US Benchmark 2 Terms Definitions Significance Ellis & Angel Island immigrant processing center; Ellis Island - East coast Island - West coast place where immigrants were processed before entering the United States Nativism overt favoritism towards native born Americans led to rise of anti-immigration groups and demand for immigration restrictions Chinese Exclusion Act banned entry to all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials limited Chinese immigration to the United States Urbanization growth of cities, mostly in regions of the Northeast and Midwest created urban problems and the need to reform these issues within cities Americanization Movement to assimilate people of cultures into a dominant culture encouraged and incorporated immigrants into the U.S. culture Social Gospel preached salvation through service to the poor helped to educate immigrants and provide education, cultural, and social services to the poor Melting pot mixture of people of different cultures and who blended together by abandoning their native languages and customs Created diversity of cultures and groups in the U.S. Political Machine Offered services to voters and businesses in exchange for political or financial support. Gained local government in major cities across the U.S. Boss Tweed Head of Tammany Hall – powerful NYC Democratic political machine Led a group of corrupt politicians and defrauding the city Booker T Washington Believed racism would end once blacks acquired useful labor skills and proved their economic value to society One view of how African Americans could help their position in life
W. E. B. Du Bois Received doctorate from Harvard – disagreed with Washington; insisted blacks seek a liberal arts education so community could have well educated leaders Founded Niagara Movement; an attempt to achieve immediate inclusion into mainstream American life Segregation Laws that separated whites and black people in public and private facilities Put into effects in schools, hospitals, parks, transportation systems throughout the South Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case ruled that separation of races in public accommodations was legal; did not violate the 14th amendment Established the doctrine of “separate but equal” – allowed states to maintain segregation as long as facilities were equal Jim Crow Laws Segregation laws Named after an old minstrel song Progressive Movement Aimed to restore economic opportunities and correct injustices in American life Led to changes in society that affected social welfare, moral improvement, economic reform, and efficiency Prohibition Banning alcoholic beverages Hoped to improve moral behavior of society Muckraker Journalists who wrote about the corruption of corporations and businesses in society Brought public awareness to the corrupt corporations and their business practices in society Suffrage The to vote Voting rights for and other minorities Upton Sinclair Famous muckraking journalists; most famous work was the Jungle – regarding meat packing industry issues Changed how the public saw different industries in particular the meat packing industry; creation of the FDA NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Aimed for full equality among the races Bull Moose Party Political party created around Teddy Roosevelt Called for many Progressive reforms on its political platform
Clayton Anti-Trust Act Sought to strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act Helped give legitimacy to labor unions & farm organizations Federal Reserve System Established under President Wilson as part of the nation’s banking resource Pres. Wilson’s most enduring achievement – serves as basis of nation’s banking system Imperialism Policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, military control over weaker territories World-wide trend; dictated U.S. foreign policy during early 1900s Yellow Journalism Exaggerates the news to lure and enrage readers Used during War by Hearst & Pulitzer Platt Amendment Added several constitutional amendments to Cuba’s constitution by U.S. request Gives U.S. partial control over a foreign country Open Door Policy Used to protect U.S. trade interests in China Paved way for greater American influence in Asia Panama Canal Artificial waterway cut through the Isthmus of Panama to provide a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans Creates ill will between the U.S. and Panama for decades the canal is built Roosevelt Corollary Foreign policy added to the Monroe Doctrine U.S. would use force to protect its economic interests in Latin America Dollar Diplomacy Foreign policy of Taft Used to keep European powers out of Caribbean Nationalism A devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation Led to competitive and antagonistic rivalries among nations Selective Service Act Required men to register with the govt. in order to be randomly selected for military service To meet the governments need for troops to fight in WWI Conscientious Objector A person who refuses, on moral grounds, to participate in warfare Seen in various wars throughout the 20th century
War Industries Board Encouraged mass production techniques to increase efficiency Helped to set quotas and allocated raw materials and resources during war time Espionage and Sedition Acts Person be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced 20 years in jail for interfering with war efforts Violated the 1st amendment rights – targeted radical political groups Great Migrations Large scale movement of hundreds of thousands of Southern blacks to cities in the North Increased economic and social well-being of blacks League of Nations An association of nations established in to promote international cooperation & peace Provided a forum for nations to discuss and settle grievances without resorting to war