2.1-2.2: Progressivism and American Empire

Progressive Era

Era at the turn of the twentieth century in which groups sought to reform the U.S. economically, socially, and politically through stronger, more active government involvement.

Progressive Goals

Political reform, women's rights, reform business, improve society.

Muckrakers

Socially conscious journalists and writers that dramatized the need for reform.

Lincoln Steffens

As managing editor of McClure's, he published many articles on political corruption.

Upton Sinclair

Muckraker whose book The Jungle exposed the unsanitary conditions in Chicago's meatpacking industry.

Nellie Bly

Muckraker who went undercover in a mental institution to expose the mistreatment of patients; published Ten Days in a Mad-House in 1887.

Social Gospel

A movement in the late 1800s / early 1900s, led by Walter Rauschenbusch and others, which emphasized charity and social responsibility for Christians.

Settlement Houses

Community center that provided social services to the urban poor, including child care, English classes for immigrants, and cultural programs for adults.

Hull House

Founded by Jane Addams in Chicago, the most famous Settlement House in the United States.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Over 140 people, mostly young women, were killed in this New York City industrial fire, highlighting unsanitary and unsafe working conditions.

Galveston Plan

Commission form of government which came about after the Galveston Hurricane. Designed to elect commissioners and lessen the power of political machines.

Direct Primary

A primary where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office

Initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

Referendum

A legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate

Recall

Procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office.

Susan B. Anthony

She fought for women's suffrage and was a founding member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. She was arrested for illegally voting.

Frances Willard

Became leader of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). She worked to educate people about the evils of alcohol and urged laws banning the sale of liquor.

Florence Kelley

A woman reformer who sought consumer and worker protectors, including prohibiting child labor and improving conditions for women workers.

Carrie Chapman Catt

A suffragette who was president of the National Women's Suffrage Association who was instrumental in the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Margaret Sanger

Woman reformer who fought for access to birth control and reproductive rights. Founding member of the American Birth Control League and Planned Parenthood.

Alice Paul

Woman reformer and leader of the National Woman's Party. Her tactics were more radical and while in prison she engaged in hunger strikes.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Legalized segregation in publicly owned facilities on the basis of "separate but equal."

Booker T. Washington

African American progressive who supported segregation and demanded that African American better themselves individually to achieve equality. Created the Tuskegee Institute to provide practical, skilled education to Black Americans.

Ida B. Wells

African American journalist who wrote against lynchings and fought for racial equality.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Fought for African American rights. Against segregation. Argued African Americans should demand full and immediate equality. Helped to found Niagara Movement in 1905 to fight for and establish equal rights. This movement later led to the establishment of the NAACP

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peopled. Challenged discrimination in the courts.

Anti-Defamation League

Organization to defend Jews against physical and verbal attacks and "to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike."

Theodore Roosevelt

"War hero" of the Spanish-American War and a Progressive President he urged the "Strenuous Life" and was a notable "Trustbuster" and conservationist.

Square Deal

Theodore Roosevelt's domestic policies for consumer protections, regulating corporations, and conservation of the environment.

Hepburn Act (1906)

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) could set maximum railroad shipping rates.

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Created the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for regulating food and drugs.

Meat Inspection Act (1906)

Government regulation of meat/inspection of meat-processing plants. Inspired by Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.

John Muir

Naturalist who believed nature should be left untouched.

Gifford Pinchot

Chief of U.S. Forest Service who believed in planned management of natural resources; fired by Taft.

William Howard Taft

Progressive President who Roosevelt expected to follow his policies. Instead, he fired Gifford Pinchot and busted "trusts" Roosevelt had allowed.

Woodrow Wilson

Progressive President elected in 1912 and helped usher through the Federal Reserve Act, Federal Trade Commission, and other government regulation of the economy.

Federal Reserve Act

Set up a system of federal banks and gave government the power to control the money supply.

Federal Trade Commission

A federal agency established in 1914 to investigate and stop unfair business practices.

16th Amendment (1913)

Amendment to the Constitution; gave Congress the power to tax income.

17th Amendment (1913)

Amendment to the Constitution; provided for the direct election of senators.

18th Amendment (1919)

Amendment to the Constitution; prohibition of alcohol.

19th Amendment (1920)

Amendment to the Constitution; women's suffrage.

Reasons for Imperialism

"Civilizing Missions; resources/raw materials; markets to sell goods; military power/strategy.

Alfred Thayer Mahan

Military historian and U.S. Navy Officer who argued the U.S. should build a large, modern navy and acquire foreign bases.

White Man's Burden

Concept that I=it is the "burden" of the white, "civilized" peoples of the world to expand and bring civilization and Christianity to the "primitive" peoples of the world.

Rudyard Kipling

British writer who wrote of "White Man's Burden" poem and justified imperialism.

Hawaii

American missionaries arrived in the 1820s, followed by business interests and the creation of an American naval base on Peal Harbor. Annexed as a U.S. territory in 1898.

Causes of the Spanish-American War

American investment in Cuba; sympathy for Cuban independence; yellow journalism; explosion of U.S.S. Maine.

Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines

Territories Gained by U.S. from Spanish-American War.

Philippine-American War (1899-1902)

Filipinos resisted American occupation. Emilio Aguinaldo led Filipino rebels in guerrilla warfare against Americans; Americans were ultimately victorious.

Anti-Imperialist League

Objected to the annexation of the Philippines and the building of an American empire. Members included Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, and others.

Open Door Policy

A policy proposed by the U.S. in 1899, under which all nations would have equal opportunities to trade in China. Result would be economic exploitation of China.

First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)

Conflict between China and Japan in 1894-1895 over control of Korea; Japan won.

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

Ending in a Japanese victory, this war established Japan as a formidable military competitor in East Asia; peace brokered by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Platt Amendment

Legislation that severely restricted Cuba's sovereignty. 1) Cuba was required to provide land for American bases. 2) Cuba had to pay for U.S. war costs. 3) Cuba could not sign any treaty without U.S. permission. 4) U.S. had right to send troops to Cuba.

Big Stick Diplomacy

Diplomatic policy developed by T.R where the "big stick" symbolizes his power and readiness to use military force if necessary. It is a way of intimidating countries was the basis of U.S. imperialistic foreign policy.

Roosevelt Corollary

Roosevelt's 1904 extension of the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States has the right to protect its economic interests in South And Central America by using military force

Dollar Diplomacy

Foreign policy created under President Taft that had the U.S. exchanging financial support ($) for the right to "help" countries make decisions about trade and other commercial ventures. Basically it was exchanging money for political influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Moral Diplomacy

Foreign policy proposed by President Wilson to condemn imperialism, spread democracy, and promote peace. U.S> would still send in the military when "necessary," however.