The Making Modern America Test Review

history but good this time

Corrupt Business

Many businesses became corrupt and unregulated; monopolies formed, driving out competition and harming citizens.

Monopoly

When one company controls all aspects of production in an industry, eliminating competition.

Gap Between Rich and Poor

Few were wealthy while most Americans struggled to meet basic needs; there was virtually no middle class.

Robber Barons / Captains of Industry

Wealthy industrial leaders who amassed great fortunes during the Gilded Age.

John D. Rockefeller

Industrialist who built a fortune in the oil industry.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Industrialist known for his wealth from railroads and shipping.

Andrew Carnegie

Industrialist who made his wealth in the steel industry.

Abuse of Workers

Workers faced long hours, low pay, unsafe conditions, no rights, and risked being fired for complaining.

Child Labor

Children (often immigrants) were employed in factories and mines under dangerous, exploitative conditions.

Overcrowding in Cities

Mass urban migration led to cramped tenements, extreme poverty, and poor living conditions.

Health and Sanitation

Lack of garbage collection and food regulation led to tainted food, disease, and high mortality.

Environmental Destruction

Industrial activity destroyed landscapes, forests, and natural resources.

Civil Rights Discrimination

African Americans, women, and immigrants faced legal and social discrimination and violence.

Overuse of Natural Land

Corporations over-harvested forests and damaged natural land for profit.

Lack of Voting Rights

Women could not vote; Black men were often prevented from voting through violence and intimidation.

Political Corruption

Local and state politicians, mayors, and police chiefs often accepted bribes and acted corruptly.

Alcohol Abuse

Many believed alcohol contributed to poverty, crime, and domestic abuse, fueling temperance movements.

Crime in Cities

Overcrowding, poverty, and poor policing contributed to high crime rates in major cities.

Responsibility for Fixing Problems

Debate over whether government or citizens should address social, economic, and political issues.

Marcus Garvey Quote

"A man without history is like a tree without roots."

Bob Marley Quote

"In this great future, you can't forget your past."

Theodore Roosevelt

Considered the first modern U.S. president; a Progressive who pushed for reform and government action.

Roosevelt’s Progressive Goals

Aimed to address major national problems; tackled several key issues while leaving others for future reformers.

Roosevelt and the Environment

Promoted conservation and preservation; established national policies to protect land and resources.

Conservation

Managing natural resources to allow sustainable use and prevent waste.

Preservation

Protecting areas by leaving them untouched and maintaining them in their natural state.

Division of Forestry

Federal agency created under Roosevelt to manage and conserve forest resources.

National Park System

System created to protect significant natural areas; first large-scale federal environmental protection.

Roosevelt and Workers

Intervened in labor disputes (e.g., 1902 coal strike) to force fair negotiation between owners and workers.

1902 Coal Strike Intervention

Roosevelt pressured mine owners to grant workers a raise and a 9-hour day; first federal intervention for labor fairness.

Square Deal

Roosevelt’s policy promising fairness for workers, businesses, and consumers.

Roosevelt as Trustbuster

Actively prosecuted trusts and monopolies to restore competition in various industries.

Trusts

Combinations of companies that coordinate to reduce competition and control markets.

Roosevelt’s Business Reforms

Busted about 40 monopolies and established federal regulation of large corporations.

Targets of Trustbusting

Railroad, beef/packing, and oil industries among those pursued by Roosevelt.

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

Novel exposing appalling conditions in the Chicago meatpacking industry.

Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Law that set federal standards for meatpacking sanitation and inspection.

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Law regulating food and medicines to ensure safety and truthful labeling.

Federal Regulation of Food/Drugs

First major federal involvement in protecting consumers from dangerous food and medicines.

Election of 1904

Roosevelt won a landslide victory, which he took as public endorsement of his progressive reforms.

Meatpacking Description (excerpt)

Graphic account of rotten meat, rats, contamination, and unsanitary practices in packing plants.

Day America Changed

Assassination of President McKinley in 1901 marked the end of the 1800s era and beginning of modern America.

William McKinley

25th U.S. President; assassinated in 1901, leading to Roosevelt’s presidency.

McKinley Assassination Date

Shot on September 6, 1901; died on September 14, 1901.

Leon Czolgosz

Working-class anarchist of Polish descent who assassinated McKinley.

Why McKinley Was in Buffalo

Attending the Pan-American Exposition (World’s Fair) to promote technology and world trade.

World’s Fair Purpose

To showcase technology, electricity, and modern progress.

Czolgosz’s Motive

Anger at economic inequality and the gap between rich and poor; radicalized by anarchist ideas.

Czolgosz’s Background

Lost factory job, protested for higher wages, became radicalized and blacklisted.

U.S. Territories After Spanish-American War

The U.S. acquired influence/control over the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.

Czolgosz’s View of the Fair

Viewed the fair as hypocritical and racially biased, promoting white superiority.

Anarchists’ Goal

Belief in abolishing government and authorities.

Czolgosz vs. Anarchists

Anarchists suspected him of being a spy and shunned him.

McKinley’s Last Day

Visited Niagara Falls with his wife before the shooting.

Temple of Music Warning

Advisors warned the Temple was insecure and risky for public interaction.

Secret Service Errors

On Sept. 6, 1901 the Secret Service mismanaged crowd control and overlooked threats.

McKinley’s Last Words

“Go easy with him boys,” expressing mercy toward his assassin.

Why McKinley Died

Surgery failed due to poor lighting, limited medical knowledge, and complications from his wounds.

Symbolism of the Assassination

Marked the dangers and upheaval of entering a new, modern era of the U.S.

Roosevelt Sworn In

Took the oath of office in the Adirondacks while hiking after McKinley’s death.

Why Roosevelt Changed America

Younger, energetic, and more radical; he ushered in an era of active federal reform.