Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)

The process of readmitting the former Confederate states back into the Union, lasting from 1865 to 1877.

A plan proposed by Abraham Lincoln that offered amnesty to Southerners who supported the Confederacy and allowed them to rejoin the Union if at least 10% of their population took a loyalty oath.

An agency established after the Civil War to provide aid to freed African Americans and poor southerners, facing a difficult job due to limited resources.

A bill proposed by Senators Wade and Representative Davis as an alternative to Lincoln's plan, requiring that Confederate states abolish slavery and have a majority of voters pledge loyalty to the Union before readmission.

A prominent abolitionist and civil rights leader during the 1850s and 1860s, he escaped slavery and became a voice for African American rights, advocating for citizenship and the right to vote.

The process of combining many small companies into one large company.

The combination of businesses involved in different stages of production, such as controlling raw materials, manufacturing, and distribution.

The combination of businesses involved in the same stage of production, such as owning multiple oil refineries.

A form of business organization in which a board of trustees controls the assets of several companies.

The widespread production and distribution of ideas, values, and symbols to large audiences through mass media like newspapers, magazines, radio, and movies.

A period of rapid industrial growth in the United States during the late 1800s, characterized by new technologies like electricity and the invention of the automobile.

Areas with many houses and limited commercial buildings, often located outside of city centers.

Areas with high population density and a concentration of businesses and services.

Areas with vast open spaces, low population density, and primarily agricultural activities.

A social reformer and journalist who exposed the terrible conditions in New York City's slums through photography and writing.

Community centers established in poor neighborhoods to provide social services, education, and recreational activities.

A processing center for immigrants entering the United States located in New York Harbor.

A processing center for immigrants entering the United States located near San Francisco, primarily for Chinese immigrants.

Workplaces with long hours, low wages, unhealthy conditions, and often child labor.

A section below the deck of a ship used for steerage mechanisms but also used to transport immigrants in cramped and unsanitary conditions.

Laws that greatly limited the freedom of African Americans after the Civil War.

Southern Democrats who opposed Reconstruction and were hostile towards freedmen and Republicans.

Northern Republicans who moved to the South after the Civil War and often held political positions.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery forever in the United States.

The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States except for Native Americans. It also guaranteed equal protection of the laws and ensured many former Confederate officials could not hold office.

The 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote.

A special tax that people had to pay before they could vote, often used to disenfranchise African Americans.

The forced separation of African Americans and whites in public places.

A system where landowners provided land, tools, and supplies to sharecroppers in exchange for a share of the crop. This often led to debt and economic dependence.

The hard work of breaking up the tough soil in the Western plains earned farmers this name.

African Americans who migrated from the Mississippi River states to Kansas during the late nineteenth century in search of better opportunities.

A new method of farming that was adapted to dry climates by using techniques like deep plowing and water-conserving planting.

A range of political stances that champion the interests of ordinary people against a perceived elite.

It granted over 17 million acres of federal land to states for the establishment of land-grant colleges, which focused on agriculture and mechanical arts.

A violent strike that occurred at Andrew Carnegie's Homestead steel factory in Pennsylvania in 1892, where workers protested against a plan to lower wages and cut jobs.

The American construction of the Panama Canal, a project that tragically resulted in the loss of approximately 6,000 lives, was ultimately completed and opened to ships in August 1914, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

A foreign policy approach that uses economic means, such as investment and trade, to influence other nations' actions, promoting American interests and stability.

An extension of the Monroe Doctrine which explicitly stated that the United States might intervene in Latin American affairs to maintain order and prevent European interference.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist, which sparked a chain reaction leading to a declaration of war by Austria-Hungary against Serbia, ultimately triggering World War I.

A defensive tactic in which armies dig deep trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire, resulting in lengthy and brutal battles with limited progress.

The major battlefront in Europe during World War I, stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland, where French and German troops engaged in a constant and bloody struggle for dominance.

A British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,200 individuals, including 128 Americans, and heightening anti-German sentiments in the United States.

A secret telegram sent by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann proposing an alliance with Mexico, promising to help Mexico regain lost territories if Mexico declared war on the United States, which ultimately contributed to America's decision to enter World War I.

A government agency established during World War I to oversee the US economy, coordinating the production and distribution of essential resources for the war effort.

A government agency created during World War I to mobilize public opinion in support of the war effort, utilizing propaganda to rally support and encourage American patriotism.

A law passed in 1917 that required all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service, resulting in the drafting of almost 3 million Americans to fight in World War I.

The President of the United States during World War I, who initially advocated for neutrality but later led the nation into the war, advocating for peace and international cooperation after the conflict.

A new weapon employed in World War I, characterized by its heavy armor, enabling it to inflict significant damage but also withstand enemy attacks.

The aggressive buildup of military forces, often seen as a precursor to war, characterized by an emphasis on military strength and preparation.

A strong sense of pride and loyalty to one's nation or culture, often fueling national unity and sometimes leading to conflict.

A form of compensation paid by a defeated nation to the victors for damages caused during a war, often a source of resentment and conflict.

The group of nations that fought against the Allied Powers in World War I, including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

The 1918 flu pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, was a deadly global influenza outbreak that claimed millions of lives worldwide.

The day marking the end of World War I, when a truce (armistice) was reached between the Allied and Central Powers on November 11, 1918.

The peace treaty that formally ended World War I, which established the League of Nations but was ultimately rejected by the US Senate due to concerns about American involvement in international affairs and sovereignty.

The American Expeditionary Force (AEF), the US military contingent that fought in World War I, led by General John J. Pershing, who insisted on maintaining a separate American force rather than integrating with the Allies.

A revolution that took place in Russia in November 1917, led by the Bolsheviks, a communist party that sought to overthrow the existing government and establish a socialist state, significantly impacting the course of World War I.

A new weapon employed in World War I, characterized by its rapid firing capability, capable of inflicting immense damage on enemy troops.

A type of aircraft that flew in the air during World War I, used for aerial combat and reconnaissance.

The process of bringing together people who share a common language or culture, typically with the goal of creating a unified political entity or nation-state.

A tactic used in warfare where armies dig trenches and fight from inside them to protect themselves from enemy fire. This often resulted in prolonged battles and heavy casualties.

A diplomatic note sent by the German government to the Mexican government during World War I, proposing an alliance and promising to help Mexico regain lost territories. This telegram was intercepted by the British and contributed to the United States' entry into the war.

The group of nations that opposed the Allied Powers in World War I. This included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

The economic punishments imposed on Germany by the Allied Powers after World War I. These reparations were intended to compensate the Allies for war damage, but led to economic hardship in Germany and resentment towards the Allies.

The massive influenza pandemic that spread around the world in 1918, claiming millions of lives. This pandemic worsened conditions during World War I and had a lasting impact on world health.

The day that marked the end of World War I when a truce (armistice) was signed on November 11, 1918. This day commemorates the end of the war and the sacrifices made by soldiers on both sides.

The United States' military force that fought in World War I. They were led by General John J. Pershing and played a key role in the Allied victory, particularly in the latter stages of the war. Despite pressure to integrate with other Allied forces, Pershing insisted on maintaining a separate American army.

The revolution that occurred in Russia in November 1917, leading to the overthrow of the Tsarist regime and the establishment of the Soviet Union. It significantly affected the course of World War I, with Russia withdrawing from the war after the Bolshevik victory.

A plan proposed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 for readmitting Confederate states back into the Union. It offered amnesty to Confederates if they took a loyalty oath and recognized the abolition of slavery. This plan aimed for a swift and lenient approach to reunification.

An armored vehicle, used in warfare to protect troops from enemy fire and to advance through battlefields. Their introduction in World War I revolutionized warfare, allowing for greater mobility and firepower.

A firearm that is capable of firing a large number of bullets rapidly, with minimal reloading required. It was a powerful weapon developed in the late 19th century and used extensively in World War I, significantly increasing the lethality of warfare.

Aircraft that were used in warfare for the first time during World War I. They were used for both reconnaissance and aerial combat, and had a significant impact on the course of the war.

An intense and passionate feeling of loyalty and devotion to one's nation or cultural group. It can serve as a unifying force, but can also lead to tension and conflict, particularly when it is associated with a sense of superiority over other groups.

A type of warfare that was heavily prevalent in World War I. It involved soldiers fighting from trenches, creating a complex network of fortified lines across the battlefields. This style of warfare often resulted in long, bloody stalemates with high casualties.

A diplomatic message sent by the German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the Mexican government in 1917. It proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico, offering military support for Mexico to regain territory lost to the United States. This secret telegram was intercepted by British intelligence and ultimately played a significant role in the United States' decision to enter World War I.

The group of nations that opposed the Allied Powers during World War I. This included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

A form of compensation paid by the losing side of a conflict to the victors, often used to cover damages caused during the war. It is a controversial practice, sometimes leading to resentment and resentment towards the victors.

A massive pandemic that swept across the world in 1918, claiming millions of lives. The Spanish flu, as it was commonly called, worsened conditions during World War I and had a profound and lasting impact on global health.

The day marking the end of fighting in World War I, when an armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. It signifies the end of the war and is remembered as a moment of relief and reflection on the sacrifices of those who fought in the conflict.

The United States' military force that fought in World War I, led by General John J. Pershing. They served a pivotal role in the Allied victory, especially in the latter stages of the war. Despite pressure to integrate with other Allied forces, Pershing believed in maintaining a distinct American fighting force.

A pivotal revolution that took place in Russia in November 1917, bringing an end to the Tsarist regime. It led to the establishment of the Soviet Union and significantly impacted the course of World War I, with Russia withdrawing from the war after the Bolsheviks took power.