1. Cite examples of actions taken in reaction to the perceived threat of radicals and communists during the red scare.
The passing of criminal syndicalism laws, which made
unlawful the mere advocacy of violence to secure
social change, as well as in the trial of Nicola Sacco, a shoe-factory worker, and
Bartolomeo Vanzetti, a fish peddler, both convicted of murder.
2. Compare and contrast the new and old Ku Klux Klansmen.
The new KKK more closely resembled the anti-foreign “nativist”
movements of the 1850s than the anti-black
nightriders of the 1860s, being not only anti-foreign and anti-black, but also anti-Jewish, anti-pacifist, anti-Communist,
anti-internationalist, anti-evolutionist,
anti-bootlegger, anti-gambling, anti-adultery, and
anti–birth control.
3. Describe immigration laws passed in the 1920's.
The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 restricted European immigrants in any given year to a definite
quota, which was set at 3 percent of the people
of their nationality who had been living in the
United States in 1910. The Immigration Act of 1924 cut quotas for foreigners from 3 percent to 2 percent, with the base shifted from the census of 1910 to
that of 1890, when comparatively few southern
Europeans had arrived. The Immigration Act of 1924 closed the door on Japanese immigrants.
4. How and why was the 18th amendment broken so frequently?
Profound disillusionment over the
aftermath of the war raised serious questions as to
the wisdom of further self-denial. Slaking thirst
became a cherished personal liberty, and many
ardent wets believed that the way to bring about
repeal was to violate the law on a large enough
scale. State and federal agencies were
understaffed, and their snoopers, susceptible to
bribery, were underpaid.
5. What was Gangsterism?
Gangsterism, spawned by prohibition, was the organized crime of bootlegging alcohol and bribing public officials to keep quiet; this also incorporated prostitution and gambling.
6. Describe the clash of cultures that took place during the 1920s.
John Dewey set forth the principles
of “learning by doing” that formed the foundation
of so-called progressive education. However, fundamentalists in the twenties charged that the teaching of Darwinian evolution
was destroying faith in God and the Bible, while
contributing to the moral breakdown of youth in the
jazz age.
7. Give evidence to prove that America became a mass consumption economy in the 20's.
The perfection of the assembly line produced a finished automobile every 10 seconds, shifting focus from production to consumption. Advertising took off, using persuasion
and ploy, seduction and sexual suggestion, to make Americans discontent with their possessions. Babe Ruth was far better known than most statesmen. The innovation of buying on credit went ever
deeper into debt to own all kinds of newfangled
marvels—refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, and especially
cars and radios—now.
8. What methods made it possible to mass-produce automobiles?
The stopwatch
efficiency techniques of Frederick W. Taylor, a
prominent inventor, engineer, and tennis player,
who sought to eliminate wasted motion, highly standardized parts, and the techniques of assembly-line
production—“Fordism"- made it possible to mass-produce automobiles.
9. What were the effects of the widespread adaptation of the automobile?
The automobile industry employed directly or indirectly about 6 million people by 1930, America's standard of living increased greatly, hundreds of oil derricks
shot up in California, Texas, and Oklahoma, as these
states expanded into an industrial frontier, speedy marketing advanced, roads were built, women were further freed from
clinging-vine dependence on men, isolation among
the sections was broken down, the celebrated crime waves of the 1920s and
1930s were aided and abetted by the motorcar, for
gangsters could now make quick getaways, and it worried older members of the community, being called by one judge "a house of prostitution on wheels".
10. What effects did the early airplane have on America?
The airplane provided the restless American spirit with yet
another dimension, gave birth
to a giant new industry, and would later be used as a war machine.
11. How did America change as a result of the radio?
Sports were further stimulated, politicians had to adjust their speaking techniques
to the new medium, citizens could be participants in world events, and the music of
famous artists and symphony orchestras was
spread farther than ever before.
12. What were some milestones in the history of motion pictures?
"The Birth of a Nation" was released in 1915 as the first full length motion picture. In 1903, the first story
sequence reached the screen in the breathless melodrama, "The Great Train Robbery".
13. "Far-reaching changes in lifestyles and values paralleled the dramatic upsurge in the economy." Explain.
Most
Americans lived in urban areas, women continued to find opportunities
for employment in the cities, an organized birth-control
movement championed the use of contraceptives, and Alice
Paul’s National Woman’s party began in 1923 to
campaign for an Equal Rights Amendment to the
Constitution, the “flapper” symbolized a yearned for
and devil-may-care independence (some said
wild abandon) in some American women, and a new racial pride also blossomed in the northern
black communities that burgeoned during and
after the war.
14. How did the arts of the 1920's reflect the times?
The war had jolted many young writers out of
their complacency about traditional values and literary
standards, seen in Fitzgerald's "This Side of Paradise", used as a sort of Bible for the young, wild youth. "The Great Gatsby", 1925, was a brilliant evocation
of the glamour and cruelty of an achievement-oriented
society. Hemingway responded to pernicious
propaganda and the overblown appeal to patriotism
by devising his own lean, word-sparing but wordperfect
style. Faulkner
peeled back layers of time and consciousness
from the constricted souls of his ingrown southern
characters. Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, e.e. cummings, and Robert Frost pioneered poetry. After the war a black cultural
renaissance also took root uptown in Harlem, led
by such gifted writers as Claude McKay, Langston
Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston, and by jazz artists
like Louis Armstrong and Eubie Blake. Architects like Frank Lloyd Wright dismantled modern architecture from the slavishly imitated Greco-Roman Classical styles to dynamic, interactive works of art.
15. Was government economic policy successful in the 1920s?
The creation of the Bureau of Budget, designed in part to prevent haphazardly
extravagant appropriations, was vaguely successful. However, the eliminating of excess-profits tax, abolishing the gift tax, and
The Stock Market 751reducing excise taxes, the surtax, the income tax,
and estate taxes demonized the middle class and further established the gab between the lavishly rich and despondently poor.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Essential Questions
1. These groups reflected the central assumptions of progressivism by addressing social grievances- such as poverty, worker's rights, etc.- and calling for increased government action to help alleviate these drains on society by eliminating corruption and inefficiency. Muckrakers exposed the ills of society through riveting journalism found in prints such as McClure's and Cosmopolitan; settlement houses such as the Hull House, run by Jane Addams, helped combat the poverty and lack of education that permeated cities in the wake of urbanization; Social Gospel reformers worked in tandem with settlement volunteers and brought to light what needed to be fixed in progressive era America.
2. Progressives felt trapped between the extremes of the big businesses and the poverty-stricken and sought a middle ground. This was found in the usage of the Australian ballot, the referendum, the citizen voting initiative, the direct election of senators by the people, and the open primary elections.
3. While the Progressive Era (1900-1920) did effectively foster significant advancements in national-level reform movements pertaining to environmental conservation, worker's rights, and trust-busting, many marginalized groups such as immigrants and African Americans remained inherently underprivileged due to inadequate federal support.
4. The government sought support on the home front through extensive use of propaganda that promoted the Allied Forces, depicting the Germans as ruthless barbarians- this was due, in part, to Britain being able to control what stories were being fed to the American press. Support was also drummed up by Wilson's patriotic and morally-rooted plans such as the 14 Points, idealistic view of the war, and the idea of "peace without victory" that played an extensive role in the surrender of the Germans.
5. The United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and, thus, membership in the League of Nations because Wilson due to the Senate's divison into the three groups of supporters, irreconcilables, and reservationists, leaving not enough force behind the supporters to gain any momentum, as well as the Senate being afraid that Article X would reduce the Senate's power to declare war. The Treaty also did not coincide with growing American looks towards isolationism.
6. The unprecedented scope and casualities of WWI led to a weary, disillusioned America and an overwhelming desire for "normalcy". Republican candidate Warren G. Harding picked up on this growing American sentiment and stated that the wanted a break from the Wilsonian high-mindedness, gaining public approval.
2. Progressives felt trapped between the extremes of the big businesses and the poverty-stricken and sought a middle ground. This was found in the usage of the Australian ballot, the referendum, the citizen voting initiative, the direct election of senators by the people, and the open primary elections.
3. While the Progressive Era (1900-1920) did effectively foster significant advancements in national-level reform movements pertaining to environmental conservation, worker's rights, and trust-busting, many marginalized groups such as immigrants and African Americans remained inherently underprivileged due to inadequate federal support.
4. The government sought support on the home front through extensive use of propaganda that promoted the Allied Forces, depicting the Germans as ruthless barbarians- this was due, in part, to Britain being able to control what stories were being fed to the American press. Support was also drummed up by Wilson's patriotic and morally-rooted plans such as the 14 Points, idealistic view of the war, and the idea of "peace without victory" that played an extensive role in the surrender of the Germans.
5. The United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and, thus, membership in the League of Nations because Wilson due to the Senate's divison into the three groups of supporters, irreconcilables, and reservationists, leaving not enough force behind the supporters to gain any momentum, as well as the Senate being afraid that Article X would reduce the Senate's power to declare war. The Treaty also did not coincide with growing American looks towards isolationism.
6. The unprecedented scope and casualities of WWI led to a weary, disillusioned America and an overwhelming desire for "normalcy". Republican candidate Warren G. Harding picked up on this growing American sentiment and stated that the wanted a break from the Wilsonian high-mindedness, gaining public approval.
Wilson's Foreign Policy and WWI Lecture Notes
Wilson's Foreign Policy
Wilson took a new direction in foreign policy- peacemaker and pacifist at heart, hated big stick policy and dollar diplomacy- took a moral approach, spawning moral diplomacy
Centers around idea that the US could support Latin America by supporting countries who were democratic
Wilson got American bankers to pull out of a loan make to China, got congress to repeal the Panama Canals Tolls Act, signed the Jones Act (1916), granted territorial statues to Philippines and promised independence when a stable government could be founded
However, Wilson was also forced to take action: he diffused a situation with Japan- California forbade Japanese Americans from holding property, sent William Jennings to speak, things calmed down
Forced to take military action in 1915 in Haiti to protect Americans; sent marines to the Dominican Republic to keep order; purchased Virgin Islands from Denmark
Diplomacy in Mexico:
For years, American oil, railroad, and mining companies have used Mexican resources, resulting in widespread Mexican poverty, who eventually rose up in revolt
During the revolt, Mexican president was assassinated and a Native American- Huerta- was appointed president
Revolutionaries under new president were violent, threatened American lives and property, Wilson refused to recognize Huerta's regime- allows american arms to go to Huerta rivals
US intervened in Mexico because of the Tampico incident- Mexico seizes American sailors, US took military action
ABC powers: Argentina, Brazil, Chile step in to mediate incident and Huerta steps down- Carranza becomes leader of Mexico, his chief rival Pancho Villa stirs up trouble
Pancho Villa is Mexican robin hood basically
Pancho makes a critical mistake when he raids a train and kills 16 americans, kills 19 more americans in New Mexico
the Pancho Villa raids: troops are taken into Mexico to find Pancho Villa, but he is elusive
During this fighting, WWI breaks out and general in charge gets called back to america
Pancho Villa is murdered by Mexican rival
Despite moral diplomacy ideals, wilson is forced to take action and results in hostile relationship between Mexico and the United States
World War I Begins
June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated by Gavrilo Princep, a Serbian nationalist part of the terrorist group The Black Hand, adamantly against the Austria Hungary empire
This starts the July Crisis: the time period that causes WWI to begin not just between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, but brings in all major countries of EU into war with each other
Main causes:
Militarism, especially relevant looking at naval arms race between Germany and England
Alliances, becoming increasingly complex; formed due to politics/ethnicity. Central Powers Alliance- Germany, Austria, Ottoman Empire; the Allied Powers: Russia, France, Great Britain. Italy switches sides half way through to join allied powers, US joins with this group
AH lays out ultimatums for Serbia, encouraging Russia to mobilize there troops, which leads Germany to becoming increasingly more cautious as to Russia's actions.
August, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia, France declares war on Germany, Germany unfolds Schlieffen Plan to avoid problem of two-front war- focuses on western front first, then take care of Russia second
This involves marching through neutral Belgium brings in England, who enters on August 4. "The lights are going out all over Europe, and I doubt they will be on again in our lifetime."
What is the US doing?
Woodrow Wilson is facing problems in Latin America and Caribbean, as well as having his wife dying; this looms larger than European chaos.
Seemed unreal to most americans that Europe could descend into this "orgy of mutual destruction"
At the early 20th century, Europe had been peaceful and prosperous; this warfare assumes unprecedented proportions and ruthlessness
Characteristics of World War I
The real surprise in 1914 wasn't the war itself, but the nature of the war that unfolded in terms of scale, scope, and carnage
Machine guns, arial bombings, poison gas, long range artillery, etc. produced horrific causalities
Total war: everyone is considered a combatant, included civilians- intentional destruction continued far beyond the battlefield
First month of fighting: Germany ran over a Belgian city, burned down the ancient library, and murdered incredible numbers of civilians; this is used as prop to get US involved
Russia intended this war to be one of racial extermination- each nation is guilty of some sort of atrocity, each engaged in war talks that touched on themes of god, duty, patriotism, honor
All sides thought this would be a war of quick movement, but it was bogged down by 1915 into a stalemate and a war of senseless partition- massive battles that contributed little except slaughter
Battle of Verdun lasted months, saw unprecedented firing that shattered land into a "cratered wasteland", French lost 146k, Germans lost similar amount. Had become "War of Extermination".
Saw rise of trench warfare, won only by brute force. You won't gain ground, just destroy other forces
Trenches were "rat infested and corpse drenched". Lose of feet (trench-foot) and trench fever were common.
Either die in the trenches or in no man's land, where you advance on the enemy who is armed with machine guns, etc.
Once, the British lost 13 thousand men in three hours; this assault only gained them 100 yards of land.
Blood Money: US bankers engage in fruitful trade with the allies, but will lead the United States into eventual war.
What will the United States Do?
As WWI became a stalemate and casualties soared, tension to participate increased.
There was a sense of gratitude of the ocean between the US and Europe.
"Nuetral in thought as well as in action".
More than a third of US citizens were hyphenated Americans. German-Americans numbered around 8 million, Irish-Americans had about 4 million. Both groups had a deep animosity towards Britain; these groups sympathized with Central Powers.
Most American leaders were pro-British from the start of the war and saw German militarism as a threat to the United States.
Blood Money: when war broke out, there was a slump of American exports, but by 1915, there was an incredible boom for american businesses, bankers, and farmers.
US bankers would advance over two billion dollars in loans to the Allies before the US joined, only 27 million to the Germans.
Best way to ensure repayment of loans was if the Allies won the war; pressured administrations to support the British.
Increasing trade among US and Allies is the freedom of the seas. Overseas trade clings to official stance of neutrality- this echoes the US position during the Napoleonic Wars, leading up to the war of 1812.
August 6, William Jennings Bryan calls upon all waring nations to respect the neutrality. British refused this, and in November, they declared the whole North Sea a war zone, lacing the sea with mines, ordering neutral ships to be searched.
British might harm American commerce, but this doesn't cost American lives. However, the Germans respond to the British blockade by proclaiming a war-zone in the sea, subjecting boats to German submarine warfare, which violated the long established procedure of ensuring passengers and crew safety before sinking them.
America pronounces this submarine policy a violation of neutral rights. Then, it all starts to hit the fan.
May 7, 1915: German subs sink a huge ocean liner, the Lusitania- coming from NY, on its way to Great Britain. 128 Americans were killed. First step in unrestricted submarine warfare that caused US to go to war. Americans demand the US takes action.
Roosevelt said the sinking was an act of piracy, Wilson urged patience. Roosevelt threatened to skin Wilson alive if he didn't go to war over the Lusitania.
His previous demand for strict accountability forces him to take a stronger response- demand that the Germans repay America and stop all submarine warfare. Wilson contended that the US wanted nothing less than the sacred rights of humanity.
Starts to see the rise in intentions between Americans and Germans.
Sept, 1913: German sinks English ship, costing 2 American lives.
1914: French boat, the Sussex, sinks, injures 2.
Wilson threatens to break off all diplomatic relations with Germany, resulting in the much stronger Sussex Pledge not to sink merchant or passenger ships. This pledge is stronger than any other previously given and is kept by Germans for about a year.
1916 Election and the United States Entry into War
US demand for a stronger army and navy, pressure to do more for military expansion
December, 1914: National Security League is founded
Ingites debate between pacifists, isolationsists who claim defense buildup is a program for jingos
National Defense Act 1916: Expands regular defense army and National Guard
Although steps are being taken, we don't have anywhere near the numbers needed to fight this war efficiently
1916 election: Republicans were hoping to regain control of normal elected majority and combine again with the Bull Moose. However, they didn't have a good candidate that would deliver this message- ran Charles Evans Hughes. However, he was too similar to Wilson, where Wilson has one issue that he can use to gain him an edge to win: better campaigner and has two pledges: progressive social agenda, and "he kept us out of war".
This resonates enough to help him win by 23 electoral votes and half a million popular votes.
Last Efforts for Peace
Immediately after the election, Wilson offered to mediate things in EU:
"Peace without victory" speech: 1917. No side in this conflict is going to gain an upper hand or be utterly embarrassed. However, he was too late: two weeks before this speech, Germany waged again unrestricted submarine warfare because they hoped to get a quick knockout before the US could get into the war.
All vessels would be sunk without warning- Freedom of the seas is for icebergs and fish.
The United States broke diplomatic relations with the German government, starts to arm west merchant ships.
Feb 25, Britain intercepted the Zimmerman Note from Germany that urged the Mexicans to invade the United States. In exchange for this, Germany guaranteed Mexico would recover land lost to America- New Mexico, Arizona, etc.
This is the last straw- US is in all in.
1917: Fall of the czarist government gave the illusion that to fight for the allies is to make the world safe for democracy- however, a communist dictatorship is installed with the Bolsheviks.
April 2nd, Germany and the United States are at war in a "righteous conflict". This will be the "War to End All Wars".
Causes Overview: British propaganda infiltrating the American media. The United State's deep involvement in allied trade. Unrestricted submarine warfare on the Atlantic was the highest cause.
The resuming of this warfare leaves Wilson no choice but to go to war.
Wilson has a plans to make sure this is the war to end all war: Wilson's 14 Points.
This is Wilsonian idealism at it's finest, resting on principles of collective security in league of nations, as well as self-determination.
Have to make transition from peacetime economy to wartime economy.
The Home Front
Have to mobilize public opinion as well as army
Committee of Public Information headed by George Creel, who said it was best to inform through propaganda, rather than censorship.
Evident in film, music, etc. By arousing public opinion, this spawned american "witch hunts" towards German Americans in acts of violence and mobs.
Symphonies refused to perform Beethoven, towns changed names if it sounded German, dachshunds were renamed "liberty pups".
Wilson saw these consequences, but he leads to effort to suppress civil liberties in Espionage and Sedition Acts.
Espionage Act: Congress can suppress criticism of leaders and policies, imposed fines for those who tried to incite disloyalty, etc
Sedition Act: Suppresses the saying or writing anything "abusive" about the war effort.
More than 1,000 convictions were set out, included on a Socialist congressman and Eugene Debs- received ten years in jail.
Woodrow Wilson, though progressive, refused to grant a pardon to Debs.
Shank v. US: reaffirmed conviction of a man punished for anti-war sentiments, freedom of speech is limited it creates clear and eminent danger. Similar case in Abraham v. US.
Nation's factories go to war.
US was hardly prepared at all- not a large weaponry industry, smaller army and navy.
Plan for mobilization: growing an army- does this through the Selective Service Act (military draft)- all men 21-30, then later 21-45 could be drafted into service.
Black men serve in segregated units.
Complete economic mobilization is necessary to conduct war- Food administration, headed by Herbert Hoover, sought to raise agriculture production while reducing civilian consumption.
Advocated the planting of victory gardens- "food will win the war."
Creation of War Industries Board- government told the industries what they needed to produce, how much, and when they needed it by. Could allocate raw materials, create new plants, and with approval fix prices.
Labor shortage due to men leaving; minorities are encouraged to enter industries normally dominated by white men. Over 400k southern blacks began the Great Migration northward towards industry jobs, completely changing political and social dynamics. Followed by Mexican Americans.
This saw race riots break out over the large cities of the North.
Women supported war effort in mostly traditional ways- red cross, joined army nurse core, etc.
As scope widened, women recruited to work in industrial jobs normally for men- seen as a breakthrough, while this was really limited and brief.
Male dominated unions encouraged women to revert back to gender roles after war was over.
This allowed Wilson to make the decision to endorse women's suffrage- women's votes were vital to winning the war.
AEF in Europe
American troops didn't play a large role into 1918- all through 1917, the allied armies were on the defensive, and situations turned desperate.
November, 1917, Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Republic and communist leaders dropped out of the war- Russia now concentrates on Western front. Results in a race for the defense of France.
"Tell your Americans to come quickly"- predicts Germans will launch attack in the spring of 1918, and America is needed if the war is won. This ends up being true.
By May 1918, there were one million troops finally making a difference. Despite the modest victories of Americans, the effect on moral was highly positive.
Leads to a momentum shift from Central Powers to Allied.
July 1918, Second Battle of the Mare. British, French, Americans stop British advance into France and pushGermans into Belgians, where AEF starts taking offensive.
September 1918, peak of US fighting, Americans divisions join up with French divisions in breaking up a railroad that gives the entire German front supplies in France.
Neither side has stated openly what they hope to gain from this fight
Wilson: The Americans themselves had no selfish war gain. People everywhere are looking to the US for direction and leadership. This does not jive well with what other countries have been saying.
Wilson's 14 points: the only possible program for peace. first 5 call for open diplomatic conductions, most of the remaining points deal with territorial things, point 14 called for the creation of the League of Nations made to protect peace.
This will be where international community can air out grievances without going to war- embodies Wilson's sincerest ideals.
All accepted this as the basis of negotiations, but the French demanded reparations from Germany and Austria, Britain wants restriction of the sea.
Armistice Day is decided because Germany assumes that negotiations will be dealt with in accord with the 14 Points.
Official ceasefire: 11th day, 11th month, 11th hour. After 1,563 days of warfare, all guns fall silent.
Germans agree to evacuate all territories on assurance that 14 Points will be basis for peace conference.
Wilson and the Paris Peace Conference
Three mistakes that Wilson makes:
Wilson decides to go to Paris himself, gone for six months- negative impact on progressive coalition. Wilson defied any advice given during midterm elections and urged people to vote for a democratic congress. Failed to appoint a prominent republican to the staff of peace commissioners.
Greeted as a hero in Paris, seeing him as a spokesman for humanity.
Others in Paris: Clemenceau from France, David Laurie George, Orlando from Italy
Wilson promises peace without victory, France and Italy want to weaken Germany, Italy wanted land- hammering out the treaty is complex and filled with tension.
Wilson insists that the League of Nations is the top priority of the treaty.
Article X- Heart of the league of nations.
Wilson gives into French demands for concessions and reparations from Germany, leaving Germany poor and weak and eager for revenge in the 1920s, paving way for Hitler to take power.
France gets to exploit Saar Coal Valley resources
British and the French wanted Germany to pay for everything, including veteran pensions
War Guilt Cause: Germany confesses responsibility of the war and therefore the cost of the war- this is what will lead to the rise of the Nazis.
Wilson himself admitted that if he was German, he would refuse to sign the treaty.
German's return this treaty with over 400 pages of criticism, French threaten to move their armies into Germany unless they sign it.
Signed at the Hall of Mirrors in June of 1919.
Once Hitler saw what the treaty has done to Germany, he literally demanded German revenge.
Wilson returns home in July amid great clamor of popular support.
Wilson called upon the Senate to ratify the treaty- "Dare we reject it and break the heart of the world?"
Lodge and Wilson get into animosity- Lodge sees that he can gain support by rejecting it.
Three groups in the Senate:
1. Supporters of the treaty. 2. Irreconcilables: refuse to support American membership in the league of nations. 3. Reservationists, wanted limited participation.
Lodge proposes ammendments that would support the Reservationists- Wilson takes the argument to the people with a train tour to gain public approval for the treaty.
This gives him a stroke- he will now be a stubborn, bitter man who refuses to compromise.
Wilson never gets the senate to ratify the treaty due to the senate being afraid that article x would reduce the senate power to declare war, goes against the growing vibe of isolationism, etc.
Election of 1920: Republican candidate Warren G. Harding sees what American public wants
Ultimate irony: built to be the war to end all wars, but Wilson's refusal to compromise at home and over-willingness to compromise abroad directly starts World War II.
Wilson took a new direction in foreign policy- peacemaker and pacifist at heart, hated big stick policy and dollar diplomacy- took a moral approach, spawning moral diplomacy
Centers around idea that the US could support Latin America by supporting countries who were democratic
Wilson got American bankers to pull out of a loan make to China, got congress to repeal the Panama Canals Tolls Act, signed the Jones Act (1916), granted territorial statues to Philippines and promised independence when a stable government could be founded
However, Wilson was also forced to take action: he diffused a situation with Japan- California forbade Japanese Americans from holding property, sent William Jennings to speak, things calmed down
Forced to take military action in 1915 in Haiti to protect Americans; sent marines to the Dominican Republic to keep order; purchased Virgin Islands from Denmark
Diplomacy in Mexico:
For years, American oil, railroad, and mining companies have used Mexican resources, resulting in widespread Mexican poverty, who eventually rose up in revolt
During the revolt, Mexican president was assassinated and a Native American- Huerta- was appointed president
Revolutionaries under new president were violent, threatened American lives and property, Wilson refused to recognize Huerta's regime- allows american arms to go to Huerta rivals
US intervened in Mexico because of the Tampico incident- Mexico seizes American sailors, US took military action
ABC powers: Argentina, Brazil, Chile step in to mediate incident and Huerta steps down- Carranza becomes leader of Mexico, his chief rival Pancho Villa stirs up trouble
Pancho Villa is Mexican robin hood basically
Pancho makes a critical mistake when he raids a train and kills 16 americans, kills 19 more americans in New Mexico
the Pancho Villa raids: troops are taken into Mexico to find Pancho Villa, but he is elusive
During this fighting, WWI breaks out and general in charge gets called back to america
Pancho Villa is murdered by Mexican rival
Despite moral diplomacy ideals, wilson is forced to take action and results in hostile relationship between Mexico and the United States
World War I Begins
June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated by Gavrilo Princep, a Serbian nationalist part of the terrorist group The Black Hand, adamantly against the Austria Hungary empire
This starts the July Crisis: the time period that causes WWI to begin not just between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, but brings in all major countries of EU into war with each other
Main causes:
Militarism, especially relevant looking at naval arms race between Germany and England
Alliances, becoming increasingly complex; formed due to politics/ethnicity. Central Powers Alliance- Germany, Austria, Ottoman Empire; the Allied Powers: Russia, France, Great Britain. Italy switches sides half way through to join allied powers, US joins with this group
AH lays out ultimatums for Serbia, encouraging Russia to mobilize there troops, which leads Germany to becoming increasingly more cautious as to Russia's actions.
August, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia, France declares war on Germany, Germany unfolds Schlieffen Plan to avoid problem of two-front war- focuses on western front first, then take care of Russia second
This involves marching through neutral Belgium brings in England, who enters on August 4. "The lights are going out all over Europe, and I doubt they will be on again in our lifetime."
What is the US doing?
Woodrow Wilson is facing problems in Latin America and Caribbean, as well as having his wife dying; this looms larger than European chaos.
Seemed unreal to most americans that Europe could descend into this "orgy of mutual destruction"
At the early 20th century, Europe had been peaceful and prosperous; this warfare assumes unprecedented proportions and ruthlessness
Characteristics of World War I
The real surprise in 1914 wasn't the war itself, but the nature of the war that unfolded in terms of scale, scope, and carnage
Machine guns, arial bombings, poison gas, long range artillery, etc. produced horrific causalities
Total war: everyone is considered a combatant, included civilians- intentional destruction continued far beyond the battlefield
First month of fighting: Germany ran over a Belgian city, burned down the ancient library, and murdered incredible numbers of civilians; this is used as prop to get US involved
Russia intended this war to be one of racial extermination- each nation is guilty of some sort of atrocity, each engaged in war talks that touched on themes of god, duty, patriotism, honor
All sides thought this would be a war of quick movement, but it was bogged down by 1915 into a stalemate and a war of senseless partition- massive battles that contributed little except slaughter
Battle of Verdun lasted months, saw unprecedented firing that shattered land into a "cratered wasteland", French lost 146k, Germans lost similar amount. Had become "War of Extermination".
Saw rise of trench warfare, won only by brute force. You won't gain ground, just destroy other forces
Trenches were "rat infested and corpse drenched". Lose of feet (trench-foot) and trench fever were common.
Either die in the trenches or in no man's land, where you advance on the enemy who is armed with machine guns, etc.
Once, the British lost 13 thousand men in three hours; this assault only gained them 100 yards of land.
Blood Money: US bankers engage in fruitful trade with the allies, but will lead the United States into eventual war.
What will the United States Do?
As WWI became a stalemate and casualties soared, tension to participate increased.
There was a sense of gratitude of the ocean between the US and Europe.
"Nuetral in thought as well as in action".
More than a third of US citizens were hyphenated Americans. German-Americans numbered around 8 million, Irish-Americans had about 4 million. Both groups had a deep animosity towards Britain; these groups sympathized with Central Powers.
Most American leaders were pro-British from the start of the war and saw German militarism as a threat to the United States.
Blood Money: when war broke out, there was a slump of American exports, but by 1915, there was an incredible boom for american businesses, bankers, and farmers.
US bankers would advance over two billion dollars in loans to the Allies before the US joined, only 27 million to the Germans.
Best way to ensure repayment of loans was if the Allies won the war; pressured administrations to support the British.
Increasing trade among US and Allies is the freedom of the seas. Overseas trade clings to official stance of neutrality- this echoes the US position during the Napoleonic Wars, leading up to the war of 1812.
August 6, William Jennings Bryan calls upon all waring nations to respect the neutrality. British refused this, and in November, they declared the whole North Sea a war zone, lacing the sea with mines, ordering neutral ships to be searched.
British might harm American commerce, but this doesn't cost American lives. However, the Germans respond to the British blockade by proclaiming a war-zone in the sea, subjecting boats to German submarine warfare, which violated the long established procedure of ensuring passengers and crew safety before sinking them.
America pronounces this submarine policy a violation of neutral rights. Then, it all starts to hit the fan.
May 7, 1915: German subs sink a huge ocean liner, the Lusitania- coming from NY, on its way to Great Britain. 128 Americans were killed. First step in unrestricted submarine warfare that caused US to go to war. Americans demand the US takes action.
Roosevelt said the sinking was an act of piracy, Wilson urged patience. Roosevelt threatened to skin Wilson alive if he didn't go to war over the Lusitania.
His previous demand for strict accountability forces him to take a stronger response- demand that the Germans repay America and stop all submarine warfare. Wilson contended that the US wanted nothing less than the sacred rights of humanity.
Starts to see the rise in intentions between Americans and Germans.
Sept, 1913: German sinks English ship, costing 2 American lives.
1914: French boat, the Sussex, sinks, injures 2.
Wilson threatens to break off all diplomatic relations with Germany, resulting in the much stronger Sussex Pledge not to sink merchant or passenger ships. This pledge is stronger than any other previously given and is kept by Germans for about a year.
1916 Election and the United States Entry into War
US demand for a stronger army and navy, pressure to do more for military expansion
December, 1914: National Security League is founded
Ingites debate between pacifists, isolationsists who claim defense buildup is a program for jingos
National Defense Act 1916: Expands regular defense army and National Guard
Although steps are being taken, we don't have anywhere near the numbers needed to fight this war efficiently
1916 election: Republicans were hoping to regain control of normal elected majority and combine again with the Bull Moose. However, they didn't have a good candidate that would deliver this message- ran Charles Evans Hughes. However, he was too similar to Wilson, where Wilson has one issue that he can use to gain him an edge to win: better campaigner and has two pledges: progressive social agenda, and "he kept us out of war".
This resonates enough to help him win by 23 electoral votes and half a million popular votes.
Last Efforts for Peace
Immediately after the election, Wilson offered to mediate things in EU:
"Peace without victory" speech: 1917. No side in this conflict is going to gain an upper hand or be utterly embarrassed. However, he was too late: two weeks before this speech, Germany waged again unrestricted submarine warfare because they hoped to get a quick knockout before the US could get into the war.
All vessels would be sunk without warning- Freedom of the seas is for icebergs and fish.
The United States broke diplomatic relations with the German government, starts to arm west merchant ships.
Feb 25, Britain intercepted the Zimmerman Note from Germany that urged the Mexicans to invade the United States. In exchange for this, Germany guaranteed Mexico would recover land lost to America- New Mexico, Arizona, etc.
This is the last straw- US is in all in.
1917: Fall of the czarist government gave the illusion that to fight for the allies is to make the world safe for democracy- however, a communist dictatorship is installed with the Bolsheviks.
April 2nd, Germany and the United States are at war in a "righteous conflict". This will be the "War to End All Wars".
Causes Overview: British propaganda infiltrating the American media. The United State's deep involvement in allied trade. Unrestricted submarine warfare on the Atlantic was the highest cause.
The resuming of this warfare leaves Wilson no choice but to go to war.
Wilson has a plans to make sure this is the war to end all war: Wilson's 14 Points.
This is Wilsonian idealism at it's finest, resting on principles of collective security in league of nations, as well as self-determination.
Have to make transition from peacetime economy to wartime economy.
The Home Front
Have to mobilize public opinion as well as army
Committee of Public Information headed by George Creel, who said it was best to inform through propaganda, rather than censorship.
Evident in film, music, etc. By arousing public opinion, this spawned american "witch hunts" towards German Americans in acts of violence and mobs.
Symphonies refused to perform Beethoven, towns changed names if it sounded German, dachshunds were renamed "liberty pups".
Wilson saw these consequences, but he leads to effort to suppress civil liberties in Espionage and Sedition Acts.
Espionage Act: Congress can suppress criticism of leaders and policies, imposed fines for those who tried to incite disloyalty, etc
Sedition Act: Suppresses the saying or writing anything "abusive" about the war effort.
More than 1,000 convictions were set out, included on a Socialist congressman and Eugene Debs- received ten years in jail.
Woodrow Wilson, though progressive, refused to grant a pardon to Debs.
Shank v. US: reaffirmed conviction of a man punished for anti-war sentiments, freedom of speech is limited it creates clear and eminent danger. Similar case in Abraham v. US.
Nation's factories go to war.
US was hardly prepared at all- not a large weaponry industry, smaller army and navy.
Plan for mobilization: growing an army- does this through the Selective Service Act (military draft)- all men 21-30, then later 21-45 could be drafted into service.
Black men serve in segregated units.
Complete economic mobilization is necessary to conduct war- Food administration, headed by Herbert Hoover, sought to raise agriculture production while reducing civilian consumption.
Advocated the planting of victory gardens- "food will win the war."
Creation of War Industries Board- government told the industries what they needed to produce, how much, and when they needed it by. Could allocate raw materials, create new plants, and with approval fix prices.
Labor shortage due to men leaving; minorities are encouraged to enter industries normally dominated by white men. Over 400k southern blacks began the Great Migration northward towards industry jobs, completely changing political and social dynamics. Followed by Mexican Americans.
This saw race riots break out over the large cities of the North.
Women supported war effort in mostly traditional ways- red cross, joined army nurse core, etc.
As scope widened, women recruited to work in industrial jobs normally for men- seen as a breakthrough, while this was really limited and brief.
Male dominated unions encouraged women to revert back to gender roles after war was over.
This allowed Wilson to make the decision to endorse women's suffrage- women's votes were vital to winning the war.
AEF in Europe
American troops didn't play a large role into 1918- all through 1917, the allied armies were on the defensive, and situations turned desperate.
November, 1917, Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Republic and communist leaders dropped out of the war- Russia now concentrates on Western front. Results in a race for the defense of France.
"Tell your Americans to come quickly"- predicts Germans will launch attack in the spring of 1918, and America is needed if the war is won. This ends up being true.
By May 1918, there were one million troops finally making a difference. Despite the modest victories of Americans, the effect on moral was highly positive.
Leads to a momentum shift from Central Powers to Allied.
July 1918, Second Battle of the Mare. British, French, Americans stop British advance into France and pushGermans into Belgians, where AEF starts taking offensive.
September 1918, peak of US fighting, Americans divisions join up with French divisions in breaking up a railroad that gives the entire German front supplies in France.
Neither side has stated openly what they hope to gain from this fight
Wilson: The Americans themselves had no selfish war gain. People everywhere are looking to the US for direction and leadership. This does not jive well with what other countries have been saying.
Wilson's 14 points: the only possible program for peace. first 5 call for open diplomatic conductions, most of the remaining points deal with territorial things, point 14 called for the creation of the League of Nations made to protect peace.
This will be where international community can air out grievances without going to war- embodies Wilson's sincerest ideals.
All accepted this as the basis of negotiations, but the French demanded reparations from Germany and Austria, Britain wants restriction of the sea.
Armistice Day is decided because Germany assumes that negotiations will be dealt with in accord with the 14 Points.
Official ceasefire: 11th day, 11th month, 11th hour. After 1,563 days of warfare, all guns fall silent.
Germans agree to evacuate all territories on assurance that 14 Points will be basis for peace conference.
Wilson and the Paris Peace Conference
Three mistakes that Wilson makes:
Wilson decides to go to Paris himself, gone for six months- negative impact on progressive coalition. Wilson defied any advice given during midterm elections and urged people to vote for a democratic congress. Failed to appoint a prominent republican to the staff of peace commissioners.
Greeted as a hero in Paris, seeing him as a spokesman for humanity.
Others in Paris: Clemenceau from France, David Laurie George, Orlando from Italy
Wilson promises peace without victory, France and Italy want to weaken Germany, Italy wanted land- hammering out the treaty is complex and filled with tension.
Wilson insists that the League of Nations is the top priority of the treaty.
Article X- Heart of the league of nations.
Wilson gives into French demands for concessions and reparations from Germany, leaving Germany poor and weak and eager for revenge in the 1920s, paving way for Hitler to take power.
France gets to exploit Saar Coal Valley resources
British and the French wanted Germany to pay for everything, including veteran pensions
War Guilt Cause: Germany confesses responsibility of the war and therefore the cost of the war- this is what will lead to the rise of the Nazis.
Wilson himself admitted that if he was German, he would refuse to sign the treaty.
German's return this treaty with over 400 pages of criticism, French threaten to move their armies into Germany unless they sign it.
Signed at the Hall of Mirrors in June of 1919.
Once Hitler saw what the treaty has done to Germany, he literally demanded German revenge.
Wilson returns home in July amid great clamor of popular support.
Wilson called upon the Senate to ratify the treaty- "Dare we reject it and break the heart of the world?"
Lodge and Wilson get into animosity- Lodge sees that he can gain support by rejecting it.
Three groups in the Senate:
1. Supporters of the treaty. 2. Irreconcilables: refuse to support American membership in the league of nations. 3. Reservationists, wanted limited participation.
Lodge proposes ammendments that would support the Reservationists- Wilson takes the argument to the people with a train tour to gain public approval for the treaty.
This gives him a stroke- he will now be a stubborn, bitter man who refuses to compromise.
Wilson never gets the senate to ratify the treaty due to the senate being afraid that article x would reduce the senate power to declare war, goes against the growing vibe of isolationism, etc.
Election of 1920: Republican candidate Warren G. Harding sees what American public wants
Ultimate irony: built to be the war to end all wars, but Wilson's refusal to compromise at home and over-willingness to compromise abroad directly starts World War II.
Progressive DBQ- Document I
Thesis:
While the Progressive Era (1900-1920) did effectively foster significant advancements in national-level reform movements pertaining to environmental conservation, worker's rights, and trust-busting, many marginalized groups such as immigrants and African Americans remained inherently underprivileged due to inadequate federal support.
Source Evaluation: Document I
a. Despite America's progress, the fact that the country still does nothing in the wake of the lynchings, beatings, brutality, and disenfranchisement of African Americans renders the United States still as a "shameful land".
b. The intended audience is the American government and public, especially those who remain idle about African American struggles.
c. The point of view established here is a reformative point of view, influenced by the undressed discrimination and hatred towards blacks.
d. This can be linked to the Massachusetts 54th, World War I, Bourbon Democrats, and Reconstruction.
e. Outside information: du Bois' foundation of the NAACP, Jim Crow laws.
While the Progressive Era (1900-1920) did effectively foster significant advancements in national-level reform movements pertaining to environmental conservation, worker's rights, and trust-busting, many marginalized groups such as immigrants and African Americans remained inherently underprivileged due to inadequate federal support.
Source Evaluation: Document I
a. Despite America's progress, the fact that the country still does nothing in the wake of the lynchings, beatings, brutality, and disenfranchisement of African Americans renders the United States still as a "shameful land".
b. The intended audience is the American government and public, especially those who remain idle about African American struggles.
c. The point of view established here is a reformative point of view, influenced by the undressed discrimination and hatred towards blacks.
d. This can be linked to the Massachusetts 54th, World War I, Bourbon Democrats, and Reconstruction.
e. Outside information: du Bois' foundation of the NAACP, Jim Crow laws.
The Jungle Reading and Responses
Response to Reading (Problems): Spreading of Tuberculosis, spoiled meat, rat contamination, poisoning, and spoiling of goods were among the principle problems outlined by Sinclair in The Jungle. He detailed grisly occurrences within the industry, including dead vermin and lots of poor upkeep of the food.
Response to Reading (Problems): Sinclair mentions the wool-pluckers, whose hands were eaten up with acid in order to loosen the wool of sheep; those that made the tin cans for meat, whose bare hands were laced with cuts and each cut was prone to blood poisoning; those that worked at the stamping machines risked having a part of their hand chopped off; the hoisters that moved cattle developed severe back problems; some men fell into open vats full of steam, leaving nothing but bones. The plight of the factor worker was severe.
- It was very emotionally provocative, and it effectively gave Americans a personal attachment to attempting to improve conditions for factory workers as well as ensuring safer food and meat for public consumption. Muckraking was very motivational and effective in its careful construction and appeal to pathos.
- I would expect them to set new guidlines and construct laws to ensure the safety of factory workers as well as improved sanitation for the food that is going to be consumed by Americans. They should also support inspections of factories to make sure these laws are being carried out.
- With labor unions demanding more rights and the problems only getting stronger, it is assumable that the conditions would be realized and speedily improved; it is an embarrassment for big companies to have bad public relations and a tarnished image, so it is safe to say that eventually, when the whistle was blown, conditions would improve.
Parts of Act to Try and Solve Problem: Meat food products distributed to the American public must be wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled for safe consumption; the ones that don't meet these requirements can be sold for a cheaper price if advertised as such. The burden is placed on the government to regulate such commmerce and to protect the health and welfare of the consumers. An examination of all food and meat is required and can be done at any time, and passing food must be inspected and passed or subsequently condemned. All slaughtering of meat must be sanitary and conditions have to be maintained and inspected.
Parts of Act to Try and Solve Problem: You are not allowed to produce or manufacture adulterated and uninspected food for sale. You are prohibited from transporting uninsepcted or adulterated meat and food across state and national boundaries. The Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor must make the rules for and carry out these provisions. Examinations of food and drugs shall be made in the borough of chemistry or of the Department of Agriculture. Meat and food may not be misbranded. If these are violated the company will be taken to the highest court of the United States for trial. Companies must guarantee the safety and cleanliness of their products and must clearly display their information on packaging
Roosevelt's Progressivism, Election of 1912, and Wilsonian Progressivism Lecture Notes
Roosevelt's Progressivism
Known as the First Modern President- took over for McKinley after his assassination in 1901
Uses government to help out public interest- seen as a bully pulpit
Supported reform, but has a contradictory track record- more of a moderate than he leaded on
Bypassed congressional opposition, seen also in foreign policy in dealing with the Panama Canal
Enormously popular to a large population of the American people
Used presidency to gain support and preach ideas
Going to embrace the square deal for American people: three c's- control corporations, consumer protection, especially in meat industry, conservation of natural resources
Control of the Cooperation's
Anthracite Coal Mine Struck- 1902, Penn.Coal miners of the united mine workers union went on strike demanding fair weighting, better safety, shorter days, higher wages.
Hard coal was used a lot and in high demand, workers felt that eventually the public would support the cause.
Bear, president of company, refused to negotiate these terms- strike went on and seeped into the fall, leading to concerns of heating the country.
Roosevelt decides that he must step in and mediate the settlement between these parties- threatens to cease the mines if owners refuse to compromise.
This is unprecedented in US history: before, government has always stepped in on the side of management. Miners received a 10% pay increase and work day reduction, managers got assurance that the union would not be officially recognized.
Most important thing: Roosevelt ended the strike, miners went back to work, promotes the idea of square deal- he will protect the people.
Another thing to come out of this: creation of a new cabinet position with the dep. of commerce and labor, created in 1903 to investigate trade, break up monopolies, protect workers.
Dealing with the Northern Securities Rail Road company- he attacks them due to their monopoly in 1902, monopoly dissolved.
First time gov used Sherman Anti-Trust Act to effectively break up monopoly. Earned reputation of "trust buster".
Elkins Act, 1903: response to ineffectiveness of interstate commerce; aims at reducing the abuse of rebates by the railroads. Heavy fines can be imposed on both railroads and shippers for abusing the rates.
Hepburn Act, 1906: restriction of free passes handed out from railroad companies used to bribe agencies or shippers.
Didn't consider trust busting economically sound- wanted to regulate, not break up, most of the trust. By the end of the term in 1908, trusts are healthier than ever before.
Consumer protection
natural impulse in gov to have some meat protection
EU markers threatened to ban american meat due to small amounts of tainted meat found
Upton Sinclair wrote the jungle- 1906- bring attention to the plight of the meat processing worker and gross out the american public to initiate political action in order to fix meat industry
results:meat inspection act: introduced by roosevelt, meat shipped over state line would be subjected to government inspection at every step of the process
pure food and drug act: prevented mislabeling of food and drugs- patented medicine was laced with alcohol.
Conservation
Americans had long considered their resources to be inexhaustible, especially with timber and resources
By 1900, americans realized this was not true.
Desert Land Act, 1877: sold desert land on promise of irrigation
Forest Reserve Act ,1891, gave president power to set aside land for reserves
Carry Act, 1894: gives federal land to states on promise of irrigation
Started a new age in conservation with roosevelt- his most tangible enduring achievement
Newlands Act 1902: allowed government to collect money from the sell of public lands in the west to Develop Irrigation Projects. money put into a revolving account to fund more projects. focused on dams
By 1900, only 25% of nations forests still stood- set aside 125 mil acres of forest, earmarked millions of acres of coal and water deposits
Leads to debate over using land for conservation or preservation- see Roosevelt and John Muir valley dam
Hetchy Hetch Valley: John wanted to preserve it- set aside and not touch it
San Fran: wanted to dam it and use for a water supply
Even though John Meir and Roosevelt were good friends, Roosevelt uses the pragmatic approach of damming.
Panic of 1907
907- wall street suffers short but brutal panic due to mismanagement, overextension of credit, overspecutaltion
No federal deposit insurance corp, so when people panic they take out all their money which prompts closing on banks
Roosevelt cooperates with large banks to prevent banking to collapse by transferring millions from one account to the other
some blamed these on his anti trust actions, Roosevelt accusing wall street of engineering this panic- wants to reduce power of banks even more
leads to reform becoming more acceptable with second wave of trust busting
effects:
insurgent republicans and democrats take on the republican old guard of the late 19th century panic of going to show the need for an elastic money supply- banks were unable to increase volume of currency in circulation, so wealthy were reluctant to loan money leads way to fed reserve act in 1913
labor and local reformers gain important mid class allies, roosevelt starts incorporating William Bryan's ideas, progressives embrace reforms put forth by socialists, populists, knights of labor, farmers alliance, greenbacks, etc.
bull moose party = progressive party: have platforms that champion the ideas of populists parties and early reformers of the 19th century.
Taft-Republican Split
William Taft- ran as Republican nominee against William Jennings Bryan: easy win for Taft
after Roosevelt's term, he goes on a Safari to Africa- heavily followed by American public and people
the Roosevelt legacy:
Wanted to tame unbridled capitalism, but not an enemy of business: seek a middle ground
Increased power of the presidency by initialing reforms, proposing legislation, proved America is a world power to be reckoned with
Taft and the Election of 1908
Taft was well liked, but lacked Teddy's fire- wanted to keep status quo instead of rocking the vote
congress started to oppose him so taft, by default, becomes likened to the old guard republicans
dollar diplomacy: sneakier- sub dollars for bullets, want american businesses and america to gain money by investing in Latin America and Caribbean
As a trust buster, he brought 90 suits against trusts in his 4 years as president
Overstepped his bounds in 1911 when he pressed anti trust against US Steel Corporation- one of the good trusts. this angered JP Morgan and Roosevelt.
Dedicated conservationist: equal to or better then Teddy, protected water development
Postal savings bank system 1910: authorized post to receive saving deposits and pay interest per year on said deposits
Split of rep party
Tariff of 1909- reducing the tariff was a major issue for reformers
House of reps passed moderate bill that would reduce rates a little, but the senate tacked on so many additions on increasing the tariff that the tariff ended up increasing taxes
Signed by Taft: further alienates progressive wing, last nail in the casket for his non reelection
Ballinger Pinchett, 1910: Ballinger opened up public lands for corp development, criticized by Pinchett in the forestry division
Taft takes Ballinger's side, dismisses Pinchett, angers conservationists.
Progressives are attacking the leading old republican, Joe Cannon, speaker of the house
This completes the split of the republican party- seen more in 1910 when roosevelt comes back into play with speech at Osawatomie, Kansas
Galvanized to become active w tariff and conservation issues, speech inspires progressives, he outlines new doctrine "new nationalism"
Marks new era in politics where old guard republicans are now on the defensive
1910 midterm elections- republicans lose badly, a few socialists are elected
1911- National Progressive Republican League with Robert Lafayette- leading candidate for Republican presidential nominee, but overshadowed by taft
Progressives left party to form the third party- Bull Moose Party- rather than have progressive republicans run with taft
Woodrow Wilson runs with idea of New Freedom, Social Party runs with Eugene Debs, Roosevelt runs with the Bull Moose Party, and Taft with the Republican Party
Election of 1912 and Wilsonian Progressivism
Democrats thought they could take the White House because of the republican split
wilson was chosen as candidate- former gov. of new jersey and president of Princeton university
New freedom platform: liberal and progressive ideas
Progressive party: bull moose party
Taft and Roosevelt laid into each other during the campaign
Wilson's New Freedom and Roosevelt's New Nationalism plants
Promise of American Life inspired new nationalism, book said to regulate, not crush, trust; pushed for female suffrage, minimal wage, social insurance programs, etc.; however, these would be hard for businessmen and conservatives
New Freedom: small business support, wanted to bust up all trusts, didn't include any social programs
Roosevelt was shot, delivered a speech, then went to the hospital, recovered in two weeks
Results:
Democrats won with Woodrow Wilson with a large electoral vote, but only 44% of the popular vote- most people didn't want him as president, but it happened
Socialist party was on the rise with Eugene Debs- about one million votes
Taft later becomes Chief Justice of Supreme Court
Wilson in Politics
born and raised in South
Sympathized with the Civil War, influenced self determination policy
During his time, DC became most segregated it had ever been
Great orator, very religious, well educated intellectual
His personality was opposite of Roosevelt- he was stubborn, an idealist, won't budge on his ideas or beliefs; he lacked the people's touch, seen as arrogant
Entered the white house saying he wants to attack the triple wall of privilege- tariff, trust, banks
underwood tariff: reduced tariff rates on imports, started graduated income tax legalized with 16th amendment
Banks: panic of 1907 showed faults in banking system- currency wasn't elastic enough
set up committee headed by Senator Aldridge, recommend a third bank of the united states
June, 1913: federal reserve act creates federal reserve board that oversaw 12 regional banks, gives power to issue paper money (federal reserve notes), could regulate the amount of money in regulation by issuing or holding back paper money
Trusts
congress passing federal trade commission act, stops mislabeling, unlawful competition, bribery
passed the clayton anti trust act (1914) finally puts teeth in anti trust act- added list of objectionable trust practices and exempted labor unions from being considered trusts, legalized strikes as forms as peaceful protest
Other reforms:
federal farm loan act, warehouse act, worker's rights, sailors guaranteed fair treatment, worker's compensation act, admission act set up 8 hour workday, put first jew on supreme court, but did not reach out towards african americans
treatment of blacks was a limit of progressivism- wilson's policies moved towards greater segregation
business community: wilson made conservative appointments to federal reserve board, moved many bull moose factors into his platform to make sure he didn't alienate any votes
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Progressivism Notes: Introduction to Features of Progressivism
Introduction to Progressivism:
Reform movement that began in the late 1800s, lasting to the early 1900s
died with america's involvement in ww1
life had gotten so complex the only way to protect society was through gov- the agency for human welfare at all levels- could protect public interests
major departure from jeffersonian america- government has to get involved, as well as departing from the gilded age, seen in industry running rampant
this came about due to the problems that the gilded age presented:
-increasing wage gap between rich and poor, widened in the 1890's, resulting in widespread political corruption: Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Haymarket Strikes, etc. led to dangerous working and living conditions for the masses in tenement houses, limited sanitization, etc., little concern for African Americans with Jim Crow laws (government still does very little to address this in the Progressive Era).
- goals: stop monopolies, political corruption, inefficiency, and start social justice movements (seen in prohibition movement, etc.)
these were to be achieved by the idea of government involvement to fix american problems
believed there needed to be a push for greater democracy
The Road to Progressivism
Greenback Party (Populist Party) outlined reforms that the progressive era would accomplish in the 20th century, which party members saw as the vindication for goals they championed in the 1890s with the Omaha Platform
Progressive Era reached peak in 1917
Mugwumps:
Reform movement shifted ideas into the cities after the Populists' continued losses in elections, where the Mugwumps arise
Mugwumps brought the notion of good government to the progressive party: gov could be a vehicle for good purposes and reform, wanted to first fix problems in cities
Active in the republican party, nicknamed "republican insurgents"
Socialism:
Brought the ideas that working conditions, laborers, and living conditions needed to be addressed
even though progressives as a whole sought to counter socialist doctrines, they still agreed with the views of improving lives of laborers
Social Critics:
Used writing and literature to spur progressive reform
"Wealth against Commonwealth" by Henry Demarest Lloyd, "Theory of the Leisure Class" by Thorstein Veblen, and "How the Other Half Lives" by Jacob Riis - used the power of the photograph to expose living conditions
Most important factors on the road to Progressivism: tossup between social critics and populists
Social Gospel and Settlement Houses
More and more people addressed problems that arose of rapid urbanization through charity, business, laws, etc. These reformers gave a new sense of life and urgency to American society
Protestant churches played a main role because middle class church goers where attending, but they moved out of the cities and into the suburbs
Preachers preached social darwinism, etc., so city workers such as immigrants didn't want to go- catered to middle class and wealthy rather than the poor
This shifted in the 1870s with attitude of being afraid that the church had turned its back on the people Christ loved the most- led to movement of church to address the less fortunate
Creation of organizations such as the YMCA, brought over from England in the 1850's onwards, Salvation Army (1878) tried to address the ills of poor
This led to the Social Gospel Movement: church tied in the religion into relevant problems of the masses
Washington Gladden: The working people and their employers book, rejected social darwinism: religion and god should govern workplace, endorsed workers rights, against classist church societies; wanted to see religion be more of a unifier than a divider
Walter Rauschenbusch: in the beginning of 20th century, he spent decades in "Hell's Kitchen", New York- focused his efforts where there were high criminal rates, immigration, poor living conditions, wrote "Christianity and the Social Crisis"- if we want the church to survive, we need to put moral forces in society to instill christian values and encourage church attendance
Other efforts at urban reform came from settlement houses:
by 1900, over 100 settlement houses in the US such as Hull House, Southend House, Henry Street Settlement
more pragmatic approach to combating problems of urbanization
bring together prosperous men with the working poor, placed right in the heart of poor ethnic ghettos
run often by a young middle class idealists, college trained women, etc.
focused on essential needs of their clientele required: give kindergarten to young kids, child care for women working in factories, came to sponsor art studios, lectures, gymnasiums, and other events/services: focused on tangible benefits rather than spiritual benefits.
"as effective as bailing out the ocean with a teaspoon"
got sanitary housing codes, public playgrounds, prohibition of child labor, monitoring of working conditions, etc. passed into law
Jane Adams (Hull House) won Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.
Women's Employment and Muckrakers
Settlement house workers made up a fraction of employed women- percentage increased in the 1880's and the first decade of the 1900's
Most significant event thus far in women's history
Biggest change in women's roles: clerical work- book keeping, sales jobs
These changes had little connection to women's rights movement, focused on suffrage
Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanford campaigned for this- even appealed to racism for this leverage (women deserve more rights than illiterate men of other races).
women's organizations began to sprout up to provide active outlets outside the home
largest and most influential: women's christian temperance movement (1874 founded) 150,000 members by 1900. Platform included: prison reform, aid for homeless children, sex ed, aid to working women, etc. Mobilized women and supported progressive reforms
Debate of the pertinence of suffrage on other issues split this group into two parts in 1879
1890: rival groups of these decided to unite as National American Women Suffrage Association
before the 19th amendment, women had rights to vote in 6 states by 1911.
Other issues women supported: literary clubs, social clubs, unfair labor conditions, national women's trade union league, etc.
What were the states doing in terms of reform?
Many states are starting to regulate business and working conditions, railroads, banks, insurance companies, limiting hours required for workers, limiting child labor, regular cash wages, factory inspections, and special protection for women.
Despite this, there are still conservative judges that limit the practical impact of these laws in the Supreme Court- used revised interpretation of 14th amendment, for example, to include corporations in order to protect business.
Slows down reforms
Muckrakers: investigative journalists who aimed to raise public awareness and political action to solve these problems
got the name from Roosevelt, who felt that the "crusading journalists" where too focused and sometimes went too far
Were responsible for the levels that progressivism took
In feeding the public's need for these facts about the social ills of America, the muckrakers embodied one of the features of the progressive movement and failures: stronger on diagnosis than on remedy.
More talk and walk, you know? Less legislation than expected
Lincoln Steffins, McClure, Tarbell are notable journalists.
Features of Progressivism
Democracy, efficiency, social justice, and anti trust legislation
Democracy:
Progressives focused on cleaning up gov: too many officials served corps, not people
aimed at increasing democratization of gov and greater political participation
the direct primary was installed, now allowed citizens and voters to decide their own political candidate inside a political party for the general election (Jacksonian Death of King Caucus spirit placed on a wider scale)
Other reforms: initiative where citizens can start legislature, referendum: citizens decide if a bill becomes law (think NC Amendment One), recall elections (vote on ending terms before terms are officially ended), the secret ballot, the direct election of senators.
taking away power from political machines
Gospel of Efficiency:
"Principles of Scientific Management" by Taylor, he is dubbed efficiency efforts expert, started Taylorism
Components of Taylorism: Reduce waste, reduce waste of energy, break down production of goods into steps to study amount of time each task has taken
Predecessor as assembly line management
In government, efficiency demanded the reorganization of government agencies to eliminate redundancies, establish clear lines of authority, assign accountability to specific officials
The commission system, 1901: local government in Texas collapsed due to a hurricane, led to ultimate authority placed on board of elected officials of different focus groups
City manager system: one professional administrator ran city government according to policies set by elected council and the mayor.
Early 20th: business functions required a special expertise
This principle of government run by nonpartisan experts was promoted by Robert Lafeyette, governer of Wisconsin, and Woodrow Wilson. Known as Wisconsin idea: promoted efficient, more scientific government and sufficient information given to those who would make laws on certain subject matters.
Rob also pushes for railroad regulation, conservation, compensation programs, etc. at every level.
Social justice:
Creation of nonprofits, charities, etc.
In time, it was realized that social evils extended beyond these efforts and demanded government intervention, seen particularly in labor legislation- most significant reform
National Child Labor Committee was founded in 1904. State and local committees had documentation of evils of child labor. This committee pushes banning of child labor through legislation
Regulation hours of women's work: Florence Kelly, Head of National Consumers League, wanted to regulate long working hours of women who were wives and mothers
Supreme Court pursued a curious path: Court voided a 10 hour workday because it devalued the liberty of contract: a worker can work any job they want for however long they want, no matter how bad the job is.
Later, Supreme Court ruled against 10 hour work days for women- demonstrates the flipping of the court.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire- 1911- owner of the factory had locked doors to prevent theft, but when the factory caught fire, women were trapped in the burning building. Hundred of girls were burned to death; this brought about greater legislation.
Reform movement that began in the late 1800s, lasting to the early 1900s
died with america's involvement in ww1
life had gotten so complex the only way to protect society was through gov- the agency for human welfare at all levels- could protect public interests
major departure from jeffersonian america- government has to get involved, as well as departing from the gilded age, seen in industry running rampant
this came about due to the problems that the gilded age presented:
-increasing wage gap between rich and poor, widened in the 1890's, resulting in widespread political corruption: Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Haymarket Strikes, etc. led to dangerous working and living conditions for the masses in tenement houses, limited sanitization, etc., little concern for African Americans with Jim Crow laws (government still does very little to address this in the Progressive Era).
- goals: stop monopolies, political corruption, inefficiency, and start social justice movements (seen in prohibition movement, etc.)
these were to be achieved by the idea of government involvement to fix american problems
believed there needed to be a push for greater democracy
The Road to Progressivism
Greenback Party (Populist Party) outlined reforms that the progressive era would accomplish in the 20th century, which party members saw as the vindication for goals they championed in the 1890s with the Omaha Platform
Progressive Era reached peak in 1917
Mugwumps:
Reform movement shifted ideas into the cities after the Populists' continued losses in elections, where the Mugwumps arise
Mugwumps brought the notion of good government to the progressive party: gov could be a vehicle for good purposes and reform, wanted to first fix problems in cities
Active in the republican party, nicknamed "republican insurgents"
Socialism:
Brought the ideas that working conditions, laborers, and living conditions needed to be addressed
even though progressives as a whole sought to counter socialist doctrines, they still agreed with the views of improving lives of laborers
Social Critics:
Used writing and literature to spur progressive reform
"Wealth against Commonwealth" by Henry Demarest Lloyd, "Theory of the Leisure Class" by Thorstein Veblen, and "How the Other Half Lives" by Jacob Riis - used the power of the photograph to expose living conditions
Most important factors on the road to Progressivism: tossup between social critics and populists
Social Gospel and Settlement Houses
More and more people addressed problems that arose of rapid urbanization through charity, business, laws, etc. These reformers gave a new sense of life and urgency to American society
Protestant churches played a main role because middle class church goers where attending, but they moved out of the cities and into the suburbs
Preachers preached social darwinism, etc., so city workers such as immigrants didn't want to go- catered to middle class and wealthy rather than the poor
This shifted in the 1870s with attitude of being afraid that the church had turned its back on the people Christ loved the most- led to movement of church to address the less fortunate
Creation of organizations such as the YMCA, brought over from England in the 1850's onwards, Salvation Army (1878) tried to address the ills of poor
This led to the Social Gospel Movement: church tied in the religion into relevant problems of the masses
Washington Gladden: The working people and their employers book, rejected social darwinism: religion and god should govern workplace, endorsed workers rights, against classist church societies; wanted to see religion be more of a unifier than a divider
Walter Rauschenbusch: in the beginning of 20th century, he spent decades in "Hell's Kitchen", New York- focused his efforts where there were high criminal rates, immigration, poor living conditions, wrote "Christianity and the Social Crisis"- if we want the church to survive, we need to put moral forces in society to instill christian values and encourage church attendance
Other efforts at urban reform came from settlement houses:
by 1900, over 100 settlement houses in the US such as Hull House, Southend House, Henry Street Settlement
more pragmatic approach to combating problems of urbanization
bring together prosperous men with the working poor, placed right in the heart of poor ethnic ghettos
run often by a young middle class idealists, college trained women, etc.
focused on essential needs of their clientele required: give kindergarten to young kids, child care for women working in factories, came to sponsor art studios, lectures, gymnasiums, and other events/services: focused on tangible benefits rather than spiritual benefits.
"as effective as bailing out the ocean with a teaspoon"
got sanitary housing codes, public playgrounds, prohibition of child labor, monitoring of working conditions, etc. passed into law
Jane Adams (Hull House) won Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.
Women's Employment and Muckrakers
Settlement house workers made up a fraction of employed women- percentage increased in the 1880's and the first decade of the 1900's
Most significant event thus far in women's history
Biggest change in women's roles: clerical work- book keeping, sales jobs
These changes had little connection to women's rights movement, focused on suffrage
Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanford campaigned for this- even appealed to racism for this leverage (women deserve more rights than illiterate men of other races).
women's organizations began to sprout up to provide active outlets outside the home
largest and most influential: women's christian temperance movement (1874 founded) 150,000 members by 1900. Platform included: prison reform, aid for homeless children, sex ed, aid to working women, etc. Mobilized women and supported progressive reforms
Debate of the pertinence of suffrage on other issues split this group into two parts in 1879
1890: rival groups of these decided to unite as National American Women Suffrage Association
before the 19th amendment, women had rights to vote in 6 states by 1911.
Other issues women supported: literary clubs, social clubs, unfair labor conditions, national women's trade union league, etc.
What were the states doing in terms of reform?
Many states are starting to regulate business and working conditions, railroads, banks, insurance companies, limiting hours required for workers, limiting child labor, regular cash wages, factory inspections, and special protection for women.
Despite this, there are still conservative judges that limit the practical impact of these laws in the Supreme Court- used revised interpretation of 14th amendment, for example, to include corporations in order to protect business.
Slows down reforms
Muckrakers: investigative journalists who aimed to raise public awareness and political action to solve these problems
got the name from Roosevelt, who felt that the "crusading journalists" where too focused and sometimes went too far
Were responsible for the levels that progressivism took
In feeding the public's need for these facts about the social ills of America, the muckrakers embodied one of the features of the progressive movement and failures: stronger on diagnosis than on remedy.
More talk and walk, you know? Less legislation than expected
Lincoln Steffins, McClure, Tarbell are notable journalists.
Features of Progressivism
Democracy, efficiency, social justice, and anti trust legislation
Democracy:
Progressives focused on cleaning up gov: too many officials served corps, not people
aimed at increasing democratization of gov and greater political participation
the direct primary was installed, now allowed citizens and voters to decide their own political candidate inside a political party for the general election (Jacksonian Death of King Caucus spirit placed on a wider scale)
Other reforms: initiative where citizens can start legislature, referendum: citizens decide if a bill becomes law (think NC Amendment One), recall elections (vote on ending terms before terms are officially ended), the secret ballot, the direct election of senators.
taking away power from political machines
Gospel of Efficiency:
"Principles of Scientific Management" by Taylor, he is dubbed efficiency efforts expert, started Taylorism
Components of Taylorism: Reduce waste, reduce waste of energy, break down production of goods into steps to study amount of time each task has taken
Predecessor as assembly line management
In government, efficiency demanded the reorganization of government agencies to eliminate redundancies, establish clear lines of authority, assign accountability to specific officials
The commission system, 1901: local government in Texas collapsed due to a hurricane, led to ultimate authority placed on board of elected officials of different focus groups
City manager system: one professional administrator ran city government according to policies set by elected council and the mayor.
Early 20th: business functions required a special expertise
This principle of government run by nonpartisan experts was promoted by Robert Lafeyette, governer of Wisconsin, and Woodrow Wilson. Known as Wisconsin idea: promoted efficient, more scientific government and sufficient information given to those who would make laws on certain subject matters.
Rob also pushes for railroad regulation, conservation, compensation programs, etc. at every level.
Social justice:
Creation of nonprofits, charities, etc.
In time, it was realized that social evils extended beyond these efforts and demanded government intervention, seen particularly in labor legislation- most significant reform
National Child Labor Committee was founded in 1904. State and local committees had documentation of evils of child labor. This committee pushes banning of child labor through legislation
Regulation hours of women's work: Florence Kelly, Head of National Consumers League, wanted to regulate long working hours of women who were wives and mothers
Supreme Court pursued a curious path: Court voided a 10 hour workday because it devalued the liberty of contract: a worker can work any job they want for however long they want, no matter how bad the job is.
Later, Supreme Court ruled against 10 hour work days for women- demonstrates the flipping of the court.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire- 1911- owner of the factory had locked doors to prevent theft, but when the factory caught fire, women were trapped in the burning building. Hundred of girls were burned to death; this brought about greater legislation.
Progressive Era Warmup
Should historians continue to treat the Progressive Era as its own period in American history?
The Progressive Era should be treated as its own period in American history because the ideology of this period differed drastically from the preceding years of the Reconstruction Era and Gilded Age, as major strides were being taken to advance marginalized groups and reform society as a whole.
This is evident in the passing of the Dawes Act, which worked to improve the lives of Native Americans and advance their opportunity in society. However, this can be refuted by the still unequal status of non-white Americans and women in the United States, who were unable to vote in all but a few Western states.
The Progressive Era should be treated as its own period in American history because the ideology of this period differed drastically from the preceding years of the Reconstruction Era and Gilded Age, as major strides were being taken to advance marginalized groups and reform society as a whole.
This is evident in the passing of the Dawes Act, which worked to improve the lives of Native Americans and advance their opportunity in society. However, this can be refuted by the still unequal status of non-white Americans and women in the United States, who were unable to vote in all but a few Western states.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Day One Warms Ups- Progressive Era
1. The cultural conflicts between whites and Native Americans arose from cultural clashes in the interest of private properties. Native Americans didn't abide to conventional laws of private property, and that conflict with the white ideas of complete ownership of the resources and land, shown in the Homestead Act and the depletion of the buffalo populations. The battles were less organized fighting and more of massacres- the invention of quick-firing rifles with Samuel Colt and Winchester allowed the whites to slay Natives by the hundreds, which can be seen especially in the Battle of Wounded Knee.
2. Federal policy towards the Native Americans aimed to erase Native American culture and assimilate them into white American culture. This was brought up in the Fort Laramie treaty of 1867, establishing the reservation system. Federal soldiers killed Natives by the hundreds. Hellen Hunt Jackson wrote "A Century of Dishonor", outlining the injustice done to the Native Americans in order to pressure politicians to take action in assisting the Americans. This resulted in the Dawes Act, granting natives property and establishing a path to citizenship after twenty five years. This is the last time the government will help out the natives until the 1930s.
3. Cattle ranches boomed in the midwest because it relied on the open range. This incorporates long drives, where cowboys lead cattle into cow towns- towns that sprouted up next to the railroads, placed there in order to take the meat back to other towns. After the rise of private property and barbed wire, this long drive was obstructed and declined very quickly. Droughts, desertification, and other environmental factors affected the decline of of the cattle populations as well. Mining frontiers started boom towns. These towns often had lawless towns that flourished on the intake of resources, beginning with the finding of gold and silver, but quickly dissolved into abandoned ghost towns after natural capitol was depleted. In mining towns, women had more rights than their counterparts in the eastern United States; as mining areas were admitted into the union, they granted women's suffrage as early as 1866.
2. Federal policy towards the Native Americans aimed to erase Native American culture and assimilate them into white American culture. This was brought up in the Fort Laramie treaty of 1867, establishing the reservation system. Federal soldiers killed Natives by the hundreds. Hellen Hunt Jackson wrote "A Century of Dishonor", outlining the injustice done to the Native Americans in order to pressure politicians to take action in assisting the Americans. This resulted in the Dawes Act, granting natives property and establishing a path to citizenship after twenty five years. This is the last time the government will help out the natives until the 1930s.
3. Cattle ranches boomed in the midwest because it relied on the open range. This incorporates long drives, where cowboys lead cattle into cow towns- towns that sprouted up next to the railroads, placed there in order to take the meat back to other towns. After the rise of private property and barbed wire, this long drive was obstructed and declined very quickly. Droughts, desertification, and other environmental factors affected the decline of of the cattle populations as well. Mining frontiers started boom towns. These towns often had lawless towns that flourished on the intake of resources, beginning with the finding of gold and silver, but quickly dissolved into abandoned ghost towns after natural capitol was depleted. In mining towns, women had more rights than their counterparts in the eastern United States; as mining areas were admitted into the union, they granted women's suffrage as early as 1866.
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