Commerce in Oklahoma
Glossary
ample: Enough.
assimilation: The process of becoming part of a culture different from one’s original culture.
bankruptcy: A financial state where a person, business, or organization cannot pay their debts and is legally declared unable to meet their financial obligations.
bureaucratic: Describing a system or organization that is characterized by complicated rules, procedures, and red tape.
cartel: A group of producers that cooperate to manipulate markets and prices, usually outside of the law.
Columbian Exchange: The widespread exchange of goods, ideas, people, and diseases between the eastern and western hemispheres that occurred after Christopher Columbus’s voyages.
commerce: Buying, selling, and trading within an economy.
commercial: Relating to buying, selling, or trading of goods or services.
communally: Sharing decision-making and resources.
compulsory: Required or mandatory; something that must be done or followed.
consumer goods: Products or items that are purchased and used by individuals or households for personal use.
corruption: Dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by people in positions of power, where they use their authority for personal gain.
default: Failing to make payments on time for a loan or other obligation.
defense-related: Relating to matters or activities connected with protecting a country or organization from threats or attacks.
delegate: The act of assigning or entrusting tasks, duties, or responsibilities to someone else.
depression: A long and severe period of economic downturn characterized by high unemployment, low production, and a decline in business activity.
discontentment: A feeling of unhappiness or dissatisfaction with one's current situation or circumstances.
discrimination: Unfair or unjust treatment of people based on their race, gender, religion, or other characteristics.
disenfranchised: To be deprived of the right to vote or have a voice in the political process.
dismantle: To take apart
dispossessed: To be deprived of land, property, or possessions, often due to force or legal action.
dissolution: The act or process of breaking apart or coming to an end, especially in the context of a group or organization.
diversity: The presence of a wide range of different people, cultures, or ideas within a particular group or society.
draft: A system in which individuals are selected or required to serve in the military.
drought: An extended period when there is little or no rainfall, leading to water scarcity and dry conditions.
Dust Bowl: A region in the central United States during the 1930s that experienced severe dust storms and agricultural damage due to drought and poor land management.
economy of scale: Reduction in the cost of producing a product, especially when caused by an increase in production.
efficient: Doing something in a way that achieves the desired results with minimal waste or effort.
emancipation: Liberation from enslavement.
embargo: An official ban or restriction on trade or commercial activity with a particular country or group.
encompassed: Surround and have or hold within.
encroachment: The act of gradually intruding or trespassing onto someone else’s territory, space, or rights.
entrepreneurs: Individuals who start and manage their own businesses.
ethnic: Relating to a particular cultural or racial group.
exporters: People or businesses that sell goods or products to other countries.
extractive: Relating to the process of extracting natural resources from the earth, such as mining or drilling.
Farmer’s Alliance: An organized group of farmers in the late 19th century that sought to address the economic challenges and advocate for the interests of farmers.
fluctuate: To change or vary continuously, often in an unpredictable way.
guerrilla: A member of an irregular military force engaging in surprise attacks, ambushes, and hit-and-run tactics.
hoarding: Keeping a large quantity of a product and refusing to sell.
immunity: Protection or resistance against a particular disease or infection.
impeachments: The process of charging a public official with misconduct and bringing them to trial to determine if they should be removed from office.
Indigenous: Native or originating from a particular region or country.
inevitability: Certain to happen.
infrastructure: The basic physical structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society, such as roads, bridges, water systems, and power grids.
Jim Crow laws: Segregation laws enacted in the southern United States that enforced racial discrimination and denied equal rights to African Americans.
layoffs: The termination or suspension of employment for a group of workers due to business-related reasons, such as downsizing or economic downturns.
liabilities: Financial obligations or debts that a person, business, or organization owes.
liquefied natural gas: Natural gas cooled and condensed into liquid form for ease of storage and transportation.
literacy tests: Examinations or assessments designed to determine a person’s reading and writing skills, historically often used as a way to disenfranchise certain groups from voting.
manufactured: Produced or made in large quantities using machinery and standardized processes.
mythological: Relating to myths or traditional stories that explain natural phenomena, cultural beliefs, or historical events.
nomadic: Describing a lifestyle or group that regularly moves from place to place, typically without a permanent home.
nonmigratory: Referring to species or individuals that do not migrate or move from one location to another.
Oklahoma Enabling Act of 1906: An act that allowed the people of Oklahoma and Indian Territories to elect representatives to a state constitutional convention and bid for statehood.
oppression: The exercise of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner, leading to the prolonged mistreatment or subjugation of individuals or groups.
overextended: To go beyond one’s limits or resources, often incurring excessive debt or commitments.
overproduction: The production of more goods, products, or resources than can be sold or consumed, leading to surplus and economic imbalances.
overreliance: Excessive dependence or reliance on something, often to the point of neglecting other options or resources.
persecuted: Subjected to harassment, discrimination, or unfair treatment, often due to one’s race, religion, or political beliefs.
persistent: Continuing or enduring for a long time, often despite challenges or obstacles.
petroleum: A thick, flammable, dark-colored liquid found beneath the earth’s surface that is used as a fuel source to power vehicles and generate energy.
phenomenon: A remarkable or exceptional event or occurrence that can be observed or experienced.
posse: A group of individuals who are assembled or organized for a specific purpose, often to pursue or capture someone who is wanted by the authorities.
primary: First or most important in time, order, or importance.
Progressive: A reform movement in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries that sought to address social, political, and economic issues through government intervention and the promotion of positive change.
quell: To suppress or put an end to something, usually by force or intimidation.
recruitment: The process of actively seeking and enlisting individuals to join a group, organization, or cause.
refugees: People forced to flee their homes or country due to persecution, war, or natural disasters.
revenue failures: The inability of a government to pay its obligations.
revitalize: To renew or restore vitality, energy, or strength to something.
secondary: Second in order, importance, or significance.
sector: A specific part or area of an economy or society, often characterized by common activities or interests.
segregation: The enforced separation of different racial, ethnic, or social groups, particularly in public facilities, institutions, or residential areas.
self-sustaining: Capable of maintaining or supporting oneself or itself without external assistance.
sharecroppers: Farmers who work on someone else's land and give a portion of their crops as rent or payment for the use of the land.
Shawnee Demands: A list of policies that organized farmers and workers demanded be included in the Oklahoma state constitution.
stagflation: A unique economic trend in which an economy is growing slowly and has high unemployment but also high prices. Usually, high inflation is a result of a rapidly growing economy.
socialism: An economic and political system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
soil conservation: The practice of preventing soil erosion, degradation, and depletion to maintain soil fertility and productivity.
stimulate: To encourage or promote activity, growth, or development.
strike: A work stoppage or protest by a group of workers who refuse to continue working until certain demands or conditions are met.
subsidies: Financial assistance from the government given to producers of goods and services.
surplus: An excess or abundance of something, often referring to a quantity or amount beyond what is needed or used.
technological: The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
tenant farmers: Farmers who rent or lease land from a landowner in exchange for a share of the crops or monetary payment.
tribal sovereignty: The self-governing authority and power held by American Indian tribes over their people and land.
unions: Organizations formed by workers to protect their rights, improve working conditions, and negotiate with employers for better wages and benefits.
unprecedented: An event that has never happened before.
urban: Relating to a city or characteristic of city life.
urbanization: The process of the growth and expansion of cities, including the increase in population and the development of urban areas.
vigilante: An individual or group of citizens who take the law into their own hands, often outside the legal system, to enforce justice or pursue their own beliefs.
welfare: Assistance provided by the government or private organizations to individuals or families in need, such as financial support, healthcare, or social services.
