The Rise of the United States as a Global Power: 1890-1920

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the rise of the United States as a global power from 1890 to 1920, focusing on imperialism, social movements, and significant historical events.

Pax Brittanica

The period of peace in Europe established by the British Empire during the 19th century.

Social Darwinism

The theory that humans, like animals, compete for survival, and that some races are more evolved than others, leading to the belief in racial superiority.

American Exceptionalism

The idea that the United States has a unique mission to spread democracy and freedom around the world.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy, articulated in 1823, that opposed European colonialism in the Americas and asserted the Western Hemisphere as a sphere of influence.

Teller Amendment

A stipulation that the United States would not annex Cuba following the Spanish-American War.

Platt Amendment

An amendment that stipulated the conditions for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Cuba and granted the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs.

The Jungle

A novel by Upton Sinclair that exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to reforms.

The Great Migration

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North (like St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York) during and after World War I.

Ticket to the middle class

14 Points

A statement of principles for peace used for peace negotiations to end World War I, proposed by President Woodrow Wilson.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations on Germany.

1. Russia has to give up Poland + Ukraine to get out of the war

2. Ottoman Empire has been dismantled

3. Revolutions in Vietnam + China b/c they are ignored

4. Czechoslovakia created from Germany, Irish too

5. League of Nations (US does not join)

Germany blamed + lossed territories (colonies in Asia + trust to Japan)

Muckraker

Journalists who expose corruption and social issues through investigative journalism.

Child Labor

The practice of employing children in work that deprives them of their childhood, education, or health.

Prohibition

The legal prevention of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in the U.S., enacted by the 18th Amendment.

Women's Suffrage

The movement to grant women the right to vote, which culminated in the 19th Amendment.

Dollar Diplomacy

A form of American foreign policy to further its aims in Latin America and East Asia through use of its economic power.

Big Stick Diplomacy

Using the US military as leverage w/ other nations.

The practice of negotiating peacefully while threatening military action.

Jingoism

Extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy.

The Anti-Imperialist League

An organization formed in 1898 that opposed the U.S. annexation of the Philippines and other imperialist policies.

Espionage Act

A law passed in 1917 that imposed severe penalties for spying, sabotage, or obstructing the war effort during WWI.

Sedition Act

An Act passed in 1918 that made it illegal to speak out against the war or criticize the government.

“Yellow Press”

“ If it bleeds, it leads”. Talks about sex, betrayal, and violence. Exaggerated and sometimes fabricated news. Helped the government and white house create a narrative

Venezuelan Crisis, 1895-1896

Where Monroe Doctrine was invoked for the first time. Longstanding dispute between Venezuela and Great Britain about the territory of Essequibo. Rebuilt America + Britain’s relationship

Hawaiian Annexation

Made English the main language, the way they consolidated power in this society. Queen Liliukalani wanted to return to native land and resist economic imperialism, but they painted her out at evil.

Monarchy was eliminated through the “Bayonet Constitution”. Hawaii becomes annexed to the US, and becomes US territory until the 1950’s where it becomes a state

Spanish-American War 1898

Lasted 9 weeks. Most soldiers died w/ disease or sent to Cuba and the Philippines.

Cuban Revolt 1895 (Teller Amendment passes)

Philippines (Treaty of Paris in 1896, agrees w/ The Platt Amendment)

Result in questions surrounding these “newly acquired people”, are they citizens? Anti-Imperialist League is created. Nativism continues (“The White Man’s Burden”)

Republicanism during the 1900

supports elites + businesses

pro-imperialists

Democrats during the 1900

Represented the common man

Anti-imperialist

US-Philippine “Insurrection” War, 1899-1902

Racial discrimination and segregation in the US military

The Battle of Banagiga (island of Samar)

Emilio Aguinaldo -freedom fighter, does not want America rule to replace Spain rule

US imperialism in China

China is divided into multiple parts for spheres of influence

Open Door Policy 1899 -telegram sent to all powers, we should have the right to trade with China, and whoever

Boxer Rebellion 1900

Panama Canal 1904

Canal is important for trade and for the ease of our navy

US protects Panama, and Panama becomes an independent nation. Gives the US the canal w/ rates

Example of Big Stick Diplomacy

Russo-Japanese War + US mediation, 1905

Japan attacks Manchuria, US steps in

Treaty of Portsmouth 1907

Plessy v. Ferguson (segregation in schools for Asian kids, “Gentleman’s Agreement”)

The Great White Fleet (1907-1909)

World tour at every port, especially in Tokyo, plays the national anthem of each country etc. to seem like they’re supporting their countries, but it was all actually about showing off all of the huge new bit boats the US have

Example of Big Stick Diplomacy

Root-Takahira Agreement 1908

US and Japan agree to not touch each others spheres of influence

William Howard Taft (1909-1913) Republican

Dollar diplomacy' + intervention in the “Yankee Pond”

Trustbusting (doesn’t make that distinction like Roosevelt.. goes for the oil trust)

Payne-Aldrich Tariff

Ballinger-Pinchot Incident (allowed big business to operate on land that was meant to be protected and conserved, so against what Roosevelt wanted)

Forces a crisis in the Republican Party

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921), Democrat

“Moral Diplomacy”

Intervention in the Mexican Revolution 1910-1917

1912 Election (won b/c republic split)

Character- hyper-intellectual, hyster, idealist, racist (supported Birth of a Nation move, which supported + celebrated the Klan)

“Triple Wall of Privilege”

Moral Diplomacy

Moral imperialism (the US is the most morally powerful so it is our duty to go after bad thugs)

Intervention into the Mexican Revolution 1910-1917

The US help the Mexicans get out their bad president, authorize sending weapons to certain areas to get the outcome we want

Mexicans are happy until The U.S. tell them what to do

US captures Poncho Villa, 1916-1917, his crew eventually turn against the U.S. and they go into New Mexico and burn things down

Progressivism (1890-1920)

Backlash to Gilded Age + Laissez-Faire Capitalism (ppl angry ab the diff of equality and corruption, etc, resulted in backlash)

Presidents involved: Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909), William H. Taft (1909-1913), and Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

The Reformers and Progressives

Progressives can be found in BOTH parties, rep. or dem.

Reformers were in the middle class, usually protestant, mostly women

People feared them b/c they assumed they will be associated w/ socialism and communism

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) Republican

Personality - Charasmatic, relatable (didn’t use rich and privileged background as leverage), projected American power, Influential

The Square Deal

Browns-ville Texas Incident

Trust Busting

Updated White House w/ Electricity

1902 Coal miners Strike

The Square Deal

“fair and even” deal

Corporate regulation- trust bunding (gave designnation of good (standard oil) and bad trust (predatory trust) stock market plunged), 1902 Coalminer’s strike (resulted in lower hours for workers and a 10% raise)

Conservation of natural resources- created national park, protecting nature from things like oil (conservationist) (preservationists were environmentalists and were really against tampering w/ nature, “Sierra Club”

Consumer Protection- Meat Inspection Act 1906 (influenced by The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, told big businesses to clean up their mess) and Pure Food and Drug Act 1906 (added descriptions to food to protect average person from corperations)

Browns-ville Texas Incident

Bar fight occurred in this town, and people blamed it on the Black Buffalo soldiers. Resulted in them being discharged in the military, losing their pension, etc. Roosevelt investigated this, but it was already too late.

Bucker T. Washington

Voice of Black Progressivism

Established Tuskegee institute, Tuskegee pilots, etc.

“Triple Wall of Privilege”

Refers to the tariff, trust, and banking that Woodrow Wilson targeted for reform

Clayton Anti-trust Act (protected labor unions from being broken up by monopolies)

Pushed for reduction of tariff

Federal Reserve Act 1913 -meant to stabilize the economy

Federal Reserve board created, hand-picked economically experienced individuals to sit on the board, meant to be apolitical people, and they were given the power to do things like determine interest rates on loans + inflation/deflation of the economy

Instituted the graduated income tax (Rich people since then put most of their wealth on tax-engines (protects on certain investments), not how they imagined it)

17th Amendment

Achieved through the Progressive Era

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

18th Amendment

Achieved through the Progressive Era

Nationwide Prohibition, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors

19th Amendment

Achieved through the Progressive Era

Constitutionalized women’s suffrage by prohibiting the denial of voting rights based on sex

Other Progressive Era Achievement

Child labor was addressed

Labor Unions start to get recognition

Increase in government regulation

Plessy V. Ferguson

Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)

“Pan-Africanism” as an expression of Black pride

Black separatism (If you are black anywhere in the world, you share two things: common culture, and experience of white oppression. So initiates black separatism, whites don’t accept us, should hunker and fight for political power)

Ends up collaborating w/ the KKK (was anti-semetic + felt hostility towards mixed people)

Contributed a fund for black people in college

Gets arrested for male fraud and deported to Jamaica

Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

Operated in the South, born as a slave

Founder of Tuskegee Institute- The college focused on agriculture and engineering

“Atlanta Compromise” speech (White people need to get out of the way of our businesses and black economy. They need to stop oppressing us)

W.E.B. Dubois (1968-1963)

-First black man to graduate from Harvard University

-Founder of the NAACP- Major political system advocating for civil rights (esp. In civil rights era)

• Argued that top 10% of achievers in the Black community need to be elected into office, to force issue of Civil Rights

Battled racism on several fronts:

• the blaming Black people for the "failures" of Reconstruction

•  segregation in the military

• the practice of lynching-- concerning which the US government had proven to be ambivalent

-Battle on Booker T. Washington, didn't think we should wait and work for white people. Criticized him for being too soft. Voices of black people are pushing back, not united

Muckraker Journalism

Tried getting the governments attention on problems this way, but don’t offer any solutions, just show problems

Popular method of reporting was the “expose”

Typically worked in cities

Progressive Goals

-motivated by a fear of socialism-

Restore power to the people

End corruption

End child labor and immigrant exploitation

Women’s suffrage

Prohibition

The Triangle Shirtwaist Co. Fire (1911)

Worst national disaster in NYC history

Young immigrant Jewish and Italian women worked here

Jacob Riis

Famous muckracker writer

How the Other Half Lives (focused on immigrant + child labor problems that must be addressed

Flop Houses

Immigrants had to live in these small places

—>developed into immigrant tenement housing (cowerla outbreaks, immigrants were financially exploited to stay in these places for higher prices)

John Spargo

Crusader against Child Labor

The Bitter Cry The Children

Anti-communist + socialist

The History of the Standard Oil Company, 1904 by Ida Tarbell

Exposed the shadiness of monopolies and trusts, in this case Rockefeller’s

Helped lead to the anti-trust lawsuit filed against Standard Oil in 1911

Women’s Christians Temperance Movementments

Fought against prohibition

Volstant Act

Made distribution of alcohol illegal

Carrie Nation

Old women who went into bars and told them to go back to their families, managed to shut bars down

Alice Paul

Arrested several times for fighting for women suffrage, beaten by mobs of men

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

German's conducted this

They will sink anything, a ship whether armed or not,

Lusitania, 1915

Americans ride for vacation, Germans suspect war materials to be in here, they are right, and they take it

Took down 100 Americans, including children

Other sunken commercial vessels

Arabic, Aug. 1915

Sussex, March 1916

Both unarmed, commercial vessels than carried Americans and sunk

The Sussex “Pledge”, 1916

Issued after the sinking of the Sussex

Passenger ships would not be targeted, Merchant ships would not be sunk until the presence of weapons had been established and w/o provision for the safety of passengers and crew

Germans can’t honor this

1916 Election

Woodrow Wilson won b/c “he kept us out of war”

States after, “Necessary preparedness” (Incase we may need to go into war. Americans hate this)

Zimmerman Telegram

Germany has been funneling weapons for the Mexicans

Makes Woodrow Wilson ask for declaration of war

Eugene Debs

Socialist, against WWI

Openly opposed the war

Arrested (a violation of 1st amendment, petition to government + freedom of speech). Arrested w/ the justification of the Espionage (1917) and Sedition Acts (1918)

Espionage 1917 + Sedition Acts (1918)

Made it illegal to speak out against the government during wartime

Will either deport you or put you in jail

Schenk v. US 1919

The court held that the Espionage Act did not violate the First Amendment, so invalidates the arrest for Eugene Debs

Interference in the Bolshevik Revolution

The U.S. sent 500 troops to help Russia, we didn’t do much but still interfered.

Red Scare

Socialists and anarchists are targeted

Immigrant share targeted

Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer’s “Palmer Raids”

• Root out any suspected socialists to throw in jail + deports

• w/o due process laws

The Creel Committee and American Propaganda

Total war

Propaganda wants to invite people who was to serve voluntarily, don’t want draftees

The War Industries Board created to direct production and rationing (rations oil, food, and luxury items)

Command Economy

Economy in which the government directs

The “Spanish Flu”

Originated in Kansas Army Camp

Respiratory ilness

All the european powers had strong censorship in propaganda, going through trenches, to the front, the morale was low, so reporting of this disease.. People held down this information. Spain was neutral and they reported it. They said Spain got problems now b/c everyone else is hiding it and they only see it being reported in Spain.

Sickness targeted the young

De jure

Segregation by law (schools, bathrooms)

supported by Plessy v. Ferguson (upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation)

Spoken

De facto

Segregation by fact (living + communities)

Unspoken

The “Red Summer” of 1919

Nearly 25 riots in total

Riots in St. Louis 1917

Chicago 1919

• 38 dead in Chicago alone on both sides

• Black kid stumbles on a “white” beach

Black veterans stand up against

US combat operations WWI

American Expeditionary Force, established 1917

Segregated units (Black troops given to the French, known as “Men of Brones”, or “Harlem Headfighters”)

Battle of Chateau-Theirry (Belleau-Wood)

Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Cher Ami, carrier pigeon)

Armistice Day: Nov. 11, 1918 (abdication of the Kaiser to achieve self-determination, and 14 pts excepted and German surrender)

Modernism 1920s-1950s

Embracing the change that comes after WWI (technology, ideas, literature, and music)

• Urban life

  • speakeasies

  • skyscrapers

• New acceptance of race/ethnic cultures

  • Harlem Renaissance

• Questioning of Nationalism + Capitalism

  • Lost Generation writers, like F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Secularism

  • Flappers

  • Scopes Trial

• Embracing of new technologies

  • Planes, Car, yachts + boats

  • Radio

  • Film

Lost Generation

No sense of what’s happening anymore, shifted how people think of themselves and other people

30 million dead from WWI

Lost faith in democracy + Decline of western civilization

War gave them stability

Warren G. Harding, (1921-1923) Republican

“Return to normalcy” (swing back to conservatism, shrink army, turn down propaganda posters, ignore labor unions again)

Red Scare ~1917-1930s

Red Scare 1917-1930s

Establishment of Soviet Union

Communism enters by immigrants coming (Sacco and Vanzetti)

Emergency Quota and Immigration Acts (any country from Southern to Eastern Europe will get quotas, only a small percentage would come in, Asians were cut off completely) Anarchism, communism, and Italians were targeted

Teapot Dome Scandal

Bribes were given to get gov contracts to drill out west to Teapot Dome Against the environment safety protocol that Roosevelt enlisted

Isolationism

America doesn’t want to be involved anymore, want to focus on inner-America again

will be isolationists for 2 decades

4 Power Treaty

Treaty drawn up between 4 major powers in Asia who have colonies there

US tells other Asians to keep hands off Phillippines

Britain tells other Asians to keep hands off India

Japan tells other Asians to keep hands off of Korea

aimed to maintain peace in the Pacific by pledging mutual respect for each other's insular possessions and requiring consultation in case of disputes

5 Power Naval Treaty (Washington Disarmament Conference)

Conference was meant to disarm the oceans

Ratio of Battleships allowed:

Britain; 5

U.S.; 5

Japan; 3

9 Power Treaty

Affirmed China’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and gave all nations the right to do business with it on equal terms

Doesn’t want to mess up w/ spheres of influence

Fordney-McCumber Tariff

After WWI to protect America manufacturing, the US instituted a massive tariff

Results in economic warfare, + to Great Depression later

Calvin Coolidge, 1923-1929 Republican

“Business of America is business”

Kellogg-Briand Treaty

Coolidge’s economic systems

-Wants laissez-faire capitalism

-Encouraged bull market

-loose credit policies

-puts Andrew Mellon as secretary of Treasury (explosion of value + over speculation)

-interest rates kept low, no regulations on banks

-”Buying on margin”

All results in an economic crash for the next presidents term

Kellogg-Briand Treaty

Outlawed war

Japan signed this

Dawes Plan- ineffective plan that was made to pay up debts from war that Britain and France were supposed to pay, didn’t generate debt relief

Harlem Renaissance

Feature of Modernism

Explosion of black culture in music, literature, political acticism

More Black people move into cities

Lanksten Hughes

Lanksten Hughes

Through poetry, expressed what it’s like to be a black man to a white man. The challenges of having his voice heard, culture respected, etc.

Henry Ford

Creates interchangeable parts + Assembly line to make the car affordable for everyone, and made easy to get to places

Margret Sienger

Advocate for both control

Supported eugenics

Flappers

Iconic, rebellious young women of the 1920s who redefined femininity by flaunting social norms w/ short, bobbed hair, knee-length dresses, and provocative behavior like smoking and drinking