American History Term 1 Final

What were the four main goals of Progressivism?

Protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, creating economic reform, and fostering efficiency.

How did the Social Gospel contribute to social welfare?

It helped provide for the poor through initiatives like the YMCA, which opened libraries and recreational facilities.

Who was Florence Kelly and what did she advocate for?

Florence Kelly was an advocate for improving the lives of women and children, notably creating laws to prohibit child labor and limit women's work hours.

What was the role of the WCTU in promoting moral improvement?

The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) aimed to combat alcohol consumption by entering saloons and advocating for prohibition.

What was the significance of the Anti-Saloon League?

Founded in 1895, it worked to pass laws against alcohol consumption and contributed to the prohibition movement.

What issues did Upton Sinclair expose in 'The Jungle'?

He highlighted unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, including worker injuries and contaminated food.

What legislation was enacted as a result of 'The Jungle'?

The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 were established to ensure food safety and sanitary conditions.

What were the working conditions for children during the Progressive Era?

Children were often hired for unskilled jobs at low wages, leading to the exploitation of their small hands for labor.

What was the NCLC and what did it do?

The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) gathered information on child labor conditions and advocated for laws to remove children from the workforce.

How did the Progressive movement address women's working hours?

In 1908, laws were enacted to limit women's working hours to ten hours a day for protection against powerful employers.

What unintended consequences arose from Prohibition?

Prohibition led to increased drinking, domestic violence, unemployment, and a decline in revenue from entertainment industries.

What methods did Frederick Winslow Taylor promote to improve manufacturing efficiency?

He advocated breaking tasks into smaller parts to streamline production processes, which was adopted by companies like Ford.

What was the impact of assembly lines on production?

Assembly lines made production more efficient and affordable but often resulted in worker fatigue and injuries.

How did the Progressive movement contribute to women's suffrage?

By giving women a voice through organizations like the WCTU, the movement helped pave the way for women's voting rights.

What were the conditions in factories as described in 'The Jungle'?

Factories were unsanitary, with widespread disease, unsafe working conditions, and lack of proper breaks for workers.

What was the goal of the Progressive movement regarding economic reform?

The movement aimed to address the greed of large corporations and the suffering of lower-class factory workers.

What was the significance of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906?

It ensured that livestock were slaughtered and processed under sanitary conditions to protect public health.

What role did muckrakers play in the Progressive movement?

Muckrakers were journalists who exposed corruption and social issues, raising public awareness and prompting reform.

How did the Progressive movement affect child labor laws?

The movement led to reforms that removed children from the workforce and placed them in schools.

What were the effects of limiting women's working hours?

Limiting working hours aimed to protect women from exploitation and improve their working conditions.

What was a significant consequence of increasing corruption in law enforcement during the Prohibition era?

Courts and jails became overrun with alcohol-related criminals, leading to plea deals.

How did pharmacists contribute to alcohol consumption during Prohibition?

Pharmacists were able to prescribe alcohol as medicine, leading to a growing occupation.

What was the annual death toll due to tainted alcohol during Prohibition?

Approximately 1,000 people died each year from tainted alcohol.

What educational requirement was established for children aged 8-14 between 1865-1895?

Students were required to attend school for 12-16 weeks.

What subjects were emphasized in the curriculum during the expansion of public education?

Reading, writing, and math were the primary subjects emphasized.

What criticism did teachers face during the expansion of public education?

Teachers were criticized for strict rules and the use of physical punishment.

What was the trend in high school attendance by 1900?

More than half a million students attended high school by 1900.

What was the purpose of literacy tests in the context of voting restrictions?

Literacy tests were designed to ensure that test-takers would fail, effectively disenfranchising African Americans.

What was the significance of the Grandfather Clause in voting?

It allowed individuals to vote if their father or grandfather had been eligible before 1867, excluding many freed slaves.

What landmark case established the 'separate but equal' doctrine?

Plessy vs. Ferguson established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, legitimizing Jim Crow laws.

What was the impact of Jim Crow laws on African Americans?

Jim Crow laws stripped African Americans of their civil rights and enforced racial segregation.

What was the Great Migration?

The Great Migration was the movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North for better opportunities.

What roles did women typically fulfill in the workforce during the late 19th century?

Women worked in manufacturing, domestic labor, and as farm workers, often receiving lower wages than men.

What was the three-part strategy for women's suffrage?

The strategy included convincing states to grant voting rights, taking cases to court, and pushing for a constitutional amendment.

What was the outcome of the 19th Amendment passed on June 4, 1919?

The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, stating that voting rights cannot be denied based on sex.

How did women contribute to the war effort during World War I?

Women knitted socks for troops and sold Liberty Bonds to support the military.

What was the significance of the first election in which women voted in November 1920?

Over 8 million women voted for the first time in this election, marking a significant milestone in women's rights.

What challenges did African Americans face in the North during the Great Migration?

Many faced segregation in neighborhoods and were often hired only as a last resort for work.

What role did the African American press play in society?

The African American press highlighted the treatment of blacks and reported on injustices when mainstream media would not.

What was the impact of mandatory Bible reading in public schools on Catholic immigrants?

Catholic immigrants created their own schools in response to mandatory Bible reading in public schools.

Immigrant

coming in to a country

Emigrant

leaving a country

Refugee

immigrating not by choice

Push Factors

War, Jobs, Natural disasters, religion, land Disputes

Pull Factors for the US

Freedom, Rights, Job opportunities, Resources

New Immigrants

20 million arrived in the US from 1870-1920, mainly from the southern and eastern side of Europe

Chinese Immigration

300,000 from 1851-1883, aided by the gold rush and need for labor on railroads

Chinese Exclusion Act

Immigration halted in 1882

Japanese Immigration

Reached peak in 1920 with 200,000 living on the west coast

What is the West Indies and Mexico Immigration

When 260,000 immigrants from Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico from 1880-1920

Ellis Island

Opened in 1892, processing took a day or less, only 2% denied

Angel Island

Primarily Chinese and other Asian immigrants arrived through San Francisco's Angel Island

Nativism

Favoritism toward native-born Americans and their heritage; leads to anti-immigrant groups

Xenophobia

Fear/dislike of those from foreign countries

Desirable Immigrants

British, German, or Scandinavian

Anti-Asian Sentiment 1882

Congress passes Chinese Exclusion Act banning all immigration for 10 years

Gentlemen's Agreement

Negotiated deal with Japan to limit unskilled immigrant laborers to the US in exchange for integration in schools

Jacob Riis

Worked for the New York Tribune as a police reporter, highlighted conditions of immigrants

Urban Opportunities

Immigrants Settle in Cities

Americanization

Designed to assimilate people of many cultures through programs to teach skills needed for citizenship (English, history, government, etc.)

Migration from Country to City

Americans transitioned from agriculture to industry due to technology improving and decreasing the number of laborers needed to farm.

Urbanization

Growth of cities in the Midwest and Northwest.

Housing Problem

Housing availability and convenience turned into too many people living in poor conditions.

Housing Solution

Cities made laws to help improve living conditions.

Poverty Problem

Jobs became so modern that people didn't know how to do them, leading to low-paying jobs and entire families having to work.

Transportation Problem

People were unable to get to work when it was far away from their homes.

Transportation Solution

Mass transit was built to transport large numbers of people to and from their jobs.

Water Problem

Supplying safe drinking water was a major issue.

Water Solution

Filtration systems were created in the 1870s and chlorination in 1908, but some cities still lack access to clean water.

Sanitation Problem

As cities grew, they struggled to keep them clean.

Sanitation Solution

Scavengers were hired to sweep the streets, and sewer lines and sanitation departments were developed in 1900.

Crime Problem

Increased population led to more pickpockets and thieves.

Crime Solution

A full-time salaried police force was hired in 1844.

Fire Problem

Limited water supply and volunteer firefighters led to major fire problems.

Fire Solution

A paid fire department was established in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1853, and an automatic fire sprinkler was invented in 1874.

City Design

Bridges like the Brooklyn Bridge were created to bring cities closer together and provide recreational opportunities.

Electric Transit

In 1888, Richmond, Virginia became the first city in America to have electrified urban transit.

Revolution in Printing

By 1890, the US literacy rate had risen to 90 percent, leading to increased publication of books and newspapers.

What industries were in trouble at the beginning of the Great Depression?

Railroads, mining, and housing industries were in decline.

What was a consequence of the decline in key industries during the Great Depression?

Unemployment increased as these industries struggled.

How did the economics of supply and demand affect American farmers during and after WWI?

High demand during the war led to more planting and spending, resulting in loans for farmers.

What happened to farmers' income after WWI?

Post-war demand dropped by 40%, causing annual farm income to fall from $10 billion in 1919 to $4 billion in 1921.

What financial difficulties did farmers face after WWI?

Farmers faced property foreclosure and an inability to repay loans, leading to rural bank failures.

What was the role of the American Relief Administration (ARA) after WWI?

The ARA aimed to feed millions of people, positively impacting 21 nations.

How did the Soviet Famine of 1921-1923 benefit US farmers?

The US sent over $20 million worth of corn and wheat seeds to Russia, which improved the farmers' economy.

What did survivors call the food supplied by the US during the Soviet Famine?

'America' symbolized life-saving aid given to families in need.

Why is the episode of the Soviet Famine and US aid mostly forgotten?

Russia portrayed the US as spies rather than helpers.

What factors contributed to American consumers having less money to spend by the end of the 1920s?

Increasing prices, stagnant wages, and overspending on credit led consumers to stop buying.

What were the benefits of having credit easily available during the 1920s?

Consumers could buy now and pay later, but this led to large debts and a decrease in spending.

How was income distributed in the American population during the 1920s?

The rich got richer while the poor got poorer; the income of the richest 1% increased by 75% from 1920-1929.

What was deemed necessary for a decent standard of living in 1929?

$2,500 was considered necessary for a decent standard of living.

What percentage of American homes had electric refrigerators by 1929?

Only 1 in 10 homes had electric refrigerators.

How often did the average American buy new clothes during the 1920s?

Many Americans bought new clothes only once a year.

What percentage of homes in cities had lights or a furnace by the end of the 1920s?

Half of the homes in cities had lights or a furnace.

What political roles did Hoover hold before becoming president?

He was a Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Harding and Coolidge.

What was Hoover's profession before entering politics?

He was a mining engineer from Iowa.

Why was Hoover considered the favorite in the 1928 election?

He had years of prosperity under the Republican administrations since 1920.

What does 'rugged individualism' mean according to Hoover?

It emphasizes focusing on individual achievement rather than relying on a central government.

What were 'Hoover blankets'?

Newspapers used by people sleeping in sewers during the Great Depression.

What were shantytowns during the Great Depression?

Makeshift communities where people erected shacks out of scrap materials, often referred to as 'Hoovervilles'.