Definitions A-B

A
abolitionist- person in the 1830s to 1860s who favored the compulsory abolition of slavery in the United States.

abstract expressionism- a modern art movement that stresses the free, spontaneous application of paint to create large, highly decorated abstract paintings.

abyss-a bottomless gulf

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)- a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the immune system, resulting in the inability to resist other diseases such as pneumonia and various forms of Cancer.

affirmative action programs - programs that set goals and timetables for the hiring of minority groups and women.

African National Congress(ANC)- organization dedicated to ending apartheid and gaining majority rule for blacks in South Africa.

agrarian- pertaining to farming; outside of the city

Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)- a New Deal agency that encouraged farmers to remove some of their land from cultivation and to raise fewer crops; declared unconstitutional in 1936.

Agricultural Marketing Act- act supposed by the Hoover Administration and passed by Congress in April 1929 in an effort to aid American agriculture; established first government agency with the responsibility for stabilizing farm prices.

AIM- American Indian Movement; one of the Civil Rights movements during the 1960's.

Albany Movement- group of African Americans from Albany, Georgia, who staged several mass marches and rallies in their community during December 1961 in an effort to bring an end to segregation.

Alger, Horatio- popular turn of the century protagonists, and industrial hero; books which stressed the importance of hard work and the ability of a poor man to succeed in America; See "rages to riches."

Alien and Sedition Acts - during the Quasi- War with France ( 1798- 1800), four laws passed by Congress that supporters claimed promoted national security. Three acts required immigrants to live in the United States for 14 years before becoming a citizen and allowed the president to expel foreigners deemed dangerous during peace and war; the sedition act barred citizens from making malicious comments against the government and allowed their imprisonment for doing so.

alliance- the state of being allied or connected; a union between nations contracted by compact, treaty or league.

Alliance for Progress - a ten year 20$-million aid program for Latin America, proposed by president John F. Kennedy in 1961.

Allies- in World War I, the Triple Entente countries in World War II all the countries that fought in the Axis powers

American Civil Liberties Union- group formed in 1920 to challenge the constitutionality of laws that violated the Bill of Rights.


American Federation of Labor(AFL)- a labor organization formed in 1886 with Samuel Gompers as its first elected president , chiefly concerned with issues in the workplace such as wages, hours and safety on the job.

American Indian movement (AIM) - a group formed in 1968 by young Native Americans in an effort to obtain equality and justice.

American Liberty League- A political organization formed in August 1934 by a group of powerful industrialists to oppose the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; League sought to maintain personal and property right of individuals and the right of private enterprise to function without government interference.

anarchy-lack of government; a state of society where there is no law or supreme power.

Antietam, Battle of - the first battle of the civil war fought on Northern soil, at Antietam Creek in Maryland on September 17,1862; Lee fought McClellan to draw, but withdrew toward Richmond after battle ; bloodiest one day battle of the war with nearly 6,000 dead.

Antifederalists- opponents of the Constitution and its ratification.

Anti-Imperialistism League- an organization dedicated against, what they perceive, as imperialistic policies of the United States.

anti-Semitism- prejudice against Jewish people.

apartheid- a formal government- supported policy of social, political and economic discrimination against black South Africans in the republic of South Africa.

appeasement- giving in or pacifying someone to avoid conflict; policy followed before World War II by Britain and France to avoid conflict with Hitler.

Arab oil embargo- action by OPEC during 1973 war between Israel and several Arab nations to stop oil shipments to nations supporting Israel; actions created fuel shortages in the United States.

arbitration- method of settling disagreements between employers and workers through decision by impartial person or committee.

Armenian massacre- Turkish repression in 1915-1916 against the nationalist movement among Christian Armenians; when Armenians formed battalions to help Russia fight the Turks, Turkish government deported 1,750,000 Armenians to deserts where at least 600,000 men, women and children were killed or died of starvation.

Armstrong, Louis- American Jazz trumpeteer, during the Harlem Renaissance; known as Satchomo. see Hello Dolly

Articles of Confederation- first American constitution, adopted by 13 original states of the United States in 1781; replaced by present constitution in 1789.

assembly line- row of workers and machines along which work is passed until final product is made; used by Cyprus McCormick in 1850s to manufacture reapers and by Henry Ford in 1913 to manufacture cars.

Atlantic Charter- agreement between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, later endorsed by the Soviet Union; set forth goals similar to those of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen points; Atlantic charter affirmed the right of people to choose their own government and to be free of foreign aggression.

Atomic bomb- a bomb whose explosive power is derived from splitting the atom;

Axis- World war II alliance between Italy, Germany, Japan and their allies, so called because Italian leader Mussolini said that the line between Berlin and Rome would be axis on which the world will turn.

Aztecs- highly civilized American Indian people who ruled large empire in central Mexico before its conquest by the Spaniards in 1521.

B

Baby and Child Care- Dr. Benjamin Spock- best seller during the 1950's; working concerning itself with child rearing

baby boom- a period that has a substantially higher number of births; especially the time after World War II until approximately 1965.

balance of power- an elaborate system of "checks" on each branch of government by other branches to ensure that no single branch dominates over another.

Ballot of the Green Berets- pro-Vietnam War, ballot; written and performed by Sargent Barry Satler

Bank of the United States - government chartered bank proposed in 1790 by Alexander Hamilton bank owned by private investors and the government; it would also serve as a tax collecting agent and a depository for U.S. tax revenues.

barrio- section of U.S. city inhabited primarily by Spanish speaking people.

Bataan Death March- forced march of 78,000 U.S. and Filipino prisoners of war after defeat by Japanese on island of Bataan in April 1942; prisoners were forced to march 65 miles with little food or water; two thirds of the Americans died during or shortly after the march.

Beats- literary group that rebelled against the materialistic society of the 1950s also called beatniks.

Berlin wall- concrete and barbed wire barrier between East and West Berlin built in 1961 by East German government to prevent its citizens from fleeing dictatorship for freedom in West Germany; in 1990 the Berlin wall was dismantled and the two Germany's were reunited.

bilingualism - in schools the teaching of subjects in two languages.

bill of attainder- law passed by legislature that deprives a person of property and civil rights without benefit of judicial trial.

Bill of Rights- statement of fundamental rights of people of a state or nation; first ten amendments to the United States constitution adopted in 1791 which included a declaration of fundamental rights held by U.S. citizens.

Black Codes- after the Civil War a series of laws passed by the new Southern governments that attempted to regulate and repress former slaves.

blacklist- a list of workers thought to be union organizers or troublemakers; circulation of blacklist among employers makes it hard for workers to find jobs.

Black Panther Party- political party formed in 1966 by African Americans to gain political offices in the South; an offshoot of the SNCC by late 1960s party had become increasingly militant in its demands for "land,bread, justice, housing, education, clothing and peace."

Black Power- an African American movement of the 1960s inspired by Malcolm X and named by Stokely Carmichael; questioned the goals of the civil rights movement ; adhered to Malcolm X's beliefs in separatism, black ownership of factories and businesses and vigorous defense if white aggression should occur; supporters opposed integration into white society.

blitzkrieg- German word for lightning war; applied to swift attacks by the German army in World War II.

blue-collar workers- people who do industrial or factory work such as miners, auto workers and mechanics.

boat people- Vietnamese refugees who put to sea in crowded vessels without any clear destination in order to escape the communist takeover of their country.

body counts- nomenclature used for the death of Communist insurgence during the war in Vietnam.

body politic - the people who make up a unit under a single government.

Bolsheviks- members of the minority radical wing, led by Lenin, of the Russian Social Democratic party that seized power in November 1917; bolsheviks formed the communist party in March 1918.

Bonus Army- unemployed veterans of World War I, and other unemployed people, marched on Washington, D.C., in May 1932 to demand early payment of their veterans bonuses; Hoover refused to meet with leaders and ordered the U.S. Army to clear Washington of marchers; two veterans died in the process.

border state- slave state near free territory in United States before civil war; Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri.

born -again Christians- people who experience a conversion and form what they call a "direct personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

Boston Massacre- confrontation between British soldiers and Bostonians on March 5, 1770 ; Boston crowd pelted the soldiers with rocks and snowballs and one soldier panicked and fired; five people were killed.

Boston Tea Party- a protest against the Tea Act. On December 16,1773, a band of colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded ships in Boston Harbor and dumped the East India Tea Company's cargo in the harbor.

Bourke-White, Margaret- American photographer of the Great Depression.

Boxer Rebellion- a Chinese secret society that tried to expel foreigners from China in 1900; defeated by international force of foreign soldiers; Boxers were given this name by Westerners because Chinese name translated to " righteous harmony fist."

boycott- a form of protesting which entails "not buying a product."

Britain, Battle of - Germany's nightly bombing missions over Britain began on August 8,1940, which Hitler hoped would make an invasion by sea unnecessary; RAF managed to destroy many planes on the Luftwaffe; Hitler postponed invasion plans.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka- decision of U.S. Supreme Court ruling that separate but equal schools for African American students were unconstitutional; decision reversed Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896.

Bulge, Battle of - last major German offensive in World War II ( Oct. 1944) in heavily wooded Ardennes Forrest near Bastogue, Belgium; offensive known as Battle of the Bulge because German tanks formed a bulge 80 miles long and 50 miles wide; Allied air power and Soviet advance on Berlin led to German defeat.

Bull Run, Battle of - Civil war battle near Manassas Junction, VA; disaster for north; Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard defeated Union General McDowell.

Bunker Hill, Battle of- Revolutionary War battle actually fought mostly at Breed's Hill near Boston; Bunker Hill was nearby.

Buying on the Margin- the ability to put 10% down for a stock; often contributed to American's buying more stock than they could afford.