IB HOA UNIT 7

Social Gospel

started during the Gilded Age and carried through to the Progressive Era, it was a religious movement that sought to apply the Christian ideals of justice and charity. Advocates of the movement interpreted the kingdom of God as requiring both a social (collective) and individual salvation. Many churches became hotbeds of political activism, and championed causes such as labor reform and temperance.

Lincoln Steffens

a prominent figure among what TR called “muckrakers,” he travelled the country lecturing and writing about the social ills of cities. He published multiple articles in a series called “The Shame of Cities” and co-founded the American magazine with Ida Tarbell.

Ida Tarbell

A muckraker who was hired to write for McClure’s Magazine, a widely read publication, and wrote a series of articles entitled “History of the Standard Oil Company” which chronicled the unfair business practices and contributed to the busting of Carnegie’s oil empire.

Muckrakers

A term coined by TR, these were journalists and activists who exposed the underbelly and ugly parts of America during this time to spur reform. Examples include Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, Ida B. Wells, and Upton Sinclair.

Boxer Rebellion

Started in 1899 when a Chinese secret society of “Boxers” began attacking Chinese Christians and Western missionaries with the goal to drive out all foreigners. It was spurred on by the fear of imperialism as China watched America spread into various islands in the Pacific. Ended with foreign forces (US, Australian, and British) taking Beijing and forcing a treaty that allowed missionaries and Christianity in China.

Open Door Notes

Notes sent by US Secretary of State John Hay to various foreign officials outlining the US approach to economic ties with China, known as the Open Door Diplomacy. Hays proposed a free open market and trading opportunities for all merchants in China regardless of nationality, hoping it would lead to better success for U.S. merchants and prevent wars over trading rights to China.

Platt Amendment

An amendment to a U.S. army appropriations bill, established the terms under which the United States would end its military occupation of Cuba (which had begun in 1898 during the Spanish-American War) and "leave the government and control of the island of Cuba to its people." Conditions included a prohibition on entering into agreements with foreign countries and an agreement to lease or sell land for U.S. naval bases.

Anti-Imperialist League

Formed during the Spanish American War, this group consisted of members from Samuel Gompers to Andrew Carnegie, and opposed American imperialism on moral, religious, and legal grounds.

"Remember the Maine:"

A rallying cry after the explosion of the USS Maine at Havana Harbor in Cuba. Though there was no proof, the media blamed Spain for the death of American soldiers and the phrase “To Hell with Spain, Remember the Maine” became common. The destruction of the Maine was the instigating event for the Spanish American War.

Yellow Journalism

A type of journalism practiced by Pulitzer and Hearst meant to sell as many papers as possible, journalists would embellish facts and sometimes outright lie to appeal to fear and emotions.

Alfred T. Mahan

The architect of “Mahan Diplomacy” which argued that the only way to maintain an empire was through naval control of shipping/trade routes.

Josiah Strong

Minister, activist, and author who helped spread the social gospel throughout America. Considered the originator of the Social Gospel.

Dollar diplomacy

A foreign policy most associated with Taft, the United States would lend money to foreign nations in exchange for economic and political influence in those countries.

William Taft

27th president from 1909-1913 and Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor. He had a long and successful career as a lawyer before his presidency. He continued Roosevelt’s work, and busted more trusts than his predecessor. Lost his re-election bid to Wilson in 1912.

Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy

Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger was accused of opening up protected Alaskan lands to benefit his family’s mining company. Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot brought charges against Ballinger to president Taft, and Ballinger responded with a 730 page manifesto denying any wrongdoing. Pinchot then went to a magazine and published his study to the public, which caused such an outrage that Congress opened a formal investigation. Taft supported Ballinger, and Roosevelt felt this was such a betrayal of his conservation work that he decided to run on a third-party ticket against Taft in 1912.

New Nationalism

the political philosophy of Theodore Roosevelt that argued for active federal intervention to promote social justice and intervene in economic inequality. First introduced in 1910, it was the major platform of Roosevelt’s bid for presidency in 1912 and stood in direct opposition to Wilson’s “New Freedom.”

Woodrow Wilson

First Southern Democratic president since Reconstruction, he was highly educated with a PHD from John Hopkins University. He was President through WWI, and is best remembered for his 14 Points speech and attempt to build a League of Nations in the aftermath of the war, and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

New Freedom

Wilson’s response to Roosevelt’s New Nationalism, promised economic equality for all while sticking to limited government. More pro-business than Roosevelt, but approached economic inequality through the free market rather than federal intervention.

Roosevelt Corollary

A corollary to the Monroe Doctrine released in 1904, it stated that the involvement of the United States in Western Hemisphere countries did not invite foreign aggression from Europe. Essentially, it claimed that the U.S. would intervene in other Western hemisphere countries, but Europe still had to stay out.

John Muir

Known as “Father of the National Parks,” he was a naturalist and land preservation advocate who worked closely with Roosevelt to protect land through the creation of National Parks. Largely responsible for both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.

Panama Canal

A canal built by America through the Panamanian isthmus that significantly shortened

"speak softly, carry a big stick"

Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy that promoted diplomacy through power. This meant that the US military needed to be strong so that they could enter negotiations from a place of power, and hopefully not have to use the military to get what they wanted. However, they could use the military, and that would scare other nations into being more cooperative.

Sacco and Vanzetti

The 1920 arrest and subsequent execution (1927) of two Italian anarchist immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, for the murder of two men during a robbery. The trial was controversial and evidence was scarce, but there was heavy anti-immigrant sentiment in both the judge and jury, and both men were found guilty on flimsy evidence. An example of widespread anti-immigrant sentiment in the 1920s.

Palmer Raids

A series of raids led by (and named after) Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer that targeted socialists, anarchists, and communists, and led to thousands of people being arrested without warrants. Fueled by the first Red Scare.

Red Scare

Following WWI and the successful Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, many American officials became afraid of Russian spies/communist sympathizers within the government. This, along with a rising wave of nationalism and nativism, led to many accusations and arrests for communism.

The Irreconcilables

A group of senators that vehemently opposed Wilson’s treaty to join the League of Nations, and who said they would oppose the treaty no matter what changes were made to it.

Treaty of Versailles

The official treaty that ended World War I and punished Germany heavily. Included in the treaty was the creation of the League of Nations.

14 Points

President Woodrow Wilson’s ___ on how to achieve peace without victory as the nations of Europe were writing a peace treaty following World War I. His points suggested solutions to border disputes, set forward principles for lasting peace, and advocated for the creation of the League of Nations.

Committee on Public Information

An independent committee meant to promote support for the war, control news, and influence public opinion. Responsible for most of the propaganda produced and distributed in America during World War I.

War Industries Board

US government agency established during World War I to coordinate the production of war materials by overseeing the allocation of resources and regulating manufacturing industries to ensure the military had necessary supplies

Lusitania

A passenger ship sunk in 1915 by a German U-Boat. Over 1,000 people died, including 128 Americans. This caused outrage in America, but Germany promised to stop attacking passenger ships and America retained its neutrality. However, when Germany said they would begin targeting passenger ships again in 1917, the outrage from the sinking of the Lusitania boiled over and was a major factor in America declaring war on Germany.

Zimmerman Telegram

A telegram that American intelligence intercepted that was sent from German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman to the Mexican government encouraging them to invade the United States. The telegram promised financial and military support if Mexico invaded, and Germany hoped this invasion would keep America from joining the war in Europe. This infuriated Americans, and was a major factor in America declaring war on Germany.

"Peace without victory"

Wilson’s policy for the Treaty of Versailles, he argued that the European powers could find peace without victory, meaning that no one country should be overly punished or overly rewarded in the treaty. He predicted that unless a balance was found that left all parties relatively happy, another war would break out within a generation. Britain and France ignored his policy and wrote the treaty to punish Germany.

total war

the idea and policy that an enemy must be destroyed completely, including civilians, in order to claim victory. This takes the form of destroying crops, chemical warfare, bombing of civilian populations, and more.

Jane Addams

a feminist, activist, and educator who laid out principles for world peace, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her efforts on public education, her vehement opposition to WWI, and her work with Herbert Hoover supplying food and supplies to civilians in enemy nations

19th Amendment

established women’s suffrage, granting women the right to vote.

Initiative, referendum, recall

three means of direct grassroots political action that are known as the “politics of direct action.” An initiative is a proposed law that goes on the ballot if it has adequate signatures, a referendum is when a question is put to the people via voting (i.e., should marijuane be legalized), and recall is when voters remove a public official from office before the end of their term (usually at the local level).

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

A massive fire at a shirtwaist factory in New York that employed mostly women and girls. No safety precautions had been observed by the factory owners, and women were locked in the upper floors with faulty fire escapes as the building burned. Witnesses say they saw women burning alive and jumping to their deaths to avoid the flames. 148 people died, and protests that followed led to major legislation requiring businesses to meet basic safety requirements.

W.E.B. Dubois

One of the most influential Black leaders of the early 20th century, he opposed Booker T. Washington’s economics first approach to equality. He championed education, political activism, and legal action as the best way for Black Americans to reach equality. He was a historian and sociologist, and was the first Black man to graduate with a PhD from Harvard. His works include “Black Reconstruction” and the “Soul of Black Folk,” both of which challenged the common stereotypes and the white historical narrative about Reconstruction.

Niagara Movement

Founded by W.E.B. DuBois in 1905, this was an organization that sought to end discrimination and segregation through legal challenges to the law. Lasted until 1909, when many members created and joined the broader coalition of the NAACP.

Anti-saloon League

A highly organized and vocal group of activists who sought to ban the consumption of alcohol. They published thousands of fliers and focused on changing local and state laws around alcohol consumption to some success.

18th Amendment

prohibited the creation, sale of, and distribution of alcohol.

Eugene Debs

Labor activist and leader, he helped organize many strikes such as the Pullman strike. He felt Roosevelt’s progressivism did not do enough to help labor, and ran for president in 1912 as a member of the Socialist party.

Louis Brandeis

the first Jewish justice to serve on the Supreme Court, he wrote hundreds of opinions from 1916-1939. His opinions largely fought against governmental overreach, even in cases meant to help everyday people. He wrote dissenting arguments on many of the New Deal cases arguing that the programs were largely unconstitutional and an example of government overreach. He was known for being a master of the procedure and presenting logical and well researched opinions.

Pure Food and Drug Act

Passed in 1906, this was the first federal law to require any sort of health and sanitation requirements in places where food was produced, packaged, and sold. The law was a direct result of the popularity and influence of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. It also created the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee the production and safety of both food and drugs.

Square Deal

Comes from a quote by TR saying that “all I ask for is a ___ for every man.” It encompasses the Progressive Era legislation pushed by TR that busted monopolies, established federal guidelines, and supported the labor movement.