Unit 13 – “Building Best, Building Greatly,” 1896-1912
I. Summarize the life of the average American at the turn of the Century (1900).
A. Describe the living standard of average Americans in 1900. pages 457-459
B. Science had become the new god to many Americans by the turn of the Century. ATVOTS
pages 459-60
- Frederick Taylor = Principles of Scientific Management,
II. Summarize the Progressive Movement. REFORM
A. Identify and Assess the ideals and mindsets of Progressives.
pages 460-61
REFORM
B. Identify and Summarize Progressive intellectuals, writers, and politicians.
1. Progressive Intellectuals and Writers:
REFORM
460-61
- William James =
- Walter Lipmann =
- Lincoln Steffans =
- Jacob Riis =
- David Phillips =
- Ida Tarbell =
- Thornstein Veblen =
- Frank Norris =
- John Spargo =
- Henry Demarest Lloyd =
- John Dewey =
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman =
- Jane Addams =
- Upton Sinclair =
MUCKRAKERS
Summary
REFORM
2. Progressive Politicians and Justices:
- “Fighting” Bob Lafollette =
REFORM
- Tom Johnson =
- Oliver Wendell Holmes =
C. Identify and Evaluate Progressive Policies.
REFORM
D. Identify and Summarize critics of Progressives.
1. Joe Cannon =
2. Eugene Debs =
E. Progressive Intellectuals, Writers, and Politicians may have brought the new pragmatism and secular
scientific approach to life’s challenges but middle class Americans had not. ATVOTS. 461-462
F. What is your Evaluation of the Progressive Movement?
G. Identify Progressive Presidents.
* Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson and also W. Taft
H. The era of American Imperialism could just as easily be labeled the era of optimism. ATVOTS. 462
III. President William McKinley (1897-1901 Republican)
A. Summarize and assess the Presidential election of 1896.
W.J. Bryan was the Democrat and Populist nominee and W. McKinley was the Republican
nominee. McKinley won relatively easy with the help of Ohio businessman Mark Hanna.
Bryan’s defeat marked the end of the farmer movement until the rise of the Progressive
movement.
B. Evaluate the changes in US foreign policy in the late 19th Century.
1. A changing American world view:
2. Timeline:
________________________________________________________________
3. Small instances with foreign countries illustrating America’s shifting foreign policy:
- Big Sister Policy =
- Samoan Islands =
- Italy =
- Chile =
- Venezuela and British Guiana =
Summary = US appearing to willingly risk war over relatively minor events
C. Evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of President McKinley’s foreign policies.
(Foreign affairs crept into the spotlight in his tenure as President)
1. Appropriateness and effectiveness of US actions in HAWAII.
2. Appropriateness and effectiveness of US actions in CUBA.
464-465
465-71
3. Appropriateness and effectiveness of US actions in the PHILIPPINES.
470-471
4. Appropriateness and effectiveness of US actions in CHINA.
IV. President “Teddy” Roosevelt (1901-1909 Republican)
A. The background of Teddy.
473-75
B. Evaluate Teddy as the Governor of New York.
475-76
C. Evaluate Teddy as President.
1. Appropriateness and effectiveness of Teddy’s business policies.
- Inaugural address =
- Elkins Act 1903 = a federal crime to give rebates (price discounts) on freight
- Northern Securities Lawsuit 1902 = the RR Co. combination of Northern Securities
by J.P. Morgan and James Hill was terminated because it was deemed by Roosevelt and
the Supreme Court as a monopoly that was in restraint of trade.
- Anthracite Coal Miners Strike 1902 = workers for the coal company demanded raise
and less hours but ownership spokesman George Baer rejects all worker demands.
Roosevelt threatened to take over the Company with Federal troops. The Company
gives in to Roosevelt and gives the workers a 10% raise and one less hour of work per
day.
- Square Deal and the 3 C’s = a governmental plan of Roosevelt to limit the power of
Companies, to protect the Consumer, and to protect the environment. 3 C’s = Corral
Companies, Consumerism, and Conservation for the benefit of America as a whole.
- Election of 1904 = landslide victory for Roosevelt
- Hepburn Act 1905 = federal law increasing the power of the ICC to set fixed rates for
freight and it did not matter if the actual companies and business owners wanted to do
have different price rates
- Pure Food and Drug Act 1905 = federal law to prevent mislabeling and false
advertising of drugs and food.
- Meat Inspection Act 1905 = federal law to inspect the meat shipped over state lines.
The law largely was a result of Upton Sinclair’s book, the JUNGLE.
- Panic of 1907 = Roosevelt was blamed for the panic/depression because of his federal
trust busting and federal regulations. The panic led politicians to make $money$ more
elastic to handle emergencies like the panic fof 1907. The Aldrich Vreeland Act gave
banks authorization to create more money that was not backed by gold or silver.
2. Appropriateness and effectiveness of Teddy’s environmental policies.
- His fascination for the wilderness = travels and tours with environmentalist and
conservationist John Muir into the west
- Forest Reserve Act 1891 = federal law giving the President the authority to set aside
public forests as National Parks. The law also allowed land to be set aside for
waterpower and mineral reserves.
- Gifford Pinchot = Roosevelt appointed environmentalist Pinchot to chair the
Conservation Conference in 1908 with all state Governors to discuss conservation.
- John Muir and the Sierra Club 1892 = Muir was leader of this Club to protect the
environment and set aside land that could not be developed.
- Newlands Reclamation Act 1902 = federal law that promoted the reclamation of arid
land through irrigation.
3. Appropriateness and effectiveness of Teddy’s foreign policies.
- Summary =
- Tariffs = page 479, Teddy wanted to lower tariffs
- Panama = pages 480-82
- Roosevelt Corollary = pages 482-83
- Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick =
- Treaty of Portsmouth 1905 = Teddy received the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in
creating peace between Russia and Japan in the Russo/Japanese War of 1905
- Gentlemen’s Agreement 1906 = The San Francisco Board of Education segregated all
US Japanese children in public schools and Japan was unhappy with the rule of
segregation. Teddy persuaded Japan to limit their immigration to US in return of
removing the segregation law.
- Great White Fleet 1906 = Not long after the Gentlemen’s Agreement Teddy sends an
American fleet of Naval ships to Japan and around the world to display the power of
America.
- Root/Takira Agreement 1908 = Sec.of State Root and ambassador of Japan Takira
agree to have America and Japan respect the territories of each other in the Pacific
and to respect the rights of China and free trade in China. Teddy endorses agreement.
V. Black and White in Progressive America.
(3 views on black white issue = pages 483-87)
A. Appropriateness and effectiveness Booker T. Washington’s solution.
B. Appropriateness and effectiveness of W.E.B. Dubois’ solution.
C. Appropriateness and effectiveness of Marcus Garvey’s solution.
VI. President William Taft (1909-1913 Republican)
A. The background of Taft.
B. Defeated William Jennings Bryan in election of 1908.
B. The policies of Taft.
C. The problems of Taft:
- Payne Aldrich Tariff 1909 = increased the tariff to an average of 40% which angered Teddy
- Standard Oil Company = disregarding Teddy words that the Standard Oil Co. was a “good”
trust Taft wanted to dissolve Standard Oil Co. because it violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
of 1890. The Supreme Court did dissolve Standard Oil Co. and established the rule of reason
which stated only trusts that are unreasonably in restraint of trade will be terminated.
- US Steel Company 1809 = again disregarding the advice of Teddy, Taft tried to dissolve the US
Steel Company which angered Teddy as Teddy had numerous investments in US Steel.
- Ballinger/Pinchot Affair = pages 490-91
D. Teddy came back seeking the Presidency again in 1912.
- Osawatomie Speech and the Bull Moose Party = Teddy angry over the leadership of Taft
announced his running for President in the election of 1912 for the Progressive Bull Moose
Party.
- Election of 1912 = William Taft v. Teddy Roosevelt v. Woodrow Wilson
- Result of 1912 = Elephant divided by a Bull Moose equals a Donkey
Taft
Roosevelt
Wilson
Rep.
Bull Moose
Dem.
(All candidates were Progressives even Taft but Teddy and Wilson were more
progressive and they were the main leading candidates in the election. Progressivism was
the real winner in the election and Democrat Wilson wins election as Taft and Teddy
took votes away from each other)
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Chapter 13 Study Questions (choose any 30)
What was the significance of William James and what was the Progressive view that James shared with
Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson? 460-61
Contrast the mindset of intellectuals and reformers with those of the middle class at the turn of the
century. 461-62
The era of American Imperialism could just as easily be called t he era of optimism. ATVOTS 462
Why did McKinley believe in high tariffs and why did he change his position later? 463
The American annexation of Hawaii was justified. ATVOTS. In your response include discussion of the
Queen, Cleveland, and Japan. 464-65
What European country controlled Cuba, what did Cubans desire, what significance of General Weyler,
and what were the interests and concerns of America in Cuba? 465-66
Assess the impact of Pulitzer and Hearst(who were they?)on the Spanish American War of 1898. 466-67
Influence of the press and business on the Spanish American War has been overemphasized. ATVOTS.
In your response include discussion of the intellectual case for war. 467
Describe the Dupuy de Lome letter and summarize its significance. 467
Summarize the significance of the USS Maine. 467
The Teller Amendment proves America did not desire a world empire. ATVOTS. 467
Who were the Rough Riders and who was their leader? 468
What was the significance of Commander Dewey? 468-69
What was the significance of Emilio Aguinaldo? 470-71
What points did McKinley make in his decision to keep the Philippines and what is your assessment of
them? 470-71
The anti-imperialists prolonged the US war with the freedom Filipino fighters. ATVOTS. 471
Summarize the steps the Filipinos took to get full independence from America. 471-72
The press shares some of the blame for President McKinley’s assassination. ATVOTS. 472-73
Who were Jacob Riis and L. Steffans and what was Teddy Roosevelt relationship with them? 472-73
Teddy Roosevelt should have favored the rugged individualism of a Carnegie. ATVOTS. 475
An intellectual Social Darwinism hierarchy exists among men and those at the top of the intellectual
hierarchy should use anything at their disposal to improve society including government. ATVOTS.
475-76
Summarize Teddy’s attitude toward big companies and explain your opinion on his position. 476
Identify and explain the regulatory acts created by Teddy during his Presidency and explain your
opinion on each. 476-78 Elkins, Hepburn, Meat Inspection, Pure Food
Assess the appropriateness of Teddy bringing a suit through the Sherman Anti-Trust Act against the
Northern Securities Company. 476
Who did Teddy side more with, labor or Companies? Explain and give an example in your response.477
Do you agree with Teddy’s view that companies do not serve the public good on their own and therefore
must be made to serve the public? Explain 477
What was the significance of G.Pinchot and what was his and Teddy’s view on the environment? 478-79
How many acres did Teddy set aside as public land and what is your position on the Jeffersonian
principle of land? 479
Summarize Teddy’s foreign policy. 480
Teddy denied any wrong doing in the Panama Canal situation with Columbia. Summarize the Panama
Canal situation and assess Teddy’s actions. 481-82
Explain the Roosevelt Corollary and assess its appropriateness and effectiveness. 482-83
Summarize the 3 approaches of blacks gaining equality in America, Washington,Dubois,Garvey. 486-87
Blacks and whites cannot ever live together harmoniously in America because of slavery. Assess this
statement that references the beliefs of Garvey. 487
How did Taft’s trust bust of US steel embarrass Teddy? 490
Explain and summarize the impact of the Ballinger/Pinchot Affair. 490-91
Who did Teddy greatly help in the election of 1912 when he announced his running again and what did
Teddy have to move to politically to oppose Taft? 493