Society and Economy (whole course) Flashcards
Who was the first person to use the term ‘Manifest Destiny’?
John O’Sullivan.
When did the term ‘Manifest Destiny’ first appear?
1845.
When was the Women’s Suffrage movement established in the USA?
1848.
Where was the Women’s Suffrage movement established?
The Seneca Falls convention.
When was the Homestead Act passed?
1862.
What did the Homestead Act do?
It opened up settlement areas in the Western states and was used to encourage people to move West.
What amount of land were farmers offered by the Homestead Act (+bonus: what was the condition that came with this offer)?
Farmers were offered 160 acres if they farmed their land for 5 years or more.
How many people had moved West as a result of the Homestead Act by 1865?
20,000.
When was the Emancipation Proclamation issued?
1863.
Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation?
Abraham Lincoln.
What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
It was an announcement that said that all slaves in the rebellious states (ie states that were not at that point in time loyal to the Union) were free until the state became loyal to the union.
Who did Lincoln appoint as his vice-president and why?
Andrew Johnson who was a Democrat - it was done as a gesture of unity towards the South and got Lincoln some votes from pro-Southern groups.
How did the Gilded Age get its name?
From a novel by Mark Twain of the same name which was a satire book taking the mick out of American political society at the time.
What were the dates of Johnson’s presidency?
1865-1869.
How many Confederates did Johnson pardon?
13,000.
Which Confederates did Johnson not pardon?
Ones with property worth over $20,000 as he believed these were the ones who caused the downfall of the South.
When was the Freedmen’s Bureau founded?
1865.
What was the Freedmen’s Bureau?
An agency set up by the government to help ex-slaves. It provided housing and established schools, etc.
How many slaves were freed after the Civil War?
4 million.
When was the 13th Amendment passed?
1865.
What was the 13th Amendment?
It abolished slavery everywhere in the USA.
What did the 1866 Civil Rights Act do?
It granted equal citizenship to everyone born in the USA, including ex-slaves.
Why did Johnson veto the 1866 Civil Rights Act (+bonus: what happened after)?
He tried to keep Southern voters by vetoing the act, but Congress overrode him and passed the act anyway.
When was the Military Construction Bill passed?
1867.
What was the Military Construction Bill?
Introduced military control in the South, eliminated the new Government in the South and divided the South into 5 military districts.
When was the Tenure of Office Act passed?
1867.
What was the Tenure of Office Act?
Johnson was prevented from removing certain members of his office who opposed or criticised him.
When was the Granger Movement founded?
1867.
What was the original aim of the Granger Movement?
To educate farmers so they could stand up for their rights.
Name a political aim of the Granger Movement.
- Silver reintroduced to the currency so that farmers could take out larger loans.
- Unite all farmers against big businesses so they couldn’t be exploited for profit.
When was the 14th Amendment passed?
1868.
What was the 14th Amendment?
Confirmed the citizenship that African Americans had been given in 1866 CRA, and forbade states from restricting their privileges.
When did Congress impeach Johnson?
24th February 1868.
Why did Congress impeach Johnson?
He had tried to sack his Secretary of War which was illegal (violated Tenure of Office Act 1867) and they were sick of him vetoing their decisions.
Why was Johnson not liked by Congress?
He was a Democrat and, in order to keep Southern voters, didn’t want to be harsh on the South, whereas Congress were mainly Republicans who wanted harsh punishment for the Southern states.
Which president followed Andrew Johnson?
Ulysses S Grant.
What were the dates of Grant’s presidency?
1869-1877.
How many African Americans voted for Grant in the 1868 Presidential Election?
7 million.
Who were ‘Scallywags’?
Southerners who pretended to support the Federal government in order to be given State government jobs.
Who were ‘Carpetbaggers’?
People from the North who entered the South during Reconstruction to exploit profit.
What year was the Gold scandal?
1869.
Explain the Gold scandal.
2 friends of the President, Fisk and Gould, spread rumours the Government couldn’t sell their gold, so prices dropped. They then bought loads of gold and sold it later when the price was on the rise.
What year was the first transcontinental railroad built?
1869.
How many miles of track made up the transcontinental railroad?
1776 miles of track.
When was the Knights of Labour founded?
December 1869.
Who founded the Knights of Labour?
Terence Powderly.
What was the Knights of Labour?
A union group of workers of all ages, races and genders.
What did the Knights of Labour want?
- Maximum of 8 hour working day.
- Restrictions on child labour.
By what year was the KKK in almost every Southern state?
1870.
When was the 15th Amendment passed?
1870.
What was the 15th Amendment?
Forbade states from denying someone the right to vote on account of their race, colour or previous servitude.
When did the Orange Riots begin?
1870.
Where were the Orange Riots?
New York.
What happened at the Orange Riots?
An Irish Protestant march went through an Irish Catholic area and violence began.
How did the Government react to the Orange Riots?
Federal Troops were sent in to stop the riots.
When did the Orange Riots end?
1871.
When were the Enforcement Acts passed?
1870-1871.
What were the Enforcement Acts?
A law that made it a Federal Offence to restrict the civil and political rights of others.
When was the Amnesty Act?
1872.
What was the Amnesty Act?
It allowed all ex-Confederates back into power.
How many ex-Confederates were allowed back into power after the passing of the Amnesty Act?
150,000.
What year was the Salary Grab scandal?
1873.
Explain the Salary Grab scandal.
Congress voted for a 50% salary increase and received a lump sum of 2 years wages with the bonus added. It caused public riots.
From which years had silver and gold both been part of the American currency?
From the 1790s.
Which act removed silver from the American currency and what year was it passed?
1873 Coinage Act.
What was the Silver Crime of 1873?
Silver was removed from US currency which caused a sudden drop in the price of silver and was nicknamed the Silver Crime by silver miners.
Why was silver removed from the US currency in 1873?
The price of silver went up higher than the mint was willing to pay for it so it was taken out of circulation.
Who supported the reintroduction of silver into the currency?
- Silver miners.
- Farmers.
- Small businessmen.
Why did some people want silver reintroduced to the currency?
Reintroducing silver would cause inflation, which meant farmers and small businessmen could increase their prices and they could also take out larger loans as the amount of money they would have to repay would be less.
Why were some people opposed to silver being reintroduced into currency?
Reintroducing silver would cause inflation, and those who opposed this argued that it would increase the price of everyday goods for consumers and undermine the value of pensions and savings.
What happened in 1873 which led to a depression?
Stock market crash (which then caused a panic).
What was the effect of the 1873 depression on workers?
Many of them joined unions.
What were the stances of the Republicans and the Democrats towards tariffs (+bonus: try and explain why they want what they want)?
- Republicans wanted high tariffs = protectionist economics, as high tariffs means other countries won’t export goods to the US so people are encouraged to buy US goods.
- Democrats (supported the ‘little man’ and the farmer) wanted low tariffs so other countries would, in turn for being able to export to the US, import US farmers’ and small business’ goods to their countries, widening their markets, and also so they could import grain from other cheaper with low tariffs.
When and where was the Colfax Massacre?
13th April 1873 in Colfax, Louisiana.
What happened at the Colfax Massacre?
150 freedmen were killed after a Republican Governor was elected.
What were ‘Black Codes’?
Laws imposed by Confederate dominated governments to restrict the rights of African Americans.
Give some examples of Black Codes.
- Public facilities were separate.
- No interracial marriage allowed.
- African Americans were not to be taught to read.
Name some of the voting restrictions against African Americans.
- Georgia introduced a $2 voting fine.
- Some states said only house owners could vote so African Americans couldn’t as most of them were sharecroppers.
- Mississippi introduced a literacy test in 1890.
- Louisiana introduced the Grandfather Clause.
What did Booker T Washington want?
He wanted ex-slaves to elevate themselves through hard work - he understood that integration would take time.
Who was and what did WEB du Bois want?
He was a free black man from the North who wanted rapid integration. He also helped found the NAACP.
Who was Madam CJ Walker?
First female black millionaire who sold hair cream. She donated lots of her money to the NAACP and anti-lynching campaigns.
Between 1866 and 1868, how many African American universities were opened?
3.
Give an example of an African American university.
- Fisk.
- Howard.
- Morgan State University.
- Hampton Institute.
How many black senators were elected to Congress during Reconstruction?
2 black senators.
How many black representatives were elected to Congress during Reconstruction?
20 black representatives.
Who invented barbed wire (+bonus: in what year)?
Joseph Glidden in 1873.
How many kilometers of railroad track were laid between 1868 and 1873?
53,000 kilometres.
Which political satire book was published in 1874?
‘The Gilded Age’ by Mark Twain.
What happened in September 1874 in New Orleans?
5000 members of the white terror group the White League rebelled in New Orleans against the election of a Republican governor.
When was the 2nd gold rush?
1874.
Where was the 2nd gold rush?
Black hills of Dakota.
How many tons were being produced by American Steel by 1875?
360,000 tons.
Who was John D. Rockefeller?
Oil tycoon.
Which company did Rockefeller own?
Standard Oil.
How much of the oil refining business did Rockefeller’s company control by the 1880s?
85%.
How much money did Rockefeller give to medicine for African American education institutions?
$550 million.
How much money did Rockefeller have by 1889?
$200 million.
Who was the world’s first billionaire and when?
Rockefeller in 1913.
Who was Cornelius Vanderbilt?
Railroad tycoon.
How did Vanderbilt manage to build railroads so quickly and successfully?
- Used standard track gauge so all railroads could be interconnected.
- Used steel nails which were more durable.
How much money did Vanderbilt have when he died?
$100 million - he was the richest man in America.
Who was William Vanderbilt and what did he do?
Son of Cornelius Vanderbilt who inherited the empire. He set up Grand Central Station in Manhattan.
Who was Carnegie?
Steel tycoon.
What did Carnegie bring to the US?
Bessemer Converter - made steel from iron.
How was Carnegie so successful?
He used a technique called ‘vertical integration’ whereby he controlled all the processes of steel making so he could control the price.
How much did Carnegie sell his business for?
$480 million.
What did Carnegie donate to and what foundation did he set up?
Donated to schools, hospitals and parks. He set up the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for research and advancement of knowledge.
What was Pittsburgh’s main industry?
Steel.
What was Chicago’s main industry?
Meat packing.
What year was the Whisky Ring scandal exposed?
1875.
Explain the Whisky Ring scandal.
Grant’s private secretary was part of a conspiracy which defrauded the government of millions in tax revenues from the sale of whisky.
What did the 1875 Civil Rights Act do?
Guaranteed African Americans equal accommodation in public places.
When was the 1875 Civil Rights Act ruled unconstitutional and what does this mean?
Ruled unconstitutional in 1883 by the Supreme Court as they believed it was an issue that should be controlled by state governments, not federal governments.
How many members were in the Granger Movement by the mid 1870s?
800,000.
By what year was there a Grange in every state?
By the mid 1870s.
What year was the Bellknapp scandal?
1876.
Explain the Bellknapp scandal.
Grant’s Secretary of War was forced to resign after accepting $25,000 worth of backhanders.
What year was the Munn v Illinois court case?
1876.
Who was involved in the Munn v Illinois court case?
The Grangers and grain storage company Munn and Scott.
What happened in the Munn v Illinois court case?
The Grangers took the grain storage company Munn v Illinois to court as their prices were higher than the legal limit.
Who won the Munn v Illinois court case (+bonus: what did this show)?
The Grangers won - this showed there had been a shift in government support from big business.
What did Grant do to help Native Americans?
Set up Board of Indian Commissioners to address corruption among those who worked with Native Americans. Ely S. Parker, a Native himself, was appointed as Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
When was the Great Sioux War?
1876.
Why did the Great Sioux War happen?
After gold was discovered, prospectors flocked West. The government gave the Native Americans $6 million to move but they refused. The government then sent a message for them to go to their reservations, but they never received the message and troops were sent in, as it seemed they were being unreasonable.
Which President ended Reconstruction?
Rutherford Hayes (Republican).
In which year did Reconstruction end?
1877.
How did Reconstruction end (+bonus: give as many details as you can)?
The Southern Compromise (1877): After a close election between Hayes and Tilden, the Democrats agreed to let Hayes win the election if Federal Troops were removed from the South.
What were the dates of Hayes’ presidency?
1877-1881.
When was the Great Railroad Strike?
1877.
What was significant about the Great Railroad Strike?
It was the first national strike in US history.
Why did the Great Railroad Strike happen?
Wages had been cut for the 3rd time in a year by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company.
Where did the Great Railroad Strike begin?
West Virginia.
How many cities did the Great Railroad Strike spread to (+bonus: can you name some of them)?
It spread to nine cities in total, for example:
- New York
- Illinois.
How long did the Great Railroad Strike last for?
45 days.
How did the Great Railroad Strike end?
Hayes sent Federal Troops from city to city to stop the riots, and some just lost momentum.
By the 1880s, what percentage of the American Oil Industry did Rockefeller’s Standard Oil company possess?
85%.
When was the Republican party divided over finding a successor for Hayes?
1880.
What were the divisions in the Republican party trying to find a successor for Hayes?
- Stalwarts, led by Roscoe Conkling - want Grant re-elected.
- Half-breeds (reformists), led by James Blaine.
What happened to the percentage of African American votes in South Carolina?
- 1880 Presidential Election: 80% eligible African American votes.
- 1896 Presidential Election: 11% eligible African American votes.
Why did the percentage of eligible African American votes in South Carolina decrease?
- Intimidation from white terror groups like KKK.
- Introduction of literacy and poverty tests.
By 1880, how many large farms were there in the West?
3,000 large ‘bonanza’ farms, each of 1000 acres.
How much per acre was land in the West?
50 cents.
When was Americanisation?
1880.
What was Americanisation?
The government decided to try and Americanise the Native Americans, and converted them to Christianity, taught them how to farm and sent them to school.
How many Native American children went to school as a result of Americanisation?
20,000.
Which President followed Hayes?
James Garfield.
What were the years of Garfield’s presidency?
1881.
How did Garfield start reform?
He strengthened control of the New York Customs House by removing Conkling and began reform of the Post Office.
When was Garfield assassinated?
September 19th 1881.
Who followed Garfield as President?
Chester A. Arthur.
What years was Arthur in office?
1881-1885.
What was the ‘Spoils System’?
The system where Civil Service jobs were given by a successful political party to its supporters.
When were the Civil Service Reform League formed?
1881.
Who were the Civil Service Reform League?
A group who wanted that Civil Service jobs be given to the best man for the job, and wanted to reduce salaries for people in Civil Service jobs and remove inadequate people from office.
What did Booker T Washington establish in 1881?
Tuskegee University, which was a university for black people.
When was the Chinese Exclusion Act passed?
1882.
What did the Chinese Exclusion Act do?
This act disallowed people to legally become citizens for the next 20 years.
What year was the Pendleton Civil Service Act passed?
1883.
What did the Pendleton Civil Service Act do?
It said all Civil Service jobs would be given on merit and capability, rather than bribery or officials picking their friends to fill the positions.
Which President followed Arthur?
Grover Cleveland (Democrat).
What years was Cleveland in office (first term)?
1885-1889.
Who were Mugwumps?
A group of Republicans who decided to vote for an honest Democrat (Cleveland) as they were sick of Republican corruption.
When was the American Federation of Labour (AFL) established?
1885.
Who set up the AFL?
Samuel Gompers.
What was the AFL?
A union group of labourers and craftsmen that only accepted white, male workers.
What did the AFL want?
- 8hr working day maximum.
- Better pay for workers.
How many members did the AFL have by 1892?
250,000.
How many people were in the Knights of Labour by 1885?
100,000.
In 1885, who did the Knights of Labour strike against?
Jay Gould and his company (Gould was a railway company owner).
Was the Knights of Labour’s 1885 strike successful?
Yes - Gould’s company was crippled and folded.
What month + year was the event at Haymarket Square?
May 1886.
What were the Knights of Labour campaigning for at Haymarket Square?
8 hour working day.
What happened at Haymarket Square (+bonus: what effect did this have on the Knights of Labour)?
A demonstration by the Knights of Labour turned violent and someone threw a bomb which killed 7 people, including a Police Officer. The Knights of Labour received a bad reputation and lost members.
When was the Dawes Act passed?
1887.
What did the Dawes Act do?
Reservations in the West were split up into different sections of land given to Native American families.
How much land did someone get from the Dawes Act?
Single Man: 80 acres.
Family: 160 acres.
When was the Interstate Commerce Act passed?
1887.
What did the Interstate Commerce Act do?
It required that the prices of the railroads be fair and just, and forbode price discrimination against small businesses.
When were the first segregated train carriages introduced and where?
1887 in Florida.
Which President followed Cleveland?
Benjamin Harrison.
What were the years of Harrison’s Presidency?
1889-1893.
When was free land granted in Oklahoma and what was the effect of this?
1889 - it lead to the Oklahoma land rush.
When was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act passed?
1890.
What was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?
Made trusts illegal and people were no longer legally allowed to monopolise the market.
When was the Sherman Silver Purchase Act?
1890.
What was the Sherman Silver Purchase Act?
The treasury was allowed to buy 4.5 million ounces of silver each month (2x higher than before) in the hope of causing inflation and raising prices.
When did the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA) form?
1890.
Who was the leader of the NAWSA?
Susan B. Anthony.
How many members did NAWSA eventually have?
2 million.
From 1860-1890, how many immigrants had entered the US?
10 million.
By 1890, what percentage of the labour market was immigrants?
56%.
How many Jewish immigrants entered the US in 1888 compared to 1900?
1888: 5,000.
1900: 90,000.
What was the effect of Jewish immigration into the US?
Anti-Semitism grew.
Between 1860 and 1890, how much had the population of New York increased by?
It had doubled.
Between 1860 and 1890, how much had the population of Chicago increased by?
It had increased 10x.
What was the total US population in 1860 compared to 1880?
1860: 31 million.
1880: 50 million.
What was the change in urban population percentage in 1860 and 1890?
1860: 15% urban.
1890: 35% urban.
How many states were added to the union between 1889 and 1890?
6.
By 1890, how big was the New York Stock Exchange?
It was the 2nd largest in the world.
Between 1871 and 1890, how many miles of railroad track had been laid?
170,000.
By 1890, how many African Americans in the South were illiterate?
More than half.
Name 3 farmers’ alliances.
- Coloured Farmers’ Alliance.
- Southern Farmers’ Alliance.
- North Western Farmers’ Alliance.
What did the farmers’ alliances put forward to Congress in 1890 (+bonus: what was Congress’ reaction)?
Macune Subtreasury Plan - proposed farmers loans were given at 80%. Congress rejected it.
Give some example of farmers alliance success.
- In 1890, alliance candidates took control of legislatures in Kansas.
- 4 pro-alliance governors were elected.
What is rugged individualism?
The idea that someone should be left to prosper and survive themselves.
What is social Darwinism?
The idea that the people who get to the top of society are the best adapted.
Give 2 responses to laissez-faire politics.
- Mark Twain’s novel ‘The Gilded Age’.
- Henry George’s novel ‘Progress and Poverty’ (1879) proposed the abolition of private land ownership. It sold 2 million copies.
By 1890, how many people lived in the West?
6 million.
When was the Battle of Wounded Knee?
1890.
How many were killed at the Battle of Wounded Knee (+bonus: what happened as a result)?
200 Native Americans and 31 soldiers were killed, leading to the end of Native American resistance as the Sioux tribe were defeated.
Who devised a route for cattle to be transported from Texas to the North (+bonus: what was this route called)?
Joseph McCoy. The route was called the ‘long drive’.
By 1880, how many cowboys were there?
40,000.
When did the long drives end and why?
After a series of bad winters 1885-1887.
How many cattle were wiped out in bad winter 1885-1887?
95%.
What did Frederick Jackson Turner say in his thesis?
- The frontier helped build American characters by creating self-reliant people.
- Resources in the West made the US independent from other countries.
- Having land left over to conquer was important.
Give some criticisms of Turner’s thesis.
- Glenda Riley says he didn’t include women, making the frontier a male phenomenon.
- Billington says he never defined the frontier.
What was the required population of a territory before it could become a state?
60,000.
How much money had been spent on sending Native American children to school by 1899?
$2.5 million.
Which strike happened in 1892 (+bonus: why did the strike happen)?
Pittsburgh Steelworkers’ Strike (Homestead Strike) - they were protesting against a pay cut and a 72 hour working week.
What was the President’s reaction to the 1892 strike?
Federal troops were sent in.
When did Populism first emerge?
1892.
Give some aims of Populism.
- Reintroduction of silver into the currency and keeping it there.
- More control of the railways.
- Graduated income tax.
- Direct election of senators.
- Maximum of an 8hr working day.
Where did Populism first set out their aims?
Omaha Platform.
Which President came after Harrison?
Grover Cleveland.
What were the dates of Cleveland’s presidency (second term)?
1893-1897.
When was the Anti-Saloon League established?
1893.
hich important economic event happened in 1893?
Depression.
How long did the 1893 depression last for?
4 years.
What percentage of the population was unemployed during the 1893 depression?
20%.
How many businesses failed per day in May 1893?
24.
How many banks closed in the 1893 depression (total)?
600.
How many companies closed in the 1893 depression (total)?
15,000.
What was Cleveland’s reaction to the 1893 depression?
- Repeal of the Silver Purchase Act - returned America to the gold standard.
- Borrowed $62 million from J.P Morgan in 1895.
How did Cleveland’s reaction to the 1893 depression turn some people against him?
Borrowing money from businessman J.P Morgan made it seem like the Democrats were siding with big businesses, and they lost many supporters.
When was the Pullman Strike?
1894.
Why did the Pullman Strike happen?
The workers were protesting against the Pullman Palace Car Company after wages were cut.
Who led the Pullman Strike?
Eugene Debs.
What was the President’s reaction to the Pullman Strike?
Federal troops were sent in.
When was the Omnibus Indictment Act passed?
1894.
What was the Omnibus Indictment Act?
This made all strikes illegal.
How did the Omnibus Indictment Act last for?
Until the 1930s.
When was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act ruled unconstitutional by Congress?
1895.
When was the E.C Knight court case?
1895.
What happened in the E.C Knight court case (+bonus: what did this show)?
E.C Knight company won the court case, even though they controlled 98% of the sugar refining industry and proves that the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was ineffective.
Who were the candidates in the 1896 election?
William Jennings Bryan, Democrat and William McKinley, Republican.
What help did McKinley receive in the 1896 Presidential election campaign?
He was given $3 million by businessman Mark Hanna, to send 1,500 speakers around the country and publish campaign literature.
Why was William Jennings Bryan not very popular in the 1986 election?
- Lacked financial support in the campaign therefore had to make all speeches himself.
- Wanted bi-metallism which was not popular with the more populated areas in the North East which were industrial.
- Cleveland had damaged Democrat reputation.
- The economy was on the upswing, so his policies didn’t seem as appealing.
What was the result of the 1896 Presidential election?
7 million for McKinley, 6.5 for Bryan.
Give some examples of Populist successes.
- James B Weaver won 1 million votes in the 1892 election.
- William Jennings Bryan won 6.5 million votes in the 1896 election.
- 45 Populist members of Congress.
- 11 Populist Governors.
When was the Plessy v. Ferguson court case?
1896.
What happened in the Plessy v. Ferguson court case?
Defendant was man who was ⅛ black and refused to move to a different carriage on a train. The court ruled that separate facilities were fine as long as the standards of the facilities were equal.
Between 1882 and 1899, how many black people were lynched in the South?
2,500.
When was the Yukon gold rush?
1896-1899.
What were the dates of McKinley’s presidency?
1897-1901.
When was the Dingley Tariff Act passed?
1897.
What did the Dingley Tariff Act do?
Pushed tariffs to even higher levels.
When did Louisiana introduce ‘Grandfather’ clauses?
1898.
What were ‘Grandfather’ clauses?
You could only vote if your Grandfather had been able to vote - it stopped ex-slaves from voting.
By 1900, what percentage of African Americans still lived in the South?
90%.
In 1900, what were the majority of African Americans’ jobs?
- Sharecropper.
- Domestic servant.
- Farmer.
Between 1860 and 1890, how many immigrants came into the US?
14 million.
By 1900, New York had more Italians than which Italian city?
Naples.
By 1900, how many more Irish people were in New York than Dublin?
Twice as many.
How much was iron production in 1860 compared to 1900?
1860: 920,000 tons
1900: 10.3 million tons
When was the Currency Act passed?
1900.
What did the Currency Act do?
Committed the US to the gold standard.
What enabled McKinley to pass the Currency Act?
The Yukon Gold Rush in Alaska (1896-1899).
When was McKinley assassinated?
1901.
Which President followed McKinley?
Theodore Roosevelt.
What were the dates of T. Roosevelt’s presidency?
1901-1909.
When was the Anthracite Coal Strike?
1902.
Why did the Anthracite Coal Strike happen?
Workers had been locked out for going on strike.
How many bushels of wheat were produced in 1867 compared to 1902?
1867: 6 million.
1902: 102 million,
What did Roosevelt negotiate in the Anthracite Coal Strike?
- A maximum of a 9 hour working day.
- 10% wage increase.
When was the Department of Labour and Commerce Act passed?
1903.
What did the Department of Labour and Commerce Act do?
Creates a Department which is given the power to collect data from any business that deals with interstate commerce and increases business regulation.
When was Northern Securities company found illegal?
1904.
By 1904, what percentage of the largest companies in the US controlled what percentage of the total industry?
4% of the largest US companies produced 57% of the total industry.
When was the Hepburn Act passed?
1906.
What did the Hepburn Act do?
Gave the Federal government power to inspect the books of railroad companies and set maximum rates that they could charge.
When was the Pure Food and Drug Act passed?
1906.
What did the Pure Food and Drug Act do?
Made food adulteration illegal and began inspection of meat packing factories.
Why was the Pure Food and Drug Act passed?
After the publication of Upton Sinclair’s novel ‘The Jungle’, which showed the realities of the meat packing industry.
Give an example of what Roosevelt did for conservation.
- 150 million acres of forest placed on Federal reserve.
- 53 wildlife reserves created.
- 5 national parks created.
- Passes Antiquities Act 1906.
When was the NAACP established?
1909.
Who led the NAACP?
WEB du Bois.
Which President followed T. Roosevelt?
William Taft.
What were the dates of Taft’s Presidency?
1909-1913.
By 1910, what percentage of black farmers owned their own land?
25%.
When was the Payne-Aldrich Act passed?
1909.
What did the Payne-Aldrich Act do?
This act did little to lower tariffs.
When was the Standard Oil company broken up under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?
1911.
When was the Progressive Party founded?
1912.
Give some achievements of Taft’s Presidency.
- Gave power to the Interstate commission to set fixed railroad rates.
- 90 anti-trusts cases filed.
- Introduced mine safety legislation.
- Introduction of an 8hr maximum working day for government employees.
Give an example of a company that was prosecuted for being a trust under Taft.
- Standard Oil.
- American Tobacco.
Why were the Republicans divided for the 1912 Presidential election (+bonus: what was the effect of this)?
- Roosevelt thought Taft was not Progressive enough. He particularly did not like him passing the Payne-Aldrich Act.
- Roosevelt did not win the Republican Party nomination so decided to join the Progressive party.
- Taft was chosen as the Republican Presidential candidate.
- Republican voters were split between Taft and Roosevelt.
- Wilson (Democrat) therefore won.
Which President followed Taft?
Woodrow Wilson.
What were the dates of Wilson’s Presidency?
1913-1921.
When was the Federal Reserve Act passed?
1913.
What did the Federal Reserve Act do?
Creates a centralised, government controlled banking system to avoid the government ever having to turn to businessmen for bailouts if there is another depression.
What did the Sixteenth Amendment do?
Created a system of graduated income tax - it was paid by those with an income of more than $4,000 per year.
What did the Seventeenth Amendment do?
Introduced direct election of senators by the people.
When was the Underwood Tariff Act passed?
1913.
What did the Underwood Tariff Act do?
Lowered tariffs.
When was the Colorado Mine Strike?
1913.
What was Wilson’s reaction to the Colorado Mine Strike?
He sent in the National Guard to stop the strike.
How many people died in the Colorado Mine Strike?
26.
What did Wilson’s actions in the Colorado Mine Strike show about him?
He had little sympathy for trade unions.
When did Ford introduce the assembly line?
1913.
How long did it take the Ford assembly line to make 1 car in 1913?
3 minutes.
When was the Clayton Anti-Trust Act passed?
1914.
What did the Clayton Anti-Trust Act do?
Gave more power to enforce the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
What did Roosevelt sign in August 1914?
A Declaration of Neutrality, which said the US would remain impartial during the war.
Which march happened in August 1914 on 5th Avenue, New York?
1,500 women marched for peace and to stop US involvement in WW1.
When was UNIA founded?
1914.
What does UNIA stand for?
Universal Negro Improvement Association.
Who set up the UNIA?
Marcus Garvey.
Eventually, how many UNIA branches were there across the US?
700.
When was the ‘Birth of a Nation’ film released?
1915.
What was special about ‘Birth of a Nation’?
It was the first film to be shown at the White House.
What was ‘Birth of a Nation’ about?
Showed the creation of the Ku Klux Klan and condoned their actions.
What was the effect of the release of the film ‘Birth of a Nation’?
It sparked a revival of the KKK.
In July 1915, where did race riots happen?
St Louis, Missouri.
What happened in 1915 in Texas (+bonus: what were the effects of this)?
Black soldiers killed 17 white men, which provoked widespread lynchings.
When was the Federal Farm Loan Act passed?
1916.
What did the Federal Farm Loan Act do?
Made loans cheaper and more easily available for farmers.
When was the Federal Child Labour Act passed?
1916.
What did the Federal Child Labour Act do?
Limited the working hours of children and forbids the interstate sale of goods produced with child labour.
When was the Federal Child Labour Act ruled unconstitutional?
1918 - 2 years after it was passed.
When was the Workmen’s Compensation Act passed?
1916.
What did the Workmen’s Compensation Act do?
Ensures that those who are absent from work for legitimate reasons (eg illness or injury) are financially secure.
When was the Adamson Act passed?
1916.
What did the Adamson Act do?
Introduced the 8 hour working day for railroad workers.
When did Black Tom’s Munitions factory explode?
July 30th 1916.
How much damage was caused by the Black Tom’s Munitions factory explosion?
$20 million.
Who was immediately blamed for the explosion of Black Tom’s Munitions factory (+bonus: what did this show)?
The Germans, which showed the extent of anti-German feeling in the US and the suspicion around German immigrants.
When was the Espionage Act passed?
1917.
What did the Espionage Act do?
Allowed post masters to open suspicious mail.
How many prosecutions took place under the Espionage Act?
1,500.
When was the Immigration Act passed?
1917.
What did the Immigration Act do?
Restricted immigration of unwanted immigrants through imposing literacy tests, and also banned all immigration from the Middle East, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
When was the Sedition Act passed?
1918.
What did the Sedition Act do?
Extended the powers of the Espionage Act, to say that negative speech or expression was illegal, particularly against the war effort.
How many tons of food were being produced in 1915 compared to 1918?
1915: 12 million tons.
1918: 19 million tons.
How much money did US steel make in 2 years during WW1 (+bonus: what did this lead to)?
Half a billion dollars - led to them being accused of war profiteering.
How many African Americans were in the armed forces in WW1?
360,000.
How many women served in the armed forces in WW1?
90,000.
When were the Palmer Raids?
1919.
What were the Palmer Raids?
A series of raids in 12 cities of the offices of radical organisations.
How many people were deported to Europe after the Palmer Raids?
249.
When was the Red Summer?
1919.
What happened in the Red Summer?
There were a series of race riots in Chicago and St Louis.
How long did Red Summer last?
13 days.
How many people died in the Red Summer?
38.
How many people were injured in the Red Summer?
537.
How many African American families were left without homes after the Red Summer?
1,000 families.
Who were the ‘wets’ and drys’?
Wets: anti-Prohibition
Drys: pro-Prohibition
By 1917, what proportion of the population supported Prohibition?
Two thirds.
What were some of the arguments in favour of prohibition?
- Beer used grain which was needed for food during the war.
- Beer supported Germany (many brewers were German) and people didn’t want to support those who were seen as ‘the enemy’.
- Some people felt it was not right to be drinking alcohol and enjoying themselves when others were away fighting for the country.
- Some women’s groups argued that alcohol led to domestic abuse and prohibition would cause a fall in domestic abuse.
- People believed that alcohol led to absent fathers and that children would be raised in more loving and involved families if alcohol was illegal.
