Definitions E-F-G

E

Earth Day- in spring of 1970, a nationwide demonstration of concern about dangers to natural world that was, many believe, the beginning of the environmental movement.

ecology- idea that all elements of the natural world are linked together in a complex and delicate web; a threat to any part of the web is a threat to the whole life.

economics-of or pertaining to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Eighteenth Amendment- an amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1919) that forbade the manufacture, sale or transport of alcoholic beverages in the United States.

Eisenhower, Dwight D. American president (1953-61) Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Western Europe during WW II and supreme commander of the D-Day invasion of Europe

elastic clause- a clause in the Constitution that gives Congress the power "to make all laws that are necessary and proper" to carry out its other powers; this clause allows Congress to respond to changing circumstances.

Emancipation Proclamation- document issued by President Lincoln on Sept. 22, 1862 that freed slaves who were in areas still fighting against the Union.

embargo- a restriction on foreign trade.

Emergency Banking Act- 1933, reopened banks under government supervision

enforcement acts- acts posed by Congress in 1870 and 1871; outlawed terrorist societies and authorized use of army against them; acts aimed at stopping Ku Klux Klan that was terrorizing African Americans in the South.

enfranchisement- the right to vote.

Engles v. Vitale- controversial Supreme court case which removed prayer from Public schools.

Enlightenment- a philosophical movement in Europe in 1700s; emphasized rationalism, intellectual freedom, and freedom from prejudice and superstition in social and political activity; occurred during Age of Reason.

Enola Gay- B52 used during World War II to drop the first Atomic bomb on Hiroshima; plane named after Colonel Tibbits, pilot of the plane.

equality before the law- all citizens are equal in fundamental civil rights, such as right to fair trial.

Equal Rights Amendment(ERA) of 1972- proposed amendment to U.S. Constitution, intended to protect women from discrimination on the basis of their sex;ERA died in 1982 when it failed to pass in required three-fourths of the states.

Espionage and Sedition Acts- The Espionage At passed by Congress in 1917, this acts aimed at checking espionage (spying) and treason and prohibited the mails to send treasonable material; the Sedition Act (1918) barred disloyal utterance which criticized the government, the Constitution or disrespect of the American flag; See "clear and present danger."

Evans, Walker- U.S. photographer of the Great Depression

Executive privilege- right of executive branch to maintain privacy of its records against the claims of other branches of government; right was invoked by President Nixon during the Watergate scandal to prevent investigators from listening to his audio-tapes.

expansionists- Americans in late 1800s who felt that the U.S. should seek new frontiers overseas to extend "American influence to outlying islands and adjoining countries."

ex post facto laws- laws that impose punishment for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed but were declared illegal later.

F

Fascism- an autocratic system of govenment headed by an absolute dictator and characterized by strict social and economic regimentation, aggressive nationalistic policies often accompanied by racism; See Italy or Nazi Germany during World War II.

Fair Deal - President Harry S. Trumans' postwar proposal's to extend the New Deal by expanding the Social Security system, increasing the minimum wage, mandating full employment, ending racial discrimination in housing, increasing the power of the Fair Employment Practices Commission, building new public housing, clearing slums, aiding education, and supporting national health insurance and scientific research.

Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938- a law passed by Congress providing for a minimum wage of 25 cents an hour, and a maximum work week of 44 hours, with overtime rates paid for work after 40 hours and forbidding labor by children under 16.

Family assistance plan- an effort by President Richard Nixon to reform the national welfare system; plan called for guaranteed annual payments of $ 1,600 to all poor families; plan failed to win Congressional approval.

Farewell Address- usually the last official address given by a sitting president. Often in these addresses individuals attempt to sum of their presidency as well as advise the furture course of the nation. For example in George Washington's Farewell address he warned against the formation of political parties, which he called factions, and he adviced a couse, for American Foreign policy called Isolationism.

Farmers's alliance- a combination of several agricultural organizations that merged in 1889; political organization similar to the Grange, the Alliance entered and ran candidates throughout the South and West.

Farm Security Administration-lent money to sharecroppers and tenent farmers to help them buy their own farms; established camps for migrant farm workers; employed arstist and photograhers to help document the Great Depression.

federalism- system of government in which power is shared by a central government ( the federal government) and by state governments.

Federalist party- political party of Alexander Hamilton and those who believed in his policies; Hamilton favored a strong banking/financial system and a strong central government.

federalists- the supporters of the Constitution during the ratification process; members of Federalist party.

Federal Reserve Act- an act of Congress that established 12 Federal Reserve Districts, each with a federal reserve bank ; all national banks were required to belong to this system; federal government would also keep its money in Reserve banks and would issue paper money for public use.

Federal reserve System- the banking system of the United States; policy- making arm is the Federal Reserve Board; there are 12 Federal Reserve Districts in U.S. , each with Federal Reserve bank. Federal Reserve System controls money supply.

Federal Trade Commission Act- act of Congress in 1914 designed to eliminate unfair business competition in interstate commerce.

Ferdinand, Archduke, Franz- his assassination, by Serbian Nationalists. was the spark the initiated WWI.

Fifteenth amendment- amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed in 1870 that guaranteed the right of former slaves to vote.

fifth columnists- agents living in a country who secretly aided its enemies by sabotage, espionage and so on; used often by Nazi Germany during WWII.

Final Solution- Hitler's plan to murder all Jew and other "racially inferior" peoples.

First Hundred Days- up to its time, the greatest array of federal legislation to help end the Great Depression.

Fixin to Die Rag- anti-Vietnam War protest song: written and performed by Country Joe McDonald and the Fish.

flapper- a symbol of the 1920's, typically a short haired young women who rejected traditional views of femininity and women's behavior. Smoking, drinking and swearing were characteristic of the flapper, who also preferred short skirts, no corsets and cosmetics.

flexible response- a foreign policy established by the Kennedy Administration based on building up and maintaining both the nuclear and conventional forces so that the United States would be able to choose either option in response to a Communist threat anywhere in the world.

Foraker act- bill passed by congress in 1900 ; gave island of Puerto Rico a civil government after a year and a half of U.S. army rule. Puerto ricans were citizens of Puerto Rico , but not U.S.; they were permitted to elect a legislature but the final authority lay with the U.S.- appointed governor and council.

Ford, Henry- not only known as the father of both the modern day automoblile as well as the assembly line, but also a prominent memeber of the Anti-Imperialism League.

Foreign Policy- a collection of laws, acts, decrees and perhaps wishes, by which one foreign nation will treat another; For example, the Monroe Doctrine (1823) expressed America's view that, expansion into the new world was closed to European powers, as America had a special relationship which the Americas. In addition America promised to stay out of the affiars of Europe.

Forty-Niners- the gold seekers who rushed to California in 18489 in search of gold.

Fourteen Points- an outline of President Woodrow Wilson's concept that the peace settlement after WW I should be, including no secret treaties, freedom of seas, reduction of armaments, and establishment of a league of nations to afford " mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike."

Fourteenth amendment- amendmentt to U.S. Constitution in 1868 that granted citizenship to former slaves, established equality before the law as fundamental right of American citizens, punished former Confederate officers and canceled Confederate debts.

Freedmen's Bureau- agency created in 1865, empowered to protect legal rights of former slaves, provide for their education and medical care, and feed and care for war refugees.

Freedom riders- African American and White civil rights protesters who during the spring and summer of 1961, staged ":freedom rides" by traveling by bus through the south and attempting to integrate segregated bus facilities.

freedom schools- one aspect of 1964 Mississippi Summer Project organized to bring white volunteers to join African Americans in the civil rights struggle in the South; schools developed new techniques to improve academic and political skills of African American children and some adults.

free inquiry- the essential ingredient of scientific investigation and technological advance.

Freeport Doctrine- during the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858, Douglas's opinion concerning Dred Scott decision that slavery could exist in a territory only if it was upheld by local regulations, regardless of what the Supreme Court had decided.

Free-Soil Party- a political party that in 1848 came out against the extension of slavery in the territories.

Free Speech movement- group formed at the University of California at Berkley in 1964 to protest university's denial of a place to solicit volunteers and funds for off campus causes; group caused turmoil on campus until administration backed down and protesters won rights of free speech and association.

French and Indian War- war between England and France for control of North America that began in colonies in 1754; known in Europe as Seven Years war in 1763 France was eliminated as rival in North America.

Fugitive Slave Law- part of compromise of 1850, allowing any slave owner to reclaim a runaway slave simply by swearing that the fugitive was his or her slave.

fundamentalism- belief that the words of the Bible were inspired by God and should be taken literally and exactly ;one who holds similar beliefs in any religion.

G

Gadsden Purchase- purchase in 1853 of large tract of land south of the Gila river for $ 10 million, which rounded out the present southern boundary of the United States.

Garvey, Marcus- Black leader during the Harlem Renaissance; preached separatism; born in Jamaica; goals to instill black pride and economic self determination.

Geneva accords- a peace settlement for Indochina in 1954 that neutralized Laos and Cambodia and temporarily divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel between the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in the North and the French in the South, until 1956, when national elections would choose a government for all Vietnam.

genocide- the systematic extermination of a whole cultural or racial group.

gentrification- rehabilitation of run-down areas of a city for higher income residents; involves forcing out of lower income people with rising property values.

Gettysburg, Battle of- in early July 1863, site of Lee's final advance onto Northern soil, where, in a three day battle, he could not overcome Meade's strongly entrenched forces, and once again retreated into Virginia.

ghetto- a section of European towns and cities where Jews were once required to live; word now means section of city where impoverished minority groups are concentrated because they find it difficult to locate housing elsewhere.

GI- World War II slang for America soldiers oversees; short for government issue

GI Bill of Rights- legislation passed by Congress in 1944 to provide World War II veterans with education and housing benefits.

glasnost- Russian word meaning "Openness"; used to describe opening up of Russian society and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

global warming- gradual increase in worlds' temperature resulting from widespread burning of oil and coal.

Gompers, Samuel-leader of the AFL or American Federation of Labor; streesed the need for higher wages, shorter hours and better working conditions.

Gospel of Wealth- a rationale for wealth which stressed that success was evidence of God's favor upon the individual and that the wealthy had an obligation to help those less fortunate.

Grand Ole Opry- music hall in Nashville,Tennessee, where weekly broadcasts of country music groups have kept alive ballad traditions of English, Scottish and Irish settlers in mountain regions of U.S.

Grange- agrarian association founded in 1867 to assist farmers; served both as Social club to improve cultural life and as political body that stressed cooperative business ventures, economic freedom , and reduction in railroad freight fees.

Grandfather Clauses- method used to disfranshise black voters after the Civil War; if your grandfather could vote in 1863 than you are able to vote.

Great Awakening- series of religious revivals in American colonies during early 1700's.

Great Compromise- agreement between small states and large states during Constitutional convention that allowed for representation according to population in the House of representatives and equal representation for all states in the Senate.

Great Depression- a very severe economic downturn that lasted throughout 1930's; Depression began with stock market crash of October 1929.

Great migration- beginning in 1916, the first mass movement of African American southerners to northern and western cities to escape racial injustice and find employment and better educational opportunities.

Great Railroad Strike of 1877- strike by nation's railroad workers when depression of 1877 led railroad companies to cut wages; railway network in East and Midwest was paralyzed ; violence broke out in Pittsburgh when strikes rioted and state militia killed ten people; President Rutherford B. Hayes sent federal troops to Pittsburgh to put down strike.

Great Society- President Lyndon Johnson's program for using Americas prosperity to help improve quality of life for all of the nations people.

greenbacks- U.S. paper money, having the back printed in green; greenbacks were originally issued in 1862 without any gold or silver reserves behind them.

Green Berets- special forces in the 1960s trained in techniques of fighting a modern limited war; name came from the distinctive headgear.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- almost unanimous resolution of both houses of congress in 1964 that supported President Johnson in his intention to "take all necessary measures" to protect American forces and " prevent further aggression" in Vietnam , following alleged unprovoked attack in Gulf of Tonkin off coast of North Vietnam between North Vietnamese torpedo boats and U.S. warships.