Unit 7: Imperialism, Progressive Era, & WWI Flashcards
Gold/Silver Mining
gold+silver continued to be western settlement pull factor BUT mining became big biz (like ag) after Gilded Age (large scale machines, operations, capital investment)
led to boomtowns: western settlements with huge male migrant pop boom – boom only lasted a few years (turned into ghost twins after)
led to creation of territorial govs + > states (dakotas, montana, washington state)
led to 1st major enviro legal victory in US – Woodruff case stopped harmful hydraulic mining (debris)
Homestead Act
act that essentially gave people free land by owning + improving land for 5 years,
intended to help farmers, but 1st homesteaders faced struggle b/c equipment + freight rates were expensive
in the end, RR companies were the winners – got cheap land to build rail on
Treaty of Fort Laramie
1851: granted natives tribal borders + land sovereignty so long as they didn’t attack white emigrants passing through
fighting resumed when emigrants began SETTLING on land
1868: western sioux agreed to settle within Black Hills Reservation – congress wanted to support “peace commission” and end cause of N.A. wars through “voluntary relocation”
Sand Creek Massacre
Nov 1864 luring of natives to “places of safety” where chivington-led militia killed/wounded 165 ppl
“revenge” for murder of white family in denver (bc of white influx)
significance: exacerbated tensions, triggered > massacres + “Indian wars”
Red River War
1874-75 series of battles in Texas – ended with natives being forced to relocate to reservations
significance: destruction of tribal bonds
Battle of Little Bighorn
battle within Great Sioux War where outnumbered Custer army attacked Sioux/NCheyenne camp
though natives won battle, led them to lose war – prez reversed peace policy and declared total war
significance: resulted in natives confined to reservations, with many dying of starvation/disease
Ghost Dance/Battle of Wounded Knee
ceremonial dance that N.A. leader produced – believed natives must perform GD to become bulletproof and win their sovereignty + land back – spread rapidly, alarming white troops
Battle = Dec 1890 bloodbath – nervous soldiers killed 200 + N.A.s, ending N.A. wars
“Century of Dishonor”
1881 - Helen Hunt Jackson’s powerful recounting of the atrocities committed against Native Americans over the years – generated public sympathy
led to marginal policy improvements, but those that were made also helped destroy culture (assimilationist policy)
Dawes Severalty Act
1887 reform effort that divided tribal lands and allotted them to individual Native Americans, forcing them to become self-reliant, non-tribal farmers (isolated)
Natives complained – argued that policy designed to strip indigenous ppl of land + free-roaming lifestyle/communal culture
Turner Thesis
Frederick Jackson Turner argued that American settlement of frontier shaped + explained American development by fostering social + political democracy + individualistic ideals
believed humanity would continue to progress as long as there was free land available
self-serving myth: ignored minorities’ role in US AND ignored white exploitation of everyone
Imperialism/Jingoism
idea of trying to gain more territory (aka colonies politically beneath the mainland) to conquer. causes:
1) national glory – manifest destiny’s application to western hemisphere + asia-pacific. justified by Social Darwinism (“they deserve it, we are better”)
2) commerce – raw materials, international trade,
3) racial superiority – expansion to benefit the “Anglo-Saxon race”
4) evangelism – sense of religious/cultural superiority
jingoism = militant imperialism
“Influence of Sea Power”
naval captain Alfred T. Mahan published this in 1890 - argued that US power stemmed from controlling lots of territory (colonies = raw materials and new markets) via naval might
influenced US’ construction of 11 new battleships to strengthen the navy in 1896
Seward’s Folly
secretary of state William Seward believed buying British Columbia was key to the Asian market (BC had good port access) →
US purchased Alaska in 1867 from Russia to influence BC to yield
called a “folly” bc public perceived it as foolish BUT Alaska had»_space; gold, oil (good for US)
Seward also wanted Hawaii…
Hawaii
In 1875 HI signed trade deal with the US.. if HI territory remained untouched, HI would allow US to import sugar cane with no taxes, which increased pop of HI (bc cheap CHN/JPN labor) and decreased indigenous pop of HI.
led to 1891 Queen Lil trying to restrict American political pwr BUT white pop (haoles) overthrew gov in 1893 – they fought to have HI annexed
since prez cleveland opposed, when prez mckinley took over he annexed
Yellow Journalism
type of news reporting started in 1890s by Hearst/Pulitzer that manipulated public opinion through sensationalized headlines/articles abt real AND fake news
William Randolph Hearst
thought the role of the news was to shape public opinion + legislation. yellow journalist who ran the NY Journal
Joseph Pulitzer
popularized yellow journalism during the Cuban war for independence – NY World was locked in fierce competition with Hearst’s NY Journal so they lied for readership
USS Maine
docked in Havana in Jan 1898 but mysteriously exploded in February – blamed on Spain (even though it was an accident) – Yellow Journalism exacerbated
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De Lôme Letter
released 6 days prior to USS Maine explosion. called prez mckinley insults, sparkling public outrage
Yellow Journalism exacerbated
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Teller Amendment
addition to congressional declaration of war vs Spain on April 24, 1898
denied US intent to annex Cuba
Causes of the Spanish-American war: econ/social
one of the causes of the Spanish-American war was that the US US wanted to gain empire through amassing overseas territory (colonies like Philippines)
Treaty of Paris of 1898
Dec 10 Spanish capitulation. Stipulated:
Cuba = independent
US annexed PR + Manila (Philippines archipelago – was unresolved but eventually negotiated for the annexation of the whole country), Guam
lots of people on all sides died, but US win →»_space; US confidence, manifest destiny, social darwinism, US emergence as imperial power.
Emilio Aguinaldo
after US annexed Philippines, led Filipino guerilla warfare against American rule – his efforts led to Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
US attempt to crush Filipino nationalist movement from 1898-1902
April 1901 – Aguinaldo + guerillas surrendered and pledge allegiance to USFG [ended war]
Foraker Act
April 1900 act establishing a government in Puerto Rico, with its residents becoming official US citizens
gov = civil government (limited popular gov)
Platt Amendment
added onto Cuban bill in 1901 – limited Cuban self-gov:
1 - cuba could never sign a treaty with a foreign power that limited their independence
2- allowed US interventionism to maintain “law and order”
3- allowed US to maintain naval bases there – Guantanamo Bay
Open Door Policy
principles unilaterally announced by John Hay in 1899 – the idea that Chinese market would be “an open door” to all nations. had no legal standing (similar to monroe doctrine)
framed as desire to preserve Chinese integrity from western imperialism BUT really just motivated by American biz desire to exploit and dominate foreign markets
Big Stick Diplomacy
Teddy = prez after Mckinley was assassinated. he advocated for military force to keep European powers out of Latin America (so that the region could serve American interests).
Panama Canal
after Spanish American war, US involvement in the Caribbean»_space;>
1901: Hay-Pauncefote Treaty authorized construction of the Panama Canal
Tension over payment for use of Colombia-controlled land = US supporting Panama independence (liberation = econ self-interest)
After Panama = ind, allowed Canal construction for lower prices. US rep in Latin America «< (“theft” of canal zone)
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
Teddy issued in 1904 bc of DR’s failure to pay its debts
asserted idea that in some circumstances, US was justified in intervention in Latin America bc it’d prevent European intervention
this paved the way for future poor US-L.A. relations
Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy
Will Taft continued Teddy’s American economic principles
DD = USFG fostering American investments in less developed nations, then using US miliary force to protect those investments
believed $$ in imperial interests would create greater stability and boost US biz
DD = $. Big Stick = military.
The Progressive Era
response to social problems of the Gilded Age (industrialization + urbanization effects)
believed in governmental ACTIVE REFORM: limiting power of big biz, achieving social justice, improving democratic reality to match ideals (“honest government”)
liberal, NOT REVOLUTIONARY – wanted to reform capitalism, not destroy it :(
Muckrakers
progressive journalists who exposed political/biz corruption, consumer unsafety, bad working conditions – led to public interest in progressivism»_space;>
Jacob Riis
Muckraker during the Progressive Era
“How the Other Half Lives” described tenement life – revealed harsh conditions of urban poor
Ida Tarbel
Muckraker during the Progressive Era
“History of Standard Oil” spent years uncovering Rockefeller’s illegal Standard Oil trust – revealed deceitful biz practices of industry tycoons
Lincoln Steffens
muckraker during the Progressive Era
“Shame of the Cities” revealed political machines and corruption to pervade municipal (local) government
Keating-Owen Act
1916 bill that sought to reduce child labor. In 1918, the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional bc it went beyond Congress’ power to regulate business activities between states
Lochner v. New York and Muller v. Oregon
Lochner v. New York: said state law limiting working hours was unconstitutional bc it violated workers’ rights to accept any job they wanted… SCOTUS contradicted with
Muller v. Oregon: 3 yrs after Lochner, said Oregon law restricting workday to 10 hours or less for women was constitutional bc based on evidence that it improved health conditions
16th Amendment
progressive federal income tax amendment that was ratified in 1913
aimed to do equal wealth distribution (Teddy Roosevelt + Taft approved)
Square Deal
Teddy Roosevelt’s progressive program calling for antitrust enforcement and more biz reg
Conservation of natural resources
Control (USFG) over big biz
Consumer protection vs bad food/drugs
Elkins/Hepburn Act
Hepburn = cap on freight rates
Elkins = fed regulation of RR cash rebates to biz customers, aimed to XX monopoly that led to artificial price inflation
1901 Anthracite Coal Strike
miners seeking > wages and < hrs went on strike, so owners shut down the coal mine. this led to higher coal prices, so coal shortage overall (but especially for the poor)
Teddy Roosevelt sent to mediate between parties: declared national emergency to take control of mines and have the military run them (ending coal shortage)
1st prez to referee management vs labor dispute – miners went back to work with a 10% wage increase and a 9 hour workday
“The Jungle”
Notable muckraking piece by Upton Sinclair that uncovered meatpacking plant conditions via story of Lithuanian immigrant in Chicago
After reading, Roosevelt urged Congress to pass the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act, which both implemented requirements for gov inspection of meat/food/drug manufacturers
Ballinger-Pinchot controversy (under Taft)
Taft’s interior secretary, Ballinger, opened millions of acres of fed land that Teddy Roosevelt had declared protected
Pinchot (Roose hire) opposed, so Taft fired him
Forest Reserve Act
protected timberland from being used for economic development
Progressive / Bull Moose Party
Republicans nominated Taft (success w/ conservation and trust busting), causing Roosevelt to get Progressive Party nomination.
Roosevelt called for New Nationalism = gov activism, trust regulation, conservation, and limitation of state courts’ anti-Progressive rulings.
New Freedom = Wilson’s platform. XX trusts, improved banking system, lower tariffs, breaking up monopolies to promote small biz.
Federal Reserve
made in Dec 1913 to replace 2nd BUS that Jackson struck down – decentralized sys bad
created nat bank sys with 12 regional districts supervised by a centralized Federal Reserve Board
Provided for the printing of Federal Reserve Notes. By pooling bank reserves, created security. Elasticity of money and credit supply allowed for stability. Deconcentration of NYC wealth.
FTC
Federal Trade Commission created under Wilson in 1914 as pt of anti-trust program
regulatory agency to investigate and take action against unfair trade.
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
passed under Wilson in 1914
strengthened Sherman Antitrust Act’s provision for breaking up monopolies. exempted unions from being prosecuted as trusts. outlawed price discrimination.
Jim Crow Voting Restrictions
residence requirement - discriminated against mostly Black tenant farmers who migrated to econ opps
poll tax - discriminated against poor Black and white people
literacy test - voters had to be able to read or “at least understand” Constitution. enforced by whites so discriminated against Black people
grandfather clause - said that illiterate whites could vote if their father/grandfather had been eligible to vote back when they were alive. discriminated against Black people who didn’t have voting rights at that time.
Plessy v. Ferguson
1896 Black people challenged Congressional ruling in 1883 that Civil RIghts Act unconstitutional (“could not reg ppl, only states”)
Specifically, LA ruling of segregated train wars – Homer Plessy violated the law and fought his arrest
his loss of the case gave rise to “separate but equal”: racially segregated facilities in South like drinking fountains, restrooms, sidewalks, churches (that were usually not equal at all)
Ida B. Wells
outspoken Black activist, teacher, and writer (and former slave)
first African American to file suit against racial discrimination – specifically abt RR cars
editor of AA focused “Memphis Free Speech”
criticized lynching, JC laws, and Black disenfranchisement
promoted NAACP + women’s suffrage, often in opposition to BTW
Booker T. Washington
prominent African American leader and former slave. philosophy was that Black people should not fight segregation, but just work on economic self-improvement INDIVIDUALLY. XX social justice bc “agitation” would backfire in South
W.E.B. Du Bois
direct rival to BTW’s ideas – promoted civil rights and attacked BTW’s 1895 “Atlanta Compromise” speech directly
1st African American to earn doctorate from Harvard
advocated for “ceaseless agitation” to achieve social justice, civil equality, enfranchisement, and XX JC
Causes of WWI
militarism – expansion of armies and navies in Europe (arms race)
alliances – web of SECRET connections (pick on one and they all jump you)
nationalism – belief in superiority of one’s nation (newer nations had something to prove)
imperialism – nearly all had territories and colonies (competing vs each other to colonize Africa too)
assassination – Archduke Franz Ferdinand (short term factor)
Lusitania
May 1915 sinking of unarmed British luxury liner Lusitania by German submarines – “mass murder” that justified declaration of war, according to Teddy Roosevelt BUT Prez Wilson asserted “patience” even in face of German lies (“ship was armed”) – later, Wilson expanded mil budget by $1 billion
Arabic Pledge
Arabic Pledge: German payment of cash penalty to families of those killed in Arabic sinking. stated that liners “will not be sunk without warning” provided that there’s “no resistance”
Sussex Pledge
Sussex Pledge: German assertion that they would virtually abandon submarine warfare – came after Wilson threatened to end relations with Germany bc of Sussex sinking
Zimmerman Telegram
German officer’s telegram intercepted by the British. Germany urged Mexico to invade the US in exchange for territory. sparked outrage and calls for war in the US when it was released on March 1st, 1917
“Keep the World Safe for Democracy”
statement made by Woodrow Wilson in April 1917 speech
declared that US was entering the war to defeat Germany AND make wars end forever by mobilizing all material resources available
ended the American isolationism of that era…
War Industries Board
WIB established in 1917 to mobilize the US for war by rationing raw materials, constructing factories, and setting prices. Headed by Bernand Baruch, experienced financier.
Food Administration
“Food will win the war” – GB + France needed corn+wheat so wanted increased ag production + reduced civilian food consumption – headed by Republican Herbert Hoover who used volunteers to spread the word
Liberty Bonds
government securities that guaranteed the purchaser a fixed rate of return – sold over 20 billion dollars worth (mostly to banks/investment houses) to finance the war effort thanks to promotion from celebrities, Boy/Girl Scouts
The Selective Service Act’s Impact on Women
bc working men pop ««, women came into the labor force – farms, railroads, steel mills, chemical plants
though 1 million women did “war work”, they were urged to go back to domestic roles after the war by male-dominated unions (short-lived participation)
though women reverted to domestic roles, passage of 19th Amendment as a direct result of their war efforts was significant
The Selective Service Act’s Impact on Black Americans
hundreds of thousands went to fight the war, but were in racially segregated units commanded by white officers
Great Migration: the movement of 400,000 southern Black (mostly farming) people to northern cities like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis – tripled Black pop in the North (“land of promise” for Black ppl due to less blatant racism, though white resentment»_space;>)
Espionage and Sedition Acts
1917/18 acts. convicted 1k ppl total during the war, including people who were just against the war in general
Espionage: punishment = 20 yrs in prison for disloyal ppl who criticized gov leaders/war policy
Sedition: broadened Espionage Act to include ppl who impeded gov bond sale OR anything disloyal to the Constitution or “American form of government”
Schenck v. United States
1919 ruling that supported ES Acts – reaffirmed arrest of Socialist Schenck for circulating anti-war pamphlets b/c they were a “clear and present danger to the safety” of America
Fourteen Points
peace plan drafted by prez Wilson. envisionment of peaceful world not harsh enough on Germany for the other Allies to accept. included:
No secret treaties – open conduct of diplomacy better
Freedom of Seas – right to do maritime commerce in wartime
Self-determination – overlapping nationalities/ethnic groups allowed to form independent countries
League of Nations – it would oversee the maintenance of global peace (the capstone of the postwar scheme)
Treaty of Versailles
treaty signed by Germany after threat of French military attack (despite their many criticisms of it). signed on June 28th, 1919. It caused Germany to take on the “war guilt” and pay reparations. It was harsh enough to set stage for Hitler’s rise of power in Germany in 1930s.
Wilson’s Role in the Treaty of Versailles
Wilson breaks precedent and travels to Paris for peace talks.
treaty reorganized Europe more nearly along ethnic boundaries, and placed blame solely on the Germans (creating bitterness – eventually culminated in WWII).
While overseas, he loses touch with domestic policy and upon return he faces an opposition Congress due to Republican majorities in both houses.
His idealist vision of a League of Nations and the potential for US involvement in European affairs created large opposition in America.
Role of Henry Cabot Lodge in the Treaty of Versailles
led opposition to Treaty.
“Reservationists” had serious reservations about the treaty, mainly Article X (the article including the League covenant).
reservationists desired a revival of US isolationism after the violence of the war.
Ultimately, Congress opposed the treaty, and ended up not signing it. America made their peace with Germany separately and never joined the League of Nations.
White Man’s Burden
A poem by British poet Rudyard Kipling commenting on American imperialism. It created a phrase used by imperialists to justify the imperialistic actions the U.S. took.
Insular Cases
These were court cases dealing with islands/countries that had been recently annexed and demanded the rights of a citizen. These Supreme Court cases decided that the Constitution did not always follow the flag, thus denying the rights of a citizen to Puerto Ricans and Filipinos.
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
1911 sweatshop disaster that left 146 workers trapped and dead
led to stricter regulation on fire safety, working conditions, and child labor
Lewis Hine and Child Labor during the Progressive Era
Lewis Hine photographed child labor conditions and lobbied for change – helped provide evidence to pass 1st Child Labor law. National Child Labor Committee campaigned to ban child labor (most states passed but did not enforce).
Social Gospel
new Protestant belief that Christians were ethically obligated to help poor to advance “the religion of God” – “Christian socialism” = personal salvation + social justice
feared Christianity was losing its appeal to the working poor → 1st religious leaders to support workers unions
rejected social Darwinism, promoted church advocacy for urban sanitation + labor laws
Settlement Houses and Jane Addams
settlement houses = innovative community centers run by Social Gospelers
ex: Hull House started by Jane Addams and Ellen Gate Starr – provided services to poor West Chicago Community: English language classes, counseling, childcare
when Jane Addams realized it wasn’t enough, started to advocate for policy reform rather than individual change
Women’s Suffrage
> > higher education + employment for women =»_space; growth of the women’s rights movement after the 15th Amendment failed to include them
through organizations such as NWSA and AWSA (later united as NAWSA), found early success with legislation in the West (wyoming, IL, AZ, CA) – NY passed law in 1917, and constitutional amendment was added in 1920
17th Amendment
rather than having state legislatures elect Senators (rife with corruption), allowed for direct election by civilian voters. ratified in 1913.
Direct primary/initiative/referendum/recall
Progressive Era state voting reforms in response to municipal corruption; improved the responsiveness of democracy by providing additional options for voters to choose their candidates, initiate laws, and recall leaders.
18th Amendment
banned sale+transportation of liquor in 1917. advocated for by WCTU and Anti-Saloon League.
Anti-Saloon League
formed in 1893, based in local churches and excelled in single issue interest group political pressure. pushed for the 18th amendment at Jubilee Convention in 1913.
WCTU
Women’s Christian Temperance Union formed in 1874 by women who thought drinking excessively = threat to social progress and familial stability
pro temperance and abstinence, anti saloons (went around and tried to morally persuade saloon owners to shut down – gradually evolved into 18th Amendment advocacy).
Taylorism
scientific management system championed by Frederick Winslow Taylor – thought of workers as tools that needed to maximize efficiency (workers found it dehumanizing)
streamlined the processes of mass production in which each worker repeatedly performs one specific task
