3-4 Roaring Rivers

Exam Information

  • Exam Date: Thursday before spring break

  • Accessing Exam: Brightspace > Assessments > Assignments > Exam Two (not yet available)

  • Availability: Open from Thursday to Sunday of spring break

  • Submission Details: One essay choice, 4-6 paragraphs, submitted through Turnitin

  • Aim: Low Turnitin score is desirable (0% is perfect).

  • Follow Instructions: Adhering to instructions will lead to a high grade.

Understanding Motivation in History

  • Complexity of Human Motives:

    • Politics, economics, safety, loyalty, anger, love, sorrow each influence decisions.

    • Multiple motives affect individual actions and decisions in history.

  • American Foreign Policy Case Studies:

    • Spanish-American War: Motivations for engagement in Cuba and the Philippines.

    • Theodore Roosevelt: Foreign policy influenced by complex motives, including national pride and strategic interests.

    • William Howard Taft: Similar multifaceted motivations in his foreign dealings.

    • Woodrow Wilson:

      • Publicly proclaimed neutrality in WWI but economically engaged with both sides.

      • Shift from neutrality to involvement provided strategic advantage that led to Germany's defeat.

      • Involved in negotiating the Treaty of Versailles, but faced Senate refusal to ratify due to his uncompromising stance.

The 1920s: A Complex Decade

  • Decade is too intricate for a single theme; various movements coexist.

    • Used an analogy of fly fishing to illustrate exploring various themes.

Conservative Influence

  • Election of Warren G. Harding (1920):

    • Elected amidst a conservative resurgence, symbolizing a shift towards traditional values.

    • Strong evidence of conservatism includes:

      • Harding's emphasis on returning to a pre-war normalcy.

      • The Scopes Monkey Trial, reflecting a cultural battle over teaching evolution and religious influence.

Progressive Influence

  • Despite being a minority, remnants of progressivism persisted:

    • Constitutional Amendments:

      • 19th Amendment: Grants women the right to vote, a significant progressive victory.

        • Women's suffrage driven by organized efforts since 1848, consolidation of associations to strengthen their cause.

      • Key figures like Susan B. Anthony united different suffrage groups into the National American Women's Suffrage Association.

      • 18th Amendment (Prohibition): Instituted to eliminate alcohol consumption; the progressives sought to diminish social issues associated with drinking.

Cultural Counterculture

  • Rebellious Movements:

    • Prohibition: Led to covert alcohol production (e.g., moonshine, bathtub gin) and the rise of speakeasies.

    • Jazz Music: Emerged as a counteracting cultural force, departing from classical music's structure.

    • Fashion and Dance: Flappers challenged societal norms with shorter dresses and bobbed hair, exemplifying a rebellious spirit.

    • Charles Lindbergh's Transatlantic Flight (1927): Established aviation safety and inspired public fascination with air travel.

Technological Advances

  • Wright Brothers' Airplane:

    • Sparked an interest in air travel leading to the commercial passenger airline industry.

  • Henry Ford's Assembly Line: Revolutionized automobile manufacturing leading to increased accessibility and affordability of cars (Model T).

  • Radio Development:

    • Transformed communications, making news, music, and sports accessible nationally.

    • Created famous sports figures (e.g., Babe Ruth) and laid groundwork for sports endorsement industries.

Political Landscape

  • Harding's Presidency:

    • Emphasized 'normalcy' and assembled a mix of effective and corrupt advisors.

    • Economic policies under Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon included tax cuts for the wealthy, higher tariffs, and debt enforcement.

    • Scandals like the Teapot Dome underscored political corruption within Harding's administration.

  • Warren G. Harding's Death (1923):

    • Died under murky circumstances, leading to declining public approval upon revelation of scandals after his passing.

    • Calvin Coolidge, Harding's vice president, took over, but public unease lingered amidst ongoing scandals.