1890-1920

What was Plessy vs Ferguson 1896?

• Homer Plessy challenged Louisiana state law and refused to leave a ‘white carriage’

• 7/8 Supreme court judges ruled segregation was legal due to the ‘separate but equal’ facilities

• However, equal could be interpreted however anyone desires

How were African Americans restricted from voting?

• Georgia introduced a $2 poll tax- most AA couldn’t afford this

• Mississippi introduced a literacy test to register to vote (questions were harder for African Americans)

• ‘Grandfather Clause’- you could vote if their father or grandfathers voted before 1st January 1867 (when AA got the vote)

Who was Booker.T.Washington?

• He was a former slave

• He set up the Tuskegee institute for African Americans

• Did the Atlanta Compromise speech

• Roosevelt invited him to the white house to discuss issues for AA

Who was William.E.B.DuBois

• First AA to get a degree at Harvard

• Argued more active resistance to discrimination

• Set up the NAACP and was involved in the Niagra Movement

What was the 1905 Niagra movement?

• Rejected washington’s cautious approach and emphasised protests for civil rights

• Didn’t develop into a mass movement due to lack of money and organisation

What was the NAACP 1909?

• Investigated racisms, publicised it and suggested solutions

• Constitutional approach

• The Crisis Newspaper

Who was Marcus Garvey?

• Founded the UNIA- wanted a strong economic base for AA (liberate Africa from colonisation)

• Black Star Shipping line (over 2 million members by 1920)

• Opposed by NAACP

• He provided hope for African Americans

How did African Americans progress during WW1

• 200,000 fought abroad

• Black consciousness due to being treated fairy by Europeans

• Pay in the North was much better than in the South

• The Great Migration

How did the war have a negative impact on African Americans?

• The military was segregated, AA usually worked in construction roles

• Government was restricting what the NAACP could publish

• 1919 Red Summer-race riots erupted across the USA

• 76 lynchings in 1919

How were African Americans involved in the war?

• Harem Hellfighters- aided the French and spent 191 days on the frontline

• over 350,000 helped in the war

• they thought there assistance in the war would improve their rights

How were cities shaped by immigration?

They created ethnic enclaves such as ‘little Italy’ in New York

How many immigrants came to the US from 1881-1920?

Over 18 million

What were push factors for European immigrants?

• persecution (Russia)

• Poverty and Hunger (south Italy)

What were pull factors in to America?

• America is the land of freedom and the riches

• High demand for migrant workers

Why did some immigrants choose to leave America?

• 60% of Italians

• 3% Russian Jews

• 1/3 immigrants went home

Why was Jewish Immigration different?

• Many families wanted to start a permanent life

• Many were poor but educated

• 2/3 Jews considered themselves skilled workers

How did urbanisation shape US society?

• tower buildings, emergence of the film industry

• Dynamic growth in the North and the East

How did WASP’s react to immigration?

• American Protective association- attempted to put pressure on the government to limit immigration

• 1905 Asiatic Exclusion League- limited Japanese immigration (by 1908 it ceased to exist)

Examples of violence faced by immigrants

• 11 Italians lynched in New Orleans after being acquitted of murder

• Revival of the KKK in 1915

• Hatred towards Roman Catholics, Jews and foreigners

What laws did the federal government pass during WW1?

• 1917 Espionage Act- instructed all postmasters to keep an eye on suspicious mail

  Eugene Debbs socialist leader jailed under this act

• 1919 Sedition Act-expansion of espionage act-1500 prosecutions made

What acts were passed to limit immigration?

• 1921 Emergency Quota Act- drastically limited the number of immigrants allowed into the USA
  1917 Immigration Act- introduced literacy tests

What was the Red Scare?

• Following 1917 bolshevik revolution

• Boston Police Strike-75% of officers went on strike

• More than 20 race riots in 1919

• uprisings made the government fear a revolution was incoming when it was actually industrial unrest caused by WW1

What were the Palmer Raids?

• US attorney general Mitchell Palmer had a touch stance on communism

• A wave of bombs including one outside palmers house

• His justice department agents raided the offices of ‘radical’ organisations in 12 cities (after a month 249 were deported)

• Red flags banned

• The raids were deemed illegal removing Palmer’s credibility

What was prohibition?

• 1917- 2/3 majority of drys in the house and senate

• war strengthened prohibition movement due to anti german sentiment

• Anti Saloon League- anti german propaganda against german breweries

• 18th ammendment

What was the fight for female suffrage?

• Begun in 1848- influenced prohibition and abolition of slavery

• National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA) established

• 19th amendment granted all female citizens the vote, it came to effect in 1920

What was the second Industrial Revolution?

• Technological developments in electrical power, engineering, oil, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

• 1895-1900- 90% surger of manufactured exports

How was America a net exporter?

• By 1913 it was considered a net exporter in iron, steel. copper and oil

• Better productivity than Britain’s ‘American Commercial Invasion’

How did USA natural resources impact the economy?

• High grade iron ore found in Minnesota (1892)- US steel bought 75% of it b y 1907

• Steel production went up by 400% by 1913

• Oil fields in Oklahoma, California and Texas

• By 1910 US oil production equalled the rest of the world’s

How was America involved in the global economy?

• Geographically placed to exploit economic opportunities

• Atlantic and Pacific trade routes

• Had peaceful trading partners (Canada and Latin America)

How did agriculture improve in the USA?

• World leader in wheat, corn and other grain (provided rest of the world with 1/3 wheat and 2/3 corn)

• Railroads increased farmers connectivity

• 1900 modernisation and mechanisation improved farmers lives

• Government was passing laws to help farmers

How did US agriculture struggle?

• Banking and credit were unrealistic sums for farmers to repay

• They were heavily dependent on railroad companies

• 1890’s depression sent agriculture into a crisis

• anonamolous climate conditions

How did WW1 impact the US economy?

• 1918- USA was one of the world’s leading economy

• Stimulated technological advancement producing locomotives and artillery shells for the allies

• Farmers could expand production overseas

• US bankers could invest in Europe

What was America’s economic position by 1920?

• produced and consumed 70% of the world’s oil

• wealth was unevenly distributed

• workers still faced harsh conditions

How influential were trusts and monopolies?

• Made up the largest 4% of Us companies and produced 57% of US industry

• US Steel became the first billion dollar company

What was the Pittsburgh Steelworkers’ strike?

• The manager cut wages and didn’t accept any union negotiation

• Private detectives were used to smuggle in strike breakers who were attacked and 13 killed

• One of the deadliest labour management conflicts in US history

What was the 1894 Pullman Strike?

• First national strike

• Company cut wages but refused to lower employees accommodation

• Cleveland sent in troops to maintain the railways, they then fired into rioters (4 people were killed)

• Omnibus Indictment Act- permitted the legal banning of strikes (until 1930s)

What caused the 1893 depression?

A slowing down of the railroad boom in Philadelphia and Reading sparked a stock market crash.

Cleveland repealed the Silver Act to attempt to boost business confidence and slowly improve unemployment rates

What were consequences pf the 1893 depression?

• 25 businesses failed per day in May

• 4 year depression

• 15,000 companies and 600 banks collapsed

• unemployment rose to 20%

• Soup kitchens were opened to feed the hungry

What caused the 1907 Panic?

• The Knickerbocker Trust Company (3rd largest trust in New York) collapsed.

• The stock exchange fell by nearly 50%

• There was no central banking system to prop up banks

How did J.P Morgan aid the panic?

• He gave millions of dollars in attempt to restore business confidence and encouraged others to do the same

• This shows the government’s inability to curb the power of big business and how important they were in the economy

How did ‘Accidental Empire’ motivate US imperialism?

• USA didn’ economically need and empire due to their trade with Britain

• They never had any intention of developing an empire it just occurred accidentally

How did ‘Progressive Imperialism’ motivate US imperialism?

• The empire was motivated by a desire to improve non-american lives

• they wanted to export their values to less developed countries

• The removal of Yellow Fever from Cuba

How did the need for new markets lead to US imperialism?

• They had an open door policies as opposed to territorial expansion

• They had economic motives to expand

How did the end of Westward Expansion lead to territorial gain?

Westward Expansion was a form of imperialism and once it had ended they had to turn elsewhere

How did ‘Preclusive Imperialism’ lead to expansion?

The USA had to colonise other countries to prevent other imperial powers from doing the same

What did the USA do in Hawaii?

• 1898 annexed it for new markets

• Wanted to stop Japan and China

• Mckinley tariff meant they lost their trading advantages

What did the USA do in the Philippines?

• The Treaty of Paris meant that the USA would purchase the Philippines for $20 million

• USA believed they were incapable of governing themselves and that they could civilise the islanders

• They had a $600 million 4 year war due to unrest

Who were members of the Anti Imperialist League?

• William Jennings Bryan

• Grover Cleveland

• Andrew Carnegie

• Sammuel Gompers

What was Yellow Journalism?

• newspapers printing extremely sensationalised stories about a Cuban revolt against Spanish rule

• Stories published were anti-Spanish and clearly untrue

What was the Maine incident?

• US warship exploded killing 266

• The US blamed the Spanish and conducted an investigation which concluded it was a Spanish Mine

• It was later discovered it was caused by a design issue

Why did McKinley play a role in going to war with spain?

• A highly critical letter of McKinley from the Spanish ambassador found it’s was to the USA

• McKinley now felt that he had no choice but to go to war

What was the Spanish-American war?

• Lasted 3 months

• Spanish tactics were generally weak and the US navy attacked Spanish fleets

• 5,000 US soldiers killed in Cuba mainly due to the climate, 379 killed in combat

What were some consequences of the war?

• over 5,000 troops suffered with Yellow Fever

• Purchased Philippines for $20 million

• USA becoming involved in other areas

• 4,000 die due to conflict within the Philippines

• 1903 change to Cuba’s political system

What was the significance of the Spanish-American war?

• Shift to an imperialist power

• Expansionist stance on foreign policy

• Showed off the strength of the US military

What was Big Stick Diplomacy?

The stance Teddy Roosevelt took on foreign policy, where negotiation was key with an overall threat of a powerful military (big stick)

How was big stick diplomacy used regarding the Dominican Republic?

• They hadn’t repayed the USA back $40 million worth of loans

• Roosevelt took control of their customs revenue in order to pay the debt back to America

How did the USA become involved in China?

• Didn’t want involvement from European countries

• 1900 Boxer Rebellion was directed at immigrants. The USa sent in troops to assist the foreign countries

• 1899 John Hay announced an extension of the open door policy to China stating the US government would protect the lives and property of US citizens in China

What did the USA do regarding the Panama Canal?

• 1881 French Company attempted to build the Canal but financially struggled

• Colombia wanted $15 million from US government and $10 million from the Panama Canal Company

• 1903- Roosevelt staged a revolt from the Panamanians against the Colombians

• The USA granted Panama it’s independence who then allowed the canal to be built for $10 million

• Within a year, over 1,000 ships were using the canal

What did the USA do regarding Cuba?

• Teller Amendment stated that the Cuba was independent from Spain and that the USA had no intention of colonising it

• Platt Amendment limited Cuba’s sovereignty by granting the US the right to intervene in their affairs

• 1903 their industries were completely reliant on the USA (like Hawaii)

• USA invaded in 1912

What was the Roosevelt Corollary?

An extension of the Monroe Doctrine which allowed the US to use military means if they hadn’t repayed debt (Police Powers)

What was Dollar Diplomacy?

Taft’s way of foreign policy where the US would use it’s financial powers to influence foreign affairs

What did the USA do in Nicaragua?

• Anti-American president so the USA cancelled their economic privileges granted to their miners

• Taft sent in the Marines and put a pro American leader in

• USA controlled their national bank and occupied the country for a further 10 years

What was the Great White Fleet?

• 1907-1909 US warships went on a world tour to show the power of the Navy and how valuable the Panama Canal would be

What was Moral Diplomacy/Wilsonianism?

A peaceful, moral and ethical approach to foreign policy. The US was morally superior and could benefit other countries

What did wilson do regarding foreign policy?

• He gave Colombia $20 million in reparations for their role in encouraging the Panamanians to rebel

• He intervened in Latin America expanding Roosevelt and Taft’s policies

How did Wilson intervene in countries?

• Intervened in Haiti due to a revolution (remained there till 1934)

• Dominican Republic placed under US military rule in 1915 till 1924

• Built infrastructure projects for the countries expecting things/their loyalty in return

• Wilson involved the US in foreign affairs more than any other US president

Why did resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare make America join the war?

• Germans gave an 8 hour warning before sinking all ships in British waters, they wanted to starve the allies into surrendering

• Wilson cut off diplomatic relations with Germany

• From February to March 1 million tonnes of allied ships were sunk

Why did the Zimmerman Telegram encourage America to join the war?

• German foreign secretary sent a telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico (1917) proposing a secret alliance between Mexico and Germany

• The Germans promised to give Mexico back land they had lost to America

• US ambassador intercepted the telegram and sent it to the USA

• Mexico knew nothing about the telegram as they were in a Civil War

Why did German Activities within the USA encourage them to join the war?

• Black Tom’s munition plant exploded in 1916 causing $20 million worth of damage, smashing windows 16 miles away and fragments of debris damaged the statue of liberty

• German saboteurs were blamed but no one went to trial

• Espionage

Why did Wilson’s conscience result in US joining the war?

Wilson realised that only the countries at war (belligerents) would be able to have a say in the peace deal

How did America economically prepare for the war?

• They relied on victory and liberty bonds, introduced a 25% inheritance tax and a 75% income tax (they collected $10.5 billion in taxes)

• War industries board set up to coordinate taxes and finances

• Railroads became a centralised system

• Lever Food and Fuel Control Act- set up wheat prices to encourage production

• Herbert Hoover became food administrator coordinating relief efforts in Europe for refugees

How did workers prepare for war?

• The National Labour Board was set up to settle industrial disputes and heard 1,200 cases

• Union membership rose by 2.3 million during the war (greater acceptance of Unions)

• War Labour Policies Board set wages and the standards of employment by consulting unions and employers

How were women involved in the war?

• they were never mobilised

• encouraged people to buy war bonds and sent comforts to the troops

• unions didn’t want women working

• only 6,000 engaged in aircraft manufacturing

How were Native Americans involved in the war?

• They were not classed as citizens but volunteered to fight in Europe due to their tradition

• Wanted to demonstrate that they were equal and were respected by allied soldiers

• Used their language as a way to secretly communicate

• 2,000 in the Navy and 10,000 in the Army

• 1924- All Native Americans were granted US citizenship

What was Plessy vs Ferguson 1896?

• Homer Plessy challenged Louisiana state law and refused to leave a ‘white carriage’

• 7/8 Supreme court judges ruled segregation was legal due to the ‘separate but equal’ facilities

• However, equal could be interpreted however anyone desires

How were African Americans restricted from voting?

• Georgia introduced a $2 poll tax- most AA couldn’t afford this

• Mississippi introduced a literacy test to register to vote (questions were harder for African Americans)

• ‘Grandfather Clause’- you could vote if their father or grandfathers voted before 1st January 1867 (when AA got the vote)

Who was Booker.T.Washington?

• He was a former slave

• He set up the Tuskegee institute for African Americans

• Did the Atlanta Compromise speech

• Roosevelt invited him to the white house to discuss issues for AA

Who was William.E.B.DuBois

• First AA to get a degree at Harvard

• Argued more active resistance to discrimination

• Set up the NAACP and was involved in the Niagra Movement

What was the 1905 Niagra movement?

• Rejected washington’s cautious approach and emphasised protests for civil rights

• Didn’t develop into a mass movement due to lack of money and organisation

What was the NAACP 1909?

• Investigated racisms, publicised it and suggested solutions

• Constitutional approach

• The Crisis Newspaper

Who was Marcus Garvey?

• Founded the UNIA- wanted a strong economic base for AA (liberate Africa from colonisation)

• Black Star Shipping line (over 2 million members by 1920)

• Opposed by NAACP

• He provided hope for African Americans

How did African Americans progress during WW1

• 200,000 fought abroad

• Black consciousness due to being treated fairy by Europeans

• Pay in the North was much better than in the South

• The Great Migration

How did the war have a negative impact on African Americans?

• The military was segregated, AA usually worked in construction roles

• Government was restricting what the NAACP could publish

• 1919 Red Summer-race riots erupted across the USA

• 76 lynchings in 1919

How were African Americans involved in the war?

• Harem Hellfighters- aided the French and spent 191 days on the frontline

• over 350,000 helped in the war

• they thought there assistance in the war would improve their rights

How were cities shaped by immigration?

They created ethnic enclaves such as ‘little Italy’ in New York

How many immigrants came to the US from 1881-1920?

Over 18 million

What were push factors for European immigrants?

• persecution (Russia)

• Poverty and Hunger (south Italy)

What were pull factors in to America?

• America is the land of freedom and the riches

• High demand for migrant workers

Why did some immigrants choose to leave America?

• 60% of Italians

• 3% Russian Jews

• 1/3 immigrants went home

Why was Jewish Immigration different?

• Many families wanted to start a permanent life

• Many were poor but educated

• 2/3 Jews considered themselves skilled workers

How did urbanisation shape US society?

• tower buildings, emergence of the film industry

• Dynamic growth in the North and the East

How did WASP’s react to immigration?

• American Protective association- attempted to put pressure on the government to limit immigration

• 1905 Asiatic Exclusion League- limited Japanese immigration (by 1908 it ceased to exist)

Examples of violence faced by immigrants

• 11 Italians lynched in New Orleans after being acquitted of murder

• Revival of the KKK in 1915

• Hatred towards Roman Catholics, Jews and foreigners

What laws did the federal government pass during WW1?

• 1917 Espionage Act- instructed all postmasters to keep an eye on suspicious mail

  Eugene Debbs socialist leader jailed under this act

• 1919 Sedition Act-expansion of espionage act-1500 prosecutions made

What acts were passed to limit immigration?

• 1921 Emergency Quota Act- drastically limited the number of immigrants allowed into the USA
  1917 Immigration Act- introduced literacy tests

What was the Red Scare?

• Following 1917 bolshevik revolution

• Boston Police Strike-75% of officers went on strike

• More than 20 race riots in 1919

• uprisings made the government fear a revolution was incoming when it was actually industrial unrest caused by WW1

What were the Palmer Raids?

• US attorney general Mitchell Palmer had a touch stance on communism

• A wave of bombs including one outside palmers house

• His justice department agents raided the offices of ‘radical’ organisations in 12 cities (after a month 249 were deported)

• Red flags banned

• The raids were deemed illegal removing Palmer’s credibility

What was prohibition?

• 1917- 2/3 majority of drys in the house and senate

• war strengthened prohibition movement due to anti german sentiment

• Anti Saloon League- anti german propaganda against german breweries

• 18th ammendment

What was the fight for female suffrage?

• Begun in 1848- influenced prohibition and abolition of slavery

• National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA) established

• 19th amendment granted all female citizens the vote, it came to effect in 1920