Sherman Anti-trust Act
Signed by Harrison and limited trusts.
. Farmer Alliance
Created by Oliver Hudson Kelley known as the Grange and it was an alliance of farmers that sought economic change.
Munn v. Illinois
(1877) Upheld the right of a state to regulate private property, not effective because railroads went over many states.
Interstate Commerce Act
Allowed the government to regulate trade across state lines.
· Populist / People’s Party (platform / ideals)
Democrats (Bryan) that wanted bimetallism, farmers, inflation, and regulation.
· Election of 1896 (bimetallism)
McKinley (republican) wins and gold standard is enforced. The populist party dies out. High tariffs to protect industry.
· Disenfranchisement; poll tax; literacy test
Depriving ones right to vote, typically based on race/gender/ethnicity. Had to pay to vote and pass an English test.
. Ida B. Wells / Booker T. Washington
Latter, counseled for accommodation of segregations, didn’t really want to be integrated unless African Americans became educated.
· Social Darwinism (anti-imperialist/anti-expansionist)
Racial theory that other races needed white people to capture them in order to justify expansion and promote their way of life. Justified white supremacy and lead to increase racism/xenophobia.
· Causes of Spanish American War (isolationism vs interventionism)
De Lome letter was released (yellow journalism) saying that the Spanish blew up the USS Maine (ship on the Cuba border), although it blew up by itself. Sparked the war and would spark a race of Imperialism. “Splendid Little War.” Domestic tension led us new markets (Cuba), Humanitarian desire to support Cubans, and Increased naval power to support US planters.
· Yellow Journalism (eg. USS Maine, De Lome Letter)
A highly exaggerated style of journalism that is used in order to sell papers. Led to Americans having negative attitudes towards the Spanish.
· Treaty of Paris 1898
Ended the Spanish-American War, Spain surrendered Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the US.
. War in Philippines
US bases were needed for fueling stations. White mans burden was McKinley's scapegoat.
Platt Amendment
US added an amendment to the Cuban Constitution in order to protect our interests. Not allowed debt, Guantanamo Bay, and the right to intervene with affairs. We became their protectorate. We had a war with them and annexed them and they gained independence.
· Open Door Police
Imperial powers did not have to remove control of China but they had to keep the market open. Not enforced but they feared a takeover so they followed.
Muckrakers (Tarbell / Sinclair)
Exposed horrible working conditions Ida=Oil, Sinclair=Meat.
· Jacob Riis / How the Other Half Lives
Mukraker that exposed tenement housing.
1896 President
McKinnely (republican), Bryan (Democrat). McKinnely won.
· Literacy Test (immigration)
.In order for Chinese to immigrate to America, they had to pass an english literacy test.
· Anti-Saloon League / Temperance Movement
Fought against immigration and argued that alcohol was destroying cities and families.
· W. E. B. Du Bois / NAACP
Believed in racial integration without the need for education.
· Teddy Roosevelt (ascension to power, Square Deal, Pure Food & Drug Act, national parks)
President after McKinley was shot, became the youngest president. Nature oriented and a man's man. Protected national land, and supported food regulations. 8 hour work day and graduated income tax (16th amendment). New nationalism; gov should reform. Gave taft the election and regretted it at the next election.
. Progressive Amendments: 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th
Graduated income tax. Direct election of senators. Prohibition. Female suffrage.
Panama Canal (process / importance)
Teddy Roosevelt negotiated an agreement with Colombia to leases a strip of land. Columbia did not want to lease the land strip, so Roosevelt supported an independence revolt in Panama. We signed a treaty with panama for the land.
· Platt Amendment
With the US gaining the Panama Canal, we decided to police the surrounding premises. This gave Americans the right to intervene in Cuba if independence was threatened. Even though Cuba was independent, they had to follow our rulings.
· Roosevelt Corollary / Big Stick Diplomacy
Extended the Monroe Doctrine, we resisted foreign instructions into the Western Hemisphere. Same as Monroe Doctrine but we no longer require Britain's aid. It gave us the right to intervene in Latin countries to keep their finances in order.
· Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy
Taft using money to advance US interests abroad. Private investments to promote economic stability. Treated troubled Latin American nations as failing corporations and repaid their debt to make them indebted to us. Woodrow Wilson then scrapped it.
Gentleman's agreement
A mutual restriction of immigration between the US and Japan, each country restricted immigration to the other country.
. Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy
Exporting American democracy and capitalism would promote peace. The US had a moral obligation to deny recognition to Latin American governments because they were oppressive or undemocratic. Latin countries were economically dependent on us. They should only group with those who shares our same ideals.
· Causes of WWI
Main (militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism[biggest cause]), Europeans were building up their militaries. Britain wanted to be stronger than France/Germany, and Germany made an alliance with Turkey and Austria Hungary, Britain made an alliance with France and Russia.
· Zimmerman Telegram
The British gave the US an intercepted message from Germany to Mexico. If war arose with the US, Germany would give Mexico guns, money, and their territory back. Wilson released it to the public and war was declared.
Schlieffen Plan
A two front war (Fighting Russia and France), reason Germany lost war.
· Impact of Submarines (Lusitania / Sussex Pledge)
U-Boats effectively allowed the Germans to attack ships because we did not have sonar yet. Germans didn’t attack American ships, but problems arose because American passengers were on enemy ships.
Lusitania
May 7th, 1915, U-Boat torpedoed a ship and 1200 died including 128 Americans. William Jennings Bryan felt the ship was carrying munitions and they struck it down. Brayn then resigned shortly after. Led to strong anti German feelings.
Sussex Pledge
Germany who was fighting a two front war, vowed to fire on any ship it came in contact with. Shot down a Sussex French steamer and injured several Americans. Wilson said that Germany must stop shooting off boats or else US would break diplomatic recognition and we would join the war.
· Selective Service Act
Mde 20-30 year old males could be conscripted/drafted into the military. 24 million had to register, 3 million drafted and 2 million volunteered. African Americans often could not sign up.
· Espionage and Sedition Acts
Hindering the war effort would be penalized. 1500 citizens were jailed just for denouncing the draft, criticizing the red cross, complaining about wartime taxes.
War Liberty Bonds
Paid the government during war times, but they will pay it back with interest in the following years.
Bolshevik Revolution
Lenin was sent back to Russia from Switzerland (exile) by Germany. Overthrew the czar and then made an alliance with Germany.
· Wilson’s 14 Points
Wanted open diplomacy, free seas and trade, disarmament, democracy, and association of nations to guarantee collective nations for Germany if they agreed to an armistice (cease fire).
· Big Four / Treaty of Versailles
David Lloyd . Germany agreed to surrender on Wilson's 14 points, but no European countries wanted this. Russia was not allowed to the conference. France and Britain were helping finance the overthrow of the Bolsheviks. Britain did not want to give up its naval powers.
· League of Nations / US Response
An idea to create an alliance between European countries but it failed at the Treaty of Versailles. America did not want to join even though Wilson came up with it because Europe was always in war.
· Mitchel Palmer / Palmer Raids
Terrorist package blew up on his (Attorney General) porch, thought that they were Bolsehviks trying to destroy America. 4,000 were arrested because they were accused of being communists. This violated their civil liberties and he lost his job.
War Guilt Clause
Germany was completely blamed for the war and was forced to pay $33 billion back. Many new nations formed due to self determination.
. Schenek v US
Affirmed the Espionage Act and feared that freedom of speech would be used to spread socialism. Clear and present danger doctrine. Loose Lips might Sink Ships (spreading secrets will give info to the enemy).
Prosperity of the 1920s (savings, installment, credit, goods, etc.)
Roaring 20s was a period of prosperity in the US. High demand and labor force was growing. Prices were low, wages rose. Credit allowed consumers to buy, buy, buy. Installment plans, personal best rose 2.5 times faster than income. Construction rose, suburbs fluoride, construction created business (lumber, concrete, insurance).
~ Hard times for farmers
During this time, after WWI, Europe did not need food and their jobs plummeted.
· Automobile / Henry Ford
1 in 5 people had a car in the US. 1 in 43 in Britain, and 1 in 7k in Russia. ¼ Americans earned a living in automobile manufacturing. Mass produced car, and standardized them. Assembly line made cars made quick. Payed double a day than most wages, and reduced hours, and days worked.
Marcus Garvey
Back to Africa Movement, wanted to send blacks back to Africa and wanted separation of races.
The American Plan
Closed shops were where union workers had to work. Yellow-dog contracts were signed to prevent a worker from signing a union. Welfare capitalism, giving workers incentives for hard work, clean factories, baseball, but only about 5% of the skilled workforce received these benefits.
· Flappers
Wore makeup, long dresses, few undergarments, they were a symbol of liberation and defiance. Prior to the war, women were arrested for smoking in public and driving without a man.
· Impact of Radios
Gave people a way to contact and hear from the rest of the world. Allowed for more communication. Allowed sports to be experienced from the home (Jack Dempsey [boxer]).
· Lost Generation
Pre WWI writers rebelled against Victorian purity. Resentment was turned towards conformity, technology, and materialism. T.S. Elliot, Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitzgerald.
· Harlem Renaissance
Literally, musical, and artistic African American movement in New York. Furthered them as a second class citizen. Langston Hughes, wrote about heritage. Zora Neale Hurston, wrote about folktales, songs, and prayers of black southerners.
· Sacco and Vanzetti
Nativists (anti-immigrant) were radical Italian anarchists that were arrested for robbery and murder. Evidence was not present and their execution was a symbol of US bigotry and prejudice.
· Immigration Act 1924 Quota / National Origins Acts (nativism)
Hostility to immigrants. Only 3% of each nationality could be accepted into the US. by 1924 it dropped to 2% (150,000), Asian immigration was virtually banned. Relaxed immigration into the US during the past 300 years ended.
· Impact of Darwinism
Theory of biological evolution created by Darwin.
· Fundamentalists
Conservatives that believe in literal interpretations of the bible, virgin birth, resurrection of Jesus, and creation.
· Scopes Trial
Tennessee passed a law (1925) stating it was illegal to teach evolution. Biology teacher John T. Scopes challenged the law and Clarence Darrow was his defense. William Jennings Bryan (fundamentalist) was the prosecutor. Urban Darrow against rural Bryan. First case broadcasted on the radio. Jury took 8 minutes to find Scopes guilty and fined him $100. After the trial public education became less religious.
· Rise of the KKK
Rearose on Stone Mountain, GA. Large wooden cross was set on fire, reflecting the insecurities of traditionalists. Disliked alcohol, flappers, blacks, and only liked native born, white, protestant Americans. Feared Mexicans, jews, japanese. Now took hold in big cities.
~ Birth of a Nation
portrayed the KKK as heroic defenders of America (first film watched in the White House). Watched by Woodrow Wilson.