U.S. History: Progressive Era & WWI

Progressive Era Reforms

• Progressive movement aimed to address issues like urban poverty, racial inequality, workers' exploitation, and unchecked business practices.
• The Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote, but they initially faced obstacles.
• Jane Addams' Hull House provided charitable aid and education to combat urban poverty.
• President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points proposed a peaceful resolution, but faced opposition due to perceived idealism.
• The 1916 Revenue Act introduced taxes on arms manufacturers and increased income taxes for war funding.

World War I: Causes and U.S. Entry

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered a chain of events leading to World War I. Alliances (Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary; Allies: Britain, France, Russia) further escalated the conflict.
• Unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram, which sought to encourage Mexico to attack the U.S., were key factors drawing the U.S. into the war.

World War I: U.S. Mobilization and Fighting

• The National Defense Act expanded the U.S. military, and liberty bonds funded the war effort.
• American troops bolstered Allied morale and participated in decisive offensives in France.
• The Russian Revolution's Bolshevik victory led to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which removed Russia from the Eastern Front and gave Germany a strategic advantage.

Post-War Issues

• The "Red Summer" of 1919 witnessed racial tensions and violence due to African American migration and economic competition.
• The First Red Scare saw widespread fear of communism, resulting in deportations and the suppression of civil liberties.
• The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany, sparking resentment and contributing to the conditions that led to World War II.

Key Figures and Events

• Theodore Roosevelt strengthened the executive branch and tackled powerful business interests.
• Harry T. Burn's pivotal vote secured women's suffrage via the Nineteenth Amendment.
• Calvin Coolidge gained national prominence for handling the Boston Police Strike.

World War I Impact

• Technological advancements in warfare caused enormous casualties and characterized trench warfare.
• Progressivism lost momentum; isolationism returned; and economic challenges persisted.
• Wilson's vision for a League of Nations failed in the U.S. Senate due to a lack of enforcement power.

Study Tips

• Memorize crucial dates: 1914 (WWI began), 1917 (U.S. entered), 1919 (Treaty of Versailles, Red Summer).
• Understand key terms like liberty bonds, the Espionage Act, and the Bolshevik Revolution.
• Focus on cause-and-effect relationships for WWI entry, the Treaty of Versailles, and societal changes.

Explore the key reforms of the Progressive Era and examine the causes leading to U.S. involvement in World War I. This quiz covers significant amendments, influential figures, and critical events that shaped early 20th-century America. Test your knowledge on how social, political, and economic factors intertwined during this transformative period.