American History: Gilded Age to Cold War Overview

Technology

Innovations like the telegraph, telephone, and electricity revolutionized communication, making it faster and more efficient.

Railroad System

Allowed for faster movement of goods and people across the country, stimulating trade and connecting remote areas to urban centers.

Immigration Waves

Two waves of immigrants came in, first from Eastern Europe looking for job opportunities and second from China looking to work in railroads and mining.

Nativism

Created an atmosphere of Nativism because native-born workers saw immigrants as a threat to their job opportunities.

Urbanization

As a result of technology, places were expanding and there was more demand for labor, leading to the creation of tenements.

Economic Changes

In the late 1800s, a shift in the economy occurred because immigrants came over to work at jobs.

Social Changes

Native-born people saw immigrants trying to keep their religion and culture as a threat to their national identity.

Gilded Age Problems

Included bad working conditions, wealth inequality, long hours, low wages, bad living conditions, poor health, and pollution.

Progressive Era

Emerged as a direct response to the stark inequalities, political corruption, and social injustices that characterized the Gilded Age.

Progressive Amendments

Characterized the Progressive Era's commitment to creating a more just, fair, and participatory society by addressing economic inequality, promoting political reforms, and expanding individual rights.

Manifestations of Progressivism

Included the passing of acts and amendments related to suffrage, temperance, environmentalism, working and living conditions, and consumer protection.

Impact of Progressivism

Reshaped the role of the federal government, creating a more active and responsive state that addresses both economic inequality and social welfare.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls multiple stages of production.

Horizontal Integration

A business strategy where a company acquires or merges with competitors to increase market share.

Knights of Labor

A labor organization that sought to unite all workers and advocated for broad social reforms.

American Federation of Labor

A labor union that focused on skilled workers and sought to negotiate better wages and working conditions.

International Workers of the World

A radical labor organization that aimed to unite workers across the globe and promote socialist ideals.

Prohibition Legislation

Social elements combined behind the move to pass prohibition legislation, aiming to curb alcohol consumption.

Constitutional Amendments (1910-1920)

Included significant amendments passed during this period, such as the 17th and 19th Amendments.

Theodore Roosevelt

One of the presidents whose reform ideas contributed to the Progressive Era.

William Howard Taft

One of the presidents whose reform ideas contributed to the Progressive Era.

Woodrow Wilson

One of the presidents whose reform ideas contributed to the Progressive Era.

Role of Women in Progressive Era

Changed significantly, contributing to the advancement of progressivism.

Spheres of influence

Areas where a country has exclusive rights or privileges.

Open Door policy

A diplomatic policy aimed at ensuring equal trading rights for all nations in China.

Dollar diplomacy

A foreign policy that aimed to further U.S. interests overseas by encouraging investments in foreign economies.

Spanish-American War

A conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, resulting in the U.S. gaining territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Interventionist policy

A policy of intervening in the affairs of other countries, often through military action.

American foreign policy (1890-1917)

A combination of economic, military, and political strategies to expand U.S. influence.

Neutrality in World War I

The misleading stance of the U.S. claiming to remain neutral while engaging in trade and support for allies.

Committee of Public Information

A government agency created to influence public opinion regarding American participation in World War I.

Food Administration

A government agency responsible for managing food supply and distribution during World War I.

War Industries Board

A government agency that coordinated the production of war materials during World War I.

1920s unique decade

Characterized by economic instability post-WWI, new job opportunities, and technological advancements.

Impact of automobiles

Facilitated suburban living and contributed to consumerism.

Great Depression factors

Caused by Hooverism, high tariffs, overproduction, and unequal wealth distribution.

Smoot-Hawley Tariff

A tariff implemented by Hoover that raised taxes on imports, negatively impacting global trade.

Republican response to economic turmoil

Advocated for laissez-faire principles and minimal government intervention.

Democratic response to economic turmoil

Promoted New Deal programs aimed at economic recovery.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies created by FDR to recover the unemployed and promote economic recovery.

Relationship between Federal Gov and American people

Improved trust and relationship due to New Deal programs.

Threat to American Democracy

Economic depression led to distrust between the people and government.

Nativism in the 1920s

An increase in anti-immigrant sentiment and policies.

Boom industries of the 1920s

Industries that experienced rapid growth and expansion during the decade.

Consequences of the Great Depression

Widespread unemployment and poverty, collapse of financial systems.

Herbert Hoover's voluntarism

Failed to address the economic issues of the Great Depression effectively.

Franklin Roosevelt's victory in 1932

Resulted from a combination of economic discontent and effective campaigning against Hoover.

Franklin Roosevelt's landslide victory

The significant electoral win over Herbert Hoover in the election of 1932.

New Deal relief programs

Programs designed to provide relief and recovery during the Great Depression.

American reluctance to join WWII

Desire to remain neutral and avoid physical involvement in the conflict.

Factors causing Allies to win WWII

Strategies like island hopping, control of shipping lanes, and superior military production.

Casualties from Pacific Frontier

200,000 casualties from bombings.

Casualties from Eastern Front

40 million casualties during the conflict.

Truman's choice to use Atomic weapon

Decision influenced by the desire for a quicker end to the war.

US/Global policy from WWI to WWII

Transition from isolationism to appeasement to active involvement.

Policy of Appeasement

Failed strategy that allowed Germany to expand territory, leading to war.

US entry into WWII vs WWI

Initial reluctance to join both conflicts, but eventual involvement.

Domestic racism during WWII

Manifested through Japanese internment camps.

Decision to use nuclear weapons

Bombing of Japan aimed at ending the war quickly.

WWII and Cold War relationship

Tensions between the US and Russia emerged due to differing ideologies post-war.

US foreign policy during Cold War

Focused on Containment and its various rationales.

Brinkmanship and M.A.D.

Mutually assured destruction as a deterrent in nuclear strategy.

Early examples of Containment

Berlin and Korea as key instances of containment policy.

American policy from 1935 to 1941

Characterized by isolationism until the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Brutal nature of the war in the Pacific

Evidence includes high casualty rates and intense battles.

Truman's decision to drop atomic bomb

Influenced by the desire to end the war swiftly.

Wartime experiences of minorities

Experiences of women, African Americans, and others during the war.

Truman administration and Communist threat

Promoted fear of internal Communist threats during the Cold War.

Containment and Korean War

Containment strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

Factors intensifying the Cold War

Domino Theory, Soviet expansionism, and fear of communist infiltration.

Marshall Plan (1948)

Economic aid initiative to prevent communist uprisings in Europe.

NATO (1949)

Military alliance formed to deter Soviet aggression.

Berlin Airlift (1948-49)

Operation that defied the Soviet blockade of West Berlin.

Cuban missile crisis

Confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union over missile deployment.

Vietnam War

US involvement aimed at stopping the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.

Korea and Vietnam in Containment

Military actions taken to prevent the spread of communism in these regions.

McCarthyism

Senator Joseph McCarthy led a campaign accusing Americans of being communists, leading to blacklists, loyalty oaths, and violations of civil liberties.

HUAC

House Un-American Activities Committee that investigated alleged communist ties in Hollywood and other sectors.

Vietnam War Protests

Protests primarily led by young people and colleges, highlighting domestic unrest regarding Vietnam.

USSR's Economy

The USSR's economy was weak and couldn't keep up with U.S. military spending.

Arms Race

A competition between the U.S. and USSR to build up their military arsenals, which drained resources.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 became a symbol of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.

Containment

Cold War policy aimed at containing communism, which was also reflected in post-9/11 foreign policy aimed at containing terrorists.

Cold War vs Post-9/11 Foreign Policy

The Cold War was ideological and global in scope, while post-9/11 was primarily focused on terrorism.

Military Draft Fragmentation

Aspects of the military draft that fragmented the American public along class lines.

Civil Rights Movement (1954-1965)

A nonviolent movement characterized by organizations and leaders aiming to achieve civil rights successes.

Perestroika

A policy of restructuring the Soviet economy that impacted relations between the United States and the U.S.S.R.

Glasnost

A policy of openness in the Soviet Union that influenced U.S.-Soviet relations.

Gilded Age

A period in the United States in the late 1800s marked by rapid economic growth, political corruption, and wealth inequality (1870-1910).

Monopoly/Trusts

An arrangement that gives a person or corporation the legal power to manage another person's money or another company.

Horizontal/Standard Oil

An American company and corporate trust that was the industrial empire of John D. Rockefeller from 1870 to 1911.

Significance of Gilded Age

Set the stage for social reforms, the rise of labor movements, and shaped modern American capitalism.

Civil Rights Inequalities Strategies

Differing strategies for addressing Civil Rights inequalities, including violence vs non-violence.

Domestic Tension Examples

Examples of domestic tension involving communism and expression during the Cold War.

Legal Course of Segregation

Relevant court decisions that influenced the legal course of segregation in the United States.

Friction in Civil Rights Process

Friction between Federal and State/Local governments within the Civil Rights process.

Antiwar Movement Connections

Connections between the antiwar movement, hippies, the counterculture, and the Black Power movement.

New Left Successes and Failures

The successes and failures of the New Left during the civil rights and antiwar movements.

Terrorism Climate for African Americans

The climate of terrorism facing many African Americans in the periods of Post-Reconstruction, including lynching and racially motivated violence.

Rockefeller and associates

Controlling almost all oil production, processing, marketing, and transportation in the United States.