American History II Comprehensive Review Notes

Industrial Revolution

  • American Industry
    • Technological Revolutions: Transformative advancements that reshaped American industry.
      • Bessemer Process: A steel-making process that dramatically reduced the cost and increased the scale of steel production. Its significance lies in enabling the mass production of steel, a crucial material for infrastructure and manufacturing.
      • Assembly Line: A manufacturing process where parts are added sequentially to create a finished product. Henry Ford significantly popularized it. This revolution led to increased efficiency and mass production.
      • Production Developments: Innovations and improvements in manufacturing techniques that enhanced productivity and output.
    • North vs. South Economies: Divergent economic systems that contributed to sectional tensions.
      • North: Characterized by industrialization, manufacturing, and wage labor. Its economy thrived on factories, technological innovation, and a growing urban population.
      • South: Primarily agrarian, dependent on cash crops like cotton, and heavily reliant on enslaved labor. Its economy was rooted in plantation agriculture and a rigid social hierarchy.
    • Strikes & Unions: Labor movements aimed at improving working conditions and wages.
      • Knights of Labor: An early labor organization that sought to unite skilled and unskilled workers, advocating for broad social and economic reforms.
      • American Federation of Labor (AFL): A craft-based union focusing on skilled workers, advocating for practical improvements in wages, working hours, and conditions. It was more pragmatic and less idealistic than the Knights of Labor.
      • Uprisings: Labor unrest and protests that reflected workers' dissatisfaction with their working conditions and treatment.
    • New Developments and Innovations: The ongoing stream of new technologies, processes, and ideas that propelled industrial growth.

Urbanization and Impacts

  • Growth of Cities and Urban Life: Gilded Age: Rapid urbanization during an era marked by both opulence and deep social problems.
    • Politics: Corruption and political machines that dominated urban governance.
    • Corruption: Widespread bribery, graft, and illicit activities that plagued many city governments.
    • Political Machines: Organized groups that controlled city politics through patronage, bribery, and control of immigrant communities.
    • Robber Barons vs. Captains of Industry: Conflicting views on the industrialists and entrepreneurs who amassed great wealth during the Gilded Age.
      • Robber Barons: Industrialists who used exploitative practices and amassed wealth through questionable means.
      • Captains of Industry: Industrialists who contributed positively to economic growth, technological innovation, and philanthropy.
    • Immigration and Regulation: Increased immigration led to regulatory measures and social tensions.
      • Chinese Exclusion Act: A law that barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States, reflecting nativist sentiments and racial discrimination.
      • Gentleman’s Agreement: An informal agreement between the United States and Japan to limit Japanese immigration.
    • Entertainment, Education: Cultural and educational developments in urban centers.
      • Growth of theaters, music halls, and other forms of entertainment that catered to diverse audiences.
      • Expansion of public education and the rise of universities and colleges.

Westward Expansion Continues

  • Closing of the Frontier: The end of the continuous western frontier line, as declared by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1890, symbolizing the completion of American expansion across the continent.
  • Dawes Act and Native American Relations: Policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans into mainstream society.
    • Dawes Act: Legislation that divided tribal lands into individual allotments, undermining tribal sovereignty and leading to the loss of Native American lands.
    • Native American Relations: The complex and often contentious interactions between the U.S. government and Native American tribes, marked by conflict, treaties, and assimilation policies.
  • Rise of Populism and the Grange Movement: Agrarian movements that sought to address the economic grievances of farmers.
    • Populism: A political movement that advocated for policies to benefit farmers and laborers, challenging the power of banks and railroads.
    • Grange Movement: An organization that promoted the social and economic interests of farmers, advocating for reforms in transportation and agricultural practices.

Becoming a World Power: Imperialism

  • Annexation of Hawaii: The acquisition of Hawaii as a U.S. territory, driven by economic and strategic interests.
  • Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine: An assertion of U.S. authority in the Western Hemisphere.
    • TR and “international police”: Theodore Roosevelt’s belief that the United States should act as a police power in the Americas to maintain stability and protect U.S. interests.
    • Big Stick Policy: Roosevelt's approach to foreign policy, characterized by the threat of military force to achieve diplomatic goals.
  • Spanish-American War: A conflict that marked the rise of the United States as a global power.
    • Yellow Journalism/Jingoism: Sensationalized and exaggerated news reporting that fueled public support for war with Spain.
  • “White Man’s Burden”: The belief that white colonizers had a duty to civilize and uplift non-white populations, justifying imperialist expansion.
    • Nativism & Anti-immigrants: Hostility towards immigrants and efforts to restrict immigration, driven by cultural and economic concerns.
  • Role in Pacific: U.S. involvement and interests in the Pacific region.
    • Spheres of Influence: Areas in China where foreign powers had exclusive trading rights and political influence.
    • Japan: Its transformation into a major power and its interactions with the United States.
    • Close to Open-Door Policy: The U.S. policy of advocating for equal access to trade in China, aimed at preventing any one power from dominating the region.

Progressive Era and Presidents: TR, Wilson, Taft

  • New Nationalism vs. New Freedom: Competing visions for progressive reform.
    • New Nationalism: Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive platform that emphasized government regulation and social justice.
    • New Freedom: Woodrow Wilson’s progressive platform that emphasized antitrust legislation, banking reform, and tariff reduction.
  • Square Deal: Theodore Roosevelt’s domestic program aimed at protecting consumers, controlling corporations, and conserving natural resources.
  • Suffrage Movement: The fight for women’s right to vote.
  • Reform: Efforts to address social, economic, and political problems.
    • Muckrakers: Investigative journalists who exposed corruption and social ills.
    • Reforms: Measures aimed at improving society and governance.
    • 18th Amendment: Prohibition of alcohol.
  • Populist Party: A political party that advocated for farmers and laborers, foreshadowing the issues of the Great Depression.
    • Farmers foretell the depression!

World War I Era

  • MAIN CAUSES: MANIA: The complex factors that led to the outbreak of World War I.
    • Militarism: The buildup of military forces and glorification of military power.
    • Alliances: A network of treaties that obligated nations to defend one another.
    • Imperialism: Competition among European powers for colonies and resources.
    • Nationalism: Intense pride in one’s nation and the desire for self-determination.
    • Assassination: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, which triggered the war.
  • Change on the Homefront: The war’s impact on American society.
    • Women & African Americans: Expansion of employment opportunities and social roles.
    • Immigrants: Increased scrutiny and discrimination.
  • Schenck vs. U.S.: A Supreme Court case that addressed the limits of free speech during wartime.
    • Halting civil liberties. Defined the "clear and present danger" doctrine, limiting free speech during wartime.
  • Political/Social/Economic Impacts: The far-reaching effects of the war on American society and the world.
  • 19th Amendment: Granted women the right to vote.
  • Women’s Movements and Others: Various reform movements that sought to address social and political issues.
    • Temperance: The movement to ban alcohol consumption.
    • Suffrage: The fight for women’s right to vote.
    • NAWSA vs. NWP: Rival women’s suffrage organizations with different strategies. (National American Woman Suffrage Association vs. National Woman's Party)

Boom to Bust: 20s to Depression

  • Red Scare: Fear of communism and radicalism that led to the suppression of dissent.
    • Palmer Raids: Government raids on suspected radicals and immigrants.
    • Sacco & Vanzetti: Controversial case involving Italian immigrants accused of murder and executed amid anti-immigrant sentiment.
  • Business Boom: Economic expansion driven by consumerism and speculation.
    • Consumerism/Speculation: Increased spending on goods and services and risky investments in the stock market.
  • Mass Media & Jazz: Cultural developments that reflected the changing values of the era.
    • Harlem Renaissance: A flowering of African American art, literature, and music in New York City.
  • Stock Market Crash: The sudden collapse of stock prices that marked the beginning of the Great Depression.
  • Causes and Social Effects of the Depression: The factors that led to the economic crisis and its impact on American society.
    • Hoover vs. FDR: Differing approaches to addressing the Depression.
  • Republicans and the 20s: The Republican Party’s dominance during the decade.
  • Cultural Changes: Shifts in values, attitudes, and behaviors.
    • Scopes Monkey Trial: A legal case that highlighted the conflict between traditional religious beliefs and modern scientific theories.
    • Challenging Tradition: The questioning of established norms and values.
    • Flappers: Young women who challenged traditional gender roles.
  • 20th -21st Amendments: Constitutional amendments that addressed various issues.

New Deal to World War II

  • 1st and 2nd New Deal: FDR’s programs to combat the Depression.
    • Legacies.
  • Fireside Chats: FDR’s radio addresses that connected him to the American people.
  • Court-Packing: FDR’s controversial plan to increase the number of Supreme Court justices.
  • Causes of US Entry to WWII: The factors that led the United States to join the war.
  • U.S. Home Front During the War: The impact of the war on American society.
  • Japanese Internment: The forced relocation and imprisonment of Japanese Americans.
    • Korematsu v. United States: A Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of Japanese internment.
  • Island Hopping: A military strategy used in the Pacific theater.
  • 2-Front War: The simultaneous fighting in Europe and the Pacific.
  • Dropping the Atomic Bomb: The decision to use atomic weapons against Japan.
    • Prelude to Cold War: The tensions and rivalries that emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • 22nd Amendment: Limited the president to two terms in office.

Cold War & Post War Years

  • Origins of the Cold War: The ideological and geopolitical conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union.
    • Yalta and Potsdam: Conferences where Allied leaders discussed postwar arrangements.
  • Rosenbergs, McCarthyism: The Red Scare and the persecution of suspected communists.
    • Second Red Scare.
  • New Immigration Policies: Changes in immigration laws and patterns.
  • Truman/Marshall Plan: U.S. efforts to contain communism and promote economic recovery in Europe.
  • Soviet vs. U.S. Relations: The adversarial relationship between the two superpowers.
    • Containment: The U.S. policy of preventing the spread of communism.
    • NATO v Warsaw Pact: Rival military alliances.
    • Domino Theory: The belief that the fall of one country to communism would lead to the fall of others.
    • Iron Curtain: The division between Eastern and Western Europe.
    • Arms/Space Races: Competition for military and technological superiority.
    • Berlin Blockade & Airlift: A crisis that tested the resolve of the Western powers.
    • Proxy Wars: Conflicts in which the superpowers supported opposing sides.
      • Cold to Hot: The potential for the Cold War to escalate into a direct military confrontation.
      • Korea, Vietnam, Middle East, Cuba, Afghanistan: Examples of proxy wars.

1950s-1970s: Suburbia and Culture Shifts

  • Economic Progress & Change in Mood: Postwar prosperity and optimism.
    • Baby Boom: A surge in birth rates.
  • Suburban America: The growth of suburban communities.
    • Levittowns: Mass-produced suburban housing developments.
  • Environmentalism: Increased awareness of environmental issues.
  • Rat Pack, Rock and Roll: Cultural trends and iconic figures.
  • Culture Shifts
  • African American City Migrations: The movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North.
    • Great Migration
  • TV and the New Consumer Culture: The impact of television on American society.

Demands for Civil Rights (1950s-1970s)

  • Jackie Robinson: Broke the color barrier in baseball.
  • Rosa Parks: Her refusal to give up her seat on a bus sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
  • Impacts of Emmett Till: His murder galvanized the Civil Rights Movement.
  • Brown v. Board of Ed. (1954): A Supreme Court case that declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
  • Non-Violent Protests: Tactics used to challenge segregation and discrimination.
    • Sit-ins, Bus Boycotts, Freedom Rides: Examples of non-violent protests.
    • March on Washington, March to Selma: Major demonstrations for civil rights.
  • Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Stokley Carmichael & Black Panther Party: Leaders and organizations in the Civil Rights Movement.
  • Civil Rights Act 1964: Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
  • Voting Rights Act 1965: Eliminated discriminatory voting practices.
  • 24th Amendment: Abolished poll taxes.
  • Affirmative Action: Policies aimed at promoting equal opportunities for minority groups.

Social Movements and Politics in the 70s

  • Marginalized Groups: Advocated for their rights.
    • Native Americans, Latinos, LGBTQ+, Disabled.
  • Rights of the Accused: Protections for individuals accused of crimes.
    • The Warren Court: Known for its landmark decisions on civil rights and liberties.
    • Miranda v. Arizona: A Supreme Court case that established the requirement to inform suspects of their rights.
    • Other Rights of Accused Cases
  • Second Wave Feminism: A movement that sought to address gender inequality.
    • Roe v. Wade (1973): A Supreme Court case that established a woman’s right to an abortion.
    • ERA: The Equal Rights Amendment, which aimed to guarantee equal rights for women but was never ratified.
    • Title IX: Prohibits sex discrimination in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
    • Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, NOW, Feminine Mystique: Influential figures and works in the feminist movement.

Modern Presidents

  • Kennedy, LBJ, (1960-1968)
    • Great Society: LBJ’s domestic program aimed at combating poverty and social injustice.
    • Combating Poverty
    • Continuation of Cold War Policies: Efforts to contain communism and compete with the Soviet Union.
    • Space Race, Cuban Missile Crisis: Key events in the Cold War.
    • Vietnam War: A protracted conflict that deeply divided American society.
  • American Response
    • My Lai: A massacre of Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers.
    • Viet Cong: South Vietnamese communist guerrillas.
    • Ho Chi Minh Trail: A supply route used by North Vietnam to support the Viet Cong.
    • Tet Offensive: A major North Vietnamese offensive that shook American confidence.
    • Vietnamization: Nixon’s policy of gradually withdrawing U.S. troops and transferring responsibility to the South Vietnamese.
    • Protests: Anti-war demonstrations that reflected growing opposition to the conflict.
    • Tinker v. Des Moines: A Supreme Court case that upheld students’ rights to freedom of speech in schools.

Nixon Presidency & Watergate (1968-74)

  • Foreign Policy: Efforts to reshape U.S. relations with the world.
    • Détente: A policy of reducing tensions with the Soviet Union.
    • Limiting Proliferation (SALT talks): Negotiations to control the spread of nuclear weapons.
    • Opening up China (again): Nixon’s historic visit to China that normalized relations between the two countries.
  • Vietnam Continued: The ongoing conflict and its impact on American society.
    • Domestic Response (Student Protests): Anti-war demonstrations and activism.
  • 26th Amendment: Lowered the voting age to 18.
  • Oil Crisis: An energy shortage that led to rising prices and economic problems.
    • OPEC countries and the issues in the Middle East: The role of oil-producing nations in the crisis.
  • NY Times v. US (Pentagon papers- 1971): A Supreme Court case that upheld the freedom of the press.
  • Watergate Scandal: A political scandal that led to Nixon’s resignation.

Ford and Carter Administrations (1974-80)

  • Iranian Hostage Crisis: The seizure of American hostages in Iran.
  • Camp David Accords: A peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.
  • Helsinki Accords: An agreement on human rights and cooperation between Eastern and Western Europe.
  • Domestic Policies and Failures: Efforts to address economic and social problems.

80s and End of the Cold War

  • Reaganomics: Reagan’s economic policies, which included tax cuts and deregulation.
    • Trickle Down Economics
  • SDI “Star Wars” Defense: A proposed missile defense system.
  • Iran-Contra Affair: A political scandal involving the sale of arms to Iran and the funding of Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
  • Latin American Affairs: U.S. involvement in Central America.
    • Where do we stand with Latin America today?
  • Cold War Wrap-Up: The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
    • IMF Treaty and Fall of Berlin Wall: Key events that marked the end of the Cold War.
    • “Champion” of Cold War
  • AIDS Crisis: A public health crisis that raised awareness of LGBTQ issues.
    • LGBTQ awareness

New Era: End of the 20th Century

  • George H.W. Bush
    • Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities.
    • “Read my lips- no new taxes” and domestic failures.
    • Foreign Policies: The Persian Gulf War and other international events.
    • Persian Gulf War and question over oil
  • Clinton Presidency: A period of economic growth and political controversy.
    • Success or Failure?
    • Balanced Budget
    • Healthcare
    • Whitewater affair, Lewinsky Scandal: Scandals that led to Clinton’s impeachment.
    • Why impeach?
    • Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness of the world.
  • Bush v. Gore (2000 election): A contested election that was decided by the Supreme Court.
    • Significance of Popular Vote v. Electoral College

21st Century Presidencies

  • George W. Bush
    • 9/11 and USA Patriot Act: The response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
    • No Child Left Behind: An education reform law.
    • Iraq and Afghan Wars: Military conflicts in the Middle East.
    • Role of the Middle East- “Axis of Evil” and nuclear proliferation
    • Post 9/11 America
    • Response to Hurricane Katrina
  • Barack Obama
    • Race to the Top: New education policies.
    • Affordable Care Act (Obamacare): A healthcare reform law.
    • Death of Osama bin Laden
    • Role of social movements: Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street
    • Recovery of 2009 Recession
  • Donald Trump
    • Border concerns / Mexico and the wall
    • Covid-19 response
    • 3 Supreme Court appointees
    • January 6, 2021
    • Tax reform, low unemployment and inflation
    • BLM protests
    • Impeachments (two)
    • Leaving NAFTA (USMCA)
    • Paris Agreement
    • Relations with North Korea and Russia
  • Joseph Biden
    • Ending war in Afghanistan
    • Covid-19 response
    • Inflation
    • Loan forgiveness program
    • Israeli/Hamas war
    • Russo-Ukraine war
    • Rejoining Paris agreement (Climate change)