APUSH Notes - apsurvival

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Mr. Allen’s Notes
U.S. History I
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The Shaping of North America
225 million years ago-Pangaea “supercontinent”
10 million years ago- Rocky Mountains exist
Appalachians exist
Continents are separated
2 million years ago- an Ice Age envelopes the planet and the water level lowers
35 000 years agothe Bering Land Bridge appears
animals cross, followed by nomadic Asian hunters
10 000 years agothe Ice Age ends
nomadic people create civilization
10 000 years ago-1492 AD, the population grows to 72 million
*only 7-10 million live in North America (South America has better conditions for
farming)
Powerful Civilizations
• Aztecs
• Incas
• Mayans
• Iroquois
o Over 2000 languages created
o Religion
o Culture
o Farming techniques
People who came to America before 1492:
-Scandinavians
led by Leif Erickson (Newfoundland)
-Nomadic Asian hunters
-Irish
-Africans
-Chinese
[1492] Columbus “discovered” the New World (arrived at Hispañola/ Haiti)
brought 20 people back-only two survive the ship ride
was sent to get more for slavery in mines (creates slavery)
Europeans bring smallpox into the Americas
[1492] Haiti’s population totals 3 million
[1512] Haiti’s population totals 12 000
Columbus’s “discovery” affects the futures of three groups:
Europeans – migrate to the Americas
Native Americans – dealt with harshly
Africans – source of labor leads to mass enslaving
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Explorers
Amerigo Vespucci [sails for Spain in 1499] [sails for Portugal in 1501]
Writes vivid accounts of the East coast of North and South America
Mapmakers base their maps on his accounts – hence “America”
Vasco Nunez de Balboa [sails for Spain in 1513]
First European to set eyes on the Pacific Ocean
Says “All land that touches the Pacific is Spain’s”
Basis for Spanish claims in America
Ferdinand Magellan [sails for Spain from 1519-1522]
First to circumnavigate the globe
Hernando Cortez [sails for Spain in 1519]
Crushes the Aztecs (attack and smallpox)
Claims Mexico for Spain
Ponce de Léon [sails for Spain in 1513]
Explores Florida – lays claim of Florida for Spain
Looking for gold
Francisco Coronado [sails for Spain in 1540]
Searches for the fabled “cities of gold”
First European to see the Grand Canyon
First European to see herds of buffalo
John Cabot [sails for England in 1497]
Italian – explores the East coast of New England
Basis for English claims in the Americas
Giovanni de Verrazano [sails for France in 1524]
Hudson River and areas of NYC
Henry Hudson [sails for the Dutch in 1608?]
Hudson Bay and Hudson River
Claims Manhattan for the Dutch
Jacques Cartier [sails for France in 1534]
Explores parts of Canada and claims area for France
Hernando de Soto [sails for Spain from 1539-1542]
First European to see the Mississippi River
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Settling the New World
Spain
Reasons for exploration:
Gold
Glory
God
Goods
Lay claim to:
New Mexico
West coast of South America
Florida
All of Central America
Texas
Arizona
California
[1565] settled the first permanently occupied settlement in the Americas
-St. Augustine, FL
[1588] Spanish Armada is defeated – marks the decline of the Spanish Empire
Encomienda system and hacienda system – places Native Americans in state of slavery
France
Lay claim to:
Canada
Areas around the Mississippi
[1608] First French settlement – Quebec “New France”
[1750] <60 000 people live in New France
Why won’t people live in New France?
1. Poor farmland
2. Isolated
3. Subject to Native American attacks
4. only French Catholics allowed
5. keep the discontented in France
England
[1558] Elizabeth I comes to the throne of England
wants to expand the navy
1. Spread Protestant
2. Plunder and attack Spanish ships
Gets “seadogs” to do the work (pirates)
Sir Francis Drake is knighted for his success
Settling
Sir Walter Raleigh
[1585] attempts to settle at Roanoke – people didn’t like it and came back
[1587] tries again – Virginia Dare is the first child from Britain born
[1590] supply ship is sent to Roanoke Island – no one is found
“the Lost Colony of Roanoke”
one word found – “Croatoan”
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Joint stock company
Group of people invest money together
[1606] Virginia Company of London receives charter for a colony
[1607] Jamestown, VA is settled – 104 males looking for gold
[1608] 40 are left – John Smith takes control of Jamestown
“if you don’t work, you don’t eat”
[1609] a terrible winter hits – resorts to cannibalism
[1610] out of 400 settlers, 60 are left
[1612] John Rolfe perfects the growing of tobacco and begins the tobacco craze
one of the first cash crops grown
[1619] House of Burgesses created
-first legislative assembly in America
First slave ship shows up in America with 19 African slaves
Types of Colonies
1. Royal Colony
-king/queen has total control over the colony
2. Proprietary Colony (most popular form)
-king/queen picks a representative (friend/trusted) to run the colony
-that representative picks a governor and sets up laws
3. Self-governing Colony
-the colonists control the colony
-least popular form
Southern Colonies
1. Virginia [1607] Jamestown – began as proprietary
[1624] (King James disgusted by tobacco) becomes a royal colony
tobacco-based economy
plantation system develops
-indentured servants
pay back debts
after 7-10 years of service, given own land
-African slaves
demand for land
-push westward
-angers the Native Americans
this all creates an aristocratic society (wealthy)
lack of cities in the South
2. Maryland [1634] founded by Lord Baltimore
tobacco-based economy
plantation system
aristocratic society
created because:
-make profit
-safe haven for Catholics
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as times goes on – Protestants outnumber the Catholics
Act of Toleration [guarantees rights to all Christians]
But Death Penalty if Jewish/atheist do not recognize Jesus as the Lord
3. South Carolina [1670] proprietary
supposed to work in connection with the West Indies (sugar cane)
‘supply station’ for the West Indies
principal crop is rice
plantation system
4. North Carolina [1691, formally 1712]
population – outcasts from South Carolina and Virginia
pride themselves on being outlaws and outcasts (rich plantations owners pushing them off)
hospitable to pirates
resistant to authority
[1691] break away informally
[1712] officially becomes a colony
5. Georgia “the Buffer Colony” [1733] by James Olgethorpe (last colony founded)
protects South Carolina against Spanish Florida
population “the Charity Colony”
-drunks
-criminals
-outlaws
-very poor
produce silk and wine
prohibits alcohol
granted some religious toleration
try to get slavery outlawed – failed in 1750 – it was made legal
New England Colonies
1. Massachusetts [1620] Plymouth
Separatist – Puritans
[1609] move to Holland-don’t want children to be Dutchified
102 settlers on the Mayflower
supposed to land in Virginia
instead, land in Massachusetts
Miles Standish and William Bradford
Make the Mayflower Compact
Pledge allegiance to the king
Combine themselves into a “civil body politic”
Obey laws of the new government
44 survive the first winter
William Bradford becomes governor 30 times
Massachusetts Bay Colony [1629]
One of the most successful settlements in America
Founded by non-Separatist Puritans
John Winthrop is the governor
Industries:
o Fishing
o Ship-building
o Fur-trading
Jon Winthrop
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Wants the Massachusetts Bay Colony to be an example
“a city upon a hill”
MBC- “The Bible Commonwealth” is extremely religious
Dissenters in Massachusetts
Anne Hutchinson
Challenges the Puritan way
Put on trial – claims to have spoken with God
Kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Goes to Rhode Island, then New York – killed by Natives
Roger Williams
Challenges to break away from the Church of England
Escapes to Rhode Island – founds his own colony
2. Rhode Island [1636] by Roger Williams
colony known for religious toleration
strongly independent
not well-liked by the other colonies
other colonies call Rhode Island “the Lord’s Debris”
made up of people that no one wants
self-governing colony
3. Connecticut [1635] by Reverend Thomas Hooker
self-governing
created the Fundamental Orders
a document that creates a democratically controlled government
4. New Hampshire [1623]
good for fishing and trading
the overgrowth of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
becomes an official colony in 1679
The Middle Colonies
1. New York
After Hudson’s explorations in 1608 – Dutch start settlement along the Hudson
Called New Netherlands
Manhattan was called New Amsterdam
Problems for the Dutch
o Poor leaders – only decent one was Peter Stuyvesant
o More concerned with profit
o No democracy
o No freedom of religion
o Poorly run
o Constantly attacked by Native Americans
o Surrounded by the English
[1664] Charles II gives the land of NY to the Duke of York (James)
after threatening the Dutch with an invasion, Dutch give up the land
Dutch legacy
o Sleighing
o Golf
o Waffles
o Easter eggs
o Santa Claus
o Skating
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o Bowling
o Harlem
o Brooklyn
Chief crop is wheat
2. Pennsylvania [1681]
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Persecuted by England
William Penn emerges as a leader
William Penn
Idea to create land for Quakers
[1681] founds Pennsylvania – one of the best-advertised colonies
Characteristics of Pennsylvania
o Peaceful [Native Americans move in]
o Liberal
o Freedom of worship
o Disliked slavery
o Against military service
o Chief crop is wheat
o Well-planned cities
o Very successful colony
3. New Jersey [1702]
[1664] Duke of York gives parts of NJ to Berkeley and Carteret (proprietors)
sold land to the Quakers
split land into East and West Jersey
gave land back to crown
becomes royal colony [1702]
4. Delaware [1638] by the Swedes
taken over by the Dutch
after the Dutch leave in 1664 – Delaware controlled by Pennsylvania
Early Native American and Colonial Wars
colonial militia – a practice learned from Europe
each colony creates their own unit
able-bodied men ages 16-60
why?
English provide no money for colonial defense (exception of Georgia)
Militia meet every few weeks for training
“Militia Day” turns into a party and meets annually
1. Anglo-Powhattan War [1610-1614]
Jamestown
New governor – Lord de la Warr
Declares war against the Native Americans
[1614] Pocahontas marries John Rolfe – better relations
2. The First Tidewater War [1622]
Native Americans attack white settlers – kill ¼ of Jamestown’s population
John Rolfe is also killed
3. The Second Tidewater War [1644]
Opechanough takes over Powhattans – renews attack against white settlements
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Opechanough is killed and Native American Confederacy dissolves
Native Americans are pushed further west
4. Pequot War [1636-1637]
New England Colonies
Results in the killing of 500 Pequot Indians in Connecticut – end of the Pequots
5. King Philip’s War [1675]
New England Colonies
Metacom (King Philip)
After being forced to pledge allegiance to the English crown
Vows revenge – starts the Native American Confederacy
After killing many settlers – captured, quartered, and killed
Halts the western boundary at New England Colonies for 40 years
First large-scale military action by the colonial militia
6. Bacon’s Rebellion
Displays colonial anger and hatred to Native Americans
Displays colonial hatred toward the Southern Aristocracy
Nathaniel Bacon
Gathered 1 000 men
Vows to kill all Native Americans
Gets called an outlaw
Gets so angry
Burns down the settlement of Jamestown
Dies as Jamestown burns
Reveals the growing social gap between small farmers and plantation owners
Colonial unity
[1643] New England Colonies – the New England Confederation
first time to have colonies working together for a better cause
created by the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Rhode Island is not included
The Southern Plantation Economy
Plantation owners constantly want land
Near the end of the 1600s, price of tobacco falls dramatically
So the plantation owners continue to grow more tobacco/cash crops
*more land needs more labor
Indentured servants
Contract usually ran for seven years
Voyage would be paid for
At the end of the contract, receive “freedom dues”
Small piece of land
Tools
Animals
Clothes
Eventually the plantation owners stopped giving freedom dues
Headright System [Virginia and Maryland]
Gives to each plantation owner 50 acres of land for every indentured servant brought into the
colony
Hit the Appalachian Mountains – pause and indentured servitude dies
Need another source of labor – end of the 1600s, indentured servitude dies out
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o Market for jobs gets better in England
o Royal African Company [1698] loses its monopoly on the sale of slaves
o Bacon’s Rebellion leads plantation owners to fear the small farmer
Slavery
[1670] 2 000 slaves in Virginia
[1750] slaves represent 50% of the population in Virginia
The Middle Passage
-the forced voyage of slaves from Africa to the Americas
-7.5 million from Africa to Americas, 400 000 to the 13 colonies
-slaves were sold into slavery by the kings and princes of tribes
Conditions
Dark
Dirty
Overcrowded – put 600 in a ship built for 300
Disease
Smelly
Death
Suicide
Humiliated – not seen as people but as property
20%-50% would die during the voyage
upon arrival, slaves were unloaded and sold at slave auctions
-Charleston, SC
-Newport, RI
-New York City, NY
-Philadelphia, PA
Once sold, slaves were subject to slave codes
-slaves were not allowed to marry
-illegal to teach a slave to read or write
-slaves had no legal rights
-punished severely for any wrongdoing
-slave owners took ownership of the children
Worst place to be sold into slavery was SC-life expectancy the lowest
Lonely
Rice fields brought diseases
Virginia and Maryland
-expect a longer life span
-slave population grows much
“best” place to be sold as a slave were the Northern Colonies
-work in the cities
-learn a skill
-earn money
-possible to be able to buy their freedom
Slavery in the Colonies
Resistance
Everyday resistance
Worked slowly
Break tools
Leave gates open
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Try to run away (not easy)
Occasional revolts
[1712] NYC – Nine white deaths, 21 executed
[1739] the Stono Rebellion – 20 slaves uprising
deaths of 80 whites
GA militia captures the 20 slaves
Sets the heads of the executed on mileposts for warning
Colonial Social Structure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Aristocrats, Merchants, Planters, Lawyers, Officials, Clergymen, Professional men
Small farmers (largest group)
Manual workers – hired hands, lesser tradesmen
Indentured servants, jailbirds
Slaves
Life in the Colonies
Family life
Mother (Woman)
Most important person in the family
Has children - average of 10-11 children (about 3-4 die before adulthood)
Raises children
Cook
Clean
Sew, make clothes
Help on the farm
Father
Work on the farm
Work in shop
Children
Help out on the farm
Male
Learning trade from the father
Help on the farm
Female
Help around the house
Learn how to be a mother
[1700] population 250 000
[1775] population 2.5 million – average age of a colonist is 16
*if live in the North, live about 10 years longer than South (average lifespan is 70)
Education
Only males were given formal education
New England has a well set-up of formal education
For every town with 50+ families, a school is required
Southern Colonies – taught at home by a tutor
Education in the colonies was not reserved for only the elite
Goal of School
Learn to read (especially the Bible, be a better Christian)
Learn to write
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Colonial Colleges (only taught religion and languages – eventually replaced with more modern classes)
1. Harvard [1636]
2. William and Mary [1693]
3. Yale
4. Princeton
5. University of Pennsylvania
6. Brown
7. Columbia
8. Rutgers [1766]
9. Dartmouth
Journalism
[1704] first successful colonial newspaper
[1733] John Peter Zengor Case
-writes criticisms of governor of NY
-Governor of NY sues him for libel for writing about him in the news
-court agrees to have Zengor not guilty for writing the truth
-becomes the basis for freedom of press
Art
Colonies are very behind the rest of the world
John Goddard – designs desks
John Smibert – paints family portraits
Science
Benjamin Franklin
The colonies’ greatest inventor, scientist, thinker, writer and ‘good guy’
Some inventions
Lightning rod
Electrical battery
Bifocals
Odometer
Stove
Library
Volunteer fire department
Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac (second most popular in colonies, behind the Bible)
Comes up with arithmetic puzzles (ex. Magic Square)
Immigration in the Colonies
Scots-Irish
From Scotland
Make up 7% of the colonies’ population by 1775
Spoke English
Known as “frontier people”
Settle from Pennsylvania to the Carolinas
Germans
Make up 6% of the colonies’ population by 1775
Tended to settle in Pennsylvania
Kept to themselves and kept their own culture and language
Inventions
Conestoga Wagon
-cloth tops
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-big wheels
Replace the musket with the more accurate rifle
Improved the iron stove
French Huguenots
[1685] Edict of Nantes is repealed – persecution of the Huguenots
famous descendant is Paul Revere, the silversmith
Africans
Forced to immigrate to the colonies
400 000 by 1775 – 90% of 400 000 in the Southern Colonies
Religion
As population rises, importance of religion goes down
Late 1600s, people begin to question accepted Christian ideas (ex. Calvinism)
Result:
Church creates the Half-Way Covenant
Allows people to join church even if they have not officially converted
Results in increased church membership
…but taints the purity of the church
1. Salem Witch Trials – Salem, MA [1692]
A group of girls begin to experience fits of rages
The girls blame the rages on women who “bewitched” them
Start a massive witch hunt
174 people are put on trial
19 women are executed (hung)
1 man is executed (pressed to death)
2 dogs are executed
Governor Phips puts an end to the witch hunt after his wife is accused
2. The Great Awakening – [1730s to the 1740s]
A religious revival that sweeps across the nation
Preach about:
The emptiness of material goods
Fury of divine wrath
The need for repentance
Preachers give very dramatic performances
George Whitefield “The Great Awakener”
Jonathan Edwards – writes Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Gatherings of 20 000+ people
By the mid-1740s the Great Awakening dies out
Effects:
-Stimulated the founding of more colonial colleges (Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth)
-Revival that encompasses all of colonial society – becomes the first shared colonial
experience
-Undermines the power of the older clergy
-Makes religion more accessible to people
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Church Membership of the colonial period [by 1775]
1. Congregationalists
575 000 people
out of Puritanism
2. Anglicans
500 000 people
Church of England
3. Presbyterians
410 000 people
similar to the Congregationalists
4. German churches
200 000 people
Found in Pennsylvania
5. Dutch-reformed
75 000 people
6. Quakers
40 000 people
7. Baptists
8. Roman Catholics
25 000 people
Maryland
9. Methodists
10. Jewish
2 000 people
Ruling over the Colonies
James I [1603-1625]
Does not like the colonies
Hates tobacco
Charles I [1625-1649]
Beheaded in 1649
Oliver Cromwell and the Protectorate [1649-1660]
Very strict
Charles II is restored [1660-1685]
Decides to take a more hands-on approach to the colonies
Tries to harness colonial trade
[1675] Lords of Trade
supposed to control colonial trade
[1685] Charles II dies
Indifferent to
the colonies,
allowing the
colonies to
grow
independent
from English
rule
James II [1685-1688] (Charles II’s brother and also the Duke of York)
Continues to place restrictions on colonial trade
-especially the North, who are growing very independent
creates the Dominion of New England
to combat the New England Confederation
to enforce the Navigation Acts
Navigation Acts [1650-1733]
Rooted in mercantilism – a nation’s power depends on its wealth
Acquire gold and silver
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Favorable balance of trade (exports up, imports low)
Acquire colonies
All ships trading in Europe must be built in England or the colonies
75% of crew had to be English or colonial
All European nations wishing to trade with the colonies must first stop at England (taxed
twice)
England creates a list of enumerated articles (what colonies supposed to trade with England)
Colonists, instead of heeding these laws – smuggling (esp. NYC), bribes
Dominion of England
Led by Sir Edmund Andros
Ends town meetings in MA, NJ, NY, RI, and CT
Restrictions on schools, newspapers, courts
Taxes without authority of colonial representative
William and Mary/Glorious Revolution [1688-1707]
Relaxes the rules of the colonies
Known as the period of “salutary neglect”
Results:
Control over the colonies is relaxed, but the English officials stay
Colonists begin to resent the English officials
Wars of North America
England – east coast, parts of Canada
Spain – Florida, Central America, Southwest North America
France – Canada, along the Mississippi River (pop. 60 000 only)
(Russia)
Native Americans are everywhere
Thirteen Colonies – east coast
1. King William’s War [1689-1697]
French soldiers and Native American Allies attack frontier settlements in NY
Colonial militia invades Canada and fails
2. Queen Anne’s War [1702-1713]
Deerfield Massacre
French and Native American allies attack Deerfield, MA
Killed 50, captured 111 colonists
3. War of Jenkin’s Ear/King George’s War [1744-1748]
Caribbean – French and Native Americans attack frontier settlements
Colonial militia captures a French fort at Louisbourg
At the mouth of St. Lawrence Bay
At the end of the war, England gives Louisbourg back to the French
Angers the colonies
4. The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War
Dispute between France, Virginians, Pennsylvania over the Ohio River Valley
France begins building a line of forts throughout Ohio Valley
[1752] VA sends 21-year-old surveyor, George Washington, to tell the French to leave
French refuses
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[1754] 150 VA militiamen head to Fort Duquesne, led by George Washington
-marching to the fort, Washington encounters a small French fort and attacks it
-Washington and the militia build Fort Necessity
-French surround them – after ten hours, Washington surrender [July 4, 1754]
-returns to VA
The French and Indian War soon merges into the Seven Years’ War
-France
-Great Britain
-Many Native American allies
Vs.
-Colonies
- (Spain)
-Iroquois
-some other Native American allies
[1755] 1 400 British soldiers, led by General Edward Braddock and 950 VA militiamen led by George
Washington, march to Fort Duquesne
-Braddock plans on fighting European-style
-On the way to the fort, French powers attack the troops – taken by surprise
-23 French deaths, 900 English deaths (including Braddock)
-Washington rallies the British soldiers and the colonial militia and leads them to retreat – emerges as a
hero – six times Washington was almost killed – two horses shot from under him four bullets through
his jacket
“A Torch lighted in the forests of America set all of Europe in conflagration.” –Voltaire
[1754] The British called together a meeting of all colonies in Albany, NY
Purpose: the renewed alliance with the Iroquois
Benjamin Franklin draws political cartoon in the PA Gazette “Join or Die” snake
Not advocating a revolution
Need to join the colonies to survive
The Albany Plan of Union
Each colonial leader refused to sign the agreement – failed
But an important first step towards colonial unity
[1755-1757] British are badly beaten by the French despite the fact that the British outnumber the French 20:1
[1758] William Pitt becomes prime minister of Great Britain and takes over the war effort
1. Replaces the older generals
2. Gives the colonies money for raising troops
3. Turns the fighting over to the colonial militia
Tide of the war changes to Britain
-capture Fort Louisbourg (control over St. Lawrence River)
-capture Fort Duquesne (renamed Fort Pitt)
- [1759] General Wolfe and the British defeat General Montcolm and the French at the Battle of Quebec
on the plains of Abraham just outside of Quebec – Britain wins
- [1760] Britain takes Montreal
- [1761-1763] Limited fighting between British and Spain
-Spain loses Cuba and Florida
Peace of Paris [1763]
1. France cedes all of Canada and land between the Mississippi and the Appalachians to Britain
2. France cedes land west of Mississippi to Spain
3. Britain keeps Florida
4. France keeps two islands off Newfoundland exclusively for fishing
5. Britain gives the sugar islands (West Indies) back to France
6. Cuba is given back to Spain
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Significance of the French and Indian War
1. France is out of North America
2. Colonies no longer view the British as invincible
3. Colonial militia gains experience
4. George Washington emerges as a leader for all colonies
5. Colonies gain familiarity with each other
Problem in the colonies: Travel
Many places, roads are not existent or are not passable
Roads were so bad that people would write out wills before going on long trips (ex. PA to NY)
Stopped by taverns at night
Become the center of political discussion
Road to the Revolution
Colonial Situation [1763]
Spanish and French menace is gone
Colonies can move west
More American than British subjects
British Situation [1763]
Have control over the largest empire of the world
Largest debt in the world (140 million pounds’ worth)
Believed in mercantilism
George III [1760-1820] comes to power
As the French leave [1763]
Tell Native Americans – British are going to take over land and kill them
Native Americans decide to do something about this – led by Chief Pontiac
Pontiac’s Rebellion
Native American Confederacy attacks, defeats 8 of 11 British forts in Ohio Valley
Kill over 2 000 colonists
British are eventually able to put down this rebellion
But this changes the development of the Ohio River Valley
1. Proclamation Line of 1763
Restrict colonial settling to east of the Appalachian Mountains
Convinced the Ohio River Valley is not safe for settling
Colonists are outraged
They just fought the French and Indian War
Settle the area anyway
2. Britain places 10 000 British soldiers inside the colonies for protection of the settlers
Sugar Act [1764] passed by George Grenville
-replaces the Molasses Act – 6 pence tax on sugar
-now places a 3 pence tax on sugar
-the colonists would bribe officials for one pence to smuggle the sugar into the colonies
-colonists get outraged – claim, “no taxation without representation”
Stamp Act [1765] passed by George Grenville
-tax on all paper products
-colonists outraged
boycott British products – so successful that trade drops 13% in Britain
Sons of Liberty are formed – led by Samuel Adams
Terrorize stamp tax agents
Call a Stamp Act Congress
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9 of 13 colonies meet in NY to discuss the Stamp Act
[1766] Britain repeals the Stamp Act
passes the Declaratory Act
Britain can impose any taxes and laws that they desire
Quartering Act [1765]
Requires colonies to pay for provisions and build housing for British soldiers
Townshend Acts [1767]
Passed by Charles Townshend–head of the British treasury “Champagne Charlie”
1. Taxes tea, lead, paint, glass
2. Enforces Navigation Acts
Result:
John Dickenson writes Letters of a Farmer in Pennsylvania
Boycott British goods
Riot against customs officials (esp. Boston, MA)
MA sends a circular letter that urged colonies to stick together
[1768] British imports to America drop 40%
[1768] British soldiers are moved from the frontier to Boston 1 700 strong
guard customs officials’ property and custom officials
-became a colonial pastime to taunt them
-British soldiers are often profane and drunk
-high unemployment
British took jobs on the waterfront
Work for less money than the colonists
British are taking away jobs from the colonists
The Boston Massacre [March 5, 1770]
5 colonists die – including Crispus Attucks, a runaway, one of the first to die
10 British soldiers arrested and put on trial, including Captain Preston
John Adams defends the soldiers
Say they are acting in self defense
Only two are accused guilty of manslaughter – branded on hand
Samuel Adams
Comes up with the term “Boston Massacre”
Revolutionary – stirs up the crowd by propaganda
Paul Revere
Creates an engraving on the Boston Massacre – eventually reproduced – picture
Uses propaganda that effectively arouses the colonists – leads to outrage
The image is reprinted throughout the colonies
Road to the Revolution [1770-1775]
After the Boston Massacre
Tensions between the two sides die down
Townshend Act is repealed
[1772] Samuel Adams
forms the Committee of Correspondence – spreads propaganda – very successful
Tea Act [1773]
The British East India company is bankrupt
Parliament gives the company exclusive trading rights to tea in the colonies
Colonists pay less for tea
The company stays in business
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Britain collects the taxes
Smugglers lose out on financial gains – calls this an outrage
Claim the East India company has a monopoly on tea
Colonies agree and refuse to accept any tea from the company
The tea sits in colonial harbors for days
Boston Tea Party [December 16, 1773]
Colonists of Boston dress up as Mohawk Indians and board the ships
Dumped 342 chests of tea in Boston Harbor – worth $90 000
Organized by the Sons of Liberty and Samuel Adams
Very orderly, very quiet
Tea party in Princeton – burn chests of tea and an effigy of the MA governor
Tea party in Annapolis, MD – ship is also destroyed
Britain is not pleased
Britain’s Response
Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts (by the colonists)
1. Boston Port Act – closes the Boston port
2. Administration of Justice Act – send British officials who have committed a crime are sent to
Britain for the trial
3. Massachusetts Governor act – ends the MA legislative
4. Quartering Act – if do not provide shelter, British soldiers will reside in colonial homes
5. Quebec Act – extends the Canadian border to the Ohio River – gives protection to Catholics
Outrage VA, NY, MA, and PA – wanted it for farmland
[September 5, 1774]
first meeting of the Continental Congress
meet at Philadelphia at Carpenter’s Hall
12 of the 13 colonies send delegates (except GA)
56 delegates
Radicals
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Patrick Henry
Conservative
John Jay (NY)
John Dickenson
George Washington (very conservative)
Actions:
Create the Declaration of Rights and Grievances by John Adams
Outlines the colonies’ problem with British rule
Create a Non-Importation Association
Calls for a boycott of British goods – more enforced
[October 6, 1774] if things do not work out – meet again May 1775
Lexington and Concord
Concord, MA (minutemen) MA militia begun preparing for war – store weapons
British decide to destroy the weapons – arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock
[April 1775] British decide to march to Concord
Paul Revere’s Ride
With William Dowes and Samuel Prescott
Went to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British are coming to arrest them
Paul Revere is arrested during the ride
The ride is silent – stop by while telling colonists about the British
20
[April 1775]
When the British get from Boston to Lexington
70 minutemen standing in the field at Lexington
When told to move by the 700 British soldiers, a shot was heard
“The Shot heard ‘Round the World”
7 minutemen killed, 8 injured
When British get from Lexington to Concord
The larger force of minutemen push the British back at the North Bridge
British begin to march back to Boston
On their retreat – colonists hear of the Lexington skirmish
- swarm the retreating British – guerilla warfare
- 273 British soldiers are killed, wounded, or missing
[May 10, 1775]
meeting of the Second Continental Congress – in Philadelphia
all 13 colonies show up
Accomplishments
1. name George Washington as head of the Continental Army
2. Create “privateers” – American pirates
Fort Ticonderoga
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the British fort of Ticonderoga
Acquire more weapons
Battle of Bunker Hill [June 1775]
British controls Boston
MA militia 1 500+ capture and fortify Breed’s Hill
3 000 British soldiers led by General Howe
decide to attack the hill
on the 3rd try, capture the hill – Americans had too little ammunition
Significance – 1000 British soldiers killed
1/8 of all British soldiers who die in the war die in Bunker Hill
[June 1775]
Continental Congress sends King George III the Olive Branch Petition
-asks king to stop fighting
-asks king to work out differences
King doesn’t even read it
-goes to Prussia and hires 30 000 Prussian soldiers “Hessians”
-Britain needs soldiers, Prussia needs money
Colonies decide to invade Canada – want to make it the 14th colony
Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold are sent to attack Quebec
By the time Arnold gets there, he is tired and weakened
The attack fails miserably
[October 17, 1775] the British burn the town of Falmouth in Maine
[January 1776] British burn Norfolk, VA
Thomas Paine writes a pamphlet “Common Sense”
-outlines why the colonies should break away from Britain
-uses simple, easy-to-understand arguments
-one out of every five colonists reads or has read to them
-“Common Sense” becomes the Declaration of Independence for the Common Man
-leads to discussion throughout the colonies
[March 1776] George Washington and MA troops defeat the British at Dorchester Heights and force the British
to flee
[June 1776] Richard Henry Lee of VA
21
Proposes the 13 colonies break away from Britain and declare independence
Committed treason
The debate over independence will continue for about a month
The document Declaration of Independence is formally accepted by the Continental
Congress on July 4, 1776
Written by Thomas Jefferson at 33 years of age
Declaration was written to rally support at home from the top social classes, to gain
support from Europe and to appeal to other British colonies in the Americas
Borrows many ideas from John Locke
[early 1776]
Americans send a diplomat (Silas Drone) to France
Secretly arranges for France to send gunpowder to the colonies
King Louis XVI
Also sends Marquis de Lafayette – comes to the colonies and joins the Continental Army
22
The American Revolution [1775-early 1777]
+?
Great Britain
+ 7.5 million (11.5 million in all
British Isles)
+ 50 000 British regulars
30 000 Hessians
50 000 Loyalists
Thousands of Indians
Professional Army
+ Has an established system
Has money, has resources
+
+
Vs.
Population
Army
Monetary
Funds
King George III
Lord North
Leadership
Some knowledge from French
and Indian War
Native Americans
3 000 miles away from home
Well-supplied army (at times,
difficult for British army to get
provisions, unless Loyalists
help out)
Colonial merchants get more
money from the British
Strongest Navy in the world
Fighting far from home
Not fighting for themselves –
fighting is their job
Knowledge
of Land
Supplies
Navy
Intangibles
American Colonies
2.5 million (400 000 are
slaves)
Colonial militia (not welltrained or disciplined)
Continental army (7000-8000
at its largest, not well-trained
at first)
No established system
Continental Congress prints
money
Each colony prints own $
No gold to back up money –
inflation & hyperinflation
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin (good at
obtaining allies)
Their homeland
Extremely knowledgeable
about the land – militia and
guerrilla warfare
Extremely ill-supplied
Not enough uniforms, shoes,
guns
First 2 ½ years of war,
colonies receive 90% of
ammunition from France
No Navy – privateers
Fighting on their home turf
Fighting for a cause-freedom
No one major city
Can fight a defensive war
1/3 Patriots (MA, CT, VA)
1/3 Loyalists/Tories (80 000
flee to Britain, property seized
–NY, NJ, PA, SC,GA)
1/3 Neutral
[early July 1776]
35 000 British soldiers land on Staten Island without a shot being fired
Loyalist city is taken without a fight – led by General William Howe
Move on to Long Island – Battle of Long Island
The Continental Army fares terribly – forced to flee to Manhattan
The British chase the Continental Army out of Manhattan
[September 1776] retreat to NJ – Continental Army constantly being attacked
General Howe stops and passes up the chance to end the war
-leaves 3 000 Hessians at Trenton and goes up to NYC
+?
+
+
+
23
Alexander Hamilton (19 years old)
Leads cannon fire against the British from across the Raritan River
With the British on their heels – Americans barely manage to escape to Pennsylvania in December 1776
Situation for the Continental Army [December 1776]
Nothing but defeat
Enlistments of Army almost up
Militia beginning to melt away
Continental Army has not been paid, low in supplies
Morale is at its lowest
Thomas Paine
“The Crisis”
all colonists can understand it
helps to inspire the continental soldiers
Washington has “The Crisis” read to them
He then takes a loan and pays his soldiers
Devises a plan to attack the British on December 26, 1776
*famous Washington Crossing Delaware painting by Emmanuel Levtze [1851]
[December 26, 1776] Battle of Trenton
Washington surprises 1 500 Hessian soldiers and easily defeats them in the middle of the night
[January 3, 1777] Battle of Princeton
Leave the campfires burning – trick the British into thinking he was still at camp
-silenced the cannons, silent orders
Washington surprises the British Army and scores another major victory
Boosts morale of the country
More people join the Continental Army – Re-enlisting
Both sides go into winter quarters
Americans go into Morristown
British go to NYC, NY
The American Revolution [1777-1783]
British develop a plan to cut of the N.E. Colonies from the rest by capturing Albany
1. led by General Johnny Burgoyne
2. led by Colonel St. Leger
3. led by General William Howe
converge to Albany
-good plan, if successful
Errors:
St. Leger was defeated before he even gets started
-Benedict Arnold and militia forces turn St. Leger back
Howe takes his army to Philadelphia first
-Continental Army tries to turn Howe back but was defeated in Brandywine Creek and
Germantown
-British take Philadelphia
-Howe decides to stay in Philadelphia
Ben Franklin – “It’s not that Howe has captured Philadelphia; Philadelphia has captured Howe.”
As Burgoyne travels from Canada to Albany, the colonial militia attacks him
Eventually – Burgoyne and the Continental Army led by Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates meet at the
Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga [October 1777]
24
Turning point in the war
Burgoyne is surrounded and forced to surrender his entire army to Gates
Benjamin Franklin
In France negotiating with Louis XVI and French officials
After Saratoga [February 1778]
French decide to form an official alliance with the colonies
The French Alliance brings:
Navy
Supplies
Manpower – more soldiers
Money
Britain is now fighting against two countries
[1778]
Winter of 1777-1778
Continental Army spends the winter at Valley Forge
Baron van Steuben (Prussian drill master)
Trains the Continental Army – creates a well-disciplined army
Henry Clinton replaces General Howe
British move the army from Philadelphia to NYC
Battle of Monmouth (NJ)
George Washington and Continental Army cut off the British
96°F-100°F heat [June 1778]
100 American and British soldiers die of heat exhaustion
battle ends in a draw
Significance:
After this battle – 1/3 of Hessian soldiers desert the British
Last major battle in the North
British begin to concentrate on the South
[1779] Spanish joins alliance with U.S.A.
[1780] Catherine the Great (of Russia) forms the “Armed Neutrality” – the rest of Europe is passively against
the British
Holland joins the U.S., French, Spanish alliance
1. British capture Charleston, SC
2. U.S. is defeated at Camden, SC
3. Benedict Arnold becomes a traitor – caught trying to sell plans to the British at West Point – fights
the rest of the war as a British general
Then, the U.S. is able to turn the war around to their side.
4. Battle of King’s Mountain
American militia defeat 1 500 Loyalists
5. Battle of Cowpens
Americans get another victory
Nathaniel Greene (head of American forces in the South) uses the hit-and-run strategy against the British.
Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion leads American militia in attacks upon the British.
George Rogers Clark captures a number of British forts along the Ohio River.
[1781] Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis leads the British army to Yorktown, VA
At Yorktown – U.S. is planning on waiting for the British supply ship
George Washington realizes that Cornwallis walked into a trap
Marches Continental Army 300 miles to Yorktown
Joined by Rochambeau and Lafayette – French Army
De Grasse – French Navy
25
They trap Cornwallis at Yorktown
[October 19, 1781] Cornwallis surrenders his entire force of 7 000 soldiers
During the surrender, the British band plays “The World Turned Upside Down”
Lafayette doesn’t like the song – makes the band play “Yankee Doodle Dandy”
[1782-1783] last two years of the war are fought mainly between Loyalists and militia
Problems for the U.S. Throughout the War
1. Lack of supplies
2. High Inflation/hyperinflation
3. Inept Congress
4. Soldiers go unpaid for months at a time
5. Low morale
6. 1/3 of the country actually support the Revolution
African Americans and the Revolution
present at almost every major battle, fighting for both sides
14 000-20 000 for the British because they granted the slaves freedom
5 000 for the colonies – Washington grants freedom to slaves who fight
war leads to increase calls to abolish slavery – the Quakers are the first to free their slaves
Women in the Revolution
1. Camp followers
Served as cooks, launders, nurses
2. Some actually fight in the war
Ex. Molly Pitcher
3. Stay home and run the household/businesses
Birth rate declines during and after the war
Marks the early beginning of the call for equal rights for women (ex. Abigail Adams)
Overall – women were still expected to be subordinate and follow traditional roles for women
Education improves for girls
Treaty of Paris
[1782] The Whigs come into power in Britain and begin negotiating with the colonies
American delegates – Benjamin Franklin,
John Adams
John Jay – begins negotiating directly with Britain
[1783] Terms
1. Britain recognizes American independence and set the boundaries at the Great Lakes, Mississippi
River and the northern border of Florida
2. Spain takes Florida
3. Both Britain and U.S. can use the Mississippi River
4. Britain keeps Canada
5. U.S. can fish off of Newfoundland
6. The U.S. agrees to urge the individual states to give back Loyalist land
7. The U.S. government agrees to allow British merchants to collect debts from individual states
The treaty makes no mention of Native Americans
Officially signed on September 3, 1783
How did Britain lose?
1. Poor Generals
Ex. General Howe, General Cornwallis
2. The World is turned against Britain
France, Spain, Holland, Russia, Armed Neutrality
3. Distance
Difficult to get supplies at times
4. Not fighting for a cause
26
5. Not successful at North American warfare
6. Difficult to control and capture the Americans
A number of powerful cities (capturing one city will not bring the entire downfall of the Americans)
7. Overconfident
Post-War Situation (State Constitutions)
Articles of Confederation
Ratified in 1781 – only ratified after the states agreed to drop western land claims
State governor – has very limited power – fear of having too much power
Central Government
One branch – legislative (congress)
Designed to be weak
Powers
Wage war
Make peace
Postal service
Sign treaties
Coin money
Set standards for weights and measures
CANNOT tax – the biggest flaw of the Articles
States
Each state has one vote in Congress
In order to change the Articles – needed unanimous decision by the states
States made their own tariff laws – confused trade – difficult
States were “asked” to collect taxes – give to the central government
The Articles are a good first step towards creating a strong, stabilized government
First leader of the U.S. under the Articles is John Hanson
The one success under the Articles is setting up the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory– North of the Ohio River, East of Mississippi, West of Appalachians
1. Land Ordinance of 1785
-Splits the Northwest Territory into different sections – each 640 acres – set aside plots for
certain things (homes, education, and businesses)
2. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Sets rules for becoming a state
-once the white male population reaches 5 000, set up a legislature
-once the white male population reaches 60 000, apply for statehood
No slavery!
Problems in the U.S. [1783-1787]
1. Inflation – both government and the states print money
2. Small farmers are in debt – banks seize crops and land
3. Too much sovereignty between the states
4. Government is heavily in debt
5. World hates the U.S.
Great Britain
- stop trade between West Indies and the U.S.
- try to get Allen brothers to annex Vermont to Britain
- keeps forts on U.S. soil
- refuse to send a minister to the U.S.
Spain
27
-claim land north of Florida
-influence Native Americans against the U.S. – opportunity to own N. America
-close the Mississippi to trade with the U.S.
France
-restrict trade with the U.S.
-pirates in N. Africa seize U.S. ships and sailors
-demand repayment of war loans
6. Shays’s Rebellion
Daniel Shays (MA small farmer) gathers 1 200 small farmers
He tries to seize an arsenal of weapons in Springfield, MA
MA governor orders out the militia – kills four and ends the rebellion
-this incident highlights the need for change in the U.S.
[Summer 1786] five states attend a convention in Annapolis, MD to discuss changes to the Articles of
Confederation
Alexander Hamilton makes a constitutional convention of all 13 states
[Summer 1787] Constitutional Convention
meet in Philadelphia
55 delegates from 12 states show up – Rhode Island does not attend
-decide to scrap the Articles and write a new constitution
Personalities
George Washington (VA) – chairman of convention and is in his 50s
Benjamin Franklin (PA) – elder statesman of convention – 81 years old
James Madison (VA)-“Father of the Constitution” – 36 years old – many ideas
Alexander Hamilton (NY) – favors a strong central government and is an economic genius – 31
years old
Gouverneur Morris (PA) – serves as principle draftsman of the Constitution
Who is NOT there?
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
All in Europe
Thomas Paine
John Hancock (governor of MA)
Samuel Adams
Patrick Henry (against the new constitution-“I smell a rat!”) in favor of states’ rights
Constitution – “A Bundle of Compromises”
Virginia Plan “Large State Plan”– proposed by Virginia
-propose a bicameral legislature with representation based on population
New Jersey Plan “Small State Plan” – proposed by New Jersey
-propose a unicameral legislature with equal representation
“The Great Compromise”
-proposed by Connecticut
-creates a bicameral legislature
One based on representation – Senate (two senators for each state)
One based on population – House of Representatives
3/5 Compromise
slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for purposes of representation in Congress
Electoral College
Responsible for electing the president
-delegates at Convention did not trust the American public with electing the president
Slave Trade
Georgia and South Carolina want to continue the slave trade
-agreed to continue the slave trade until 1807
28
U.S. Constitution
Three branches – executive, judicial, and legislative
Executive-President
Commander in Chief
Appoint officials
Negotiate treaties
Veto laws
Term of four or eight years
Judicial-Supreme Court
Decide on cases that affect the people of the U.S.
Decide on the constitutionality of laws
Term for life or until retirement
Legislative-Congress
Senate (term of six years, indefinitely)
House of Representatives (term of two years, indefinitely)
Make laws
Regulate commerce
Approve Presidential appointments
Tax
Can declare war
Checks and Balances – branches have power over one another
Separation of Powers – each branch has individual powers
Elastic Clause – gives implied powers to the three branches of government (Article 1 Section 8)
Ratification of the Constitution
[September 17, 1787] Constitution is written
39 members of the Convention sign the Constitution
9 of the 13 states must ratify the Constitution before it becomes a working document
Federalists
Anti-federalists
Support Constitution
Support states’ rights
Favor a strong central
Fear a strong central
government
government – favored a bill of
rights
Vs.
Some people:
Against a standing army
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
Some people:
Alexander Hamilton
Patrick Henry
Benjamin Franklin
Samuel Adams
29
1. Delaware ratifies Constitution [December 1787]
2. Pennsylvania
3. New Jersey
4. Georgia
5. Connecticut
6. Massachusetts
7. Maryland
8. South Carolina
9. New Hampshire [June 21, 1788]
Not on list
10. Virginia
40% of population of U.S.
11. New York
12. North Carolina [November 1789]
13. Rhode Island [May 1790]
“The Federalist”/ “The Federalist Papers”
written to convince New York to ratify the Constitution
by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay
George Washington – “The President”
Won by a unanimous vote, not one vote against him, even with re-election
John Adams – Vice President
Thomas Jefferson – Secretary of State
Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of Treasury
Henry Knox – Secretary of War
Problems –
1. States are in debt
2. Government is in debt
3. Worthless paper money
4. World wants the U.S. to fail
5. Division in the country between Federalists and Anti-federalists
6. The country has been resisting authority
7. Sectional differences
8. Political differences
9. Need to create stability
Launching a New Government
[April 30, 1789] George Washington takes the Oath of Office in NYC, the first capital of the U.S., in Federal
Hall
*Capitals – 1st New York City, NY
-2nd Philadelphia, PA
-3rd Washington, D.C.
Washington’s Biggest Challenge: to create stability
-pass the Bill of Rights [1791]
drafted by James Madison
appease the Anti-federalists
first 10 Amendments of the Constitution
1. Freedom of speech, press, religion
2. Right to bear arms
30
3. No quartering of soldiers
4. Unreasonable search and seizure
5. Right to protect from self-incrimination
6. Fair and speedy trial and public trial by peers (jury)
7. Suits of Common Law – Double Jeopardy (same crime cannot be tried twice)
8. Protects from cruel and unusual punishment
9. Rights enumerated to the people
10. Rights given to the states
-Judiciary Act of 1789
organizes judicial branch – Supreme Court
One Chief Justice (John Jay was the first Chief Justice)
Five Associate Judges (now there are nine)
Organizes the court system in the U.S.
Creates office of the Attorney General (Edmund Randolf was the first)
Supreme Court
Circuit Courts (3)
Federal district courts (13)
-Stabilize economy
Alexander Hamilton develops a two-part plan
1. Pay off national debt “at par”
-buy back government bonds at face value-issue new bonds and pay interest
-wants the confidence built in the U.S. government
2. Assumption Plan
-wants federal government to assume the states’ debt ($25 million)
Thomas Jefferson is a direct rival against this plan, along with James Madison
“The Dinner”
Jefferson and Madison agree to support Hamilton’s plan if Hamilton agrees to support the plan to
move the capital to an area closer to VA
-Raise money
after Hamilton’s plan – the national debt is now $75 million
1. [1789] Congress passes an 8% tariff on imported products
2. Excise Tax – a tax placed on certain products sold in U.S. – esp. whiskey (7¢/gallon)
-National Bank
Alexander Hamilton wants to create a Bank that would:
Be a private institution
Be a safe deposit for government money
Print money
Loan money to government and businesses
Debate over National Bank
Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Hamilton – Loose Construction of the Constitution
31
Jefferson – Strict Construction of the Constitution – argues that it is the states’ job to
create banks
Hamilton wins
Congress passes the Bill
Washington signs the Bank Bill into law
In Philadelphia, PA
Charter for 20 years
Capital of the Bank is $10 million
1/5 of this money is owned by the government
Challenges for the U.S. [1790-1796]
Whiskey Rebellion
Western Pennsylvania
Farmers get angry at the tax on whiskey and rebel against it
Refuse to pay the tax
Tar and feather the tax collectors
Place Liberty Poles in towns
Washington is appalled at the “revolutionaries” in western Pennsylvania
Calls 13 000 state militia to march to PA and put down the rebellion
Significance – displays power of the central government
Rise of Political Parties
Hamiltonians “Federalists” – represent the merchant class and businessmen
Jeffersonians “Democrat-Republicans” – represent the rural class
-George Washington runs for a second term as President because he feared an election in 1792 would
tear the country apart
The French Revolution
[1789] Tennis Court Oath
[July 14, 1789] Fall of the Bastille
[1792] France becomes a republic
[1793] Louis XVI beheaded
[July 1793-1794] Reign of Terror
Federalists – appalled at the bloodshed of the French Revolution
Democrat-Republicans – see the Reign of Terror as a necessary evil towards democracy and freedom
[1793] France declares war on Austria
France declares war on Great Britain
-Franco-American Alliance of 1778 was an alliance “forever”
George Washington issues Neutrality Proclamation of 1793
U.S. would remain neutral in the affairs of Europe
Argues that the U.S. needs 20 years before they can fight another war
Trouble with Britain
Britain still occupied forts on the frontier on U.S. soil
Britain was seizing U.S. ships and U.S. sailors (impressment)
Britain was selling guns to the Native Americans
[1794] Battle of Fallen Timbers
General “Mad” Anthony Wayne defeats N. Americans in the Ohio Valley
Results in the signing of the Treaty of Greenville – cedes all Native American land in the
Ohio Valley to the U.S.
George Washington sends John Jay to Great Britain to negotiate a treaty
Jay’s Treaty
32
1. Great Britain agrees to leave the forts on U.S. soil
2. Great Britain agrees to repay U.S. merchants for seized ships
3. U.S. agrees to repay debts owed to British merchants
The public hates the treaty, especially the South
One positive aspect – keeps the U.S. out of war
Problems with Spain
Closed Mississippi River to U.S. in 1784
Disputed land on the northern border of Florida
Spain is encouraging Native Americans to attack frontier settlements
-Results in Pinckney’s Treaty [1795]
open the Mississippi River to the U.S.
settle Florida border at the 31st parallel
agree to stop influencing Native Americans
[1796] George Washington decides to NOT run for a third term
-sets a precedent – presidents can run for a maximum of two terms
-issues his Farewell Address – published in newspapers around the country
1. Domestic issues – warns against political parties
2. Foreign issues
[1797] Washington leaves Philadelphia and returns to Mount Vernon, VA
[1799] George Washington dies
Election of 1796
Federalists
John Adams
Alexander Hamilton had too many opposers
71 electoral votes
Democratic-Republicans
Thomas Jefferson
68 electoral votes
John Adams wins – second President of the U.S.
Thomas Jefferson becomes vice president
[1804] 12th Amendment – agreeing president and vice president
Presidency of John Adams
Foreign Issues
The French are very angry at the U.S. for signing Jay’s Treaty – thought that U.S. and Great Britain were going
to sign an alliance – so the French begin to seize U.S. ships
XYZ Affair
U.S. sends three diplomats to France to negotiate a treaty with the French foreign minister,
Talleyrand
Three French officials (XYZ) ask for a $250 000 bribe just to talk to Talleyrand
U.S. diplomats are outraged and return home
Many people in the U.S. begin calling for war against France; led by Federalists
The Half-War with France [1798-1800]
A naval war between U.S. and France in the Atlantic Ocean
U.S. creates the Marine Corps
U.S. increases the size of army and navy
Convention of 1800
Going against the wishes of his party, Adams sends diplomats to France to negotiate peace
33
Napoleon does not want to fight – signs a peace agreement with the U.S.
-The Franco-American Alliance of 1778 is officially ended
-this is the last alliance the U.S. signs for about 130 years
Domestic Issues
Federalists want to limit the power of the Jeffersonians
[1798] pass the Alien and Sedition Acts – four laws – end in 1801
1. Naturalization Law
-extends the time it takes to become a citizen from five to fourteen years
2. Alien Acts (two of them)
-gives the power to the President to arrest and deport foreigners
3. Sedition Acts
-restricts freedom of speech and freedom of the press
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
VA – by James Madison
KT – by Thomas Jefferson
Argue that the states have the right to nullify a law passed by the federal government
Strengthen the idea of states’ rights
Election of 1800
Federalists nominate John Adams
Democrat-Republicans nominate Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson defeats John Adams in electoral votes but ties with Aaron Burr
-When there is a tie, the House of Representatives decides who wins
After 35 votes, Jefferson is agreed to be the 3rd president (57 years old at the time)
Aaron Burr – Vice President
James Madison – Secretary of State
Albert Gallatin – Secretary of Treasury
Thomas Jefferson
Background –
Author of the Declaration of Independence
Expert violinist
From VA
Author of the Kentucky Resolution
Secretary of State under George Washington
Vice President under John Adams
Governor of Virginia
Served in the House of Burgesses
Minister of France
In favor of states’ rights
Architect – designed University of Virginia – designed Monticello (on the back of the modern nickel),
which he worked on from 25 years of age to his 80th year of age
Inventor
Philosopher
Slave owner – owned 150 to 200 slaves during his lifetime
Jefferson on…
1. Slavery
34
Was a slave owner, but thought that slavery was morally wrong
Does not free his slaves upon his death except for the Hemmings’s family (had an
adulterous affair with one of his slaves – Sally Hemmings)
2. Economics
Introduces a budget
Works to reduce the national debt
Gets rid of the excise tax
Leaves the rest of Hamilton’s plan intact, surprisingly
3. Freedom of Speech
Allows the Alien and Sedition Acts to expire in 1801
Passes a new naturalization act – five years in the U.S. until citizenship
In favor of freedom of speech
4. Judicial Branch
[1803] Marbury vs. Madison
Supreme Court rules that they have the final say whether a law is constitutional or not –
“judicial review” – increases Supreme Court’s power
Jefferson disagrees with this – thought that the states should have this right to determine
the constitutionality of laws
5. Military
Does not like the large standing army
Reduces the Army to 2 500
War with the Barbary Pirates
The Barbary pirates from the Barbary States from North Africa (Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli)
Made their living through piracy
Many countries gave “protection money” to the Barbary States to keep their ships and men safe
[1801] the Pasha (rule) of Tripoli demands more money from the U.S.
Jefferson refuses to pay – Pasha chops down flagpole of U.S. = WAR
[1801-1805] U.S. engages in war against the Barbary Pirates
Stephen Decanter frees prisoners and explodes the ship
[1805] U.S. and Tripoli sign a peace agreement
[By 1830] all of the Barbary States sign a peace agreement
Significance:
Gives U.S. navy more experience – had success
Gives U.S. navy confidence and a reputation
Gives U.S. some respect from the rest of the world
The U.S. begins to enter world affairs
Louisiana Purchase
[1801] Napoleon convinces the king of Spain to sign the Treaty of San Ildefonso
-gives the area of Louisiana (west of Mississippi) back to France
[1830] Thomas Jefferson and James Madison send Robert Livingston and James Monroe to France to negotiate
the sale of New Orleans
Supposed to offer no more than $10 million for New Orleans
At the same time…Napoleon has problems
1. Santo Domingo (Saint Dominique) in Haiti
[1792] Toussaint L’Overture leads rebellion on island and takes control by 1801
[1802] Napoleon sends 20 000 soldiers on the island
-mosquitoes – yellow fever/malaria ravishes soldiers
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2. France about to go to war with Great Britain
-Napoleon needs money
So – Napoleon decides to sell Louisiana
[April 30, 1803] France agrees to sell all of Louisiana for $15 million
Jefferson decides the benefits of owning the land outweigh the constitutional technicalities (loose
constructionalist idea)
Submits Louisiana Purchase Treaty to Congress – approves the sale on December of 1803
The only opposition to the Louisiana Purchase came from the Federalists – fear of decreasing
power
U.S. just doubled its size – added about 800 000 square miles of land – comes to about 3¢-4¢ per
acre – one of the greatest bargains in history
To explore the land – send Lewis and Clark
“The Corps of Discovery” (Lewis and Clark expedition)
Locate Native American tribes
Creates a very accurate map of Louisiana
Discovered various routes
Discovered species of plants and animals
Opens area to settlement
*Zebulon Pike (explorer) – explored southern Louisiana
The Duel
-By the early 1800s, the Federalist power was only found in the Northeast
-Some Federalists (upset by loss of power) want to split the union and have the northeast to leave the
union to save the power
tell this plan to Alexander Hamilton (head of the Federalists)
Hamilton is disgusted
Aaron Burr goes along with the plan and decides to run for governor of NY
-wants to win NY
-have NY to be part in the north east secession
Hamilton turns against Burr and begins writing articles and essays against him
-Burr is so outraged; he challenges Hamilton to a duel
-Hamilton accepted
[July 11, 1804] Burr and Hamilton meet in Weehawken, NJ
Hamilton is quicker, but shoots over Burr’s head – did he mean to miss?
The next shot is from Burr
[July 12, 1804] Hamilton dies of a gunshot wound to his stomach
Burr destroys his political image/career
Burr flees out west
Hated by the public
Was arrested but was found not guilty for trying to sell the West
Returns to NY and continues to practice law until his death
Federalist Party dies a slow death
Thomas Jefferson’s accomplishments in his first term:
1. Louisiana Purchase
2. War with the Barbary Pirates – brings respect to the U.S.
3. Doubles foreign trade
4. Lowers national debt by $25 million
5. Started paying British merchants for pre-revolutionary war debts
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6. People are quickly populating the western side of the Mississippi River
Adding more states
17 states by 1803
adding more territories
Slave state? Free State? -becomes a growing problem
Election of 1804
Thomas Jefferson is easily re-elected
There were only 14 votes against him
Thomas Jefferson’s Second Term
[October 1805] Lord Nelson defeats the French navy at Battle of Trafalgar
[Late 1805]
French armies led by Napoleon defeat Russian and Austrian forces at the Battle of Austerlitz
Britain controls the seas while France controls the land the Europe
Britain creates the Orders in Council [1806]
-forbids any neutral country from trading with a country under Napoleon unless they stop
at Great Britain first
France creates the Imperial Decrees
-French navy will seize any ship that is heading for Great Britain
In addition, the British continue to impress U.S. soldiers
The Chesapeake Incident [1807]
The Chesapeake is a U.S. ship
Stopped by the H.M.S. (His/Her Majesty’s Ship) Leopard looking for deserters
Captain of the Chesapeake refuses the search
The Leopard opens fire into the side of the Chesapeake (kills 3, injures 18)
Chesapeake makes it back into the U.S. – the people are outraged
Jefferson passes the Embargo Act
Halts trade with the rest of the world
Negatively affects the U.S. economy
-unemployment rises (Northeast is the most affected) – nicknamed “O’ Grab Me” Act
-Affects farmers (prices for crops drop)
-Foreign trade drops from $135 million [1806] to $25 million [1808]
Very unsuccessful
But jumpstarts the building of industry (self-dependence) in the Northeast
[March 1, 1809] Jefferson repeals Embargo Act and replaces it
Non-Intercourse Act [1809]
Opens trade to the world but not with Great Britain or France
[March 4, 1809] James Madison becomes President
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James Madison
Background –
Fourth President
“Father of the Constitution”
Author of the Federalist Papers
Virginia Resolutions
Democratic-Republican
Secretary of State under Jefferson
From Virginia
5’4” and 100 lbs
George Clinton – Vice President
James Monroe – Secretary of State
Albert Gallatin – Secretary of Treasury
Biggest Problem is TRADE
Non-Intercourse Act is set to expire after one year
Macan’s Bill No. 2
opens up trade with everyone (including Great Britain and France)
if Great Britain or France repeals their trade restrictions, the U.S. will halt trade with the other
-Napoleon seizes the opportunity-says he will lift the Imperial Decrees [August 1810]
- [November 1810] Madison agrees to halt trade with Great Britain
-Madison has indirectly aligned the U.S. with France
-Napoleon has no intention of lifting the Decrees – continues to seize U.S. ships
-Napoleon has set the U.S. and Great Britain on the path to war
[1810] Congressional Election
-brings new, inexperience leaders to Congress
“War Hawks”
eager to fight a war of their own
led by Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina
want more land
want to get rid of Native American menace in the west
want to secure U.S. maritime rights
mostly from the west and the south
Native Americans
Tecumseh and Prophet – Shawnee chiefs - create a N. American Confederation
-intend to rid the Ohio Valley of white settlers
William Henry Harrison – governor of IN territory – attack N.A. at Prophetstown
Battle of Tippecanoe
Indians strike first
Harrison defeats them – crushes the confederation
-discovers that the British supply N. Americans with guns through Canada
Madison declares war on Great Britain [July 1, 1812]
The northeast is opposed to war
-many New England states send gold to Great Britain
-many New England states send supplies to Canada
-governors of New England states refuse to allow militia to serve outside state borders
War Hawks want Canada and Florida
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War of 1812
Problems for the U.S. at the start of the war:
1) small army of only 7 000 men
2) lack of money
3) small navy of 16 ships
4) lack of unity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Invasions of Canada
Lake Erie
Battle of Thames
Battle of Plattsburgh
Washington D.C.
Baltimore
Battle of New Orleans
1. Invasion(s) of Canada
-U.S. lands a three-pronged attack on Canada in 1812 – fails miserably and loses Detroit
-several more attempts in 1813, all fail
2. Lake Erie [September 1813]
-Oliver Hazzard Perry builds a fleet of ships to fight against the British
-Defeats the British at Battle of Put-In Bay
“We have met the enemy, and they are ours” – first U.S. success in the war
3. Battle of Thames [1813]
-because of British defeat on Lake Erie, the British are forced to retreat from Detroit back to
Canada
-William Henry Harrison catches the British and defeats them – killed Tecumseh
4. Battle of Plattsburgh [September 11, 1814]
-before the battle, 14 000 experience British soldiers are sent to North America
Plan – to take control over New York and get northeast to secede
-Thomas Macdonough
30 years old – leads U.S. naval forces on Lake Champlain against the British
Emerge victorious (with ships/slaughterhouses)
5. Washington D.C.
-Britain lands forces on the Potomac River and begin marching to D.C.
-met at Bladensburg by U.S. militia forces but U.S. is easily defeated
-British march into Washington D.C.
burn down the Capitol building, Library of Congress, President’s House
Madison and members of government are chased into surrounding hills
Dolly Madison saves portrait of Washington
6. Baltimore [September 1814]
-following D.C., the British move on to Baltimore, MD
-U.S. puts up a heavy resistance at Fort McHenry and halts the British offensive
-British are forced to retreat from Baltimore
Francis Scott Key writes the “Star-Spangled Banner”
7. Battle of New Orleans [January 1815]
-Andrew Jackson
Defeated Creek Indians at Horseshoe Bend in 1814
Defeated British in Pensacola, FL
Promoted to Major – General
-Jackson guesses that the British are going to attack New Orleans
-begins to organize for the defense of the city
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[December 23, 1814] British make an initial attack but quickly retreat
[January 8, 1815]
British return to New Orleans with 7 500 men – lead a full frontal attack
-a terrible decision by British officers
2 000 British die/injured
13 U.S. soldiers killed, 60 wounded
Great victory for the U.S. – even if fought two weeks after treaty was signed
Propels Andrew Jackson to the status of war hero
Treaty of Ghent [December 24, 1814]
Signed in Belgium
All land acquired in the war is returned to its original owner
Return to status quo
War ends in a draw
Treaty makes no mention of:
-impressments
-seizure of ships
-influencing of Native Americans
U.S. slogans
Before war – “On to Canada!”
After war – “Not one inch of territory ceded or lost.”
What does the war accomplish?
1. Ends Native American resistance in Ohio Valley
2. End to Federalist party
-Hartford Convention
Federalists from five northeastern states meet in Hartford to discuss amendments to the
Constitution
a. end to the Virginian presidents
b. Lessen the power of the South and West
c. Protect U.S. commerce
Send proposals to Washington D.C. [January 1815]
Proposals are shunned-Federalist party withers away
3. Respect for the U.S.
4. Second war for American Independence?
5. National unity emerges
-this period becomes known as the Era of Good Feelings
Post-War Period
Nationalism – pride in one’s country
1. National Anthem
2. Slogans
3. a Rebuilt Capital – redesigned the entire capital city
4. People begin to view themselves as Americans
5. Respect grows for American literature
Washington Irving – “Rip Van Winkle” Sleepy Hollow
James Cooper – Last of the Mohicans
Noah Webster – the dictionary
6. The American System–developed by Henry Clay, supposed to strengthen the U.S.
Strong banking system (helps the Northeast)
Protective tariff (helps the Northeast)
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Internal improvements (helps South and West) – money to help build roads and
improved transportation in the U.S.
Madison’s Accomplishments after the War of 1812
1. [1816] creates the second National Bank
2. [1816] Tariff of 1816 is passed – 20% tax on value of imported goods
3. increases army to 10 000
Madison’s Failure after the War of 1812
vetoes the Bonus Bill – would have given $1.5 million to the states for internal improvements
James Monroe
Monroe’s presidency is called the “Era of Good Feelings”
His first two years will be successful – after 1819, Monroe is plagued with problems
Background:
Fifth president
Co purchaser of Louisiana
From Virginia
Minister to France
Served in the Revolutionary War
Judicial Nationalism – increasing power of the judicial and federal
-led by John Marshall and the Supreme Court
Case
What Happened?
Decision
Significance
Cohens sold lottery
Cohens were found
Marshall asserted the
Cohens v. Virginia
tickets in Virginia
guilty of illegally
right of Supreme
[1821]
selling lottery tickets
Court to review the
decisions of the state
courts in anything
involving the federal
government
NH wanted to change Marshall ruled that
Kept states’ power
Dartmouth College
the original charter
limited – Constitution
v. Woodward [1819] a charter given to the
college by King
must stand
ruled over others
George III in 1769
MD attempted to
Marshall declared the Strengthened federal
McCulloch v.
destroy a branch of
bank constitutional
rights and denied state
Maryland [1819]
the Bank of U.S. by
(implied powers) –
rights
taxing its notes
denied the right of
MD to tax the bank
NY attempted to grant Marshall reprimanded Minimized states’
Gibbons v. Ogden
to a private concern a NY – the Constitution rights while
[1824] “steamboat
monopoly of waterconferred on only
supporting sovereign
case”
born commerce
Congress the control
powers of the federal
between NY and NJ
of interstate
government
commerce
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Era of Good Feelings
I. Pre-1819
-land agreements with Great Britain
1. Rush-Bagot Agreement
Neither country will place warships on the Great Lakes
Mr. Allen- “No boom-boom on the Great Lakes”
2. Treaty of 1818
Sets the 49th parallel as a border between U.S. and Canada
The U.S. and Great Britain agree to share Oregon for ten years
The U.S. can use fisheries in Newfoundland
-Florida
Spain was dealing with revolutions in Chile, Venezuela and Argentina
Spain was not able to deal with problems in Florida
U.S. sends Andrew Jackson to deal with these problems
Instruction to NOT touch Spanish cities
Despite this, he takes over two cities
Jackson hangs two Englishmen
By 1818 – had conquered all of Florida
Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams – suggests to an angry Monroe to get FL
-Adams-Onis Treaty
For $5 million, the Spanish decide to sell Florida to the U.S. after James Monroe
gave them an ultimatum
II. 1819-1824
-Panic of 1819
a depression takes hold in the U.S. in 1819 caused by an over-speculation of Western lands –
affects the West the most
-Missouri Compromise [1820]
[1819] eleven free states, eleven slave states
Missouri applies for statehood as a slave state
Henry Clay “the Great Compromiser” develops a plan to appease
1. Missouri enters as a slave state
2. Maine enters as a free state
3. 36°30’ line is created for the Louisiana Purchase area – all lands north of it will be free,
all lands south of it will be slave
This brings into public discussion the issue of slavery – settles the issue for 30 years
In the early 1820s, European nations are working together to restore monarchies
Russia
Formed to restore colonies in Latin
Prussia
Holy Alliance formed
America to Spanish rule
Austria
France
Great Britain does not join-going to threaten its economy
-asks U.S. to join an alliance against European nations that would prevent European expansion
into Latin America
Great Britain has economic interests in Latin America
John Quincy Adams does not want the U.S. to sign an alliance with Britain – U.S. would not be able to
expand into Latin America in the future
-Monroe Doctrine (written by John Quincy Adams)
1. Nonintervention of Latin America by any European nation
2. Non-colonization of Latin America by any European nation
-delivered to Congress in December 1823
42
Problem – U.S. does not have a strong navy to support doctrine
Solution – Great Britain does – unwillingly backs up the doctrine
Election of 1824 “The Corrupt Bargain”
One party – the Republicans – Candidates:
1. Andrew Jackson “Old Hickory”
Hero of New Orleans
Conquered Florida
Defeated Native Americans at Horseshoe Bend
From Tennessee – support from the Southwest
Born in SC – orphaned at the age of ten
Slave owner
Senator and congressman
Viewed as a “common man”
2. Henry Clay “the Great Compromiser”
Leader of the War Hawks
Missouri Compromise
Representative of Kentucky in Congress
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Support from the West
3. John Quincy Adams
Secretary of State under Monroe
From Massachusetts
Son of the second president, John Adams
Support from the Northeast
4. William Crawford
Secretary of Treasury under Monroe
From Georgia
Broad national support
Results:
Jackson – 99 Electoral votes
Adams – 84 Electoral votes
Crawford – 41 Electoral votes
Clay – 37 Electoral votes
Total of 261 votes
Jackson does not have the majority
House of Representatives decides from the top three contenders
*note – Henry Clay is the House’s speaker*
Crawford is paralyzed from a heart attack
Clay hates Jackson – thinks he is a barbarian
[January 1825] The House votes and on the first ballot, John Q. Adams is named president
[3 days later] Adams names Clay the Secretary of State
Jackson and his supporters are outraged and call it “Corrupt Bargain”
Jackson is so angry that…
-he resigns from his seat in Senate
-spends the next four years working to get Adams and Clay out of office
43
John Quincy Adams’s Presidency
Elected by less than 1/3 of the population
Has “Corrupt Bargain” surrounding his presidency
Unsuccessful presidency
Awkward socially
Cold towards people
Odd person
-has nationalistic plans
Wants to build roads
Wants to increase army and navy
Wants to build a national university
Wants to build observatories
-but the country has fallen out of the nationalistic mood
Wants to be friendly to the Native Americans
-the states do not listen
Tariff of 1828 “Tariff of Abominations”
[1828] Jackson’s supporters in Congress are willing to give one more black eye to Adams
Create a tariff with ridiculously high rates
The tariff actually passes
Angers the South
-SC argues that they have the right to nullify the tariff
-John C. Calhoun, the vice president, writes “The South Carolina Exposition”
Displays the growing sectionalism in the U.S.
Election of 1828
Democratic-Republicans – Andrew Jackson
National-Republicans – John Quincy Adams
The election focuses less on issues and more on mudslinging
Results:
Jackson – 178 Electoral votes
Adams – 83 Electoral votes
After the election, Jackson’s wife dies [December 24, 1828] from a broken heart
-when Jackson married Rachel, her previous marriage was thought to be over but was not
-the mudslinging during the election included this issue
John Q. Adams becomes a representative from MA and participates in the House of Representatives for 17
years
This election changes the type of person that will be president in the future
When Jackson is inaugurated, tens of thousands of “common” citizens show up at D.C.
Jackson opens the White House to the public – “Inaugural Brawl”
The New Democracy
Expanded Suffrage
Suffrage – the right to vote
Before the 1820s, many states had property requirements to vote
By 1828, most states have dropped those requirements – allows more people to vote
“People” – white males
Twice as many vote in 1828 (1 155 000) than in 1824 (326 000)
Methods of Voting
Begin changing to paper ballots
44
Easier to vote during the 1820s
Political Parties
Party tickets form in the 1820s
Conventions begin
-First to do so was the Anti-Masonic Party [1831]
-hotels begin to be built
New Candidates
Appeal to the common man
Andrew Jackson
Davy Crockett – semi-literate Congressman for Tennessee
Andrew Jackson-Jacksonian Democracy
The Spoils System
Giving government jobs to political supporters
“To the victor, goes the spoils”
Jackson believes - government jobs should be open to everyone (if you support Jackson)
Jackson wants to get Adams and Clay supporters out of the government
Replaces 20% of all government workers
The Peggy Eaton Affair
Secretary of War – John Eaton – marries Peggy O’Neale
Her father owned a hotel in D.C. – she reportedly slept with many of the men there
The women of D.C. refuse to accept Peggy
Jackson sides with the Eatons
1. Jackson refuses to meet with his regular Cabinet after incident – instead, he meets with the “Kitchen
Cabinet”
2. Martin Van Buren uses the incident to get in the good graces of Jackson – allows Van Buren to become
president in 1837
3. Jackson and Calhoun (vice president) become bitter enemies
The Growth of Sectionalism
Sectionalism-pride/support for one section of the country
Webster-Hayne Debate [1830]
Debated for nine days in Senate over the right of a state to nullify a law
Webster (MA) is arguing for the union
Hayne (SC) is arguing for states’ rights and for nullification
-displays the growing divide between the states
Jackson remained silent on the issue of nullification
The Southern Congressmen/Senators want to get Jackson to publicly support the idea of states’ rights and
nullification – Jefferson-Day Dinner
[April 13, 1830] Jefferson-Day Dinner
Jackson is tipped off beforehand of the plan for Jackson to publicly support nullification
When it is Jackson’s turn to toast the dinner, “Our union, it must be preserved!”
Calhoun claims states’ rights first, union second–resigns from the vice presidency [1832]
Secretary of State, Martin Van Buren, becomes the Vice President
The Nullification Crisis
[1832] Congress passes a new tariff – lowers the tariff rates from 1828
South Carolina is still NOT pleased
-the state legislature of SC calls a convention
1. Nullify the Tariff of 1832
45
2. Threaten to secede from the union if the federal government tries to use force to collect tariff
dues
Jackson is very angry – sends a small military force to SC
Enter Henry Clay – Compromise Tariff of 1833
-lowers tariff rates over the next 10 years to 20%-25%
The federal government passes the Force Bill
-allows the President to use military force to collect custom dues
SC accepts the Compromise Tariff of 1833 but nullify Force Bill
-In the end – both sides felt that they won
Jackson and the Native Americans
[By 1830] U.S. population reaches 13 million
Settlers want the Native American land
Jackson wants to move all Native Americans to the west of the Mississippi
[1830] Congress passes the Indian Removal Act
-during the 1830s, 100 000 Native Americans moved off their ancestral lands and into Indian Territory
(Oklahoma)
-Move of the Cherokee “Trail of Tears” – 4 000 Cherokee die
Resistance
1. Seminole Indians
-many flee to the Everglades and spend seven years resisting
2. Black Hawk Wars
-Native Americans from Indiana and Illinois, led by Chief Black Hawk
-fought against the removal
-One of the most notable resistance actions
Jackson and the Bank
[1832] Henry Clay convinces the Head of Bank of U.S. (Nicholas Biddle) – to apply to renew the charter for the
Bank (due to expire in 1836)
Clay, who wants to run for president, wants to make Jackson look bad over the bank issue
Many Jackson supporters were openly hostile to the bank
If he signed it – alienate his supporters
If he vetoed it – appear to be a foe of sound banking
Jackson vetoes the bill to renew the charter
Election of 1832
Appearance of a third party – the Anti-Masonic Party
Jackson easily defeats Clay
Jackson calls the victory a mandate and decides to destroy the Bank of U.S.
Jackson fires two Secretary of Treasury’s
Then, Roger B. Taney becomes Secretary of Treasury, who agreed with the plan
Stop depositing federal money into the bank of U.S.
Instead, deposit the money into “pet banks”
By 1836, the Bank of U.S. is out of money and closes its doors
Jackson dislikes paper money for the sale of lands – issues the Specie Circular
-calls for the sale of lands to be conducted with gold and silver only
Result: halts the rapid sale of land in the West almost immediately
46
Legacy of Jackson
1. Leads the common man into politics
2. the President can make government policy
3. Increases the power of the presidency – uses the power of veto 12 times
Election of 1836
Democrats – Martin Van Buren
Secretary of State
Vice President
Whigs (used to be National Republicans) – nominate several candidates to halt a majority
Martin Van Buren wins
Election of 1840
Democrats – Martin Van Buren – in spite of the failed presidency, still nominated
Whigs – William Henry Harrison (68 years old?)
Hero of Tippecanoe
Hero of Thames
Not very involved in politics – no enemies
Portrayed as: living in log cabin, poor farmer, drank hard cider – common man image
In reality: lives in a mansion (16 rooms), one of the wealthiest families of VA, drank whiskey
“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” song – John Tyler of VA – not a Whig
Harrison wins – 2.3 million votes cast
On his inauguration day, shows up without a jacket or hat on a cold D.C. day
Gives a 1 hour 55 minute long speech
Catches pneumonia and dies 31 days later
John Tyler takes over as president
Reform 1800-1860
Religion
Late 1700s, religion had become liberal in the U.S.
[1800] a religious revival sweeps across the nation – called the Second Great Awakening
Charles Finney leads this movement – 25 000 go to see him
-marks a split between the major religions over the issue of slavery
Presbyterians
Methodists
Split between north and south
Baptists
Utopia-a perfect society
During 1800-1860 over 40 utopias are created in the U.S.
Robert Owen “Father of Socialism” – founds New Harmony, Indiana – fails
Shakers – founded by Mother Ann Lee in 1840
Oneida, NY [1830s]
believe in “complex marriage”
believe in selective breeding
produce silverware (1881-turn into a corporation)
Mormons
[1830] Joseph Smith claims to receive golden plates from an angel
47
the golden plates become the book of Mormon
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Believe in polygamy
[1844] Smith and his brother are killed
Brigham Young takes over and takes the Mormons on a trek to the Great Salt Lake (Salt Lake City, UT)
Thrive through new farming techniques (irrigation) and good luck
Education
In the early days of U.S., education was reserved for the wealthy
Public education was almost nonexistent
Public education grows between 1825-1850
Small, one-room schools
Many different age/reading levels
Horace Mann
Begins to change public education in the 1800s
Increases length of school year (3 months to 6 months)
Increases teacher salaries
Increases state funding
Increases teaching schools
By 1860, there are over 300 high schools in the U.S.
Mental Illness
[Early 1800s] viewed as a crime
Dorothea Dix begins to travel around the country and visits mentally ill patients
-travels over 60 000 miles
-submits a report to the MA state legislature
-helps to bring about change
Women’s Rights Movement
1. End to slavery
2. Temperance – moderation in the use of alcohol
3. Right to be heard
Leaders:
-Lucretia Mott
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton
-Susan B. Anthony
-Elizabeth Blackwell (first woman to graduate from medical school)
-Lucy Stone
-Sojourner Truth
[1848] Seneca Falls, NY
A women’s rights conference takes place
Write the Declaration of Rights of women
Stanton asks for the right to vote
Other movements:
Science – John Jay Audubon – leading ornithologist
Arts – leading architect – Thomas Jefferson (died 1826)
Painters begin to paint landscapes
[1839] early photographs called the daguerreotype is invented
Literature – the Transcendentalist Movement
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Henry David Thoreau - Walden
Walt Whitman “Leaves of Grass”
Other writers: Edgar Allan Poe, Louisa May Alcott, Herman Mellville
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Developments in Transportation
Railroads
Fast and reliable
Cheaper than canals
Not frozen in winter – defied terrain and weather
[1828] first railroad
[1860] 30 000 miles of railroad track
poor brakes
iron braces
standardized parts
1840s craze
Canals
Erie Canal “Clinton’s Big Ditch”
Control tides (level of the water)
Allows ships to get through
Industry and value of the land increases
Gives rise to cities because it sped up industrialization
Canal craze in the 1830s
Steamboats
Robert Fulton invents the steamboat
Clermont “Fulton’s Folly”
Defy wind, wave, tide, currents
Doubled the carrying capacity
James Watt perfects the steam engine
Roads
Lancaster turnpike (first turnpike of the U.S.)
Attracted trade
Western = $$
1790s and became successful
National Road (MD to IL)
Communication
Pony Express
Cable
Telegraph (invented by Samuel B. Morse)
Clipper ships (fast)
Iron steamers in Britain
49
The Industrial Revolution
Great Britain is the first to industrialize in the mid-1700s
Samuel Slater
21-year-old British mechanic
Remembers the plans for a textile mill and illegally brings them to the U.S.
Slater and Moses Brown build the first textile mill in Rhode Island [1791]
-Problem: cotton is expensive to grow
-Solution: Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin [1793]
-can remove the seeds 50 times faster than by hand
Significance of the Cotton Gin:
1. Ties the South to cotton
2. Renews slavery in the South
3. Creates an industrial giant in the North
Factory System in the Northeast
1. Long hours and low wages
2. Unsanitary conditions
3. Unsafe conditions
4. Child labor
At first, workers are forbidden to join unions
[1842] Supreme Court rules in Commonwealth vs. Hunt that labor unions are not illegal
-this eventually brought improved conditions for workers
National Economy
North – Factory System (finished products)
South – Cotton (fuels the factory system)
Work together
West – Wheat, corn, other food products (food for all)
-The United States begins its path to becoming an industrial giant
Lowell System
By Francis C. Lowell – brought all processes of production under one roof
-industrial cities; built around the factory and work
-women are employed, along with children
Interchangeable parts
Idea of Eli Whitney
Mass producing parts for a product
Fuels the factory system
Farming equipment
Metal plough is invented by John Deere
Cyrus McCormick invents the mechanical reaper
Abolitionist – someone who is against slavery
Frederick Douglas – leading abolitionist
-Runaway slave – newspaper “North Star” – outspoken
William Lloyd Garrison
– Newspaper “the Liberator”
Theodore Dwight Weld
Maysville Road Veto
Andrew Jackson – vetoes a federally funded road, internal improvement
-did not think that internal improvements needed federal funding
50
Population Growth in the United States
[1810] 7 239 881 people
[1810] one in seven Americans lived west of the Appalachians
[1840] 17 069 453 people
[1840] one in three Americans lived west of the Appalachians
[1860] 31 433 321 (immigrants and high birth rates)
Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Des Moines, St. Louis, Memphis, Louisville, Omaha
[1790] Philadelphia and NYC have populations over 20 000
[1860] 43 cities have populations over 20 000
Life in the West
Lonely – lack of communication and interactions
A tough life, a crude life
Boring
Difficult life
Poorly fed, poorly dressed, poorly housed
Diseases
Wrestling was the dominant form of entertainment
Immigrants – the Irish and the Germans
Irish
1. Potato famine [1845-1850]
Millions died of starvation – blight destroys many, many potatoes
2. Escape political persecution
Irish tended to settle in port cities of the Northeast (NYC and Boston)
-Can get jobs – readily available
-lacked the money to move out of the cities
Irish are Roman Catholic – not well-liked
Political bosses would greet the Irish as they stepped off the bots
-gave coal, food, held with the law, jobs
-all in turn for votes/political support
Persecution? – NINA – No Irish Need Apply
Germans
Tended to settle in the West
Generally had more money than the Irish – could buy land
Amish
-the most enduring group of Germans
-close themselves off from the rest of the world (corrupted)
-no electricity
Contributions
-Conestoga Wagon
-Kentucky Rifle
-Christmas tree
-idea of kindergarten (“children’s garden”)
Supported public education
51
Manifest Destiny
“Our manifest destiny is to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our
yearly multiplying millions” – John L. O’Sullivan (1845)
-the belief that the U.S. should extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Before U.S. acquires the land in the west, many settlers moved on on their own
Trails: Santa Fe Trail
California Trail
Gila Route
Mormon Trail
Old Spanish Trail
Oregon Trail
Wagon trains
Generally, settlers would gather in Independence, Missouri, and join 50-100 other wagons
Why?
1. Support
2. Protection
3. Guidance
4. Companionship
Wagon – 8 ½ feet high
10 feet wide
Conestoga Wagon
Drawn by oxen
2 mph/15 miles per day
The Trip – 5 to 6 months long
The wagon trains became moving communities
Set up laws
Appointed officials
Tried criminals
Had marriages
Had funerals
Texas
[1821] Mexico revolts against Spanish rule and declares independence
[1823] Mexican government gives a huge tract of land to Stephen Austin. Austin promised to settle the land
along with 300 other Americans
The only promise the Americans had to make was to become Roman Catholic and to “Mexicanize”
Thousands of Americans begin to steadily populate the area in Texas
Examples: Davy Crockett, James Bowie – inventor of the Bowie knife, Sam Houston – soldier, lawyer,
congressman, governor of TN
Some criminals move to Texas as well “G.T.T.” – Gone to Texas
[1830] Mexico outlaws slavery – tell Americans to stop bringing more slaves
-Americans largely ignore this
-Many Americans are angry with Mexican soldiers stationed in Texas
[1833] Stephen Austin goes to Mexico City to settle disputes with Mexican government
-the Mexican government jails Austin for eight months
[1835] Santa Anna (leader of Mexico) creates an Army to send to Texas
[1835] 30 000 Americans are living in Texas
[1836] Texas declares its independence “Lone Star Republic”
Sam Houston takes control of the Texan Army
Texas Revolution
52
The Alamo – [March 6, 1836]
-6 000 Mexican troops surround 200 Texans at the Alamo
-After 13 days of battle – everyone inside the Alamo is killed, including Davy Crockett, James Bowie,
and Colonel Travis (head of Alamo Forces)
Texans use this as a rallying cry, “Remember the Alamo!”
The Goliad – [March 27, 1836]
-400 Texans are killed after they surrender
“Remember the Goliad”
Battle of San Jacinto
-Houston and the Texan army lead Santa Anna and the Mexican army on a chase through Texas
-As the Mexicans stop for a “siesta”, Houston turns the army around and attacks the Mexican forces and
defeats them
-Santa Anna signs an agreement recognizing the independence of Texas, with the Rio Grande as the
border
Texas has their independence, and they name Sam Houston as the President of Texas
John Tyler
From Virginia (also a senator from Virginia)
He was the Vice President under Harrison – first VP to ascend to the Presidency because of death
Whig (in actuality, a Democrat)
Henry Clay and Daniel Webster – leaders of the Whig Party – had hoped to control Harrison and the presidency
But Tyler will continue to go against Clay and the Whig Party
-vetoes two bills to create a National Bank
-opposes the Whig Platform
-all of his Cabinet members resign, except for Webster
-kicked him out of the Whig Party
Three Major Developments of Tyler’s Presidency
“A Third War with England”
War with words between England and the U.S. [1840s]
[1837] Caroline Affair
-a small uprising in Canada
-some Northern states send supplies aboard the Caroline to the rebellion
[1841] New York apprehends a Canadian who was suspected of burning the Caroline
-was acquitted and issues cool down
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty [1842]
There was a small war that breaks out in Maine between Maine lumberjackers and some Canadians over the
border – called the Aroostook War
Lord Ashburton of Great Britain and Daniel Webster (secretary of state) – negotiate a treaty
Split the land, sets a border in Canada
The U.S. receives a small portion of land in Minnesota
“Oregon Fever”
[By 1846] 5 000 people had moved to the area south of the Columbia River
Many Americans begin calling for the northern border to extend to the 54° 40’ line
“54° 40’ or fight!”
53
Election of 1844
The major issue is that of expansion
Whigs – Henry Clay
-writes a series of letters in which he appears non-committal on the issue of Texas
-many anti-slavery groups turn against Clay
-small party in NY “Liberty Party” votes for a third-party election
Democrats – James K. Polk “a dark horse candidate”
-on a platform of expansion
-wants to annex Texas
-wants California
-wants the 54° 40’ line
-was the governor of Tennessee
-Speaker of the House
Polk is elected President
Even though Polk is elected, Tyler is not done yet
-Tyler claims that the people have mandated that the U.S. annex Texas
[February 1845] Tyler gets a joint resolution pass in Congress
Texas is officially annexed
Rules: Texas can only be split into a possible four states
Move the 36° 30’ line up north (get the Texas border)
James K. Polk (the 11th President)
Speaker of the House for four years
Governor of Tennessee
Firm believer in Manifest Destiny
Extremely hard-working, serious
Of moderate intelligence
Goals:
1. wants a lowered tariff – succeeds
Walker Tariff [1846]
-lowers tariffs to 25%
2. wants to restore the Independent Treasury – succeeds
[1841] Whigs ended the Independent Treasury system
[1846] a new Independent Treasury system is established
3. the settlement of Oregon – succeeds
[1846] Great Britain and the U.S. agree to extend the 49th parallel to the Pacific Ocean
4. wants to acquire California
Leads to the Mexican War
The Mexican War
California in 1845
13 000 Spanish-Mexicans
75 000 Native Americans
Missions line the coast
Less than 1 000 Americans
Polk wants to buy California from Mexico
Problems:
1. Mexico is angry that the U.S. annexed Texas
2. Mexico owes the U.S. $3 million in damages
54
3. the dispute over the southern border of Texas
-U.S. wanted the border at the Rio Grande
-Mexico wanted the border at the Nevees River
Polk sends John Slidell to Mexico to offer $25 million for California
-Mexico refuses to listen to the offer
-Polk tries to force Mexico into a war
Sends 4 000 U.S. troops under Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande
[April 25, 1846] Mexican forces killed 16 American soldiers
Polk goes before congress, asks for a declaration of war, and gets it [May 1846]
Santa Anna (who was exiled to Cuba) tricks Americans, returns to Mexico and assumes control of the Mexican
Army
People of the War
1. Zachary Taylor “Old Rough and Ready”
-wins at Monterrey and at Buena Vista
-becomes an instant hero at home
2. Winfield Scott “Old Fuss and Feathers”
-despite having inadequate supplies, he wins at Vera Cruz and moves to Mexico City
3. Stephen Kearny
-takes forces among the Santa Fe trail and captures Santa Fe, then, California
4. John C. Frémont “the Pathfinder”
-leads a revolt in California
-overthrows the Mexican government and sets up the Bear Flag Republic
After the U.S. captures Mexico City, the U.S. and Mexico enter negotiations
[February 2, 1848] U.S. and Mexico sign the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
1. Mexico drops claims to Texas
2. U.S. buys Mexican Cession for $18 million
[1853] Gadsden Purchase
U.S. buys the area south of the Mexican Cession for $10 million
Originally, this region was thought to be the best place for a transcontinental railroad
Sum up Manifest Destiny
Greatly expands the U.S. through the Mexican War
California
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Arizona
Settle the Oregon territory along the 49th parallel
Annexation of Texas
Gadsden Purchase
Webster-Ashburton Treaty –settles Maine
What does Manifest Destiny do?
Provides military experience for future Civil War leaders
Latin America begins to look at U.S. with some fear
Provides U.S. military with respect from the world
The U.S. must answer the slavery question for the new territory that is gained
55
The South and Slavery
The system of slavery was dying out in the U.S. by the late 1700s
[1793] Cotton gin is invented
leads to an increase in cotton production in the south
½ of the world’s cotton production comes from the South
½ of U.S. exports is cotton
75% of Great Britain’s cotton comes from the South
South nicknamed “King Cotton”
-leads to a renewal of slavery in the United States
[1850-1860] 1 733 families own 100 slaves or more in the South
90 000 families own 10-99 slaves each
255 268 families own 10≥ slaves
Total – 1.75 million people own slaves
8.5 million is the population of the South
¾ of Southern whites do not own slaves
-the hope of one day owning a slave that leads this group to believe in the institution of slavery
Slavery
4 million slaves in U.S. by 1860
Slave trade ended in 1808, but illegal trade continued through the Civil War
Conditions for slaves depended on the owner and where the slaves worked
Fugitive Slave Act
Angers Northerners
Why?
1. Heavy fines and jail terms for anyone caught helping runaways
2. In some cases, Northerners could be forced to assist in the capture of runaway slaves
3. The presence of slave-catchers in the North
Reactions of the North
1. step up the use of the Underground Railroad
-Harriet Tubman, despite having a large bounty on her head, helps 300+ slaves
Underground Railroad – a series of trails and safe-houses that led slaves to freedom
2. Some northern states pass “personal liberty laws”
-makes it illegal for officials to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act
[1852] Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published
In its first year, it sells 300 000 copies
Millions are sold by 1861
A book that displays the cruelty and harshness of slavery
Makes millions of Northerners turn to anti-slavery
[1854] The Impending Crisis of the South by Hinton Helper
Argues that slavery is harmful for Southern non-slaveholding whites
-uses statistics to prove his point
Free African Americans
-250 000 in the North and South each
Abolitionism – to abolish slavery
Theodore Dwight Weld
William Lloyd Garrison – wrote “the Liberator”
The American Colonization Society [1817] buys piece of land in Africa – Liberia
Sojourner Truth – free slave who ran away
Frederick Douglas – founds the newspaper “the North Star” – a runaway slave
Harriet Tubman – Underground Railroad – frees 300 slaves
56
Slaves resisted slavery by:
Running away
Revolts:
-Denmark Vesey [1822]
-Nat Turner [1831]
California
[1848] Gold is discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California
-starts the Gold Rush [1848-1849]
people from all over the U.S. and the world swarm into California
very few actually strike it rich
sang “O, Susanna” - “O, Susanna/don’t you cry for me/I’ve gone to California/with a washbowl
on my knee”
Election of 1848
Democrats
Lewis Cass
An expansionist
Sympathetic to the South
Believed in popular
sovereignty
-let people of a territory vote
for free or slave
Whigs
Zachary Taylor
No political experience
No political platform
Free Soil Party
Martin Van Buren
Anti-slavery
Wilmot Proviso
-proposed by David Wilmot
(PA) – no slavery be allowed
in the areas acquired from
Mexico
Zachary Taylor wins!
By 1849, California has a population of 80 000, and they apply for statehood as a free state
15 free states
15 slave states – worried about the free states getting the favor in the Senate
-reject California as a free state
Daniel Webster argues for compromise
William Seward says that slavery is wrong by a higher law
John C. Calhoun
Enter Henry Clay with a plan
Compromise of 1850
1. California is admitted as a free state
2. The territories of Utah and New Mexico will be decided by popular sovereignty
3. The slave trade in D.C. is banned
4. Slavery is still legal in D.C.
5. a strong Fugitive Slave Act is passed – required Northerners to assist in the capture of runaway slaves
6. Texas cedes land to New Mexico for $10 million
Zachary Taylor is against the compromise and has threatened to veto it
-Taylor dies in July of 1850
-Millard Fillmore takes over as President
In September 1850, Fillmore signs the compromise into law
Clay’s compromise merely postponed the problem
57
Henry Clay’s Legacy
Election of 1844
Election of 1824 “the Corrupt Bargain”
Missouri Compromise
War Hawk (before the War of 1812)
Compromise of 1833
Compromise of 1850
Election of 1832
Speaker of the House
Congressman
Senator
From Kentucky
Served as negotiator at Treaty of Ghent
American System
Election of 1852
Democrats
Franklin Pierce
Dark horse candidate
From New Hampshire
Lawyer
Served in Mexican War
Whigs
Winfield Scott
Hero from Mexican War
Whigs split between the North and the South
254:42 – Franklin Pierce wins
Significance – marks the end of the Whig party
Pierce’s Presidency
There is still a feeling of Manifest Destiny in the U.S.
1. in 1854 Commodore Matthew Perry sails into Japan and opens them up to trade
2. William Walker attempts to take over Nicaragua
3. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty – the U.S. and Great Britain agree NOT to have exclusive rights over a canal in
Central America
4. Pierce wants to acquire Cuba – offers Spain $100 million – Spain refuses
[1854] Pierce asks U.S. ministers in Great Britain, France and Spain to develop a plan to acquire Cuba
-the three ministers meet in Ostend, Belgium and develop the Ostend Manifesto
-it states that the U.S. should offer $120 million for Cuba and if Spain refuses, then the U.S. should take
it by force
-The Ostend Manifesto leaks out – the Northerners are outraged
-forces Pierce to drop any idea of acquiring Cuba
Kansas-Nebraska Act
[1850s] many people want to build a transcontinental railroad
-the Prize is to be selected as the eastern terminus (starting point)
Stephen A. Douglas
-senator from Illinois
-“Little Giant”
-wants Chicago to be selected to be the eastern terminus
-stands to benefit politically and financially from this
58
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Douglas develops the act – passes in 1854
1. the territories of Kansas and Nebraska are created and popular sovereignty will be used to decide the
slavery issue
2. Repeal the Missouri Compromise Line (36° 30’ Line)
Results from the Kansas-Nebraska Act
1. Angers the North
-they openly ignore the Fugitive Slave Act
2. Destroys the Missouri Compromise
3. Splits the Democratic Party
– Northern Democrats, Southern Democrats
4. Destroys Compromise of 1850
5. Gives rise to the new Republican Party – brings groups together (former Whigs, some Democrats,
abolitionists)
-forms in 1854
-grows out of Wisconsin and Michigan
-anti-expansion/anti-extension of slavery
6. The Know-Nothing Party
-anti-foreigner
-anti-Catholic
-Nativist party – believed that only people native to the country belong
7. Bleeding Kansas
-pro-slavery men from the South and anti-slavery groups from the North begin moving into Kansas
-Two governments are set up in Kansas
Shawnee Mission – pro-slavery government
Topeka – anti-slavery government
-violence breaks out
-John Brown –ardent abolitionist
-leads followers to Pottowamie Creek and kills five pro-slavery men
[1856-1861] civil war breaks out in Kansas
8. Bleeding Sumner
-growing debate in Congress over the violence in Kansas
[1856] Charles Sumner of MA gives a speech – “The Crimes against Kansas”
-insults pro-slavery groups
-insults senator Andrew Butler from SC
Congressman Preston Brooks of SC takes offense at the speech
[May 22, 1856] Brooks takes a cane and beats Sumner in his Senate office over the head until the cane
breaks
-hurt him so much that he had to go to Europe for 3 ½ years for intensive surgery
-Brooks resigns, but was re-elected
1856-1858
Election of 1856
Democrats
James Buchanan
PA lawyer
No abolitionist view
Untainted by the KansasNebraska Act
Republicans
John C. Frémont
Hero from the Mexican War
“the Pathfinder”
non-extension of slavery
“Free speech, free press, free
Know-Nothing Party
Millard Fillmore
59
First homosexual president
soil, free man, Frémont”
Buchanan wins – 15th President
Dred Scott Decision
[March 6, 1857] Supreme Court rules on the Dred Scott case
-Dred Scott was a slave who was suing for his freedom
The Decision
1. Chief Justice is Roger B. Taney
-Dred Scott is a slave, and slaves are not citizens of the U.S.
-so, Dred Scott cannot sue
2. Supreme Court rules that free territories violate the fifth Amendment
-the government cannot deny a U.S. citizen of his property (i.e. slaves)
-so, the Supreme Court says that the Missouri Compromise was never legal
Significance:
Slavery is legal in every territory.
Back to Kansas
[1857] Lecompton Constitution – a constitution written in Kansas that legalizes slavery
[1858] There is a vote on the constitution – it is rejected
Despite this, Buchanan submits this constitution to Congress with the idea of slavery being legal
Douglas fights against it and the Constitution is defeated in Congress – believes in popular sovereignty –
costs his support in the South
Kansas does not become a state until 1861
Panic of 1857
-caused by over-speculation in western lands and railroads
-gold in California
-overgrowth of grains
The Panic mostly affects the North – it has little effect in the South
-there is still a high demand for cotton in Europe
Many in the North call for changes
1. Free homesteads – 160 acres of free land invested
2. Higher Tariff
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Stephen Douglas
“Little Giant”
idea of popular sovereignty
Senator from Illinois
Abraham Lincoln
Not well-known at the time
Congressman from Illinois
Lawyer – “Honest Abe”
6’ 4” – lanky, awkward-looking
Debate over the 1858 senate position from Illinois
Lincoln is of the Republican Party – for the non-extension of slavery
Douglas is arguing for popular sovereignty
Freeport Doctrine – Douglas states that slavery cannot exist in a territory if laws are not passed to protect it
-this angers the South
Douglas wins the election
Lincoln gains national fame from the debates
60
John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry
[1859] wants to start a slave revolt in the South
Thinks that if he had enough support, he could go to the South and take over the U.S. arsenal
Dispense weapons to slaves to kill their masters
Harder than he thought – there was not enough communication
Others thought he was crazy – not enough support
[October 1859] Brown and 17 followers seize U.S. weapon arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA
7 killed, 10 wounded
U.S. calls on Robert E. Lee to capture Brown
Brown is captured and later hanged
Significance
1. North – some people regard Brown as a hero
2. South – comes to believe all abolitionists are crazed lunatics willing to do whatever it takes to get what
they want
3. one final break between the North and the South
Election of 1860
Northern Democrats
Stephen Douglas
1.3 million popular
votes
12 electoral votes
Southern Democrats
John C. Breckinridge
VP under Buchanan
850 000 popular votes
72 electoral votes
Constitutional Union
John Bell
Wanted to keep the
peace
600 000 popular votes
39 electoral votes
New Republicans
Abraham Lincoln
1.8 million popular
votes
180 electoral votes
Lincoln’s Platform:
1. Free Soil – non-extension of slavery
2. Northern manufacturers – higher tariff
3. Immigrants – keep immigration
4. Northwest – Pacific railroad
5. West – Internal improvements
6. Farmers – free homesteads
Lincoln becomes president – the votes are split in the other three groups
The South does not like this.
The South’s Response to the Election of 1860
[December 1860]
South Carolina is the first state to cede from the Union
Mississippi
Florida
[January 1861]
Alabama
Georgia
Louisiana
[February 1861]
Texas
They form the Confederate States of America, of which Jefferson Davis is the president
James Buchanan does nothing!
-Buchanan doesn’t find anything against cession in the Constitution
James J. Crittenden tries to keep the union together
Crittenden Amendments (Lincoln is against the amendments)
1. Reinstates the 36° 30’ line to the Pacific Ocean
61
2. Once a territory becomes a state, it can either be a slave state or a free state
-Fails to pass in Congress
[April 1861] only two forts in the South still fly the U.S. flag
Fort Sumter – Charleston, SC – needed supplies
1. if Lincoln supplied the fort, the Confederacy could consider it an act of war
2. if Lincoln doesn’t supply the fort, the fort would have to be surrendered
-Lincoln sends a letter to Davis to warn him so that war is not implied
-but the South still considers it an act of war anyway
[April 12, 1861] the Confederacy opens fire on Fort Sumter
-34 hours pass, the fort falls – no one is killed
After Fort Sumter
Virginia
Arkansas
All cede
North Carolina
Tennessee
Delaware
Maryland
Kentucky
Missouri
Slave-holding states that do not cede
(border states)
Significance: the Civil War has begun
North (Union)
22 million
800 000 (constant influx of
immigrants)
22 000 miles of Railroads
109 500-110 000 factories
1.2 million workers
¾ of nation’s finances
$189 million in banks
Majority of farmland
Many small farms of food
Abraham Lincoln
Plagued by ineffective
leaders
7 different leaders of army
Navy – blockade –
Anaconda Plan
+
+
+
VS.
Population
+
Railroads
Industry and
Manufacturing
Finance
+
Farming
South (Confederacy)
9 million (5 million are white, 3.5-4
million are slaves)
9 000 miles of Railroads
20 600 factories
111 000 workers
¼ of nation’s finances
$47 million in banks
One big farm of COTTON
Leadership
+
Intangibles
+
Jefferson Davis
Robert E. Lee
Stonewall Jackson
Can fight a defensive war
Fight on home turf
Fight for way of life
Foreign help?
62
Background to the Civil War
Border States –
Missouri
Delaware
Maryland
Kentucky
West Virginia
What is so important about the Border States?
1. The Border States would have doubled the manufacturing capacity of the South
2. Would have added 2.5 million whites
3. Control over the Ohio River and its tributaries
Lincoln’s goal – Bring back the South/Reforge the Union
[In the beginning of the war] (Has to keep the Border States)
How does Lincoln keep the Border States?
1. Martial Law – suspends haebeus corpus (have a right to a trial)
2. “Supervised” Voting – helped keep the Republicans in power
3. Cracks down on certain newspapers
Foreign intervention (Britain)
Why would they?
1. 75% of Great Britain’s Cotton comes from the South
2. Britain is openly sympathetic to the South and against Northern Democracy
Why don’t they?
1. The public of Great Britain read Uncle Tom’s Cabin and was against slavery
2. The South was too productive in pre-war years – Great Britain had a 1 ½ year’s worth of cotton on hand
in 1861
3. A poor wheat harvest in Great Britain forced them to rely on Northern U.S. wheat
4. Union Blockade
Great Britain never enters the war.
Raising Money and Troops
Union and Raising Money
[1861] U.S. passed an Income Tax – 3% rate on anyone’s paycheck of over $100
[1862] U.S. issues greenback money – paper money that is not backed by gold or silver
-prone to inflation depending on how the war was going at the time
Government sells bonds – a loan to the government – paid interest on the loan
The U.S. passes the National Banking System
-works until 1913
Government passes the Marill Tariff Act
-increases tariff rates
Confederacy and Raising Money
Issue bonds
Issue paper money –“blue backs”
Union and Raising Troops
1. Beginning of war, Union Army filled with volunteers
-so many that people were turned down
2. [1863]: volunteers running out
[March 1863] Union calls for a draft
20-45 years old and three years of service
Four day draft not in New York City
How does one avoid the draft?
-find a replacement
-pay $300
63
“Poor people fighting a rich man’s war”
Confederacy and Raising Troops
1. South calls for conscription – April 1862
2. Avoid draft if you had ≥200 slaves
Civil War
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Gettysburg
Major Events of the
Civil War
First Battle of Bull Run
Appomattox Courthouse
Outlines the South (doing well in the beginning, reach a plateau, and then they start to lose)
1. First Battle of Bull Run
[July 21, 1861] Manassas Junction, VA
Union expected this to be a very short war – only expected this battle
influential people come and watch
Confederates start to retreat, but Stonewall Jackson tries to rally the Confederates
results in a Confederate victory
Significance: proves this will not be a short war
2. Battle of the Iron-sides [Monitor vs. Merrimac (VA)]
iron-plated ships – [March 1862] five days
results in a draw
Significance: changes naval warfare – no more wooden ships
3. Capture of New Orleans – by David Farrogut [April 1862]
4. Peninsula Campaign – Confederate victory
5. Second Battle of Bull Run – Confederate victory
6. Battle of Antietam – First battle fought on the Union side
[September 17, 1862] Antietam Creek, MD
bloodiest day of the Civil War
battle ends in a draw – 23 000 casualties
political victory for the Union
a. Great Britain decides not to interfere
b. Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation
-states that slaves in “areas of rebellion” (Confederacy) are free
-does not anger the Border States
-Confederacy does not listen
7. Fredericksburg, VA [December 1862] – Confederate victory
8. Chancellorsville, VA [May 1863]
Confederate victory, but Stonewall Jackson was killed
Jackson was killed by his own men, who mistook him to be a Union soldier
9. Battle of Gettysburg [July 1-3, 1863] (PA)
goes back and forth for three days
on the third day, Confederate general George Pickett leads an unsuccessful charge at Union lines
– “Pickett’s Charge” – battle ends
64
Significance: marks beginning of the end for the Confederacy
10. Battle of Vicksburg [July 4, 1863]
Gives Union control of the Mississippi River
Named Ulysses Simpson Grant head of the Union Army
-believed in “total war”
-did not believe in defeat
-actually fought in battles
11. “March to the Sea” [1864 November – 1865 April]
William T. Sherman leads it
Total destruction through his path
12. Re-election for Lincoln [November 1864]
13. Capture of Richmond [April 13, 1865]
14. Appomattox Courthouse [April 9, 1865] (not a battle)
Grant and the Union Army corner Lee at Appomattox, VA
Lee surrenders everything to Grant
Significance: marks the end of the Civil War
Election of 1864
North Democrats – split
War Democrats – supported Lincoln
Peace Democrats – did not support Lincoln
-Copperheads were the extreme faction of the Peace Democrats
-led by Clement L. Valandingham
-dropped in the Confederacy
Republicans – Lincoln
Union Party (War democrats + Republicans)
Lincoln
million popular votes
217 electoral votes
Peace Democrats
George McClellan
General for the Union
1.8 million popular votes
22 electoral votes
African-Americans in the Civil War
following the Emancipation Proclamation, Africans were accepted into the Union army
216 000 African Americans join the Union military
54th Massachusetts
22 win the Medal of Honor
paid less, treated as laborers, forced to fight in segregation
Women in the Civil War
Clara Barton – Union nurse – founded the Red Cross
Harriet Tubman – Underground Railroad and Union spy
Dorothea Dix – superintendent of Union nurses
Foreign Problems
1. Trent Affair
-Union arrests two Confederate officials on board a British ship
-“Alabama” – British built ship panned by the British subjects offered by:
-sinking 64 Union ships
2. Irish-Americans – on several occasions a small group of green aimed to attack the Union
3. France in 1863
-France installs Maximillian on the throne of Mexico
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-at end of war, Union threatens France
-France pulls support, and in 1867, Maximillian is killed
Civil War in Conclusion
600 000 Americans were killed during war
400 000 are wounded
-Union – 400 000 die
-Confederation – 200 000 killed
Nation loses an entire generation
Civil money cost approximately $15 billion
South is destroyed
The infrastructure will have to be rebuilt
There are two positives1. Democracy survives
2. Slavery is ended forever in the U.S.
Reconstruction
-Rebuilding and reforming of the country after the Civil War
1. Rebuild parts of the South
2. What do we do with the former slaves?
3. Jobs for soldiers
4. Convert factories back to a peacetime economy
5. How do we deal with the South?
Punish or forgive?
6. Who decides the course of Reconstruction?
The President, Congress, the people?
*Antebellum – pre-Civil War*
Lincoln
-forgive the South
Radical Republicans
-punish the South
-led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner
1. Lincoln’s Plan
2. Johnson’s Plan
3. Congress’ Plan
4. Military Reconstruction
Lincoln’s Plan [began in 1863]
10% Plan – after 10% of a state’s population took an oath of allegiance, that state could be readmitted to the
Union
Southern States had to abide by the 13th Amendment [1865-abolished slavery]
Radical Republicans – pass the Wade-Davis Bill (vetoed by Lincoln)
50% had to take an oath of allegiance
Stronger requirements for the registration of the 13th Amendment
[April 14, 1865] Lincoln attends the play Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theater in D.C.
[April 15, 1865] 7:22 AM Lincoln dies
John Wilkes Booth was eventually captured and killed by federal troops
[March 1865] Freedman’s Bureau (expires in 1872)
served as a type of welfare agency for former slaves
provide clothing, temporary shelter and try to locate jobs
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have some success – but are plagued by some problems
What was most successful? – EDUCATION – taught over 200 000 former slaves to read and write
Johnson’s Plan (by Andrew Johnson)
-wartime governor of Tennessee
-semi-literate
-racist
-forgiving to the South for the wrong reasons (from the South himself)
1. 10% Plan
2. pardons Confederate office holders
3. Southern states are forced to nullify the acts of secession
4. Have to ratify the 13th Amendment (abolish slavery)
5. Repudiate Confederate debts
-the South take advantage of Johnson
What happens?
The Southern States pass “Black codes,” intended to keep the African Americans under slavery
1. Barred African-Americans from serving on a jury
2. Barred African-Americans from renting land
3. African-Americans could be punished for idleness
This forces African-Americans into certain jobs (like working on farms)
Result:
Sharecropping
Another form of slavery
African-Americans work on Southern farms and work for part of the profits
African-Americans are liable for debts
By December 1865, Johnson announces that all Southern states are back in the Union
-the Southern states send representatives to D.C.
-many of the representatives are former Confederate officers and generals
Congress closes the door on these men and takes over Reconstruction
Congress’s Plan [1866]
1. Civil Rights Bill – 14th Amendment
a. Full civil rights for African-Americans
b. Can reduce representatives in Congress if their state blocks African-Americans from voting
c. Disqualifies Confederate office holders from taking office
d. Repudiate Confederate debts
2. the 10% Plan
What happens?
Johnson encourages the Southern states to vote against the 14th Amendment
The Freedman’s Bureau is extended even though Johnson tried to veto the bill
We see a break between Republicans and Radical Republicans over the best way of Reconstruction
Congressional Elections [1866]
-Republicans made up 2/3 majorities in both houses
Military Reconstruction [1867]
-divides the South into five military districts
-in each, is led by a Union general and controlled by Union soldiers
-punishment to the South
-had to ratify the 14th Amendment
-had to grant and ratify the 15th Amendment (gives African Americans the right to vote)
What happens?
Reconstruction of the South is completed by the sword (force)
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Realities of Reconstruction
1. in many Southern states (AL, FL, MS, SC, LA), African-Americans make up the majority, but do not
hold the majority in office
2. Corruption
Carpetbagger – a term used to describe a Northerner who comes to the South after the Civil War,
looking for political power
Scalawag – a term used to describe a Southerner who supported the Union during the Civil War
3. Reform
a. establishment of adequate schools
b. improved tax system
c. public works programs
d. property rights are guaranteed to women
4. 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
-all are designed to protect African-Americans
5. Formation of Southern “Radical” Groups
-oppose equal rights for African Americans
-Ku Klux Klan-forms in 1866
-terrorized African Americans in the South
-finally brought under control when Congress passes the Force Acts in 1870 and 1871, but they continue
to meet and terrorize African Americans
-try to keep African Americans from voting
6. many African-Americans are restricted from voting
-poll taxes
-literacy test
-Grandfather clause
Andrew Johnson is openly against Congress and their Reconstruction plans [1867] Congress passes the Tenure
of Office Act
-makes it illegal for the president to replace an appointed official who was confirmed by Congress
[1868] Johnson fires his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton (from Lincoln)
-House of Representatives brings impeachment charges against Johnson
-the Senate hears the case and votes on it
-Johnson misses being thrown out of office by one vote
Result:
-would have set a terrible precedent
-would have permanently weakened the office presidency
-makes Johnson a lame duck president [May 1868]
The one bright spot for Johnson’s presidency was seen as a terrible move at the time
[1867] Russia is looking to sell Alaska
-believed that Alaska has been “furred out”
Secretary of State, William Seward, purchases Alaska for $7.2 million
-Met with horrible review – Americans are extremely upset
“Seward’s Folly” “Seward’s Icebox”
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Election of 1868
Republicans
Ulysses S. Grant
Civil War hero
Political Novice
Waves “the bloody shirt” during campaign
Democrats
Horatio Seymour
Governor of NY during the Civil War
Against the South
Political Moderate
Ulysses S. Grant wins
-only wins by 300 000 popular votes
-newly voting African-Americans gave him the win
-votes from Virginia, Mississippi and Texas are not counted, since they were not reconstructed yet
Reconstruction continues throughout Grant’s presidency
-as troops pull out of the Southern states, state governments quickly pass back to the hands of the white
Democrats
-“A return to home rule” – white redeemers
-once these home-ruled governments take over, they restrict the rights of African-Americans
Grant’s Administration
-has one of the most corrupt presidencies
Grant’s Scandals
1. The Credit-Mobilier Scandal
Credit-Mobilier was a railroad company set up by the Union Pacific Railroad Company
-they would charge $50 000 for every mile of track built
-it only cost $30 000 for every mile of track at the time
-to keep Congressmen quiet, the Credit-Mobilier company gives them shares of stock
-The Vice President was also bribed – Schuyler Colfax
-Scandal is broken in 1872
-Grant’s administration took the major blame for it
2. Salary Grab
-Congress votes to double their pay, including a raise for Grant
-after the rage of the public, Congress repeals the decision
3. Whiskey Ring
-whiskey distillers and members of the U.S. Treasury team up to avoid paying an excise tax on whiskey
-it cheats the federal government out of millions of dollars
4. W.W. Belknap – Secretary of War
-sells $24 000 worth of government supplies to the Native Americans
-he then keeps the money for himself
-because of this scandal, he eventually resigns
Panic of 1873
Caused by the over-speculation of western lands and RAILROADS
[1871] Chicago fire
Cost insurances $273 million
[1872] Boston fire
Jay Cooke Company Bank fails – sold bonds to the Union during the Civil War
Leads to a financial panic that lasts for about five years
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Election of 1876
Republicans
Rutherford B. Hayes
Governor of Ohio
Union General
Moderate in political issues
Democrats
Samuel Tilden
Lawyer from New York
Brings down Boss Tweed
On election night, the electoral count is 184-Hayes, 165-Tilden
You need 185 electoral votes to win (the majority)
South Carolina, Louisiana, Oregon, and Florida – each sent in two sets of electoral votes
One for Democrats, one for the Republicans
Set up a committee – 7 Democrats, 8 Republicans
Democrats threaten to “filibuster until hell freezes over”
Compromise of 1877
Democrats agree to let Hayes be elected if:
1. The last federal troops are removed from South Carolina and Louisiana
2. One southerner is on the Cabinet
3. Grant political power/favor to the South
4. Spend federal money on internal improvements
The Republicans, by agreeing to this, the Republicans sell out their commitment to equal rights for AfricanAmericans
-this is going to lead to segregation
After Hayes is sworn in:
One month later, he removes federal troops from South Carolina and Louisiana
Marks the official end of Reconstruction
After Reconstruction Ends
-Southern states return to white Democrat control “white redeemers”
-new “redeemer” governments limit rights for African-Americans
-begin to see segregation
[1880s] the South begins separating the races in public facilities
[1880s] the South passes “Jim Crow laws”
-calls for formal segregation in the South
-enforced through fear and lynchings
[1896] Supreme Court hands down the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision
-Legalizes “separate but equal” facilities in the United States
-For the African-Americans – it meant inferior facilities (ex. Schools)
-Sharecropping becomes the dominant job for many Southern African-Americans
This continues until the mid-1950s
Recapping Reconstruction
Positives:
Internal improvements
Union is preserved
13th, 14th, 15th Amendments are all passed
Reform
-education
-tax system
-rights for women
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Negatives
Segregation develops
Corruption
Terror groups
Southern states limit the 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
Republicans sell out their commitment to African-Americans
The Gilded Age (of Politics) – on the surface, the U.S. appears to be glittering, growing, and prosperous –
in reality, there is economic depression, CORRUPTION, sin, crowds, big
business, filth, and crime
*gilded – covered with gold*
Politics – industrialization, frontier, growth of cities
The Gilded Age Presidents “the Forgettable Presidents”
1. Ulysses S. Grant (first president during this age)
-scandals
-depression (Panic of 1873)
2. Rutherford B. Hayes
-ends the Reconstruction
-“His Fraudulency” – Compromise of 1877 gets him the presidency
Problems:
Great Railway Strike of 1877
-Hayes calls out federal troops to deal with strikes – Baltimore and Pittsburgh
Deals with the Panic of 1873
Hayes vetoes the Chinese Exclusion Act
-receives backlash and outrage because of this
-it is a law that would limit the number of Chinese immigrants
-cheap labor in California, gold rush in California
Congress passes it the year after Hayes leaves office
Election of 1880
The Republicans were split into the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds
Stalwarts – led by Roscoe Conkling (does not get the NY Port Collectors job he wanted)
-wanted to return to the days of Grant
-VP candidate for the Republicans – Chester A. Arthur (a Stalwart)
Half-Breeds – led by James G. Blaine – secretary of state
Republicans
Democrats
James Garfield
Winfield Hancock
A Half-Breed
Civil War general
Civil war officer
Grew up very poor
James Garfield wins
3. James Garfield
very honest
one major flaw – he cannot say “no”
[July 2, 1881] tragedy hits
a deranged office-seeker, Charles Guiteau, shoots James Garfield
Garfield does not die for 11 weeks
brought to New Jersey for some fresh shore air
[September 19, 1881] Garfield dies
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4. Chester A. Arthur
-when he becomes president, many Stalwarts (including Conkling) believe that they will receive
political positions
Arthur surprises them – throws his influence into Civil Service Reform (government jobs)
Result: Pendleton Act of 1883 – establishes a merit system for civil service jobs
Sets up a Civil Service Commission
Requires that applicants pass an exam for certain jobs
[By 1884] Arthur had classified 10% of all government jobs
[By 1984] over 90% of government jobs are classified
Significance: starts Civil Service Reform
Election of 1884 - mudslinging
Republicans
Democrats
James G. Blaine
Grover Cleveland
From Maine – leader of the Half-Breeds
Mayor of Buffalo
Secretary of State
Governor of NY
Lawyer
Linked to corruption on behalf of a
Southern Railroad Company – “Burn,
Bachelor
Linked to an illegitimate child in Buffalo
burn, burn this letter”
“Maa, Maa, where’s my Pa?”
During a campaign speech, a Republican
candidate calls the Democrat party “the
Party of Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion”
-insults the Irish, who vote Democratic
Grover Cleveland wins
5. Grover Cleveland
-First Democrat elected since Buchanan
-not an active president
-Congress is Republican
Pension Legislation is the one area he deals with
-tries to clean it up (pension problems)
-he vetoes several hundred individual pension bills
At the end of his first term, Cleveland wants to reduce the high tariff
-there is a huge surplus in the U.S. Treasury
Election of 1888 – major issue of the election is the tariff
Republicans
Democrats
Benjamin Harrison
Grover Cleveland
Grandson of William Henry Harrison
Wants a lowered tariff
“Little Tippecanoe”
wants a high tariff
during election – the Republicans pay
voters in some states $20 to vote
Republican
Grover Cleveland wins the popular vote
Benjamin Harrison wins the electoral vote
6. Benjamin Harrison
His term lasts from 1889 – 1893
Under Harrison and the Republican-controlled Congress, many legislations are passed
Congress is ruled by (Speaker of the House) Thomas B. Reed, “The Czar”
The McKinley Tariff Bill – raises the tariff rate up to 48%
The Sherman Silver Purchase Act
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-government agrees to buy 4 million ounces of silver per month and turn it into money
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act
-makes it illegal to put any restraint on trade
The Congress of 1888-1890 “The Billion-Dollar Congress”
-spend a lot of the treasury surplus
river and harbor improvements
Steamship subsidies
Pension Act of 1890 – allows more veterans to collect pension
Return federal taxes paid by Northern states
-deplete the surplus in the Treasury
Election of 1892
Republicans – Benjamin Harrison
Democrats – Grover Cleveland – wins
Populist – James B. Weaver
7. Grover Cleveland
Cleveland believes in “hard” money – money that is backed up by gold/gold standard
During his 2nd term, gold reserves are lowered to about $41 million
-threatens to go off the gold standard with such low gold reserves
-use money not backed by gold
-inflation (acceptable minimum for gold reserves is $100 million)
Cleveland asks J.P. Morgan to help raise money for the U.S.
-Morgan sells U.S. bonds overseas and acquires $65 million in gold for the U.S.
Cleveland also gets the Sherman Silver Purchase Act repealed
Major depression takes hold in 1893
-Caused by the usual – over-speculation of western lands
-caused by LOW GOLD RESERVES
Labor problems
-labor disputes throughout the country
Gold vs. Silver – should silver be used in the money supply?
Election of 1896 – central issue is gold vs. silver
Democrats/Populists
Republicans
William Jennings Bryan
William McKinley
Calls for the free coinage of silver
Congressman from Ohio
He is a very strong orator
A Major from the Civil War
“Cross of Gold” speech – “Do not crucify Runs a “front porch” campaign – lets
mankind upon a cross of gold”
Bryan talk himself out – angers
Campaign is run by Marcus Hanna
Gold standard, renewed/higher tariff
McKinley wins – last Gilded Age president
Where are the people of power? Why aren’t they in politics?
-They are all in business – can make money, empires, and billions – tycoons
-i.e. the Carnegies, Rockefeller…
8. William McKinley
The Farmer’s Revolt
-during the Civil War, prices for crops were very high
-after the Civil War, farmers experience many problems
1. Crop prices fall
Wheat – [1873] a bushel of wheat - $1.21
[1885] a bushel of wheat - $0.49
Cotton – [1873] a pound of cotton - $0.21
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[1885] a pound of cotton - $0.05
2. Railroad prices are extremely high
-farmers had to ship their goods
3. New farm technology was expensive
4. Many farmers only grow one crop
-In order to solve their problems, farmers begin taking action – form the Patrons of Husbandry
-at first, was a social group
-then, they form cooperatives in order to buy seeds and machinery in bulk
-“Granger Laws” are passed to protect farmers
-Greenback Labor Party is one of the first parties that farmers join
[1892] farmers from the west and the south meet in Nebraska and form the Populist Party
The Populist Party is exclusively the farmer’s party
Populist Platform
Higher taxes placed on the wealthy
Government ownership of railroads, telegraphs, telephones
Direct election of senators
Want free coinage of silver
Age of Industry
Railroads
[1865] 35 000 miles of railroad
[1900s] 192 565 miles of railroad – most of the growth takes place in the West
Transcontinental Railroad
-Two companies are chosen – Union Pacific Railroad – starts in Nebraska and heads west
Central Pacific Railroad – starts in California and heads east
Workers on the Railroad
-Chinese – 12 000 Chinese workers – esp. on the Central Pacific side
-Irish
Both provide cheap labor
Starts in 1865, ends in May 10, 1869
Meet at Promontory Point, Utah
Leland Stanford hammers in the golden spike to complete the railroad
Significance:
1. Connects the East and the West
2. Travel from the West Coast to the East Coast drops from one month to one week
-Four other transcontinental railroads are built:
The Great Northern Railroad
The Northern Pacific Railroad
The Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
The Southern Pacific Railroad
Developments in Railroads
1. Steel rails – replaced iron rails
-stronger, sturdier, safer
-promoted by Cornelius Vanderbilt
2. Standard Track Gauge
-all rail lines are of the same width
3. Air brakes – developed by George Westinghouse
Adopted in the 1870s by railroad companies
4. Telegraph – help avoid accidents
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5. The Pullman Palace Cars – “first class”
6. TIME ZONES
-Four time zones are created on November 18, 1883
-Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific
Significance of Railroads:
1. Create a true national economy
2. Spurs mining and agriculture in the West
3. Increases immigration – railroad companies advertised the sale of land in Europe
4. Makes millionaires – ex. Cornelius Vanderbilt
5. Destroys the environment – hasten the killing of the buffalo
Major Problems with Railway Industries:
1. Railroad owners have too much power
2. Stock Prices were inflated for railroad companies
3. Owners colluded (work together) to keep prices up
4. Very corrupt – bribe officials, judges, and politicians
5. A few individuals controlled the entire industry
Eventually, the government brings some control to the railroads
[1886] the Wabash Case
The Supreme Court rules that states cannot regulate interstate commerce
[1887] the Interstate Commerce Act
First Regulatory Agency in the United States
Congress creates the Interstate Commerce Commission, which oversees the railroads
Inventions of the Industrial Age
[1860-1890] over 440 000 patents are issued in the United States
Cash register
Stock ticker
Typewriter
Refrigerated railcar – improved the transportation of meat and produce
Electric railway – invented by Frank Sprague
Sewing machine
Notables:
1. Telephone
[1876] invented by Alexander Graham Bell
2. Frederick W. Taylor
-Father of “scientific management”
-studied the movements of coal operators and designs the perfect motions for different jobs
3. Thomas Alva Edison
-phonograph
-electric light bulb
-kinetoscope [pre-cursor of the motion picture]
-stock ticker?
-Electric chair – Edison wanted to use AC electricity to embarrass Westinghouse on a debate;
Edison supported DC electricity and invented the electric chair that used AC electricity in the
hopes of scaring people
Inventions and technology lead to Mass Production on a consumer scale
-leads to advertising
-Quaker Oats
-Heinz Ketchup
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-Campbell Soup [from Camden, NJ]
-Kodak
Big Business in the Industrial Age
Railroads
Leader in this industry are the Vanderbilt’s
Steel
-Replaces iron, particularly in railroads
-The Bessemer process makes the production of steel cheaper and more popular
Leader in this industry is Andrew Carnegie
-Controlled ¼ of the entire steel industry in the United States
-Believed in vertical integration
-having control over all of the processes for the industry
- (ex. Having control over the ore companies…)
- [1900] Carnegie sells his steel company for $400 million to J.P. Morgan
-develops the Gospel of Wealth
-says that wealthy individuals should give money to charity
Oil
-oil is first used in sub-medicines [seen as a nuisance], then used as kerosene in lamps, then oil is used as
gasoline for automobiles
Leader in this industry is John D. Rockefeller
[1882] Rockefeller organizes the Standard Oil Trust
Believes in horizontal integration
-having control over the entire industry
Controlled 95% of the oil industry
Banking
Leader in this industry is J.P. Morgan
-takes failing companies and re-organizes them
[1901] after he buys the steel companies from Carnegie, he creates the U.S. Street Corporation, which was
worth $1.4 billion
Believes in interlocking directories
-places workers from his bank on the Board of Directors of different companies
Effects of the Industrial Age
Monopolies are created in many industries (especially oil)
[1890] Sherman Antitrust Act
-forbids any combinations that place a restraint on trade
-that act is NOT used to break up monopolies
-instead, it is used to restrict the creation of labor unions
Effects of the Industrial Age on the South:
Relatively unaffected by industrialization – agriculture-based economy
One industry that does flourish in the South – tobacco monopoly
The American Tobacco Company is controlled by James Buchanan Duke
-Donates $1 million to a university – Duke University
Second major industry – textile mills
Effects of the Industrial Age on women:
Provides new job opportunities
Ex: switchboard operators, typists, some factory jobs
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-smaller families
-wait longer for marriage
-independence
ex: “Gibson Girls”: the image of the new, independent woman
Effects of the Industrial Age on the worker:
-shift in jobs from farming to factory work
[By 1900] 2 out of 3 Americans were “wage-earners” [paid by the hour]
Working life was controlled by the whistle
Workers faced tough conditions in the workplace
-12-16 hour workdays
-10 hours were typical
-wages were low
-conditions were dangerous
-Workers lacked power to bring about changes – lead to the rise of labor unions
Labor Unions:
1. National Labor Union [1866-1872]
2. Knights of Labor [1869-1890s]
Include both skilled and unskilled labor
Led by Terence Powderly
Their downfall begins after the Haymarket Riot in Chicago [1886]
3. American Federation of Labor [1886]
Led by Samuel Gompers
Umbrella Organization
Dealt with the bread and butter issues
-wanted shorter hours and higher wages
Dealt primarily with skilled labor
The Cities
[1860] no city had over 1 million people
[1890] three cities with over 1 million
-New York City, NY
-Philadelphia, PA
-Chicago, IL
[1915]NYC has over 3.5 million people
-Second largest city in the world (London was #1)
The New Look of the City
1. The Skyscraper
-usage of steel
-Perfection of the elevator – perfected by Elisha Otis – invented an emergency braking system
2. Mass Transit
-electric railcar (Frank Sprague)
3. Department Stores
-JC Penny
-Macy’s
-Woolworth’s
Begin the age of consumerism
4. Modern Life
Indoor plumbing
Telephones
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Electricity – Night Life
5. Industrialization - factories
6. Bridges
Brooklyn Bridge – completed in 1883 – designed by John Roebling
Problems of the New City
1. Housing – many lived in the slums, called tenement housing
[1878] the Dumbbell Housing is created
-get more air into the apartment, lighter
-bathroom in the middle of that floor
However, the plan is worse than tenement housing
-worse fire hazard
-garbage accumulates in the air shafts
2. Sanitation
Sometimes, sewers were non-existent
Garbage pickup was sparse
Roads go un-repaired (potholes)
3. Crime
4. Corruption
-in many cities, political bosses controlled the cities and stole from the government
-in NYC, Boss Tweed stole over $100 million from 1866-1871
-worked out of Tammany Hall
Who are moving to the Cities?
1. Farmers
-move to the cities for steady wages in the factories
2. Immigrants
[1880-1920] approximately 25 million immigrants come to the U.S.
Who is Coming to the United States?
Italians
Greeks
Irish
Russians
Middle Eastern
Croatians
Polish
British
Japanese
Countries
Slovaks
Germans
Scandinavians
Mexico
-Ethnic enclave – small communities of the same ethnic background
Ex: “Little Italy”, Chinatown, “Little Poland”
Why are they coming?
Religious freedom
Political escape from political unrest
Jobs
Opportunity to make it rich
Escape overcrowded cities
Land!
Education – benefit the children
Beginning in 1892, an immigrant coming to the U.S. would most likely travel through Ellis Island – 70% of all
immigrants after 1892 enter through Ellis Island
Only 2% are banned from entering – 98% of all immigrants get in
Beginning in 1886 – the Statue of Liberty was given to the U.S. as a gift from France
-becomes a welcome sign to the U.S.
Who are helping immigrants?
1. Political Bosses
-ex. Boss Tweed from NYC
2. Church
Esp. Walter Rauschenbush, Washington Gladden – two clergymen who help the poor
3. Jane Addams
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Founds the Hull House in Chicago
-English instruction
-Counseling
-Child care services
-Cultural activities
Reaction to Immigration
“Nativists” oppose the influx of immigrants at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th
century
Oppose: immigration, organized labor, American Protective Association, wage earners
Government Reaction
[1882] Chinese Exclusion Act is passed
[1882] Immigration Act of 1882
-shuts out the very poor, the insane and the criminals
[1885] Contract Labor Law
-no employer in the U.S. can pay for an immigrant’s passage
Charles Darwin – wrote The Origin of Species
“Survival of the fittest” is an idea from Thomas Malthus
[1920s] Scopes Trial: the Church vs. Darwin
Booker T. Washington
Founds the Tuskegee Institute
Was a proponent for equality for African-Americans
Wants gradual equality – wants them to learn skills first in order to build equality
W.E.B. Dubois
Calls for immediate equality
First African-American to receive a PhD in Harvard
Wanted equal success opportunities immediately
The New Colleges
Morrill Act [1862]
Passed after the South was seceded
Granted land for colleges – Land Grant Colleges
In return – provides services (ex. Military training)
Hatch Act
Extended the Morrill Act
Provided federal funds for establishment of agricultural experimentations in connections with
colleges
Yellow Journalism – sensationalist journalism (tabloids)
William Randolph Hearst – very powerful in the newspaper industry – built a chain
Joseph Pulitzer – first to use color in newspapers – big time sales
The Frontier
Native Americans on the Great Plains
By the late 1860s, many Native American groups are fighting each other over the buffalo
After the Civil War ends, settlers begin moving out to the west – U.S. takes an active position on placing
Native Americans in reservations
[1851] Fort Laramie Treaty
[1853] Fort Atkinson Treaty
The previous two treatises:
set boundaries for Native Americans
paid tribute to Native American tribes
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set hunting grounds for the Native Americans
allows U.S. to build forts and railroads on Native American territory
[1864] Sand Creek Massacre (in Colorado)
400 Native Americans (the Sioux) are massacred after surrendering
[1866] Sioux War Party kills 81 U.S. soldiers on a Montana trail
[1874] Gold is discovered in the Black Hills of South Dakota in Native American territory
[1876] Battle of Little Bighorn “Custer’s Last Stand”
-General George A. Custer and 264 U.S. soldiers are wiped out by the Sioux
Significance:
-the height of Native American resistance to forced relocation after the war
-Last major victory for the Native Americans
[1877] Chief Joseph and the Nez PÄ“rce Indians surrender
[1880s] Geronimo and Apaches eventually surrender to the U.S. Army
[1890] the Massacre at Wounded Knee
-200 Native American men, women, and children are massacred by the U.S. Army
-Native Americans were doing the Ghost Dance (illegal)
Significance:
-Ends Native American Resistance on the Great Plains
The Buffalo
-the most important aspect of Native American life on the Great Plains
-tribes use the buffalo for everything, everything of the buffalo is used
[1865] 15 million buffalo on the Great Plains
[1890] less than one thousand buffalo on the Great Plains
[1900] less than 50 buffalo on the Great Plains
What happened?
1. For Sport – tourists would come to the Great Plains and kill buffalo for fun
2. Railroads – Railroad workers kill the buffalo for food
-shoot the buffalo to keep them off the tracks (might derail the train)
3. White Hunters – killed the buffalo for the tongue and hides
-Left the carcass to rot – shocking to the Native Americans
[1881] Helen Hunt Jackson writes A Century of Dishonor
-highlights the broken treaties by the U.S. Government
[1887] Dawes Act
-the U.S. government breaks up the tribal system and gives Native American families plots of land
-tries to “Americanize” Native Americans
-places Native American children into white schools
Insults the Native Americans, who valued the tribe system
Why are people moving west?
1. Land
[1862] U.S. Government passes the Homestead Act
-gives anyone 160 acres of land who promises to work and improve on the land
-Life was not easy on the Great Plains
-2 out of 3 Homestead-ers give up and return to the East
Problems for farming
-No water, rain is scarce
-Fencing
-Housing
Solutions
-Housing – sod houses
-Fencing – barbed wire [invented in the 1870s]
-Water – Dry Farming (deep wells) – Irrigation projects
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2. Mining
People are searching for gold, silver, and other metals
Boom Towns – towns spring to life with the discovery of metals
-after everything is mined out…
Ghost Town – abandoned, left for dead
Businesses made money in mining – could afford more tools and machinery
3. Cattle Ranching
[By 1865] over 5 million cattle wandering through Texas
-cowboys would herd the cattle to railroads in Kansas and Nebraska
-the cattle would then be shipped to Chicago
-Chicago becomes the center of the meat industry
Oklahoma
-last part of the U.S. to be opened to settlement
-opened on April 22, 1889
– “sooners” sneak in before the official opening
[1890] U.S. census officially declares the closing of the American Frontier
[1893] Frederick Jackson Turner writes “the Significance of the Frontier in American History” – romanticizes
the West
Early Conflicts and Expansion
1. China
Treaty of Whangia – gives U.S. “most favored nation” status and opens four ports
-exclusively for the U.S.
2. Japan
[1852] Commodore Matthew Perry sails into Japan and opens them into trade
Significance: the U.S. is beginning to play a larger role in world affairs
3. Alaska
[1867] Secretary of State William Seward buys Alaska from Russia
4. Treaty of Washington [1871]
-settles disputes between Great Britain and U.S. from the Civil War
5. Samoa
[1889] Germany, Great Britain, and the U.S. form a joint protectorate over the islands of Samoa – first
time the U.S. is expanding to other parts of the world
6. Chile
[1891] two U.S. sailors are killed by a Chilean mob
-the two sides come very close to war over this incident
-Ultimately, the Chilean government backs down and apologizes
Significance: U.S. displays a willingness to go to war over minor issues
7. Venezuela
[1895] Great Britain and Venezuela are arguing over land
U.S. Secretary of State – Richard Olney
-claims that Great Britain is trying to violate the Monroe Doctrine
There is talk of war between Great Britain and the U.S., but eventually, Great Britain backs down and
agrees to arbitration
Significance: Great Britain recognizes the growing power of the U.S. and decides to make them an ally
8. Hawaii
Americans had gained considerable control on the islands of Hawaii
[1875] a trade agreement is set up
[1887] a naval agreement is reached
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-allows U.S. to use Pearl Harbor
Queen Liluokalani (of Hawaii) wants to restore Hawaii to native Hawaiians
[1893] Americans (with help of U.S. Marines) overthrow Queen Lil
-Cleveland does not want to annex it
-Hawaii remains independent until 1898
What’s Motivating the U.S. towards Expansion?
1. The U.S. is overflowing with goods
-expansion leads to more markets
2. The rest of the world is expanding
[1880s] Africa is divided amongst the world’s powers
[1890s] China is divided into spheres of influence
3. The Yellow Press
-Pulitzer and Hearst create news to try to get the U.S. to expand
4. [1890] Alfred Thayer Mahan writes “The Influence of Sea Power upon History”
-Outlines how a country can become a world power – TR is influenced
Spanish-American War
[1895] Cuban rebels begin to rebel against Spanish rule and declare their independence
[1896] Spain sends General Valeriano “Butcher” Weylar to Cuba to restore control
-places many Cuban rebels in camps
[1897] McKinley begins negotiating a peace between Cuba and Spain
[1898] Feb. 11 – A New York journal prints a letter by Spanish ambassador Dupey De Lome that calls
McKinley: 1) a wanna-be politician 2) a weak bidder for public administration
Feb. 15 – the U.S. ship The Maine, which was anchored in Havana, Cuba, explodes
-the U.S. navy blames the explosion on Spanish mine
-it was actually an internal explosion
-the public is outraged and begins calling for war
Apr. 11 – McKinley asks Congress for a declaration of war against Spain
-the U.S. goes to war against Spain
May 1 – Commodore George Dewey crushes the Spanish fleet in Manila, Philippines
-immediately makes Dewey a hero
June – 17 000 U.S. soldiers are sent to Cuba from Tampa, Florida
-this staging ground is an absolute mess; eventually the troops are sent to Cuba
-Included is a group called the Rough Riders – created by Theodore Roosevelt
July 1 – Rough Riders are involved in battles on San Juan Hill and El Caney
-victorious in both
July 3 – U.S. fleet in Cuba destroys the Spanish fleet
July – U.S. invades and liberates Puerto Rico – Spanish are kicked out
Aug. 12 – Spain and the U.S. sign armistice
Biggest Problem for the U.S. during the war is DISEASE
-400 U.S. soldiers die in battle
-5 000 U.S. soldiers die from disease
-at one point, 80% of the U.S. army had some form of a tropical disease
Results of the War
1. Cuba is granted independence by Spain
-When Congress passed the declaration of war, they also passed the Teller Amendment, which declared
that Cuba would receive their independence from the U.S.
2. U.S. receives Guam
3. U.S. receives Puerto Rico
4. U.S. receives the Philippines for $20 million
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U.S. Acquisitions 1850-1917
Alaska [1867] – purchase from Russia
Philippines [1898] from the Spanish-American War (7 000 islands)
Guam [1898] from the Spanish-American War
Samoa [1899] joint protectorate with just Germany
Wake Island [1899] U.S. navy stops there and takes control of the island during the Spanish
American War
Midway Island [1867] – given by Captain Brooks
Hawaii [1898] annexed
Puerto Rico [1898] during the Spanish-American War
What do these acquisitions mean for the U.S.?
1. The U.S. has commitments in locations around the world
2. With more land, there is a louder call in the U.S. for a larger navy
3. Restructuring of the War Department
-Elihu Root takes over the War Department and creates a General Staff
4. The rift between the North and the South seems to close after the Spanish-American War
5. The Spanish-American War signals the arrival of the U.S. as a world power
Dealing with an Empire
1. Philippines – the people of the Philippines had hoped to achieve their independence
-The Philippines is directly controlled by the U.S.
-they begin to revolt against the U.S. rule [1899-1901]
-the Filipino Insurrection
-Was much longer and costlier than the Spanish-American War was
-the revolt was led by Emilio Aguinaldo
William H. Taft
-Civil Governor of the Philippines
-calls the Philippine people “his little brown brothers”
2. Cuba
-The Teller Amendment gave Cuba their independence, but the U.S. wants some control
-made Cuba include the Platt Amendment into their Constitution
Platt Amendment:
Cuba could not make treaties
Cuba could not go into debt
U.S. could step in when necessary
No foreign powers in Cuba
Cuba agrees to lease land to the U.S. for a naval base (only term of the amendment that still
survives today) – Guantanamo Bay
-Colonel William Gorgas and Dr. Walter Reed seek to wipe out yellow fever in Cuba
3. Puerto Rico
Foraker Act of 1900
-gives Puerto Ricans a limited degree of popular government
[1917] Puerto Ricans are granted U.S. citizenship
-millions of dollars are spent on improving the infrastructure of Puerto Rico
4. Opposition at home
Anti-Imperialists:
Andrew Carnegie
Samuel Gompers
William J. Bryan
Mark Twain
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U.S. on the World Stage
[1895] China is defeated by Japan and subsequently is split into spheres of influence
-Great Britain, Russia, Germany, Japan, France
-U.S. and Secretary of State John Hay create the Open Door Policy
-give every country the opportunity to trade in China and respect China’s independence
-Russia rejects it
[1900] The Boxer Rebellion (the Righteous Fists of Harmony)
-an extreme Chinese nationalist group – they want to end foreign influence in China
-begin attacking foreigners – 200 are killed
-it is eventually put down by soldiers from: Germany, U.S., Great Britain, France, Japan, and Russia
-The Chinese are forced to pay $334 million in damages
After the Boxer Rebellion, Hay and the U.S. once again issue the Open-Door Policy
-it becomes accepted by the major powers
Election of 1900
Republicans
William McKinley
Imperialist
Spanish-American War
Gold Standard
VP candidate – Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt
Democrats
William Jennings Bryan
Anti-Imperialist
Free Silver
McKinley wins again
[Sept 1901] McKinley attends an expo in Buffalo, NY
-Leon Czolgosz assassinates McKinley
Teddy Roosevelt becomes President
Teddy Roosevelt
New York
Graduate from Harvard
Police Commissioner of New York
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Founder of the Rough Riders
Governor of New York
Vice President
Blessed with boundless energy
Big game hunter in Africa
Outdoors man
Adventurer (the first president to fly an airplane, submarine, practice jujitsu, boxing)
“Speak softly and carry a big stick” (TR’s foreign policy)
1. Wants to increase the size of the Navy
Increases from five to 25 battle ships (steel ships)
2. Keep the balance of power in the far East
Russo-Japanese War
-Teddy Roosevelt acts as a negotiator – helps bring peace
-called the Portsmouth Treaty
-Teddy Roosevelt wins the Nobel Peace Prize for this
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3. Connect the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean
Roosevelt wants to build a canal in Central America
France tried first, but failed miserably (yellow fever)
[1901] the U.S. signs a treaty with Great Britain
Hay Pauncefote Treaty
-replaces and gets rid of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
next problem – Columbia owns Panama and does not want to lease the land to the U.S.
with U.S. help, Panama revolts against Columbia
-Panama declares its independence and signs the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty
-allows the U.S. to build a canal
[1904] Construction on the canal starts
[1906] Yellow fever problem is solved and construction resumes
[1914] Canal is finished, costing $400 million
4. Keep Europe out of North America
Roosevelt adds the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
-in the case of wrongdoing against a Latin-American country, the U.S. would intervene to exercise
its international “police power”
Significance:
-Roosevelt adds teeth to the Monroe Doctrine
5. Stop unwanted immigration
(particularly in California)
Many people in California are angry at Japanese immigration
Roosevelt negotiates with Japan – The Gentleman’s Agreement
-Japan agrees to halt the immigration of unskilled workers to the United States
6. Demonstrate U.S. power
Roosevelt sends out the Great White Fleet – 16 battleships
-go in an around-the-world-expedition [1907]
the Great White Fleet is well-received around the world
Result: Root-Takahira Agreement
-U.S. and Japan pledge to abide by the Open Door Policy in China and to respect territorial
possessions around the world
The Age of Flight
Orville and Wilber Wright
-two bicycle mechanics from Ohio
-become interested in flight
-their experiments bring them to Kitty Hawk, NC (sand dunes and wind)
[December 17, 1903]
The Wright brothers make the first successful flight of a human being
The Progressive Era
-at the turn of the century, there is a huge movement to right the wrongs and ills of society
Goal – use the government as an agency of “human welfare”
The Progressives attack:
Social injustices
Corruption
Inefficiency in government services
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Monopolies
An early attack against the trust was led by Henry Lloyd in his book Wealth Against Commonwealth, which
attacked the Standard Oil Trust
Muckrakers – (Roosevelt gives them this nickname in 1906)
-journalists of the Progressive Era who attempted to expose crime, corruption, and social injustice
1. Jacob Riis – “How the Other Half Lives” [1890]
Showed the filth and squalor of living in the slums
2. Lincoln Steffens – “The Shame of the Cities”
Magazine series exposing the link between big business and city governments
3. Ida Tarbell
Attacked the Standard Oil Company
4. Upton Sinclair – “The Jungle”
Highlights the miseries of workers in stockyards and canning facilities
-but actually shows the terrible conditions of meat-packing plants
As a whole, the Progressive Era was led by middle-class men and women who felt that the government and
society was not operating properly for the people.
Reforms of the Progressives in Politics
1. Recall – allowed the voters of a state to remove elected officials before their term expired – it was created
to remove officials that were taking bribes
2. Initiative – voters could directly propose laws and legislation when the state legislation has not done so
3. Referendum – placed laws on the ballots for the voter to give final approval
4. Corrupt-Practices Acts – limits the amount of money a candidate could spend on the election
5. Secret Ballots – eliminate the different color ballot for different political parties
6. 17th Amendment – direct election of U.S. senators is given to the voters and taken away from state
legislatures
7. Women’s Suffrage – many of the liberal western states granted women the right to vote, but universal
suffrage does not come about until 1920
Progressivism in the Cities and States
Reform in the Cities
-some cities appointed commissions on the city manager system
Reform in the States
-3/4 of all states pass child labor laws
-workman’s compensation laws were passed
-disability insurance is set up in many states
-tax laws were changed to place the burden upon the rich
-utility commissions are formed to keep rates low
-many states pass restrictions on the sale of liquor
led by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
finally achieve their goal in 1919 with the 18th Amendment
Reform of the states was led by Robert Lafollette and his Wisconsin Idea
1. Creation of a primary to choose candidates
2. Commission to control railroad rates
3. Competitive Civil Service Exam
4. State supervision of banks
5. Higher taxes for corporations
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Teddy Roosevelt – The Square Deal (domestic policy)
1. Control of Corporations
2. Consumer Protection
3. Conservation of Natural Resources
1. Control of Corporations
TR becomes known as a “trustbuster” – breaks up many large companies
[1902] 140 000 coal workers go on strike
-TR threatens to send federal troops to work in the mines if the two sides do not negotiate
-eventually, the two sides come to an agreement
Significance: leads to the creation of Department of Commerce and Labor
Hepburn Act
-strengthens the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission
-brings control over railroad rates
Northern Securities Case
-Northern Securities – a railroad company set up by J.P. Morgan and James Hill
-TR uses the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up the company
[1904] Supreme Court agrees with TR
Theodore Roosevelt will go on to break up 40 of these trusts in the U.S.
2. Consumer Protection
-Many people were horrified by the meat industry after reading Sinclair’s “The Jungle”
Results:
The Meat Inspection Act [1906]
-any meat product that passes over state lines is subject to federal inspection
Pure Food and Drug Act [1906]
-requires labels of ingredients for certain products
-cleans up pharmaceutical industry
3. Conservation of Natural Resources
-Americans are quickly destroying many of the natural resources in the U.S.
-TR was an avid outdoorsman and environmentalist
-realizes the need to save natural resources in the U.S.
Results:
Newlands Act [1902]
-used money from the sale of western lands for irrigation projects in the west
-creates canals and dams in the west
Forest Reserve Act [1890]
-TR uses this act to save 125 million acres of forestland in the U.S.
-National parks are created (ex. Yosemite)
-Gifford Pinchot is head of the U.S. Forestry Department along with TR help corporations and
nature co-exist
[1907] “Roosevelt Panic” – displays the need for a new national banking system
[1908] Roosevelt hand-picks his successor
William Howard Taft wins the election of 1908
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William H. Taft
-Secretary of War
-Civil Governor of the Philippines
-lawyer
-judge
-352 pounds
Taft’s Foreign Policy – “Dollar Diplomacy”
-encouraged U.S. businesses to invest money into foreign nations that the U.S. had an interest in. The U.S.
would then promise military protection of those investments
-this leads to increased involvement in Latin America
The U.S. uses military intervention in:
Nicaragua
Panama
Cuba
Haiti
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Honduras
Taft’s Domestic Policies
1. Taft was a trustbuster
-breaks up 90 trusts during his presidency
2. The Payne-Aldrich Tariff
-Taft approved of this tariff despite the fact that it does not lower tariff rates
-angers many
Republicans, including Theodore Roosevelt
-leads to a split in the Republican Party
3. Conservation
-saves millions of acres of U.S. land
-BUT he angers TR when he dismisses the Head of Forestry, Gifford Pinchot
-the Pinchot-Ballinger Argument
Theodore Roosevelt’s new Domestic Policy – “New Nationalism”
Calls for strict regulation on corporations
Tariff revision
Federal income tax
National workman’s compensation laws
Recall and initiative program
[1912] Theodore Roosevelt decides to run for President again
Election of 1912
Republican
William H. Taft
3.5 million popular
votes
becomes Chief Justice
of South Carolina
Progressives
Teddy Roosevelt
“Bull Moose Party”
4.1 million popular
votes
Democrats
Woodrow Wilson
6.2 million popular
votes
Socialists
Eugene V. Debs
900 000 popular votes
Theodore Roosevelt was campaigning for the win but was shot during a speech – slowed down
Woodrow Wilson wins
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Woodrow Wilson
-Democrat
-Professor
-President of Princeton University
-Governor of New Jersey, but is from Virginia
-was a sickly child, racist
Domestic Policy – “New Freedom”
1. Called for an end to monopolies
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
-made interlocking directories illegal
-exempted labor unions from anti-trust leg
-added more teeth to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914
-President could appoint a commission who could investigate industries engaged in Interstate Commerce
-supposed to rule out unfair trading practices, unfair competition, false advertising, mislabeling and
bribery
2. Banking Reform
[1907] reconcentration of money in a few banks become a big problem
Idea of Senator Aldrich
Result: Federal Reserve Act [1913]
-created a Federal Reserve Board appointed by the President
-creates twelve Regional Banks
-could issue paper money
-Federal Reserve Board oversees the twelve Regional Banks
-Member Banks belong to the Regional Banks
3. Tariff Reductions
[1913] Underwood-Simmons Tariff Bill
-reduces tariff rates by about 11%
-also created a tax on income over $3 000
4. Other
Adamson Act – 8-hour workday for employees on trains in interstate commerce
Federal Farm Loan Act and Warehouse Act [1916]
-provides long term loans at low rates to farmers
Lafollette’s Seamen Act of 1915
-required decent living and a living wage on merchant ships
Workman’s Compensation Act [1916]
Foreign Policy – “Moral Diplomacy”
-Wilson did not like the aggressivism of The Big Stick Policy and was suspicious of Wall Street and Dollar
Diplomacy
-Wilson would use the power of the U.S. to influence and spread “democracy” and use “moral” sense in
deciding whether to get involved in a country or not
1. at first, Wilson is Anti-Imperialist
-repeals Panama Canal Tolls Act which allowed the U.S. to move through the canal without paying tolls
[1916] Jones Act – granted the Philippines partial independence
-caused U.S. investors to pull out of China
2. Wilson begins to change his tune
[1915] sends the Marines to Haiti
[1916] U.S. creates a treaty with Haiti – gives U.S. supervision of finances and policy
[1916] sends the Marines to the Dominican Republic
[1917] U.S. purchases the Virgin Islands from Denmark
3. Moral Diplomacy in Mexico
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[1913] Civil War breaks out in Mexico – General Huerta becomes President
[1914] Huerta collapses and Carranza takes over
-then, Pancho Villa leads a bandit group and attacks Americans in Mexico
-Pancho Villa then attacks New Mexico
-Wilson sends General John J. Pershing “Black Jack” into Mexico in 1916 to capture Villa
4. Wilson enters World War I
[summer of 1914] war breaks out in Europe
U.S. remains neutral until 1917
-Wilson declares war on Germany
-U.S. enters “The Great War”
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Mr. Allen’s Notes
AP
U.S. History II
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U.S. Expansionary Policy [1850-1914]
[1853] Commodore Matthew Perry sails into Japan and opens them up to trade
[1859] U.S. acquires Midway Island
[1867] Secretary of State William Seward buys Alaska for $7.2 million from Russia
-“Seward’s Folly” “Seward’s Icebox”
[1889] U.S., Great Britain, Germany form a joint protectorate on Samoa
[1890] Alfred Thayer Mahan’s “The Influence of Sea Power upon History”
[1895] Venezuelan boundary dispute
-Britain claim the right to more land in Venezuela
-U.S. enforces the Monroe Doctrine
-almost wars with Britain
[1898] Spanish-American War
Causes:
1. De Lome letter – insults McKinley
2. Yellow press – Pulitzer and Hearst – sensationalist papers
3. Sinking of the Maine
Acquisitions:
1. Puerto Rico
2. Guam
3. Philippines
4. Annex Hawaii
5. Gained control over Cuba (Teller Amendment)
Emilio Aguinaldo leads Filipino Insurrection
[1900] Boxer Rebellion (Righteous Fists of Harmony)
[1903] Panamanian Revolution begun by Teddy Roosevelt
[1904] Roosevelt Corollary adds teeth to Monroe Doctrine
[1914] World War I begins
Teddy Roosevelt
Energetic and athletic
Vice President under McKinley
Police commissioner in NYC
Governor of NY
Harvard graduate
Outdoorsman
Rough Rider
Assistant secretary of the Navy
Youngest person to become President – 42 years old
Big Stick Policy – Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
1. Increase the size of the navy – 5 to 25 battleships
2. Keep the balance of power in the Far East
-Ends the Russo-Japanese War with the Portsmouth Treaty
-wins the Nobel Peace Prize for this
3. Built a canal to connect Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
-TR incites a revolution in Panama against Columbia
-becomes first president to leave country during the presidency
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty
-gives permission to the U.S. to build a canal
[1904] work begins
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[1906] work re-starts (after an outbreak of yellow fever)
4. Roosevelt Corollary
-strengthens the Monroe Doctrine
– gives U.S. police powers in the Americas
5. Gentlemen’s Agreement
-U.S. and Japan agree to keep unskilled workers out of California
6. Show off power
Great White Fleet
-16 battleships sent around the world
-especially to scare the Japanese
Root-Takahira Agreement
-an agreement to respect each other’s territorial possessions
Successor to Roosevelt? Roosevelt picks his successor – Taft
William Howard Taft [1908]
Secretary of War
Civil Governor of Philippines (calls them “my little brown brothers”)
Lawyer
Judge (goes on to become Chief Justice)
Dollar Diplomacy – Taft’s Foreign Policy
o Encouraged U.S. businesses to invest in foreign nations that were of strategic concern for the U.S.
o The U.S. would then back those investments by using the military
o “Where the money’s going, the U.S. Marines are to follow”
China – U.S. attempted to open a railway in Manchuria but doesn’t back it up with the military – failed
Examples of “Dollar Diplomacy” nations:
Honduras
Nicaragua
Dominican Republic
Cuba
Haiti
Election of 1912
Republicans – Taft
Progressives (Bull Moose Party) – Teddy Roosevelt
Democrats – Woodrow Wilson
Socialists – Eugene V. Debs
~3.4 million votes
~4.1 million votes
~6.2 million votes
~900 000 votes
Woodrow Wilson wins!
Woodrow Wilson (28th president)
Sickly child, learned alphabet at 9 years, learned to read at 11 years
From Virginia – extremely racist
Graduates from Princeton, becomes a professor, then President
Governor of NJ
His secretary of state is William Jennings Bryan
Wilson rejects Big Stick and Dollar Diplomacy – anti-Imperialist
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Part I: Wilson: The Anti-Imperialist
1. Repeals the Panama Canal Tolls Act
-U.S. would have had free shippage through the canal
2. Jones Act [1916]
-grants partial independence to the Philippines
3. After one week in office, Wilson claims that the U.S. military will no longer be used to back
investments in foreign nations – investors pull out of six nations loans to China
Part II: Wilson: The Imperialist/Semi-Imperialist
1. Haiti [1915]
-Wilson sends U.S. Marines to protect investments and lives when a civil war breaks out
Sounds like Dollar Diplomacy…
2. Haiti [1916]
-U.S. creates a treaty, giving U.S. supervision over finances and police
Sounds like the Roosevelt Corollary…
3. Dominican Republic [1916]
-U.S. sends Marines to put down riots and protect U.S. investments
-the Marines stay there for eight years
Sounds like both Dollar Diplomacy and Big Stick
4. Buys Virgin Islands from Denmark [1917]
Sounds like Big Stick
Part III: Wilson: Moral Diplomacy in Mexico
[1913] Civil War in Mexico – General Huerta takes over
-leads to the migration of thousands of Mexicans to the U.S.
[1914] Huerta collapses under pressure from the U.S.
Tampico Incident
-Mexico refuses the 21-gun apology to jailing U.S. citizens
-almost had war
[1914] Carranza takes over – supported by the U.S.
[1915] Pancho Villa begins attacking Carranza supporters and U.S. workers
-kills U.S. workers in Mexico
-kills U.S. workers on American soil in New Mexico
[1916] Wilson sends John J. Pershing “Blackjack”
-led U.S. troops on a chase of Villa throughout Mexico
[1917] Pershing is recalled (needed for WWI)
[1923] Villa is assassinated by his own people in Mexico
European Entrance in WWI
1. Imperialism – European nations competing for the same land around the world
2. Rabid Nationalism –extreme pride in one’s own country
3. Militarism [1890-1914]
-every European country increases per capita expenditure on the military
-mandatory conscription in every country (except Great Britain)
4. Alliances
Triple Alliance [1882]
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Italy
Triple Entènte [1907]
Great Britain
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France
Russia
The Spark
[June 28, 1914] Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated
(From Austria-Hungary) in Bosnia by Gaurilo Princip
[July 28, 1914] Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
Russia comes to Serbia’s aid – war on Austria-Hungary
Germany enters the war – declares war on Russia and France
(Germany gets into a problem – a two-front war)
After Germany invades neutral Belgium, Great Britain jumps into the war
The Great War has begun
Allies
Great Britain
Russia
France
[1915] Italy
Central Powers
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Turkey (Ottoman Empire)
Bulgaria
Germany has a plan to win the war in 39 days: Schlieffen Plan [1905]
-calls for Germany to invade neutral Belgium
-Germany pushes through Belgium easily and into France
-get to within eight miles of Paris before they are halted
Problems:
-ammunition is not readily available
-uniforms are decaying
-shoes start wearing out
[1914] Battle of the Marne
Successful in pushing the Germans back about 50 miles
[By the end of 1914] the war is at a stalemate
[Beginning of 1915] War turned into trench warfare
*World War I terminology*
SIW – Self-Inflicted Wound (to get out of fighting, soldiers shot themselves in the foot)
“Over-the-top” – a charge at an opposing trench
New Technology
Poison gas
Machine guns
Submarines (U-Boats)
Airplanes (invented in 1903 by the Wright brothers)
Tanks
[February 1916] Battle of Verdun
-German offensive-fails miserably
[July 1916] Battle of Somme “Great F***-Up”
-Britain offensive – within the first hour, there are 60 000 British casualties
-Total one million casualties in the battle
[1915] Italy enters the war
[by 1916] 600 000 Italian soldiers throw down their weapons and return home
[1916] Russia is being badly defeated on the Eastern Front
-at least they are occupying Germany
-but within one year, they are out of the war (Bolshevik Revolution)
95
U.S. Entrance into WWI
[1914] Wilson declares the U.S. to be neutral “in both thought and deed”
Reasons Why the U.S. enters the War for the Allies:
1. Economic reasons
-as the war continues, the U.S. increases trade with the Allies
-meanwhile, the U.S. decreases trade with the Central Powers
-Great Britain blockade German ports
-U.S. bankers lend money to the Allies
-$2.3 billion to the Allies
-$10 billion altogether
2. Culture
-historical ties with Great Britain (also a shared language-English)
3. Political ties – much of U.S. laws tie to English common laws
4. Propaganda
-Great Britain controls almost all the transatlantic cables
-they keep bad information away from the U.S.
5. Freedom of the Seas
-both Great Britain and Germany violate U.S. shipping rights
Britain is forcing U.S. ships into their ports
Germany is sinking U.S. ships and killing civilians with U-boats
-the lesser of the two evils is Great Britain
Steps toward War
[February 1915] Germany announces a sub-war zone around the British Isles
[May 1915] German U-boat sinks the Lusitania (a British passenger ship)
-kills 1198 people, including 128 Americans
Wilson issues the Lusitania Notes
-William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State, resigns (threat to neutrality)
[August 1915] the Arabic is sunk (another British passenger ship)
-kills two Americans
-Germany apologizes – agrees to stop sinking unarmed ships without warning
[March 1916] the Sussex (a French ship) is sunk
-this time, Wilson is infuriated – The Sussex Pledge
-Germany pledges to stop sinking ships…if Britain stops their blockade
-Wilson only heeds the first part
Election of 1916
Democrats – Woodrow Wilson – “He kept us out of war”
~277 electoral votes
Republicans – Charles Evans Hughes – flip-flops on issues
~254 electoral votes
Woodrow Wilson is re-elected
-Secretary of Treasury William McAdoo warns Wilson that the Allies were running out of money
-advises Wilson that the U.S. should start loaning money to the Allies
[Jan. 22, 1917] Wilson attempts to end the war with his “Peace without Victory” speech
-both sides reject the speech; subsequently, it fails.
[Jan. 31, 1917] Germany announces that they will resume unrestricted submarine warfare
[Feb. 3, 1917] Wilson cuts off diplomatic ties with Germany
[Feb. 24, 1917] Great Britain intercepts a telegram
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The Zimmermann Note
The German foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, proposes an alliance between Mexico and
Germany
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas territories will be returned to Mexico after the Central Powers win
Would keep U.S. occupied with Mexico
The U.S. is outraged
[March 1917] Czar Nicholas II of Russia is forced to abdicate the throne
-Russia is out of the war
[March 1917] Five U.S. merchant ships are sunk
[April 2, 1917] Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war
“the World must be made safe for democracy”
[April 6, 1917] Congress declares war on Germany
When the U.S. declares war in April of 1917, the U.S. is woefully unprepared for war
1. only 120 000 U.S. soldiers in the Army
2. the officer corps was old and antiquated
3. Bureaucracy of Government – Money going to the wrong places
4. Industry is competing against each other instead of working together
Mobilization
1. Raising an army
Selective Service Act [November 1917]
Ages 18-45
No substitutes (cannot pay for one)
Few exemptions (i.e. working in a key industry)
24 million register
3 million are drafted
women are included – 11 000 in the Navy, 269 in the Marines
African-Americans
-served in segregated units
-served in construction jobs and unloading ammunition (dangerous)
4.3 million people serve in the U.S. Army in WWI
Training was supposed to last for six months
-but many are rushed through training
-I.Q. Test is used (culturally and racially biased)
2. Economy
War Industries Board (WIB) [1917]
[1918] taken over by Bernard Baruch
Allocates raw materials
Introduces efficiencies
Establishes production priorities
Coordinate and consolidate businesses
Lever Food and Fuel Control Act [1917]
Food Administration (headed by Herbert Hoover)
Organizes food
Gets people to conserve (uses propaganda)
Play on nationalism – “Meatless Mondays” “Wheatless Wednesdays” “Victory Gardens”
Fuel Administration (headed by Henry Garfield)
Regulate fuel prices
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Control coal output
Promote conservation
Daylight Savings Time (idea by Benjamin Franklin, but actually instituted in WWI)
[1918] Overman Act
-gives government control over railroads
War cost of U.S. - $35.5 billion
$21 billion in Liberty Bonds
$14.5 billion comes from taxes (federal income taxes)
3. Workers
[1918] “Work of Fight” Rule
National War Labor Board (NWLB)
Headed by Taft
8-hour workday in industry
encourages union membership
-AF of L (American Federation of Labor) remains loyal to the war cause
-However, IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) is not
Women – one million work in industrial jobs during the war
African-Americans
-due to the job opportunities in the North, “The Great Migration”
-500 000 move to the North – leads to race problems (esp. St. Louis, Missouri)
4. Spirit of the Nation
George Creel is the head of propaganda – Committee of Public Information
-Movies (“To Hell with the Kaiser,” “Beast of Berlin”)
-Songs (“Over There” by George C. Cohan)
-Posters (“Hang the Hun” portrayed Germans as brutal barbarians)
-German words are changed (ex. Sauerkraut – Liberty Cabbage, Dachshund – Liberty Pup)
Creel, however, oversells the war – this will hurt Wilson after WWI
The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in Europe
-led by John J. Pershing
2 million Americans will serve in Europe during the war
-the soldiers are very excited, thought traveling was a “grand adventure”
Biggest Problem for U.S. soldiers when they arrive at Europe?
-Sexually transmitted diseases (French custom to offer allies prostitutes)
Fighting
-the first U.S. soldiers were used as replacements for French and British armies
[Spring 1918] German offensive
-the American army helps to halt the German offensive at Chatteau-Thierrey
[July 1918] Second Battle of the Marne
-push Germans back to Germany
[August 1918] Pershing finally gets his own army
[September 1918] Meuse-Argonne Offensive
-last offense of the War
[November 1918] Germany gives up
-on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
WWI Death Toll
Russia
-1.7 million
France
-1.35 million
Britain
-908 000
U.S.
-50 000 in battle (an additional 120 000 from the flu)
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World War I and the Progressive Era
Progressives – want reform and to kill the ills of society
Clayton Antitrust Act – adds to Sherman Antitrust Act - NWLB
Federal Reserve Act – reforms banking
Federal Farm Loan Act
Adamson Act – 8 hour work day for federal workers
Hepburn Act – railroads
Federal Trade Commission – oversees trade
Meat Inspection Act
Pure Food and Drug Act
16th (income tax), 17th (direct election of senators), 18th (prohibition – also $4 million is spent on
prostitution prevention), 19th (women’s suffrage) Amendments
Negatives to Progressivism
War Industries Board
-not a positive for progressivism
-encourages monopolies
-regulate prices (instead of allowing markets to do so)
-regulates businesses
16th Amendment (federal income tax)
-the government increases taxes during the war (as much as 70%)
18th Amendment (prohibition)
-mob activity grows, leads to more illegal activity
19th Amendment
-after the war, women are forced back into the homes
Hepburn Act – replaced with the Overman Act
-direct control of railroads
Civil Liberties are severely restricted during the war (especially freedom of speech)
[1917] Espionage Act
$10 000 fine or 20 years in jail for various anti-war activities
[1918] Sedition Act
creates strict penalties for criticizing the American war effort (or U.S. in general)
1500 pacifists, socialists and others are convicted
Eugene V. Debs also arrested
Supreme Court upholds these convictions in Shenck vs. U.S. due to the presence of “clear and present danger”
99
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points
[Jan. 8, 1918] in a speech to Congress
Three Purposes:
• Aimed at Russia (keeping Russia in the war)
• Outline the moral purposes for U.S. involvement
• Aimed at demoralizing the enemy
1. Abolish secret treaties and alliances
2. Freedom of the seas
Underlying causes of
3. Removal of economic barriers
the war
4. Reduce arms
5. Adjustment of colonial claims
6. Evacuation of Russian territory
7. Restore Belgium
8. Evacuate France and give Alsace-Lorraine back
9. Adjustment of Italian borders
10. Self-determination of the people of Austria-Hungary
11. Restore the Balkan states and give Serbia access to the sea
12. Self-determination for the people of former Ottoman Empire
13. Independent Poland
14. League of Nations – deals with collective security – avoid future wars
Self-determination
The Treaty of Versailles
[Jan. 18, 1919] in Palace of Versailles in France
The Big Four
U.S.
Great Britain
France
Italy
Woodrow Wilson
David Lloyd George
Georges Clemenceau
Vittorio Orlando
Wants a peaceful world
Want the revenge, punishment,
humiliation, and the destroying of
Germany
Wilson’s Mistakes before the Treaty
1. He does not bring a Republican in his Peace Delegation
2. He does not include a Senator in his Peace Delegation
3. Republicans take control over Congress in the 1918 elections
The Treaty
Czechoslovakia is created
Yugoslavia is created
Poland is created
France gets Alsace-Lorraine back
Disarm the Rhineland
Allies take over the Saar region (has coal)
Germany is split into one large piece and East Prussia
The Middle East is divided to France and Great Britain
Independence for Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Germany is forced to pay $66 billion in reparations
100
Germany loses 12% of its pre-war land
-loses 75% of its iron ore deposits
-loses 15% of farmland
League of Nations is created
Mistakes of the Treaty
1. Germany is surrounded by new, unstable countries
2. Making Germany pay reparations (economic turmoil ensues)
3. Taking land away from Russia
-Allies are more interested in embarrassing Germany
Wilson takes the blame for all the failures.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Hiram Johnson, William Borah
-lead the Republican Senate against ratification of the treaty
-worried that the U.S. might be pulled into a war with the League of Nations
[October 1919] Woodrow Wilson has a stroke
-stuck in bed for the next 7 ½ months
-Edith Gault (Wilson’s second wife) has complete control over Wilson
Henry Cabot Lodge adds 14 reservations to the treaty – the treaty fails to pass in the Senate and also fails the
second vote
-the U.S. never ratifies the Treaty of Versailles and never joins the League of Nations
Post-WWI in the U.S.
130 174 total deaths
2 million serve in the war
[1921] Congress officially declares an end to the war
U.S. returns to the isolationist policy – begins to demobilize
[1920]
War Industries Board ended
Railroads return to private management
3 600+ strikes occur
18th Amendment (Prohibition)
19th Amendment (Women’s Suffrage)
[1921] Veteran’s Bureau – pensions, veterans’ benefits
[1919] American Legion in Paris – group of veterans, drinking
Race riots in the north (esp. St. Louis, the east side) – due to the Great Migration
Women are forced out of jobs and return home
Fueling of Xenophobia
Xenophobia – fear of strangers/foreigners
101
Five Major Xenophobic Reactions in the Post-WWI period
1. The Red Scare
-many people become hysterically upset that communists are trying to bring down the country
-leads to an influx of strikes
[1919-1920] 3630 strikes occur over the U.S.
-including the Seattle General Strikes and the Boston Police Strike
The Palmer Raids
-led by U.S. attorney general A. Mitchell Palmer
-arrests 6000+ communists
U.S.S. Buford [Dec. 1919]
-249 suspected communists are deported
-including Emma Goldman, pioneer in birth control
2. Sacco & Venzetti
-two Italians arrested and convicted of killing a paymaster and a guard during a bank robbery in MA [1920]
Liberals (supported) vs. Conservatives (wanted to put them to death)
[1927] Sacco & Venzetti are sent to the electric chair.
3. Immigration Restriction
Emergency Quota Act of 1921
-limits immigration to 3% per year of a country’s already-existing population in the U.S. as of 1910
Immigration Act of 1924
Changes the percentage to 2% and uses 1890 as the base year
Aimed at Southern and Eastern Europeans (non-Allies during the war)
Japan is completely shut out of the United States
[1931] more people are leaving the U.S. than entering it (first year this happens)
4. Revitalization of the KKK
[mid-1920s] 5 million KKK members
anti-foreigners, anti-adultery, anti-bootleggers, anti-birth control, anti-black…essentially antieverything, except “native” Americans and Protestants
[end of 1920s] KKK begins to decline
5. Scopes Trial “Scopes Monkey Trial”
Creationism vs. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
(Religious fundamentalists vs. Progressives)
Sparked by John T. Scopes, a biology teacher in Tennessee who read Darwin’s Theory to his class
Creationism
Darwin
William Jennings Bryan
Clarence Darrow
-gets humiliated
In the end, Scopes was found guilty
But! The evolutionists win – Darwin becomes more accepted in the religious community
Dies five days after the trial due to a stroke
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Election of 1920
Republicans
Democrats
Warren G. Harding
James M. Cox
Senator of Ohio
Governor of Ohio
VP candidate Calvin Coolidge
VP candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt
“return to normalcy”
President! 404 electoral votes versus the combined 127 other electoral votes
Economics
Three Economic Systems – (What? How? For Whom?)
1. Capitalism
-means of production are owned by private businesses and individuals
-fair, competitive market
-unequal distribution of wealth
Father of Modern Capitalism – Adam Smith
– writes The Wealth of Nations [1776]
2. Socialism
-means of production are controlled either directly or indirectly by the government
-equal distribution of wealth (no social class distinctions)
Father of Socialism – Robert Owen
-tried to create utopias
3. Communism
-means of production are controlled by the people
-no government
-equal distribution of wealth (no social class distinctions)
Fathers of Modern-Day Communism – Karl Marx and Frederick Engels
-write Communist Manifesto
Four Factors of Production
1. Natural Resources
2. Labor
3. Capital
4. Entrepreneurship
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The Business Cycle
Height of expansion
Peak
Contraction
*Duration of each
stage varies
Expansion
When market
grows again
“recession”
if extreme,
“depression”
Trough
Products Created
The Circular Flow Model
Product Market
Product
$
$
Sellers
Product
Sold product to
market
Buyers
Firms
Buyers
Households
Bought materials from
factor market
Selling one of the four
factors of production
(esp. labor)
$
Sellers
$
Product
Product
Factor Market
Where the four factors of production are sold
Supply and Demand
Law of Supply:
at higher prices, a company is willing to sell more of a product (more profit)
at lower prices, a company will sell less (less profit)
Law of Demand:
at higher prices, consumers will buy less
at lower prices, consumers will buy more
Supply
Price sold
Demand
Quantity of Product
Determinants of Demand – alter the demand curve
The fair market
value
Point of
equilibrium
104
Price inelastic product – no matter how much the price goes up, people will still pay for it (ex. Gasoline, water,
milk, bread, etc.)
Price elastic product – if the price goes up, people will find an alternative or do without it
Mass Consumption
1.
2.
3.
4.
The 1920s sees unprecedented growth and prosperity in American society
-expansion stage of the business cycle
Automobile
Gasoline engine invented in the 1890s in Europe
[1910] 181 000 automobiles in the U.S. – a plaything for the rich
-was not reliable for transportation
Frederick W. Taylor – revolutionizes industry
-Father of scientific management – standardize work
use of the assembly line
combined to the automobile industry = Boom
Henry Ford perfects the use of the assembly line for the automobile industry
[by 1930] Ford sold over 20 million cars, most being the Model T
[by 1929] 26 million automobiles are registered in the U.S.
[by 1925] cost of an automobile is $260
-everyone can afford a car (or, if poor, at least a used car)
One in every 4.9 Americans has an automobile in 1929
-The automobile leads to booms in other industries
-rubber, glass, fabrics, gas stations, oil barracks in TX, CA, OK, garages
-But, significant decrease in railroads
-the automobile changes American lives
-can go on vacation
-drive to work, commute (can live further from the workplace) – rise to suburbs
-freedom for teenagers
-more traffic accidents
New Products and Ideas
Vacuum cleaners
Washing machines
Change the lives of
Refrigerators
women
Mixers
Fans
Ideas:
-The Supermarket – changes the diets of Americans
-Electricity – by the mid-1920s, 60% of new homes are wired for electricity
Radio
Marconi invented wireless telegraphy in the 1890s
-was first widely used during the WWI
[by 1920s] Radio becomes the center of family life
[by 1927] Sales of radios reach $7 million
First major radio station – NBC
Second major radio station – CBS
Mass-Produced Entertainment
Movies – [by 1920s] Center of the movie industry is Hollywood, CA
-cheap storage space in Hollywood
-first movie with a plot? Great Train Robbery [1903]
105
[Early 1920s] Silent films
-Charlie Chaplin
-Rudolph Valentino
-Mary Pickford
[1927] the first “talkie” – The Jazz Singer
[by 1930] 80 million people attend the movies weekly
-was cheap - 5¢, hence the phrase “nickelodeon”
Magazines – Reader’s Digest
Books – esp. in department stores – more accessible than before
5. Mass-Produced Work
During the 1920s, work in industries becomes standardized
-work is tedious
-wages increase (ex. Ford pays $5 a day to his workers)
-standard 8-hour workday
Agriculture
-agricultural prices decline in the 1920s
Encouraging Mass Consumption
1. Advertisements
[1929] companies spent $1.8 billion on advertisements
-use celebrities, sex, social embarrassment, social success, slogans…
2. Installment Buying
“buy now, pay later”
3. Chain Stores
Strawbridge’s, Ford dealership, A&P grocery
4. New Management Techniques
Prohibition – 18th Amendment
-repealed with the 21st Amendment
go to “speakeasy” for alcohol (a bar)
Bathtub gin –homemade alcohol
Bootlegging –increase in mob activity (the mob brought alcohol to speakeasies)
“Hooch” – alcohol
Elliot Ness
Celebrities
Charles Lindbergh
-First solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic [1927], lands in Paris
-a 33 ½ hour flight
Babe Ruth
-player for the Yankees after the Red Sox sol him
[1927] 60 homeruns in one season
Sexual Revolution
Birth control – led by Margaret Sanger, Emma Goldman (deported)
“Flapper” – new woman of the 1920s
Teenagers take a more relaxed stance on sex
-casual dating
Sigmund Freud
-relates all people’s problems to sexual repression
Literature
Sinclair Lewis
F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby
Ernest Hemingway – Farewell to Arms
106
T. S. Eliot – poet
William Faulkner
Robert Frost
Racial Pride
Harlem Renaissance – Harlem is the center of African-American culture
-Langston Hughes (poet and author)
-Marcus Garvey – UNIA (United Negro Improvement Association)
advocated a return to Africa
Architecture
Frank Lloyd Wright
“Form follows function”
Build a building that fits its surroundings
Empire State building [1931] officially opens
Chrysler Building
The Jazz Age
Jazz originates in New Orleans
Chicago! – Jazz moves with the Great Migration
Musicians
– Jelly Roll Morton
– Joseph King Oriel
– Louis Armstrong
Politics of the 1920s
Warren G. Harding
-senator from Ohio
-his friends were called the “Ohio Gang”
-Biggest Problem? Can’t say “no”
Secretary of Treasury – Andrew Mellon
Secretary of State – Charles Evan Hughes
Secretary of Commerce – Herbert Hoover
Going to appoint 4 of the 9 Supreme Court Justices
Chief Justice – William H. Taft
Kill progressive legislation
Esch-Commons Transportation Act of 1920
Encourages consolidation of railroads
To help save the railroads
Washington Naval Conference [1921-1922] (no Russia)
Five-Power Naval Treaty
Creates quotas (in tonnage) to limit the number of ships a country can have
U.S. (525 000), Great Britain (525 000), Japan (315 000), France (175 000), Italy (175 000)
U.S. and Great Britain agree not to fortify East Asian possessions
Four-Power Treaty
U.S., Great Britain, Japan, France
Agree to keep the status quo in the Pacific
Nine-Power Treaty
Nine nations agree to observe the Open-Door Policy in China
*One of the biggest failures of the Washing Naval Conference is that the treaties do not include small ships (ex:
submarines, destroyers, cruisers)*
107
Fortney-McCumber Tariff
Raises tariffs to 38.5%
-hurts Europe because they cannot sell as many goods to the U.S.
-also hurts U.S. because Europe creates higher tariffs in response
Scandals
Charles Forbes – steals millions of dollars from Veteran’s Bureau
Teapot Dome Scandal – Albert Fall, Secretary of Interior, leases U.S. oil reserves to private businesses
Attorney General Dougherty sells illegal liquor permits and pardons Prohibition offenders
[1923] Harding dies of pneumonia
VP Calvin Coolidge “Silent Cal” takes over
Both Harding and Coolidge
Pro-Business
Favor a Bull Market (rising stock market)
Isolationists
McNary-Haugen Bill [1924
& 1928]
-intended to help farmers
-but Coolidge vetoes it twice
Kellog-Briand Pact
-outlaws war, except for defensive purposes
Dawes Act [1924]
-scaled back U.S. war debts and reparations demands (not very effective)
Pay for war debts
$
U.S.
Great Britain
$
loan
$
France
$
Germany
$
Reparations to the
war debt
-however, U.S. is essentially paying itself – makes situation worse later on
Election of 1928
Republican – Herbert Hoover (well-liked)
Democrats – Al Smith “Happy Warrior” (Catholic)
Herbert Hoover wins easily; however, a year later, the world crashes down on Hoover
Herbert Hoover
-Head of Food Administration
-Secretary of Commerce
-Saves Belgium from starvation
-Quaker (first one to become president)
Secretary of State – Henry Stinton
Secretary of Treasury – Andrew Mellon
[Oct. 1929] Stock Market Crash – the spark that leads to the Great Depression
[Oct. 24, 1929] “Black Thursday”
108
Responding to the rise in interest rates by Great Britain, many speculators begin to panic and sell their
stocks
Stock prices begin falling very rapidly
Investors begin rapidly selling their stocks
J.P. Morgan Jr. and other Wall Street investors spend $20 million to try to help save the market
Losses accumulate to about $3 billion
[Oct. 29, 1929] “Black Tuesday”
Tension and panic grips Wall Street
People begin to rapidly sell their stocks
By end of the day, 16 410 030 shares of stock are traded in one day (sold at depressed prices)
Total losses equal about $32 billion
By the end of 1929, stock markets lose about $40 billion.
Underlying Causes of the Great Depression
1. Buying on Margin
Speculators buy stock in the 1920s on margin – they put down as little as 10% for the stock and
the bank pays the rest
But when the market goes down, people become unable to pay back the banks
2. Buying on Credit
Consumers buy using installment methods
[by 1929] credit purchases reach $7 billion
3. Income Gap
-during the 1920s, the rich got richer, everyone else got poorer
[1923-1929]
-the upper 1% had an increase in disposable income of 63%
-but 93% of Americans saw their disposable income decrease by 4%
4. U.S. Tariff Policy
[1922] Fortney-McCumber Tariff raises the tariff to 38.5%
[1930] Hawley-Smoot Tariff raises tariff rates 60% on some products
-closes the U.S. off to the world market
-European nations put in place their own tariffs
Result – Global Depression
-nations turn inward
-25% world unemployment
5. Bank Failures
Loans cannot be paid back from businesses, people, etc.
Banks begin to fail and close
“Bank runs” – people rush to get their money out before the bank closes
if a bank closes, your money is gone
[1930-1932] Five thousand banks close in the U.S., taking people’s money with them
6. Agricultural Failure
Farm prices decrease throughout the 1920s
Farmers respond by overproducing – makes the situation worse
Farmers fail to pay mortgages – banks take the property
7. Business Failure
[1920] 26 000 businesses go bankrupt
[1931] 28 000 businesses go bankrupt
add to unemployment
8. Business Cycle
109
Hoover and the Great Depression
Hoover believes in “Rugged Individualism”
-the belief that people can solve their own problems and crises without the need for
government intervention
[1929-1931]
1. Encourages private charities and local governments to help people in need
-However, they are ill-equipped to deal with a crisis of this magnitude – fails
2. Hoover encourages business leaders to keep pre-crash levels of production and employment – fails
3. Emergency Committee for Employment
-merely coordinates the efforts of local governments and charities – fails
4. National Credit Cooperation
-Hoover encourages the large banks to create a private agency that small banks can borrow from
-fails to help
[1930-1931]
-Democrats take control of the House of Representatives
-Democrats take 8 additional Senate seats
-formation of bread lines
-“Hoovervilles” – makeshift towns of homeless people
-unemployment is rising [1931] 15% of U.S. is unemployed – [1933-1934] becomes 25%
Hoover continues to say that the end of the depression is near
-by this time, Hoover is extremely unpopular
[by 1931] Hoover realizes his hands-off approach to the situation is not working
[1932] Hoover begins to use the federal government
-many people call this “creeping socialism”
1. Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)
-Congress gives $2 billion for loans to banks, insurance companies, and the railroads
2. Public Works Programs
-Hoover allocates $2 billion for public works projects (ex: Hoover Dam)
too little, too late.
Public Reaction
1. Farmers withhold grain and livestock from market in an attempt to raise prices and get the federal
government to help – does not work
2. Bonus Army
[1932] WWI veterans march to Washing D.C. to show support for a bill that would give them their pensions
early and in cash
-Congress votes against the bill
many Bonus marchers go home
a few thousand set up a Hooverville
Violence breaks out when the Army (including MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Patton) attempts to
remove the remaining Bonus marchers
3. Election of 1932
Election of 1932
Republicans – Herbert Hoover (easily re-nominated)
Platform: anti-depression measures
Democrats – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Platform: NOT Hoover
Roosevelt wins! – electoral votes 472 to 59
110
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Born in Hyde Park, NY in 1882
Born into a wealthy family – dates back to 1648
Teddy Roosevelt’s 5th cousin
An only child
Harvard graduate
State senator in NY [1911-1913]
Resigns the senate position – Assistant Secretary of the Navy [1913-1920]
[1920] runs for vice president with James Cox – defeated
[1921] contracts polio and loses the use of his legs – humbles FDR
his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt (TR’s niece), convinces him to stay in politics
goes on to become Governor of NY [1929-1932]
[1932] Democratic Convention – “I pledge you, I pledge myself, a New Deal for the American people”
The Brains Trust
Harold Ickes – Secretary of Interior [1933-1946]
Doubles the acreage of national parks
Works hard to save farmland from overuse
Public works projects
Fair and honest
Harry Hopkins – one of the most trusted advisors
Involved in FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Association)
Head of CWA
Puts 2 million people to work
Dishes out ~$10 billion in aid
Henry Wallace – Secretary of Agriculture [1933-1940]
Helps cut farm production
Conserve soil
Sets up warehouses and silos for surplus crops
Invented the food stamp
Rexford Tugwell
Raymond Moley
Adolf Berle
Francis Perkins – Secretary of Labor
First female Cabinet member
Sets the minimum wage
Helps end child labor and corruption in the labor department
Helps to establish social security
Eleanor Roosevelt
Serves as the “eyes, ears, and legs” for FDR – proves to be very influential
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The Hundred Days [March 9, 1933 – June 16, 1933]
All New Deal programs deal with the three R’s:
o Relief
o Recovery
o Reform
1. Banking
[March 6, 1933] FDR announces a bank holiday
-closes every bank in the U.S.
-reopens the structurally sound ones
[March 9, 1931] Emergency Banking Relief Act
-gives FDR power over all banks in the U.S.
Glass Steagull Act – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
-money is insured – government is guaranteeing your money
2. Unemployment
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – national parks – offers jobs for the jobless
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – bring cheap electricity to a poor region
3. Direct relief
Federal Emergency Relief Association (FERA) – direct relief for people
4. Agriculture
Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) – millions of money given to farmers to help pay mortgages
5. Industry
National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)
-National Recovery Administration (NRA)
– the blue eagle
– help unemployment, increase union membership
-Public Works Administration (PWA) – public works projects
6. Inflation
FDR orders that all gold be given to the federal government in exchange for paper money
Try to take U.S. off the gold standard
* “flat money” – government says this money is worth this much
7. Mortgages
Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC)
-give money to help pay off mortgages
The New Deal and FDR in 1934
Unemployment drops to 22% (from 25% in 1933)
The New Deal is extremely popular with the people
Some opposition to the New Deal, some anger towards FDR’s foreign policy
-the slaughter of 6 million pigs does not go over very well (to cut production)
The NRA is experiencing problems – eventually termed unconstitutional
Still, FDR’s popularity is soaring
-“fireside chats” on radio – a paternal figure to the people
-warmly received by the press
-ends Prohibition
Midterm elections of 1934 – Democrats gain more seats in the House and the Senate
-Inspires FDR and the Brain Trust to create the Second New Deal
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The Second New Deal
1. Expanded relief for the unemployed
Emergency Relief Appropriations Bill [1935]
Gives FDR $5 billion to give away as he pleases
-Works Progress Administration (WPA)
a) Employs 8 million people
b) $11 million back to economy
c) 650 miles of road are built
d) 124 000 bridges are built
e) 125 000 buildings, public buildings
WPA also employs writers, actors, and artists
-Federal Theater Project – tours the country
2. Help the rural poor
Resettlement Administration
-gives money to farmers to buy land
-or allows them to resettle
Rural Electrification Administration
-gives loans to electrical companies to help bring electricity to rural areas
3. Help organize labor
National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) of 1935
o Guarantees collective bargaining
-between unions and companies
o Permits closed shops
-have to be in the union to work
-no spying or blacklisting labor unions
4. Social Welfare benefits
Social Security Act of 1935
Creates pensions for older workers
Survivor’s benefits
Unemployment insurance
Aid for dependent mothers of children with a handicap or some kind of disability
Paid for by taxing workers’ incomes
-this restricts future Congresses and Presidents from getting rid of the program
5. Stricter business regulations
Banking Act of 1935
-gives the Federal Reserve more control over the banking industry
Public Utilities Holding Company Act
-regulates electricity
-limits electric and gas companies to certain regions of the country
6. Tax the wealthy
Revenue Act of 1935
-increases taxes on upper incomes
-increases corporate taxes
Election of 1936
Republicans – Alf Landon (Governor of Kansas) – 16 million popular votes
Democrats – FDR – 27 million popular votes
FDR wins easily, with 523 to 8 (Maine and Vermont) electoral votes
Second New Deal is paid for by creating a federal budget deficit
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Keyne’s economic theory
Federal government borrow money – sell bonds
Opponents of the New Deal
1. American Liberty League
Made up of disgruntled Democrats
Led by Al Smith
Argued that the New Deal restricted individual freedoms and was leading the U.S. to socialism
2. Father Charles Caughlin
Catholic priest from Canada
Audience of 40 million (on radio)
His ideas were called “social justice”
Extremely anti-New Deal, but he is also anti-Semetic (this brings him down)
3. Dr. Francis Townsend
He wanted to give all retired Americans $200 a month with the stimulation they spend it in 30 days
This would have bankrupted the U.S. in less than half a year
Still, has support, especially from the older Americans
4. Huey “the Kingfish” Long
Governor of Louisiana [1928-1932]
Senator from Louisiana in 1932
Very charismatic and a great orator
“Share our Wealth” program
-would give every American family $5000
-paid for by taxing the wealthy
has about 7.4 million supporters
[September 1935] Long is assassinated on the steps of the Louisiana statehouse
-dies at the age of 42
-clears the path for FDR’s re-election
5. Supreme Court
Declared NRA (National Recovery Administration) and AAA (Agricultural Adjustment
Administration) unconstitutional
FDR is angry at the Supreme Court for a few reasons
-Ultra-conservative
-Not reform-minded
-Very old – 6 of the 9 justices are over 70 years old
Court Packing Plan
-FDR asks Congress to allow a new Supreme Court be placed on the bench for every justice over
the age of 70, up to 15 justices
To his surprise, Congress votes against the plan, and people are outraged at the Court Packing Plan
(violates checks and balances) – this is FDR’s biggest political blunder
Despite this, FDR gets his way (eventually) for a more liberal court – he appoints 4 new justices
(after 4 retire/die) – the Supreme Court begins to change on is own and becomes more liberal
Charles Evans Hughes is Chief Justice
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Culture in the Great Depression
Industrial Workers Unionize
[1936] Steel Workers Organizing Committee – strike for recognition
[March 1937] U.S. Steel recognizes the union – grants a wage increase and a 40-hour workweek
[Dec. 1936] thousands of GM workers stops work – stops production in Flint (peaceful)
GM fought unionization – threatened with police
-Roosevelt refused to mobilize federal troops
[Feb. 11, 1937] GM recognizes United Automobile Workers (UAW)
But, domestics and agricultural laborers are untouched/unaffected by unions
Labor success – federal government no longer helps companies in labor disputes
Henry Ford fought unions
Entertainment [1930s]
-serves as a form of escapism for the people
-the people do not want to hear about harsh realities
Radio – soap operas, comedy shows
Movies – very popular
Gangster films – “Public Enemy”
Screwball comedies, slapstick comedies – Marx Brothers (satirized authority)
Mae West (top female star)
“Wizard of Oz” – political commentary on the 1930s
Music
-Jazz is the dominant music form
-Big Bands – Glen Miller, Benny Goodman
-Swings
Literature
-American fiction – disillusionment, cynicism, despair
-portrayed real life pretty accurately
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Cultural Nationalism
-Photography
-Theaters
-Jazz
-Regional Patriotism
-Streamlining – sleek, smooth edges, neat, fast-looking
-“utmost simplification in terms of function and form”
New York World’s Fair of 1939 “The World of Tomorrow”
-Trylon and Perisphere (700 ft needle “lofty purpose”, smooth globe 200 ft in diameter)
-a benign, smoothly functioning technological utopia
Dust Bowl – Great Plains, the worst in KA, OK, and northern TX
-depression
-dust storms
-erosion
-drought
People leave for the West – California
“Okies”, “Arkies”
FSA (Farm Security Administration) sets up camp for “Oakies” – leads to jobs in CA
Family Life
-divorce increases, marriages decrease, birth rate decreases (can’t afford children)
-high school enrollment increases – better chance for jobs later on
Quality time – radio with FDR, strengthened mutual help – sharing
Psychological effects – after the Depression, people become pack rats – save $ constantly
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Art
Folk artists paint landscapes – Georgia O’ Keefe, Grandma Moses
Patriotic themes – Red, white, blue
-WPA gave the artists these jobs
-murals – public areas – post offices, train stations
Dorothea Lange – Great Depression photographer – took pictures to document harsh life
Women
-low pay, low status jobs
-as jobs decrease, they are the first pushed out, along with minority groups
-still, the crisis may have accelerated the women-into-the-workplace movement
-made less money than men (up to 18% - 20% less)
African-Americans
Deep-seated racism, discriminatory union policies – due to fierce job competition
Urbanization drops in the 1930s
-the North offers fewer jobs than before
Scottsboro Boys – five black men were convicted for rape by an all-white jury in AL
-jailed with no fair trial – due to discrimination
Depression was a distraction from the racial norms
Hispanic-Americans
-Two million – many were citizens, others were immigrants
-Manual laborers
-Many return to home countries – wanted to or had to
-Strikes for higher wages [1933-1936]
-Difficult labor conditions
“Zoot suits” – pinstripe suits, broad-brimmed hats, big, flowy pants, boxy shoulders
Native Americans
-world of poverty, scant education, poor health care
Dawes Act of 1887 had dissolved tribes
[1923] John Collier founded American Indian Defense Association
[1933] funds to construct schools, hospitals, irrigation systems
-renewed tribal life? -sparked angry opposition in western states
Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
-halted the sale of tribal lands
-enabled tribes to regain title to their unallocated lands
The End of the New Deal
[1937] FDR becomes concerned with deficit spending (spending more than what the government actually had)
and begins to cut New Deal programs
Result: The Roosevelt Recession
-unemployment rises [1937] 15% [1938] 20%
-industrial production decreases
[1938] Harry Hopkins and other New Dealers convince FDR to restore New Deal spending
-FDR resumes deficit spending
-revives WPA and PWA
-Farm Security Administration – low interest loans, sets up camps
National Housing Act of1937
-public housing projects created
Fair Labor Standards Act
-creates minimum wage
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-bans child labor
Agricultural Adjustment Act [1938]
-takes money from the treasury instead of taxes (this time, is constitutional)
After 1935, more opposition to FDR
Midterm elections of 1938 – the Republicans gain seats in the House and Senate
[Sept. 1, 1939] Germany invades Poland
World War II begins
The Rise of European Dictators
Benito Mussolini – leader of Italy
Served in WWI
An ardent nationalist
Rises to the rank of Corporal
Feels betrayed by the Versailles Treaty and Wilson
[1919] forms the fascist Party
Blackshirts – WWI veterans
-opposes the communists and socialists
[Oct. 1922] March on Rome
-40 000 Fascists march on Rome to King Victor Emmanuel III
-does nothing
Mussolini is named Premier of Italy and given dictatorial powers
-called “Il Duce”
[1930s] Italy goes to depression
-Mussolini starts public works programs and begins imperialistic ventures
[1935] Italy invades Ethiopia
[1936] Mussolini signs Tripartite Agreement with Germany and Japan
[1936] Mussolini aids Francisco Franco and the Fascists in the Spanish Civil War
Adolf Hitler – leader of Germany
Born 1889 in Austria – no real friends, no real love
Parents died when he was 14 and 15
Drops out of school to be an artists – moves to Vienna, where he applies for art school but is rejected
(but stays in Vienna from age 18-25) – this is where he develops anti-Semetic ideas
[1913] moves to Munich, Germany
[1914] When war breaks out, he joins the military
-rises to Corporal
-earns the Iron Cross from the war
[1918] injured in a gas attack and nearly loses his sight
[1919] after recovering, he joins the National Socialist Germany Worker’s Party – i.e. the Nazi Party
[1923] the German economy is failing
- high unemployment, high inflation
- the Weimar Republic is losing control
[Nov. 8-11, 1923] Beer Hall Putsch
-Hitler and followers attempt to overthrow the Bouvarian Government in Munich
-this is put down, and Hitler is arrested
-Hitler writes Mein Kampf “My Struggle” in jail, which highlights his plans for Germany
[1924] Dawes Plan in U.S. saves Germany from collapse
[1929] Great Depression – [1930] Global Depression
[1930] Nazis gain 107 seats in Reichstag (German Congress)
[1932] Nazis gain 232 seats in Reichstag (not the majority, but is the largest minority)
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[Jan. 1933] Hitler is named Chancellor of Germany
-renames the Weimar Republic the Third Reich
[1934] President von Hindenburg dies
-Hitler merges the Chancellor and the Presidency – dictator
-the “Führer” of Germany – Hitler crushes all opposition
[1935] in violation of the Versailles Treaty, Hitler re-arms the country
Nuremburg Laws
-deprives Jews of citizenship
[1936] re-arms the Rhineland
[March 1938] Austria is annexed
[Sept. 1938] British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain gives the Sudetenland to Germany
-Munich Conference – to appease Hitler
[Nov. 9, 1938] Kristallnacht (Night of broken Glass)
[March 1939] Germany takes Czechoslovakia
[August 1939] Hitler and Stalin sign the Non-Aggression Pact
-Stalin was one of the greatest opponents to Hitler
Throughout this, the League of Nations does NOTHING!
Francisco Franco – leader of Spain
[1931] New constitution
[1936] Spanish Civil War – Fascists (led by Franco) vs. the Loyalists (supported by Popular Front) –
Hemingway writes For Whom the Bell Tolls
Franco is cruel in his treatment of Spanish civilians
Pablo Picasso pains “Guernica”
[by 1939] Franco is firmly in control of Spain
The Military – Japan
[1920s] the military leaders in Japan gain power – Tojo
[1926] New emperor Hirohito at the age of 25 – susceptible to military will
[1931] Japan invades Manchuria – Hoover sends the Hoover-Stimpson Doctrine
[1935-1936] begins a massive naval buildup – violates the Washington Naval Conference
[1937] Japan invades northern China – the Rape of Nanking
Josef Stalin – leader of the Soviet Union
[1922] Soviet Union is established with Lenin in control
[1924] Lenin dies and there is a power struggle between Stalin and Leon Trotsky
-Trotsky gets sick and does not attend Lenin’s funeral
Stalin uses the fact that Trotsky did not attend Lenin’s funeral to push Trotsky out of power
[1929] Stalin creates the Five-Year Plan
- creates large state-run farms
[1930s] Stalin begins “the Purges”
- he kills an estimated 20-30 million people
FDR and Isolationism
Authors in the 1920s begin speaking out and writing about the role of businesses and bankers in the
U.S. entrance to WWI
Ex) Merchants of Death, One Hell of a Business
Gerald Nye (senator from North Dakota)
-calls for a committee to examine the role that businesses play in the U.S. entrance to WWI
Nye Committee – conclude that it was for business benefits
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-Leads to a greater isolationist feeling in the U.S.
Ludlow Amendment
called for a national referendum before the U.S. could declare war
this marked the high point of isolationism
FDR’s Policies
[1933] recognized the Soviet Union
[1930s] Filipino independence is agreed upon (1946)
Good Neighbor Policy – FDR’s policy towards Latin America
contrary to TR’s Big Stick Policy
pulls Marines out of Dominican Republic and Haiti
gives Panama greater control over the canal
U.S. supports Batista’s overthrow of the Cuban government but does not sent troops
The U.S. and Neutrality
1. Neutrality Act of 1935
-once the president acknowledges that countries are at war, the U.S. is prohibited from:
-selling war supplies to belligerent nations
-selling on belligerent nations’ ships
2. Neutrality Act of 1937
-prohibits extension of loans to belligerents
-prohibits the transportation of any commodity to belligerents
-Belligerents cannot use American ports
The U.S. is aiding aggressor nations with the Neutrality Acts.
After 1937, these policies start to change.
[1938] FDR asks Congress for $300 million military appropriation
-he also increases army air corps production
[1939] FDR asks for a $1.3 billion defense budget
[Nov. 1939] Neutrality Act of 1939
“Cash and Carry”
-European democracies could trade with the U.S. if they pay cash and take the goods themselves –
supposed to aid Great Britain and France
[1940] Peacetime draft in the U.S.
-calls for 1.2 million soldiers and 800 000 volunteers
-in case war breaks out, FDR wanted the U.S. to be ready
[1940] “Destroyers for Bases”
-Deal between Great Britain and the U.S.
-gave Great Britain 50 destroyers in exchange for rights to build military bases on Great Britain’s
possessions
[March 1941] Lend-Lease Act
-allowed U.S. to lend/lease war supplies to any nation that helps in the defense of the U.S.
[June 1941] extended to the Soviet Union
Germany violated the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
[Aug. 1941] Atlantic Charter
-meeting between FDR and Churchill in a warship off the coast of Newfoundland
-agree on eight goals for the war
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European Entrance to WWII
[1935] Italy invades Ethiopia
[1935] Germany re-arms
[1936] Germany re-arms the Rhineland (buffer zone between France and Germany)
[1936-1939] Spanish Civil War
-Franco is aided by Hitler and Mussolini
-Hitler wants to test his new military
[March 1938] Germany annexed Austria
[Sept 1938] Munich Conference – British Prime Minister Chamberlain gives Sudetenland to Hitler
[March 1939] Hitler invades Czechoslovakia
[Aug 1939] Hitler and Stalin sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
[Sept 1, 1939] Hitler invades Poland with Soviet Union
[Sept 3, 1939] Great Britain and France declare war on Germany
-couldn’t do anything to help Poland – falls in three weeks
[Oct 1939-March 1940] The Phony War
-after invasion of Poland, nothing much else happens
-Why? Hitler is positioning
[April 1940] Germany takes Denmark and Norway
[May 1940] Germany invades the Netherlands and Belgium
[May 26-June 4, 1940] evacuation of Allied forces at Dunkirk
-coastal French town
-300 000 Allied soldiers are evacuated to Great Britain
-Hitler’s first mistake
-he should have crushed the Allies before they evacuate, but he does not
-he wanted to show off his Air Force
*Hitler uses blitzkrieg “lightning war” – very quick
[June 5, 1940] Germany invades France
-by the 15th, Paris falls
-by the 22nd, France falls to Germany
Hitler sets up a puppet government – the Vichy Government
[July 1940] Battle of Britain begins – lasts for four months
-Hitler attempts to bomb Great Britain into surrender
-ultimately, is unsuccessful- convinces Hitler to NOT invade Great Britain
[May 1941] Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) take Greece and Yugoslavia
[June 22nd, 1941] Hitler violates the Non-Aggression Pact – invades Soviet Union
-Push the Soviet Union back to Moscow at end of 1941 – but slows down
Because of this, U.S. extends the Lend-Lease Act to Soviet Union
[July 1941] FDR begins to convoy
-take ships with supplies and send them to Great Britain
[Oct 1941] Germany sinks two U.S. ships
[by end of 1941]
Axis Powers have almost total control over Europe
Great Britain is the lone Allied power in Europe
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Countdown to Pearl Harbor
[July 1941] Japan invades French Indochina
-FDR freezes Japanese assets in the U.S. and cuts off all trade to Japan
-Japan was receiving scrap metal and oil
[Nov. 7, 1941] U.S. intercepts a message from Japan which discusses a secret attack on the U.S.
[Nov 17-Dec. 7 1941] Japanese diplomats meet in Washington D.C. with U.S. officials in an attempt to end the
trade embargo
December 6, 1941
2:30 AM
U.S. intercepts a message to the Japanese negotiators instructing them to break off negotiations
The Japanese consulate in D.C. begin burning their papers – this is a ritual signaling war
11:00 AM
Japanese carriers are 490 miles North of Oahu
2:00 PM
U.S. FBI picks up a suspicious call from a dentist’s wife and a newspaper reporter
-the call is about the number of sellers and ships at Pearl Harbor
-the FBI does nothing
10:30 PM
Two Japanese midget subs are sent to Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941
1:50 AM
U.S. minesweeper spots a periscope in the waters near Pearl Harbor but does not report it
6:10 AM
the first Japanese planes take off
6:25 AM
There are 183 planes in the air
6:45 AM
A U.S. destroyer sinks one of the Japanese midget subs
7:00 AM
A radio operator locates 50 planes on his radar – reports this to his commanding officer, who assumes they were
U.S. B-17s – he is wrong – they are Japanese planes
7:15 AM
A second wave of Japanese planes takes off
There are now 350 planes on their way to Pearl Harbor
7:33 AM
Admiral Kimmel receives the report of the sinking of the midget submarine
7:49 AM
Japanese pilots call “Tora, tora, tora” (code – complete secrecy achieved) and the attack begins
The battle lasts for 1 hour and 50 minutes
The Japanese wipe out the Pacific battleship fleet
200 U.S. planes destroyed
2400 Americans killed, including 1103 on the U.S.S. Arizona
Yamamoto – architect of Pearl Harbor – “What I have achieved is less than a grand slam”
Japanese mistakes
the three aircraft carriers were not in port at the time
missed the repair docks
missed the fuel storage tanks
missed the report docks
a Failure – they have “wakened the sleeping Giant”
[Dec. 8, 1941] FDR asks for a declaration of war
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Passes 388:1
[Dec. 11, 1941] Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.
-Hitler’s Third Mistake – U.S. might not have declared war on Germany
(his second mistake was invading the Soviet Union)
World War II Mobilization
Pearl Harbor galvanizes the country – not like WWI – outcry against Japan
Decision? Hitler first.
Early situation of war is bad for the Allies
1. Losing Battle of Atlantic
2. Hitler advancing in USSR and North Africa
3. Japan advancing in the Pacific
Is the U.S. ready? Not really, but is better than WWI
Mobilization – need to mobilize industry, finances, workers, and soldiers
War Powers Act – gives powers to president to create hundreds of regulatory agencies
OWM (Office of War Mobilization) – headed by James Byrnes
-oversees War Board and committees
OPA (Office of Price Administration) – freeze wages and prices
WPB (War Production Board) – regulates industry and allocates resources
-halts consumer productions (ex. Instead of cars – build tanks, planes, etc.)
-create cooperation, not competition
NWLB (National War Labor Board) – regulates management and worker relations
OSS (Office of Strategy Services) – forerunner of the CIA
OWI (Office of War Information) – censorship
OSRD (Office of Scientific Research and Development) – technological progresses
-synthetic rubber, penicillin
Army, Navy, Army Air Corps, Marines
-10 million drafted, 5 million volunteer – total 15 million serve in WWII
Mobilization ends the Great Depression
Over 40 billion bullets produced
76 000 ships, 86 000 tanks, 300 000 planes, 2.6 million machine guns
heightened food production, almost zero unemployment – 1.4% unemployment
food rationing
Smith-Connally Act
-gives government control over striking industry – can order them back to work
Per Capita income increases from $573 to $1074
-buying war bonds = contributing to the war effort
The War in Europe
Situation in 1942
Russia – German forces are attacking Leningrad, Moscow, and Stalingrad
-starting to collapse
Stalin is pressuring the Allies to open a second front
Africa
[1940] Italy invades Northern Africa – soon taken over by the Germans
-by General Romwell “Desert Fox” and German Africa Corps
-going toward the Suez Canal
-if the Middle East is accessed, means OIL to the Axis
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Europe
Hitler controls almost all of mainland Europe
Hitler also controls the Atlantic Ocean and is decimating Allied shipping
Turning Points in the War in Europe
[Oct. 1942] North Africa
British general Bernard Montgomery defeats German general Romwell and forces at El Alamein
halts the German advance
saves the Suez Canal
turns the Germans back
[Nov. 1942] Operation Torch
-First Allied invasion
-Invasion of North Africa
U.S. forces are led by General “Ike” Eisenhower
-gains experience for U.S. troops
-helps push Germans back into Tunisia
[May 1943] 2066 Germans surrender
[Jan 1943] Casablanca Conference
FDR and Churchill decide Sicily and Italy will be the next invasion points
Decide on unconditional surrender of the Axis Powers
[July 1943] Allied invasion of Sicily
Mussolini is disposed of by the Italians
German forces are sent into Italy
General Patton becomes famous
[Sept 1943] Operation Avalanche
Allied invasion of Italy
Allies slowly take Italy
[by June 4, 1944] Allies take Rome; two days later, Normandy
Russian Turning Point
Battle of Stalingrad
[winter 1942-Feb 1943]
Germans surrender 100 000 (alive) to the Russians
Begins a counteroffensive that will never be stopped
The Atlantic Turning Point
-technology and tactics
1. Sonar – underwater detection
2. Convoy system – safety in numbers of ships
3. Air bombardment of U-boat yards/storage areas
4. Strategy and tactics – turn off the lights on the East Coast to evade enemy attacks
-also begin building more ships than they lose
[1943] the Allies retake control of the Atlantic
[Dec 1943] Tehran Conference
First meeting of the Big Three – Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill
They arrange the invasion of Europe
Plans for the postwar Germany occupation
Agree the soviet Union will enter the war against Japan 6 months after the Germans are
defeated
[June 1944] Operation Overlord
Calls for Allied invasion of Normandy and France
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Invasion led by Eisenhower and soldiers from the U.S., Great Britain, and the Canadians
3.5 million soldiers are waiting in Great Britain for an attack upon Europe
[June 6, 1944] D-Day
soldiers must face German fortifications (the Atlantic Wall) on the beaches of Normandy
150 000 soldiers take part in the attack – it is a slow attack, but ultimately, it is successful
One week after, there are 326 000 Allied troops in Europe
[by July 24, 1944] One million Allied troops are in Europe
[by Sept 24, 1944] Two million Allied troops are in Europe
[Aug. 25, 1944] Allies liberate Paris
[Oct 1944] Allies liberate Belgium and the Netherlands
Soviets pushed Germans back into Poland and Germany
[Dec. 16, 1944] last German offensive – Battle of the Bulge
200 000 German soldiers take part – surround U.S. forces at Bastogne
U.S. forces are eventually able to defeat German forces by the end of January 1945
About 120 000 Germans are killed
Beginning of the end for Germany
[Feb. 1945] Yalta Conference – last meeting of the Big Three
1. Stalin agrees to declare war on Japan after Germany is officially defeated
2. Outline the plans for a meeting of the United Nations to take place in 1945 in San Francisco
3. The Soviet Union is given land in Manchuria – appeases Stalin, and Stalin drops calls for
reparations from Germany
4. Agree upon free elections in Eastern Europe (does not happen)
5. Agree to occupy and divide Germany after the war
6. Agree to move Poland’s borders inwards
The War in the Pacific
[Dec 7 1941] Pearl Harbor
The Japanese miss aircraft carriers, submarine bases, oil reserves – not successful
Japan also captures Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Malaya, Burma, Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines.
[Spring 1942] Doolittle raids
-U.S. attack upon mainland Japan – a moral victory
-it is a tactical failure
Turning Points in the Pacific
1. Battle of Coral Sea [May 1942]
Ends in a draw (U.S. lost an aircraft carrier)
Halts the Japanese advance on Australia
2. Battle of Midway [June 1942]
Exclusive naval battle – Japan is attacking Midway Island
-if they take the base, they can attack the U.S.
-Midway Island is 1000 miles from Hawaii
U.S. Navy, led by Admiral Nimitz
-sink 4 Japanese aircraft carriers (essentially floating bases)
-Halts the Japanese offensive and puts them on the defense
3. Battle of Guadalcanal [August 1942]
-first Allied offensive in the Pacific – lasts six months
[Feb 1943] Japan evacuated forces from the island
1700 U.S. soldiers killed
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20 000 Japanese killed
o believed in the Bashido Code
rather suicide than be captured by the enemy
[May 1943] Philippines fall to Japan
MacArthur flees, promising “I shall return”
-the remaining captured U.S. soldiers are placed on a death march to Batan
U.S. develops a policy – “Island-Hopping” in the Pacific
only attack the most strategic islands
bypass other islands
idea was that the islands that were not attacked would be cut off from supplies and be forced to
surrender
1. Douglas MacArthur
Starts with New Guinea [1943-1944]
Returns to Philippines [Oct 1944] – by March 1945, recaptures Manila
2. Admiral Nimitz
[Aug 1943] Attu and Kiska
[Nov 1943] Tarawa
[Feb 1944] Marshall Islands
[Aug 1944] Marianas – at Battle of Saipan
-allows for around-the-clock bombing of mainland Japan
[Feb-Mar 1945] Battle of Iwo Jima
-flag-raising on Mount Sarabachi (six Marines)
~20 000 Japanese soldiers are killed – only 216 captured
~4000 U.S. soldiers killed
[Apr-June 1945] Battle of Okinawa – bloodiest battle in Pacific
~110 000 Japanese are killed
~13 000 U.S. soldiers killed – 30 000 injured
Of the Japanese civilian population – 80 000 killed
-U.S. is at the doorstep to mainland Japan
Mainland Japan is the next step for the Allies
-but if casualties in island-hopping were so high, how about the mainland?
-predicted U.S. casualties – one million
Is there an alternative? – the Atomic Bomb
End of the War in Europe
Germany defeated at the Battle of the Bulge
-a race to Berlin between the Allies and the Soviet Union
Eisenhower halts U.S. troops at the Elbe River and lets the Soviets take it
(even though Great Britain wants Eisenhower to take Berlin first)
[April 1945] Soviet Union enters the outskirts of Berlin
[April 30, 1945] Hitler commits suicide
[May 2, 1945] the Soviets capture Berlin
[May 8, 1945] Germany surrenders
-Victory in Europe Day – V-E Day
The full extent of the Holocaust begins to be known
Eisenhower gets reporters to document the camps
About 6 million European Jew are killed
Millions more die in concentration camps
[April 12, 1945] Franklin D. Roosevelt dies
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Harry Truman – clueless about the war effort – FDR kept everything quiet
-does not trust Stalin and the Soviet Union
Cuts aid until they fulfill the Yalta Conference
Becomes the seeds of the Cold War
[July 16, 1945 – Aug. 2, 1945] Potsdam Conference
New Big Three
-Stalin
-Truman
-Atlee (Churchill)
Complete postwar agreements
Demilitarize
Germany
Punish Nazi war criminals – Nuremberg Trials
Truman tells Stalin about the atomic bomb
The Big Three issue an ultimatum to Japan
“to surrender, or face prompt and utter destruction”
-Japan does not surrender
End of WWII in the Pacific
The Atomic Bomb
[1939] Einstein writes to FDR discussing the possibility of an atomic bomb and Germany’s plans to construct
one
-Einstein later regrets this because of its destructivity
[1942] First atomic chain reaction accomplished
Robert Oppenheimer is the director of the Manhattan Project (code name given to the U.S. project to
construct an atomic bomb) - spends $2 billion
[July 16, 1945] Alamo Gordo, NM
-first successful test of an atomic bomb
-at the time, there was no idea about radiation poisoning
[July 25, 1945] Truman okays the use of the atomic bomb
[July 26, 1945] The ultimatum is issued
[July 28, 1945] Japan replies – “no” – doesn’t believe that the U.S. has such a weapon
[Aug 6, 1945] an American B-29 bomber “Enola Gay” drops a single A-bomb on Hiroshima, Japan (a military
base)
70 000 instantly killed
60 000 more die shortly after
despite this, Japan does not surrender (didn’t know that U.S. had another)
[Aug 8, 1945] Soviet Union enters the war against Japan
-attack Manchuria and Korea
[Aug 9, 1945] U.S. drops a second A-bomb on Nagasaki, Japan (industrial area)
80 000 instantly killed
[Aug 14, 1945] Japan agrees to surrender under on condition – the emperor (Hirohito) stays in power
[Sept 2, 1945] the formal Japanese surrender takes place on the U.S. S. Missouri and Japanese officials
surrender to Douglas MacArthur
V-J Day – Marks the end of WWII
Back to Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb:
It would:
Save U.S. lives – an estimated one million U.S. lives would be lost in an invasion of mainland
Japan occurred
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Brings an end to the war quickly
Saves Japanese lives (Bashido Code – surrender was unacceptable)
Show the Soviet Union U.S. power?
If we have the bomb, we’ll use the bomb
Would Japan have surrendered without using it?
Could you display the power of the bomb on a remotely populated island?
Was it a racist decision? No – the bomb was originally intended for Germany
Leads to the Atomic Age
Costs of the War
16 million killed in WWII (many were civilians)
300 000 killed in the U.S.
2 million killed in the Soviet Union
Holocaust
Europe and Japan lay in ruins
-many have no food, water, nor shelter in the postwar period
U.S. and the Soviet Union emerge as enemies – the Cold War
WWII Impact on Society
Japanese-Americans – Yellow Peril!
112,000 Japanese-Americans interned in camps - 2/3 were native-born Americans
Anti-Japanese sentiment causes:
Racial prejudice
Economic rivalry as well as fear
From the West Coast
[Feb 1942] FDR authorizes evacuation of all Japanese-Americans from the West Coast – Executive
Order 9066
-no evidence of espionage
-Hawaii was an exception
Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the evacuation in the Korematsu Case [1944]
-still, the 442 regiment of Japanese-Americans become the most decorated unit in all military service in WWII
[by 1988] Government pays reparations to survivors of the evacuation
African-Americans
WWII – opportunities, racism, and Double V – one million serve
-but are given dangerous jobs
W.E.B. DuBois – rallied the African Americans
NAACP – membership multiplied by 10 – ½ million join
Voting rights for blacks were consolidated in the Supreme Court trial Smith vs. Alwrights
CORE – advocated nonviolence
Executive Order 8802 – Employment Practices Commission – employment segregation
Economy
$250 million spent each day
$330 billion spent on WWII – 10 times more than WWI
wage increases 50% - keep inflation down
industrial productivity and agriculture increases
unions increase – 9 million to 14.5 million
Smith-Connolly Act – prevent strikes (John Lewis – strikes)
Increase in per capita income – people buy war bonds
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Women
6 million women go to work during WWII – take over men’s work “Rose the Riveter”
Government opens day care center – eventually leads to women’s rights movement
75% of women that go to the workplace are married
Science
OSRD – Office of science and Research Development
Penicillin
Medicine
Destroy the environment
Blood transfusions
Develops the Atomic bomb
Education and Entertainment
Teachers leave for better-paying jobs
School enrollment decreases
Women in college increases
More $ spent on books and theaters – non-fictions become popular for war information
Radio usage increases – to get war information
Minorities
~25 000 Native Americans serve in the war
-primarily as code-talkers (esp. Navajo – no written language)
-move off of reservations for high-paying jobs
300 000 Mexican-Americans serve in the war – also work on farms
Zoot-suit riots – American sailors go around committing violence toward Mexicans
Containment & Truman
Eastern Europe in Post-WWII
Soviet Europe
Soviet Union has 10 million troops from the Red (Soviet) Army in Eastern Europe
There are no free elections in eastern Europe – violates the Yalta Conference
Pro-communist governments in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungaria, Yugoslavia, Albania
-Stalin wants a buffer zone between the Soviet Union and Germany
United States
Truman believes in self-determination – also believes that allowing the Soviet Union to take Eastern
Europe is very similar to appeasement
Truman argues that Soviet control of Eastern Europe threatens U.S. markets and access to raw materials
Also thinks it would threaten him politically
Truman has the atomic bomb to back himself up
U.S. policy of containment will dominate U.S. actions toward the Soviet Union for the next 45 years
-Containment – created by George F. Kennan (a U.S. diplomat in Soviet Union)
“Soviet Union must be contained anywhere and everywhere in the world, despite the time
or cost”
[March 1946] Churchill visits the U.S. – speech at Westminster College (MO)
“an iron curtain has descended upon eastern Europe”
Early examples of containment under Truman
[early 1946] U.S. sends the Sixth Fleet to Iran to protect oil interests
[June 1946] U.S. creates the atomic energy plan – proposes if Soviet Union ceases its atomic program, U.S. will
destroy its own arsenal (rejected)
Flaw made by the U.N. – fails to take a tough stance on the issue – could have forced the U.S. and the Soviet
Union to sign a treaty
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1. The Truman Doctrine
[Feb. 1947] Great Britain tells U.S. that they can no longer provide assistance to Greece and Turkey
Truman announces the Truman Doctrine
- the U.S. will assist democracies all around the world
- U.S. gives $400 million to Greece and Turkey
2. The European Recovery Plan
[by 1947] Western Europe is on the verge of collapse
-famine, homelessness, lack of economy, inflation
Communism is beginning to infiltrate western Europe
Marshall Plan
-named after George C. Marshall
-$17 billion dollars to western Europe to revive the continent
-saves Europe from collapse – ensures democracy in the region
3. The Berlin Airlift
Post WWII – Germany and Berlin are split into four occupational zones
-France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, U.S.
[June 1948] Soviet Union blockades all roads and airlines into West Berlin (controlled by France, Great
Britain, and U.S.)
-the S.U. doesn’t want democracy to spread into their territory
-the U.S. airlifts supplies to Berlin – extremely successful
[May 1949] Soviet Union ends the blockade
-France, Great Britain, U.S. create West Germany
-Later on, the Soviets create East Germany
[July 1949] U.S. creates NATO
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization
-comprised of ten countries and the U.S. and Canada
-“an attack on one is equal to an attack on all”
NATO forces are led by Eisenhower
Soviet Response
[1955] Warsaw Pact
-eastern Europeans and the Soviets
-also forms East Germany
The Cold War in Asia
Japan
In post WWII, U.S. has exclusive control over reconstruction
MacArthur is in charge of U.S. forces in Japan
o War criminals are tried at Tokyo
o Democracy is introduced to Japan
o Demilitarized the country
o Economic recovery
[by 1952] U.S. forces leave Japan
China – post WWII – power struggle
Nationalists
Vs
Communists
(Chiang Kai-Shek)
(Mao Zedong)
-supported by U.S.
-supported by the Soviet Union
-inept, corrupt
-help the starving
-democratic
[by 1949] the Nationalists are forced to flee to Formosa (present-day Taiwan)
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-the Communists take control over China
John Foster Dulles calls this “the worst defeat in U.S. history”
-lost five million people to communism, closed markets to the U.S.
Soviet Union
[1949] successfully tests an atomic bomb
[1952] U.S. tests the first H-bomb
[1953] Soviet Union tests their first H-bomb
-Nuclear arms race
[1950] NSC-68
Changes U.S. Cold War policy
Says the Soviet Union is determined to spread communism around the globe and will do so by
military force if necessary
Recommends the U.S. to have a massive military buildup
Recommends to increase buildup of nuclear weapons
Recommends higher taxes to do so.
Korea
After WWII – Korea is split along the 38th parallel
Soviet Union controls North Korea
United States controls South Korea
[1949] U.S. and the Soviets pull out troops but leave the nation divided
[June 25, 1950] North Korea invades South Korea
-the U.N. calls North Korea an aggressor nation and authorizes “police action” against North Korea
U.S. makes up the bulk of U.N. troops
U.S. general MacArthur leads forces
Korean War [1950-1953]
Part 1
[June 25, 1950] N. Korean pushes S. Korea back to Pusan (Southern tip of Korea)
Part 2 – enter U.S.
[Sept 15, 1950] MacArthur leads an amphibious assault at Inchan (slightly north of Seoul)
Part 3
[Nov 1950] U.S. forces push N. Korea back to Yalu River (close to border between Korea and China)
Chinese forces (about 33 divisions) enter the war
– begin pushing U.S. and S. Koreans back to the 38th parallel
Part 4
[April 11, 1951] Truman replaces MacArthur with another general
-MacArthur wanted to use nuclear weapons – could have been WWIII
[1951-1953] War enters a stalemate
DMZ line – the demilitarize zone that is roughly around the 38th parallel
[1953] Eisenhower ends the war once he is president
Cost of the Korean War
54,246 U.S. soldiers are killed
103,000 U.S. soldiers are wounded
Koreans are still divided
3.5 million men in the military
Defense budget increases during the war - $50 billion a year is spent
Vietnam
[in early 1950s] Truman provides money and aid to the French, who were fighting communist forces in
Vietnam
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Domestic Policies of Truman
Background of Harry S. Truman
Born in 1884 in Independence, Missouri
Farmer
No college education
Artillery officer in WWI
A failed businessman – rises in politics as a U.S. senator
“the average man’s average man”
very loyal to the Missouri Gang
New Dealer
Quotes– “the buck stops here,” “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”
[April 1945] President after FDR’s death
Had to attend the Potsdam Conference
Had to handle the atomic bomb decision
Had to handle the end of WWII and post-WWII
Biggest domestic issue – Demobilization
1. Bring troops home
-want to be home by Christmas
15 million troops in military to 1.5 million in the military by end of 1945
2. Social readjustment
Possible psychological damage done to troops – blood lust for killing?
3. Economic readjustment
Wartime to peacetime
4. Recession [1946-1947]
Inflation – price controls were lifted
Increase in strikes
5. Housing shortage
Due to returning troops
6. Job shortage
Due to returning troops
Solutions
1. Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 “GI Bill of Rights”
Sends 8 million veterans to votech schools and colleges (2 million to college)
Spend $14.5 billion by the government on education
Spend $16.5 billion on loans to veterans for farms, houses, businesses
2. Industries convert to peacetime economies
-corporate tax cuts
-the government sells war factories at low prices
-converted to make consumer products
3. Bretton-Woods Agreement [1944]
Ties U.S. currency to foreign currency
Helps regulate foreign currency
Limits inflation
Encourages global trade
4. Marshall Plan
5. Employment Act of 1946
Creates a council of economic advisors
Goal: full employment
Leads to the Fair Deal
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Elections of 1946 (congressional election year)
Republicans gain control in Congress
-want to reverse New Deal Programs
-want to limit the labor movement
[1947] Taft Hartley Act
-outlaws closed shops
-slows the labor movement
Election of 1948
Republicans
Thomas Dewey
Expected to win
Gov. of NY
Democrats
Harry S. Truman
Platform – civil
rights, pro-labor
- Farmers, labor
unions, AfricanAmericans
Dixiecrats
Strom Thurman
The states’ rights
party
Broke away from
the Democrats
Truman pulls off the upset and wins with 303 electoral votes!
-develops the Fair Deal
Truman wants to:
Improve housing – succeeds – Housing Act of 1949
Increase minimum wage – succeeds – up to $0.75 per hour
Better price support for farmers – fails
More TVAs/electrification programs – fails
Increase social security benefits – succeeds – Social Security Act of 1950
Repeal Taft-Hartley Act – fails
Ease immigration restrictions – succeeds – War Brides Act [1945]
- Displaced Persons Act
Truman and Civil Rights
[1946] forms President’s Committee on Civil Rights
[1948] sends a civil rights message to Congress
-urges them to pass laws
-Desegregates the military and the federal government
Second Red Scare
1. Truman’s Loyalty Programs
Require 3 million people in the federal government to take loyalty oaths
-3000 are dismissed or resign
States force their employees to take the oaths as well
NY prosecutes 11 people for violating the Smith Act [1943]
-upheld by the Supreme Court in Dennis vs. U.S.
McCarren Internal Security Act
-subjects all workers in industry to investigations and loyalty oaths
-Truman vetoes it (violation of first amendment)
-but is overruled by Congress
Progressives
Henry Wallace
Former VP
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2. House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
-created to investigate subversion in American society
Richard Nixon – makes a name for himself
brings down Alger Hiss (gov’t worker in the State Dept. – New Dealer)
-very educated, accused of being a communist
convicted of perjury
HUAC also goes after Hollywood – “blacklisted”
3. McCarthyism
Led by Joseph McCarthy (Republican senator from Wisconsin)
Accuses that here are hundreds of communists working for the federal government
Creates a communist “witch hunt”
[1950-1953] people are terrified
But, after embarrassing himself on the televised Army-McCarthy hearings, he is censored
4. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Become the scapegoats for the Soviet Union getting the atomic bomb
Put on trial, convicted, and then executed
Election of 1952
Eisenhower easily defeats Adlai Stevenson
VP Richard Nixon – almost brought down with the discovery of a slush fund
-but goes an TV with the Checkers Speech and manages to stay VP
Eisenhower is more a manager of the Presidency than a leader – loves to play golf
-takes a less aggressive approach towards the Soviet Union
Eisenhower and the Cold War
Ike
Born in 1890 in Abilene, KA
Attends West Point – more athletic than academic
WWII – Operation Torch, Invasion of Normandy
Supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe
After WWII – President of Columbia [1948-1950]
Head of NATO [1950-1952]
Ike and Korea
[Dec. 1952] visits Korea to attempt to end the war
-is unsuccessful – fighting continues for a few months
[March 1953] Stalin dies
Ike begins to threaten use of nuclear weapons on North Korea
[July 1953] cease-fire is announced – DMZ zone
Ike and John Dulles (Secretary of State)
Dulles – has a more aggressive approach towards the Soviet Union
-calls for a policy of “brinkmanship”
-getting as close to war as possible without actually getting to war
-a very dangerous plan
Ike prefers a more conciliatory policy
[1953] East German workers revolt
Soviets crush the revolts
[1956] Poles and the Hungarians revolt
Meanwhile, the U.S. does nothing
-The conciliatory policy leads to a thaw in the Cold War
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Cold War Thaw
Ike makes an “atoms for peace” speech at the U.N.
-use for beneficial ideas instead of nuclear weapons
[1955] Ike and Soviet Union leaders meet at Geneva
-first time U.S. and the Soviet Union leaders meet at Geneva
[1958] S.U. halts all atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons – U.S. follows suit
Dulles creates pacts with any nation wishing to side with the U.S. against communism
-also cuts back spending on the army and the navy
New Cold War strategy – rely on their nuclear stockpile and planes
Ike creates the CIA
-by the National Security Act of 1947
-grows out of SSS – Strategic Services
-Allen Dulles is the head of the CIA
CIA leads covert operations around the globe – concentrates on Third-World Nations
[1953] Iran
The CIA overthrows the elected government and reinstalls the pro-U.S. Shah
Why? Oil reserves in this region
However, they create seeds of discontent towards the U.S.
[1953] CIA halts elections in the Philippines
[1954] Overthrow forces in Guatemala
Ike and Vietnam
Truman sent money to help the French in Vietnam
-Communists are fighting the French, led by Ho Chi Minh
[1954] French defeat at Diem Bien Phu
-a cease-fire is announced
Geneva convention for the armistice – Vietnam is split at the 17th parallel
[1956] U.S. refuses to allow the elections to take place
-the CIA funds and supports the S. Vietnam gov’t of Ngo Dinh Diem
-Catholic (a negative – most Vietnamese are Buddhist)
-schooled in U.S.
-Pro-West
Opposition grows against Diem
[1960] National Liberation Front forms in S. Vietnam
Viet Cong – oppose the Pro-West government
Ike sends only money and some advisors to Vietnam – no troops
Ike & Egypt
[1954] Gaural Abdel Nasser takes control over Egypt
U.S. offers a loan to build a dam in Egypt
Nasser declares his neutrality in Cold War – then buys arms from Czechoslovakia – behind the iron
curtain
Dulles cancels the loan
Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal – angers Britain
[1956] Great Britain, France, and Israel invade Egypt
Ike is extremely angry about this and condemns the invasion
Goes before the U.N. and names the three as aggressor nations
Why? Because the Soviets threaten to get involved, and also because Ike was not informed of it
[March 1957] All three countries pull out of Egypt
Significance
-the U.S. is forced to act as the protector of Western interests in the Middle East
Ike passes the Eisenhower Doctrine
-U.S. will give money, military aid and troops to any Middle-Eastern country fighting communists
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-Hatred of the West and the U.S. increases at the time
[1958] 14,000 U.S. soldiers sent to Lebanon
Ike and South America
[1958] Nixon is sent to Peru and Venezuela
-is promptly spit upon and had stones thrown at him
[1959] Fidel Castro overthrows Batista in Cuba and brings communism to the country
Ike & the Soviet Union
[1958] Nixon visits the Soviet Union – the Kitchen Debate with Khrushchev
[1959] Khrushchev visits the U.S.
visits Camp David (a presidential retreat in Maryland) – “spirit of Camp David”
agrees to meet again in Paris in 1960 – never happens
The U-2 Incident
on the eve of the conference…
the Soviets shoot down a U.S. U-2 spy plane in Soviet airspace
reveals that the U.S. has been spying on the Soviets since 1956
Ike claims it was a weather plane that flew off course
Khrushchev has the pilot (does not commit suicide as he’s supposed to)
-puts him, Gary Powers, on TV, who admits to spying on the Soviet Union
Ike admits that the U.S. is spying, but he refuses to apologize
-They cancel the 1960 Paris conference
The Cold War returns at full force
Ike’s Farewell
Warns against a number of things
warns the U.S. economy is too dependent on military spending
the military-industrial complex is too powerful
warns that he cannot guarantee that peace will continue with the Soviet Union
Ike’s Failures & Accomplishments in the Cold War
Accomplishments
ends the Korean War
kept U.S. out of war
claims there are no troops in Vietnam
halts atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons
promotes better relations with the Soviet Union
Failures
accelerates the arms race
allows the CIA to run amok around the globe
continues to keep the U.S. involved in Vietnam
Ike and Domestic Policies
Ike is elected in 1952 – first Republican in office since Hoover
-more of a manager than a true leader
-there are 8 corporate executives on his cabinet
-wanted at first to remain “in the middle” regarding politics – reflective in his first term
reduces farm price subsidies
cut government power
wants to balance the budget – cut federal spending – successful in three out of eight times
development of nuclear and hydroelectric companies – private ownership
does not like public energy
gives oil reserves back to the coastal states
[1954] Democrats take control over both houses of Congress
Ike becomes more liberal – modern Republicanism
works to appease labor
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o vetoes a bill to get rid of the Council of Economic Advisors
increases unemployment benefits
increases the minimum wage from $0.75 to $1.00 per hour
increases social security benefits
increases federally-funded public housing projects for low-income families
increases public works projects
o St. Lawrence Seaway
connects Great Lakes to the Atlantic
o Interstate Highway Act of 1956
The largest and most expensive
Creates 41,000 miles of highways in U.S.
Significance:
Increases growth of suburbia
Increases the dependency on the automobile
Increases dependency on oil
Decrease in use of RR
Decay of the inner cities
Increase in pollution
Election of 1956
Eisenhower easily defeats Adlai Stevenson again.
The Supreme Court
[1953] Earl Warren becomes Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (supposedly conservative, but becomes very
liberal)
-changes the Supreme Court into a liberal court
[1954] Brown vs. Board of Education (of Topeka, KA)
-the Supreme Court rules that “separate but equal” in public schools is illegal
[1955] Supreme Court orders the desegregation of all public schools
Eisenhower enforces desegregation in D.C. but does not enforce it in the South
-does not want to lose Southern support
[1956] the deep South has not desegregated
[1957] 9 African-American students attempt to enter Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas
Governor Orval Faubus refuses to allow the students to enter – calls the National Guard to prevent this
from happening
Ike calls in the 101st Airborne and forces the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School
[1958-1959] Faubus closes all public schools in Little Rock
-brings the issue of civil rights to the forefront of American attention
[1957] Civil Rights Act of 1957
-first civil rights act since Reconstruction
-not very powerful, but it is a start
[1955] Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat in a bus in Montgomery, AL
she is arrested – begins the Montgomery Bus boycott
lasts for a year, and it is extremely successful
Montgomery agrees to desegregate their buses
o Companies are losing a lot of money
Martin Luther King Jr.
-direct action (everyone can get involved)
-nonviolence (from Gandhi)
-Christian ideals
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[1957] forms the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
[1957] Soviet Union launches the first man-made satellite – “Sputnik”
-U.S. fears that it has fallen behind in technology – this is true
Consequences:
1. the National Defense Education Act is passed
Emphasizes science, math, foreign languages
2. National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA) [1958]
-both are created to catch up in the Cold War
-begins a space race
Eisenhower
Expands New Deal ideology
Partial segregation
Keeps U.S. in the middle of the road
But could have done more about civil rights
Linked the Cold War with education
The Affluent Society [1950s] (white middle-class men)
U.S. Families
60% own a home
75% own a car
87% own at least one TV
GNP increase 50% (Gross National Product)
increased consumerism
increased productivity
government is spending
Average American worker enjoys the highest standard of living ever
-increased wages 35% from 1945-1960 (real wages)
New Industry
first nuclear power plant [1957]
more chemicals are produced
plastics are produced
increased use of electronic products
automation – machines doing the work (i.e. car industry)
1. Increases productivity
2. Makes products cheaper
increased use of oil
increase in airplane manufacturing
computers – computers were huge and filled rooms
o people did not have computers (too expensive, too large)
o only used by the government or businesses
o first computer, the Mark I (designed by IBM and Harvard professors)
used to crack codes in WWII
oligopolies – a few companies control the entire industry
o ex. Automobile companies
o ex. Television stations (CBS, NBC, ABC)
Labor
white-collar workers/vice presidents
o in charge, but do not have a direct hold
conformity was encouraged at businesses
137
organized labor decreases from 36% to 31% [from 1953-1960]
AF of L and CIO combine in 1955 to form one large union
o Less people were taking blue-collar jobs
o Less of a need for unions as conditions get better
Agriculture
More use of science, technology, chemicals and mechanization
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring [1962]
-highlights the dangers of chemical use
Numbers of farmers decrease – leaving the farms
With new technology, don’t need as much farmers
Farms consolidate acreage
Family Life
Baby Boom – 1945-1960 babies are the Baby Boom Generation
1. After WWII – soldiers come back after years at war
2. Soldiers had put lives on hold – want to start families
Fertility Rates
[1940] 80 children to every 1000 women
[1950] 106 children to every 1000 women
[1957] 123 children to every 1000 women
Less children are dying in infancy – vaccinations, penicillin
Increased life expectancy
Expansion of the educational system in the U.S.
More studies are done on child-raising
Dr. Benjamin Spock [1940s] Baby and Child Care
-advocates the comforting and holding of children when they cry
-less punishments, more conversation
Full-time motherhood is expected
Suburbia
Levitt-towns – developed by William Levitt, who brought the assembly line to housing
1. Build houses quickly
2. Build more houses
“Cookie-cutter homes” - all look the same - conformity – “Keeping up with the Jones’s”
First Levitt-town is built in Long Island, the second in Pennsylvania
Entertainment
The Art World
-the capital of the art world moves from Paris to NYC
-Jackson Pollock
Movies – decrease in viewership due to television
TV Guide, TV dinners, TV trays – ABC, CBS, NBC
-family shows were the dominant genre – advocated stereotypes and conformity
Music
-Rock & Roll is the most popular music genre (Elvis Presley)
-backlash of conformity – teenagers, Beatniks, Jet Caraway
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Born in 1917 in MA to a wealthy family
Father – Joseph D. Kennedy – Pre-WWII Isolationist
-shipping magnate
-liquor industry
138
-real estate
Athletic
Harvard graduate – wrote a thesis in his senior year Why England Slept [1940]
Real WWII hero – PT109 – saved many lives
-Profiles and Courage – wins a Pulitzer
[1947] elected to the House from MA
[1952] elected as U.S. senator
married to Jackie Bouvier
Roman Catholic
Handsome and charismatic
42 years old when nominated for the presidency
Election of 1960
Democrats
John F. Kennedy
VP LBJ from Texas
-inexperienced
-young, good-looking, charismatic
-appeals to youth, minorities, NE, South
Republicans
Richard Nixon
-HUAC, House of Representatives
-senator from CA
VP for 8 years under Ike
-well-known, well-respected, experienced
-appeals to middle-class conservatives, the
west, and CA
Nixon has the overwhelming edge
…until he agrees to four televised debates
pales in comparison to JFK’s good looks
leads to Nixon’s defeat
shows the importance of television and the influence of TV
JFK wins by a narrow margin of 303 to 219 electoral votes
JFK’s Domestic Policy “The New Frontier”
Inaugural address – “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” –
speaking to the U.S. youth
This new generation is reflected in:
1. his family – “Camelot”
2. his Cabinet – “the Best and the Brainiest”
McGeorge Bundy
Robert McManora – Secretary of Defense
Walter Weller – Council of Economic Advisors
Robert Kennedy – Attorney General
Domestic Policies
1. Cut taxes to businesses
-promotes spending and investments
-despite this, businesses were skeptical with JFK, especially after he gets involved with U.S.
Steel
2. Increase defense spending
20% increase in the defense budget
increase in the number of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)
increase in medium-range missiles
increase in nuclear stockpile
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increase in submarines with nuclear attack capabilities
increase in special forces (i.e. Green Beret)
3. Increase in spending on the Space Program
-challenges the U.S. to place a man on the moon and return him safely by the end of the decade
Successes
Doubles economic growth
Unemployment decreases
Inflation kept at 1.3% per year
No interruption in economy
Failures
No redistribution of wealth
Corporate profits increase more than personal income
No increase in social welfare
He neglects the environment
JFK and Civil Rights
-first year and a half, JFK does little to promote civil rights
[1961] Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
Lead freedom rides to the South to highlight violations of desegregation in public transportation
CORE is met with violence
JFK sends federal troops to protect the freedom riders
-also to forcibly desegregate the University of Mississippi
-James Meredith is allowed to enroll
[June 1963] Governor of AL, George Wallace
-tries to keep the University of Alabama segregated
[June 11, 1963] JFK goes on TV – calls for desegregation in the U.S.
[June 18, 1963] JFK proposes civil rights legislation to Congress
[Aug. 28, 1963] March on Washington
275,000 show support for civil rights legislation
Martin Luther King Jr. - “I Have a Dream” speech
Congress is still holding back – until JFK is assassinated in Nov. 1963
JFK & Flexible Response
Flexible Response – having multiple ideas and strategies to deal with foreign crises
1. Triples nuclear capabilities
2. Increase conventional military forces
3. Increase the use of special forces
4. Economic assistance to Third World Countries
-keep communism out of these countries
Food for Peace program – gives surplus food
Alliance for Progress - $ to Third World countries
Peace Corps – young volunteers go and work in Third World Countries
Flexible Response in Action
1. The Bay of Pigs Invasion
[Apr. 17, 1961] 1200 Cuban exiles who were trained by the CIA invade Cuba
-absolute failure
-drives Castro closer to the Soviet Union
the CIA will attempt several times to assassinate Castro, but all attempts fail
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2. Berlin
[June 1961] JFK and Khrushchev meet for the first time
Khrushchev demands that Americans troops leave West Berlin
-or else, the Soviet Union will go to war
JFK refuses and begins to prepare for war
[Aug. 1961] Khrushchev backs down from his threat
Builds the Berlin Wall to separate East and West Berlin
Becomes the symbol of the Cold War for the next 30 years
3. The Cuban Missile Crisis
[Oct 1962] U.S. U-2 spy plane takes photographs over Cuba of the Soviet Union building missile sites and
nuclear missiles in Cuba
JFK goes on TV and demands that the Soviet Union remove the missiles and missile bases – also orders a
quarantine around Cuba, a naval blockade
However, the Soviet Union ships are heading for Cuba
U.S. is preparing for an invasion of Cuba
B-52’s are in use
180 U.S. war ships are in the Caribbean
[Oct. 25, 1962] Soviet Union halts their ships
JFK receives an emotional, rambling letter from Khrushchev proposing the Soviet Union will
remove missiles from Cuba if the U.S. pledges not to invade Cuba
A U.S. U-2 spy plane is shot down over Cuba
JFK receives a second letter from Khrushchev that is more demanding and orders the U.S. to
remove missiles from Turkey
RFK (Robert F. Kennedy) convinces JFK to accept the first letter and ignore the second letter
[Oct. 27, 1962] Khrushchev accepts the offer and begins to remove missiles from Cuba
-Relations between the Soviet Union and the U.S. improve
A hot line is established between Washington D.C. and Kremlin
Limited Test Ban Treaty – ban underwater and atmospheric nuclear tests
4. Vietnam
JFK continues to carry on the policies of Ike
-increases military aid in S. Vietnam
-increases military personnel (1700 to 16000) in S. Vietnam
Ngo Din Diem fails to win the support of the S. Vietnamese people
JFK and U.S. decide not to stop a S. Vietnamese coup from overthrowing Diem
[Nov. 1, 1963] Diem is assassinated
JFK Assassination
[Nov. 1963] JFK is looking ahead to the 1964 Election – wants to rebuild his image
[Nov. 22, 1963] JFK, Jackie, LBJ, Lady Bird go to Dallas TX for a motorcade
12:00 pm – JFK, Jackie, Gov. Conally ride in an open-air car through Dallas
-LBJ follows in a car behind
12:30 pm – Three shots ring out from book depository
“magic bullet” – more than one shooter?
1st shot – misses, hits overpass
2nd shot – hits JFK in the back – passes out through neck and into Gov. Conally’s back and out into the
right wrist (after, turn from ribs? Out of chest)
3rd shot – hits JFK in left skull – blows out right skull (explodes into millions of pieces)
JFK taken to hospital (though dead at the scene of the third shot)
Pronounced dead one hour later
LBJ brought to Air Force One to be sworn in
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Later that day –
Dallas police arrest Lee Harvey Oswald as suspect for killing JFK
JFK’s body is placed on Air Force One and LBJ takes oath of office with Jackie standing next to him (in
a pink dress with bloodstains)
[Nov. 24, 1963] Sunday – Funeral Procession
11:30 am – Lee Harvey Oswald is shot and killed by Jack Ruby while being transferred to another prison, one
bullet in the chest, caught on national TV
[Nov. 25, 1963] Monday – JFK’s Funeral
Laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery and the eternal flame is lit
Famous: JFK Jr. saluting his father’s casket (later killed in a place crash)
Warren Commission
LBJ sets up the commission to investigate JFK’s assassination
People believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone
Concludes that Oswald acted alone and that Ruby also acted alone
o There is still disbelief
o Many groups (ex. CIA, FBI) dislike JFK
Does not put conspiracy theories to rest
Head : Chief Justice Carl Warren
Many months of investigation (not well) – Zeproder Film
Lyndon Baines Johnson
o Born in 1908 in Texas, a troubled child
o [1927] goes to a teacher’s college – gets interested in politics
o [1937-1939] enters the House of Representatives
o [1949-1961] U.S. Senator from Texas
o [1961-1963] Vice President
o has a great deal of political experience – well-connected in D.C.
o Protestant
o Considered a moderate
o Very convincing
When LBJ takes over, he faces a very difficult task of taking JFK’s position
-decides to finish JFK’s unfulfilled visions
1. [Feb. 1964] Tax Cut
$10 billion income tax cut – promotes spending - decrease in unemployment
2. Civil Rights Legislation – [1964] Civil Rights Act
Outlaws segregation in public accommodations
Gives government more power to help African-Americans to register to vote
Gives government power to end segregation in schools
Creates Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – makes sure companies are not
discriminating
3. War on Poverty
The Other America by Michael Harrington – influences JFK, LBJ
-1/5 to 1/4 of U.S. is living in poverty
VISTA – domestic version of the Peace Corps
Project Headstart – pre-kindergarten for disadvantaged families
Job Corps – everyday skills to young adults
Community Action programs – designed to get people involved in politics
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Election of 1964
LBJ promises even more reforms – if he is elected
Democrats
Lyndon B. Johnson
486 electoral votes
61% of the popular vote
LBJ is easily re-elected
Democrats take the majority in the House (295:140)
Democrats also take the majority in the Senate (68:32)
LBJ announces his plans for “The Great Society”
Republicans
Barry Goldwater
52 electoral votes
The Great Society [1965 – 1966]
The Eighty-Ninth Congress “the Congress of Fulfillment”
1. [1965] Elementary and Secondary Education Act
-$1 Billion to schools
2. [1965] Voting Rights Act
-takes away literacy tests
-federal examiners – ensure that African-Americans can vote in the South
3. [1965] Medical Care Act
Medicare – health insurance to the elderly
Medicaid – health care for welfare recipients
4. The Omnibus Housing Act
$8 billion to help improve housing
5. [1964] Immigration Act
-ends the quota system of 1924
6. Appalachia Redevelopment Act
$1 billion to the Appalachia region
7. Higher Education Act of 1965
$650 million in scholarships and loans
8. National Endowment for Arts and Humanities
Promotes cultural and artistic growth
9. Corporations for Public Broadcasting (PBS)
10. Water Quality Act of 1965
1966
11. Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act
-urban renewal in various cities
12. Motor Vehicle Safety Act
-standardizes safety procedures in auto industry
13. Truth in Packaging Act
-requires labels on food
-health content, ingredients
From 1965 to 1966, 181 out of 200 LBJ-backed pieces of legislations are passed by Congress
The Vietnam War, by end of 1966, begins to overshadow the Great Society
-the war destroys many of the Great Society programs
-took money and attention away from it
Was the Great Society successful? Somewhat.
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Civil Rights in the U.S. – the Civil Rights Movement
[1948]
Truman desegregates the military
Jackie Robinson is the first African-American to play pro-baseball in the Major Leagues
[1954] Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka
-segregated schools are unconstitutional
-Warren Court
[1955] Montgomery Bus Boycott
-begun by Rosa Parks
-led by Martin Luther King Jr.
[1957] the Crisis in Little Rock Central High School
-“Little Rock Nine” try to enter the school
-Faubus, the Gov. of Arkansas, refuses to allow them to enter
-Eisenhower calls out troops and forces the desegregation of the school
-Civil Rights Act of 1957 – first since Reconstruction of the 1860s
[1960] Sit-ins
At segregated lunch counters in the South
Led by a group called Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
o Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) – college students
o Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) – led by Martin Luther King, Jr.
[1961] Freedom Rides – met with violence
[1963] March on Birmingham, AL
Also met with violence, led by police chief “Bull” Connor
o Water hoses
o Attack dogs
o Arrests
All aired on live TV
JFK is forced to act
Governor Wallace of AL “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” – from the U.
of Alabama
[Aug] March on Washington – “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.
[1964] Civil Rights Act is passed
-aided by JFK’s assassination
-much more powerful than the Act in 1957
Freedom Summer
-SNCC and CORE lead drives into South to register African-Americans to vote
[1965] March from Selma to Montgomery
Led by Martin Luther King Jr. and SCLC
Met with violence by the police – leads to Voting Rights Act of 1965
*So far, these strategies follow King’s ideas – nonviolence, direct action, Christian ideals
[Aug. 11] Watts, Los Angeles, CA
-riots break out – last for six days
-40,000 people, $30 million in property damages
34 killed, over 4,000 arrested
-sparks riots throughout the country (Chicago, IL; Springfield, MA)
[1966] over 150 racial upheavals
40 full-out riots (two of which are the Newark Riots, Detroit)
[April 4, 1968] Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated
-sparks even more race riots – in Memphis, TN
LBJ calls together the Kerner Commission to investigate the riots
Concludes the U.S. is heading toward two societies – one Black, one White
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Recommend:
o 2 million new jobs
o 6 million new housing projects
o end to de facto segregation in Northern schools
o income supplementation
LBJ largely ignores all of these recommendations due to the Vietnam War
Civil Rights Movement
-Begins to faction off in mid-1960s – 3 groups
1. Malcolm X
Born Malcolm Little
Serves ten years in prison
Teachings of Islam
Promotes violence for civil rights movement
Assassinated in 1965
2. Black Power
Led by Stokely Carmichael
Black separatism
Racial pride
Also calls for violence, to “get even”
3. Black Panthers [1966]
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale
Promote the use of violence
Inspires other movements
Native American Movement – seize Alcatraz Island – AIM American Indian Movement
Mexican American Movement – led by Caesar Chavez (grape boycott)
-follows the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.
Women’s Rights Movement – The Feminine Mystique by Betty Fredan
[1966] National Organization of Women (NOW) is founded
The Vietnam War
Vietnam – SW Asia
-dense forests, low-lying area
-grow rice
200 B.C. the Chinese take control over Vietnam
949 A.D. Vietnam becomes independent
[1400] the Chinese are unsuccessful in winning it back
[1883] the French take over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos – French Indochina
[WWII] Japan takes over Vietnam
[Aug. 1945] Japan surrenders
-Vietnam declares independence – led by Ho Chih Minh
[1946] French try to take it back – Ho Chih Minh and Viet Minh fight back
[1950] due to Domino Theory, U.S. sends aid to the French
[1954] French are defeated at Dim Bien Phu
-Geneva Convention split Vietnam at 19th parallel to North and South
-North – Ho Chih Minh; South – Ngo Dim Diem (U.S. support)
[1956] U.S. refuses to allow the elections to take place since Ho Chih Minh is more popular and also
communist
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[1960] Viet Cong form in South Vietnam – begin attacking Diem’s government
-about 900 U.S. military advisors in South Vietnam
[1961] JFK sends the Green Berets to Vietnam (more military personnel)
-16,000 U.S. personnel in South Vietnam
[1963] U.S. government allows Diem to be assassinated
[Nov. 22, 1963] JFK is assassinated – how was he going to handle Vietnam?
LBJ – wants to escalate the war in Vietnam and keep communism at bay
[Feb 1964] leads air strikes
[Aug. 1964] Turning point
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
2 U.S. patrol boats claim they were attacked by North Vietnamese naval forces
LBJ uses this to go before Congress and ask to expand military efforts in Vietnam
o Gulf of Tonkin Resolution [Aug 7, 1964]
o Gives LBJ a blank check for the war
o Passes 416:0 in Congress, 88:2 in Senate
Escalation of the war
o Increased troop levels
o Increase in the draft – 23,300 troops
[1965] U.S. – Operation Rolling Thunder
U.S. Air Force bombs strategic locations at North Vietnam and Ho Chih Minh Trail (supplied the
Viet Cong)
Completely unsuccessful
LBJ sends more troops to Vietnam
[end of 1965] 184,000 troops in Vietnam
65% U.S. supports the war at the time
[1966] 385,000 troops in Vietnam
[1967] Anti-war movement growing larger
485,000 troops in Vietnam
[1968] Turning Point #2 – January 20 Siege at Qe Sanh
Tet Offensive
Tet – Vietnamese New Year
Jan. 30 – Viet Cong lead a massive, coordinated attack on cities throughout South Vietnam, including
Saigon (believed to be the safest place in Vietnam)
Militarily, U.S. defeats Viet Cong – but is a huge political defeat
-all support disappears at home
-changes how people see the war
536,000 troops in Vietnam – height will come at end of 1968 with 549,000 troops
Protests
[1963] start small
[1965] Students for Democratic Society (SDS)
-organize protests on college campuses
-a man sets himself on fire outside McMamera’s (Sec. of Defense) office at the Pentagon
[1967] Anti-war movement grows
[1968] Support for the war falls under 30%
[1969] 500,000 people show up in D.C. for anti-war rally
Television
Vietnam – first televised war
-images of the war (the ones that make it past censors) are broadcast nightly
-leads to more protests
Soldiers
Most were drafted
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One in four draftees receive a deferment (get out of service)
The average soldier is poor, young (19 is the average age), and less educated
Fighting – brutal and tough, and mentally draining
Khe Sanb (marine base)
[Jan. 20, 1968] Largest set peace battle of Vietnam War
-U.S. marines are surrounded and attacked for 78 days by N. Vietnamese forces
[July 6, 1968] U.S. marines leave the area
[Jan. 31, 1968] Tet Offense
Escalation?
William W. Morland (head of military force in Vietnam) asks LBJ for 206,000 more soldiers – 536,000
in Vietnam
-but LBJ refuses in March 1968
LBJ
[by early 1968] LBJ is a broken man
-years of war, anti-war protests
-pro-war Hawks vs. anti-war Doves
Goes on TV and announces the halting of bombing of North Vietnam – marks beginning of deescalation)
Also announces that he will not run for president in 1968
o Eugene McCarthy (anti-war senator)
Wins the NH primary vs. LBJ
o Hawks are angry, Doves are angry
o RFK enters the nomination race March 1968
o Dem. Nominees: Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, RFK (NY senator)
Martin Luther King Jr.
[April 4, 1968] while standing on balcony of his Memphis hotel, MLK Jr. was shot and killed by an escaped
convict, James Earl Ray
-leads to violence and riots in the U.S. in 125 cities
-46 people killed
-over 3,000 injured, over 27,000 arrested
Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy
[March 1968] enters Democratic nomination
Supported by:
o Young
o Poor
o African-Americans
o Hispanics
“rightful owner of the presidency”
gaining support throughout early 1968 – wins the CA primary
RFK is shot and killed while walking through a kitchen after the primary win
o Killed by Sirhan Sirhan
Democratic National Convention
At Chicago in Aug. 28, 1968
Hubert Humphrey receives the Democratic nomination
Outside the convention, 10,000 protestors gather in a park across the street
Richard J. Daly – is angered by their presence and orders for the forced removal of the protestors –
violence breaks out
Significance – displays the chaotic mess of the Democratic Party
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Election of 1968
Republicans
Democrats
Richard Nixon
Hubert Humphrey
Wins by 500 000 pop. votes 191 electoral votes
301 electoral votes
-Nixon becomes president
Independents
George Wallace
The segregation speech
46 electoral votes
Major Changes brought about by 1968
1. The Conservatives take over the government
2. Civil Rights Movement
-from nonviolence/direct action/Christian ideals – to violence
-by Black Panthers
3. Vietnam War
[before 1968] goal: to win
[after 1968] goal: to get out
Richard M. Nixon
Raised a Quaker, born in CA
Works for OPA during WWII
Served in Navy [1942-1945] – gains respect
Exceptional serviceman
[1946-1951] House of Representatives – served in HUAC (brought down A. Hiss)
[1951-1953] Senator
[1953-1961] VP under Eisenhower
[1952] almost dropped from Ike–slush fund–saved himself with Checkers speech
[1960] loses presidency to JFK
[1962] loses governor position in CA to Pat Brown
[1968] manages to win the president position
o VP Spiro Agnew
o Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
Nixon wants to get the U.S. out of Vietnam – kept his plans very secret
[Aug 1969] Nixon Doctrine
U.S. will give money and moral aid to any country fighting communism, but the U.S. will NOT send
troops
Situation in the Vietnam War in 1969
[1968] LBJ announces a halt to escalation
Kills morale in Vietnam – goal for the soldiers in Vietnam is SURVIVAL
Increased desertion [1970] – 70,000 desertions
Lack of discipline
Racial problems
Increased drug use (opium)
Increased killing of officers by enlisted men
Increased atrocities – MiLai Massacre – killings of innocent people by U.S. soldiers
Nixon wants to achieve “peace with honor”
1. Vietnamization
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-replace U.S. soldiers with South Vietnamese soldiers
[1969] 475,000 U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
[1970] 334,000 U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
[1972] 24,000 U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
[1973] less than 275 U.S. personnel in Vietnam
2. Secret Negotiations between Kissinger and N. Vietnamese Le Duc Tho
3. Escalate Bombing
Increases in Cambodia, Laos, and the trade trail
“mad bomber” theory – Nixon would continue to bomb North Vietnam, Cambodia,
and Laos until a deal was settled
End of the Vietnam War
[1970] U.S. and S. Vietnamese troops invade Cambodia - destroy Viet Cong supply bases
-leads to more protests at home
Kent State and Jackson State protest deaths
[1971] South Vietnamese troops invade Laos with U.S. air support
[1972] North Vietnam leads the Easter Offensive
[Oct 1972] Kissinger announces that “peace is at hand,” gives up peace terms
-S. Vietnam will not accept the cease-fire
-N. Vietnam begins demanding more concessions from the U.S.
Christmas Bombing
-ordered by Nixon to get N. Vietnamese back to bargaining table
-of Hanoi, Haifang
[Jan 23, 1973] Nixon announces that a peace agreement is reached
[Jan 27, 1973] U.S., S. Vietnam, N. Vietnam sign Paris Peace Accords
1. U.S. troops leave
2. U.S. prisoners of war return
3. N. Vietnam retains land in S. Vietnam
-the end of the Vietnam War
Costs of War
$150 Billion, economically speaking
58,000 U.S. deaths – 300,000 return wounded
countless psychological effects of the war
Vietnam – 2 million are killed (an estimate)
Cambodia – Khmer Rouge government takes over after U.S. leaves
-anti-democratic
-kills 40% of Cambodian population [1973-1979]
Domino Theory is proven wrong – the world does NOT fall to communism after Vietnam
Détente – cooling off of the Cold War
1. China
[1949] When China goes communist, U.S. refuses to recognize it
Nixon wants to improve relations with China
[April 1971] U.S. sends in U.S. Ping Pong Team to China
[June 1971] Kissinger visits China
[Feb 1972] Nixon visits China–one of the most important things in his presidency
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2. Soviet Union
[May 1972] Nixon visits Moscow
-sign the SALT I Treaty
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
-supposedly reduces the arms buildup in U.S. and S.U.
-more symbolic
3. Middle East
[1973-1974] Arab oil embargo
Nixon & Modern Republicanism
The Positives
1. [July 21, 1969] Man walks on the Moon
Lunar Module Eagle from Apollo II lands on the Moon
Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong walk on the moon
2. Expansion of the Great Society programs (in his first two years)
Increase in social security
Increase in subsidization of housing for low-income families
Increase in job corps
Voting age extended to 18-year-olds
3. Increased protection of the environment (more Congress than Nixon)
Limit pesticide use
Protect endangered species
Protect coastal regions
Limit emissions of pollutants
[1969] National Environmental Policy Act
[1970] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
-enforce environmental laws
Occupational Safety & Health Agency (OSHA) – protect workers’ health
[April 1970] first Earth Day celebrated
The Negatives
1. Revenue sharing
-Government gives money to the states to use – but Great Society funding is stopped
Result – the states and cities get less money
2. Economy
$25 Billion deficit – due to the Vietnam war and the Great Society
5% inflation rate (normal: 2%-3%)
[1969] Tax Cut - $2.5 billion in taxes – deficit increases
[1970] Nixon raises interest rates
lower money supply
-higher inflation, higher unemployment, and lower economic growth
“Stagflation”
[1971] Nixon tries deficit spending – fails
Nixon tries devaluing the dollar – fails
Nixon tries wage freezes, price freezes, rent freezes for 90 days
-all fail
3. Nixon declares war on “domestic radicals”
-Civil rights, protesters, student groups, etc.
-who “threaten” society
4. Nixon turns his back on African-Americans
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Trying to court the Southern vote – scared of Wallace
He is against an extension of the Voting Rights Act
He is also against the desegregation of Mississippi schools
Condemns bussing – was made legal in 1971 by Congress
Also: Nixon works to make the Supreme Court conservative
-replaces Earl Warren with Warren Burger
Harry Blacken, Powell, Rehnquist placed in court
The Odd
1. Nixon creates an “enemies list”
-to create a list of enemies so Nixon can destroy them
Who’s on this list?
Edward Kennedy (other brother of RFK and JFK)
Walter Mondell
Jane Fonda (an actress – goes to N. Vietnam and supports them)
The presidents of Yale, Harvard Law, and MIT
Barbara Streisand (singer)
Paul Newman (actor)
Bill Cosby
Joe Naimuth (football player – quarterback)
Nixon’s heart doctor … etc.
2. Nixon & the White House
-create a group called “the plumbers” – to stop leaks in the government
Ellsberg is the first attacked – he released the Pentagon papers
-showed how U.S. lied in the past
3. Nixon creates CREEP
-Committee to RE-Elect the President
-all unnecessary
Election of 1972
Dem. – George McGovern
3rd Party - Wallace
Rep – Nixon
520 electoral votes
17 electoral votes
Shot and paralyzed - repents
Nixon has over 60% of the popular vote, while McGovern only had 37%
-wins by an overwhelming majority
-but in the end, it is CREEP and his efforts to get re-elected that brings his downfall
The Watergate Scandal
[1970] CREEP is created, headed by George Mitchell
[1971] the “enemies list” is created
[June 1971] the “Plumbers” are created – led by G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt
[Jan. 1972] Liddy develops a plan to bring down Democratic candidates for the 1972 election
-Mitchell tells Liddy to develop a lesser-involved plan
[June 17, 1972]
5 men, led by James McCord (former CIA agent), break into Democratic HQ at the Watergate Hotel in
D.C. – plan on wiretapping the phones
-during the break-in, a security guard sees them and calls the police
-the five men are caught red-handed
At the time, Nixon and the White House disavow any knowledge of the incident
-Nixon knows it is CREEP
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-he could have been clean, but instead he makes his BIGGEST mistake – he
orders a cover-up
[Oct 1972] Bob Woodward & Carl Burnstein from the Washington Post write an article charging that top White
house officials are involved in Watergate
-being given information from “Deep Throat”
-from the White House – Mark Felt (deputy director in the FBI)
-continue to write articles about Watergate throughout the scandal
[Nov 1972] Nixon easily wins re-election
[Spring 1973] Judge Serica sentences the five burglars to extremely long sentences, hoping to break them (ex.
20 years in prison)
-James McCord breaks
-admits that White House officials were involved
[Feb-Apr. 1973] Special Committee is formed to investigate Nixon’s campaign activities
-people begin to resign
John Dean – special council to Nixon
Archibald Cox is named special prosecutor
[May 1973] Hearings begin
[June 1973] John Dean admits that Nixon was involved in the Watergate cover-up (but no evidence of the deed)
[July 1973] Alexander Butterfield (White House Chief of Staff)
-tells the hearings that Nixon has a tape recording system in the Oval Office that records all
conversations – due to Nixon’s paranoia
-this is the “smoking gun”
[Aug-Oct 1973] Cox demands the tapes form Nixon, but Nixon refuses, citing executive privilege and national
security concerns
[Oct 20, 1973] Saturday Night Massacre
Nixon orders the Attorney General Richardson to fire Cox – Richardson refuses and resigns
Nixon goes to Deputy Attorney General to fire Cox – the deputy also refuses and resigns
Nixon goes to Solicitor General Bork who finally fires Cox
[Oct. 1973] VP Spiro Agnew is convicted of income tax evasion
-resigns form office – Gerald Ford replaces him
-Gerald Ford was the house minority leader – well-liked
[April 1974] Nixon releases an edited version of the tapes
-despite the editing, Nixon still seems to be nuts
[July 27, 1974] House Judiciary Committee adopted the first Articles of Impeachment against Nixon
[Aug 5, 1974] Nixon releases an unedited version of the tapes (except for an 18-min gap – what was in that gap
is still a mystery)
-on tape, Nixon is ordering the Watergate cover-up
[Aug 8, 1974] Nixon announces his resignation
[Aug 9, 1974] Nixon leaves the White House
-Gerald Ford is sworn in as President
-Nelson Rockefeller is named VP
First time the two highest-ranked government officials are not elected by the people
Significance of Watergate
1. Free press helps bring the scandal to national attention
2. Another “black eye” for the U.S. nation and it turns people off from their government
3. Shows that the system works?
Yes? – Nixon was made to pay for his crime
No? – if he didn’t have the taped conversations, wouldn’t have happened
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Gerald Ford – more conservative than Nixon
Born in 1913
Played football in University of Michigan – very athletic
Graduates from Yale Law
Serves in the Navy in WWII
Serves 1949-1973 in the House of Representatives – House Minority Leader
[1973] takes over as VP when Agnew resigns
takes over presidency when Nixon resigns – seen as the caretaker of the presidency
his wife founds the Betty Ford clinic
Major Events
1. Ford pardons Nixon one month after his presidency
-the public is outraged – wanted to see Nixon punished
2. Economy
[1974] high inflation, high unemployment, high energy costs (Arab oil embargo)
-stagflation
Ford – WIN – Whip Inflation Now
-cut federal spending
-voluntary restraint as long on energy – conservation
-increase in discount rate
Result: Recession [1974-1975]
Auto industry begins to fail – Japan, West Germany
-efficient
-cost-affordable
-smaller, sporty, faster
3. SALT II
Ford and Soviet premier Brezhnev
-limit each country to 2400 nuclear missiles
4. Helsinki Accords
Ford & Brezhnev meet in Helsinki, Finland
-sign for human rights in Europe
-ease control over Europe – allows for democratic ideas
5. South Vietnam falls April 1975
S. Vietnam and Saigon fall to North Vietnamese
6. Myaguez Incident
Cambodian rebels seize U.S. ship and 39 hostages aboard
-special forces save the 39 hostages
-but 41 special forces are killed in the process
Jimmy Carter
Born in 1924 in Georgia
Graduate of Naval Academy in Annapolis
Becomes a peanut farmer
[1971-1975] Governor of Georgia
wins 1976 election for presidency
defeats Ford 297:240 electoral votes
a born-again Christian
he is the ultimate outsider – not part of the political mix-up
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Major Events
1. Carter is a D.C. outsider
-it is difficult for Carter to get any legislation passed
2. Economy
-has to deal with Ford’s recession
– to try to promote spending:
-public works projects
-tax cuts
-works for a while [1978] unemployment is down to 5%
[1979-1980] Recession
Prices increase 30%
Energy costs increase [1979] Oil crisis
Still have stagflation
Bank interest rates go up to 20%
Carter’s Response
Conservatism, voluntary restraint
Tells U.S. people that they should not expect unlimited growth
Department of Energy [1977]
Carter is unable to deal with the recession
3. Foreign Affairs
Carter draws attention to human rights
Seeks better relations with Africa, Panama (Panama Canal treaties)
[1999] give control to Panamanians
full diplomatic recognition to China
4. Soviet Union
o Carter and Brezhnev meet in June 1979 – sign SALT II
[Jan 1980] Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
-Carter pulls treaty from the Senate
-U.S. boycott the Summer Olympics in Moscow
5. Camp David Accords
-Peace agreement signed at Camp David, MD
-between Sadat of Egypt and Bagin of Israel
6. Iran
[1979] the Shah of Iran (pro-U.S.) is forced out of power by Ayatollah
-the Shah is allowed into the U.S. for cancer treatment by Carter
-biggest mistake of Carter
-Iranian students storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran
-take over 50 hostages for 444 days
-until Reagan’s inauguration day
Ronald Reagan
Born in 1911 in Illinois
Tough childhood – moved about 10 times, father was an alcoholic
Becomes an actor, acts in 54 films – then becomes a GE spokesman
[1967-1975] governor of California
Republican
[1981-1989] President of the U.S.
o oldest president at inauguration at 70 years old
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Election of 1980
Democrats
Carter
Republicans
Reagan
-wants to revive patriotism
-appeals to middle class, blue-collar worker
-the “New Right”
wins 489 electoral votes
[March 30, 1981] Reagan is shot by John Hinckley Jr.
-almost dies
-the “Teflon” president – nothing bad ever stuck to Reagan
1. Reaganomics
Trickle-down economics (give $ to top, starts spreading down)
Massive tax cuts – income taxes are cut 25% over 3 years
Massive reduction in government spending to social programs
Cuts back government regulations - “get rid of government”
Increases the discount rate
Immediate results – Reagan Recession [1981-1983]
But, things turn around in 1983
Lasting Effects:
o An improved economy
o Decreased unemployment
o Increase in consumer spending
o Increase in building houses, complexes…etc.
o Bull Market [1983-1987]
o A richer middle class
YUPPIES – young, rich, spouse, no kids…
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Woolfe
Bad things:
Trade gap widens (increase imports, decrease exports)
Farmers are going bankrupt
Plight of the inner cities – due to the reduction in government spending to social programs
Get poorer
Drug use
1987 Stock Market Crash
-1/5 of the market is lost in one day
-larger than 1929 crash – but does not lead to a depression
Military spending increased – huge budget deficits – national debt triples
2. The Cold War
[1981] Reagan calls the Soviet Union “the Evil Empire” – wants to crush communism
-starts a massive military buildup - more nuclear weapons
[1981] $171 Billion
[1985] $300 Billion per year
SDI – the Star Wars program – missile defense system
Leads Reagan & the U.S. to El Salvador, Nicaragua and Granada
Result – end of the Cold War
*Election 1984 – first female to run for VP – Geraldine – loses*
Reagan and Gorbachev – begun to end the war
-institute Parastraika, Glasnos – wants better relations with the U.S.
[1985] first of meetings – Geneva
[1986] meet in Reykjavik, Iceland
[1987] INF peace treaty – Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty
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-both agree to remove nuclear missiles in Europe
-both agree to inspections afterward
[1988] Reagan visits Moscow
-Soviet Union pulls forces from Afghanistan
3. The Middle East
[1982-1983] Reagan sends Marines to Lebanon to help keep peace
[Oct 1983] Suicide bomber drives a truck into barracks and kills 200+ Marines
Iran Contra Affair
-U.S. had been secretly selling weapons to Iran in exchange for money
-take that money to contras in Nicaragua
Election of 1990
a) Bush and Panama
i) As part of the war on drugs, Bush goes after Panamanian President Manual Noriega
ii) Noriega is drug lord, importing cocaine and heroin in the US
iii) The US Army swoops into Panama City
(1) Operation Just Cause used 24000 US troops to capture Noriega
(2) Noriega laundering, gets 40 years in jail, reduced to 17 years due to good behavior, was going to
be released in 2007, but still in jail- prisoner of war
b) Persian Gulf War (Iraq 1)
i) Aug 1, 1990- Iraq invades Kuwait
ii) US immediately organizes defense of Saudi Arabia- Operation Desert Shield
iii) 1991- Tanks roll into Kuwait and into Iraq (but stop short of toppling Saddam)
iv) Ground war lasts 100hrs (General Stormin Norman Schwarzkopf)
c) Bush and USSR
i) 1989- Berlin Wall falls
ii) Bush meets with Gorbachev in France- Dec 2,3, 1989
iii) START 1- July 1989- limits nuclear arsenal to 6000 war heads
iv) Soviets dissolve 1991- After Gorbachev moves to stop them, hard line communist try to Copu and
arrest Gorbachev and attempt to subdue Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Yeltsin survives and the
Union is done.
d) Tianamen Square
i) Chinese students intellectuals Civil workers gather (1 million) to protest the lack of Civil Liberties,
economic troubles, corrupt govt…
ii) Brutally put down on June 3,4, 1989
Election of 1992
Democrats
Bill Clinton
Republicans
George H. W. Bush
1. Election
a. Bush easily wins nomination over conservative journalist and former Nixon White House Aid Pat
Buchannan
b. Due to huge popularity and approval numbers for Bush in 1991 (following the Gulf War) most big
Dems sat out
c. Clinton, the self-proclaimed comeback kid picks up steam after poor showings in the opening
primaries and sweeps the Super Tuesday primaries, holds off Cali Gov. Jerry Brown and allegations
of an affair with Jennifer Flowers (appears on 60 min with Hillary, but rebut the allegations) for the
Dem nomination.
d. Clinton enters race as long shot
e. Bush v. Clinton v. Perot
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i. Ross Perot
1. Computer salesman millionaire campaigns against NAFTA and National Debt
2. In June 1992- Perot is leading National Polls
3. Drops out of race and then comes back.
ii. Clinton
1. Led US in recession following Gulf War
2. Promises to improve economy
iii. Bush
1. Raised taxes after promising not to- Clinton calls him out on this.
2. Bill Clinton
- First baby boomer
- Admitted minorities and women in cabinet
- Janet Reno- Attorney General
- Ruth Bader Ginsberg- Supreme Court
- Madeleine Albright- first woman Sec of State
- Clintons Record
o The longest and largest period of American economic growth in our history
o Family and Medical Leave Act
Employers give 12 weeks of leave to care for newborn infants and handle family
emergencies
o Don’t Ask Don’t Tell- policy stating homosexuals may serve in the military provided they keep
their sexual orientation a secret.
o Successful in securing Brady Bill- mandated 5 day waiting period before purchasing handgun
o Welfare Reforms- funds out to the states so they reenact programs like Wisconsin’s Workfare
o Increased subsidies to low income families through the Earned Income Credit and cut taxes fo 15
million US families
o Min wage up $5.15
o Digital Millennium Copyright Act- protests Artist v. Napster
o Anti-Crime Bill- hire more police
o Opposition to American Medical Association
o Failed to pass any major legislation regarding Health Care, spearheaded by Hillary criticism:
socialist, bureaucratic, didn’t consent Congress
o Runs into Republican opposition following Midterm Elections of 1994- Republican take over of
Congress which led to the “Contract for America” led by Newt Gingrich, conserving spending
policy that gutted Clinton initiatives Gov Shut Down (95-96)
o 1994- rep gain control of congress
o Republican- Speaker Newt Ginrich- Contract With America
o 1996 State of Union Address- era of big govt. is over
3. Foreign Policy
a. Doctrine of Enlargement
b. Expand the community of market democracies, embrace free trade, encourage internantional
alliances, participate in multilateral peacekeeping effort
c. Didn’t like dealing with foreign issues
d. Congress passed NAFTA
i. North American Free Trade Agreement
ii. Eliminated all tariffs in trade between Canada, Mexico and US
iii. Criticized by labor unions
iv. Clinton thought it would expand world economy and benefit American economy in the long
run
e. Diplomacy In Middle East
i. Peace b/w Israel & PLO (land for peace agreement)
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ii. Self- ruling of Gaza Strip
f. Very activist role for America
g. Balkans
i. Supported NATO air raid and provided US troops for a multinational force to stop Serbian
president
ii. Serbian troops burned villages, raped, murdered many Muslims
iii. Serbian troops withdrew from Kosovo
4. Successes
a. Brokers peace between Irish Nationalists and Brits, ending ‘the troubles’.
b. Affects good regime change when forces warlord Raoul Cedras to step down and bring Aristotle
back to Haiti.
c. Dayton Peace Accords- enforces 20K troops, settles Balkan issue between Croats, Senbs Bosnians,
stops Albanian ethnic cleansing is Kosovo
d. With Russia- lends billions and secures nuclear arsenal with Yeltsin’s help
5. Failures
a. Can’t get a deal between Arafat (PLO) and Rabin (Israel)- gets a handshake only
b. Somalia (Black Hawk Down)- 1993- Battle of Mogadishu, US withdraws and Secdef resigns
c. Rwanda- US doesn’t intervene when 800K Tutsi are killed (still remember Mogadishu)
6. Clinton Scandals
a. Martial Infidelities
i. Jennifer Flowers (sold story for 500K)
ii. Paula Jones (paid off with 800K)
b. Financial Improprieties
i. White Water Investigation which gives us Ken Starr, which leads us to Linda Tripp which
gives us
1. Monica Lewinsky
a. White House interns, appropriate relationship with President Clinton, she
confides in Tripp, has proof (blue dress)
b. Impeached with 2 counts: Perjury (45-55), Obstruction of Justice (50-50)
Election of 2000
Democrats
Al Gore
Republicans
George W. Bush
1) Bush Background
a) Texas governor
b) C student from Yale
c) Texas Air National Guard in Vietnam
d) Marries Laura (the librarian)- have two twins
e) Finds God with Billy Graham
f) Swiftboats McCain in Primaries
g) Friends: Cheny (VP), Rove (Political Stategist)
2) Gore Background
a) Harvard Grad
b) Son of Tenn Senator
c) Grows up in DC (ultimate insider)
3) Election
a) Big topic
i) What to do with the government surplus?
(1) Gore- shore up social security
(2) Bush- big tax cuts
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