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Scientific Management (1880s-1920s)
Theory/idea that there was "one right way" to do something: applied to labor in this time period, which optimized and simplified jobs, increasing work productivity -
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Australian/secret ballot; direct primaries, initiative, referendum, recall
System that the government set in place so as to make voting more secure for vulnerable citizens who were often the victims of political machines, ensuring that voting was more fair -
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Muckrakers
Journalists and writers who helped reform society by exposing corrupt or scandalous activities or processes, especially in politics -
Atlanta Compromise
Speech by Booker T. Washington: He thought that African Americans focus on building themselves up and earn the favor of whites in this way. Essentially, African Americans should accept segregation and not speak out against the treatment they have received -
Annexation of Hawaii
Occurred under the broad context of US imperialism, Hawaii was annexed by the US for economic and geographic purposes (sugar industry and US wanted a naval presence in the Pacific) -
Spanish-American War
Conflict that began with the explosion of the USS Maine in Cuba, it was fought for the sympathy that the US felt for Cuba, who was struggling for independence from Spain. US won the war and Cuba gained independence from Spain but also mildly fell under US control (event occurred under broader context of US imperialism) -
Open Door Policy
(Americans wanted to trade in China the country was under several spheres of influence at this time) Statement of principles that aimed for protection of equal opportunities to trade with China without using spheres of influence (successful) -
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Phillipine-American War
(Also the Filipino Insurrection) Conflict between the United States and the Philippines that resulted from the Philippines gaining independence from Spain in the Spanish-American War. Instead of becoming free, the Philippines fell under US control, prompting revolutionaries to fight back against the US. The US won and kept control of the Philippines before handing them full independence post WWII -
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Square Deal
Program by Theodore Roosevelt with three priciples of conservation of natural resources, where the environment should preserved for future generations (national parks were created), control of corporations where big companies (especially monopolies) were regulated and even broken up, and consumer protection which protected consumers from dangerous or misleading products (we get Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act) -
Roosevelt Corollary
Stated that the United States could intervene if European powers attempted to interfere with their affairs or if the Latin American countries were experiencing instability -
Niagara Movement
A movement founded by W.E.B Du Bois advocating for a direct and aggressive approach to the treatment of African Americans, particularly featuring protests -
Pure Food and Drug Act
Legislation that was passed to ensure that consumable goods were safe and clean -
Meat Inspection Act
Legislation that prohibited adulterated or misbranded livestock and ensured that livestock was processed under sanitary and regulated conditions -
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Dollar Diplomacy
US economic foreign policy where the United States would gain influence through economic means rather than military ones (under the context of US imperialism) -
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Great Migration
Movement of African Americans out of the South toward big cities in the West and North to find job opportunities, better education, and escape racial violence in the South -
Election of 1912
Election in which Woodrow Wilson won -
Federal Reserve Act
Created by Woodrow Wilson; created a banking system that was more stable, safe, and flexible, a natural currency, and a way for more effective responses to stresses on the economy to happen -
Seventeenth Amendment
Senators are directly elected by the population instead of the traditional appointment by state legislatures -
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Moral Diplomacy
US foreign policy that emphasized moral values and ethicality in international relations, especially by supporting democratic governments and human rights -
Clayton Antitrust Act
Successor to Sherman Antitrust Act, this specifically defined unethical business practices beyond what the Sherman Antitrust Act stated and upheld labor rights -
Federal Trade Comission
Agency of the United States that protects consumers from unfair business practices and promotes competition within the economy -
Panama Canal
Waterway in Panama allowing much quicker access from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean. Construction occurred when the United States wanted to construct, but Colombia did not want to give rights to the US. US advocated for Panama's independence from Colombia, who eventually succeeded and signed a treaty with the US, allowing it to build the canal -
Lusitania
Boat headed toward England with war supplies that was sunk with Americans on board. America was outraged and forced Germany to restrict its submarine warfare (must warn ships it will sink, rescue people onboard) -
Zimmermann Telegram
Coded message sent by Germany to Mexico, encouraging it to go to war with the United States to distract it; Germany promised an alliance with Mexico if it did so. The message was intercepted by Britain who informed the United States, prompting the US to join WWI -
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American Expeditionary Force
American forces sent to fight in WWI: Played an important role in the Allies' fights with Germany toward the end of WWI, helping to recover much lost territory, especially for France -
Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition)
Amendment that made the creation, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors illegal -
Schenck v. United States
US Supreme Court Case that upheld the Espionage Act of 1917: the freedom of speech could be restricted if spoken or printed words represented a "clear and present danger" to society. -
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty that ended WWI, imposeing harsh penalties onto Germany and reshaping European borders -
First Red Scare
Mass fear of communism, anarchism, and similar ideas, causing deportations of immigrants, crackdowns on government, Nativism, abuses of civil liberties, and decline of labor unions -
Nineteenth Amendment
Citizens will not be denied the right to vote on account of sex: women can now vote. -
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Ku Klux Klan
White supremacist hate group that enacted violence and terrorism on other races, particularly blacks. Surged in the 1910s-1920s due to Birth of a Nation and even became a national movement before falling due to corruption and internal issues. -
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Jazz Age
Period of social change: Jazz music became popular (Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong along with), as well as the Harlem Renaissance's influence and the presence of flapper dresses -
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Lost Generation
Almost like a movement; Lost Generation is a group of writers and intellectuals who came of age in WWI and who became disillusioned with traditional values, materialism, and war. Works such as Great Gatsby came from this group (movement?) -
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Harlem Renaissance
African American artistic and literary movement with a renewed sense of identity among African
Americans coming from it. New poetry, theater, and jazz was strongly associated with the Harlem Renaissance -
Emergency Quota Act
(Under the context of Nativism) Immigration law that limited the amount of immigrants (of a specific group) that could enter the country. This law notably favored Northwestern Europeans and made entry for Southern and Eastern Europeans more difficult -
Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
A controversial trial in which Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were convicted of murder on suspicious evidence and executed. The trial became the symbol of anti-immigration sentiment in the US -
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Washington Conference
World powers met in Washington D.C. to discuss naval disarmament to prevent war, particularly in the Pacific. Was not particularly successful -
National Origins Act
Immigration law that limited the amount of immigrants that could enter the country based on their nationality and how many immigrants of that nationality were in the United States (also Asians were completely banned from migrating to the United States) -
Dawes Plan
Germany had to pay lots of money to the Allies, but hyperinflation and a ruined economy made this very difficult: The Dawes Plan said that Germany's payments each year would be reduced, growing overtime as Germany's economy improved time so the burden would be lightened -
Scopes Trial
(Tennessee banned the teaching of evolution in its schools) A high school teacher (John T. Scopes) was charged with teaching evolution in school. However, this case was less about him and more about the teaching of evolution in schools. While Scopes lost, the case embarrassed people siding with religion, as the argument for religion was unable to prove itself against the questioning of Defense Attorney Clarence Darrow, moving American toward teaching evolution in school -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty
International agreement to not use war as a way to settle conflicts: unsuccessful due to failure to actually enforce this treaty -
Wall Street Crash
Stock market collapse that was a large contributing factor to the Great Depression, causing economic ruin in the US and worldwide -
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Dust Bowl
Large environmental disaster that was caused by poor farming practices, intense drought, and strong winds, blowing dust up everywhere and harming people's health and forcing many to leave the Great Plains that it occurred in (event coincided with the Great Depression) -
Bonus March
WWI veterans marched to the Capitol building demanding the payment they were promised in fighting for the country (payments were not scheduled until 1945 but they needed money now due to the Great Depression). The march ended in violence, greatly reducing public opinion of President Hoover -
Election of 1932
FDR defeats Hoover by a landslide (nobody wanted Hoover after the Bonus March incident), flipping the political scene from dominantly Republican to dominantly Democratic -
CCC
Civilian Conservation Corps, under FDR's New Deal program. Under the context of the Great Depression, this program provided people, particularly young unmarried men, with a way to work and get money through work on national conservation projects -
TVA
Tennesse Valley Authority, a New Deal program. Provided flood control, economic development, and electricity to the Tennessee Valley (one of the poorest regions of the US during the Great Depression) -
NRA
New Deal program that meant to stimulate the economy, eliminate unfair trading practices, reduce unemployment, and ensure fair wages and working conditions. -
AAA
New Deal program, Agricultural Adjustment Act; meant to provide relief to farmers by reducing surpluses to encourage prices for farm goods to go back up to increase income for farmers, as well as providing subsidies for them -
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Good-Neighbor Policy
Foreign policy where instead of directly intervening in affairs with military or other, the United States would instead establish trade (the regular way) with Latin America, aiming at improving international relations -
WPA
Works Progress Administration, New Deal program; meant to provide jobs to unemployed Americans instead of straight-up money; infrastructure was built (they need workers for that, so money was made) and writers, musicians, and those in the arts were supported so that their skills would be preserved -
Wagner Act
Labor legislation that established the right of (most) workers to form and join labor unions, as well as protected them from unfair employer practices -
Social Security Act
New Deal program: Employees and employers would be taxed to pay for old people who can no longer work (they were unable to work during the Great Depression and therefore gain no money=dead weight) -
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Neutrality Acts
Series of acts aimed at keeping the United States out of conflicts amid tensions and war in Europe and Asia -
Court Reorganization Plan
Law to add one justice to the Supreme Court for every justice over age 70, up to six additional justices: failed due to public opposition -
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Recession of 1937-1938
FDR reduced spending on New Deal programs when he became concerned about budgeting and thought the economy might be recovering, eliminating a large economic stimulus and causing a recession -
Fair Labor Standards Act
Law that prevents child labor in many industries, established a minimum wage, and set a maximum number of hours (before overtime pay) -
Four Freedoms
Speech by FDR to justify the US going into WWII: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want (basic economic security, nobody should suffer from hunger or poverty) and freedom from fear (right to live in peace, not war or oppression). -
Pearl Harbor
Surprise military attack by the Japanese on the US in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack did lots of damage but caused the United States to enter WWII -
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Manhattan Project
US government research project that led to the development (and eventually deployment) of atomic bombs -
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Double V Campaign
Movement led by African Americans, double victory "v' was meant for victory against the Axis and victory at home, against racism and discrimination against blacks. -
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Braceros
Labor agreement between US and Mexico to allow Mexican laborers "braceros" to work temporarily and legally in the United States to address labor shortages. This agreement had affects beyond the WWII -
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Island-hopping
WWI Pacific theater: Instead of the United States attacking every single Japanese-owned island, they would skip the heavily fortified ones and isolate these islands and cut off supplies before defeating them, all the while getting closer to Japan and establishing bases with airfields -
Korematsu v. United States
Fred Korematsu decided not to leave after the US forced Japanese citizens into internment camps during WWII. Korematsu was convicted of violating military orders. The case was controversial for violating civil liberties -
D-Day
Large military operation that represented a turning point for the Allies against the Germans: the operation successfully liberated northern France from Nazi hands as it created another front for Germany to have to fight on -
G.I. Bill
Provided financial aid for education, business loans, unemployment benefits, and hiring privileges to WWII veterans -
Hiroshima
"Little Boy" atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, instantly killing many civilians and destroying tons of buildings. Contributed to Japanese surrender -
Nagasaki
"Fat Man" atomic bomb dropped on the city of Nagasaki three days after Hiroshima. Led to the surrender of the Japanese a few days later -
Yalta
Conference after WWII to discuss post-war world order: Germany was split, the United Nations was formed, and the Cold War began -
Potsdam
Allied meeting to finalize plan for world order: Germany would be split into four zones and demilitarized, borders were redrawn, and Japan would surrender. Tensions between the USSR and US occurred here just like with Yalta and led to Cold War -
United Nations
Successor to League of Nations: international organization to promote peace and cooperation among nations and try to prevent another world war -
Truman Doctrine
Economic foreign policy in which the United States would render aid (economically) to countries who seem likely to fall to communism -
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Cold War
Decades-long rivalry between the USSR and the United States, it was fought on political, economic, and ideological fronts, but never escalated into a direct conflict. However, several smaller conflicts and other events spouted from this intense tension, all the while the Soviet Union and the US tried to expand their influence -
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Globalization
Interconnectedness of the world's countries economically, culturally, technologically, politically, trade-wise, and communicationally. (Huge transnational corporations, growth of the internet, English as a global language, the United Nations, immigration, environmentalism) -
Taft-Harley Act
Reversing many of the things the pro-union Wagner Act allowed, this law cut back on much of the power that labor unions had out of fear that communism was attached to unions, with the President being able to directly stop labor strikes, employers being unable to hire only union workers, and other restrictions that lessened the power of unions -
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Baby Boom
A humongous surge in birth rates after WWII that coincided a prospering US economy, causing large-scale developments for modern surburbia -
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Second Red Scare
Period of intense and widespread fear in the United States of communism infiltrating the government, started by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Several accusations were made against multiple individuals who were thought to be communist, but they were all baseless accusations. Still, reputations of individuals were greatly damaged. -
Marshall Plan
Economic program in which the US would send money to help rebuild Europe's broken economy (and hopefully stop them from joining communism at the same time) -
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a cooperation among western European nations with the US included, intended to counterbalance the Soviet Union and its several communist governments in eastern Europe -
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Sunbelt
Growth in several industries, interstate highway systems, and affordable housing cause several people to move to the Sunbelt, the bottom half of the United States basically from North Carolina and extending west and including all the state below it -
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Korean War
War between North Korea and South Korea. The war became a proxy war to the Cold War when the Soviet Union aided North Korea and the United Nations, primarily the US aided South Korea. The war eventually hit a stalemate, and North Korea and South Korea remain divided as they are today -
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Beatniks
Social and literary movement emphasized rejection of traditional values of conformity and materialism, featuring personal freedom, spirituality, and jazz -
Levittown
First suburban development in the United States and continued to spread, causing the growth of modern suburbia in the United States and was associated with economic prosperity after WWII (and segregation) -
Operation Ajax
CIA-led coup in Iran that removed one leader and replaced them with another so as to protect western oil interests and keep Iran from communism -
Brown v. Board of Education
Supreme Court decision that ruled that education cannot be denied to African Americans due to their skin color, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson -
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Montgomery Bus Boycott
Boycott against segregated bus system sparked Rosa Parks that lasted for a year, resulting in court cases ruling segregation on buses illegal (more victories for the Civil Rights movement) -
Interstate Highway Act
Infrastructural project signed by Eisenhower, building extremely long roadway systems that connected the country together, allowing for quick transportation of items -
Sputnik
Satellite launched by the Soviet Union into space, shocking Americans into the space race with the Soviet Union -
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
Student activist group advocating for civil rights, democracy, and opposition to the Vietnam War. Very influential, especially among the youth. As Vietnam war intensified, this group became increasingly violent and declined with internal division and government repression -
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Sit-in Movement
(Under the context of the Civil Rights movement) African Americans would sit at segregated lunch counters and would request service, stubbornly remaining seated if refused service due to skin color. Drew unwanted attention and caused business to suffer, leading more and more toward desegregation -
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Counterculture
Social and cultural movement that advocated of peace, love, social justice, and anti-war activism. This movement challenged traditional values and authority and featured LGBTQ activism, feminism, communalism, environmentalism, and spirituality. -
Farewell Address (Eisenhower)
Eisenhower said to be cautious in foreign affairs; our military spending was very high, and Eisenhower as a war general knew what it was like to solve conflicts with military solutions -
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Flexible Response
US military defense plan in which the country would try to have multiple options of warfare available to itself instead of just threatening other countries with outright nuclear warfare -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A sharp rise in tension after the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, meaning the USSR could possibly wage nuclear war on the US from Cuba. The closest the world ever got to outright nuclear warfare, it was eventually settled between Kennedy and Khrushchev -
Silent Spring
Book on environmentalism about how pesticides and chemicals harm the environment, animals, and even humans. Very influential work in the modern environmental movement -
March on Washington
Large civil rights protest at Washington memorial arguing for voting rights and racial equality -
The Feminine Mystique
(Under the context of feminism, specifically the second wave of it) Book written by Betty Freidan that criticizes the views on women at the time, pointing out that many housewives were unhappy with the work they have to do and feel unfulfilled by the tasks supposedly meant for women -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil rights law that banned discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Resolution passed by Congress and was President Lyndon B. Johnson's response to two unprovoked attacks on US boats by North Vietnamese torpedo boats, leading to direct US involvement in the Vietnam War -
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Great Society
Inspired by the New Deal, Lyndon B. Johnson set out his Great Society programs to help eliminate poverty, desegregate, and improve general life -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Law that removed barriers that prevented African
Americans from voting. Important as a law for protecting minority rights to vote -
Malcolm X
Civil rights activist that advocated for black pride and black nationalism. associated with the Nation of Islam -
Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965
Law that ended the previous national-origin quota system and allowed for much easier immigration into the United States. Economic growth and large diversity arose from this -
Black Panthers
Political (and controversial) organization that advocated for racial justice and self-defense. Demonstrated by armed black persons patrolling African American neighborhoods to protect them from police brutality and called for exclusion of black people from the draft and release of all African Americans from jail -
Tet Offensive
Surprise attack launched by the North Vietnamese on the US-backed Southern Vietnamese. The attack was a fail for the North Vietnamese, but the incident weakened American support for the war, leading to the US slowly withdrawing from Vietnam -
Election of 1968
Election that occurred during underlying divisions in the United States caused by the Vietnam War and the affects of the civil rights movement. Richard Nixon won -
Stonewall Riot
Riots enacted by the police on LGBTQ members at the Stonewall Inn in NYC, a popular hub for LGBTQ members, lasting for several nights and birthing the modern gay rights movement -
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Dètente
Tensions between the Soviet Union and United States relaxed and talks of reducing hostility and limiting nuclear weapons began. This time period also included greater trading and cooperation between the two countries -
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Vietnamization
The continued American withdrawal from the Vietnam War: America bombed Cambodia and Laos while also training the Southern Vietnamese forces, all the while withdrawing, allowing the Southern Vietnamese forces to fight on their own. Eventually, the United States fully withdrew, leaving the Southern Vietnamese to eventually lose due to lack of support and strength, weakened by lack of strong leadership and corruption -
Kent State
A shooting at Kent State University in Ohio in which National Guard troops opened fire on college students protesting the Vietnam War, resulting in outrage and further increasing opposition to the war -
Pentagon Papers
Papers that contained all the information that United States on the war in Vietnam which was illegally leaked to the public, revealing everything that the United States hid from the public including the bombings it performed on Cambodia and Laos and that the US misled people on the war's progress, resulting in a huge scandal -
Equal Rights Amendment
Proposed amendment not yet in effect that guarantees equal rights to all Americans regardless of sex -
Watergate
Political scandal involving President Nixon where burglars broke into the Democratic National Committee to gain information to assist in Nixon's reelection, leading him to resign due to the high possibility he would get impeached (also to note that attempts to hide the situation were made) -
War Powers Act
Law in which the president must run military actions to be done overseas by Congress for approval -
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Government agency that regulates pollution and enforces environmental laws. Largely influenced the book Silent Spring -
Roe v. Wade
Supreme Court Case that ruled that state regulation of abortion was illegal, ruling that abortion was a constitutional right and legalizing abortion within the United States -
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Stagflation
When inflation, stagnant economy, and high unemployment all happen at the same time: caused in the United States by foreign competition, an oil embargo placed on the US, slow economy, and declining industry and unemployment -
Indian Self-Determination Act
Allowed Native American tribes greater autonomy over their affairs: tribes could now work with the federal government for healthcare, education, and social service programs, and they also received funding from the US government -
Regents of California v. Bakke
Supreme Court Case ruling in which racial quotas were prohibited for educational admission but that race can be a factor considered for admission: Allan Bakke was a white applicant to the University of California and was twice rejected due to admissions spots being reserved for minority applicants despite having higher grades and test scores -
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Reaganomics
Economic policies by President Ronald Reagan (trickle-down): Featured tax cuts, reduced government spending, inflation control, but also more military spending. Helped out the rich more than the middle and lower class -
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Iran-Contra Affair
Political scandal where the United States secretly sent weapons to Iran, illegally funded the Contras (Nicaraguan rebel group), and performed other activities prohibited by Congress, damaging Reagan Administration reputation -
Breakup of the Soviet Union
Combination of nationalism in Eastern Europe, poor economy, and democratic-like reforms by Gorbachev led to a weakened Soviet State, causing major communist leaders to disband the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War -
Persian Gulf War
Iraq invaded Kuwait to acquire its plentiful oil and cancel the debt it had to the country. US responded militarily with fear that Saudi Arabia would also be attacked, threatening world oil supply. Iraq was forced to retreat and had sanctions and restrictions placed on it, proving US power after the Cold War was still strong -
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Trade pact signed by Mexico, Canada, and USA. Lifted most tariffs and trade barriers on products moving through the three countries and boosting trade and reducing prices for consumers. Critics of the agreement explain that this agreement fails to address worker exploitation in Mexico, pollution, and job losses in Canada and the US due to cheap labor in Mexico -
Contract With America
Legislative agenda proposed by the Republican party who was gaining control of Congress at this time. Aimed to reduce crime, reform welfare, and focus on tax cuts -
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Dot-com Boom
Huge growth in the internet and technology sector sparked by excitement of the potentials of the Internet. However, US had increased interest rates on borrowing money, leading many companies to sell off stocks, causing the stock market bubble to burst and leading to a collapse -
Bush v. Gore
(Controversial) Supreme Court reversed an order by Florida to recount votes during the 2000 election (Florida had problems in the voting process in regard to voter intent), causing Bush to win the election when he maybe shouldn't have -
9/11
Terrorist attack on the United States in which four planes were hijacked and hit the World Trade Center towers and the US Pentagon, triggering the War on Terror -
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War on Terror
Military and political campaign launched by the United States in response to 9/11, aiming to eliminate terrorist organizations -
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War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan that aimed to overthrow the Taliban and eliminate Al-Qaeda. Was successful at first but as the United States pulled out due to victories, the Taliban re-emerged and regained territory and control -
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Iraq War
War by the United States on Iraq's government. Was successful in the first phase of conventional war. Second phase was a long insurgency against the United States, where terrorist organizations eventually rose due to the United States fully withdrawing from the area militarily -
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Great Recession
Economic downturn starting in the United States and spreading to other countries caused by US housing market collapse and closing banks -
Obamacare
Healthcare reform law that aimed to expand healthcare coverage, reduce healthcare costs, and improve healthcare quality -
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Arab Spring
Series of uprisings in North African and Middle Eastern countries to try to topple the authoritarian governments and replace them with democratic ones; some were successful, some were not -
Death of Osama bin Laden
Laden was a the leader of Al-Qaeda and orchestrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks. His death by the US government was a milestone in the War on Terror (though terrorism continued afterward) -
Tea Party
Political and social movement that opposed excessive taxation and government control in the private sector -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Supreme Court case ruling in which same-sex marriage could not be banned by states under the Fourteenth Amendment, legalizing same-sex marriage -
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COVID-19 Pandemic
Pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to millions of death worldwide as well as disrupted world economies and societies. Rise of videoconferencing arose from this pandemic, making changes in business and education