APUSH unit 7

How did the role of the government in society change during the Progressive Era? For example: Did it grow or shrink? Did it intervene in business or stay more laissez-faire? Who did Progressives feel the government should serve?

During the Progressive Era, the federal government grew much larger and more active, shifting away from laissez‑faire policies and beginning to regulate businesses, protect consumers, and address social problems. Instead of serving big corporations and political machines, Progressives believed the government should serve the public interest, especially workers, consumers, and ordinary citizens. This era marked the start of a modern, interventionist government focused on reform and accountability.

What were the characteristics of Progressives (think about class, gender, etc.)?

Progressives were mostly middle‑class, urban reformers who believed that government and scientific expertise could solve social problems created by industrialization. Many were educated professionals and journalists, and women played a major role, especially in settlement houses, public health, and the suffrage movement. They tended to be native‑born, believed in moral improvement and efficiency, and pushed for reforms that expanded democracy, reduced corruption, and protected workers and consumers.

What problems were exposed by these muckrakers?

Jacob Riis

Ida Tarbell

Upton Sinclair

Jacob Riis

-Jacob Riis exposed the horrific living conditions in urban tenements, especially among poor immigrants in New York City. Through photographs and his book How the Other Half Lives, he revealed overcrowding, filth, disease, and unsafe housing. His work pushed city governments to pass housing and sanitation reforms.

Ida Tarbell

-Ida Tarbell exposed the unfair and monopolistic business practices of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. She revealed how the company used secret deals, price‑fixing, and intimidation to crush competitors. Her investigation helped build public support for stronger antitrust laws.

Upton Sinclair

-Upton Sinclair exposed the unsanitary, dangerous, and exploitative conditions in the meatpacking industry in his book The Jungle. Although he intended to highlight worker abuse, the public was shocked by contaminated food and filthy factories. His work directly led to federal food safety laws like the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act.

Area of reform	Government Action (Note-examples are not limited to those in this list!)	Explain how the government action attempted to fix a problem
Regulation of the Economy	Pure Food and Drug Act Clayton Antitrust Act (labor) Trust-busting Federal Reserve
Expand Democracy	17th Amendment 19th Amendment
Moral reform	18th Amendment
Conservation of natural resources	National Park Service

Area of Reform	Government Action	Explanation of How It Attempted to Fix a Problem
Regulation of the Economy	Pure Food and Drug Act	This law required accurate labeling and banned harmful or contaminated ingredients. It aimed to fix the problem of unsafe, unregulated food and medicine by protecting consumers and restoring trust in the food industry.
Regulation of the Economy	Clayton Antitrust Act (labor)	This act strengthened antitrust laws and protected labor unions by declaring them legal and not monopolies. It fixed problems of corporate domination and allowed workers to strike and organize without being prosecuted.
Regulation of the Economy	Trust‑busting	The government broke up monopolies that restricted competition. This restored fairness in the economy, lowered prices, and prevented corporations from controlling entire industries.
Regulation of the Economy	Federal Reserve	The Federal Reserve created a national banking system to regulate the money supply and stabilize the economy. It fixed problems like bank failures, financial panics, and unstable currency.
Expand Democracy	17th Amendment	Allowed citizens to directly elect U.S. senators, reducing corruption and weakening political machines. It expanded democracy by giving voters more control over government.
Expand Democracy	19th Amendment	Granted women the right to vote, fixing the problem of political inequality and expanding democratic participation to millions of women.
Moral Reform	18th Amendment	Banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol in an attempt to reduce crime, poverty, and family problems. Reformers believed eliminating alcohol would improve society.
Conservation of Natural Resources	National Park Service	Managed national parks to protect natural landscapes and prevent private companies from exploiting resources. It preserved land for public use

1. Give two examples of how the Populists influenced the Progressives. Hint-overall philosophy and amendments! 

Two major ways the Populists influenced the Progressives were through their overall philosophy and through specific democratic reforms. First, Populists believed the government should regulate big business, protect ordinary people, and curb the power of monopolies — ideas Progressives later adopted and expanded through trust‑busting and economic regulation. Second, Populists pushed for democratic reforms like the direct election of senators, which Progressives achieved with the 17th Amendment, and they supported expanding political participation, which aligned with Progressive reforms such as the initiative, referendum, recall, and eventually the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

1. What is the difference between a preservationist and a conservationist?

A preservationist believes that nature should be kept completely untouched, protected from any human use or development. Their goal is to maintain wilderness in its original, pristine state.

A conservationist believes natural resources can be used, but only in a careful, managed, and sustainable way so they are not depleted. Conservation focuses on responsible use; preservation focuses on total protection.

1. Explain Robert La Follette’s “Wisconsin idea” (initiative, referendum, recall)? 

Robert La Follette’s “Wisconsin Idea” was a set of direct‑democracy reforms designed to give ordinary citizens more control over government and reduce the power of political machines. The initiative allowed citizens to propose laws directly instead of relying on state legislatures. The referendum let voters approve or reject laws on the ballot, giving them the final say. The recall allowed citizens to remove corrupt or ineffective elected officials before their term ended. Together, these reforms made government more democratic, transparent, and accountable to the people.

1. What was the impact of new manufacturing techniques, such as the assembly line on 

   1. Production (How things are made)?

2. Consumerism (What people buy)?

Production (How things are made)

New manufacturing techniques like Henry Ford’s assembly line made production much faster, cheaper, and more efficient by breaking tasks into simple, repetitive steps. This allowed factories to produce goods on a massive scale and dramatically lowered the cost of items like automobiles. As a result, industries could meet growing demand and standardize products across the country.

Consumerism (What people buy)

Because mass production lowered prices, more Americans could afford goods that were once considered luxuries, such as cars, radios, and household appliances. This fueled a culture of consumerism, where people bought more products to improve their lifestyle and express modern identity. Advertising, credit, and installment plans further encouraged Americans to purchase mass‑produced goods.

1. Why did the standard of living and personal mobility improve in the 1920’s? Give two reasons.

   1.  

   2.  

Two major factors improved the standard of living and personal mobility in the 1920s. First, mass production and new technologies—especially the assembly line—made goods like automobiles, appliances, and radios much cheaper, allowing more Americans to afford modern conveniences that improved daily life. Second, the widespread availability of automobiles dramatically increased personal mobility by giving people the freedom to travel farther for work, leisure, and shopping, which reshaped American culture and expanded economic opportunities.

1. How did Harding’s Return to Normalcy support big business in the 1920’s (list at least two ways)?

   1.  

   2.  

Harding’s “Return to Normalcy” strongly supported big business in several ways. First, his administration reduced government regulation and returned to a more laissez‑faire approach, allowing corporations greater freedom to operate without federal oversight. Second, Harding cut taxes on wealthy individuals and businesses, which increased corporate profits and encouraged investment. His administration also appointed pro‑business leaders to regulatory agencies, ensuring that government decisions favored industry rather than reform.

Explain two major causes of the Great Depression.

1.  

2.   

Two major causes of the Great Depression were overproduction and the stock market crash combined with financial instability. First, factories and farms produced far more goods than consumers could afford to buy, which led to falling prices, layoffs, and a downward economic spiral. Second, the stock market crash of 1929 exposed deep weaknesses in the financial system, including excessive speculation, buying stocks on margin, and unregulated banks. When the market collapsed, millions lost their savings, banks failed, and credit dried up, triggering a nationwide economic crisis.

1. Explain the differences between President Hoover’s and Franklin Roosevelt’s responses to the Great Depression?

President Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt responded to the Great Depression in opposite ways. Hoover believed in limited government intervention and thought the economy would recover on its own, so he relied on voluntary cooperation from businesses and avoided direct federal aid to individuals. In contrast, Roosevelt believed the crisis required strong, active federal action, so he created the New Deal, which provided direct relief to the unemployed, regulated banks and businesses, and expanded the government’s role in the economy to promote recovery and reform.

1. Why was the New Deal a turning point in United States history? It has something to do with the federal government. 

The New Deal was a turning point in U.S. history because it permanently expanded the role of the federal government in Americans’ lives and in the economy. Before the New Deal, the government mostly followed a laissez‑faire approach, but Roosevelt’s programs made the federal government responsible for providing economic relief, regulating businesses, and protecting workers and consumers. This shift created the foundation of the modern welfare state and established the expectation that the federal government should step in during economic crises to support the nation.

1. How did the New Deal reflect the ideas of the earlier Progressive Movement?

The New Deal reflected earlier Progressive ideas because both movements believed the federal government should actively regulate the economy, protect ordinary people, and fix the problems created by industrialization. Like the Progressives, the New Deal used government power to break up unfair business practices, improve working conditions, and expand democratic participation. Many New Deal programs—such as labor protections, banking regulation, and conservation efforts—directly continued the Progressive belief that government should promote fairness, stability, and social welfare rather than remain laissez‑faire.

1. Explain how these New Deal programs provided relief to the poor and unemployed and stimulate the economy in response to the Great Depression: 

1. WPA/PWA/CCC (all have a similar purpose) 

2. Social Security

WPA / PWA / CCC

The WPA (Works Progress Administration), PWA (Public Works Administration), and CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) all provided direct relief by giving millions of unemployed Americans government-funded jobs during the Great Depression. These programs hired workers to build roads, bridges, schools, parks, and other public infrastructure, which not only gave people paychecks but also improved the nation’s long‑term economic foundation. By putting money into workers’ hands, these programs stimulated the economy, increased consumer spending, and helped break the cycle of unemployment and poverty.

Social Security

Social Security provided long-term economic security by giving monthly payments to the elderly, the disabled, and unemployed workers. It attempted to fix the problem of widespread poverty among vulnerable groups who had no financial safety net during economic crises. By guaranteeing income to millions of Americans, Social Security reduced suffering, stabilized families, and increased consumer spending, helping stimulate the economy while creating a permanent federal responsibility for citizens’ welfare.

1. Why did the conservative Supreme Court strike down New Deal programs, such as the NRA (National Recovery Administration) and AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act)?

1. The NRA was ruled unconstitutional for giving the executive branch law‑making power

The Court said the NRA allowed the president and federal agencies to create industrial “codes of fair competition,” which was essentially making laws, a power the Constitution gives only to Congress. This violated the separation of powers.

2. The AAA was ruled unconstitutional because it regulated agriculture, which the Court said was a state—not federal—power

The Court argued that the AAA tried to control farming practices inside states, which went beyond federal authority. It also said the federal government could not use taxes to force farmers to follow federal production rules.

1. How did these New Deal regulatory agencies reform the financial system?

   1. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Glass-Steagall)

2. Securities and Exchange Commission

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – created by the Glass‑Steagall Act

The Glass‑Steagall Act created the FDIC to insure bank deposits, which restored public confidence after thousands of banks failed during the Great Depression. By guaranteeing that people would not lose their savings if a bank collapsed, the FDIC stopped bank runs and stabilized the banking system. The Act also separated commercial banking from investment banking, reducing risky speculation with ordinary people’s deposits.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The SEC was created to regulate the stock market, which had been largely unregulated before the 1929 crash. It required companies to provide truthful financial information, prevented insider trading, and enforced rules against stock manipulation. By increasing transparency and oversight, the SEC helped restore trust in financial markets and prevented the abuses that contributed to the crash.

1. What was the impact of the Wagner Act? (National Labor Relations Act)

The Wagner Act guaranteed workers the legal right to join unions and bargain collectively, which dramatically shifted power away from employers and toward organized labor. It also prohibited unfair labor practices—such as firing workers for union activity—and created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enforce these rights and supervise union elections. These changes led to a huge surge in union membership, higher wages, better working conditions, and greater worker protections across the country.

1. Why did liberal leaders like Huey Long criticize the New Deal?

• He believed the New Deal didn’t redistribute wealth enough
  Long argued that millions were still poor while a small elite controlled most wealth. His “Share Our Wealth” plan proposed heavy taxes on the rich to guarantee every family a basic income.

• He said Roosevelt protected big business instead of challenging it
  Long claimed the New Deal allowed corporations to remain powerful and did not break up concentrated wealth.

• He believed the New Deal provided too little direct aid to ordinary Americans
  Long argued that relief programs were temporary and insufficient, and that Americans needed guaranteed income, pensions, and social supports.

• He used criticism to build his own national political movement

1. Complete the chart. Think about the Legacy of the New Deal. 

Support	Argument	Refute
	The New Deal was an effective response to the Great Depression.

Position	Explanation
Support	The New Deal was an effective response because it provided immediate relief, restored confidence in banks, created millions of jobs, and prevented total economic collapse. Programs like the WPA, CCC, and PWA put people back to work, while the FDIC and SEC stabilized the financial system. It also established long‑term protections like Social Security that still exist today.
Argument	Supporters argue that the New Deal fundamentally reshaped the federal government’s role by making it responsible for economic stability and citizens’ welfare. They claim it reduced suffering, revived consumer spending, and created reforms that prevented another Great Depression. Many historians say the New Deal saved capitalism by regulating its worst abuses.
Refute	Critics argue the New Deal was not fully effective because unemployment remained high until World War II and some programs failed or were ruled unconstitutional. They claim the New Deal expanded government too much, increased debt, and interfered with free‑market recovery. Others argue it did not go far enough to help the poor or challenge corporate power.

1. How did the New Deal lead to a realignment of political parties? Don’t forget this. 

1. Many new groups began supporting the Democratic Party

The New Deal’s relief programs, jobs, and social protections attracted groups that had not traditionally voted Democratic. These included:

• Urban workers who benefited from labor protections and job programs

• Immigrants and ethnic minorities who received relief and felt included in national politics

• African Americans who shifted from the Republican Party (the “party of Lincoln”) to the Democrats because FDR’s programs offered real economic help

• Labor unions empowered by the Wagner Act

• Poor farmers who received aid through agricultural programs

Together, these groups formed the New Deal Coalition, which kept Democrats in power for much of the mid‑20th century.

2. The Democratic Party became associated with a stronger federal government

Because the New Deal expanded federal responsibility for welfare, labor rights, and economic regulation, the Democratic Party became the party of:

• active government intervention

• social welfare programs

• regulation of business

This ideological shift attracted voters who wanted government action during crises.

3. Many business leaders and conservatives moved toward the Republican Party

As Democrats embraced a more activist federal government, many:

• business owners

• wealthier Americans

• small‑government conservatives

shifted toward the Republican Party, which increasingly positioned itself as the defender of limited government and free enterprise.

1. Espionage and Sedition Acts (click the link for info on these laws and the first Red Scare)

   1. Why were they passed during World War I?

2. What did they do?

3. What did the Supreme Court decide in Schenck v. United States? 

1. Why were the Espionage and Sedition Acts passed during WWI?

   They were passed because the government feared anti‑war speech, draft resistance, and socialist organizing would weaken the war effort. With the U.S. fighting in World War I, leaders wanted to suppress anything that might interfere with military recruitment, unity, or national security.

2. What did the Espionage and Sedition Acts do?

   • They made it a crime to interfere with the draft or military operations, or to spread information that could harm the war effort.

   • They criminalized disloyal, abusive, or critical speech about the government, the Constitution, the flag, or the military.

   • Thousands of people—especially socialists, labor activists, and anti‑war protesters—were arrested under these laws.

   These acts became a major cause of the First Red Scare, as the government targeted radicals and dissenters.

3. What did the Supreme Court decide in Schenck v. United States (1919)?

   The Supreme Court ruled that the Espionage Act was constitutional and that freedom of speech can be limited during wartime if the speech creates a “clear and present danger” to national security.

   Charles Schenck had mailed anti‑draft pamphlets urging men to resist the draft, and the Court said this posed a danger to military recruitment. Justice Holmes famously compared it to shouting fire in a crowded theater.

Causes	Red Scare	Impact
Foreign: Domestic (what were workers doing after WWI?):	What is it?	On labor unions: On immigrants:  Examples:  -Palmer Raids:  -Sacco and Vanzetti:

Category	Explanation
Causes	Fear of communism after the Bolshevik Revolution; 1919 labor strikes; wartime nationalism; anarchist bombings.
What is it?	A nationwide panic that communists, anarchists, and radicals were trying to overthrow the U.S. government.
Impact — Foreign	Increased suspicion of immigrants; rise in nativism; push toward isolationism.
Impact — Domestic (Workers after WWI)	Massive strikes in 1919 for better wages and conditions; strikes were blamed on communists.
Impact on Labor Unions	Unions were viewed as radical; membership declined due to fear and suspicion.
Impact on Immigrants	Immigrants were targeted, arrested, and deported as suspected radicals.
Example — Palmer Raids	Government raids that arrested thousands of suspected radicals without warrants; hundreds deported.
Example — Sacco & Vanzetti	Two Italian immigrant anarchists convicted of murder in a trial shaped by anti‑immigrant and anti‑radical prejudice.

Immigration and Nativism

1. At the beginning of the 1920’s, what parts of the world were most immigrants coming from?

2. Why were immigration quotas passed? 

1. What was the impact of immigration quotas?

2. What immigrant groups were impacted the most?

Question	Answer
At the beginning of the 1920s, what parts of the world were most immigrants coming from?	Most immigrants were coming from Southern and Eastern Europe, such as Italy, Poland, Russia, and other Slavic nations.
Why were immigration quotas passed?	Quotas were passed because of rising nativism, fear of radical ideas after WWI, and a desire to preserve the U.S. as a “Northern and Western European” nation. Lawmakers wanted to limit groups they viewed as “undesirable,” especially after the First Red Scare.
What was the impact of immigration quotas?	The quotas dramatically reduced overall immigration, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe, and completely banned immigration from Asia. They reshaped the U.S. population for decades by favoring Northern and Western Europeans.
What immigrant groups were impacted the most?	Southern and Eastern Europeans (Italians, Poles, Russians, Jews) faced the steepest cuts, and all Asian immigrants were excluded entirely under the 1924 Act.

1. How was the immigration policy of the 1920’s different from previous decades?

Immigration policy in the 1920s was dramatically different because the U.S. shifted from an almost “open door” system to strict, permanent restrictions based on national origins. Earlier decades welcomed mass immigration, but the 1920s imposed quotas that sharply limited who could enter the country, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe. This shift is well‑documented in the search results, which show that the 1920s marked the end of largely unrestricted immigration and the beginning of a restrictive quota system

1. What push factors motivated African-Americans to leave the South in the early 1900’s?

   1. Where did many African-Americans settle during the Great Migration?

2. What pull factors attracted African-Americans to these places (especially during WWI)?

Question	Answer
What push factors motivated African Americans to leave the South?	Jim Crow segregation and racial violence, including lynching and intimidation; lack of economic opportunity due to sharecropping and low wages; poverty caused by the collapse of cotton prices; and political disenfranchisement.
Where did many African Americans settle during the Great Migration?	Northern, Midwestern, and Western cities such as Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and later Los Angeles and Oakland.
What pull factors attracted African Americans to these places (especially during WWI)?	Industrial jobs in northern factories created by WWI labor shortages; higher wages compared to the South; less rigid segregation (though still present); and the hope of greater political and social freedom.

1. What was the Harlem Renaissance, why was it important, what form of music did it popularize, and what types of mass-media made it part of the national culture?

Topic	Explanation
What was the Harlem Renaissance?	A cultural movement in the 1920s–30s centered in Harlem where Black artists, writers, and musicians created a new, confident expression of African American identity.
Why was it important?	It celebrated Black culture, challenged racist stereotypes, expanded opportunities for Black artists, and helped make African American creativity part of mainstream American culture.
What form of music did it popularize?	Jazz — the signature sound of the era, spread by musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.
What types of mass media spread it nationwide?	Radio, phonograph records, magazines, and newspapers, which broadcast jazz and promoted Black writers and performers to national audiences.

1. Give two specific examples of racial violence and/or discrimination that escalated (or continued) after World War I and throughout the 1920’s. 

   1.  

   2.  

1. Red Summer of 1919 (Nationwide Racial Violence)

Widespread white‑supremacist attacks on Black communities erupted across the country in 1919, a period historians call the Red Summer.

• Dozens of cities—including Chicago and Washington, D.C.—experienced riots where white mobs attacked Black neighborhoods.

• The National Archives notes that this violence was fueled by lynching, racial massacres, and the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan.

• These attacks continued into the 1920s as racial tensions intensified.

2. Rise and Resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s

The KKK re‑emerged as a mass national movement during the 1920s, spreading far beyond the South.

• The Classroom source describes how the Klan’s revival, combined with Jim Crow laws, increased racial tensions and violence across the country.

• The Klan targeted African Americans, immigrants, Catholics, and Jews, using lynching, intimidation, and political influence to enforce white supremacy.

• By the mid‑1920s, th

1. Why did cities offer more opportunities for women, immigrants, and African-Americans?

Group	Why Cities Offered More Opportunities
Women	More jobs (clerical, teaching, nursing), more independence, access to education and reform movements.
Immigrants	Factory jobs, ethnic communities, support networks, upward mobility.
African Americans	Escape from Jim Crow, indust

1. What was the purpose of Prohibition and why did it fail?

Topic	Explanation
Purpose of Prohibition	Reduce alcohol consumption and its social problems — Reformers in the temperance movement wanted to stop domestic violence, poverty, and crime they associated with alcohol. Prohibition outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor under the 18th Amendment.
Why It Failed — Widespread Disobedience	Americans continued drinking illegally — Speakeasies, bootlegging, and homemade alcohol became common, making enforcement nearly impossible.
Why It Failed — Rise of Organized Crime	Criminal gangs took over alcohol production and distribution — Organized crime grew powerful and violent as they controlled the illegal liquor trade.
Why It Failed — Weak Enforcement	Government lacked resources and public support — Federal and local authorities couldn’t enforce the law effectively, and many juries refused to convict violators.
Why It Failed — Economic Consequences	Loss of tax revenue and jobs — The government lost money from alcohol taxes, and the Great Depression increased pressure to repeal Prohibition to stimulate the economy.

1. In what ways did women have greater political, economic, and social freedom in the 1920’s?

1.  In what ways were their opportunities still limited compared to men?

Women in the 1920s gained more freedom because they could vote, work in new clerical and service jobs, and participate more openly in modern social life. They also experienced greater independence through changing fashions, dating norms, and urban culture. However, their opportunities were still limited because they were pushed into low‑paying “women’s jobs,” faced wage discrimination, and were expected to prioritize marriage and domestic roles over careers.

1. How did the Scopes Monkey Trial reflect the conflict between science and religion?

The Scopes Trial showed the conflict between science and religion because it put the teaching of evolution (science) directly against the beliefs of Christian fundamentalists who supported the biblical creation story. The trial became a national symbol of the struggle between modern scientific ideas and traditional religious values.

What physical and human factors contributed to the Dust Bowl?

he Dust Bowl was caused by a combination of severe drought and high winds (physical factors) and poor farming practices, such as over‑plowing the Great Plains and removing native grasses that held the soil in place (human factors). These together created massive dust storms that devastated farms in the 1930s.

1. Where did “Okies” migrate to and why?

“Okies” (Dust Bowl migrants, many from Oklahoma) moved mainly to California because they were fleeing drought, dust storms, and farm failures, and they hoped to find farm work, better living conditions, and economic opportunity in the West.

What was the purpose of the Mexican Repatriation Act?

The purpose of the Mexican Repatriation Act was to remove Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans from the United States during the Great Depression in order to reduce competition for jobs and public resources. The government and local authorities deported or pressured hundreds of thousands of people to leave — including many U.S. citizens of Mexican descent.

1. Describe what is meant by or give examples of these causes of overseas expansion: 

   1. economic opportunities/industrialization

2. closing of the frontier

3. racial theories

4. naval power/Alfred Thayer Mahan

Cause	Explanation
Economic opportunities / industrialization	New markets were needed to sell surplus goods, and the U.S. sought raw materials and investment opportunities overseas as industry grew.
Closing of the frontier	With the frontier declared “closed” in 1890, many believed the U.S. needed new lands to continue expanding, pushing attention overseas.
Racial theories	Ideas like Social Darwinism and the belief in a “civilizing mission” claimed the U.S. had a duty to spread Western culture and Christianity, justifying control over other nations.
Naval power / Alfred Thayer Mahan	Mahan argued that great nations needed a strong navy, overseas bases, and control of sea routes, encouraging the U.S. to acquire territories like Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

1. The reasons for imperialism are similar to the earlier U.S. policy of ___.

Manifest Destiny.

1. Give two examples of the U.S. role in the world before 1890. Think about policies and wars. 

1. The Monroe Doctrine (1823) — The U.S. warned European nations not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere, asserting a major foreign‑policy role in the Americas.

2. The Mexican‑American War (1846–1848) — The U.S. went to war with Mexico and gained huge territories (California, New Mexico, Arizona), showing its willingness to use military force to expand its influence.

1. Why did the U.S. annex Hawaii? 

1. What was the role of Queen Lilioukalani? 

1- The U.S. annexed Hawaii to gain economic control of sugar plantations, secure a strategic naval base at Pearl Harbor, and expand American influence in the Pacific for trade and military power.

2- Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last monarch of Hawaii who tried to restore power to the Hawaiian people and reduce the influence of American businessmen. Her overthrow by U.S.-backed planters in 1893 paved the way for annexation.

1. Effects of the Spanish American War

   1. U.S. becomes a __

   2. U.S. acquires these island territories in the Caribbean and Pacific (Not Cuba, officially. But the Platt Amendment gave the U.S. power over Cuban affairs)

      1.  

      2.  

      3.  

• U.S. becomes a world power

• U.S. acquires these island territories in the Caribbean and Pacific: Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

  • (Not Cuba officially — but the Platt Amendment gave the U.S. control over Cuban affairs.)

1. Conflict in the Philippines

1. What did Filipino nationalists want?

2. How did the U.S. respond?

1. Filipino nationalists wanted independence after the Spanish‑American War. They expected the U.S. to grant freedom to the Philippines rather than replace Spain as a colonial ruler.

2. The U.S. refused to grant independence and instead took control of the Philippines, leading to the Philippine‑American War, where the U.S. used military force to suppress the independence movement.

1. What was the purpose of Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick policy? 

The purpose of the Big Stick policy was to assert U.S. power in Latin America and the Caribbean by using diplomacy backed by the threat of military force. Roosevelt believed the U.S. should “speak softly” but be ready to use its navy to protect American interests and maintain stability in the region.

1. What was the benefit of the Panama Canal to the U.S. economy and Navy?

he Panama Canal cut travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific, which lowered shipping costs and boosted U.S. trade. It also allowed the U.S. Navy to move ships quickly between oceans, strengthening American military power and global influence.

	Region of the World	Brief Description of Policy and Purpose
Roosevelt Corollary
Dollar Diplomacy
Open Door Policy

⭐ U.S. Foreign Policies — Chart

Policy	Region of the World	Brief Description of Policy and Purpose
Roosevelt Corollary	Latin America & the Caribbean	Said the U.S. had the right to intervene in Latin American nations to keep stability and protect American interests; expanded the Monroe Doctrine.
Dollar Diplomacy	Latin America & East Asia	Encouraged U.S. banks and businesses to invest money abroad so economic power, not military force, would increase American influence.
Open Door Policy	China / East Asia	Declared that all nations should have equal trading rights in China and that China’s territory should remain intact; aimed to protect U.S. access to Asian markets.

1. Explain these Anti-Imperialist arguments against expansion: 

   1. tradition of isolationism

2. Self-determination

3. racial theories

1. Anti‑imperialists argued that the U.S. had a long tradition of staying out of foreign conflicts and not taking colonies, and imperialism violated that principle by dragging America into overseas affairs.

2. Anti‑imperialists believed that people have the right to choose their own government, so taking control of places like the Philippines denied those nations the freedom and independence the U.S. claimed to support.

3. Some anti‑imperialists argued that bringing non‑white populations into the U.S. empire would create racial and cultural problems, reflecting racist beliefs that expansion would “mix” the U.S. with groups they wrongly viewed as inferior.

1. How did the United States initially respond to the outbreak of WWI in Europe? 

The United States responded by declaring neutrality, choosing to stay out of the conflict and continue trading with all nations while trying to avoid being pulled into European alliances and wars.

1. How did the U.S. decision to enter World War I differ from the ideas in George Washington’s Farewell Address?

Washington warned the U.S. to avoid permanent alliances and stay out of European conflicts, but entering World War I meant the U.S. took sides in a major European war, joined alliances, and became deeply involved in foreign affairs — the opposite of Washington’s advice.

1. Explain how these factors influence the U.S. decision to enter World War I:

   1. unrestricted submarine warfare and the Lusitania

2. Zimmerman Telegram

1. Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare meant U‑boats attacked ships without warning, including those carrying Americans. When Germany sank the Lusitania in 1915, killing 128 Americans, it turned U.S. public opinion sharply against Germany and made Americans feel their safety and rights at sea were being threatened.

2. The Zimmerman Telegram revealed that Germany tried to persuade Mexico to attack the United States in exchange for getting back lost territory (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona). When Americans learned about this, it created outrage and convinced many that Germany was a direct threat to U.S. national security.

1. Woodrow Wilson justified American entry into the war using humanitarian and democratic principles, saying that the U.S. was “making the world safe for democracy.” List one event that justified this statement. 

The overthrow of the Russian czar in 1917, which replaced an absolute monarchy with a more democratic government, made it easier for Wilson to argue that the Allies were fighting for democracy — and that U.S. entry supported that goal.

1. What was the purpose of the Selective Service Act?

The purpose of the Selective Service Act (1917) was to create a national draft so the U.S. could quickly raise a large army for World War I. It required men to register for military service to ensure the country had enough troops to fight.

1. What was the purpose of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points?

1. How did the Fourteen Points reflect the ideas of self-determination for nations?

2. What did Woodrow Wilson believe was the most important part of the Fourteen Points?

1. The purpose of the Fourteen Points was to create a lasting peace after World War I by addressing the causes of war, promoting diplomacy, reducing militarism, and preventing future conflicts through fair, transparent international rules.

2. The Fourteen Points supported self‑determination, meaning that ethnic groups and nations should have the right to form their own governments rather than be ruled by empires. Wilson wanted borders to be redrawn based on national identity and the wishes of the people.

3. Wilson believed the most important part was the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization designed to resolve conflicts peacefully and prevent future wars.

1. Why did the U.S. Senate reject the Treaty of Versailles? 

1. Was this a continuation or a departure from the ideas outlined in Washington’s Farewell Address? Explain.

1. The Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles because many senators, especially Henry Cabot Lodge and the “Reservationists,” feared that joining the League of Nations would pull the U.S. into foreign wars without Congress’s approval. They believed Article X (collective security) threatened U.S. independence in foreign policy.

2. It was a continuation of Washington’s ideas. Washington warned the U.S. to avoid permanent alliances and stay out of European conflicts. By rejecting the treaty and refusing to join the League of Nations, the Senate followed that same tradition of isolationism and avoiding entangling commitments.

1. Complete the chart explaining the arguments for and against the League of Nations. 

President Woodrow Wilson says yes because:

Should the U.S. join the League of Nations?

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge says no because:

Position	Argument
President Woodrow Wilson says YES because:	collective security would prevent future wars: Nations working together could stop aggression before it escalated. international cooperation would promote peace: Diplomacy, not violence, would guide global relations. the League would enforce the Fourteen Points vision: A fair, stable world order based on self‑determination and open diplomacy.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge says NO because:	Article X could drag the U.S. into foreign wars: The League might require American troops to fight without Congress declaring war. it threatened U.S. sovereignty: International commitments could limit America’s ability to make independent decisions. it conflicted with the tradition of avoiding entangling alliances: Lodge believed it violated long‑standing U.S. foreign‑policy principles.

1. How did Warren Harding’s “Return to Normalcy” policy reflect an isolationist foreign policy in the 1920’s?

Harding’s “Return to Normalcy” reflected isolationism by pulling the U.S. back from international commitments after WWI. His administration avoided joining the League of Nations, reduced involvement in European affairs, and focused on domestic prosperity rather than foreign entanglements. The goal was to return to pre‑war neutrality and limit America’s role in global politics.

1. Give an example that contradicts the idea that the U.S. pursued a purely isolationist foreign policy in the 1920’s.

The U.S. helped negotiate and sign international agreements, such as the Washington Naval Conference (1921–22), where major world powers agreed to limit battleships and reduce naval arms. This shows the U.S. was actively involved in global diplomacy, not completely isolated.

Other examples you could use:

• The Kellogg‑Briand Pact (1928), where the U.S. joined dozens of nations in renouncing war.

• U.S. economic involvement in Latin America, including loans and investments.