Q 11. Discuss the philosophy & rise of the progressivism
including the role of muckrakers in the progressive
response to the rapid industrialization & urbanization of the
USA in the late 19th early 20th c.
•Progressive philosophy – belief that problems can be solved
through reform, things can be improved, progress is possible.
Legal Positivism – “good government by good people”
•Arose in late 19th c. as a reaction to the corruption, economic
inequality, poor conditions of the gilded age –
legacy of populist party ideas
•Included the middle class as well as the working class
•Role of muckrakers:
•Journalists / investigative reporters who exposed the abuses
and corruption of wealth & power.
•Muckrakers – Upton Sinclair, Jacob Riis, Ida Tarbell, John
Spargo, Frank Norris, Margaret Sanger, Jane Adams
•(explain what they did & how reforms came from it)
Q. 12) Discuss the nature & extent of Theodore Roosevelt’ “Square
Deal” progressivism.
• Theodore Roosevelt – President 1901 – 1908
– 1st progressive president (Republican)
– Expanded the role of the Presidency (strong executive)
– Expanded the role of the Federal Government – ended laissez faire
•
“Square Deal” – promised to protect “the people” vs. the giant corporations.
• – He used the “bully pulpit” (power of the presidency to get attention) – Believed that “big business” requires “big government” as a check
• TR’s reform programs focused on 3 areas:
1.
Conservation of Natural Resources (TR (avid outdoorsman) / worried about overdevelopment of land
1.
2.
founded the National Park System
wildlife reserves, national monuments and new national parks
2. Consumer Protection (What is this stuff?):
- Combating unsafe and falsely labeled food, drugs and medicine
– Established the The Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
– Read the book “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair leads to
• The Meat Inspection Act
3. Control of Corporations – enforce the Sherman Antitrust act
– Nickname – “Trustbuster” – filed over 40 antitrust lawsuits vs. corporations
• Distinguished between Good Trusts v. Bad Trusts –
– Break up the “bad” but only regulate the “good” ones
– Ex: Northern Securities Company - a railroad monopoly broken up
– Ex: Standard Oil Company
- Regulate railroads – Elkins Act / Hepburn Act
- Department of Commerce and Labor (1903)
- Worker protections enforced
- Unfair business practices policed
JOHN MUIR
• John Muir (1838-1914) was America's
most famous and influential
naturalist and conservationist.
• He has been called "The Father of
our National Parks," "Wilderness
Prophet," and "Citizen of the
Universe."
• Muir convinced President Roosevelt
to protect Yosemite (including
Yosemite Valley), Sequoia, Grand
Canyon and Mt. Rainier as National
Parks.
Q. 13) Discuss the similarities & differences between the
Progressivism of W.H.Taft & Roosevelt
• WH Taft – Progressive Era President (1908 – 1912)
– Roosevelt’s hand picked Man
– Republican - wins election of 1908
– pledged to continue Roosevelt’s program of progressive reforms.
• Similarities with Roosevelt – made Progressive Reforms:
Called the “2nd trustbuster” :
– 80 antitrust cases vs. large corporations
– (but later stopped doing so)
2. Workers rights expanded :
– Created Department of Labor – (reluctantly – hours before leaving office)
– 8 hr. workday signed into law
– Federal Children’s Bureau – fight child labor
1.
•
Mann-Elkins Act :
– ICC regulates telephone and telegraph Co’s
•
Preserved National Lands
– Conservationist
Differences from TR:
– mild progressive & laid back – not passionate about governing
- Taft aligns with conservative wing of Republican party
- Taft disappointed Progressive wing of the Republican Party
• 2 Areas that cause split with Progressives:
• Ballinger-Pinchot dispute: Issue - CONSERVATION
– Pinchot - Department of Forestry vs. Sec. of Interior Richard Ballinger
• public lands open for development - Wyoming, Montana & Alaska
• Pinchot criticizes Ballinger - puppet of big business
• Taft fires Pinchot for insubordination
• T. Roosevelt is angry at Taft - betrayal
• Payne – Aldrich Tariff
– Raises the Protective Tariff rate
– Big Business is happy / Consumers hurt
– Progressives mad – TR feels betrayed
Q. 14) Discuss the election of 1912 in terms of the candidates, the issues,
the background drama, the outcomes and the historical significance thereof
• Candidate:
• Republican – WH Taft
Positions on Issues:
ran as moderate progressive (pro consumer protection & trust
busting, but high protective tariff &
development of land)
• Progressive Party – T. Roosevelt
“New Nationalism” - slogan
(Bull Moose) - splinter off Rep. P.
very progressive!!
(ex: women’s suffrage, Progressive Income Tax)
• Democratic Party - W. Wilson
- “New Freedom” - slogan
- strong progressive
(direct election of senators, regulate banks –
Federal Reserve System)
• Socialist Party – Eugene V. Debs
most progressive of all!!
Q. 14) Discuss the election of 1912 in terms of the candidates, the issues,
the background drama, the outcomes and the historical significance thereof
•
Background Drama:
– #1
– TR challenging Taft in the Republican Primary
– Splitting off & forming Progressive Party after loses nomination to Taft
– #2
– 4 Progressive Candidates – most Progressive Era in US history!
• Even Eugene V. Debs has a strong following (1 million votes)
•
•
- #3 – 2 term tradition challenged by TR
Outcome of the Election:
Democratic Candidate Wilson wins
– Split in Republican Party a major factor
•
•
3rd Party – Progressive Party gets more votes than Republican Party!!
Wilson carries out “New Freedom” policies – Progressive Reforms continue
– Ex: Federal Reserve Banking System, 16th, 17 Amendments
•
Significance of the Election of 1912
– Height of Progressivism / closest to Socialism America will ever be
– Republicans lose reformers and become the Conservative Pro Business Party
– Lesson - factions in 1 party leading to other party wins
No… That’s the Moose and Squirrel
Party
Theodore Roosevelt:
‘New Nationalism’
Big business requires big government.
Pro big Business or Pro Consumer?
• Republicans /
Progressives –
Good trusts vs.
bad trusts
• Democrats /
Socialists –
• All trusts are bad
The
AntiThirdTerm
Principle
GOP Divided by Bull Moose
Equals Democratic Victory!
The Election of 1912 changed politics for the
rest of the 20th century:
political parties were careful to avoid dividing into factions
Q. 1) Discuss the causes, main events and effects of the closing of the frontier and
analyze the ideas of and significance of Frederick Jackson Turner’s Thesis.
• Manifest Destiny - Great Plains - Louisiana Purchase/ Mexican Cession.
• Settlement occurred in a variety of ways:
– Miners – Gold & Silver discoveries / Boom Towns arise / Boom & bust
– Ranchers – Cattle herds / Open range / Cowboys
– Farmers – Sodbusters / barbed wire / Steel Plow / Mechanized Reaper
• Role of Federal Government in encouraging Settlement
– Homestead Act of 1862 – 160 acres per family / improve within 5 years
– Railroad Land Grants – federal lands given to railroad companies to build railroad
• Towns develop along the railroad lines
• Transcontinental Railroad – Promintory Point, Utah - 1869
–
Subjugate Native Americans
• Frederick Jackson Turners Thesis
– 1890’s - Federal gov’t announces closing of Frontier – no more “free lands”
– Historian Turner writes paper - importance of Frontier existence to America’s culture
• rugged individualism , social mobility , pioneer spirit – traits of American character
• Asks question – Now no frontier – How will our character change??
Q. 2) Discuss the nature of and examples of the federal
governments Native American Policies and the Indian Wars of
the late 1800’s.
• The Nature of America’s government policies towards Native Americans:
– Helen Hunt Jackson’s book (A Century of Dishonor) – Shameful acts
• Systematic taking of Native Lands
• Treaties & promises broken as desire for more lands increased
– Reservation Policy
• Relocate Tribes onto reserved lands – treaties give rights to the Native Tribes
– Often the undesirable lands
– Example – Oklahoma was Indian Territory
• Dawes Act - Americanize the Native Peoples
– Christianity
– Private Land Ownership
– Schools off of the reservations for the children
– Failed Policy – resistance & corruption
• Extermination of Buffalo
• Indian Wars
• Battle of Little Big Horn
– Sioux leave reservation when Minors move into Black Hills, Dakota
– Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, General Custer defeated
• Battle of Wounded Knee
– Ghost Dance Movement spreads
– Sioux leave reservation again
– Massacred – Last Indian War
• Chief Joseph speech
– “I will fight no more”
– Symbol of futility of Native resistance to ending of their way of life
Q. 3. Explain & Discuss how the explosion of Industrial Capitalism in
the post – civil war era can be extolled for it’s accomplishments
• 2nd Industrial Revolution – 1850’s – 1890’s
–
–
Productivity increases
Standard of living increases
• Many Key inventions:
–
–
–
–
Bessemer Process - steel
Telephone
Electricity
Light bulb
• Factors that enabled USA to have 2nd I.R.:
–
–
–
–
Entrepreneurs
Labor supply – immigrants
Capital available
Natural Resources – coal, iron, oil
• Business Culture in late 1800’s helped also
– Laissez-Faire
– Social Darwinism
– Puritan Work Ethic
• Growth of Very Big Corporations
– Conglomerates
– Pools
– Trusts
• Captains of Industry – lead the way
– United States Economic Leaders in key industries
– Practiced Philanthropy – use wealth to support culture
– Andrew Carnegie – U.S. Steel Corporation
• Used Bessemer Process - Cheap Steel
• Rags to Riches story
• “Gospel of Wealth” – gave away 90% of wealth
– John D. Rockefeller – Standard Oil Corporation
• 1st modern Oil Company
• 1st billionaire in history
– Cornelius Vanderbilt (the commodore) – Railroad Monopoly
• Philanthropy
• Q. 4) . Explain & Discuss how the explosion of Industrial Capitalism in the
post – civil war era can be criticized for it’s excesses and discuss the
government policies enacted to limit the excesses
• 2nd Industrial Revolution – 1850’s – 1890’s
– Productivity increases
– Standard of living increases
• Business Culture in late 1800’s helped USA Industrialize but can be seen as
not very compassionate
– Laissez-Faire
– Social Darwinism
– Puritan Work Ethic
• Growth of Very Big Corporations ( Form Monopolies)
– Conglomerates – group of unrelated businesses owned by 1 company
– Pools – companies agreed to divide markets & fix prices
– Trusts – same owners own companies in the same industry
– Vertical & Horizontal Integration – forms of control of Industries
• Trusts impact on American Society:
– Wealth rises to top of society (90% - 10%) rich/poor gap
– Corruption - Bribe politicians in Congress (pro business policies)
– Unfair business practices – rebates / kickbacks / price wars to drive out
competition
– Harsh working conditions / low wages, child labor, dangerous
– Fight to deny workers right to Unionize - Pinkertons
– Environmental Damage – pollution / smoke stacks , etc.
• Leaders of American Business labeled “Robber Barons”
– Carnegie, Rockefeller Vanderbilt – all guilty of the above practices
• Beginnings of Government Regulations of Business
– Granger State Government Laws – regulate railroads & storage elevators
– (Supreme Court rulings – Munn & Wabash cases – Grange State laws
Unconstitutional)
– Federal Regulations – Interstate Commerce Act & Sherman AntiTrust Act
(1880’s) – but not enforced until progressive era
Q. 5) Discuss & give examples of how the American workers, who on average
benefited, reacted to the physical & psychological realities of the new
economic order.
• Impact of 2nd Industrial Revolution on Labor Conditions:
– Tremendous growth of factory jobs and mineral extraction jobs
– Poor working conditions:
• ‘work on the clock’
• Low wages, many hours
• Dangerous conditions
– Wage Slavery – women / Child Labor
• Social Climate & Government Policy impact on labor:
– Social Darwinism & Laissez – Faire
• No job security / protection
• No government assistance
• Workers vs. Owners
– Tools of labor – Unionize, strike, boycott, picketing
– Tools of Management – scabs, Pinkertons, blacklisting, injunctions, etc.
• Workers React by Organizing Labor Unions
– Knights of Labor – 1st national labor union – short lived
• Terrence Powderly
• 1 big union - all workers
• Idealistic – 8 hr. work day / cooperatives / women rights / end child labor
• Great Railroad Strike (1877) –
– Pres. Hayes sends troops tp put down strike
• Haymarket Square Strike & Riot (1886)
– Riots in Chicago at McCormack Reaper Factory
– Bombs thrown, Police killed
– Knights of Labor seen as too radical – loses membership & acceptance
– American Federation of Labor – successful union – still going strongish
• Samuel Gompers
• Skilled workers union – organized by specific Craft
• Bread & Butter Unionism
– Pay & conditions – closed shops
• Homestead Steel Strike – Carnegie vs. Union
– Violence / Pinkertons / National Guard Troops put down strike
– American Socialism – Eugene V. Debs – a more radical alternative
• Pullman Strike (Railroad workers Union)
Q. 6) Discuss the nature of & impact of the ‘Great Wave’ of immigration to the cities
in the late 19th century, how these newcomers adjusted to urban life and the native
response to the changing pattern. Include a brief explanation of the theories of
assimilation sociologists’ use.
• New vs. Old Immigration
• Great Wave of New Immigration – late 1880’s – 1910
• Differences:
– Origins – Southern & Eastern Europe (Russia, Italy, Poland, Greece, etc.)
– Religion – Roman Catholic, Judaism, Eastern Orthodox
– Culture – language, customs, foods, looks, etc.
• Adjustment to Arrival in America:
– Cities – Ethnic Enclaves / Tenements / Jacob Riis
– Jobs – factory jobs – often scabs or willing to accept lower wages
– Settlement Houses - help in assimilating : Jane Addams – Hull House / Chicago
• Native Response
– Nativism – opposition & resentment
– Restrictions – Ellis Island / Chinese Exclusion Act / Quota Laws (1920’s)
• Theories of Assimilation – Melting Pot / Cultural Pluralism / Anglicization
Q. 7) Discuss the history of how and why farmers challenged the new directions of American
industrial capitalism, and how this confrontation came to a head during the 1890’s.
• Industrialization’s Negative Impact on Farmers:
– Farm Depression
– Farm Productivity Up = Farm Prices Down / Debt Up
– costs rise - new technology (mechanical reaper), mortgages, etc.
• Government Policies Negative Impact on Farmers:
– Decrease the Money Supply –
• Switch to Gold Standard / Stop coining Silver
• Farmers want inflation so farm prices up & debts paid off
• Big Business (Gold Bugs) favors gold standard (banks)
– Laissez – Faire Policies
• Pools are legal
• Railroad Companies overcharge shipping & storing of farm goods
– Farmers challenge the direction of economic change
• Grange Organizations
– Grange Laws enacted
– Supreme Court Rulings Munn Case , Wabash Case
– Federal Regulations – Interstate Commerce Act, Sherman Anti Trust
Act
• Farmers Alliances Created – Grangers get organized
– Southern & Northern Alliances
• Populist Party Created – 3rd Party challenging Rep. & Dem.’s
– Farmers Organizations & Labor Unions
– Populist Party Platform – direct election of Senators, Progressive Income
Tax
– Democratic Party adopts & absorbs Populist ideas
– William Jennings Bryan – Presidential candidate for both Democratic &
Populist Party
– Many populist ideas become laws during progressive era
Q. 8) Discuss the objectives of American foreign policy at the turn of the century with
respect to power in the Western Hemisphere, the relationship between American
economic & military interests & imperial developments in Hawaii, Cuba and Puerto
Rico
•
Objectives of American Foreign Policy in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s
– Empire Building - aka: Imperialism
• American Sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere – Monroe
Doctrine (1823)
• Factors & reasons for new policy of Imperialism
– 2nd Industrial Revolution
» need for natural resources & markets
» Commercial & business interests
– Nationalistic rivalry vs. European powers
» Mahan’s influential book –” Importance of Sea Power”
– Social Darwinism
– Humanitarianism – “White Man’s Burden”
• Americans argue for & against imperialism:
– For – Pulitzer, Hearst, McKinley
– Against – Mark Twain
– Cases:
• Hawaii (1850’s – 1890’s)
– 1st Missionaries arrive – spread Christianity
– Then – US businessmen (Dole) – establish farms – US protectorate
– Hawaiians resist imperialism – get nationalistic
» Queen Liliuokalani symbol of Hawaiian nationalism
– Dole & US business organize overthrow of Queen
– Republic of Hawaii - 1893
– Hawaii annexed by US - 1898
• Cuba
– Cuba is a Spanish colony / Cubans fight for independence
– US backs independence of Cuba from Spain
– Role of Yellow Journalism – “Remember the Maine”
– US declares War on Spain
– Sends troops to Cuba / defeats Spain
– Cuba becomes US protectorate (Teller & Platt Amendments)
» US intervenes in Cuban affairs & has military base (Guantanimo)
• Puerto Rico
– – acquired from Spain as a result of Spanish American war
– symbol of US expansion in Caribbean
Q. 9)Discuss the causes & events leading up to and through the SpanishAmerican War, the main events in fighting the Spanish and subsequently the
Philippines
• Causes & events leading up to the Spanish-American War
– Cuba is a Spanish colony / Cubans fight for independence
– US backs independence of Cuba from Spain
» Role of Yellow Journalism – “The Butcher”
» De Lome letter insults Pres. McKinley
» USS Maine explodes - “Remember the Maine”
– US declares War on Spain
» Defeats Spanish fleet in Pacific Ocean - Phillipines
» Sends troops to Cuba
• Rough Riders – Teddy Roosevelt (San Juan Hill)
– USA wins war vs. Spain
» Cuba becomes US protectorate (Teller & Platt Amendments)
» US gets Puerto Rico, Guam, Phillipines from Spain
» US becomes a world imperialistic power
Q. 10) Discuss the Foreign Policies of Teddy Roosevelt
• Nicknamed “Big Stick Policy”
– Use military strength to achieve goals
– Was an Imperialist - economic & nationalistic motives
– Active interventionist
• Examples:
• Panama – “I took Panama”
– Goal - shorter route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
• Columbia owned Panama – said NO to US buying land
• Pres. Roosevelt got Panama to Revolt against Colombia
• The US recognizes Panama as an independent nation.
• We paid Panama for the land to build the canal on
• Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
 The United States will act as “an international police power” in the
Western Hemisphere and intervene to prevent intervention by other
powers.
 Intervention in Latin America — Under Roosevelt, the United States often
intervened in Latin America.
 Russo – Japanese War – Roosevelt mediator / Nobel Peace Prize
 Gentleman’s Agreement with Japan