Definitions O-P-Q

O

On the Road- classic tale writen by Jack Kerouak, U.S. writer; set the tone for the beatnik generation

OPEC(organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)- an organization of countries exporting petrleum that banded together to control oil prices.

Open Door Policy- policy ststed in 1899 by Secretary of state John Hay that the privilege of trading with China should remain open to all nations; nations that controlled spheres of influence were to keep ports , railroads and treading priviledges available.

Operation Overlord- name give to the allied plan to invade france and eventually Germany during World War II.

Operation Torch- WWII plan of invasion of Africa by British and American troops.

Our Country-argued for the spread of Christianity, from "Mexico, Central and South America out upon the islands of the sea over upon Africa and beyond."

ozone layer- the part of the earths atmosphere that protects the globe from the U.V. rays of the sun.

P

pacification- General Westmorland’s 1967 program to rout Viet Cong from important areas in Vietnam, not just defeating them militarily but by winning hearts and mind of local population.

pacifist- a person opposed to war who favors settling all disputes between nations by peaceful means.

Pacific Railroad Act-this act set up charters for two railroad lines; the Union Pacific which started in Omaha and the Central Pacific which began in San Fransisco. When these two railroads met they would span the country.

Palace Guards- term apllied to Nixon’s close circle of Whitehouse advisors.

Palmer Raids: U.S. Attorney General, A. Mitchell Palmer's investigations of those he suspected of subversive activities; investigation of labor unions and members of the Communists party; deportations of suspected aliens whom Mitchell considered union activists.

panzer divisions- name give to divisions of tanks of the German army in World War II.

Patriot- one who loves and is loyal to their couuntry.

Patriots- American colonists who actively supported revolution with England.

Peace Corps- organization created by President Kennedy made up of American volunteers who lived and worked in developing countries where they helped people battle hunger, disease and lack of education.

Pearl Harbor- the Japanese attack of this American Navel base in Hawaii, was the immediate cause for America's involvment in WW II.

Pendelton Act- legislative act passed by Congress in 1833 that set up a system wherby many government jobs would be filled based on many competve examinations.

Pentagon papers- secret documents photocopied from classified files in the Pentagon and delivered to the New York Times by former defense department employee Daniel Ellsberg; papers contained a history of American involvemnet in Vietrnam War.

Perestroika- Russian word meaning "reform" used to describe restructuring of Soviet economic system under Gorbachev.

Philipine insurrection- term applied by American Authorities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to the Filipino's struggle for independence against the U.S., which replaced Spain as Philiipine colonial ruler.

Pilgrims- a group of religious reformers who fled England to seek religious freedom first in Holland and later,in 1620, in the New World; established first permanent colony in New England at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Platt Amendment- a rider attached to Army Appropriations bill of 1901, introduced by Senator Orville H. Platt of Conneticut severly limiting Cuba's political freedom.

Plessy v Ferguson- a 1892 Supreme Court case that set in motion legalized segregation; see separate but equal; overturned by Brown v. Board of Education

PLO(Palestine Liberation Organization)- organization formed for the purpose of getting the international community to accept the legitimacy of a Palestinian home-land.

plumbers- White House unit created by Nixon after Pentagon papers were leaked; purpose was to increase Administrations ability to prevent future leaks and discredit its enemies; included covert operations such as Water Gate break in.

political cartoons- cartoons that often satarize public officials and their policies.

political machine- political organization composed of politicians and political workers who owe allegiance to a political boss.

Poll taxes- money needed in order to vote; one the methods used along with Literacy tests and Grandfather clauses to keep Blacks from voting during and after Reconstruction.

polytheistic- having to do with or characterized by belief in more than one god.

pool- business arangement in 1870s where several companies agreed to divide available business area among themselves.

Poor People's Campaign- plan of Dr. martin luther king to bring poor people to Washington to pressure president Johnson to increase funding for the "war on poverty".

popular sovereignity- pre civil war policy of letting the voters decide whether to allow slavery or not in a new territory.

Populists- member of the People;s party created in 1891 by Farmers alliance members ; Populist platform reflected needs of farmers but also addressed concerns of other reform groups.

pragmatist- lack of an idealogy in deciding what one should do; If something does not work try something else.

Presidential Election Campaign fund- bill passed by congress in 1974 that established federal financing of presidential campaigns; effort to limit role of private contributors.

presidio- a military post or fortified area of a settlement in colonial Spanish america.

Pro-choice movement- a powerful political force in the 1980s working to preserve a womens right to choose how best to respond to a pregnancy.

progressive education- an approach to instruction whose goal is to fit the course of study in schools to the needs and interests of the students rather than to force the students into a given curriculum.

progressive party- a political party formed in 1912 by supporters of Theodore roosevelt also called the bull moose party.

progressivism- a reform movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that worked to improve the various aspects of American life such as poverty, working conditions and state and local governments.

prohibition- the period in between 1920 and 1933 when the manufacture, sale , or transport of any alcholic beverage in the U.S. was prohibited. it became law by the 18th amendment and repealed by the 21st amendment.

Project C- plan prepared in 1963 by leaders of Southern Christian Leadership Council to provoke confrontations with white officials in Birmingham, Alabama in hope of causing federal intervention on behalf of civil rights reforms.

pro-life movement- powerful protest movement against abortion rights that began in the late 1970s and became formidable political force by mid-1980s.

propaganda- allegations, facts, opinions, and the like sytematically spread with the intention of helping or harming some individual, group, institution or movement.

Protestant Reformation- religious movement in Europe in 1500s led, by Martin Luther and john Calvin, that aimed at reform within the Roman Catholic church but led to establishment of new protestant churces.

Proxy- the agency of a person who acts as a substitute for another person; the person designated to act for another.

(PWA) Public Works Administration- A New Deal agency established by Congress in June 1933 to administer spending of government funds for major public works such as bridges, municipal water and sewer system.

Pullman strike- in 1894, widespread railroad strike brought on by Eugene Debs the American railway Union voted to boycott the Pullman Company; despite protest of Illinois.

pump priming- pouring small amount of water down pump shaft so pump washer will seal and bring water from the well; F.D Rosevelt apllied idea to economy in 1933.

Pure Food and Drug Act- a law passed by Congress in 1906 that prohibited manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure or mislabeled food and drugs.

Puritans- members of Protestant group in Church of England during 1500s and 1600s who wanted simpler forms of worship and stricter morals.

Q

Quakers- dissenting Protestant sect, formally known as Society of Friends, that fled persecution in England and found refuge in colony of New Jersey; later established pennsylavania.

quota- a certain set amount; a proportional part of a fixed quantity