17-18 test Flashcards
Progressive Movement
Definition: A social and political movement aimed at addressing the social, political, and economic inequalities resulting from industrialization and urbanization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Progressives sought reforms in labor laws, women’s rights, education, and more.
Importance: The movement led to major changes such as improved working conditions, expanded suffrage, and new laws aimed at reducing corruption in government and business practices. The reforms laid the groundwork for future social changes in America.
Muckraker
Definition: Journalists and writers in the early 20th century who exposed corruption, social injustices, and the negative impacts of industrialization, often in a dramatic, investigative way.
Importance: Muckrakers played a significant role in informing the public and pressuring the government and businesses to make reforms. They brought to light important issues like unsafe working conditions, political corruption, and poor living conditions in cities.
What were the four goals that various progressive reform movements struggled to achieve?
Definition: The four goals of the Progressive Movement were:
Protecting social welfare (e.g., through child labor laws and workplace safety).
Promoting moral improvement (e.g., prohibition and social programs).
Creating economic reform (e.g., regulating big businesses and monopolies).
Fostering efficiency in government and industry (e.g., improving labor conditions and using scientific methods to increase productivity).
Importance: These goals helped to address many social inequalities and injustices, creating a more equitable society and laying the foundation for future reforms.
What kinds of state labor laws resulted from progressives’ lobbying to protect workers?
Definition: Progressive reformers lobbied for laws to protect workers, such as regulating working hours, establishing minimum wage laws, and ensuring workplace safety.
Importance: These laws improved conditions for workers, especially in industries like textiles, mining, and manufacturing, where exploitation and dangerous conditions were common. They also helped promote a more fair and just society.
Suffrage
Definition: The right to vote in elections.
Importance: Women’s suffrage was a key goal of the Progressive Movement, leading to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote and expanded democracy.
In the 1890s, what job opportunities were available to uneducated women without industrial skills? Who typically filled these positions
Definition: In the 1890s, uneducated women without industrial skills typically found work as domestic servants, or in low-paying jobs in factories or retail.
Importance: These limited job opportunities reflected the societal norms and gender discrimination of the time, but women’s roles in the workforce began to change through activism and suffrage movements, providing women with more career options in the long run.
Give two examples of women’s national organizations committed to social activism and briefly describe their progressive missions.
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA): Focused on winning the right to vote for women.
Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU): Advocated for the prohibition of alcohol and worked on other social reforms like women’s education and labor rights.
Importance: These organizations played a critical role in advancing women’s rights, especially suffrage, and contributed to social reforms like temperance and labor protections.
Theodore Roosevelt
Definition: The 26th President of the United States (1901-1909), known for his progressive reforms, trust-busting, and conservation efforts.
Importance: Roosevelt’s leadership set the tone for progressive reforms in the early 20th century, promoting fairness, social welfare, and environmental protection. His Square Deal policy aimed at balancing the interests of business, labor, and consumers.
NAACP
Definition: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded in 1909, is a civil rights organization aimed at combating racial discrimination and promoting equal rights for African Americans.
Importance: The NAACP became one of the most important civil rights organizations in America, advocating for racial equality and influencing major legal and social reforms.
What practices did Upton Sinclair expose in his novel The Jungle? How did the American public, Roosevelt, and the Congress respond?
Definition: A novel that exposed the horrific working conditions and unsanitary practices in the meatpacking industry.
Importance: The book led to public outrage, prompting President Theodore Roosevelt to push for reforms, including the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, both of which improved food safety and public health.
Gifford Pinchot
Definition: The first head of the U.S. Forest Service, known for his advocacy of conservation and managing natural resources.
Importance: Pinchot’s work promoted environmental conservation and sustainable resource management, key components of Roosevelt’s progressive policies.
Woodrow Wilson
Definition: The 28th President of the United States (1913-1921), who implemented progressive reforms including the Federal Reserve Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act.
Importance: Wilson’s policies helped shape the modern regulatory state and contributed to reforms in banking, labor, and competition law.
Compared to Roosevelt, how progressive was Taft?
Definition: William Howard Taft, while continuing some progressive reforms, was seen as less aggressive than Roosevelt in pursuing antitrust actions and conservation efforts.
Importance: Taft’s more conservative approach led to a split within the Republican Party, eventually contributing to Roosevelt’s 1912 run as a third-party candidate.
How did the Clayton Antitrust Act benefit labor?
Definition: The act protected workers by making it illegal for businesses to engage in practices like price-fixing and monopolies, which often harmed workers and consumers.
Importance: The act helped promote fairer working conditions and gave labor unions more power to advocate for workers’ rights.
Cite two examples of social welfare legislation that Wilson opposed during his presidency and the arguments he used to defend his position.
Definition: Wilson opposed certain welfare programs like child labor laws and compensation for injured workers, arguing that they were a state responsibility, not a federal one.
Importance: His stance reflected the tension between federal and state power during the Progressive Era, as well as differing views on the role of government in social welfare.
Progressivism
Positives Things
- Labor protection
- Better Sanitation
- Trust busting
- Women’s rights
Progressivism
Negative Things
- Prohibition
- “Good voters”
- “Good Immigrants”
- Segartion
Queen Liliuokalani
Definition: The last monarch of Hawaii, reigning from 1891 to 1893, who attempted to restore the monarchy’s powers that had been diminished by American businessmen.
Importance: Her overthrow in 1893 paved the way for Hawaii’s annexation by the U.S. in 1898, reflecting American imperialism in the Pacific region.
Imperialism
Definition: A policy of extending a nation’s power and influence through diplomacy, military force, or by acquiring territories.
Importance: American imperialism led to the acquisition of overseas territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, shifting U.S. foreign policy from isolationism to global expansion.
What three factors spurred the new American imperialism?
Economic interests: The U.S. sought new markets for its products and resources as the domestic market became saturated.
Importance: The need for new markets motivated the U.S. to pursue economic control over foreign territories, leading to the acquisition of Pacific and Caribbean territories.
Military interests: The U.S. wanted to establish naval bases and strengthen military power around the world.
Importance: Military expansion helped ensure U.S. access to global trade routes and promoted the idea of the U.S. as a global military power.
Ideological factors: Many Americans believed in spreading democracy, Christianity, and “civilization” to other parts of the world.
Importance: This belief in American exceptionalism justified imperialism by framing it as a moral obligation to help “less civilized” nations.
How did Queen Liliuokalani’s goal conflict with one of the American imperialists’ goals?
Queen Liliuokalani wanted to restore the power of the Hawaiian monarchy and limit foreign control, while American imperialists were interested in annexing Hawaii to expand U.S. military and economic influence in the Pacific.
Importance: This conflict led to the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893, which eventually resulted in Hawaii becoming a U.S. territory and symbolized the U.S.’s broader imperial ambitions.
Yellow Journalism
Definition: A form of sensationalized and exaggerated reporting aimed at attracting attention and influencing public opinion, often by distorting the truth.
Importance: Yellow journalism played a significant role in inciting public support for the Spanish-American War, especially through sensationalized accounts of Spanish atrocities in Cuba.
U.S.S. Maine
Definition: A U.S. battleship that exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, killing 260 American sailors. While the cause of the explosion was unclear, it was blamed on Spain, which led to the U.S. declaring war on Spain.
Importance: The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine was a key event that triggered the Spanish-American War, demonstrating how public sentiment and media influence could lead to military conflict.
Why was American opinion about Cuban independence divided?
Definition: While many Americans sympathized with Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain, others were concerned about the economic impact of a potential Cuban revolution and feared instability that could hurt U.S. investments in the region.
Importance: The division in opinion led to a complex U.S. response, balancing humanitarian concerns with economic and strategic interests, influencing the decision to go to war.
Briefly describe the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898.
Definition: The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War, with Spain ceding control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.
Importance: The treaty marked the emergence of the U.S. as a global imperial power, acquiring overseas territories and establishing new spheres of influence.
Open Door Notes
Definition: A series of diplomatic notes sent by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay in 1899 and 1900, urging European powers to allow equal trading rights in China and to prevent the country from being divided into exclusive spheres of influence.
Importance: The Open Door Policy helped ensure that the U.S. could trade freely with China, preventing the exclusion of American businesses from Chinese markets and further establishing U.S. influence in Asia.
Boxer Rebellion
Definition: A violent uprising in China in 1900 by a group known as the “Boxers,” who opposed foreign influence and the spread of Christianity. The rebellion was eventually crushed by an international coalition, including U.S. forces.
Importance: The Boxer Rebellion further highlighted the U.S.’s growing role in global affairs, especially in Asia, and reinforced the importance of maintaining open trade routes in China.
Why was the United States interested in events in Puerto Rico?
Definition: Puerto Rico became a key territory after the Spanish-American War, with the U.S. interested in its strategic location in the Caribbean, its potential for economic resources, and its military significance.
Importance: The U.S. saw Puerto Rico as a valuable acquisition for controlling the Caribbean and for projecting power into Latin America.
What sparked the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, and how was it crushed?
Definition: The Boxer Rebellion was sparked by anti-foreign and anti-Christian sentiment in China, particularly by the “Boxers” (a nationalist group). It was crushed by an eight-nation alliance, including the U.S., which sent troops to help put down the rebellion.
Importance: The U.S. played a significant role in suppressing the rebellion, signaling its growing influence in East Asia and its commitment to maintaining open trade in China.
Panama Canal
Definition: A man-made waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, built across the Isthmus of Panama. The U.S. completed its construction in 1914.
Importance: The Panama Canal was a major engineering feat and provided a crucial shortcut for U.S. naval and commercial ships, significantly boosting U.S. trade and military capabilities.
Roosevelt Corollary
Definition: An extension of the Monroe Doctrine announced by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, stating that the U.S. had the right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and prevent European intervention.
Importance: The Roosevelt Corollary justified U.S. intervention in Latin America, expanding American influence in the Western Hemisphere and asserting the U.S. as a dominant power in the region.
What conflict triggered the war between Russia and Japan?
Definition: The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) was triggered by competing imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea. Russia and Japan clashed over territorial control in East Asia, leading to a military conflict.
Importance: The U.S. played a diplomatic role in mediating peace, particularly through the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the war. The conflict signaled Japan’s rise as a global power and the U.S.’s role as a mediator in international affairs.
U.S.S.Maine
Definition:
The USS Maine was a U.S. Navy battleship commissioned in 1895. It was sent to Havana, Cuba, in 1898 to protect American interests during Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain. On February 15, 1898, the ship exploded in Havana Harbor, killing over 250 crew members. The cause of the explosion remains disputed, but it was widely blamed on sabotage by Spain, although later investigations suggested an internal accident.
Importance:
Catalyst for the Spanish-American War: The explosion of the Maine sparked outrage and helped lead to the U.S. declaring war on Spain in April 1898.
U.S. Imperial Expansion: The war resulted in the U.S. acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, marking a shift toward imperialism.
Pure Food and Drug Act
Definition:
The Pure Food and Drug Act was a U.S. federal law passed on June 30, 1906. Its main purpose was to regulate the labeling and sale of food and medicines to ensure they were safe, accurately labeled, and not adulterated or misbranded. The act aimed to protect consumers from harmful ingredients and misleading claims made by manufacturers. It also led to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which was tasked with overseeing its enforcement.
Importance:
Consumer Protection: The act was a major step in safeguarding public health by preventing the sale of unsafe or falsely labeled food and drugs.
Precursor to Modern Regulations: It laid the foundation for later food and drug regulations, influencing laws like the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938.
Increased Trust in Products: The law helped build consumer confidence by ensuring that products on the market met certain safety and quality standards.
Jose Marti
José Martí (1853–1895) was a Cuban poet, journalist, and revolutionary leader, widely regarded as a national hero in Cuba. He is best known for his writings advocating for Cuban independence from Spanish colonial rule and for his role in inspiring the Cuban War of Independence. Martí’s works blend political thought with poetic expression, emphasizing liberty, justice, and unity among Latin American countries.
Importance:
José Martí was instrumental in the Cuban independence movement, rallying support for the cause through his writings and leadership. His literary legacy endures, influencing Latin American literature and political ideology. He is remembered not only as a champion of Cuban freedom but also as a symbol of unity for Latin American nations, advocating for resistance against imperialism and colonialism throughout the region.
de Lome Letter
Definition:
The de Lome Letter was a private letter written by Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish ambassador to the United States, to a friend in Cuba in February 1898. In the letter, de Lôme criticized U.S. President William McKinley, calling him weak and a poor leader, and disparaged U.S. policies toward Cuba. The letter was intercepted and published by the New York Journal, stirring public outrage in the United States.
Importance:
The publication of the de Lôme Letter significantly increased anti-Spanish sentiment in the U.S., contributing to the growing tensions between the U.S. and Spain. Many Americans viewed the letter as an insult to their president and nation, further fueling calls for war. It is often seen as one of the key events leading up to the Spanish-American War, just weeks before the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, which became the final catalyst for U.S. military intervention.
Bully Pulpit
Definition:
The Bully Pulpit is a term coined by Theodore Roosevelt to describe the powerful platform of the presidency, which he believed could be used to promote and advance important issues. The word “bully” in this context means “excellent” or “outstanding,” so a bully pulpit refers to an opportunity to speak out and advocate for change.
Importance:
Roosevelt effectively used the bully pulpit to shape public opinion and push for reforms during his presidency. He used his position to promote progressive policies, such as trust-busting, labor rights, and conservation. By leveraging the media and his public presence, Roosevelt set a precedent for future presidents in using the office as a tool to influence public policy and rally support for legislative action.
