20th Century American History Quiz

The belief that Southern slave owners were acting in the best interests of enslaved people by providing them with food, shelter, and a sense of belonging.

The 1850 law that required Northerners to capture and return escaped slaves to their owners, strengthening the South's resolve to preserve slavery.

The idea that African Americans were intellectually and physically inferior to white people, used to justify slavery by many Southerners.

The philosophical movement that stressed the importance of intuition, self-reliance, and individual connection with nature.

Thoreau's act of refusing to pay taxes in protest of slavery and the Mexican-American War, demonstrating the power of passive resistance.

The founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who claimed to have translated the Book of Mormon from golden plates.

The Mormon leader who led the migration to Utah after Smith's death, founding Salt Lake City.

The practice of plural marriage, a religious and cultural practice of the Mormons that led to persecution and isolation.

FDR's programs provided economic relief to many Black families which led to increased African American support for the Democratic Party.

The act of providing military aid to Allied nations during World War II without immediate repayment, shifting the U.S. from isolationism to active support for democratic nations.

In the 1950s and 1960s, civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, worked towards ending segregation and achieving equality for African Americans, driven by a strong desire for justice.

The U.S. policy to restrict the spread of communism, largely throughout Europe and Asia, rooted in the fear of communism and its expansion during the Cold War.

The U.S. provided support to countries resisting communism, demonstrating its commitment to opposing the spread of communist influence during the Cold War.

Economic assistance to rebuild European economies after World War II, contributing to recovery and preventing the spread of communism, aimed at stabilizing postwar Europe.

The U.S. airlifted supplies to West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked access, demonstrating a commitment to resisting Soviet dominance and supporting democratic ideals.

A tense confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, raising the threat of nuclear war and highlighting the perilous nature of the Cold War conflict.

A proxy conflict in Southeast Asia during the Cold War, where the US intervened to prevent the spread of communism, demonstrating its role in containing communist influence in the region.

The committee investigated suspected communist activities in the US government, entertainment, and other sectors, leading to persecution and blacklisting, fueled by fear and paranoia during the 'Red Scare'.

A theory that applied Darwin's idea of "survival of the fittest" to society, suggesting that the wealthy were naturally superior and that government should not interfere with the economy.

The idea that wealthy people should use their wealth to benefit society through philanthropy and public projects.

A genre of novels by Horatio Alger Jr. depicting young boys overcoming poverty through hard work and honesty, achieving success and wealth. The story is often referred to as the 'rags to riches' narrative.

A secret society of Irish immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania who fought against poor working conditions and employer abuses in the 1860s and 1870s. They were known for their violent tactics.

A social movement that connected Christian values to social justice, advocating for reforms to address poverty, inequality, and labor conditions. It pushed for churches to be more active in social causes.

The primary immigration station in New York Harbor, where millions of European immigrants were processed between 1892 and 1954.

The first major law restricting immigration in the United States, passed in 1882, which specifically barred Chinese workers from entering the country.

Federal legislation enacted in 1862 and 1863 that provided land grants to states to establish colleges focused on agriculture and mechanical arts (land-grant colleges).

The presidential election of 1876, which was highly contested and concluded with the controversial result of Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president after a deal to end Reconstruction in the South.

A national organization of farmers founded in 1867, initially focused on education, but soon became a political movement advocating for agricultural reforms, regulation of railroads, and other issues.

A group of reform-minded Republicans who, in the 1884 election, supported the Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland over the Republican nominee, James G. Blaine, due to Blaine's perceived corruption.

A political movement that emerged in the late 19th century, advocating for social and economic reforms, including regulation of monopolies, labor rights, and increased government intervention in the economy.

A novel written in 1900 by L. Frank Baum, often interpreted as an allegory of Populist political ideas, criticizing the powerful elite and their control over the economy.

The period in American history roughly from the 1890s to the 1920s characterized by social and political reforms, labor rights movements, and a focus on addressing issues related to industrialization and urbanization.

The Seneca Falls Convention, held in 1848, was a landmark event in the women's rights movement. It was the first women's rights convention in the United States, where participants issued the Declaration of Sentiments, demanding equal rights for women, including the right to vote.

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote, a major victory after decades of activism by women's suffrage movements.

The Square Deal was a program championed by President Theodore Roosevelt, aimed at achieving fair treatment for all Americans, especially the working class. It included policies addressing monopolies, conservation, and labor issues.

Roosevelt's trust-busting efforts targeted large corporations (trusts) that held monopolies, aiming to promote competition and prevent the concentration of economic power in the hands of a few.

Roosevelt believed in preserving natural resources for future generations. Through the establishment of national parks and wildlife reserves, he aimed to protect the environment and promote conservation.

The U.S. annexation of Hawaii in 1898 followed the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, driven by the economic interests of American businessmen involved in sugar and pineapple plantations.

After the Spanish-American War, the U.S. annexed the Philippines. This sparked a violent conflict with Filipino nationalists who resisted American control, known as the Philippine-American War.

The Open Door Policy was a proposal by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay in 1899, seeking equal trade access to China for all foreign nations, ensuring no single power dominated Chinese markets.

The Boxer Rebellion, a Chinese nationalist uprising in 1900, targeted foreign influence, including Western powers and Japan, opposing their presence and economic control in China.

Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, proposed in 1918, provided a blueprint for peace after World War I. They emphasized self-determination for nations, free trade, and the creation of the League of Nations to prevent future wars.

The Lost Generation, a group of American writers including Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Eliot, were deeply disillusioned by the horrors of World War I. They found traditional values irrelevant and explored themes of alienation, loss, and the search for meaning in a post-war world.

The Dust Bowl, a series of severe dust storms in the 1930s, affected the Great Plains. Drought, poor farming practices, and overuse of land led to soil erosion, creating immense hardship for farmers and exacerbating the Great Depression.

The Emergency Banking Act, passed in 1933, allowed federal inspections and regulations of banks, aiming to restore public confidence and stabilize the financial system during the Great Depression.

The New Deal, a series of economic programs enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression. It involved public works projects, social security, and regulations to address economic instability.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA), part of the New Deal, provided jobs to millions of unemployed Americans, building infrastructure like roads, schools, and bridges, contributing to economic recovery.

The 1850 Fugitive Slave Act strengthened the enforcement of runaway slaves' capture and return to the South. It caused fear and distrust between the North and the South due to the moral dilemma it posed.

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of people and locations that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North. Harriet Tubman became a legend for her leadership in the Underground Railroad, defying the Fugitive Slave Act.

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of agreements aimed at easing tensions between the North and South. The Fugitive Slave Act was a key part of this compromise. It aimed to placate the South but increased tensions.

Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom after living in free territories. The Supreme Court ruled against Scott, denying him citizenship and reinforcing the idea that enslaved people were not citizens but property.

The Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) ruling declared that African Americans were not citizens and Congress could not ban slavery in any territory. This effectively nullified the Missouri Compromise, intensifying tensions between the North and South.

The Southern view of the US Constitution emphasized states' rights and the protection of slavery. They believed the federal government should not interfere with their right to decide on slavery.

The Nullification Crisis (1832) involved South Carolina's attempt to declare a federal tariff unconstitutional. This act of defiance highlighted the Southern belief in states' rights over federal power.

Southern states justified their secession from the Union by arguing that the federal government was infringing on their constitutional rights, especially the right to decide on slavery. This became a crucial factor leading to the Civil War.

Lincoln's 10% Plan aimed to swiftly reunite the Union after the Civil War. It allowed Southern states to rejoin if 10% of their voters swore allegiance to the Union and accepted the end of slavery. This plan showed Lincoln's desire for reunification but also his empathy for Southerners.

The Freedmen's Bureau, established in 1865, helped formerly enslaved African Americans transition to freedom by providing essential services like education, food, and medical care. This agency faced resistance from Southern whites who resented its support for Black right.

Black Codes were implemented in Southern states after the Civil War to restrict African American freedom. These laws effectively aimed to force them into labor contracts and control their lives.

Jim Crow was a system of racial segregation enforced in the South after Reconstruction. Laws were passed to impose segregation in public places, institutionalizing racial inferiority and reinforcing segregation as a social norm.

The Great Migration involved the mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North between 1916-1970. They sought better opportunities, escaping Jim Crow laws, and improved social conditions, representing a quest for freedom and a shift in identity.

The California Gold Rush began in 1848 when gold was discovered, leading to a mass migration of people hoping to strike it rich. This event ignited the belief in Manifest Destiny, the idea of America's expansion, and promoted westward expansion.

19th Century immigration saw large waves of immigrants, particularly from Ireland, escaping the Great Famine, and Germany, fleeing political unrest. These immigrants faced discrimination and prejudice as they sought better lives but also fueled concerns about cultural dilution.

The U.S. government's philosophy towards Native Americans was often characterized by the belief that they were obstacles to westward expansion. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans onto reservations (Trail of Tears), highlighting the government's view of Native Americans as inferior and their desire for progress at their expense.

Robber Barons were powerful businessmen like Andrew Carnegie (steel), John D. Rockefeller (oil), and J.P. Morgan (banking). They were often viewed as ruthless monopolists amassing wealth at the expense of others. However, some also engaged in philanthropy.

Robber Barons, through monopolies, controlled entire industries and crushed competition, resulting in wealth inequality. This earned them both admiration for innovation and criticism for their dominance and impact on the working class.