Period 7A-Progressivism, Imperialism, WWI, Roaring 20s

Overview of Period 7A

Imperialism: Expansion of American influence globally, establishing control over territories and exerting political and economic power.
Progressivism: Social reform movement addressing various societal issues, including labor rights, women’s rights, and governmental reforms.
World War I: The United States’ involvement in the Great War, which significantly altered its role on the global stage.
The 1920s: A decade marked by cultural shifts, economic growth, and significant changes in social norms.

Overview of how the U.S. transitioned from isolationism to a major world power, including the Spanish-American War and the acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Examination of America’s involvement in international affairs during and post-WWI, including Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles, alongside the eventual return to isolationist policies in the 1920s.

Detailed discussion of key reforms aimed at curbing corporate power, improving labor conditions, and expanding democracy.

Trustbusting: Government action to break up monopolies and restore competition.
Gilded Age Reforms: Legislative efforts to address the excesses of industrialization and corruption in politics.

Pragmatism: Philosophical movement that considered practical consequences as critical to understanding truth. Key figures included:
- William James: Advocated for the idea that beliefs should be judged by their practical outcomes.
- John Dewey: Emphasized educational reform and active participation in democracy.
Social Gospel Movement: Focused on applying Christian ethics to social problems; emphasized the need for social justice and improved living conditions for the urban poor.
Taylorism: Introduced by Frederick Winslow Taylor, this scientific management system aimed to enhance industrial efficiency and productivity.

Transcendentalism: Emphasized individual intuition and nature, opposed the more rational, systematic approaches of Progressivism.
Social Darwinism: Justified economic inequality as a natural order, countered by Progressives who advocated for social justice.
Laissez-faire Economics: Believed in minimal governmental intervention in the economy, which Progressives opposed through regulatory reforms.
Rugged Individualism: A belief in self-reliance that Progressive leaders critiqued as not addressing social inequalities.

Traditional Capitalism: Characterized by private ownership, a market economy, and competition without significant government interference.
Socialism: Advocates for community or collective ownership of production to promote economic equity.
Communism: A more extreme form of socialism where the state owns and manages all property and resources, aiming for a classless society.

Formed by diverse groups including:
- Jeffersonians: Advocated for agrarian democracy and civic virtue.
- Jacksonians: Emphasized the rights of the common man and populist democracy.
- Greenback/Labor Party: Focused on monetary reform and labor rights.
- Populists: Sought to empower farmers and laborers against powerful elites.
Muckrakers: Influential journalists who exposed corruption, corporate wrongdoing, and social injustices. Examples include:
- Lincoln Steffens: Investigated municipal corruption in cities such as St. Louis.
- Ida Tarbell: Authored a critical history of Standard Oil Company, highlighting its monopolistic practices and ethical failures.

Florence Kelley: Prominent in advocating for improved labor conditions and child labor laws; key in the Muller v. Oregon case that upheld protective labor legislation for women.
Margaret Sanger: Pioneered the birth control movement, emphasizing family planning and women’s reproductive rights.

This tragic incident, which resulted in 146 deaths mainly among young immigrant women, sparked significant public outrage and led to extensive reforms in labor laws and factory safety regulations.

Meat Inspection Act & Pure Food and Drug Act: Enacted in response to public outcry over unsafe food practices, particularly influenced by Upton Sinclair’s exposé in The Jungle, leading to increased federal oversight of food industries.

Ida B. Wells: A prominent civil rights leader and journalist who advocated against lynching, she worked tirelessly to highlight racial injustices and promote equality.
The debate between Frances Willard and Wells illustrates the intersection of women’s rights and racial issues, showcasing diverging priorities within the suffrage movement.

The movement for women’s suffrage gathered momentum throughout the early 20th century, culminating in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote.
Key Organizations:
- National Women’s Suffrage Association: Founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony; focused on a federal amendment for women’s voting rights.
- American Women’s Suffrage Association: Worked through state campaigns and emphasized an incremental approach to suffrage.

Major advancements for women included increased participation in the workforce, educational opportunities, and social freedoms; the cultural landscape was transformed with movements towards greater liberation and experimentation.
Narratives of the decade reflected significant societal shifts, transitioning from traditional gender roles to the flapper culture, symbolizing freedom and modernity.

This era was characterized by economic prosperity, consumerism, and cultural dynamism, notably trends in jazz music, the proliferation of radio, and the emergence of iconic cultural figures.
Prohibition from 1920 to 1933 instigated significant social changes that contributed to the rise of organized crime and the speakeasy culture.

Marked by a significant movement of African Americans from the agrarian South to urban Northern cities, this migration was driven by the search for better job opportunities and living conditions, laying the groundwork for cultural phenomena like the Harlem Renaissance, which celebrated African American culture and arts.

Causes:
- The stock market crash on Black Tuesday (October 29, 1929) triggered widespread financial panic.
- Declining agricultural prices, exacerbated by the Dust Bowl, led to severe economic hardship for farmers and rural communities.

American isolationism following World War I gradually shifted towards interventionism, reflected in foreign policies that would ultimately shape the United States' role in World War II. The legacy of the Progressive Era provided a foundation for future reforms and influenced various social movements in the decades that followed.