American History Review

Laws, Events, and People

Manifest Destiny vs. New Manifest Destiny

• Manifest Destiny: The 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent. It was used to justify the acquisition of territories such as Texas, California, and Oregon.
• New Manifest Destiny: Refers to the late 19th-century and early 20th-century expansionist policies, where the U.S. sought to extend its influence and control over territories beyond North America, such as the Philippines and Cuba. It involved economic, strategic, and ideological motivations.

Andrew Johnson & Reconstruction

• Andrew Johnson: President after Lincoln's assassination. His lenient Reconstruction policies aimed for quick reintegration of the Confederate states, leading to conflicts with Radical Republicans in Congress.
• Reconstruction: The period after the Civil War (1865-1877) focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society. It involved political, social, and economic changes, with varying degrees of success and resistance.

Henry Grady & The New South

• Henry Grady: An advocate for the "New South," promoting industrialization and economic diversification in the post-Civil War South. He aimed to move the South away from its agrarian past.
• The New South: The vision of a modernized, industrialized South that embraced economic and social progress while still grappling with racial tensions and the legacy of slavery.

13th Amendment

• 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, completing the legal dismantling of slavery.

14th Amendment

• 14th Amendment: Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people, and guaranteed equal protection of the laws. It also addressed Confederate debt and officeholding.

15th Amendment

• 15th Amendment: Prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, aiming to secure voting rights for African American men.

17th Amendment

• 17th Amendment: Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people, rather than by state legislatures, increasing democratic participation.

18th Amendment

• 18th Amendment: Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol, leading to the Prohibition era in the United States.

19th Amendment

• 19th Amendment: Granted women the right to vote, marking a significant milestone in the women's suffrage movement.

Radical Reconstruction

• Radical Reconstruction: A phase of Reconstruction led by Radical Republicans in Congress, focused on protecting the rights of African Americans and punishing the former Confederate states. It involved military occupation, enfranchisement of Black men, and efforts to reshape Southern society.

Black Codes

• Black Codes: Restrictive laws passed in the Southern states after the Civil War to limit the freedom and rights of African Americans, essentially maintaining a system of near-slavery.

Scalawags

• Scalawags: White Southerners who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party. They were often seen as traitors by other white Southerners.

Carpetbaggers

• Carpetbaggers: Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often seeking economic or political opportunities. They were often resented by white Southerners.

Sharecropping

• Sharecropping: An agricultural system in which landowners allow tenants to use their land in return for a share of the crops produced. It often trapped African Americans and poor whites in cycles of debt and poverty.

Homestead Act 1862

• Homestead Act 1862: Provided 160 acres of public land to settlers who agreed to live on and cultivate the land for five years. It encouraged westward expansion.

Transcontinental Railroad Act 1862

• Transcontinental Railroad Act 1862: Provided federal support for the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, connecting the East and West coasts and facilitating trade and settlement.

Frederick Jackson Turner

• Frederick Jackson Turner: Historian known for his "Frontier Thesis," arguing that the American frontier shaped the national character and promoted democracy and individualism.

Wovoka & the Ghost Dance

• Wovoka: A Paiute religious leader who founded the Ghost Dance movement, which promised the restoration of Native American lands and way of life. The Ghost Dance frightened white settlers and led to the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Dawes Act 1887

• Dawes Act 1887: Divided Native American tribal lands into individual allotments, aiming to assimilate Native Americans into white society. It resulted in the loss of tribal lands and disruption of traditional cultures.

2nd Industrial Revolution

• 2nd Industrial Revolution: A period of rapid industrial growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by new technologies such as steel, electricity, and the internal combustion engine.

Laissez-faire

• Laissez-faire: An economic system in which the government minimizes intervention in the economy, allowing market forces to drive production and distribution.

Social Darwinism

• Social Darwinism: The application of Darwinian principles of natural selection to human society, justifying social inequality and the dominance of certain groups over others.

Horatio Alger

• Horatio Alger: Author known for his rags-to-riches stories, which promoted the idea that anyone could achieve success through hard work and determination.

Gospel of Wealth

• Gospel of Wealth: An essay written by Andrew Carnegie, arguing that wealthy individuals have a responsibility to use their wealth for the benefit of society.

Nativism

• Nativism: The political position of demanding a favored status for certain established inhabitants of a nation as compared to claims of newcomers or immigrants.

Americanization

• Americanization: The process by which immigrants assimilate into American culture, adopting American customs, values, and language.

Jacob Riis

• Jacob Riis: A muckraking journalist and photographer who documented the living conditions of the urban poor in his book "How the Other Half Lives."

Alice Hamilton

• Alice Hamilton: A physician and industrial hygiene expert who documented the dangers of industrial occupations and advocated for worker safety.

Upton Sinclair

• Upton Sinclair: Author of "The Jungle," a novel that exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, leading to food safety reforms.

Muckraker

• Muckraker: Investigative journalists who exposed corruption and social problems in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Lincoln Steffens

• Lincoln Steffens: A muckraking journalist who exposed political corruption in cities across the United States.

Ida Tarbell

• Ida Tarbell: A muckraking journalist who exposed the monopolistic practices of Standard Oil in her book "The History of the Standard Oil Company."

William Tweed & Tammany Hall

• William Tweed: The boss of Tammany Hall, the Democratic political machine that controlled New York City politics in the late 19th century. He was known for his corruption and graft.
• Tammany Hall: A Democratic political machine that played a major role in the politics of 19th-century New York City and State.

Staunton, VA & the City Manager

• Staunton, VA: One of the first cities in the United States to adopt the city manager form of government, in which a professional manager is hired to run the city's day-to-day operations.

Galveston, TX & City Commission

• Galveston, TX: Adopted the city commission form of government after the devastating hurricane of 1900, in which a group of elected commissioners are responsible for different aspects of city government.

Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

• Initiative: A process that allows citizens to propose and enact laws directly, bypassing the legislature.
• Referendum: A process that allows citizens to vote on laws passed by the legislature.
• Recall: A process that allows citizens to remove elected officials from office before the end of their term.

Pendleton Act

• Pendleton Act: Created a merit-based civil service system for federal employees, aiming to reduce political patronage and corruption.

Horizontal and Vertical Integration

• Horizontal Integration: The process of acquiring or merging with competitors in the same industry, aiming to consolidate market power.
• Vertical Integration: The process of acquiring companies involved in different stages of the production and distribution process, aiming to control the supply chain.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890

• Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890: Prohibited monopolies and anti-competitive business practices, aiming to promote competition and protect consumers.

National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)

• National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA): An organization that campaigned for women's suffrage in the United States, led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Frances Willard & Women's Christian Temperance Union

• Frances Willard: Leader of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), which advocated for prohibition and other social reforms.
• Women's Christian Temperance Union: An organization that advocated for temperance and various social reforms. They were instrumental in the passage of the 18th Amendment.

Terence Powderly & Knights of Labor

• Terence Powderly: Leader of the Knights of Labor, an early labor organization that sought to unite workers across different skill levels and industries.
• Knights of Labor: One of the first major labor organizations. It included skilled and unskilled workers with the goal of creating a cooperative society.

Haymarket "Riot"

• Haymarket Riot: A labor protest in Chicago in 1886 that turned violent when a bomb exploded, killing several police officers and workers. It led to the decline of the Knights of Labor and fueled anti-labor sentiment.

Emma Goldman

• Emma Goldman: An anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches.

Lucy Parsons

• Lucy Parsons: A labor organizer, radical activist, and anarchist. Remembered as a powerful public speaker.

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

• Industrial Workers of the World (IWW): A radical labor organization that advocated for industrial unionism and the overthrow of capitalism.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

• American Federation of Labor (AFL): A labor federation that focused on organizing skilled workers and advocating for higher wages, shorter hours, and better working conditions.

"Bread and Butter Issues"

• "Bread and butter issues": The basic economic concerns of workers, such as wages, hours, and working conditions.

Homestead Strike 1892

• Homestead Strike 1892: A violent labor dispute between the Carnegie Steel Company and its workers in Homestead, Pennsylvania. It resulted in a defeat for the union and a setback for the labor movement.

Pullman Strike 1894

• Pullman Strike 1894: A nationwide railroad strike that began when the Pullman Palace Car Company cut wages. It was suppressed by the federal government, leading to Eugene Debs' imprisonment.

Eugene Debs

• Eugene Debs: A socialist leader and labor organizer who ran for president several times. He was imprisoned for opposing World War I.

National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry (Grangers)

• National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry (Grangers): An organization that advocated for farmers' rights and cooperative buying and selling.

Wabash Case

• Wabash Case: A Supreme Court case that limited state regulation of interstate commerce, leading to federal regulation of railroads.

Farmers' Alliances

• Farmers' Alliances: Organizations that sought to address the economic problems facing farmers in the late 19th century, such as high railroad rates and low crop prices.

Mary E. Lease

• Mary E. Lease: A political activist and advocate for farmers' rights, known for her fiery speeches.

People's Party

• People's Party: A political party that advocated for policies such as the coinage of silver, government regulation of railroads, and a graduated income tax.

Omaha Platform

• Omaha Platform: The platform of the People's Party, outlining their goals and policies.

Sub-Treasury Plan

• Sub-Treasury Plan: A proposal by the People's Party to create government-owned warehouses where farmers could store their crops and receive low-interest loans.

Bimetallism

• Bimetallism: A monetary system in which the value of currency is based on both gold and silver.

William Jennings Bryan

• William Jennings Bryan: A politician who advocated for bimetallism and other populist reforms. He delivered the "Cross of Gold" speech.

Populism and the Wizard of Oz

• Populism and the Wizard of Oz: Some scholars interpret the story as an allegory for the political and economic issues of the Populist era.

"White Man's Burden"

• "White Man's Burden": A poem that promoted the idea that white colonial powers had a duty to civilize and uplift non-white peoples.

Alfred Thayer Mahan & The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890)

• Alfred Thayer Mahan: A naval strategist who argued that sea power was essential for national greatness. Influenced the naval arms race among world powers.
• The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890): A book that argued that sea power was essential for national greatness, influencing naval strategy and expansion.

Queen Liliuokalani

• Queen Liliuokalani: The last monarch of Hawaii, overthrown by American planters in 1893.

Pulitzer, Hearst and Yellow Journalism

• Pulitzer, Hearst and Yellow Journalism: Newspaper publishers whose sensationalist reporting contributed to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.

De Lome Letter

• De Lome Letter: A letter from the Spanish ambassador to the United States that criticized President McKinley, contributing to tensions between the two countries.

"Butcher" Weyler

• "Butcher" Weyler: A Spanish general known for his brutal tactics in suppressing the Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule.

U.S.S. Maine

• U.S.S. Maine: A U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana harbor, leading to the Spanish-American War. The cause of the explosion remains controversial.

Teller Amendment

• Teller Amendment: A U.S. amendment that disclaimed any intention of annexing Cuba after the Spanish-American War.

Platt Amendment

• Platt Amendment: A U.S. amendment that allowed the United States to intervene in Cuban affairs and established a naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Foraker Act 1900

• Foraker Act 1900: Established a civil government in Puerto Rico, with the U.S. president appointing the governor and upper house of the legislature.

Jones Act 1917

• Jones Act 1917: Granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans and created an elected legislature.

Philippine War

• Philippine War: The conflict between the United States and Filipino rebels after the U.S. annexed the Philippines.

Anti-Imperialist League

• Anti-Imperialist League: An organization that opposed the annexation of the Philippines and other imperialist policies.

Emilio Aguinaldo

• Emilio Aguinaldo: The leader of the Filipino rebels who fought against Spanish and American rule.

Water Cure

• Water Cure: A torture method used during the Philippine War, in which water was forced into a person's body to extract information.

Open Door Notes

• Open Door Notes: A series of diplomatic letters that called for equal access to trade in China.

Spheres of Influence

• Spheres of Influence: Areas in China where foreign powers had exclusive trading rights.

Boxer Rebellion & Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists

• Boxer Rebellion: An anti-foreign uprising in China, suppressed by an international military force.
• Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists: A Chinese secret society that led the Boxer Rebellion.

Elihu Root

• Elihu Root: A U.S. Secretary of War and Secretary of State who implemented reforms in the military and foreign policy.

Theodore Roosevelt & Civilized vs. Uncivilized Nations

• Theodore Roosevelt: U.S. President known for his "big stick" diplomacy, conservation efforts, and progressive reforms. He believed that civilized nations had a right to intervene in the affairs of uncivilized nations.

Pres. McKinley, Leon Czolgosz and "Big Ben" Parker

• Pres. McKinley, Leon Czolgosz and "Big Ben" Parker: President McKinley was assassinated by Leon Czolgosz. "Big Ben" Parker likely refers to Alton B. Parker, who ran against Theodore Roosevelt in the 1904 election.

Great White Fleet

• Great White Fleet: A U.S. naval fleet that circumnavigated the world from 1907 to 1909, demonstrating American naval power.

Roosevelt Corollary

• Roosevelt Corollary: An addition to the Monroe Doctrine that asserted the right of the United States to intervene in the domestic affairs of Latin American countries to maintain stability.

Pure Food and Drug Act 1906

• Pure Food and Drug Act 1906: Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of adulterated or misbranded food and drugs.

Pinchot-Ballinger Affair

• Pinchot-Ballinger Affair: A controversy involving Gifford Pinchot, head of the U.S. Forest Service, and Richard Ballinger, Secretary of the Interior, over conservation policy.

Progressive Party

• Progressive Party: A political party formed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, advocating for progressive reforms.

New Nationalism

• New Nationalism: Theodore Roosevelt's political philosophy, which called for government regulation of big business and social welfare programs.

Philippe Bunau-Varilla

• Philippe Bunau-Varilla: A French engineer who played a key role in the Panamanian Revolution and the construction of the Panama Canal.

Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty

• Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty: Granted the United States control over the Panama Canal Zone.

Panama Canal

• Panama Canal: A canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, built by the United States in the early 20th century.

Taft's Dollar Diplomacy

• Taft's Dollar Diplomacy: The policy of using American economic power to promote U.S. interests in Latin America and East Asia.

Woodrow Wilson

• Woodrow Wilson: U.S. President during World War I, known for his progressive reforms and his efforts to establish the League of Nations.

Poncho Villa & General John J. Pershing

• Poncho Villa & General John J. Pershing: General John J. Pershing led an expedition into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa after Villa raided U.S. border towns.

Spanish Flu Pandemic

• Spanish Flu Pandemic: A deadly influenza pandemic that killed millions of people worldwide after the World War I.

Wilson's 14 Points & League of Nations

• Wilson's 14 Points: A set of principles for peace after World War I, including self-determination and the League of Nations.
• League of Nations: An international organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation.

Bolsheviks

• Bolsheviks: A radical socialist party that seized power in Russia in 1917.

The Big Four (Georges. Clemenceau, Orlando, Wilson)

• The Big Four: The leaders of the major Allied powers during World War I: Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (Great Britain), Vittorio Orlando (Italy), and Woodrow Wilson (United States).

Versailles Treaty

• Versailles Treaty: The treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh terms on Germany.

War Guilt Clause & Reparations

• War Guilt Clause: A provision in the Treaty of Versailles that blamed Germany for World War I. Germany was forced to pay large amounts of money.
• Reparations: Compensation payments imposed upon Germany after World War I.

White Russians

• White Russians: Those who did not support the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War.

Big Ideas:

Explain colonialism. Be sure to include a discussion of the TYPES OF COLONIALISM and the ultimate goals of colonialism. Also, be sure to give specific examples of US colonialism in the US West AND overseas.

• Colonialism: A practice of domination, which involves the subjugation of one people to another
  • Types of Colonialism
    • Settler Colonialism: involves large-scale immigration, motivated by religious, political, or economic reasons.
    • Exploitation Colonialism: involves fewer colonists and focuses on exploiting natural resources or labor for the benefit of the colonizing power.
    • Surrogate Colonialism: involves settling a territory through the existing indigenous population
    • Internal Colonialism: involves oppression of one group/area by another within the same country
    • Economic Colonialism:
      Colonial powers extract resources and labor from the colonized territory to enrich the colonizer while implementing policies that hinder local economic development.
  • Goals of Colonialism.
    • Economic Exploitation
    • Political Control.
    • Resource Acquisition.
      US Colonialism Examples
    • Westward Expansion (Internal Colonialism). The US expansion across the continent involved displacing Native American tribes, seizing their lands, and forcing them onto reservations. This involved military force, broken treaties, and cultural assimilation policies.
    • Overseas Expansion. The US acquired territories such as the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam after the Spanish-American War. The US sought to control these territories for strategic and economic reasons. This involved military occupation, suppression of local resistance, and imposition of American political and economic systems.

Consider the experiences of immigrants in the New World. How were they received? How did they cope with their new surroundings? Where did they come from? How did their arrival in the United States change them? How did they change the United States? Be sure to give specific examples.

• Experiences of Immigrants in the New World
  • Reception: Immigrants faced mixed receptions, ranging from welcoming to hostile, depending on factors such as their ethnicity, religion, and economic status.
  • Coping: Immigrants coped with their new surroundings by forming ethnic communities, establishing mutual aid societies, and working in specific industries.
  • Origins: Immigrants came from various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
  • Impact on Immigrants: Immigration changed immigrants by exposing them to new ideas, cultures, and opportunities, while also forcing them to adapt to new social and economic realities.
  • Impact on the United States: Immigration changed the United States by contributing to its diversity, enriching its culture, and fueling its economic growth. Specific Examples
    • Irish Immigrants. Fleeing famine, they faced discrimination and nativism but contributed to infrastructure and labor force.
    • Chinese Immigrants. Recruited for railroad construction, they faced racism but created vibrant Chinatowns where there were opportunities for economic growth.

What role did American attitudes about race play in US Expansion? Consider Western expansion across the continent as well as over seas expansion. (Native Americans, Filipinos, Hawaiians, African Americans, etc…) Be sure to give specific examples.

• Role of American Attitudes About Race in US Expansion
  • American attitudes about race played a significant role in US expansion, both across the continent and overseas.
  • Belief in White Superiority: The belief in white superiority was used to justify the displacement and subjugation of Native Americans, Filipinos, Hawaiians, and other non-white peoples.
  • Manifest Destiny: The concept of Manifest Destiny was rooted in the belief that Americans were destined to expand across the continent and spread their superior civilization.
  • Social Darwinism: Social Darwinism was used to justify the domination of weaker races by stronger ones. Specific Examples
    • Native Americans. Seen as inferior and uncivilized, leading to displacement, forced assimilation, and the loss of their lands and cultures.
    • Filipinos. Colonized and portrayed as needing American guidance, resulting in a war and suppression of their independence.
    • Hawaiians. Overthrow of their monarchy was driven by economic interests and racial attitudes, leading to annexation without the consent of the Hawaiian people.
    • African Americans. Faced discrimination and segregation, limiting their opportunities and rights even after the abolition of slavery.