Imperialism
The expansion of one country's political, economic, and military influence over another country.
Purchase of Alaska in 1867
Alaska was claimed both by Russia and Great Britain. America proposed to purchase it for $7.2 million, branded as C Words Folly because of William Seward who proposed it. At first, the territory seemed to have no value, but when gold was discovered there in 1898, it became more desirable.
What was American imperialism based on?
19th-century ideals, Westward expansion.
Imperialist
Thought about how there could be gold/ raw materials in other places in the world.
Wanted to expand to new markets for American-made goods.
Use Social Darwinism to justify themselves.
Saw imperial expansion as a way for America to become a dominant country internationally.
Was also backed by racial motivations, White supremacy.
Josiah Strong's “Our country's Its possible future and present crisis.”
Published in 1895, Argued white Anglo-Saxon race was the best of human evolution and, therefore was the fittest to survive. Also argued it was the Christian duty of the white race to expand itself and bring Christianity in Western civilization to the backward of the world.
Alfred Thayer Mahan “The influence of sea power on history”
Published in 1890, argued that any country on the world stage got this way because it had a robust Navy. He argued this was the only way to secure the foreign markets industrialists wanted
Effects of “The influence of sea power on history”
He influenced Congress to approve the construction of a massive new steel fleet. This started a race to secure Pacific and Caribbean territories that could facilitate American naval dominance.
Anti-imperialist
The principle of self-determination for nations argued that if Americans began taking over less powerful countries, they would be robbed of their right to self-determination.
Argued that America had a long history of isolationism to reject foreign affairs.
Thought if America combined itself with other countries it would have consequences such as wars and economic disputes.
Used racial arguments.
Self-determination for nations
The idea that a nation should be able to decide for itself who ruled it and what laws were passed. The same arguments colonial Americans used to reject British rule.
What was the main argument between the imperialist and anti-imperialist parties?
“Did the Constitution follow the flag?” or “If America expands into other territories, do those people become citizens with rights?”
Anti-imperialist view of Did the Constitution support the flag?
Supported it, but not because they thought nations should be granted constitutional rights.
Yellow Journalism
Sensational stories over the truth face. Fake, exaggerated news.
Joseph Pulitzer
A Hungarian-American newspaper publisher known for establishing the pattern of the modern newspaper, and for creating the Pulitzer Prizes, which recognize outstanding achievements in journalism, literature, and music
Yellow Journalism on the Spanish-American War
Wrote exaggerated stories about the atrocities committed by the Spanish against the Cubans, because of this, Americans felt that they had a right to intervene in Cuba.
USS Maine
A battleship that exploded in Havana harbor in 1898, 200 Americans died. Let's claim the explosion was ignited by the Spanish Because they resent US interference, even though they had no real proof. When a real investigation said the explosion was accidental, it didn't matter to people as yellow journalists had angered them to the point where they blamed Spain no matter what.
President McKinley in the Spanish-American war
Issued an ultimatum to Spain. Back off or we go to war. Spain agreed to this, but America still went to war anyway.
Effects of the Spanish-American War (1898 to 1898)
Cuba gained its independence. However, that independence was disrupted by the Platt Amendment. (1901)
Annexation of Philippines
Open door policy
Platt Amendment
An amendment that politicians insisted on, being put into the Cuban Constitution, allowed the US to intervene militarily in Cuba if American economic interests were threatened. This made it difficult for the Cuban government to conduct its foreign policy and manage its foreign affairs.
Annexation of Philippines
During the war, American soldiers and Filipino nationals mounted a land invasion that overthrew Spain and the treaty that ended the Spanish-American War. The Philippines was ceded to the US for $20 million.
Effects of the annexation of the Philippines
Filipinos thought the US was helping them gain their freedom, but it turned out. The Philippines traded 1 imperial power for another. Under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo. They attempted to overthrow the US rule, This war lasted three years, but the US held on to the Philippines until after World War 2.
Emilio Aguinaldo
A Filipino revolutionary leader who played a key role in the Philippine Revolution against Spain and later led Filipino forces in the Philippine-American War against the United States, believing that they were fighting for their independence.
Queen Liliuokalani
The last Monarch of Hawaii until 1898, was overthrown and Hawaii was annexed by the U.S.
Annexation of Hawaii
The United States needed a way to get to the Philippines as it was very far away, so they looked towards the Hawaiian Islands. In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy queen Liliuokalani was overthrown by American settlers.
Open door policy with China (1899)
John Hay sent the open door note to European powers asking them to observe an open door of trading privileges in China. The European nations neither accepted nor rejected this, however, Hay saw this as a win, so America held onto some trading rights of the highly desired Asian market.
Spheres of influence
during the 19th century china was essentially taken over due to the superior industrial strength of European nations, economically they were carved up
John Hay
President Mckinley's Secretary of State organized the open-door policy with China
William Seward
Proposed the bond to purchase Alaska in 1867. Was successful.
Josiah Strong
Wrote “Possible future in the present crisis,” argued that the White Race was superior and it was the Christian duty of the white race, to expand itself.
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Wrote the “influence of sea power on history” in 1890 and argued that a country needed a robust Navy to be dominant.
William Randolph Hearst
An American newspaper publisher who built the nation's largest newspaper chain and is known for his role in sensationalistic journalism, especially during the Spanish-American War. He used yellow journalism to promote American imperialism and influence public opinion.
William Howard Taft
Trust Buster: Busted over 70 trusts
16 amendment 1913: Federal income tax
Woodrow Wilson
17th amendment - direct election of senators
18th amendment - prohibition
19th amendment - womens suffrage
Clayton antitrust act - goal to regulate businesses
Federal trade commission to regulate businesses
Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
Square Deal: Control of corporations, consumer protection, conservation of natural resources. Known as the 'Trust Buster' for busting over 40 trusts. Advocated for regulation of Big Businesses and supported labor laws. Promoted conservation through the establishment of national parks. He was the number one progressive president and had a lasting impact.
The Progressive Era
1897 to 1920
Progressive Era causes
Growing power of big businesses. Uncertainties in the economy. Increasingly violent conflicts between labor groups and their employers. Political machine power. Jim Crow segregation in the South. Lack of women's suffrage. Alcohol.
What did all Progressive members agree on?
All agree that society, on some level, society was Deteriorating and the only cure was significant government intervention. The government must get involved in a vigorous and invasive manner.
Muckrakers
Journalists sought to expose the underbelly of American corporations. Exposed the corruption in many big businesses. Brought many major social justice issues to light, they then became public knowledge
Upton Sinclair “The Jungle” (1905)
A fictional story that exposed the unsanitary conditions of the meatpacking industry with vivid stomach-trimming images of the conditions and practices there.
Ida Tarbell
Muckraker published a devastating expose on John D Rockefeller's Stanford Oil Company.
Jacob Riis
Photojournalist whose book “How the Other Half Lives” (1890) exposed the unsanitary and disease-ridden living conditions of the poor and working class who lived in New York's tenements.
Secret ballot
Ways for the progressives to expand democracy. The secret ballot was voting done in secret so political bosses couldn't interfere.
17th Amendment (1913)
Transferred Electing senators from state legislators to the people, “Direct Election of Senators”
18th Amendment. (1819)
Established American prohibition verbatim manufacturing sale of alcohol. Was urged by the American Temperance Society.
19th Amendment (1920)
Gave women the right to vote.
Legislative reforms passed by the Progressive Party
Initiative, Referendum, and recall. These policies made sure that once a politician was elected they would not ignore the will of the people
Initiative
Voters could require legislators to consider a bill that they chose to ignore.
Referendum
Voters themselves could vote on the adoption of proposed laws.
Recall
A way to remove a corrupt politician before their term was complete.
Frederick Taylor
Published a book in 1909 advocating what he called “scientific management”, which was the idea to make factory work more efficient. Timed Workflow factory and gave his recommendations for saving time and thus increasing productivity and earning more profits.
The Niagara Movement
Founded by W.E.B Dubois, an organized group of black intellectuals, met to plan protests and acts that would secure rights for the black population.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Wanted to abolish all forms of segregation and expand educational opportunities for black children. Founded by W. E.B DuBois.
Pure Food and Drug Act
Assured consumers that their meat and other foods were not being contaminated.
Meat Inspection Act.
Assured consumers meatpacking factories would conform to a minimum standard of sanitation.
Forest Reserved Act of 1891
Roosevelt used this to reserve 150 million areas of unspoiled land. Part of his Square Deal
How did World War One start?
With the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Started in July 1914
Dates of World War I
1914 to 1918
Triple Entente
Also called the Allied Powers consisted of Britain, France, and Russia.
Triple Alliance
Also called the Central Powers consisted of Germany, Austria - Hungary and Italy.
What were the three main causes of World War One?
Sinking of the Lusitania, Unrestricted submarine warfare and The Zimmerman Telegram
Sinking of the Lusitania in 1915
German submarines sank any ship that entered the war zone. Passenger ship Lusitania entered the war zone and German submarines sunk it.128 Americans died, which enraged the American public. President Woodrow Wilson decided to remain neutral. Germany kept sinking ships, so the US threatened to break diplomatic relations and then Germany backed off.
Unrestricted submarine warfare
Germany seeking American ships in the war zone. Woodrow Wilson stayed neutral.
The Zimmerman Telegram
Note sent to Mexico from Germany which solicitated them to start a war with the US. Germany promised that when the war was over, they would help Mexico regain the land it had lost in the Mexican-American War. This caused Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress for a declaration of war and it was granted on April 2nd, 1917 (When the US officially entered the war.)
Why did Woodrow Wilson want to go to war?
Woodrow Wilson believed that they must go to war to make the world safer for Democracy.
American Expeditionary Forces
Commanded by John J Pershing first plugged up weaknesses on the French and British lines. However, soon they took command of a portion of the Western Front. Entry effectively tipped the balance of the war in favor of the Allies.
What ended World War One?
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on November 11th, 1918.
The Treaty of Versailles
Treaty that ended World War One Britain and France wanted Germany to suffer for starting the war. However, Wilson saw that a stable Europe required a robust Germany. Wilson proposed the 14 points, however, most of it wouldn't happen, The League of Nations was created because of this.
14 points
Proposed by Woodrow Wilson in response to the Treaty of Versailles. Argued for the freedom of the Seas, self-determination of nations, and the League of Nations.
League of Nations.
Worldwide representative body where countries could negotiate their problems instead of going to war.
How did Congress respond to the Treaty of Versailles?
Rejected the Treaty of Versailles because of the League of Nations. Congress feared that membership in the body would drag the US into war without congressional approval. The League was formed without the US
Total War
Mobilize as much of its economic, industrial, and social resources in order to win. America became this in World War 1 and even more so in ww2
War Industries Board (1917)
Wartime agency that coordinated labor and management to keep factories making war-related Items such as uniforms.
Food Administration (1917)
Wartime agency that ensured that food production was sufficient for troops and civilians.
Espionage Act (1917) and Sedition Act (1918)
Acts that made it a crime to oppose the war interfere with the draft, or even say anything disloyal about the war effort.
Schenck v. the United States (1919)
Supreme Court case. Charles Schenck and others gave out pamphlets urging young men to resist the draft. Was arrested for violating the Espionage Act. The court disagreed with Schenck. The Supreme Court invented the famous "clear and present danger" test to determine when a state could constitutionally limit an individual's free speech rights under the First Amendment.
Spanish flu's impact on America during World War One
The federal government sought to forbid publications that revealed the true death toll and the dangers of the illness on account of it damaging the morale of the war effort.
The Red Scare
Anti-communist sentiment grew in 1919. Began to fear communist infiltration after the Russian Revolution was successful
Xenophobia
Fear and distrust of other countries led to further immigration restrictions.
Palmer Raids
During the height of the Red Scare, Attorney General Mitchell Palmer tasked J Edgar Hoover to secretly gather info on suspected radicals. Ordered the mass arrests of socialist radicals, labor union leaders, and many others. Over 6000 arrests were made and over 500 people were deported.
Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and National Origins Act of 1924
Set the quotas for accepting new immigrants very low, especially immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia.
The Great Migration (1914 to 1970)
Huge portions of the southern black population migrated to the urban industrial cities of the north.
Why did black Americans migrate to the North?
To escape the oppressive Southern society where Jim Crow laws and segregation were present. African Americans were disenfranchised because of schemes like poll taxes and literacy tests. Had to be paid or passed to gain access to the voting booths. Also went North to find jobs.
The Tulsa Race Riot slash Tulsa Massacre (1921)
A white woman claimed a black shoe Shiner assaulted her. A white mob assembled to lynch the black man. Opposing groups of black people rose up to intervene. Ended in the mass destruction of property in black neighborhoods, leaving 10,000 homeless and 300 black people were killed.
The Square deal.
Was Theodore Roosevelt's domestic program, which reflected his three major goals: conservation of natural resources, corporate law, and consumer protection
Anthracite Coal Strike
The anthracite strike of 1902 marked the first time the government acted to resolve a strike both without force and without such a clear legal justification. Miners struck for higher wages, shorter workdays, and the recognition of their union.
Sherman Antitrust Act
A federal statute which prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace. It outlaws any contract, conspiracy, or combination of business interests in restraint of foreign or interstate trade.
Henry Ford
An American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company, he revolutionized the automobile industry by introducing the assembly line technique to mass produce cars, particularly the Model T, making automobiles affordable for the average American.
Assembly line
Began in 1913. Large conveyor belt that slowly transported the partially built car from worker to worker. Each worker performs the same task on each part of the car. Very efficient and successful. Unscaled assembly line workers gradually replaced skilled workers.
Advertising industry
Became popular during the 1920s.Started with the proliferation of consumer goods. Advertisers learn how to promote their products through ads that attempt to tap into the subconscious of their customers. Got ideas from Sigmund Freud.
Westinghouse
Part of popular culture during the 1920s.Use radio to reach mass audiences by 1923 under 600 official radio broadcasters.
Amos n’ Andy show
Example of popular culture in the 1920s. A broadcasted entertainment show.
The Jazz Singer
Movie during the 1920s. Example of popular culture.1st movie to have synchronized sound and music. Ended the silent film era.
How did the radio emphasize cultural differences?
Very few radio shows depicted the black experience in America. As many black Americans listen to the shows, they depict what it looked like to be an American. Many black Americans looked at themselves and found that they were distinct in the version of America given to them. Led to events like the Harlem Renaissance.
Opportunities for women during the 1920s
Women living in urban centers had access to more jobs such as nursing and teaching. Worked unskilled labor jobs in factories, and got less pay than men.
Flappers.
Symbol of women's liberation during the 20s.Women cut their hair short, smoked, drank, and showed ankles.
Harlem Renaissance
Product of the Great Migration and the Exoduster movement. Revival of the arts and intellectual pursuits of the recently migrated black population. The birth of jazz and writers put words to the black experience in America.
The Lost Generation
A group of people like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. The main themes were the persuasive materialism that plagued American culture and the waste of life and resources expanded in World War 1.
Modernist.
Urban Protestants whose faith was large enough to embrace the changing culture with respect to gender roles and Darwin's evolutionary theory of origin.
Fundamentalist.
Rural Protestants condemned the degradation of morals they saw. The public said that they believed every word of the Bible must be taken literally. However, the group would say that they take every word of the Bible seriously, not literally.
Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925.
In Tennessee, it was illegal to teach Darwin's theory of evolution. John Scope ignored this, taught Darwin, and was arrested. Clarence Darrow defended Scopes, and the prosecuting attorney was William Jennings Bryan.
The outcome of the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925
Under incisive questioning of Darrow. Bryan and the fundamentalists ended up looking as if they were unable to defend themselves against modernism. Scopes was convicted of breaking the law, but his conviction was overturned. The general sentiment that came from this trial was that modernism trumped fundamentalism.