★ A-47GLOSSARY
abolition Social movement of the pre–
Civil War era that advocated the immedi-
ate emancipation of the slaves and their
incorporation into American society as
equal citizens.
Act Concerning Religion (or Maryland
Toleration Act) 1649 law that granted
free exercise of religion to all Christian
denominations in colonial Maryland.
Adkins v. Children’s Hospital 1923
Supreme Court case that reversed Muller
v. Oregon, the 1908 case that permitted
states to set maximum hours to protect
working women. Justices ruled in Adkins
that women no longer deserved special
treatment because they could vote.
affirmative action Policy efforts to pro-
mote greater employment opportunities
for minorities.
Agricultural Adjustment Act New Deal
legislation passed in 1933 that established
the Agricultural Adjustment Administra-
tion (AAA) to improve agricultural prices
by limiting market supplies; declared
unconstitutional in United States v. Butler
(1936).
Albany Plan of Union A failed 1754
proposal by the seven northern colonies
in anticipation of the French and Indian
War, urging the unification of the colonies
under one crown- appointed president.
Alien and Sedition Acts Four measures
passed in 1798 during the undeclared war
with France that limited the freedoms of
speech and press and restricted the liberty
of noncitizens.
American Anti- Slavery Society Founded
in 1833, the organization that sought an
immediate end to slavery and the estab-
lishment of equality for black Americans.
It split in 1840 after disputes about the
role of women within the organization
and other issues.
American Civil Liberties Union Orga-
nization founded during World War I
to protest the suppression of freedom of
expression in wartime; played a major
role in court cases that achieved judicial
recognition of Americans’ civil liberties.
American Colonization Society Orga-
nized in 1816 to encourage colonization
of free blacks to Africa; West African
nation of Liberia founded in 1822 to serve
as a homeland for them.
American exceptionalism The belief
that the United States has a special mis-
sion to serve as a refuge from tyranny, a
symbol of freedom, and a model for the
rest of the world.
American Federation of Labor A fed-
eration of trade unions founded in 1881,
composed mostly of skilled, white, native-
born workers; its long- term president was
Samuel Gompers.
American Indian Movement (AIM)
Movement founded in 1963 by Native
Americans who were fed up with the poor
conditions on Indian reservations and
the federal government’s unwillingness
to help. In 1973, AIM led 200 Sioux in
the occupation of Wounded Knee. After a
ten- week standoff with the federal author-
ities, the government agreed to reexamine
Indian treaty rights and the occupation
ended.
“American standard of living” The
Progressive- era idea that American work-
ers were entitled to a wage high enough
to allow them full participation in the
nation’s mass consumption economy.