Gilded Age & Imperialism & Progressives Study Notes

Introduction to Unit #2

• Focus: Gilded Age, Imperialism, Progressives

America as a Growing World Power

• Growing economy and population

• Increasing military strength necessitating bases

• Need for markets for American goods

• Competition with European exports

• Concepts: Isolationism, Expansionism, Internationalism

• Social Darwinism used as justification for expansion

Spreading Influence and Conflicts

• Regions of influence: China, Japan, Hawaii, Latin America

• Spanish-American War:

  • Causes and propaganda

  • Conquest of Cuba and Philippines

Transition to World War One

• Shift from isolationism to involvement

• Effects on the home front

• President Wilson’s “14 Points” and the Treaty of Versailles

Growth of Industry (Gilded Age)

• Innovations and manufacturing methods

• Faster transportation and cheap labor from immigrants

• Government's “Hands Off” policy

• Emergence of monopolies and extremely wealthy business owners

• General prosperity narrative

Immigration Trends

• Record influx of diverse populations

• Source of new ideas and cheap labor

• Backlash from racist groups and government

Progressive Movements

• Labor laws and anti-trust actions

• Political reforms (Populism)

• Government regulation and return of power to the people

• Women's suffrage movement (19th Amendment)

Timeline Highlights (1823-1926)

• 1823: Monroe Doctrine

• 1846: Mexican-American War

• 1848: Seneca Falls Convention

• 1853: Commodore Perry in Japan

• 1862: Pacific Railroad Act

• 1876: Bell invents telephone

• 1898: Spanish-American War, U.S. annexes Hawaii and Philippines

• 1914: WWI begins

• 1919: 19th Amendment passed

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