy Bear
The "Teddy Bear" was named after Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt when he saved the life of a cub. When Teddy was invited on a bear hunt, and couldn't find a bear, some men tied a cub to a tree so he could shoot it, but he refused: and because of that, they named a stuffed bear teddy bear after him. After this incident, The stuffed animal was marketed. -
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was a conflict that grew out of the rival imperialist ambitions of Russia and Japan over Manchuria and Korea. Neither side could gain a clear advantage and win, so Roosevelt helped with peace negotiations (treaty of New Hampshire in 1905). Because of this, Teddy Roosevelt won the Nobel peace prize for his efforts, being the 1st president to do so. -
Meat Inspection Act
The Meat Inspection Act mainly was passed in reaction to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. The Jungle depicted the appalling conditions in the meatpacking industry. The law set strict standards of cleanliness in the meatpacking industry. It also established a rating system for meat and required federal inspection of meat processing to guarantee sanitary conditions. It was the first regulations in the U.S. to protect the food supply. -
Muckrakers
Muckrakers were writers who exposed unethical practices in both government and business. Newspaper editors realized that these types of stories increased circulation, so they attempted to find corruption and expose it to the public. They spent a lot of money on digging up "muck," hence the name muckrakers. They were trying to make the public aware of problems that needed fixing. -
Model T
The Model T was a Ford car that was quickly produced using the assembly line. They were mass produced and made to be more readily available to the average person at an affordable price. Henry Ford developed it. The cars were sturdy, reliable, inexpensive, and only available in black. -
Muller vs. Oregon
The Muller v. Oregon case was about setting restrictions on women's working hours, justified by the state's interest in protecting women's health. Louis D. Brandeis persuaded the Supreme Court by presenting evidence of the harmful effects of factory labor on women's weaker bodies. The issue began when Curt Muller, was requiring women to work for more than ten hours (the legal maximum). -
Election of 1912
In the Election, Woodrow Wilson was nominated by the Democrats which resulted in a strong progressive platform called the "New Freedom" program. Taft and Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party split the Republican vote, enabling Wilson to win which caused a shift in the political parties' direction. It was also an example of the first modern election (split tickets, challenges to party loyalties, issue campaigns). -
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act created a central banking system, consisting of twelve regional banks governed by the Federal Reserve Board. Each had its central bank and had the power to issue paper money (Federal Reserve Notes). It was an attempt to try and provide the U.S. with a sound yet flexible currency. They controlled the amount of money that's in circulation through reserves, interest rates, and tightened or loosened credit with nation's needs. -
Ludlow Massacre
The Ludlow Massacre was the violent death of 20 people, 11 of them being children. It was the result of an attack by the Colorado National Guard on the workers' tent colony of 1200 striking coal miners and their families on April 20, 1914. Starting when Colorado workers walked out of coal mines owned by Rockefeller and continued the strike even after they were evicted from company housing, State militia was called to protect mines but worked to help employers defeat strikers. -
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World War I
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist, while on his way to pay a state visit to Bosnian city of Sarajevo. He was heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Black Hands members waited in the streets for him to kill him because they wanted Bosnia to be free of Austria-Hungary and to become part of a vast Serbian kingdom. His death sparked WWI because it caused Germany and other Austro Allies to declare war on Serbia and its allies. -
The Panama Canal
The Panama canal cut across the isthmus of Panama by United States Army engineers, and it opened in 1915. It significantly shortened the sea voyage between the east and west coasts of North America. The United States turned the canal over to Panama on Jan 1, 2000. Columbians would not let Americans build the channel, but then with the assistance of the U.S., a Panamanian Revolution occurred, and the new ruling people allowed the U.S. to construct the canal. -
Mustard Gas
Mustard Gas was used in WWI (First real use of chemical warfare). The brownish yellowish oily substance is persistent, so it was absorbed quickly into the skin. Which caused vomiting, External bleeding, would occur and the inside throat would strip away while eyes would stick together and throats would close up making it impossible to breathe.It raised skin blisters and attacked the and lungs and eyes, so those who went in contact with the toxic gas went blind or choked to death. -
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was a Medical condition caused by prolonged exposure to the distressing experiences of trench warfare (Mental disorder). Symptoms included a fixed, empty stare, violent tremors, paralyzed limbs, listlessness, chattering and screaming, haunting dreams. Soldiers were affected by PTSD, nicknamed 'shell shock' after fighting in the trenches often were, however, at this time it was misinterpreted and victims of shell shock did not receive treatment. -
RMS Lusitania
The RMS Lusitania was a was a British passenger ship, briefly the world's largest passenger ship, and was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat. It caused Wilson to issue a stern warning to the Germans, telling them not to attack unarmed vessels "without warning. "The unrestricted submarine warfare greatly turned American opinion against the Germans and caused the U.S. to enter World War I against the Germans. -
The Great Migration
The Great Migration was the migration of many African American from the rural south into Northern cities. They were lead to believe jobs were abundant in the North. It was one of the most significant internal migrations in the U.S. African Americans were looking to leave the problems of racism in the South and thought that they could seek out better jobs and a better life up North. The migration led to higher wages, more educational opportunities, and better standards of living for some. -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt, at the height of World War I. It instructed the ambassador to convince Mexico to go to war with the United States. The British intercepted and decoded it, and its contents, which was proven it was hostile, pushed the entry of the United States into World War I. -
Spanish Flu
The Spanish Flu was a global outbreak of a deadly type of flu. The movement of soldiers during WWI helped to spread the virus.
It affected the young, healthy, and weak. Some people felt fine in the morning and were dead by night. This flue was a highly contagious respiratory disease also known as the Influenza Pandemic. It killed millions worldwide, more US soldiers in WWI died of influenza than of war-related injuries. It added to the high death numbers that resulted from the war. -
Fourteen Points
Wilson introduced the Fourteen Points, each of the points were designed to prevent future wars. The peace plan called for open diplomacy. At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, he compromised each of the points. President Wilson believed that it would promote lasting peace. These points called for self-determination, freedom of the seas, free trade, an end to secret agreements, a reduction of arms, and a league of nations. -
Sedition Act
The Sedition Act banned people from making disloyal or abusive comments (criticism) about the U.S. government. It added to Espionage Act, this act deemed "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the American form of government, the Constitution, the flag, or the armed forces as criminal and worthy of prosecution. Publishing defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials were illegal. -
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment ratified in 1919, this Constitutional amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. It ushered in the ear known as Prohibition -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was created to solve the problems that resulted from World War I. The treaty was imposed on Germany. President Woodrow Wilson composed of only four of the original points. The agreement punished Germany. It's also nothing to stop the threat of future wars. It ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It maintained the pre-war power structure. It was named after the palace outside Paris where the agreement was signed -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment established that no citizen could be denied the right to vote on account of sex. This amendment granted women the ability to vote in federal or state elections; it was made possible by the culmination of more than 70 years of struggle by woman suffragists. It states that "Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” -
Speakeasies
Speakeasies were illegal bars where alcohol could be purchased illegally during the time of prohibition. The term "Speakeasy" came to be because people had to speakeasy so they were not caught drinking alcohol by the police. These Secret bars were illicit places of social gathering. The sheer number of speakeasies cities showed the amount of difficulty of enforcing a law such as prohibition. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was the flowering of African American culture in the 1920s when New York City's Harlem became an intellectual and cultural capital for African Americans. It instilled interest in African American culture and pride in being an African American. The black artistic movement there we may new fashions, jazz, dancers, and poets. -
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1920's
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Tea Pot Dome Scandal
The Tea Pot Dome Scandal was a symbol of government corruption. The government oil reserves were secretly leased to oil companies in exchange for financial compensation. The bribery incident which took place during the administration of President Warren G. Harding. The leases became the subject of a sensational investigation. Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall profited from secret leasing to private oil companies of government oil reserves at Teapot Dome. -
Eugenics
Eugenics was the idea that "bad" genetic traits could be bred out and good characteristics could be promoted to better society. They accomplished this by sterilizing (the "undesirable") many criminals, and the mentally disabled. The movement of eugenics was an effort to grade races and ethnic groups based on their genetic qualities. They believed human inequalities were hereditary, and immigration was contributing to the number of unfit people. -
Tin Pan Alley
German immigrants created tin Pan Alley, and it became the core of the popular music industry. It was a city district, in New York initially, where composers and publishers of popular music do business. They dominated the music of the United States in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The term 'Tin Pan Alley' referred to the thin, tinny tone quality of cheap upright pianos used in music publisher's offices. -
Margaret Sanger
During the early 1900's Margaret Sanger was an American leader of the movement to legalize birth control. Since Margaret was a nurse in the slums of New York City, she witnessed the suffering caused by unwanted pregnancy. She encouraged birth control acceptance and availability and worked with both the working and middle class. She was the one to found the first birth control clinic in the U.S. and the American Birth Control League (which later became known to be Planned Parenthood). -
F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald was an expatriate American writer who epitomized the Jazz Age, who belonged to the Lost Generation of Writers. The novelist and his wife, Zelda and he were the "couple" of the decade but hit bottom during the depression. His novel 'The Great Gatsby' is considered an American masterpiece about a gangster's 'pursuit of an unattainable rich girl. His writing captured the society of the Jazz Age. -
Charles Lindbergh
After flying solo across the Atlantic, Charles Lindbergh rose to international fame for paving the way for future aviation development. He was a United States aviator who made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean New York to Paris and did it in his Spirit of St. Louis. After the murder of his infant son, he became an isolationist orator. -
Valentine’s Day Massacre
The Valentine’s Day Massacre was Al Capone's massacre of seven disarmed members of a rival gang (O'Banion gang). The members of Capone's gang dressed as police officers while they raided the rival gang and they killed seven suspects execution style with their hands against the wall. These executions ended the Chicago's Beer War. The killing allowed Capone to show his control over the city, so violence was not as necessary. -
Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony was a key leader of woman suffrage movement, a social reformer who campaigned for women's rights, the temperance, and was an abolitionist, helped form the national woman suffrage association. She convinced congressional supporters to introduce a Constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. She was a strong woman who believed that men and women were equal. She fought for her rights even though people objected. Her followers were called Suzy B's. -
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover was Americas 31st President. He ran on a campaign of prohibition and prosperity and easily won the Republican nomination, despite having no previous elected office experience. He tried to first deal with the Depression by trying to restore public faith in the community. He tried to combat the ensuing Great Depression with volunteer efforts, none of which produced economic recovery during his term. The blame for the stock market crash went on him. -
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The Great Depression
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The Dust Bowl
The term "Dust Bowl" was given to the Great Plain where a severe drought hit, killing all of the crops of the region. The topsoil turned to fine powdery dust that blew away with the harsh, hot winds that wreaked havoc on the farmers who remained. Plains farmers saw their land blow away. It ruined farms and left many farmers with outcrops and money. It caused by many years of lousy farming techniques and made many farmers to move west as well as remove the topsoil. -
Okies
'Okies' was the (a derogatory) nickname given to farmers and their families who came from the panhandle regions of Oklahoma or Texas to California in search of the "Promised Land." Those from the rural Midwest, especially those who were victims of the Dust Bowl moved to look for better lives. Okies were discriminated against because they took jobs away from Californians. The farm economy produced more food than Americans could buy, causing the price of farm goods to plummet. -
20th Amendment
The 20th Amendment Shortened "lame duck" period. It shortened the time between Presidential election and inauguration which changed the date of the swearing in of Congress to January 3rd. The president will be inaugurated on January 20th at noon instead. Congress shall meet at least once per year. It ended the "lame-duck" period between one President leaving and another assuming office. -
Election of 1932
The Election of 1932 a fresh and energetic Franklin D. Roosevelt ran against Hoover(who had a negative public perception). FDR revealed his ambiguous "new deal," and the public loved it. The election ended in a winning landslide for Roosevelt who had promised relief for the unemployed, help for farmers, and a balanced budget. The election took place as the effects of the 1929 Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression were being felt immensely across the country. -
Huey Long “The Kingfish”
Huey Long was one of the critics of FDR, known as the Kingfish. He wanted to run against FDR in the next election against the New Deal, using the "Share Our Wealth" idea that he created. This plan would include heavy taxes on inheritance and estates to fund a minimum salary of $5,000 a year for every American but was assassinated before he could run for the Democratic nomination in 1936. Huey was Roosevelt's biggest threat. -
Emergency Relief Act
The Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) provided immediate relief not long-term alleviation and was headed by a zealous Harry L. Hopkins. It provided emergency supplies to those in need. It gave the President power over the banking system and set up a system by which banks would be reorganized or reopened. It provided cash grants to states to prop up bankrupt relief agencies. It was designed to protect the larger banks from being dragged down by the weakness of smaller ones. -
Glass-Steagall Act
The Glass-Steagall Act forbade commercial banks from engaging in excessive speculation and added $1 billion in gold to the economy and established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). It included banking reforms and were both reactions of the U.S. government to cope with the economic problems resulted from the Stock Market Crash. It allowed the banks to reopen and gave the president the power to regulate banking transactions and took America off the gold standard. -
21st Amendment
The 21st Amendment Repealed the 18th Amendment, which mandated nationwide prohibition. Amendment occurred in 1933. It was the first time in US history where an amendment was repealed. Prohibition caused a national uproar over the ban on consumption and sale of alcoholic. The ban was a complete failure and almost impossible to enforce and cost the government much-needed tax revenue. Alcoholic drinks are once again legal in the United States. -
First 100 Days
The term "First 100 Days" came from Franklin D. Roosevelt first three months in taking office. He managed to get Congress to grant every request (aimed at repairing the banking system) that Roosevelt asked. Roosevelt restored American's faith in the economy. It was an unprecedented amount of new laws that transformed the role of the federal government from that point on. Ever since then presidents have been judged against FDR for what they accomplished in their first 100 days. -
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz was released after the climax of the populist movement, so many believe that the yellow brick road symbolizes the gold standard and Dorothy's the silver shoes represented silver coinage. The gold and silver debate was a heavily discussed topic during the Populist Era since Americans wanted silver because it was cheaper and more abundant than gold. -
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World War II
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Navajo Code Talkers
Navajo Code Talkers were Native Americans who served the country by enlisting in the armed services and working in thousands of factories across the United States. The bilingual members of the Navajo tribe were specially recruited to use their language to make a code for the U.S. military that the Japanese could not decipher. -
Allied Powers
The Allied Powers were consisted of France, Russia, and Great Britain during WW (and other nations that opposed the Central Powers). Though America was officially a neutral nation, its economy became closely tied to that of the Allied powers, Great Britain and France. The alliance was created in 1907 and after significant economic and military blows, World War I ended with the Treaty of Versailles. -
Axis Powers
The Axis Powers were those states who were opposed to the Allies during the Second World War. The three major Axis Powers, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and the Empire of Japan were part of an alliance. At their peak, the Axis Powers ruled empires that dominated large parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Ocean, but the Second World War ended with their total defeat. -
Battle of Moscow
The Battle of Moscow was between Russia and Germany. Germany attempted to invade Russia, but it ended up being a Russian victory. The Soviet defensive effort frustrated Hitler's attack on the capital of the USSR (largest Soviet city). Moscow was one of the primary military and political objectives for Axis forces in their invasion of the Soviet Union. As the Russian winter came, the Germans were in summer uniforms, and Hitler ordered "No retreat," and Hitler gained little to nothing. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base made in this place in Hawaii by the Japanese naval air force. Several battleships of the U.S. Pacific fleet were damaged or sunk. They destroyed almost everything except for three aircraft carriers stationed outside the base. This attack was the final straw and resulted in an American declaration of war the following day. Japan attacked because they wanted to cripple the US Navy as a result of the oil embargo. -
Scorched Earth
Scorched Earth was a military strategy; it was the policy of burning and destroying all the property in an area to deny it to an enemy. The troops destroyed grain, Barnes, and other useful resources. While this did limit the enemies chance of getting more resources during advancement, the civilian population left behind would suffer tremendously. -
D-Day
On D-Day General Dwight D. Eisenhower commanded over a million troops,(the largest invasion force in history) made up of American, British, and Canadian soldiers, across the channel. They stormed the beaches at Normandy and began the process of re-taking France. Helped to liberate Paris in August, had driven the Germans out of most of France and Belgium by September. The turning point of World War II. -
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler became a radical German nationalist during World War I. He believed that strong leadership was needed to save Germanys society. Hitler was the head of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NAZI). He led Europe into World War II. After WWI was blamed on Germany because of the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler took advantage of a Depression-stricken nation. He was a manipulative and feared dictator that vented his anger on the Jews. -
Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was the wars longest continuous military campaign. It lasted from 1939 to the German surrender in 1945. German U-boats and warships were pitted against Allied convoys transporting military equipment and supplies to Great Britain. The battle to control Atlantic shipping lanes was a significant victory for the allies because it helped them supply munitions to allied powers in Europe, hence ending the war. It showed America/British willingness to make peace. -
Fat Man Bomb
"Fat Man" was the name of the second atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki. The bomb was a more advanced, plutonium bomb compared to the first one that was dropped (Little Boy) three days earlier. The Manhattan Project developed the bomb that had 21,000 tons of TNT equivalent. The bombings ended the war months sooner than would otherwise have been the case, saving many lives on both sides if the planned invasion of Japan had taken place.
