| A | B |
|---|
| Battle of the Argonne Forest | The last major offensive of World War I under General Pershing where 1/10 of all U.S. troops died over a period of 42 days due to rough terrain, heavy machine gun fire, and inadequate training. |
| Brown vs. Board of Education | In 1954, the Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation in public schools with this landmark case that reversed the Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) decision of “separate but equal.” |
| Civil Rights Act of 1964 | This act made racial, religious, and sex discrimination by employers illegal and gave the government the power to enforce all laws governing civil rights, including desegregation of schools and public places. |
| Civil Rights Movement | African Americans sought equality before the law and protection of their rights. Black activists, often affiliated with church groups, offered passive resistance to unjust civil laws. |
| Civil Service Reform | African Americans sought equality before the law and protection of their rights. Black activists, often affiliated with church groups, offered passive resistance to unjust civil laws. |
| Conservation of Natural Resources | Preserving natural resources by limiting commercial development and ensuring their wise use. Areas of scenic beauty, or scientific, geological, or biological interest are preserved as parks. |
| Cold War | Following World War II the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers. The two unions of states faced off in an arms race that lasted nearly 50 years. |
| Demographic Patterns | The study of population and the forces that affect change within population, like birth and death rates. |
| Dictator | a ruler who wields absolute authority and controls the government within a state or nation, like Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy, and Stalin in the Soviet Union. |
| G.I. Bill of Rights | this bill allotted funds to send former soldiers to school. In 10 years after World War II, 8 million veterans went to school at government expense. |
| Dollar Diplomacy | A policy adopted by President Taft to encourage investment by American banks and businesses foreign countries. He promised military protection to those who invested abroad. |
| Great Depression | A period of severe economic hardship that began with the stock market crash in 1929 and continued until World War II. Banks failed and too many people had too little money to make ends meet. Many Americans were unemployed |
| Great Plains | A high grassland region of central North America extending south from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to Texas. |
| Gulf of Tonkin Resolution | Prompted by reports of North Vietnamese aggression against an American warship, Congress authorized President Johnson to increase American military involvement in Vietnam. |
| Growth of Labor Unions | As industrialization increased the rights of laborers were undermined as an emphasis was placed on production and profit. Workers unionized to seek better wages, hours and improved working conditions. |
| Harlem Renaissance | A rebirth of African-American culture led by poets, authors, artists, musicians, and movie stars and provided an outlet for African-American intellectuals who continued to oppose racial segregation and suppression. |
| Immigrants | Immigration to the United States increased steadily from 1850 to 1900. More than 5 million people entered in the 1880’s, swelling urban populations. |
| Initiative | A process by which special interest groups, through voter participation, can propose bills to their legislature for a vote. Voters can force lawmakers to deal with difficult issues. |
| Indian Policies | Due to efforts to assimilate Native Americans, including the Dawes Act (1887), the traditions of Native Americans disappeared as they were removed from their homelands, isolated on reservations, and forced to abandon their rituals |
| Interstate Commerce Commission | Established by an act of Congress in 1887, this outlawed discrimination against shippers and the practice of one carrier charging more for short hauls than for long ones. |
