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com
U.S.A. HISTORy
I n B R I E F
T h e L e a r n e r E n g l i s h S e r i e s
for students of English as a Second Language
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U.S.A. HISTORy
I n B R I E F
The text of this book was adapted from USA History in Brief, (GPS Catalog No.
V0441-E; also available in Arabic, No. V0441-A; French, No. V-0441-F; and Spanish,
No. V-0441-S) by Susan Wallach. Ms. Wallach is the author of six young adult books
and has been an editor for thirty years. She is currently working on another young
adult novel.
Front & Back Covers: Illustration by Min-Chih Yao / photos from: Robert
Llewellyn (Independence Hall). AP Images (Mt. Rush-
more; Jackie Robinson; Henry Ford; Golden Gate Bridge;
immigrants; Iwo Jima Memorial). Interior Department/
National Park Service (Liberty Bell). National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) (space shuttle). Mario
Tama/AFP/Getty Images (fireworks). Library of Congress
(Stanton and Anthony; Sitting Bull). PhotoSpin, Inc.
(Arlington Cemetery; Statue of Liberty). Dick Halstead/
Time Life Pictures/Getty Images (Reagan-Gorbachev).
Painting by Don Troiani, www.historicalartprints.com
(American Revolution). Steve Krongard (children
with computer). Courtesy MTV (MTV screen shot).
ii
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Foreword iv
A Pronunciation Guide
for the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Symbols vi
Introduction 1
Early America 3
By 12,000 years ago, humans lived throughout much
of what is now the Americas.
Colonial Period 9
By 1690, 250,000 people lived in the New World.
By 1790, there were 2.5 million people.
The Road to Independence 13
The ideas of liberalism and democracy are the basis
of the U.S. political system.
Revolution 17
The American Revolution and the war for independence
from Britain began with a small fight between British troops
and colonists on April 19, 1775.
Forming a National Government 23
Table of Contents
In 1783, the 13 colonies became the United States.
Early Years, Westward Expansion, and Regional Differences 29
George Washington became the first president of the
United States on April 30, 1789.
Conflict within the United States 33
In 1850, the United States was a large country, full
of contrasts.
Civil War and Post-War Reconstruction 37
The American Civil War started in April 1861.
Growth and Transformation 43
The United States changed after the Civil War.
Discontent and Reform 49
By 1900, the United States had seen growth, civil war,
economic prosperity, ane economic hard times.
World War I, 1920s Prosperity, and the Great Depression 53
In 1914, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey fought
Britain, France, Italy, and Russia.
The New Deal and World War II 57
President Roosevelt believed that democracy had
failed in other countries because of unemployment
and insecurity.
The Cold War, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam 63
After World War II, the United States and Great Britain
had long-term disagreements with the Soviet Union over
the future of Europe, most of which had been freed from
Nazi rule by their joint effort.
Cultural Change 19501980 67
At home, some Americans began to have easier lives.
End of the 20th Century 73
The United States always has been a place where
different ideas and views compete to influence law
and social change.
Conclusion 77
The United States has dramatically changed from its
beginnings as 13 little-known colonies.
Index 78
iii
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Foreword
Above: Cummod esequat, vullamc
onsequat, core tate minisi ea feugue
dignim iriliquat. Atio eGait am vel ip
exerosto elis nisit adigna feugait ex
eliqui euguer adigna amet luptatue
feugait, quat aliquis digna commo-
lenim il irit lorerae ssequat ipsusci
llutpat. Right: Iquat euipissequam
vulpute mod magna faccum inibh
eu facincilit wis augiati smolore
dolessed modiamet ullaortis atio del
ute feugue dolor incin ute digniscilit
erosto commodolor at.To dionsen
dignit am zzriusc illaortisl ut vent nos
ametue dolut ut nonullummy nisim
exeros alit lor sum dunt prat, si.
v
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for the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Symbols
A Pronunciation Guide
Vowels
ask, bat, glad
cot, bomb, caught, paw
bet, fed
about, banana, collide
i very, any, thirty
i: eat, bead, bee
id, bid, pit
foot, should, put
u: boot, two, coo
under, putt, bud
merge, bird, further
e eight, wade, bay
a ice, bite, tie
a out, gown, plow
o oyster, coil, boy
o oat, own, zone, blow
car, heart, bizarre
e bare, fair, wear
i near, deer, mere, pier
o boar, port, door, shore
u boor, tour, insure
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Consonants
b baby, labor, cab
d day, kid
just, badger, fudge
then, either, bathe
f foe, tough, buff
g go, dagger, bag
h hot, ahead
j yes, vineyard
k lacquer, flock, skin
k cat, keep, account
l law, hollow
l pedal, battle, final
pool, boil
m mat, hemp, hammer, rim
n new, tent, tenor, run
n button, satin, kitten
rung, hang, swinger
p lapse, top, lip, speed
p pay, pet, appear
r rope, arrive
s sad, mist, kiss
shoe, mission, slush
t mat, stick, late
t toe, attack
later, catty, riddle
t batch, nature
t choose, chin, achieve
thin, ether, bath
v vat, never, cave
w wet, software
z zoo, easy, buzz
vision, azure, beige
button, kitten, satin
Other Symbols
high stress: penmanship
low stress: penmanship
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Introduction
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democracy / d m: krsi /
noun plural -cies
: a form of government in
which people choose leaders
by voting The nation has cho-
sen democracy over monarchy.
: a country ruled by democracy
In a democracy, every citizen
should have the right to vote.
Western democracies
T
right / rat / adjective plural
rights
he United States of America has been a : something that a person is
or should be morally or legally
democracy for more than 200 years. allowed to have, get, or do
women fighting for equal rights
Issues that were important in its early The government has denied the
people their rights. [=has not al-
years remain so today: big government versus lowed the people to do the things
that they should be allowed to do]
compromise
/ k:mprmaz / noun plural
compromises
: a way of reaching agreement
in which each person or group
gives up something that was
wanted in order to end an
argument or dispute To avoid
an argument, always be ready
to seek compromise. The two
sides were unable to reach a
compromise. [=unable to come
to an agreement]
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Beringia
Early America
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Above: Christopher Columbus at the Historians believe that the Norse may have been
Royal Court of Spain Chromolitho-
graph by Masters Cromwell and the first Europeans to arrive. They came from
Kirkpatrick, circa 1884. Christopher
Columbus is presenting his request Greenland, where Erik the Red had started a
to Queen Isabella I and King Ferdi-
nand V and a gathering of courtiers. settlement around 985. In 1001, Eriks son, Leif,
explored the northeast coast of what now is Canada.
Remaining pieces of Norse houses were found in
northern Newfoundland.
mythical / mkl /
adjective
: based on or described in a
myth Hercules was a mythical
hero who was half man and half
god. gods fighting in a mythi-
cal battle in the sky a mythical
beast/creature : existing only
in the imagination : imagi-
nary The sportswriters picked
a mythical all-star team.
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Quiz
Above: The Spanish built the Castillo
de San Marcos between 1672 and
1. How did the first people reach the Americas? 1695 to guard St. Augustine, Florida.
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Colonial Period
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reason / ri:zn / noun
plural reasons
: a statement or fact that
explains why something is the
way it is, why someone does,
thinks, or says something, or
M
why someone behaves a
certain way I cant give you
the report for the simple reason
ost people who came to the British that it isnt finished yet.
lived in the New World. By 1790, there were treaty / tri:ti / noun
plural treaties
2.5 million people. : an official agreement that is
made between two or more
countries or groups = The
People came for different reasons. Some left their countrys warring factions have
signed a peace treaty. [=an
homes to escape war. Others sought political or agreement to stop fighting a war]
religious freedom. Some had to work as servants to Opposite: A Puritan husband and wife
walk to church in this print of a paint-
pay back the cost of their trip before gaining their ing by G. H. Boughton from 1884.
Below: American artist Benjamin West
freedom. Some, like black Africans, arrived as slaves. (1738-1820) painted William Penns
treaty with the Native Americans of
Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was safe
In time, the 13 colonies developed within three for Quakers and others who wanted
religious freedom. Penn treated the
distinct regions. Indians well.
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The first settlements were along the Atlantic coast
and on rivers that flowed into the ocean. In the
Northeast, trees covered the hills and stones filled
the soil, but water power was available. The North-
east was called New England, and it included
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
The economy was based on timber, fishing, ship-
building, and trade.
10
National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
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force / fos / verb forces;
forced; forcing
: to make (someone) do
something that he or she
does not want to do They
forced us to work long hours
without pay. He was forced to
resign from office. = He was
forced out of office.
participate
/ ptspet / verb
participates; partici
pated; participating
: to be involved with others
in doing something : to take
part in an activity or event
with others Most people
joined the game, but a few
chose not to participate.
participation
/ ptspen / noun
friendly. In most cases, as the settlements grew The show had a lot of
audience participation.
bigger, the settlers forced the Indians to move.
power / paw / noun
plural powers
As time went on, all the colonies developed govern- : the ability or right to control
people or things She is from
ments based on the British tradition of citizen par- a very wealthy family with a lot
of social power. The company
ticipation. In Britain, the Glorious Revolution of abused its power, forcing
workers to work overtime
16881689 limited the power of the king and gave without pay. He has no power
over me.
more power to the people. The American colonists
law / l: / noun plural laws
closely observed these changes. Colonial assemblies : a rule made by the govern-
ment of a town, state,
claimed the right to act as local parliaments. They country, etc. [count] A law
requires that schools provide a
passed laws that limited the power of the royal safe learning environment. =
There is a law requiring schools
governor and increased their own authority. to provide a safe learning
environment.
Answers: 1. B; 2. C
Quiz
1. How many original colonies were there?
A. 50
B. 13
C. 17
2. Which European country owned the colonies?
A. Spain
B. The Netherlands
C. Britain
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The Road
to Independence
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liberalism / lbrlzm,
T
lbrlzm / noun
: belief in the value of social
and political change in order
to achieve progress political he ideas of liberalism and democ-
liberalism
racy are the basis of the U.S. politi-
empire / mpaj / noun
plural empires
cal system. As the colonists built
: a group of countries or
regions that are controlled
their new society, they believed more strongly
by one ruler or one gover-
ment ; especially the Roman
in these ideas. Britains 13 colonies grew in
Empire population and economic strength during
policy / p:lsi / noun the 1700s. Although ruled by a distant
plural policies
: an officially accepted set government, the colonists governed many
of rules or ideas about what
should be done [count] local affairs.
They voted to adopt/pursue
more liberal trade policies.
American foreign policy After Britain won a costly war with France in the
1750s, the colonists were asked to help pay for the
illegal / li:gl / adjective
: not allowed by the law war, and for Britains large empire. These policies
: not legal illegal [=illicit,
unlawful] drugs restricted the colonists way of life.
Opposite: A print by famous revo- For example, the Royal Proclamation of 1763
lutionary Paul Revere shows Brit-
ish soldiers firing into a crowd of restricted the colonists from settling new land.
people in 1770.
Below: The protest against British The Currency Act of 1764 made it illegal to print
taxes in 1773 was known as the
Boston Tea Party. paper money in the colonies. The Quartering Act
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resistance / rzstns /
noun
: effort made to stop or to
fight against someone or
something The troops met
heavy/stiff resistance as they
approached the city.
resolution / rzlu:n /
noun plural resolutions
: a formal statement that
expresses the feelings,
wishes, or decision of a
group The assembly passed
a resolution calling for the
university president to step
of 1765 forced the colonists to provide food and down.
housing for the royal soldiers. The Stamp Act of impose / mpoz / verb
imposes; imposed;
1765 taxed all legal papers, licenses, newspapers, imposing
: to cause (something, such
and leases. as a tax, fine, rule, or
punishment) to affect
someone or something by
The Stamp Act united the colonists in an orga- using your authority The
judge imposed a life sentence.
nized resistance. The main problem was that they impose [=levy] a tax on
liquor
werent allowed to participate in the government
radical / rdkl / noun
that taxed them. plural radicals
: a person who favors
extreme changes in govern-
In October 1765, 27 delegates from nine colonies ment : a person who has
radical political opinions
met in New York. They passed resolutions saying He was a radical when he was
young, but now hes much
that the individual colonies should have the right more moderate.
to impose their own taxes. This satisfied most of article / tkl / noun
plural articles
the delegates, but a small number of radicals : a piece of writing about
a particular subject that is
wanted independence from Britain. included in a magazine,
newspaper, etc. He has
published numerous articles
One of those people was Samuel Adams of Massa- in scholarly journals.
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The British Parliament punished Massachusetts
by closing Bostons port and by restricting local
authority. Colonists called these new laws the
Intolerable Acts and united to oppose them. All
the colonies except Georgia sent representatives
to Philadelphia in September 1774 to talk about
their present unhappy state. It was the First
Continental Congress.
punish / pn / verb
punishes; punished;
punishing Colonists were angry with the British for taking
: to make (someone) suffer
for a crime or for bad behav- away their rights, but not everyone agreed on
ior I think that murderers
should be punished by/with life the solution. Loyalists wanted to stay subjects
imprisonment.
: to make someone suffer under the king. Moderates wanted to compro-
for (a crime or bad behavior)
State law punishes fraud with mise and build a better relationship with the
fines. The law states that
treason shall be punished by British government. The revolutionaries wanted
death. [=that the punishment
for treason is death] complete independence. They began collecting
representative weapons and getting men readywaiting for the
/ rprznttv / noun
plural representatives fight for independence.
: someone who acts or
speaks for or in support of
another person or group a
sales representative [=a
Quiz
salesperson] the actors
personal representative
[=agent] : a member of the 1. Which act caused the greatest reaction from
House of Representatives of
the U.S. Congress or of a the colonists?
state government A. The Currency Act
state / stet / noun plural B. The Stamp Act
states
: a way of living or existing C. The Quartering Act
We must keep our armed
forces in a constant state of 2. What did the colonists throw into Boston
readiness.
: the things that affect the Harbor?
way you think or feel : your
physical or mental condition A. Stamps
her mental/emotional state
Above:
often Cummod
+ of esequat, vullamc
the current/
B. British paper money
onsequat, core tate minisi ea feugue
present state
dignim
of the
iriliquat. Atio
The country
economy
is ineGait
a stateam of
vel ip C. Tea
exerosto eliscountry
war. [=the nisit adigna
is atfeugait
war] ex
eliqui euguer adigna amet luptatue 3. What did moderates in the colonies wish for
feugait, quat/ sbkt
aliquis digna/ commo-
subject
lenim
plural il irit
noun
lorerae ssequat ipsusci
subjects
in their relationship to Britain?
llutpat. Right: Iquat
: a person who lives in a
vulpute mod magna
euipissequam
faccumbyinibh
A. For everything to stay the way it was
country that is ruled a
eu
kingfacincilit
dolessed
or queenwis augiati smoloreof
: a citizen B. To move to Britain and leave the colonies
a monarchy British subjectsdel
modiamet ullaortis atio
ute feugue dolor incin ute digniscilit C. A compromise and a better relationship
erosto commodolor
moderate at.To dionsen
/ m:drt
dignit
nounamplural zzriuscmoderates
/
illaortisl ut vent with the British government
nos
: a person whose political ni-
ametue dolut ut nonullummy
sim
ideasexeros
arealitnotlorextreme
sum dunt :prat,
a si.
person who has moderate
opinions or is a member of
a moderate political group
Moderates from both politi-
cal parties have agreed on an
economic plan.
Answers: 1. B; 2. C; 3. C
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Revolution
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ammunition /mjnn
/ noun
: the objects (such as
bullets and shells) that are
shot from weapons The
troops were supplied with
weapons and ammunition.
T he American Revolution and the
war for independence from Britain
began with a small fight between
British troops and colonists on April 19,
1775. The British troops left Boston, Mas-
protest / prtst / verb
protests; protested;
protesting
sachusetts, planning to take weapons and
: to show or express strong
disapproval of something
ammunition from revolutionary colonists.
at a public event with other
people [no obj] Students At Lexington, they met armed colonists who
protested at the civil rights
rally. They were protesting were called Minutemen because they could be
against the death penalty.
ready to fight in a minute. The Minutemen
Opposite: Patrick Henry, standing
on the right, said these famous planned to protest silently and not shoot unless
words: Give me liberty or give
me death. the British shot first.
Above: The first shots of the
American Revolution were fired
when the Minutemen faced the The British ordered the Minutemen to leave. The
British at Lexington, Massachu-
setts, on April 19, 1775. colonists obeyed, but as they left, someone fired a
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universal / ju:nvsl /
The Declaration of Independence told the world adjective [more uni*ver*sal;
most uni*ver*sal]
of a new nation and its beliefs about human freedom. : existing or true at all times
or in all places universal truths/
It argued that political rights are basic human rights laws a pattern that is universal
across all cultures
and are universal. Above: Thomas Jefferson was
author of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and third president of
The Second Continental Congress accepted this the United States. Jefferson also
founded the University of Virginia
document on July 4, 1776. The Fourth of July and built one of Americas most
celebrated houses, Monticello, in
became Independence Day in the United States. Charlottesville, Virginia.
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Quiz
1. The British soldiers were also called what?
A. Redcoats
B. Minutemen
C. Roundheads
2. Who was the commander-in-chief of the
colonial army?
A. Thomas Paine
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. George Washington
3. What American holiday celebrates the
colonists victory?
A. Veterans Day
B. Declaration Day
C. Fourth of July
natural / ntrl /
adjective
[always used before a noun
formal] : based on a sense
of what is right and wrong
natural justice/law
Answers: 1. A; 2. C; 3. C
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Forming
a National
Government
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have equal representation in the new Congress.
Delegates from big states demanded that their
states have more influence.
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amendment / mndmnt
/ noun plural
amendments
: a change in the words
or meaning of a law or
document (such as a consti-
tution) The first 10 Amend-
ments to the Constitution of
the United States are called
the Bill of Rights.
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Quiz
1. Where did the delegates meet to discuss the
new national government?
criminal / krmnl /
A. New York adjective
: relating to laws that de-
scribe crimes rather than to
B. Philadelphia laws about a persons rights
the criminal justice system
C. Boston a criminal court/case/trial
2. What is the document that contains the system Above: This U.S. postage stamp
celebrates the 200th anniversary of
of government of the United States? the Lewis and Clark journey that
mapped parts of North America
A. Declaration of Independence as far west as Oregon. Thomas
Jefferson was president.
B. Common Sense Below: Benjamin Franklin was a
scientist, inventor, writer, newspa-
per publisher, leader of Philadel-
C. The Constitution phia, diplomat, and signer of the
Declaration of Independence and
3. What are the three branches of government? the Constitution.
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Early Years,
Westward Expansion,
and
Regional Differences
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For about 20 years, the United States was friendly
to other countries and neutral toward their dis-
putes, but France and Britain again were at war.
The British navy seized American ships going to
France. The French navy seized American ships
going to Britain.
diplomacy / dplomsi
/ noun
: the work of maintaining
good relations between
the governments of
different countries She
has had a long and distin-
guished career in diplomacy.
The government avoided a
war by successfully resolving
the issues through diplomacy.
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By 1815, many of the new nations problems had
eased. Under the Constitution, the United States had
a balance between liberty and order. The country
had a low national debt. Much of the continent was
left to explore. The country had peace, prosperity,
and social progress.
Answers: 1. C; 2. A; 3. C
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Conflict within
the United States
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contrast / k:ntrst /
noun plural contrasts
: a difference between
people or things that are
being compared We talked
about the contrasts between
his early books and his later
books. [=the ways in which
his early and later books are
different]
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endure / nd / verb
Quiz
endures; endured;
enduring 1. Who proposed the Missouri Compromise and
: to continue to exist in the
same state or condition which states did it include?
This tradition has endured
[=lasted] for centuries. She
A. Henry Clay and it included Missouri and
wants to make sure her legacy
will endure.
Maine
B. Henry Clay and it included Missouri and
threaten / rtn / verb
threatens; threatened; Kentucky
threatening
: to say that you will harm C. Abraham Lincoln and it included Missouri
someone or do something
unpleasant or unwanted
and Maine
especially in order to make
someone do what you want 2. What was the Underground Railroad?
The workers have threatened
to strike if their demands are
A. Trains that ran under the ground
not met. = The workers have
threatened a strike if their
B. Secret routes for runaway slaves
demands are not met. C. A road system that connected mines
Right: In a political cartoon, Abraham 3. What did the Southern states threaten to do if
Lincoln is shown towering above his
rival presidential candidate Stephen Lincoln became president?
Douglas, who is taunted by an African
American youth, in campaign race. A. Separate from the United States
Slavery was a central issue in the
election.
B. Return to British rule
Answers: 1. A; 2. B; 3. A C. Impeach Lincoln
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Civil War
and Post-War
36
Reconstruction
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Maryland. Gen. Robert E. Lee and his Confederate
Army failed to force back the Union troops led by
Gen. George McClellan. Lee escaped with his army.
The battle was not decisive, but it was politically
important. Britain and France had planned to recog-
nize the Confederacy, but they delayed. The South
never received the help it desperately needed.
decisive / dsasv /
adjective
: very clear and obvious a
decisive victory/win/advantage
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destruction / dstrkn /
noun
: the act or process of damag-
ing something so badly that it
no longer exists or cannot be
repaired : the act or process
of destroying something War
results in death and widespread
destruction.
scorchedearth
/ skott / adjective
used to describe a military
policy in which all the houses,
crops, factories, etc., in an
area are destroyed so that
an enemy cannot use them
The retreating army adopted a
scorched-earth policy.
sympathize / smpaz /
verb sympathizes;
sympathized; sympathizing
: to feel or show support for
or approval of something
The North began winning important battles. Gen. + with She sympathized
with their cause.
William T. Sherman left a path of destruction sympathizer noun plural
sympathizers The group has
(known as the scorched-earth policy) as his army many sympathizers. [=supporters]
Less than a week after the South surrendered, a secession / ssn / noun
plural secessions
Confederate sympathizer killed President Lincoln. : the act of separating
from a nation or state and
Vice President Andrew Johnson became president becoming independent
the secession of the Southern
with the job of uniting the country. Johnson was a states
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For a time, these reforms led to real advances for
African Americans in the South. When the North
withdrew its army from the Southern states, especial-
ly during the late 1870s, white Southerners regained
political power and began to deprive Southern blacks
of their new rights. Southern blacks were free, but the
local laws denied them their rights. They had the right
to vote, but the threat of violence made them afraid
to use it. Southern states introduced segregation,
a system that required blacks and whites to use sepa-
rate public facilities, from schools to drinking foun-
tains. Not surprisingly, the black facilities were
not as good as the white facilities. The races lived
separately in the South for the next 100 years. In the
20th century, this would become a national issue.
Quiz
1. When did the American Civil War start?
A. April 1860
reform / rfom / noun
B. April 1861 plural reforms
C. April 1862 : an action, plan, rule, etc.,
that is meant to improve
2. Who led the Confederate Army? something He has proposed a
list of political reforms.
A. George McClellan deprive / dprav / verb
B. William T. Sherman deprives; deprived;
depriving
C. Robert E. Lee : to take something away
from someone or something :
3. What did not happen after the Civil War? to not allow (someone or
something) to have or keep
A. President Lincoln was assassinated (something) The new
environmental law will deprive
B. Southern blacks had the right to vote some fishermen of their
C. A ll states except Tennessee granted full livelihood.
assassinate / ssnet /
verb assassinates;
assassinated;
assassinating
: to kill (someone, such as a
famous or important person)
usually for political reasons
President John F. Kennedy was
assassinated in 1963.
Answers: 1. B; 2. C; 3. C
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Growth
and
Transformation
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monopoly / mn:pli /
noun plural monopolies
: complete control of the
entire supply of goods or
of a service in a certain
area or market The com-
pany has gained/acquired a
(virtual/near) monopoly of/
on/over the logging industry
in this area.
: a large company that has
a monopoly The govern-
ment passed laws intended to
break up monopolies.
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Plains. Ranchers let their cattle graze on the vast
grasslands. Cowboys drove great herds of cattle to
the railroad to ship to the East. The Wild West
pictured in many cowboy books and movies lasted
only about 30 years.
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imperialism
/ mpirijlzm / noun
: a policy or practice by
which a country increases
its power by gaining
control over other areas
of the world British
imperialism created the
enormous British Empire.
Toward the end of the 1800s, European powers
colonized Africa and fought for rights to trade in
Right: The 1st United States Volun-
teer Calvary of the Spanish Amer- Asia. Many Americans believed that the United States
ican War of 1898 arrives in Florida
on the way to fighting in Cuba. should do the same. Many other Americans did not
Theodore Roosevelt, who later be-
came the 26 th president of the U. S. like any action that seemed imperialistic.
was a member of the unit, which be-
came known as the Rough Riders.
Below: Mulberry Street in New York After a brief war with Spain in 1898, the U.S. con-
City in the early 1900s also was
known as Little Italy because so trolled several Spanish coloniesCuba, Puerto
many Italian immigrants moved
there to live and work. Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Officially, the
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United States encouraged them to become self-
governing. In reality, the United States kept control.
Quiz
1. Who invented the telephone?
A. George Eastman
B. Alexander Graham Bell
C. Thomas Edison
2. What Native American tribes fought to save
their way of life?
A. Leni Lenape and the Sioux
B. Apache and the Cherokee
C. The Sioux and Apache
3. The true Wild West era lasted how many years?
A. 40 years
B. Its still going on today
C. 30 years
idealism / adi:jlzm /
noun
: the attitude of a person
who believes that it is possible
to live according to very high
standards of behavior and
honesty youthful idealism
political/religious/romantic
idealism
Answers: 1. B; 2. C; 3. C
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Discontent
and
Reform
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B
negative / ngtv /
adjective [more neg*a*tive;
most neg*a*tive]
y 1900, the United States had seen
: harmful or bad : not
wanted Car exhaust has a growth, civil war, economic pros-
negative effect/impact on the
environment. the negative perity, and economic hard times.
effects of the drug
Americans still believed in religious freedom.
corrupt / krpt / adjective
[more corrupt; most corrupt]
: doing things that are
Free public education was mostly accessible.
dishonest or illegal in order
to make money or to gain
The free press continued.
or keep power The countrys
justice system is riddled with On the negative side, it often seemed that political
corrupt judges who accept
bribes. corrupt politicians/ power belonged to a few corrupt officials and their
officials
friends in business. In response, the idea of Pro-
enact / nkt / verb
enacts; enacted; enacting gressivism was born. Progressives wanted greater
: to make (a bill or other
legislation) officially become democracy and justice. They wanted an honest
part of the law Congress
will enact legislation related to government to reduce the power of business.
that issue. The law was finally
enacted today.
Books by Upton Sinclair, Ida M. Tarbell, and
Opposite: Women seeking the right
to vote march for their cause in 1917. Theodore Dreiser described unfair, unhealthy,
They won the right in 1920.
Below: A goal of the Progressive and dangerous situations. These writers hoped
Movement was enacting laws to end
child labor, such as these children their books would force the government to make
working at the Indiana Glass Works
in 1908. the United States safer and better for its citizens.
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natural / ntrl /
adjective
: existing in nature and not
made or caused by people :
coming from nature
a country rich in natural
resources [=a country that
has many valuable plants,
President Theodore Roosevelt (19011909) believed animals, minerals, etc.]
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During the Progressive Era, more immigrants
settled in the United States. Almost 19 million
people arrived between 1890 and 1921 from
Russia, Poland, Greece, Canada, Italy, Mexico,
and Japan.
Quiz
1. How many immigrants arrived between 1890
and 1921?
A. 3 million
B. 14 million
C. 19 million
2. What is the U.S. government office that regu-
lates money and banking?
A. The Commerce Department
B. The Federal Reserve
C. The Federal Trade Commission
3. What did Progressive Era President Theodore
Roosevelt not do?
A. He wrote a book about the unhealthy
situations for children in the workplace.
B. He worked with Congress to end the prac-
tice of monopolies.
C. He advocated laws to protect the countrys
natural resources.
forge / fo / verb
forges; forged; forging
: to form or create (some-
thing, such as an agreement
or relationship) through
great effort The two
countries have forged a strong
alliance. They were able to
forge a peaceful relationship.
Answers: 1. C; 2. B; 3. A
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World War I,
1920s Prosperity,
and the
Great Depression
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They stopped but started again in 1917. The Opposite: Orville Wright is shown
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Yet, the United States enjoyed a period of prosper-
ity. Many families purchased their first automobile,
radio, and refrigerator. They went to the movies.
Women finally won the right to vote in 1920.
Quiz
1. What did most Americans desire after World
War I?
A. The creation of the League of Nations
B. Allowing more immigrants into the country
C. Isolationism
2. What event signaled the Great Depression?
A. Women getting the right to vote
B. The stock market collapse of 1929
Above: Henry Ford and his son
C. Herbert Hoover losing the presidency to stand with one of his early auto-
mobiles and the 10 millionth Ford
Franklin Roosevelt Model-T. The Model-T was the first
car whose price and availability
made car ownership possible for
large numbers of people.
Answers: 1. C; 2. B
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percent of its oil from the United States. When the
United States demanded that Japan withdraw from
its conquered territories, Japan refused. On Decem-
ber 7, 1941, Japan attacked the American fleet at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The United States declared
war on Japan. Because Germany and Italy were
allies of Japan, they declared war on America.
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Japan refused to surrender even as U.S. forces
approached the Japanese home islands. Some
Americans thought invading Japan would cause
larger numbers of U.S. and Japanese deaths. When
the atomic bomb was ready, President Harry S.
Truman decided to use it on two Japanese cities
Hiroshima and Nagasakito bring the war to an
end without an invasion.
Quiz
1. What was Roosevelts plan called to help the
country recover from the Great Depression?
A. New Way
B. Real Deal
C. New Deal
2. Why did the United States enter War World II?
A. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
B. The sinking of the Lusitania
C. The attack on isolationism
3. What did Harry Truman do to end the war
against Japan?
A. Organized the building of fighter planes
B. Dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki
C. Accepted the League of Nations
Answers: 1. C; 2. A; 3. B
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After World War II, many empires fell, and many
civil wars occurred. The United States wanted
stability, democracy, and open trade. Because it
feared that postwar economic weakness would
increase the popularity of communism, the U.S.
offered European nations including the Soviet Union
large sums of money to repair the war damage and
help their economies. The Soviet Union and the
communist nations of Eastern Europe turned
down the offer. By 1952, through a program to
rebuild Western Europe (called the Marshall Plan),
the United States had invested $13.3 billion.
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of Nations, for military intervention, and a bloody
war continued into 1953. Although an armistice
eventually was signed, U.S. troops remain in South
Korea to this day.
Quiz
1. What was the Cold War?
A. A short-lived war against Canada
B. The melting of icebergs
C. The disagreement between the United States
and the Soviet Union about their systems of
government
2. The Marshall Plan
A. Gave $13.3 billion to rebuild Western Europe
B. Gave $13.3 billion to rebuild Japan
C. Gave $13.3 billion to rebuild Vietnam
Answers: 1. C; 2. A
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Cultural Change
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A
integrate / ntgret / verb
t home, some Americans began integrates; integrated;
integrating
to have easier lives. Families grew : to end a policy that keeps
people of different races apart
and some moved from the cities in (a place, such as a school)
She has been a leader in the
efforts to integrate [=desegre-
into outlying areas where they could purchase gate] public schools. a law
requiring schools to integrate
larger homes. Not all Americans were so suc- civil rights / svl rat /
cessful. African Americans started a move- noun [plural]
: the rights that every person
ment to gain fair treatment everywhere. should have regardless of his
or her sex, race, or religion
Martin Luther King, Jr., fought
In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that separate for civil rights. The U.S. civil
rights movement achieved
schools for black children were not equal to those equal rights legislation for
African-Americans.
for white children and must be integrated. Presi-
Opposite: Elvis Presley, performing
dent Lyndon Johnson supported the Rev. Martin on television in 1969, was Americas
first rock n roll star.
Luther King Jr. in his peaceful fight for civil rights Below: President Lyndon B. Johnson
introduced far-reaching national laws
and voting rights for African Americans. Some through Congress.
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discrimination
/ dskrmnen / noun
plural discriminations
: the practice of unfairly
treating a person or group
of people differently from
other people or groups of
people racial/sexual/
religious discrimination =
discrimination based on race/
sex/religion = discrimination
on the basis of race/sex/
religion The law prohibits
discrimination in hiring.
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Students protested the war in Vietnam, and Presi-
dent Johnson began peace negotiations. Long
hair, rock n roll music, and illegal drugs were
visible symbols of the counter-culture thinking
of some young people during this time.
Quiz
1. Who regained control of tribal lands and
water rights?
A. Malcolm X
B. Native Americans
negotiation C. Cuba
/ ngoien / noun
plural negotiations 2. Csar Chvez led a nationwide boycott
: a formal discussion
between people who are against what group?
trying to reach an agree-
ment Negotiations between A. Environmental Protection Agency
the two governments have
failed to produce an agree-
B. Railroad
ment. Negotiations with the
protesters began today.
C. California grape growers
pollution / plu:n / 3. Interest in reducing pollution led to the
noun
: the action or process of
creation of what agency?
making land, water, air, etc., A. Environmental Protection Agency
dirty and not safe or suitable
to use industrial practices B. United Farm Workers
that have caused pollution of
the air and water C. Pollution Reducing Agency
designate / dzgnet /
verb designates;
designated; designating
: to officially choose
(someone or something)
to do or be something
: to officially give (someone
or something) a particular
role or purpose It might
be difficult to designate
[=select] an appropriate place
for the event.
multicultural
/mltikltrl/ adjective
[more mul*ti*cul*tur*al;
most mul*ti*cul*tur*al]
: relating to or including
many different cultures
a multicultural society
Answers: 1. B; 2. C; 3. A
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End of the
20th Century
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activist / ktvst / noun
Inflected forms: plural
activists
[count] : a person who uses
or supports strong actions
(such as public protests) to
T
help make changes in politics
or society Antiwar activists
were protesting in the streets.
an environmental activist
political activists
he United States always has been
activism / ktvzm /
noun [noncount] political a place where different ideas and
activism
views compete to influence law
conservatism
/ knsvtzm / noun and social change. The liberal activism of
: belief in the value of
established and traditional
practices in politics and
the 1960s1970s gave way to conserva-
society political conservatism
: dislike of change or new
tism in the 1980s.
ideas in a particular area
cultural/religious conservatism Conservatives wanted limited government, strong
bitter / bt / adjective national defense, and tax cuts. Supporters of Presi-
[more bit*ter; most bit*ter]
: causing painful emotions dent Ronald Reagan (19811989) believe his policies
bitter disappointments a
bitter defeat helped to speed the collapse of the Soviet Union
: angry and unhappy because
of unfair treatment His and the end of the Cold War. American politics,
betrayal had made her bitter.
however, can change quickly: In 1992, Americans
Opposite: The Freedom Tower, the elected the more liberal Bill Clinton as president.
planned replacement for the two World
Trade Center towers, is depicted in this
rendering of the New York City skyline Politics became more bitter than usual when the
after the tower is built. It is scheduled
for completion in 2018. election was very close in 2000. A Supreme Court
Below: Firefighters work beneath
destroyed sections of the World Trade ruling about disputed ballots in Florida ensured
Center after the September 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks. that George W. Bush won the election over Al Gore.
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Conclusion
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Index A
Adams, John 14, 29, 31
Adams, Samuel 14
American Civil War iii, 37, 39, 41
American Revolution ii, iii, 17
Amerigo Vespucci 6
Articles of Confederation 23, 24
atomic bomb 61
B
Bell, Alexander Graham 43, 44, 47
Bill of Rights 26, 27
Boston Tea Party 13, 14
Bush, George W. 73, 74
C
Cabot, John 6
Chvez, Csar 70, 71
Clay, Henry 30, 33, 35
Clinton, Bill 73
Cold War iii, 62, 63, 65, 73
colonies iii, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 30,
31, 46, 77
Columbus, Christopher 5, 7
Communism 54, 64
Confederacy 37, 38
Confederate 37, 38, 39, 41
Congress ii, 15, 18, 19, 20, 25, 27, 29, 39, 40, 49, 50,
51, 58, 67
Continental Congress 15, 18, 19, 20
Custer, George 45
D
Declaration of Independence 19, 26, 27
E
Eastman, George 43, 44, 47
Edison, Thomas 43, 44, 47
Eisenhower, Dwight 60
Erik the Red 5
F
Federalists 25, 29
Franklin, Benjamin 27
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G
Gore, Al 73
Grant, Ulysses S. 39
Great Depression iii, 52, 55, 57, 58, 61, 75
H
Hamilton, Alexander 24, 29, 31
Henry, Patrick 17
Holocaust 60
Hoover, Herbert 55
I
Independence Day 19
J
Jefferson, Thomas 19, 21, 27, 29, 31
Johnson, Andrew 39
Johnson, Lyndon B. 67
K
King, Rev. Martin Luther Jr. 67
L
League of Nations 54, 55, 61, 64
Lee, Gen. Robert E. 38, 41
Liberty Bell ii, 26
Lincoln, Abraham 34, 35, 37
M
Madison, James 18, 30
Mao Zedong 64
Marshall, John 26
Marshall Plan 64, 65
McClellan, Gen. George 38, 41
Minutemen 17, 18, 21
Missouri Compromise 30, 34, 35
Monroe Doctrine 31
N
Native Americans 4, 9, 10, 43, 69, 71
Nazi iii, 60, 63
New Deal iii, 56, 57, 61
O
Obama, Barack 75
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P
Paine, Thomas 18, 21
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 59
Presley, Elvis 67
R
Reagan, Ronald 73
Redcoats 18
Republicans 29, 39
Robinson, Jackie ii, 69
Roosevelt, Franklin D. 29, 57
Roosevelt, Theodore 46, 50, 51
S
Segregation 41, 68
Sherman, Gen. William T. 39, 40, 41
Sitting Bull ii, 45
Slavery 25, 31, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40
slaves 9, 10, 30, 33, 34, 35, 38
Social Security 57, 74
South Korea 64, 65
South Vietnam 65
Stamp Act of 1765 14
Supreme Court 25, 26, 29, 31, 67, 73
T
Treaty of Paris 20, 21
Treaty of Versailles 54
Truman, Harry S. 61
U
Underground Railroad 33, 34, 35
Union iii, 29, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 60, 63, 64, 65, 73
United Nations 64
U.S. Constitution 23, 25, 40
W
Washington, George iii, 18, 20, 21, 29, 31
Wilson, Woodrow 50, 53
World Trade Center 73, 74
World War I iii, 52, 53, 54, 55
World War II iii, 56, 58, 60, 61, 63, 64
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U.S. D e p a r t m e n t O f S t a t e
B u r e a u O f I n t e r n a t io n a l I n f o r m a t io n P r o g r a m s
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