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### Women in the Late 19th & Early 20th Century
- Role in Society: Women in the late 1800s and early 1900s were often confined to the domestic sphere but started to break into the workforce, particularly in factories and clerical jobs.
- Suffrage Movement: Women fought for the right to vote, led by figures like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul. The 19th Amendment (1920) finally granted women the right to vote.
- Progressive Reformers: Women like Jane Addams (founder of Hull House) worked on social reforms related to labor rights, education, and poverty.
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### Monopolies
- Definition: A monopoly exists when a single company dominates a market, often eliminating competition and controlling prices.
- Key Figures:
- John D. Rockefeller (Standard Oil) controlled the oil industry.
- Andrew Carnegie (U.S. Steel) controlled the steel industry.
- J.P. Morgan influenced finance and banking.
- Trusts: Monopolistic entities often formed trusts to eliminate competition. The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) aimed to break up these monopolies, but its enforcement was weak.
- Impact on Workers: Monopolies often reduced wages and working conditions.
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### Gospel of Wealth
- Concept: Andrew Carnegie argued that the rich had a duty to use their wealth to improve society, mainly through philanthropy.
- Philanthropy: Carnegie donated large portions of his fortune to public institutions like libraries, schools, and universities.
- Criticism: Critics argued this was a way for the wealthy to justify their monopolistic practices and maintain control over society.
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### Labor Unions
- Growth of Labor Movements: As factory jobs became more common, workers began to organize for better wages, working conditions, and hours.
- Knights of Labor (1869): Advocated for broad reforms, such as an 8-hour workday and child labor restrictions.
- American Federation of Labor (AFL) (1886): Led by Samuel Gompers, it focused on specific issues like higher wages and shorter hours.
- Strikes: The late 19th century saw many violent strikes, like the Pullman Strike (1894) and Haymarket Riot (1886), which led to public backlash against unions.
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### Factory Jobs
- Conditions: Factory work was dangerous and grueling, with long hours, low pay, and unsafe conditions.
- Child Labor: Many children worked in factories, often in hazardous environments. Efforts to curb child labor grew as part of progressive reforms.
- Immigrant Labor: Immigrants, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe, provided the labor force for factories.
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### US-Philippines
- Philippine-American War (1899-1902): Following the Spanish-American War, the U.S. took control of the Philippines, sparking a brutal conflict with Filipino nationalists.
- Result: The U.S. established colonial rule in the Philippines until World War II.
- Debate: The acquisition of the Philippines raised questions about American imperialism and the moral implications of controlling a foreign population.
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### Political Machines
- Definition: Political machines were corrupt organizations that controlled local governments in cities. They provided services to immigrants and the poor in exchange for votes.
- Tammany Hall: A notorious political machine in New York, led by Boss Tweed.
- Corruption: Political machines were often associated with bribery, fraud, and vote manipulation.
- Progressive Response: The progressive movement sought to expose and eliminate political machines through reforms like direct primaries and civil service examinations.
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### Old and New Immigration
- Old Immigration (1800s): Immigrants mainly came from Northern and Western Europe (Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia).
- New Immigration (1880s-1920s): Immigrants began arriving from Southern and Eastern Europe (Italy, Poland, Russia), Asia (China, Japan), and other parts of the world.
- Nativism: There was a rise in nativist sentiment, with groups like the American Protective Association opposing the influx of immigrants.
- Labor and Ethnicity: Immigrants often took low-paying, unskilled factory jobs. They faced discrimination and were sometimes targeted by nativists.
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### Ethnic Groups
- Cultural Diversity: The U.S. became more ethnically diverse as waves of immigrants arrived.
- Ethnic Enclaves: Immigrants often settled in ethnic enclaves (Chinatown, Little Italy) where they could maintain their cultural identity.
- Integration vs. Assimilation: Debates continued over how immigrants should integrate into American society. Some wanted assimilation into mainstream American culture, while others advocated for cultural pluralism.
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### Tenement Houses
- Conditions: Tenements were overcrowded, poorly ventilated apartment buildings where many poor immigrant families lived.
- Reforms: The Tenement House Act (1901) aimed to improve living conditions by requiring better ventilation, sanitation, and lighting.
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### Types of Journalism
- Yellow Journalism: Exaggerated or sensationalized news to attract readers and sway public opinion. Prominent during the Spanish-American War, with newspapers like William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World.
- Muckrakers: Journalists like Upton Sinclair (author of The Jungle) and Ida Tarbell (exposed Standard Oil) investigated and exposed corruption in business and government.
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### Urban Issues
- Problems: Rapid urbanization led to overcrowded cities, poor sanitation, inadequate housing, crime, and poverty.
- Reforms: Progressive reformers sought to address these issues through housing codes, public health campaigns, and infrastructure improvements.
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### Exposing Urban Issues
- Muckrakers: Journalists like Jacob Riis (*How the Other Half Lives*) exposed the living conditions in tenements, sparking reform movements.
- Social Gospel Movement: Religious groups advocated for addressing social issues and helping the poor, which intersected with progressive reforms.
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### Populism and Progressivism
- Populism: A movement primarily among farmers, advocating for issues like free silver, government control of railroads, and direct election of Senators.
- Progressivism: A broader movement that sought to address social, political, and economic inequalities, often focusing on urban issues, labor rights, and corruption. Figures include Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.
- Key Reforms: Child labor laws, workplace safety, women's suffrage, antitrust laws, and conservation efforts.
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### Imperialism
- Rationale: The U.S. began expanding its influence globally, driven by a desire for economic markets, military power, and spreading American ideals.
- Spanish-American War (1898): The U.S. acquired territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
- Controversy: Debate centered around the ethics of imperialism and whether it conflicted with American democratic values.
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### Expansionism and Its Continuities
- Manifest Destiny: The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America, continuing into the late 19th century.
- Continued Expansion: The U.S. continued to expand overseas during the late 1800s and early 1900s, acquiring territories in the Caribbean and Pacific.
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### Muckrakers
- Influence: Muckrakers played a key role in the Progressive Era by exposing corruption and leading to reforms in business, politics, and social issues.
- Key Figures:
- Ida B. Wells: Anti-lynching activism.
- Lincoln Steffens: Exposed corruption in city governments.
- Upton Sinclair: Exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.
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### Hetch Hetchy
- The Debate: The controversy over building a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park highlighted the tension between conservation and development.
- Conservation vs. Preservation: Figures like John Muir opposed the dam (preservation) while others like Gifford Pinchot supported it for water supply needs (conservation).
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Let me know if you'd like even more specific details or need a deeper focus on any of the topics!