Imperialism to Welfare State Notes

• The following are notes covering the topics of Imperialism, Progressivism, World War I, the 1920s, and the Transformation into a Welfare State.

Imperialism

• Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis (1890) argued that the frontier shaped American character and the end of the frontier necessitated overseas expansion.
• "White Man's Burden" was the idea that white people had a duty to civilize other races.
• Social Darwinism applied "survival of the fittest" to justify imperial expansion.
• Josiah Strong advocated for imperialism to spread Christianity and Western values.
• The Great White Fleet was a demonstration of American naval power to project influence.
• Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that sea power was crucial for national strength and advocated for a strong navy.
• Hawaii was annexed by the U.S. due to its strategic location and economic potential (sugar).
• Imperialism was motivated by political, economic, racial, and religious factors.
• William McKinley was president during the Spanish-American War and supported expansion.
• The USS Maine's sinking in Havana harbor fueled calls for war with Spain.
• Yellow journalism exaggerated news to create sensationalism and support for the war.
• The Teller Amendment declared the U.S. would not annex Cuba after the war.
• The Treaty of Paris (1898) ended the Spanish-American War, with Spain ceding territories to the U.S.
• The Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs.
• The Philippine-American War occurred after the U.S. annexed the Philippines, leading to a bloody conflict.
• Anti-imperialists opposed expansion for various reasons, including moral and economic concerns.
• The Open Door Policy aimed to maintain equal access to trade in China.
• The Panama Canal was built to create a shorter sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific.
• The Roosevelt Corollary asserted the right of the U.S. to intervene in Latin American affairs.
• Big Stick Diplomacy involved using the threat of military force to achieve foreign policy goals.
• Dollar Diplomacy focused on using economic power to influence Latin America.
• Moral Diplomacy, associated with Woodrow Wilson, emphasized promoting democracy and peace.
• Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson were both presidents who played significant roles in shaping American foreign policy during the age of imperialism.

Populism & Progressivism

• William Jennings Bryan's Populist platform advocated for policies like free silver and government regulation.
• Free silver was a political movement that advocated for the government to coin silver in addition to gold.
• Preservationists like John Muir sought to protect natural areas from development.
• Lillian Wald, based at the Henry Street Settlement, advocated for public health nursing and social reform.
• Jane Addams' Hull House was a settlement house that provided social services to immigrants and the poor.
• Middle-class women played a significant role in the Progressive Movement.
• Muckrakers like Steffens, Sinclair, Tarbell, and Riis exposed corruption and social problems through investigative journalism.
• Intellectuals like John Dewey and Louis Brandeis influenced progressive thought and policy.
• Political machines were corrupt organizations that controlled city politics through patronage.
• Prohibition, supported by groups like the Anti-Saloon League and WCTU, aimed to ban alcohol.
• Goals of Progressivism included social justice, political reform, and regulation of business.
• Conflicts arose between social justice and social control aspects of Progressivism.
• Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" revealed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.
• The Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in response to "The Jungle" to regulate food and drug safety.
• Election reforms like initiative, referendum, and recall aimed to increase democracy.
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire led to increased workplace safety regulations.
• The Mann Act prohibited the interstate transportation of women for immoral purposes.

Additional Topics

• United Mine Workers, AFL, and IWW were labor unions that fought for workers' rights.
• New immigration brought diverse groups, mainly from Southern and Eastern Europe, to the U.S.
• Scientific management (Taylorism) and Ford's assembly line increased efficiency but also led to worker exploitation.
• Immigration had a major impact on cities, leading to overcrowding and social problems.
• Florence Kelley fought for child labor laws and workplace protections for women.
• Margaret Sanger advocated for birth control access for women.
• Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois had differing views on racial progress.
• The Niagara Movement, led by Du Bois, later formed the NAACP to fight for civil rights.
• Accommodationists, like Washington, emphasized vocational training and economic self-reliance for African Americans.
• Trust-busting aimed to break up monopolies and promote competition.
• The Hepburn Act strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission's ability to regulate railroads.
• The 16th-19th Amendments: 16th (income tax), 17th (direct election of senators), 18th (prohibition), 19th (women's suffrage).
• The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) was created to prevent unfair business practices.
• The Clayton Antitrust Act strengthened antitrust laws and protected labor unions.
• Progressivism had a lasting impact on American society, including increased government regulation and social reform.

World War I

• Isolationism and neutrality were initially favored by the U.S. at the start of WWI.
• Economic ties with Allied nations influenced the U.S.'s eventual entry into the war.
• German U-boats engaged in unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking ships.
• The Zimmerman Telegram revealed a German plot to ally with Mexico against the U.S.
• Moral diplomacy, despite Wilson's intentions, struggled amidst the realities of war.
• Mobilization for war involved the Food Administration, War Industries Board, and other agencies.
• Propaganda was used to generate support for the war effort.
• Schenck v. United States (1919) established that speech could be restricted if it posed a "clear and present danger."
• Alice Paul and the National Women's Party advocated for women's suffrage through protests and picketing.
• The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was the U.S. military force in Europe.
• The League of Nations was proposed by Wilson to promote international cooperation.
• Wilson's Fourteen Points outlined his vision for a just and lasting peace.
• The Treaty of Versailles ended WWI but was controversial, particularly regarding Germany's punishment.
• Henry Cabot Lodge opposed the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.
• Irreconcilables completely opposed the Treaty of Versailles.
• The Red Scare was a period of fear of communism and radicalism in the U.S.
• The Great Migration saw African Americans move from the South to Northern cities.

1920s

• Republican policies of the 1920s favored business and limited government regulation.
• Culture wars arose between traditional and modern values.
• Growth of popular culture was fueled by new technologies like radio and movies.
• Religious fundamentalism emphasized the literal interpretation of the Bible.
• Sacco & Vanzetti were Italian immigrants executed for robbery and murder, amid nativist sentiment.
• Immigration quotas restricted immigration from certain countries.
• The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) revived, targeting African Americans, immigrants, and other groups.
• The Scopes Trial involved a teacher accused of teaching evolution, highlighting the conflict between science and religion.
• The Equal Rights Amendment was proposed but never ratified.
• The League of Women Voters promoted women's political participation.
• Flappers challenged traditional gender roles.
• Credit and market instability contributed to the Great Depression.
• Ailing industries like agriculture struggled in the 1920s.
• The Harlem Renaissance celebrated African American culture and identity.

Transformation into a Limited Welfare State

• Relief, recovery, and reform were the goals of FDR's New Deal programs.
• American liberalism shifted towards a greater role for government in addressing social and economic problems.
• AAA, NIRA, CCC, Bank Holiday, and SEC were key New Deal programs.
• FDR's First 100 Days saw a flurry of legislation passed to address the Great Depression.
• The Wagner Act protected workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain.
• The WPA (Works Progress Administration) and the Federal Writer's Project created jobs in various fields.
• Keynesian economics advocated for government spending to stimulate the economy.
• Internal migration saw Oakies move to California seeking work.
• Radical, Union, and Populist Movements pushed Roosevelt to do more, while conservatives in Congress and the Supreme Court limited him.
• Huey Long's "Share Our Wealth" program proposed radical wealth redistribution.
• Schechter Poultry v. US (1935) overturned the NIRA.
• US v. Butler (1936) overturned the AAA.
• FDR's failed Supreme Court-packing plan (1937) aimed to increase the number of justices.
• The New Deal did not end the Depression, but it left a legacy of reforms and regulatory agencies.
• The New Deal fostered a long-term political realignment, with many ethnic groups, African Americans, and working-class communities identifying with the Democratic Party.
• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured bank deposits.
• The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) regulated the stock market.
• The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) promoted homeownership.
• The Social Security Act provided old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to families.