Unit 2 Key Terms

  • Immigration

    Immigration
    When a person from a foreign country goes to another country to permanently live in the other country. People who immigrate to another country assimilate themselves to adjust to this new way of life.
  • Industrialization

    Industrialization
    When the manual-based labor in the US changed to a more machine-based industry. This made production faster, better, and more efficient. The economy of the US grew a lot during this period.
  • Urbanization

    Urbanization
    When people who live in the rural areas of a country start moving to the urban areas, which increases the amount of people who live in these urban areas. Urbanization greatly increased due to the Industrial Revolution.
  • Rural & Urban

    Rural & Urban
    Urban means an area with high population and industrialization. Rural is an area in the outskirts with a lower population. Urban areas are usually cities, while rural areas are things like villages and little towns.
  • Great Plains

    Great Plains
    A big area of flatland and grassland in the middle of the US. We acquired much of the great plains in the Louisiana Purchase
  • Missionaries

    Missionaries
    A person sent to a foreign country to spread their religion.
  • Monroe Doctrine

    Monroe Doctrine
    A US policy that was against European colonization and intervention in American (North + South) affairs. President James Monroe first stated this doctrine.
  • Henry Cabot Lodge

    Henry Cabot Lodge
    He was an American Congressman and historian. Supported the annexation of the Philippines and immigration restrictions.
  • Homesteader

    Homesteader
    A settler who gained land thanks to the Homestead Act of 1862.
  • Homestead Act of 1862

    Homestead Act of 1862
    Enacted during the Civil War, the Homestead Act let any adult citizen, who had not fought in a war against the US, claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. They had to improve the land (building a house, etc.), and could have the title of the land after 5 years.
  • "Civil War Amendments" (13, 14, 15)

    "Civil War Amendments" (13, 14, 15)
    These Reconstruction Amendments were added within 5 years after the Civil War.
    13th Amendment: Abolished slavery.
    14th Amendment: Required the Govt. to provide equal protection to all citizens; also made former slaves American citizens.
    15th Amendment: Gave voting rights to everyone regardless of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude".
  • Transcontinental Railroad

    Transcontinental Railroad
    The transcontinental railroad was a railroad that stretched from Eastern US to the West. It was completed in 1869. Greatly reduced the time it took to get across the country.
  • Assimilation

    Assimilation
    When a person, group of people, or culture come to adopt the popular culture. It happens a lot to immigrants who move to different countries, when they have to understand and take in the culture.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    Chinese Exclusion Act
    This was a federal law passed by President James Chester that banned all immigration from Chinese laborers.
  • Alfred T. Mahan

    Alfred T. Mahan
    An American naval officer and historian. He wrote the acclaimed book "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660–1783" which was very influential in American imperialism.
  • "Closing of the Western Frontier"

    "Closing of the Western Frontier"
    When Americans settled in the western most part of mainland US. The 1893 Census Bureau said that the western frontier was officially closed.
  • Sanford B. Dole

    Sanford B. Dole
    A lawyer and jurist in Hawaii. Advocated the annexation of Hawaii and served as the President of the Republic of Hawaii.
  • Klondike Gold Rush

    Klondike Gold Rush
    Gold was discovered by miners in the Klondike region in Yukon, Canada, which interested many people, who decided to go there. An estimated 100,000 people made the travel, of which only 30,000 made it.
  • Imperialism (Expansionism)

    Imperialism (Expansionism)
    Extending a country's power to another other parts of the world through diplomacy or military force.
  • Yellow Journalism

    Yellow Journalism
    Exaggerated stories in newspapers that cause controversy on purpose. Was one of the causes of the Spanish-American War.
  • Naval Station

    Naval Station
    Where ships are docked and refueled. We used Hawaii as a naval station.
  • Acquisitions

    Acquisitions
    The U.S. gained the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.
  • Spanish-American War

    Spanish-American War
    The Spanish-American War was caused by American intervention in Cuba. Many people say it officially started when the U.S.S. Maine was sunk off the coast of Cuba. Americans blamed the Spanish and declared war. The US won and in return they got the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Cuba also gained independence from Spain.
  • Theodore Roosevelt

    Theodore Roosevelt
    The 26th President of the United States. He was a Spanish-American War hero and really favored American Imperialism.
  • Americanization

    Americanization
    American culture influencing other countries around the world. Can include trends, music, clothing, language, food, etc.