HIS111: MIDTERM QUIZZ

Why does automation not automatically guarantee prosperity?

The First Industrial Revolution showed automation could lead to sweatshop labor and inequality. Early supporters of automation later argued systems needed reform because profits did not automatically benefit workers.

What does 'territory' mean in today’s technological world?

Territory is increasingly data, meaning control over digital information rather than only physical land.

Core technologies in U.S. colonial expansion (1776–1869)

• Energy: coal, steam, electricity; • Transport: locomotives and steamships; • Extraction/manufacturing: mining tools, firearms; • Networks: telegraph, mass media, transport infrastructure.

Why is infrastructure important in imperial expansion?

Infrastructure such as transportation and communication networks can be militarized and used to control territory and generate profit.

Industrialization in the Americas

• Shift from agrarian economies to industrial economies; • Americas became sites of extraction and capital generation; • Technological innovation tied to expansion and resource exploitation.

Innovation vs Ownership

Innovation alone did not create power. Ownership of capital, access to resources, racial hierarchy, and violence (legal systems) determined who controlled wealth and technology.

Role of capital in imperial power

Control of capital allowed elites to dominate extraction, appropriate knowledge and resources, and maintain power over both land and people.

Relationship between private industry and the U.S. military

Private companies and the military have historically worked together. Military funding helped develop manufacturing and technology.

Eli Whitney (1798)

Invented the interchangeable parts system for military muskets, helping create mass production and strengthening the relationship between industry and military technology.

Why might military spending limit innovation?

Resources may go toward profitable military projects rather than other innovations that could benefit society.

Parallel between military spending and AI today

Like military contractors in the past, AI companies may exaggerate technological capabilities to secure funding and profit.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

U.S. policy declaring that European powers should not interfere in the Western Hemisphere and asserting U.S. dominance in the Americas.

Purpose of the Monroe Doctrine

To establish U.S. diplomatic and political dominance in the Americas and support territorial and commercial expansion.

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Expanded the doctrine by giving the U.S. the right to intervene in Latin American countries to protect U.S. interests.

Why is historical education important according to the lecture?

Understanding historical events helps create informed policies and better responses to modern problems.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) calls related to education

23 calls to action involve historical education, including 19 focused on protecting Indigenous languages.

Why is communication infrastructure linked to sovereignty?

Control over communication systems helps maintain political power, national security, and territorial authority.

Maria Ressa’s description of social media

She described social media as 'an invisible atomic bomb in the information ecosystem,' highlighting its impact on democracy.

Misinformation

False or incorrect information that spreads unintentionally.

Disinformation

Deliberately created and spread false information intended to manipulate people or influence politics.

Why is disinformation harder to stop than misinformation?

Because it is often funded, organized, and strategically designed to manipulate audiences and influence elections or political systems.

I-Frame (Individual Frame)

A way of framing problems that blames individuals rather than systemic causes.

S-Frame (System Frame)

A framework that focuses on structural causes of problems and calls for systemic solutions like regulation and corporate accountability.

Examples of S-Frame solutions

• Government regulation of addictive technologies; • Transparent terms of service; • Laws against foreign election interference.

Active Measures

A form of political warfare using influence campaigns, propaganda, and infiltration to manipulate public opinion.

Examples of Active Measures tactics

• Friendship societies; • Agents of influence; • Deepfakes and forgeries; • Cultural organizations; • Social media campaigns and memes.

Nazi propaganda strategy in the U.S. before WWII

Germany produced films and propaganda targeting American audiences to shape public opinion and discourage U.S. involvement in the war.

Anti-polarization campaigns during WWII

Canada and the U.S. produced films and media promoting unity and combating racism.

Role of the National Film Board (NFB)

Founded in 1939, the NFB produced around 100 wartime films promoting unity, tolerance, and anti-racism.

Key takeaway about national security today

Data and communications infrastructure are central to national security and democratic stability.

Design Thinking

A solution-focused and user-centered innovation process that focuses on developing solutions rather than only analyzing problems.

Influence

The ability to affect people’s beliefs, opinions, or behavior.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary

A Black abolitionist, journalist, and founder of the newspaper The Provincial Freeman in Toronto in 1853.

Public History

The practice of presenting historical knowledge to broad audiences through media, storytelling, and public engagement.

Why storytelling matters in history

Human brains naturally retain narrative structures, making storytelling an effective way to communicate historical knowledge.

Railroad monopolies in the 19th century

Railroads dominated transportation and expansion but often used corruption, bribery, and unfair pricing to control markets.

1874 Canadian railway spending

About 25% of Canada’s federal budget went to railway construction.

1887 railroad regulation

Railroads became the first industry regulated by the U.S. federal government.

Cartel

An arrangement where companies divide markets and avoid competing with each other.

Major Robber Barons

• John D. Rockefeller – Oil; • Andrew Carnegie – Steel; • Cornelius Vanderbilt – Railroads and shipping; • Leland Stanford – Railroads/provisions; • J.P. Morgan – Finance.

Shareholding Companies / Trusts

Businesses where companies owned shares in each other to control markets and avoid competition.

Shell Companies

Companies created to hide profits and evade regulations, common during the robber baron era.

Lobbyists

Individuals hired by corporations to influence government policy and legislation.

Vertical Integration

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

Ida Tarbell

Journalist who exposed corruption in Standard Oil, helping reveal monopoly practices.

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

U.S. law designed to break up monopolies and prevent anti-competitive business practices.

Interoperability

The ability for systems or platforms to work together and allow users to transfer their data between services.