The American Federation of Labor is one of the earliest and most prominent collective labor unions in the United States. It was organized from disaffected members of the Knights of Labor and was led in direction and motivation by Samuel Gompers. The American Federation of Labor came into existence during the economically stagnant 1890s, a time when class differences were becoming more pronounced. Socialism was drawing greater and greater support from the working classes, and the originally formed American Federation of Labor was an extremely socialist grouping; however, over the years as the economy continued to grow and conditions for the working classes greatly improved, the American Federation of Labor made its peace with capitalism and worked much more towards fitting into the system, instead of overhauling it. Samuel Gompers wasits leader for every year from its inception in 1886 to his death in the 1920s, (except for 1895).

The case of Butler v. United States ruled that several components of the Agricultural Adjustment Act were unconstitutional. Primarily it stated that the act violated the proscribed and protected rights of the states to regulate agricultural management and taxation.

The Federal Securities Act of 1914 was part of the movement to make corporations more responsible for the unethical practice of misrepresenting company stock. It was part of Wilson’s movement in general towards holding big businesses and banks accountable for their actions which had such dramatic effects on the lives of “average” Americans.

The Great Society was the name given to the Domestic policies of President Lyndon Johnson’s Democratic administration. The primary intentions of the Great Society were the alleviation of poverty through economic growth and the removal of racial injustices, particularly in the South. The Great Society closely resembled FDR’s New Deal program, both in directive and in scope.

The term "bootlegger" refers to the illegal sale and transportation of liquor. Bootleggers were particularly wealthy and influential during the Prohibition Era. They were often co-opted into more concrete organizations and some contributed to the foundations of the United States mafia.