Definitions L-M-N

L

Laissez Faire- an economic belief which emphasizes a market economy or the government is best which governs least. :See Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

Land Ordinance of 1785- law passed for the orderly sale and settlement of the Northwest Territory; created system of township set aside for public school.

Lange, Dorothea- U.S. photographer known for her documentation of the Great Depression; Life magazine photographer

LBJ- short for Lyndon Bains Johnson, U.S. President known for his "Great Society" and the war in Vietnam; early on a segregationists; however responsible for the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

League of Nations- an association of nations established in 1920 to protect political independence and territorial integrity of all nations; formally dissolved on April 8 ,1945; United nations assumed some of its functions.

League of the Iroquois- most powerful of confederacies organized by the eastern Indians, consisting of five latter six tribes; Iroquois controlled area now known as New York State, which made them a key factor in the early struggle between England and France for control of North America; their decision to side with English helped drive the French from North America.

Lebensraum- German word meaning living space, in 1930s, Nazi theory that a country must have room for economic expansion; German nationalists proposed that Germany's eastern neighbor should provide living space for the nation in its effort to build an empire.

Lend-Lease Act- act passed by congress in March 1941 permitting the president to sell transfer, exchange,lease,lend or dispose of any defense particle for any country whose defense the president deems vital to the defense of the U.S.

limited liability- a term that means the owners of a corporation cannot be held legally liable for the debts of the business; if the company fails, stockholders loose only the money they invested in the shares of stock.

Literacy tests- one of the methods used to disfranshise black voters in the South; need to be able to read if you want to vote.

Little Bighorn, Battle of- June 25,1876, the Sioux, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, defeated federal troops led by Colonel George A. Custer along the Little Bighorn river in Montanna; also known as Custer's Last Stand.

lottery system- a system introduced by the Nixon Administration in 1969, for military draft; cards with all the days of the year were randomely selected; men whose birthdays were drawn were the first to be drafted; those who recieved numbers above a certain cutoff were not called for the draft but were considered eligible for a year; system eliminated college deferments and economics as factors in draft.

Louisiana Purchase- purchase in 1803 of France’s mainland American territories by the United States for $15 million.

Loyalists- in the late 1770s those American colonists who remained loyal to England and actively opposed independence.

Luftwaffe- the German air force, especially in World War II.

Lusitania- British passenger liner sunk by German U- Boat on May 7, 1915, with great loss of life.

M

MacArthur, Douglas- military leader during WW II; Commander of United Nations forces in Korea; appointed commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific during WW II.

Maginot Line- elaborate system of defensive structures built by France along border with Germany after World War I; the German army outflanked it in 1940.

Mahan, Alfred Thayer- American Expansionists, whose influencial work the Influence of Sea Power argued that in order for American to become a great nation, they must vastly expand thier naval forces.

Maine- U.S. battleship mysteriously destroyed by explosion in harbor of Havana,Cuba in February 1898; U.S. yellow journalists blamed Spain and president McKInley began preparing for war.

Malcolm X (Malcolm Little)- U.S. Black Muslim minister and political leader who preached black separatism; assasinated in 1965.

mandate- after a war a territory or colony taken from the defeated nations and placed under the control of one or more of the victors; term applied to former German colonies and Ottoman empire lands administered by allies on behalf of League of Nations after World War I.

Manhattan Project- a U.S. Army- administered scientific and technical program, begun in 1942, that set up atomic bomb research center in New Mexico to develop atomic bomb as a weapon; first device succesfully detonated at Almagordo, New Mexico, July 16, 1945.

Manifest destiny- belief in the 1840's of the inevitable expansion of the United States which was believed to have the right and the duty to bring progress and democracy to the entire western hemisphere.

Marbury v. Madison- in 1803, case brought before the Supreme Court by Wiliam Marbury, appointed to a judicial post by outgoing President Adams in 1801 but not commisioned by Jefferson, the incoming president ; Chief Justice Marshall found out that Marbury deserved post according to Judiciary Act of 1789 but that part if the act was Unconstitutional.

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom- largest single demonstration of early 1960s, August 28,1963; 250,000 people gathered at Lincoln memorial in Washington, D.C. , to show increasing public support for civil rights legislation ; those attending included major civil rights groups, labor unions, and religious leaders; the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech.

Marshall Plan- after World War II, a plan drawn upp by Secretary of State George Marshall and others to provide aid for European countries still suffering from the effects of war.

massive retaliation- the idea of relying on nuclear weapons in case of war.

mass production- the making of goods in large quantities, especially by machinery.

Matewan- a John Sales film dealing with a coalmining strike.

matrilineal- having or maintaining relationship through female line of a family, tribe and so on.

Maya- ancient American indian people with highly developed civilization, located on the Yucatan peninsula; civilization at peak around 250-900 A.D.

Mayflower compact- agreement signed by men aboard the Mayflower setting up a voluntary government for the Plymouth colony.

McCarran Act-1950; made it illegal for Americans to engage in activities that would create a Communist government.

McCarthy, Joseph- U.S. political figure; Republican senator from Wisconsin (1946-1957); charged that over 200 communists were working in the U.S. State Department; his accusations were never proven and he was discredited and censured.

McCarthyism- the crusade against communism triggered by Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin in the early 1950s that relied on the use fo unsebstantiated accusations of treason and support of Communism.

McNary- Haugen bill- a bill supported by farmers and passed by congress during the Coolidge administration ; bill proposed to raise domestic prices of wheat, cotton, and corn and have a government board sell part of grain crop on world market; President Calvin CoolidgeVetoed bill twice.

Meat Inspection act- law passed by Congress in 1906 that required federal inspection of meat packing facilities.

Medicaid- part of the health care system established by Lyndon Johnson that helped provide medical benefits for those who could not afford them.

Medicare- part of the health care system established by Lyndon Johnson that helped provide low cost medical benefits for those over the age of 65.

Merrimac- steam powered wooden ship revamped by the Confederacy with four inch armor plate; on first day of action in 1862, sank two Union ships and ran three more aground.

methodologies- a manner or procedure of teaching or learning.

MIA-Nomenclare standing for Missing in Action

middle passage- ocean voyagfe taken by slaves from Africa to the Americas.

midnight justices- federalist judges of circuit and lower courts in 1800 whose commissions were signed by President John Adams the day and evening of his last day in office so that the Federalist s might secure judicial branch for their party.

Midway, Battle of - during World War II, first defeat suffered by modern Japanese navy in June 1942; Japanese assembled more than 150 ships for major attack on Midway Island, planning to destroy last remnants of U.S. fleet ; U.S. bombers tore apart four carriers snd Japanese fleet retreated.

minuet-a slow, stately dance of French origins in triple meter, dating back to the 17th century.

Militarism-Military spirit or policy; the ideals characteristic of the armed forces or military class; the tendency to regard military efficiecny as the supreme ideal of the state; one of the long term causes of World War I.

Miranda v. Arizona- Supreme court case, that thereafter required officiers of the law to read an individual their rights upon their arrest; Mirandize

mission- group sent by religious organization to spread its beliefs; religious organization to spread its beliefs; religious center in Spanish America whose goal was to convert the Indians to Christianity.

Mississippi Freedom Democratic party (MFDP)- alternative to regular Democratic party in Mississippi organized in 1964 by civil rights workers; open to all races; sent delegation to Democratic convention of 1964 but was unable to unseat regular state delegation.

Mississippi Summer Project- a plan developed by African American civil rights workes in Mississippi in 1963 to recruit a large number of white volunteers to work in the state to attract National attention and perhaps restrain wite violence; put into operation in 1964, Project's successes included freedom schools and political organization of civil rights activists.

Missouri Compromise- compromise on February 19,1820 by which Missouri would enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free one; banned slavery norh of 36 30 N except for Missouri.

Molly Maguires- In the Pennsylvania coalmining district in the 1870's, an undercover detective exposes the leaders of a secret society (union).

Monitor- Northern ironclad ship battled by Confederate ironclad the Merrimac at mouth of James river in Virginia; neither ship damaged severly.

monopoly- the exclusive control of a comodity or service.

Monroe Doctrine- policy set forth by president James Monroe in 1823, that American continents were not to be considered for further colonization by European powers; in turn, the U.S. would not interfer with Europe internal affairs.

Moral Majoritry- a political organization formed in 1979 by Baptist fundamentalist minister Jerry Falwell to promote conservative causes such as prayer in public schools, an end to federal interference in local affairs, restoration of bands on abortion and a strong military service.

moratorium-any suspension of activity;

Mountain Men- fur trappers and traders who worked in Rocky mountain region in early 1800s.

muckrackers- writers of the Progressive Era who pioneered investigative journalism and exposed social and political corruption of the time.

Muller v. Oregon- Supreme Court case in 1908 upholding Oregon’s ten hour workday law for women.

My Lai Massacre- the destruction of a small Vietnamese hamlet in March 1968 and the killing of Vietnamese civilians by American combat troops.

N

Nagasaki- Japanese city; 2nd use of the Atomic bomb Aug 9th 1945;

napalm- thickened or jellied gasoline used of incendiary bombs and in flamethrowers; uised in Vietnam to kill thick jungle vegetation that provides places for the Viet Cong to hide.

National Association for the Advancement of colored people(NAACP)- organization formed in 1909 by W.E.B Dubois and others to promote civil rights , equality in job opportunities and education, and an end to segregation for African Americans.

National Industrial Recovery Act( NIRA) an act designed in 1933 to join the federal government with business and labor to fight the Depression so that wages might be increased, the jobless might be employed, and production might balance consumption; surpluses, which lowered prices, could be avoided.

nationalism- devotion to one's nation; doctrine that the national interests and security are more important than international considerations; desire for national independence.

National Labor Relations Board(NLRB)- governmental board created by Wagner Act in 1935; board works to prevent unfair labor parctices such as coercion of employees and dismissal of employe meerly for belonging to a union; and to prevent the establishment of company unions that are dominated by management.

National Organization for Women- an organization founded in 1966 by Betty Friedan and other feminist leaders to obtain legal, social and economic equality for women.

National Recovery Administration- government agency established by Franklin Roosevelt to write, coordinate, and implement codes of fair competition set up by National Industrial Recovery Act; cides were detailed and complicated; problems arose in their administration.

National Woman's party- remnant of women's suffrage movement of early 1920s which supported expansion of Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include discrimination against women; clause outlawing sexual discrimination was adopted in the act.

Nation of Islam- religiously inspired African American group whose followers were known as Black Muslims; followers believe in racial seperation and black superiority.

nativism- prejudice against immigrant; antiimmigration attitude.

NATO- the North Atlantic Treaty Organization formed in 1949 as a military alliance among the Untied States, Canada and ten European nations.

Nazi party- National Socialist GermanWorkers party of Adolf Hitler, German dictator; doctrines and practices include suppression of civil liberties, militarism, racisim, anti- Semitism, and quest for world conquest by the German "master race."

Nazi- Soviet Nonagression Pact- pact signed on August 23,1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in which secured Hitler's eastern front from Soviet attack and gave Stalin extra time to build up the Soviet military strength.

neutrality- an act of policy which stresses non-involvement; not taking a stand one way or another.

Neutrality Acts- laws passed by Congress in 1935,1936 and 1937 aimed to keep the U.S. neutral in the struggle in Europe, Neutrality Acts banned transportation of war material to warring nations; required that raw material that could be used for war be sold for cash and carried by warring nation's own ships; no waring nation could borrow money from the U.S.; U.S. citizens could not travel on ships of warring nations.

New Deal- a series of acts and laws enacted under president Roosevelt to help end the Great Depression; often divided into three types, relief, recovery and reform; greatly expanded the power of the Federal government.

New Federalism- domestic program of President Nixon; included reducing some powers of federal government and transfering some powers back to state and local governments.

New frontier- Domestic political program of President Kennedy, including Medicare for the elderly, federal aid to education, programs to fight unemployment, a new dept. of urban affairs, creation of a agency for water pollution control, and the lowering of tariffs between the U.S and European market.

new right- conservative movement of the 1980s hostile to government activism and millitantly anti- communism; supporters used new tactics such as mass mailing campaigns, successful fund raising, elaborate political organizing, creation of new "think tanks," and publications to promote beliefs.

Nineteenth amendment- amendment to the Constitution that gave the right to vote to women and granted congress the right to enforce this guarante.

Nixon Doctrine- guidelines developed by president Nixon and Henry Kissinger on dealing with conflicts in third world countries; U.S. would help allies and friends resist agression and communist subversion but would leave basic responsibility to allies and friends themselves; U.S. would provide financial support and some military assistance, but would not become deeply involved.

nominating convention- technique for choosing political candidates developed in 1820s; party candidates selected by democratically elected delegates; more people thus in decision process.

normal schools- teacher-trainig academies for women established by states in 1800s to fill need for well educated public school teachers.

Northwest ordinacnce of 1787- an act of congress under Articles of Confederation providing for governing of Northwest territory- land north and west of Ohio river and providing for eventual admission to the Union of three to five states.

nullify- make not binding; render void; cancel.