Glossary
19th Amendment
Ratified in 1920, this amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted women the right to vote. It was the culmination of decades of activism by the women's suffrage movement. [1, 4, 32, 36, 38, 48]
Example:
The passage of the 19th Amendment was a monumental victory for women's rights, allowing millions of American women to participate in the 1920 presidential election for the first time. [1, 4, 32]
Automobiles
Self-propelled vehicles that revolutionized transportation and American life in the early 20th century. Their mass production made them accessible, leading to suburban growth and new social patterns. [12, 15, 18, 45, 46]
Example:
The affordability of Ford's Model T automobiles allowed families to take road trips and live further from their workplaces, fundamentally changing American leisure and residential patterns. [12, 18, 46]
Consumer Culture
A society in which the buying and selling of goods and services is the most important social and economic activity. It emerged in the U.S. with mass production and advertising, especially in the 1920s. [46]
Example:
The widespread availability of new appliances like vacuum cleaners and washing machines in the 1920s fueled a burgeoning consumer culture, encouraging Americans to purchase more goods than ever before. [46]
First Red Scare
A period from 1917 to 1920 marked by widespread fear of communism and radical leftist ideologies in the United States. It led to government crackdowns on perceived radicals and immigrants. [9, 13, 22, 40, 43]
Example:
During the First Red Scare, Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer conducted raids, known as the Palmer Raids, targeting suspected anarchists and communists across the country. [9, 22, 40, 43]
Imperialism
A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means. The U.S. engaged in this practice, particularly after the Spanish-American War. [10, 25]
Example:
The acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines after the Spanish-American War marked a significant shift towards American imperialism. [10, 25]
Industrialization
The process by which an economy transforms from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods, driven by machinery and factory systems. This shift leads to mass production and significant changes in labor and social structures. [5, 16, 20, 27]
Example:
The rise of the assembly line in the early 20th century, exemplified by Henry Ford's factories, was a key aspect of American Industrialization, making goods like automobiles affordable for the masses. [12, 46]
Isolationism
A foreign policy approach where a country seeks to minimize its involvement in international affairs and conflicts, focusing instead on its own internal matters. The U.S. largely pursued this policy after WWI until WWII. [8, 23, 30, 34, 39]
Example:
After the devastation of World War I, many Americans favored isolationism, leading the U.S. to avoid joining the League of Nations and pass Neutrality Acts in the 1930s. [8, 39]
New Deal
A series of programs and reforms enacted in the United States between 1933 and 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It aimed to combat the Great Depression through relief, recovery, and reform measures.
Example:
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a New Deal program, employed young men in conservation projects, providing jobs and improving national infrastructure during the Depression.
Pearl Harbor
A U.S. naval base in Hawaii attacked by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. This surprise attack directly led to the United States' entry into World War II, ending its isolationist stance. [11, 29, 37, 42, 47]
Example:
The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor unified American public opinion, transforming a nation largely committed to neutrality into one ready for full-scale war. [11, 29, 42]
Progressive Era
A period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States from the 1890s to the 1920s. Reformers sought to address problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption.
Example:
During the Progressive Era, muckraking journalists exposed corporate abuses, leading to public demand for regulations like the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Radios
A new technology that became a mass communication medium in the early 20th century. It helped create a shared national culture and provided entertainment and news to millions of Americans.
Example:
Families gathered around their radios to listen to President Roosevelt's 'fireside chats,' which helped him communicate directly with the American public during the Great Depression.
Spanish-American War
A conflict fought between the United States and Spain in 1898, primarily over Cuban independence. It marked a turning point for the U.S., signaling its emergence as a global imperial power. [10, 19, 25, 28, 44]
Example:
Sensationalist 'yellow journalism' played a role in stirring public support for the Spanish-American War after the sinking of the USS Maine. [19, 25, 44]
Suburbanization
The population shift from central urban areas into suburbs, which are residential areas on the outskirts of a city. This trend was greatly facilitated by the widespread adoption of automobiles. [18]
Example:
The ability to commute by car led to increased suburbanization in the 1920s, as families sought larger homes and yards outside crowded city centers. [18]
Suffrage Movement
A social and political campaign aimed at securing the right to vote for women. It gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, culminating in the 19th Amendment. [6, 14, 32, 41]
Example:
Leaders of the Suffrage Movement like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton tirelessly campaigned through protests, parades, and lobbying for women's voting rights. [6, 14]
Temperance Movement
A social and political campaign advocating for the reduction or prohibition of alcohol consumption. It was particularly prominent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to Prohibition. [7, 17, 24, 31, 35]
Example:
The Temperance Movement, largely driven by women, argued that alcohol was a root cause of societal problems like poverty and domestic violence, leading to the passage of the 18th Amendment. [7, 17, 24]
The Great Depression
A severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s, beginning in the United States with the stock market crash of 1929. It led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and new government interventions.
Example:
During The Great Depression, many families lost their homes and jobs, leading to the creation of 'Hoovervilles,' shantytowns named after the then-president.
Urbanization
The increasing percentage of a population living in urban areas, leading to the growth and expansion of cities. It is often fueled by economic opportunities and technological advancements. [2, 3, 21, 26, 33]
Example:
As factories boomed in cities like Chicago, people from rural areas and immigrants flocked there, contributing to rapid urbanization and the development of diverse urban centers. [2, 26]
World War I (WWI)
A global war originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918. The U.S. entered in 1917, significantly impacting its foreign policy and economy.
Example:
The U.S. entry into World War I was influenced by German unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, shifting public opinion towards intervention.
World War II (WWII)
A global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The U.S. entered in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, becoming a major global power and ending the Great Depression. [11, 42]
Example:
The massive industrial output required for World War II production helped pull the United States out of the lingering economic effects of the Great Depression. [42]