Dictionary - Prescription and description. Dictionary makers apply two basic philosophies to the defining of words: prescriptive or descriptive. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is descriptive, and attempts to describe the actual use of words. Noah Webster, on the other hand, intent on forging a distinct identity for the American language, altered spellings and accentuated differences in meaning and pronunciation of numerous words. This is why American English now uses the spelling ...

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Definition and meaning of American Temperance Union:

American Temperance Union

The founding of the American Temperance Union in 1826 by evangelical Protestants signaled the start of a national crusade against drunkenness. Using a variety of techniques, the union set out to persuade people not to drink intoxicating beverages and was successful in sharply lowering per capita consumption of alcohol.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of Anglo-American Accords:

Anglo-American Accords

This series of agreements reached in the British-American Convention of 1818 fixed the western boundary between the United States and Canada at the 49th parallel, allowed for the joint occupation of the Oregon Country, and restored to Americans fishing rights off Newfoundland.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American Indian Movement:

American Indian Movement

Members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) demanded the return of lands taken illegally from their ancestors. They launched a concerted effort to revive tribal cultures and used confrontations with the federal government to publicize their case for Indian rights. Some sought Indian nationalism in the form of establishing Indian states within states.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American Liberty League:

American Liberty League

This business group organized to sway popular opinion against the New Deal

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American Protective Association:

American Protective Association

American nativists, who disliked Catholics and minority groups, organized the American Protective Association in 1887. The skilled workers and small businessmen who formed the association tried to limit immigration to America and block the upward mobility of newly arrived "new" immigrants, in favor of saving jobs for Protestant workers.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American Protective League:

American Protective League

The American Protective League was one of the leading vigilante organizations that suppressed dissent while promoting reactionary causes during World War I.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American Revenue Act:

American Revenue Act

Commonly known as the Sugar Act, this law passed in 1764 raised revenue in the American colonies by lowering the duty from 6 pence to 3 pence per gallon on foreign molasses imported into the colonies and increased the restrictions on colonial commcerce.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American System:

American System

Intended to protect domestic manufacturers from foreign competition, the American System was the brainchild of Kentucky Congressman Henry Clay. It involved a political trade-off: In return for eastern support for federal aid to railroad and canal construction, the West would back protective tariffs. This arrangement would stimulate manufacturing and a demand for raw materials, and increase the market for manufactured goods.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American system of manufacturing:

American system of manufacturing

The American system of manufacturing was a technique of production pioneered in the United States in the first half of the nineteenth century that relied on precision manufacturing with the use of interchangeable parts.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American Colonization Society:

American Colonization Society

The American Colonization Society was founded in 1817. It purchased land in Africa (Liberia) with the intention of solving the "Negro problem" by transporting freed slaves there. Society backers were convinced that both blacks and whites would benefit from racial separation. Few blacks wished to migrate to Africa and the society accomplished little.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of American Expeditionary Force:

American Expeditionary Force

The first members of the AEF, American troops who served in Europe in World War I, arrived in Paris in July 1917. They were under the command of General John J. Pershing, who insisted that they fight as independent units and not be integrated into British and French (Allied) forces.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of Spanish-American War:

Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War was a brief 1898 conflict in which the United States defeated Spanish forces in Cuba and the Philippines and forced Spain to relinquish control over Cuba and cede the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and other territories to the United States.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of AAA:

AAA

Part of the New Deal, the 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) placed restrictions on farm production and paid government subsidies to growers of staple crops. Money for the payments was raised by a processing tax on middlemen. The object was to raise farm prices, but it proved counterproductive for tenant farmers and sharecroppers. It was declared unconstitutional in 1936.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of abolitionism:

abolitionism

Abolitionists sought to end slavery. They were a varied collection of reformers, and often disagreed about how to accomplish their goal. Both white reformers and many free blacks were active abolitionists.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of abstract expressionism:

abstract expressionism

Abstract expressionism was a school of art that emerged after World War II. It was led by Jackson Pollack. Abstract expressionists were utterly subjective in their approach to art: the genre reflected the alienation of modern artists from the world of atomic bombs, computers, and mass culture.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of Act for Religious Toleration:

Act for Religious Toleration

The Act for Religious Toleration was the first law in America to call for freedom of worship for all Christians. Enacted in Maryland in 1649 to quell disputes between Catholics and Protestants, the act failed to bring peace.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of actual representation:

actual representation

New state governments adopted the view of actual representation; that is, they saw representatives as agents reflecting the interests of the voters of a particular district, rather than as superior persons chosen to decide public issues according to their own best judgment (virtual representation). According to the practice of actual representation, elected representatives normally reside in their districts and are directly responsive to local interests.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of John Adams:

Adams, John

Adams was Washington's vice-president and defeated Jefferson for the presidency in the election of 1796. He resisted his party's demand for war with France during his term.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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Definition and meaning of John Quincy Adams:

Adams, John Quincy

Adams was President Monroe's very successful secretary of state, but, after winning the Election of 1824, had a very troubled and unsuccessful single term in the presidency.

(Source: Madrid Waddington High School )

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