U.S. History: Populism, Imperialism & Progressivism

What were the main grievances of the Populists?

High railroad rates, low land prices, crop failures, high mortgage rates, and economic pressure.

What tax reform did Populists support?

A graduated income tax.

What currency reform did Populists support?

Unlimited coinage of silver alongside gold.

Why did Populists want silver coinage?

To increase the money supply, cause inflation, raise crop prices, and relieve economic pressure.

How did Populists want senators elected?

Through direct election by voters.

What immigration policy did Populists support?

Immigration restrictions.

What was the main issue of the election of 1896?

Currency reform.

How did Democrats realign in the election of 1896?

They focused on agrarian reformers and Populists.

How did Republicans realign in the election of 1896?

They focused on an urban political base.

How did Populism influence Progressivism?

It advanced income tax, direct election of senators, railroad regulation, initiatives, and referendums.

What characterized U.S. foreign policy before 1890?

A strong tradition of isolationism.

What territory did the U.S. purchase from Russia?

Alaska.

What Pacific islands did the U.S. acquire before 1890?

The Midway Islands.

What did Alfred Thayer Mahan argue?

Sea power was essential for expansion and influence abroad.

What was Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis?

The domestic frontier closed in 1890, encouraging expansion beyond U.S. borders.

What did Cuba want before the Spanish-American War?

Independence from Spain.

What was McKinley's initial position on the Spanish-American War?

He wanted to avoid war and maintain isolationism.

What was yellow journalism?

Sensationalist reporting that turned American public opinion against Spain.

When did the Spanish-American War occur?

1898.

How long did the Spanish-American War last?

Approximately four months.

What territories did the U.S. acquire after the Spanish-American War?

Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

Why did the Philippine-American War occur?

Filipinos resisted U.S. control and fought for independence.

What did the Teller Amendment of 1898 promise?

The U.S. would not exercise control, jurisdiction, or sovereignty over Cuba.

What did the Platt Amendment of 1901 establish?

American intervention rights and naval and coaling stations in Cuba.

How did the Platt Amendment contradict the Teller Amendment?

It allowed U.S. intervention and influence despite the earlier promise of Cuban independence.

What was the Roosevelt Corollary?

A policy asserting U.S. intervention rights in Latin American affairs.

Why was the Panama Canal important?

It connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

What was the Open Door Policy in China?

Supporting Chinese independence and trade access while avoiding direct intervention.

What did Progressive reformers believe about government?

A strong central government should operate efficiently and address social and economic problems.

What workplace reforms did Progressives support?

Shorter workdays, minimum wages, and fair compensation.

What educational reform did Progressives support?

Public schooling.

What business reforms did Progressives support?

Government regulation of corporations and big business.

What were muckrakers?

Investigative journalists who exposed corruption in business and politics.

Who wrote The Jungle?

Upton Sinclair.

What did The Jungle expose?

Unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.

What did local Progressive reformers challenge?

Corrupt political bosses and city political machines.

What did Progressive governors support?

Government regulation and fair compensation.

What characterized Theodore Roosevelt's presidency?

Active government, regulation, bureaucracy, and conservation.

What did the Pure Food and Drug Act address?

Safety and regulation of food and drugs.

What 1906 law addressed meatpacking conditions?

The Meat Inspection Act.

What conservation efforts were associated with Roosevelt?

Protecting national land and supporting national parks.

How did Taft compare with Roosevelt?

Taft was a less active president.

What characterized Woodrow Wilson's presidency?

Idealism and economic reform.

Why did Wilson win the election of 1912?

Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party divided the Republican vote.

What was Wilson's New Freedom program?

A program intended to expand economic opportunity and reduce the power of economic forces.

What did the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913 do?

Lowered tariffs and established a federal income tax.

What did the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 establish?

A centralized national banking system.

Why did Progressivism decline according to the slideshow?

It failed to fully address the diversity of American society, including immigrants, Black Americans, laborers, and women.

What immediately caused World War I?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand?

Gavrilo Princip, associated with the Serbian Black Hand.

Why did World War I spread beyond Austria-Hungary and Serbia?

European military alliances expanded the conflict.

Which countries were major Allied Powers?

Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Japan, Italy, and eventually the United States.

Which countries were the major Central Powers?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

Why did Japan enter World War I?

To expand its sphere of influence in East Asia while Germany was occupied.

What was Germany's Schlieffen Plan?

A military strategy concentrating forces against France while maintaining a smaller force against Russia.

What is a war of attrition?

A conflict intended to wear down an opponent through prolonged fighting and losses.

What characterized trench warfare in World War I?

Long periods of fighting, heavy casualties, and limited territorial gains.

What technologies made World War I especially destructive?

Machine guns, artillery, chemical weapons, submarines, tanks, and aircraft.

What chemicals were associated with World War I warfare?

Ammonia, nitrates, and chlorine gas.

Which major World War I battles were listed in the slideshow?

The Marne, Verdun, the Somme, and the Argonne.

When did the United States enter World War I?

1917.

Why did the United States enter World War I?

German submarine attacks, the Zimmermann Telegram, and concerns about the balance of power in Europe.

What was the Zimmermann Telegram?

A German proposal seeking a Mexican alliance against the United States.

What did the War Industries Board do?

Coordinated wartime production through cooperation between government and business.

What happened during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917?

Revolutionaries took power in Russia, leading to its withdrawal from World War I.

What was the Sedition Act of 1918?

A law punishing certain antiwar speech and opposition to the war.

Who was Eugene Debs?

A political leader imprisoned for antiwar activities during World War I.

What was Wilson's proposed League of Nations?

An international organization intended to preserve peace after World War I.

Why did Wilson's League of Nations vision fail in the U.S.?

The United States refused to join the organization.

What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement?

A secret agreement between Britain and France dividing influence in the Middle East.

What were major long-term consequences of World War I?

German resentment, Middle Eastern tensions, and conflicts caused by redrawn borders.

What three problems shaped American society after World War I?

Managing the national economy, dividing government authority, and defining the individual's place in society.

Who were the three presidents highlighted in the 1920s section?

Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover.

What economic approach dominated the 1920s?

Government support for business with limited regulation.

What is an oligopoly?

A market dominated by a small number of large firms.

What role did the Federal Reserve play in the economy?

Managing the national money supply.

What role did labor unions play in the 1920s economy?

Representing workers and their interests.

What role did farm bureaus play in the 1920s?

Representing farmers and agricultural interests.

What was Harding's main campaign message?

A return to normalcy after World War I.

What characterized Harding's policies?

Pro-business policies and an active foreign policy.

What was the Teapot Dome scandal?

A scandal involving federal oil reserves leased to private companies.

What was Calvin Coolidge's nickname?

Silent Cal.

What characterized Coolidge's policies?

Pro-business policies and a relatively inactive foreign policy.

Who did Herbert Hoover defeat in the 1928 presidential election?

Al Smith.

Why did Al Smith's religion matter in the 1928 election?

Anti-Catholic prejudice led some Southern Democrats to vote Republican.

What was the First Red Scare?

Fear of communist revolution in America during 1919-1920.

What event helped cause the First Red Scare?

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

Who were Sacco and Vanzetti?

Italian immigrants executed amid controversy over political prejudice.

What happened to the labor movement during the 1920s?

It weakened as unions faced attacks.

What did the immigration laws of 1921 and 1924 do?

Restricted immigration through national-origin quotas.

What is nativism?

Favoring native-born Americans over immigrants.

What organization reemerged during the 1920s?

The Ku Klux Klan.

What beliefs were associated with the revived KKK?

Nativism and the belief that racial purity was necessary for national security.

What encouraged consumerism during the 1920s?

Consumer credit, loans, and increased spending.

What was Prohibition?

The nationwide ban on alcoholic beverages.

What was the Scopes Trial about?

The teaching of evolution in Tennessee public schools.

What happened to Scopes's conviction?

It was overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Who was Billy Sunday?

A fundamentalist preacher associated with conservative moral reactions.

What was John B. Watson's view of child development?

Human behavior could be shaped through training and conditioning.

What were two perceived threats to individuality in the 1920s?

Depersonalized society and obsession with consumer goods.