American history

Foundations of America

Natural Rights

  • Definition: Natural rights are those rights that are considered inherent and universal to all human beings. They are often regarded as life, liberty, and property.

  • Enlightenment Thinker: John Locke is credited with the development of the concept of natural rights.

Social Contract

  • Concept: John Locke’s idea of the social contract posits that individuals consent to form governments for the protection of their natural rights. In exchange, they agree to abide by the laws established by that government.

Colonists' Grievances Against King George III

  • The colonists expressed various grievances in the Declaration of Independence, including:

    • Imposing taxes without consent.

    • Denying the right to trial by jury.

    • Dissolving representative houses.

    • Maintaining standing armies in peacetime without consent from the colonists.

    • Making people executioners of their friends, or themselves.

Northwest Ordinance and Its Influence

  • The Northwest Ordinance laid the groundwork for the orderly expansion of the United States by:

    • Establishing a method for admitting new states into the Union.

    • Outlining principles of governance and rights that would influence the Constitution.

Articles of Confederation

  • Definition: The Articles of Confederation were the first governing document of the United States, providing a loose federal structure.

  • Problems: Specific problems included:

    • Difficulties in passing laws, as all thirteen states had to approve them.

    • The inability of the federal government to enforce laws, leading to widespread noncompliance.

Strengthening the Constitution

  • The U.S. Constitution aimed to strengthen the national government by:

    • Establishing a system of federalism.

    • Creating a framework with checks and balances among the branches of government.

Federalism

  • Definition: Federalism is a political system where power is divided between a national (federal) government and state governments.

Federalist Papers

  • Goal: The Federalist Papers were written to advocate for the ratification of the Constitution, addressing concerns about its provisions.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

  • National Defense: Federalists favored a strong central government capable of maintaining a standing army; Anti-Federalists preferred state militias.

  • Taxation: Federalists supported taxes levied for national needs; Anti-Federalists were against direct taxation.

  • Executive Branch Influence: Federalists believed in a strong executive for effective governance; Anti-Federalists feared despotism.

Bill of Rights Perspective

  • Federalists: Supported the idea but argued it was unnecessary, as the Constitution already limited government powers.

  • Anti-Federalists: Argued for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

  • Compromise Reached: The Bill of Rights was adopted as the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Constitution’s Limitation on Federal Power

  • The Constitution limited federal power through:

    • Checks and Balances: Each branch of government can check the powers of the others, ensuring a balance.

    • Addressing Articles of Confederation Issues: Introducing a clearer division of powers and responsibilities.

Reconstruction & Westward Expansion

13th Amendment

  • Definition: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

  • Definition: The 14th Amendment granted equal protection under the law to all persons, particularly targeting formerly enslaved individuals.

15th Amendment

  • Definition: The 15th Amendment granted the right to vote to all adult males over the age of 21.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

  • Significance: This Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal.”

Jim Crow Laws

  • Definition: Laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States, supporting white supremacy and disenfranchising African Americans.

Miscegenation Laws

  • Purpose: To prohibit interracial marriage and relationships, reinforcing racial segregation and norms of white supremacy.

Ku Klux Klan Goals Post-Civil War

  • Objectives: Aimed to intimidate and control African Americans and their allies, using violence and terror to suppress Black civil rights.

Compromise of 1877

  • Agreements: Democrats agreed to accept Rutherford B. Hayes as president if Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South.

  • Significance: This compromise marked the end of Reconstruction and allowed for the establishment of Jim Crow laws.

Homestead Act (1862)

  • Definition: Provided land to settlers in the West in an effort to promote westward expansion.

Dawes Act (1887)

  • Purpose: Aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land.

Indian Residential Schools

  • Objective: Forced assimilation of Native American children into Euro-American culture, disrupting their traditional practices.

Battle of Little Bighorn

  • Event: A significant battle in which Native American forces led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeated General Custer’s troops.

  • Significance: Highlighted conflicts between Native Americans and the U.S. government over land and sovereignty.

Ghost Dance Movement

  • Definition: A spiritual movement among Native Americans that sought to bring about a renewal of their culture and restoration of their land.

Wounded Knee Significance

  • An infamous massacre that symbolized the end of Native American resistance to U.S. government policies.

Immigration

Immigration and Industrialization

  • The late 19th Century saw an influx of immigrants contributing to industrial labor needs, affecting American demographics and economics.

Nativism

  • Definition: An anti-immigrant sentiment favoring native inhabitants over immigrants, leading to xenophobic policies.

Chinese Exclusion Act

  • Definition: A law prohibiting all Chinese laborers from entering the U.S., highlighting nativist policies.

1924 Immigration Act (National Origins Act)

  • Purpose: Aimed to limit immigration based on national quotas, particularly reducing the numbers from southern and eastern Europe.

Quota System

  • Definition: A system established by the 1924 Immigration Act to limit the number of immigrants from specific countries.

Tenements

  • Definition: Multifamily urban dwellings, often overcrowded and unsanitary, housing poor immigrants.

Cultural Diffusion

  • Definition: The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another, often facilitated by immigration.

Industrialization & Labor Movement

Innovations of Industrialization

  • Notable innovations included:

    • Telephone

    • Phonograph

    • Incandescent light bulb

    • Skyscraper

    • Automobile

    • Airplane

Urbanization

  • Definition: The process by which cities grow as more people move from rural areas to urban areas, often driven by job opportunities.

Andrew Carnegie's Wealth

  • Carnegie became wealthy through the steel industry, revolutionizing production with innovations.

John D. Rockefeller's Wealth

  • Rockefeller amassed wealth by creating a monopoly in the oil industry, implementing cost-cutting strategies.

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

  • Definition: An economic system where transactions between private parties are free from government intervention, which led to wealth disparities.

Monopolies and Trusts

  • Monopolies and trusts harmed consumers by raising prices and limiting competition, leading to reduced quality and service.

Labor Unions Emergence

  • Labor unions organized in response to poor working conditions, low wages, and unsafe environments.

Collective Bargaining

  • Definition: The process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching agreements on employment terms.

Homestead Strike & Lockout

  • Cause: Workers struck against wage cuts, leading to violent clashes.

  • Result: Highlighted the conflict between labor and industrialists, leading to greater union awareness and organization.

Scientific Management

  • Definition: A management theory focused on improving economic efficiency and labor productivity. It was utilized in factories to streamline production processes and increase profits.

Progressive Era

Progressive Movement Goals

  • The goal was to address social issues and promote reforms in government, labor, and society.

Muckrakers

  • Definition: Journalists who exposed corruption, social injustices, and issues in society, motivating reform.

The Jungle

  • Overview: A novel by Upton Sinclair that revealed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to food safety laws such as the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.

Jacob Riis' Exposures

  • Photographic work: Exposed the harsh living conditions of the urban poor, leading to social reform.

Progressive Era Reform: Secret Ballot

  • Definition: A voting method that allows voters to cast their ballots privately, reducing corruption in elections.

17th Amendment

  • Purpose: Direct election of U.S. senators by the people, moving away from state legislature selections.

Teddy Roosevelt and National Parks

  • Impact: Roosevelt is recognized for conserving vast amounts of land and establishing national parks to protect wildlife and natural resources.

Imperialism

Imperialism

  • Definition: A policy where a country extends its power and influence over other nations or territories, often through military force or diplomacy.

Isolationism

  • Definition: A foreign policy approach advocating for a nation to remain neutral and avoid entanglements with foreign nations.

Reasons for Imperialism (Late 1800s/Early 1900s)

  • Economic prosperity, international prestige, cultural superiority, and military expansion were primary motivators.

Social Darwinism

  • Definition: The belief that certain races and nations were superior and had the right to dominate others; a justification for imperialist policies.

Big Stick Diplomacy

  • Definition: Teddy Roosevelt’s foreign policy approach emphasizing diplomacy backed by the threat of military force.

Spanish-American War

Causes of the War

  • Contributing factors included:

    • Spanish reconcentration camps.

    • Yellow journalism.

    • Explosion of the USS Maine in the Cuban harbor.

Treaty of Paris Outcomes

  • The U.S. gained territories such as the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Panama Canal

  • Purpose: To facilitate quicker maritime trade routes and enhance military mobility.

U.S. Control of Hawaii

  • Motivated by military presence, sugar production, and strategic economic advantages.

World War I

Causes of WWI in Europe (M.A.N.I.A)

  • Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand fueled the war.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

  • Definition: Germany’s policy of sinking ships without warning in contested waters; it led to significant American casualties and eventual U.S. entry into the war.

Zimmermann Telegram

  • Definition: A secret communication proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S., further pushing America towards war.

Paris Peace Conference Goals

  • President Wilson aimed to promote his 14 Points and achieve lasting peace.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

  • Repercussion: Often regarded as a cause of WWII due to its harsh treatment of Germany which fostered resentment.

Senate's Rejection of Treaty of Versailles

  • The Senate refused to ratify due to concerns over entanglement in foreign alliances and opposition from isolationist factions.

America's Rise as a World Power

  • America's participation in WWI demonstrated its military capabilities and geopolitical influence.

Spanish Influenza Pandemic

  • Symptoms: Included fever, chills, and severe respiratory distress; it resulted in approximately 50-100 million deaths globally, 675,000 in the U.S.

1920s

19th Amendment

  • Purpose: Granted women the right to vote.

1st Red Scare

  • Fear: Americans feared the rise of communism and potential subversive elements, leading to nationwide paranoia.

Results of the 1st Red Scare

  • Increased immigration restrictions from Eastern and Southern Europe and various government crackdowns on dissent.

Ku Klux Klan Expansion

  • Expanded its intolerance through increased membership, targeting immigrants and ethnic minorities under a guise of nationalism.

Great Migration

  • Event: Movement of hundreds of thousands of African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities to escape racism and seek better opportunities.

Harlem Renaissance

  • Definition: A cultural movement characterized by a flourishing of African American art, music, and literature.

Henry Ford's Impact

  • Revolutionized the automobile industry with the introduction of assembly lines, significantly lowering production costs and vehicle prices.

Scopes Trial

  • Overview: A legal case challenging the teaching of evolution in schools; it drew national attention and highlighted the cultural divide between modernism and traditionalism.

Prohibition

  • Reason: Enacted to reduce crime and corruption; the 18th Amendment established Prohibition, while the 21st Amendment repealed it.

Results of Prohibition

  • Led to organized crime growth and increased law enforcement corruption as illegal alcohol trade flourished.

Great Depression

Hoovervilles

  • Definition: Shantytowns built by the homeless during the Great Depression, named derisively after President Hoover.

Great Depression Timeline

  • Duration: Occurred primarily from 1929 to 1941, peaking in unemployment in 1933 at a rate of 25%.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

  • Definition: The total value of all goods and services produced in a country's economy in a given year.

  • Recession/Depression Metrics: A recession is defined by two consecutive quarters of GDP decline; a depression is characterized by prolonged economic downturns.

Speculation in the Stock Market

  • Definition: Involves buying shares with the expectation of future prices rising, which can lead to volatility and market bubbles.

Buying Stocks on Margin

  • Definition: Borrowing money to purchase stocks, which contributed to the Great Depression as many investors became over-leveraged and unable to repay loans after the market crash.

Bank Closures

  • Impact: Increased financial instability and loss of consumer confidence, leading to widespread economic failures.

Installment Plan

  • Definition: A purchasing method allowing consumers to pay for goods over time.

  • Short Run Impact: Stimulated economic consumption.

  • Long Run Problems: Led to excessive consumer debt and financial strain.

Inflation vs. Deflation

  • Definitions:

    • Inflation: A general increase in prices and fall in purchasing values.

    • Deflation: A general decrease in prices, leading to reduced economic activity.

Monetary Policy

  • Definition: The process by which the government controls the money supply to influence the economy.

  • Control: The Federal Reserve manages monetary policy, aiming to either stimulate the economy or curb inflation through interest rate adjustments.

Federal Reserve Mistakes

  • Consequences: Raised interest rates too high, constraining credit availability and exacerbating the economic downturn during the Great Depression.