HIST: Early 1900s & WWI

Unit 12 & 13

Progresivism

Used by people in the 1910s. A way of describing a broad, loosely defined political movement of individuals and groups who hoped to bring about significant change in American social and political life.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Graphic illustrations of the problems progressives sought to address. 1911 New York: 146 women died; many jumped to their deaths; the building was locked. Resulted in improvement of fire exits and safety proceudres

Ellis Island

1892 This Island began receiving immigrants from northern Europe. 1907 one million immigrants passed through Island (peak). Growth of immigrants from Russia, Greece, Eastern Europe. They were deeply unpopular

Lewis Hine

Photographer who photographed many horrible working conditions in the traveled across the country to take photos 1910-1920s

Muller v. Oregon

1908 US Supreme court agreed that state law could set max working hours for women.

Settlement Houses

community centers that provided food, childcare, job help most famous example is Jane Addams and Hull House

Jane Addams and Hull House

1889 community centers that provided food, childcare, job to people living in chicago

Muckracker

Type of journalism term coined by Teddy Roosevelt. Type of journalism that raked up the mud and stirred drama. Jacob Riis “How the Other Half Lives” exposed poor conditions

Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle

 1906 Went undercover at a meatpacking plant and discovered horrific conditions. Resulted in the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.

How the other Half Lives

Jacob Riis 1890 book document the horrors of tennet housing in NYC exposed poor and unsafe living conditions

Pure Food & Drug Act

1906 targeted at making food safer for consumers the first type of law of its kind

16th Amendment

1913 Amendment that gave Congress the power to collect a federal income tax

17th Amendment

1913 Amendment that allowed for direct election of US senators

18th amendment

Prohibited Alcohol from being sold in the United states

Sinking of the Lusitania

1915 British ocean liner, with american passengers. Ship was sunk by the germs killing many Americans

Zimmerman Telegram

1917 Message from germany to mexico asking mexico to join the Axis powers and guaranteed to give back land that was taken from mexico. British intercepted the telegram and only made public when they needed reinforcements

Selective Service

1917 Act. Standing army was 120,000 men. After the war was declared 75,00 men volunteered. Draft “selective survice” instituted to recrute more soldiers

Espionage Act

1917 Act that prohibition spying, interfering with the draft, and “false statements” that might impede military success

Sedition Act

 1918 Extended the reach of the espionage Act with abusive language being prohibited and added fines

Schenck v. United States

 1919 court case. Man Mailed leaflets to draft-age men urging them to resist the draft. SC ruled that such speech during wartime was a “clear and present danger”  Civil liberties Bureau formed to represent those arrested.

Clear and Present Danger

Legal standard used to determine when the US government can punish free speech

American Civil Liberties Union

1920 group that defend the right to freedom of speech by aiding in those who were facing government searches or prosecution base don their words