WWI

Progressivism (Page 1)

  • Definition: The U.S. Progressive Era (1890-1920) was a time of reform aimed at addressing issues created during the Gilded Age.

Causes of the Progressive Movement

  • Urbanization: Rapid rise in cities and urban populations.

  • Government Corruption: Existence of corrupt officials and practices.

  • Monopolies: Large corporations limited competition and stifled worker wages.

Goals of the Progressive Movement

  • Employment Reform:

    • Focus on protecting workers' rights.

    • Address poor workplace conditions.

    • Significant Supreme Court cases:

      • Muller v. Oregon (1908): Established the legality of a 10-hour workday for women.

      • Bunting v. Oregon (1917): Extended 10-hour workday provisions.

    • National Child Labor Committee: Aimed to eliminate child labor.

  • Social Welfare:

    • Improve living conditions in cities.

    • Address urban issues like poverty and housing.

Social Reforms (Page 2)

  • Social Gospel Movement: Emphasized helping others to honor God.

  • Settlement Houses: Community centers aimed at providing services and support to urban populations.

  • YMCA: Young Men's Christian Association established in London (1844) and Boston (1852).

Moral Reform

  • Prohibition: Movement aimed at banning alcohol consumption.

  • WCTU: Women's Christian Temperance Union, founded in Cleveland (1874), focused on various social reforms.

Economic Reform

  • Opposed favoritism towards large businesses.

  • Muckrakers: Journalists exposing corruption:

    • Jacob Riis: "How the Other Half Lives" – focused on urban poverty.

    • Ida Tarbell: "The History of Standard Oil" – investigated monopolistic practices.

    • Upton Sinclair: "The Jungle" – revealed unsanitary conditions in the meat industry, leading to regulatory reforms.

Government Reform

  • Referendum, Initiative, Recall: Mechanisms to empower citizens in government decision-making.

Imperialism (Page 3)

  • Definition: Establishing control over foreign nations or peoples.

  • Period of expansion (1890-1914): The U.S. increased its presence in global affairs, acquiring overseas territories.

Historical Context

  • George Washington: Advocated for neutrality in foreign affairs; limited U.S. territory.

  • James Monroe: Promulgated the Monroe Doctrine (1823) to protect the Western Hemisphere from European expansion.

  • James K. Polk: Promoted Manifest Destiny and pursued aggressive policies to expand U.S. territory to the Pacific.

  • William McKinley: Believed in producing surplus goods and controlling territories to manage overproduction.

Gilded Age Imperialism (Page 4)

  • Transition to imperial power: Acquired territories such as Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

  • Motivations for imperialism include:

    • Need for raw materials and markets for industrial output.

    • Closure of American Frontier limited further territorial expansion.

    • Competition with European powers.

    • Influence of Alfred Thayer Mahan's naval strategies.

    • Social Darwinism rationalizing civilizing missions.

Hawaii Crisis

  • American missionaries and plantation owners settled in Hawaii in the 1820s.

  • Queen Liliʻuokalani attempted to reduce American influence but was overthrown in 1893; Hawaii was annexed in 1898.

Open Door Policy

  • 1899: U.S. declared an Open Door Policy in China, promoting equal trading rights in Chinese ports.

  • Events in Cuba (1895): U.S. media sensationalism (Yellow Journalism) highlighted Spanish brutality.

Spanish-American War (Page 5)

  • Causes:

    • USS Maine explosion sparked U.S. declaration of war on Spain (1898).

    • Yellow Journalism inflamed public sentiment.

  • Outcomes:

    • Quick victory for the U.S. leading to Cuban liberation and acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

    • Philippines did not receive independence, leading to the Filipino-American War (1899-1902).

Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders

  • The Rough Riders consisted of individuals from diverse backgrounds, helping TR gain fame.

Theodore Roosevelt's Foreign Policy (Page 6)

  • Utilized "Big Stick Diplomacy" to enforce U.S. interests abroad with a strong military presence.

  • Roosevelt Corollary: Expanded the Monroe Doctrine, allowing U.S. intervention in Latin America to discourage European interference.

Panama Canal

  • Woodrow Wilson's objective to facilitate U.S. naval and commercial activities.

  • Encouraged Panama's independence from Colombia (1903) to build the canal, completed under U.S. control.

Opposition to Imperialism

  • Anti-Imperialist League: Formed in 1899 against annexation of the Philippines, arguing against cultural imposition.

The Emergence of the U.S. as a World Power (Page 7)

  • Industrial Revolution catalyzed economic growth.

  • Expanded military capacity with a significant naval buildup.

  • Asserted itself as a formidable nation equivalent to European powers through territorial acquisitions and policy reforms.

Women's Roles and Suffrage (Page 8-9)

  • Women participated in various economic roles (industrial workers, domestic labor).

  • Development of Women’s Clubs and Women’s Colleges to foster intellectual growth.

  • Suffrage Movement:

    • Key figures: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

    • Employed strategies like lobbying state legislatures, cases in court, and ultimately led to the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

Causes of World War I (Page 8-10)

Militarism

  • Arms buildup driven by industrial and technological advancements.

Alliances

  • Triple Entente: France, Britain, Russia (and U.S. entering in 1917).

  • Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire.

Nationalism and Imperialism

  • National pride led to tension and conflicts over territories, particularly in Europe.

  • Ethnic group struggles against domination fueled conflicts.

Timeline to World War I (Page 9)

  • June 28: Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand.

  • July 28: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia; alliances activated leading to widespread conflict by early August.

U.S. Neutrality under Wilson (Page 10)

  • Wilson’s position: "remain neutral in thought as well as deed" to protect U.S. interests.

  • Challenges from British naval blockades and German submarine warfare escalated tensions, leading to a shift in U.S. policy towards involvement in the war.