A-74 ★ GLOSSARY
influence in 1912 when presidential
candidate Eugene V. Debs received over
900,000 votes.
Society of American Indians Orga-
nization founded in 1911 that brought
together Native American intellectuals
of many tribal backgrounds to promote
discussion of the plight of Indian peoples.
Society of Friends (Quakers) Religious
group in England and America whose
members believed all persons possessed
the “inner light” or spirit of God; they
were early proponents of abolition of slav-
ery and equal rights for women.
soft money and hard money In the
1830s, “soft money” referred to paper
currency issued by banks. “Hard money”
referred to gold and silver currency— also
called specie.
Sons of Liberty Organizations formed by
Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and other
radicals in response to the Stamp Act.
Sotomayor, Sonia First Supreme Court
Justice of Hispanic descent. Justice Soto-
mayor was appointed by President Barack
Obama in 2009.
Southern Christian Leadership Con-
ference (SCLC) Civil rights organization
founded in 1957 by the Reverend Mar-
tin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights
leaders.
Southern Manifesto A document writ-
ten in 1956 that repudiated the Supreme
Court decision in Brown v. Board of Educa-
tion and supported the campaign against
racial integration in public places.
spoils system The term meaning the fill-
ing of federal government jobs with per-
sons loyal to the party of the president;
originated in Andrew Jackson’s first term.
Sputnik First artificial satellite to orbit the
earth; launched October 4, 1957, by the
Soviet Union.
stagflation A combination of stagnant
economic growth and high inflation pres-
ent during the 1970s.the Slave Power The Republican and abo-
litionist term for proslavery dominance of
southern and national governments.
Smith, John A swashbuckling soldier of
fortune with rare powers of leadership and
self- promotion who was appointed to the
resident council to manage Jamestown.
Smoot- Hawley Tariff 1930 act that raised
tariffs to an unprecedented level and wors-
ened the Great Depression by raising
prices and discouraging foreign trade.
Snowden, Edward An NSA contractor
turned whistleblower, who released clas-
sified information relating to the United
States’ intelligence gathering both at
home and abroad.
social contract Agreement hammered
out between labor and management in
leading industries; called a new “social
contract.” Unions signed long- term agree-
ments that left decisions regarding capital
investment, plant location, and output
in management’s hands, and they agreed
to try to prevent unauthorized “wildcat”
strikes.
Social Darwinism Application of
Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selec-
tion to society; used the concept of the
“survival of the fittest” to justify class dis-
tinctions and to explain poverty.
Social Gospel Ideals preached by liberal
Protestant clergymen in the late nine-
teenth and early twentieth centuries;
advocated the application of Christian
principles to social problems generated
by industrialization.
Social Security Act 1935 law that created
the Social Security system with provi-
sions for a retirement pension, unemploy-
ment insurance, disability insurance, and
public assistance (welfare).
Socialist Party Political party demand-
ing public ownership of major economic
enterprises in the United States as well as
reforms like recognition of labor unions
and women’s suffrage; reached peak of