Unit 7 Flashcards: 1890-1945 - Progressive Era & Foreign Involvement

Flashcards covering the key topics of Unit 7 (1890-1945), focusing on the Progressive Era and foreign involvement. These cards cover key terms, events, and concepts discussed in the lecture notes.

What were the two main focuses of Unit 7 (1890-1945)?

Progressive Era and Foreign Involvement.

What were the debates during the progressive era centered around?

Imperialism (morality) and big stick diplomacy.

What movement dissipated but still encouraged others to seek reform through political action?

Populist movement.

What were the differences between Populism and Progressivism?

Populism was aggrieved farmers; progressivism was the urban middle class with more resources.

Who headed the NAACP?

WEB DuBois.

Who promoted contraceptives in the feminist movement?

Margaret Sanger.

What are some of the political and economic outcomes of the Progressive Era?

Ballot initiative, bread and butter labor demands, child labor laws, progressive income tax, railroad regulation, etc.

What two major events marked the end of the Progressive Era?

World War 1 and the Red Scare.

What was Theodore Roosevelt's domestic policy called?

New Nationalism and Square Deal.

What was Theodore Roosevelt's approach to trusts?

Trust-buster: strengthened Sherman Antitrust, regulated good trusts, busted bad trusts.

What were some legislative achievements under Theodore Roosevelt?

Passed Meat Inspection Act, Pure Food & Drug Act, and conserved natural parks.

What was Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy approach called?

Big Stick Diplomacy: diplomacy first with a strong military to support.

What were the 16th and 17th Amendments?

16th Amendment: national income tax; 17th Amendment: direct election of senators.

What was William Howard Taft's foreign policy approach called?

Dollar Diplomacy: monetary loans for favorable foreign relations.

What was Woodrow Wilson's domestic policy called?

New Freedom.

What were some legislative achievements under Woodrow Wilson?

Federal Trade Commission and Federal Reserve.

What was Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy approach called?

Moral Diplomacy: democratic ideals that justified imperial intervention.

What territories did the U.S. gain from the Spanish-American War?

Cuba, Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

What was the Platt Amendment?

It let the US control Cuban foreign affairs.

Why did the US originally want to remain neutral in WW1?

To preserve its neutrality and trade with everyone.

What civilian ship sinking caused the death of 128 Americans and drew the US closer to war?

The Lusitania.

What was the Zimmerman Telegram?

Germany would help Mexico and Japan if they declared war on the US.

How did the US control many industries during WW1?

War Industry Board, coordinated supplies and production, railroads, telephone, etc.

How did the US curtail civil liberties during WW1?

Espionage Act (1917) and Sedition Act (1917) + FBI is created.

What was the Committee on Public Information (CPI)?

Spreads wartime propaganda → alienated German Americans.

What impacts did wartime industry have on American business power?

Wartime industry = higher demand and profits. Unions lost power, but Wilson granted them their bread and butter demands. Women and Black people (Great Migration) took many industrial jobs.

What were Wilson's 14 points?

Promoted free trade and seas, self-determination, and League of Nations.

Why did Congress oppose the League of Nations?

Argued it violated separation of power (opposed = irreconcilables, pro = Reservationists).

What was the ultimate outcome of the League of Nations in the US?

LoN is not passed, and the US becomes isolationist.

What was the Progressive Era?

A collection of reforms aimed at bringing about change within society.

Where did the reforms of the Progressive Era begin and extend to?

Began with middle-class efforts (independent of government) and ultimately extended to all levels of government (local, state, & federal).

What did Progressives advocate for?

A more involved government that considered social welfare.

What's a muckraker?

People who investigated and exposed corruption in print.

What was the Progressive Era a direct response to?

Changes brought on by the Gilded Age.

How did the Progressive Era relate to Social Gospel, Social Darwinism, and eugenics?

Social Gospel, Social Darwinism, and eugenics did not go away during this time.

What made the progressive era successful?

middle class have leisure time where they can think and do things; they are financially stable enough to be able to do these things.

What is the "Tension Frustration Thesis?"

desire by the middle class to gain/regain power lost due to big business and immigration

Who was Booker T. Washington?

Born into slavery, became a teacher after the Civil War and founded the Tuskegee Institute (1881) to promote trade skills for Blacks Believed “self help” was the key to equality despite a segregated community

What was the Atlanta Compromise Speech (1895)?

he says he wants equal promise of America, making it possible for someone to be both black and an American,

Who was WEB DuBois?

Harvard-educated scholar, born after slavery, Believed educated Blacks (“the talented tenth”) should lead the fight for equality Established the NAACP (1909) to promote equal rights nationwide , He says that you can have a sort of “dual identity” (African-American). You can be both Black and American.

What are recall, initiative, and referendum?

Recall: voters can petition to remove a representative from office Initiative: voters can petition state legislatures to consider a bill desired by citizens Referendum: voters can decide if a bill/proposed amendment should be passed

What is a secret ballot?

privacy at ballot box ensures party bosses do not know who citizens voted for

What did president Roosevelt's Square Deal focus on?

Change in politics— instead of the spoils before, now he is appealing to the public (Populist movement) with progressive reforms. He was anti-corruption, but if you are in poverty, he can’t do anything about it, but he can make sure it's not because of corruption

What does “Speak softly and carry a big stick” mean?

Speak softly and carry a big stick.

What is Direct Primary?

voters select candidates to run for office, not party bosses

What was TR's view on trusts?

Roosevelt thought there were benefits in business cooperation → not inherently good or bad— had potential to benefit public good if properly regulated, Trust busting bad trusts, and regulated good trusts

Elkins Act (1903)

outlawed rebates for railroads

Hepburn Act (1906)

expanded the power of ICC and max RR rates

Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Act to ensure food safety

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Act to ensure quality in medicines

What was TR's perspective on natural conservatism?

Nature as a resource that should be used sustainably and shared with business while being conserved

Newlands Reclamation Act (1903)

funded irrigation projects in 17 Western states

What did the Anthracite Coal Strike signify?

Roosevelt steps in personally to negotiate between capital and labor → Government acted as a neutral arbiter for the first time, This sends the message that the government is in control (Progressive idea)

What was the significance of the Russo-Japanese War?

won by Japan and was a huge deal because Japan beat Russia! It’s jarring to Russia (+ European countries), because Japan is a wild card Rooseve intervened and mediates the situation and wins Nobel Peace Prize

What is Big Stick Diplomacy?

(Theodore Roosevelt) prioritized negotiation but the threat (implied) of military force was ever-present → US looks to increase military to increase global power

What is Dollar Diplomacy?

(William Howard Taft) promoted US economic interests abroad by encouraging investment in foreign markets

What is Moral Diplomacy?

(Woodrow Wilson) supported democratic governments and opposed oppressive regimes, emphasizing ethical foreign policy

What does Speak softly mean in big stick diplomacy?

He always wants diplomacy/ negotiation first, but there must be power behind that negotiation.

What was The New Nationalism?

= national needs > personal needs, and the objective of the government is the social welfare of the people

What was “The New Freedom”?

= Woodrow Wilson’s progressive programs Attack on the “Triple Wall of Privilege” Tariffs Trusts Banks

Underwood Tariff (1913)

Lowered tariffs rates and paved the way for the 16th Amendment

Clayton Antitrust (1914)

Prevents price discrimination and limits mergers that could reduce competition (trust busting)

Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Federal Reserve system FR board and 12 banks

What was US' stance at the start of WW1?

Leading up to war, the United States was isolationist (when it came to Europe’s problems)

Why United States selling weapons to Europe?

They end up selling weapons and are able to focus on big business production since the war is not being fought in Western hemisphere

What brought the US into WW1?

In 1917, the United States, now the world’s largest manufacturing power, entered WW1

M (Militarism) A (Alliances) I (Imperialism) N (Nationalism)

Main reasons behind WW1

Why did Wilson decide to trade with all sides and preserve neutrality?

Bc it was a total war, they exported a lot of food/crops, clothes, and other civilian goods

What is contraband?

anything that helps the war effort → enemies thought the US was aiding opps by giving them like food and aid

What is Unrestricted Submarine Warfare?

Germany promises to not touch the US, Germany knows that if US got involved, they would most likely be on the Allied Powers side and they were a BIG STICK, However Germany cannot contain themselves and keep sinking US ships

WW1: Espionage Act (1917)

prohibits Americans from using the U.S. mail system to interfere with the war effort or with the draft

WW1 Sedition Act (1918)

made it illegal to speak disparagingly of the U.S. government or the war effort

The Committee on Public Information (CPI)

created sensational pro-war, anti-German propaganda in the form of lectures, films, and newspapers.

What is 100% Americanism?

term that is often used when we recall the cultural emphasis during the war itself. They tried to “take the hyphen out of ethnic-American”

Schenck Speech

not protected under the 1st Amendment → “clear and present danger” doctrine

The Great Migration

13% African American in segregated units

Pressure to buy liberty bonds (much more aggressive), Now that they are in the war, they need resounding moral so that no one is against it

Mandatory nationalism (WW1) vs voluntary patriotism (WW2)

National American Women’s Suffrage Association vs. National Women’s Party

Two factions (constitutional amendment and state by state) merged to want a constitutional amendment (merge to form NAWSA). NAWSA made the decision that they were going to stand down and not push for suffrage during the war so they wouldn’t get on the government's bad side But NWP (founded by Alice Paul) thought the opposite– they saw the labor movement win during WW1 and saw they could turn the rhetoric back on the government

Wilson’s 14 Points

Wanted to promote lasting peace and fervent future conflicts (“War to end all wars”) Open diplomacy, self-determination, free trade, and international cooperation Establishing League of Nations

Why did Congress refuse to allow the U.S. to join the League of Nations?

Fear that US would be dragged into a war due to European problems (it’s like stay out of my hair buddy)!

Who were The Irreconcilables?

A group of senators who opposed US involvement in European affairs via the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

Who were the Reservationists?

sought amendments to the League portion of the Treaty

Why did The Red Scare

Emerged in America after the Bolshevik takeover of Russia in the 1917 Russian Revolution

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Charles Schenck, secretary of the Socialist Party, charged with violating the Espionage Act by printing out and distributing anti-war, anti-draft leaflets

Red summer (1919)

Post-War Race Riots, primarily Northern cities → 120 racially motivated killings (mostly lynchings

The Great Migration was

the first opportunity for African Americans to move up North because of jobs and opportunities caused by the jobs (when the white soldiers leave there are job openings). Now they wanna keep these jobs so when white soldiers come back, they want their jobs back

Return to Normalcy

Wanted a more stabilized (not progressive) government → massive shift from Wilson

What was Warren G. Harding administration built upon?

It was built upon capitalism of the Gilded Age and a REGRESSION OF THE PROGRESSIVE ERA → laissez-faire government, tax cuts for the wealthy, helping the agriculture sector, and pro-business courts

consumerism

Buying on margin (CG & stock) aka buying on credit → conspicuous consumption expanded to the middle class since now they can loan it (not for the lower class tho)

Fordney-McCumber Tariff (1922)

raised the tariff rate to 38.5%.

Fordism

Ford’s assembly line = cost of production and price decreased, His business model → wanted his cars to be affordable enough that even his workers could buy them, He changed the amount of time they had to work (Henry Ford invented the two-day weekend) so that the workers could drive in their cars. This was their incentive to actually buy cars

Prohibition & Bootlegging/Speakeasies occurred mainly in which Era?

The Roaring Twenties

Which Acts promoted Racisms and Anti-Immigration

National Origins Act (1924) 1882 → Chinese Exclusion Act 1907 → TR’s Gentlemen's Agreement with Japan

What was the KKK?

Motto: “Native, white, Protestant supremacy” Targeted Blacks, immigrants, Catholics, Jews Methods: physical intimidation, arson, economic boycotts

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

“New Negro” Movement → African American Culture, Jazz Pan-Africanism: Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

What was UNIA

Marcus Garvey: emphasis on Black nationalism (Black Star Line)

Pan-Africanism

Focus of Personal emancipation: free yourself from society, expectations, and societal portrayals

What were the three walls of privilege that create wealth disparities?

trusts, tariffs, and banks

What was the main cause of the Great Depression

Business boomed, BUT investments made with borrowed money On-margin buying + over speculation → Stocks were overpriced EX.) Stock cost $100 → 10% down + 90% borrowed from a broker

The Federal Reserve

Billed by Wilson as “the bank for the banks” → The Federal Bank backs up individual banks (controls the money supply through interest rates), Loose lending through the 1920s (low interest rates) → Followed by stricter lending (higher interest rates) in fall 1929 to curb speculation → higher costs for loans and credit which reduces spending