Definitions H-I-J-K

H

Harlem Renaissance- flowering in 1920s of artistic creativity by African American writers and artists living in New York City's Harlem; movement spread to other African American population centers by end of decade.

Hartford convention- meeting of 26 federalist party antiwar delegates at which rights of states to reject national policies to which they objected was asserted.

Hay- Bunau- Varilla Treaty- treaty between Panama and U.S. in 1903 giving U.S. complete control over Canal Zone for price of $ 10 million and annual rent of $250,000; effectively made Panama a protectorate of the U.S.

Hay, John- Secrectary of State under Mckinnely; Best known for advocacy of an Open Door Policy with China.

Haymarket riot- violence following a labor rally on May 4, 1866, in Chicago's Haymarket Square, when a thrown bomb resulted in seven police fatalities; may people were wounded when police opened fire.

Hay- pauncefote Treaty- treaty negotiated in 1901 by John Hay; permitted U.S. to build and control canal across Panama on condition it would be open to ships of all nations and would remain neutral in wartime.

Hawk- bird of prey; those who supported the war in Vietnam.

H-bomb- hydrogen bomb that uses fusion of atoms to cause explosion of tremendous force; bomb is many times more powerful than atomic bomb.

headright system- revised land policy of London Company, whereby company granted every male newcomer, who paid his own passage to America, 50 acres of land; system created thriving community at Jamestown by 1619.

Hepburn Act- law passed by Congress in 1906 which gave the Interstate Commerce Commission power to set maximum railroad rates.

hippies- youthful adherents of the counterculture in 1960s and 1970s , who rejected conventional standards of dress and behavior.

Hilter, Adolf- German Nationalist Socialist leader during WWII; author of Mein Compt, or My Struggle; his racist policies led to the extermination of over 6 million Jews in Concentration camps during WW II.

Hiroshima- Japanese city; first use of an Atomic bomb was used against this city; 60,000 immediate deaths, 200, 000 wounded est.

Hiss, Alger- U.S. State Department official accused of being a a Soviet Spy during the 1950's; tried and convicted or perjury and sentenced to five years in prison.

Holocaust- the attempted extermination of all Jews in Europe by the Nazis during World War II, resulting in the mass murder of about 6 million Jews.

Homestead Act- Passed during the American Civil War along with the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862. The Homestead Act gave settlers land if they would live, farm and improve the land over a five year period. It was an attempt by the Federal Government to encourage emmigration westward.

Homestead strike- strike in 1892 against Carnegie Steel Company in Homestead, Pennsylvania; Carnegie refused to negotiate with union and company tried to end strike bringing in non-union workers; striking workers barricaded themselves inside the plant and ten strikers were killed by Pinkerton guards; governor sent in 8,000 state troopers to restore order.

Hoover, Herbert- American president at the start of the Great Depression; in charge the Food Aministration Relief or aid to Europeans during World War I; often blamed for not doing enough to end the Depression.

Hoovervilles- a term used during the Great Depression, which often refered to ill build Shanty Towns; a swipe towards President Hoover.

House of Burgesses- first colonial assembly in New world, created by Virginia Company; convened at Jamestown in 1619 to meet with governor and his council; landowning colonists elected representatives to this assembly.

Hughes, Langston- U.S. author who was part of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920's; Works expressed the pride of African Americans in thier own history and culture.

hush money- money bribes paid to keep a person from telling something ; accusation made during Watergate scandal that president Nixon approved payment of bribes to Watergate suspects.

I

impeachment- accusation of wrongdoing against a public official.

imperialism- policy of extending the rule of one country over other countries or colonies, usually for the purpose of controlling raw materials, markets or military bases.

Imperialist- An individual or country that practices the policies of Imperialism

impressment- seizing of property for public use or of people to serve in the armed forces; kidnapping of sailors from American ships to the British in the late 1700s.

Incas- ancient people of South America who had a highly developed culture and ruled a large empire in Peru and other parts of South America until it fell to the Spaniards in the 1500s.

indemnity- payment for damage, loss or hardship; money demanded by victorious nation at end of war was a condition of peace.

indentured servants- people bounded by contract to serve or work for someone else; many became servants for the passage to the United States.

Indian Removal Act- act passed by Congress in 1830 that allowed the federal government to seize most Indian lands as long as some compensation was paid.

Industrial Revolution- change from household industries to factory production by machinery; era in which such a change took place.

INF Treaty- treaty in 1988 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in which the two nations agreed to eliminate American and Soviet intermediate- range nuclear forces from Europe.

Influence of Sea Power- An expansionist text, (Alfred, Thayer Mahan) which argued that "all great nations of the past, ie Greece, Rome, Spain, and England had one thing in common; namely a great navy. " If America desired to become great, she too must expand their naval forces.

initiative- a procedure that allows citizens to introduce bills in congress or state legislatures by petition.

installment plan- a plan permitting people to buy an item for a small down payment with balance to be paid in weekly or monthly payments.

Insular Cases- cases before the U.S. Supreme court in 1901 concerning previously foreign islands, now U.S. possessions; Court found that constitutional guarantees did not apply to Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions, and that the "Constitution does not follow the flag."

internment camp- during WWII, U.S., camps in isolated parts of western and southwestern states to which Japanese Americans living on the West coast were shipped by War relocation Authority due to fears of sabotage spread by anti-Asia groups and others, many Japanese Americans lost all their property and businesses and were subjected to poor living conditions during the war.

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)- regulatory agency created by the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887 to regulate freight rates.

Iran-contra affair- scandal in 1986 in Reran administration; government officials admitted to making secret deal to sell weapons to government of Iran; also revealed that some money from weapons sale hade been illegally diverted secretly to a fund to aid contras in Nicaragua; special commission set up to investigate the affair found a secret government acting , often illegally, to advance certain administration foreign policy goals.

Islam- religion of the Muslims, based on teachings of Mohammed as they appear in the Koran; founded in the 7th century; followers believe there is only one god Allah, and that Mohammed is his prophet.

isolationism- principle or policy of avoiding involvement in foreign affairs; term often used to describe U.S. diplomatic policy in years between Worl War I and World war II.

Isolationist- a country or individual who practices the policies of isolationism.

Invisible Man-

J

Jazz- a kind of music, improvisedor arranged and marked by its rhythmic emphasis, syncopation, and harmonic and melodic variations.

Jazz singer,The- first sound motion picture, produced by Warner Bros. studios in 1927.

Jim Crow laws- laws passed by South aftewr Reconsturction to segregate the races.

Joint-stock company- a business organization formed to finance new settlements in America in which many individuals could invest small amounts of money and therby share there resources as well as financial risks.

Judaism- religion of the Jews, based on teachings of Moses and prophets of the Old Testament of Bible and on interpretations of rabbis; Judaism teaches belief in one god.

judicial review- the power of the courts to review laws and determine whether the are constitutional.

Judiaciary act of 1789- act of congress that created the federal court system; provided for a Supreme Court with six members a chief justice and five associates to be appointed by the president with the consent of Senate.

Jungle,The- most famous of the muckracking novels, published in 1904 by Upton Sinclair; described shocking working conditions and primitive health standard in Chicagos stock yards and meat packing plants.

K

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions- resolutions drafted by Jefferson and Madison stating that Alien and Sedition acts violated freedoms guaranteed by Bill of Rights.

Khmer rouge- after fall of Vietnam, communist group that gained control over Cambodia, changed country's name to Kampuchea and established a cruel government.

KIA- nomenclature often used in the war in Vietnam: killed in action.

King Jr., Dr. Martin Luther- Civil Right leader 1960's; Chritian minister; leader of the NAACP; preached non-violent resistence. his assasination in 1968 help to spark of summer of racial riots in the United States

Knights of Labor- American labor organization founded in 1869 that welcomed all members of the "producing classes;" fought for end of chilod labor , equal pay for women, eight hour weekday , safer workplaces and nationalization of railroads and telegraph lines flourished in 1880s.

Korea- Southeast Asian country; divided into North a (Democratic Republic) and South (Communist Nation) sortly after World War II; current statis divided,

Kristalnacht- the night of Broken glass in November, 1938 in Nazi Germany, organized night of terror by nazi gangs agianst Jews; Jewish homes were broken intop, occupants beaten synagogues burned and Jewish businesses looted.

KU Klux Klan- organization of white people formed after the civil war in the south and revived in the 1920s to maintain white supremacy by supressing certain minority groups mainly African Americans.