1896-1932
William McKinley (Republican)
Election of 1896- favored big industry in politics, trickledown economics,
Imperialism- Acquisition of Hawaii in 1898 and Samoa a naval base
Spanish American War
Causes: Cuban Revolution against Spain in 1895. Yellow Journalism in American is very dramatic
and rouses anti-Spanish feelings leading to war. American trade interests with Cuba will be
harmed if Cuba loses. US Battleship Maine is blown up without any cause, but many think the
Spanish sunk it. The De Lome letter was a letter from a Spanish ambassador sent to Cuba
bashing the US helps to incite American support for Cuba.
The War: 3 Months of warfare. Battle of Manila Bay- first engagement of war. US Navy defeats
Spanish Navy in Manila Bay of the Philippines. Teller Amendment in 1898 states that the United
States will not annex Cuba but will leave control of the island to its people. Roosevelt and the
Rough Riders take San Juan Hill.
The Aftermath: Treaty of Paris is signed in 1898. The United States gains Puerto Rico, Guam, and the
Philippines and in return pays Spain 420 Million. Cuba gains independence from Spain.
Philippine War: struggle of Philippine people to gain independence. American saw them as people
incapable of governing themselves. This led to a 3 year conflict which was resolved with the Jones Act
and Treaty of Manila. The Jones Act established a framework for a government in the Philippines, and
the Treaty of Manila ended the war. The Philippines were granted independence on July 4, 1946.
Open Door Policy in China: In 1898, the United States had become an East Asian power through the
acquisition of the Philippine Islands, and when the partition of China by the European powers and Japan
seemed imminent, the United States felt its commercial interests in China threatened. U.S. Secretary of
State John Hay sent notes to the major powers (France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan, and Russia),
asking them to declare formally that they would uphold Chinese territorial and administrative integrity
and would not interfere with the free use of the treaty ports within their spheres of influence in China.
The open door policy stated that all European nations, and the United States, could trade with China. In
China, popular sentiment remained resistant to foreign influences, and anger rose over the "unequal
treaties", which the weak Qing state could not resist. This led to the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, where
Boxer fighters sought to destroy all foreign influence.
McKinley beats William Jennings Bryan in election of 1900 but is assassinated in 1901. Theodore
Roosevelt becomes President. Roosevelt also wins the election of 1904. On the domestic front, President
Roosevelt was one of the most visible Progressives of his time. Many of his domestic policies involved fighting big
industry and corruption in an attempt to help the common man
The Panama Canal was built by the US for military, strategic, and economic reasons; its construction
began in 1904 and was completed in 1914.
Roosevelt Corollary was added to the Monroe Doctrine. It states that the US had the right to intervene
in any country in the Western Hemisphere that did things “harmful to the US” or if the threat of
intervention by countries outside the hemisphere was present. It strengthened American control over
Latin America
Progressivism began in the 1890s as a movement that attacked the political, social, and political
inequalities of the age. They sought to fix the system of capitalism. They launched projects to aid
immigrants. They did much to change America’s cities, but little to help American farmers and
minorities.
Progressive Reforms at the State level: Seventeenth Amendment, initiative process, referendum
process, recall process, direct primary.
National Consumers League- organization made up largely of women that lobbied at the state and
national level for legislation that would protect women and children at home and in the workplace.
Anti Saloon League- members felt that alcohol was the major cause of woe for the lower class
National American Woman Suffrage Association (headed by Susan B Anthony) and national’s Woman
party- crucial in the final push for woman’s suffrage after World War I.
Muller v. Oregon- Ruled Constitutional to set limits on the hours that women could work- protected
working women whose main job was as mother.
Roosevelt’s Square Deal- emphasized that government intervention could help the plight of ordinary
Americans.
Interstate Commerce Act- regulate interstate shipping
Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act- food industry
Sherman Anti Trust Act- investigates and prosecutes illegal trusts. Ended up breaking many
trusts like Oil and railroad
Sixteenth Amendment- income tax collected largely from the wealthy
Taft elected to President in 1908.
Creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909 to help blacks
reach political equality.
He continued Roosevelt’s progressive era
Wilson wins Election of 1912 against Roosevelt and his Bull Moose Party and Taft. The split in the
Republican Party ultimately led to this outcome.
Wilson’s Progressivism
Clayton Antitrust Act- specifically listed out certain illegal activities for businesses
Federal Trade Commission- Uniformly enforce the antitrust laws
Federal Reserve System- created 12 district banks and the creation of Federal Reserve notes to
protect the economy against further panics.
Wilson’s slogan in the election of 1916 “he kept us out of war”
WORLD WAR I
Cause: Archduke Ferdinand is assassinated by Bosnian nationalists in 1914. Conflicts were
aroused through this event, increasing nationalism, imperialism, and the complicated system of
alliances. Allied Powers end up in war with Central Powers. Wilson issues a statement of
neutrality.
Cause for American Entry:
1. Lusitania incident- Ship with American passengers is sunk by German submarines
2. Wilson builds up an army just in case
3. Sussex Pledge- Germany doesn’t want war with US to it pledges that it will not sink
passenger vessel without warning. (Not abided by)
4. Zimmerman Note- 1917 telegram to Mexico asking for aid in war. Mexico can have parts
of US after war
5. Germany issues unrestricted submarine warfare
6. Russian Revolution- Bolshevik and communist revolution in 1917 leads to Russia
dropping out of the war
7. Wilson is an Anglophile
8. Trade
9. Germans are barbaric people, innocence of Belgians
During the War: American sends in the American Expeditionary Force under the command of
General John J Pershing. Selective Service Act passed in 1917. Blacks and women were in the
armed forces during the war. American shipping traveled to Europe in convoy system which
decreased U Boat damage. Liberty Bonds issued and War Industries Board attempted to
stimulate production for war effort. Espionage Act- made it illegal to obstruct the draft process
in any way and mail that was seen as treason could be seized. Sedition Act- illegal to criticize the
government, constitution, or armed forces. Great Migration occurred as 600,000 blacks moved
north because factories needed workers.
After: Wilson’s Fourteen Points and the League of Nations. US did not join League of Nations
leading to its ultimate failure in keeping peace
REPUBLICAN ERA
Warren Harding wins election of 1920, corrupt presidency, Veteran’s Bureau Scandal and Teapot Dome
Scandal
Harding dies in Office and Calvin Coolidge becomes president. Considered an inactive president. WINs
election of 1924
Foreign Policy of the 1920s
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Washington Naval Conference: keep peace between US, UK, and Japan.
Daves Plan- loan to Germany
Latin America Policy- saves American interests
Geneva Conference- naval disarmament
Kellogg Brand Pact- treaty says war can’t be used as instrument of national policy
Hoover Stimson Doctrine- put down treaties that infringe upon Chinese sovereignty because of
Japanese invasion of Manchuria.
Herbert Hoover elected president in 1928.
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Favored Trickle Down economics
Doesn’t believe government should interfere in social welfare problems
Bonus Army- veterans in Washington asking for bonus in advance, harshly put down by General
MacArthur
20th Amendment- moved terms to begin in January
Origin of the Great Depression
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Lack of diversification
Misdistribution of purchasing power
Banks and Credit Structure- people can’t pay loans
International Trade and Debt- Demand for American goods decreases, Debt cycle from WW I
reparations, high American tariffs in other countries.
Agriculture Problems
Stock Market crash in 1929.
Hoover’s Response
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Voluntarism- American should donate to Charities, and urged business leaders not to reduce
wages or lay off workers.
Hawley Smoot tariff- raise tariff 50% helping American farmers
Reconstruction Finance Corporation- first federal intervention ,governments revive economy
and stop deflation by lending money
Home Loan bank act- encourage new home construction