PROGRESSIVE AMERICA
AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Unit VB
AP United States History
Fundamental Questions
► To
what extent was the progressive
movement “progressive”?
► To what extent was the American public
supportive of increased foreign
involvement?
Solving the Problems of the Gilded
Age
► Massive
industrialization, production, and
urbanization led to a wide variety of issues and
problems or an expanding of existing concerns
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Political ineptitude
Social inequalities
Economical gaps
Culture clashes
► Certain
individuals and groups strongly pursued
causes to improve America’s conditions and led
the way for further government intervention
Progressivism (1900-1920)
► Reformers
destined to solve the many issues
through a pragmatic approach
 Experiment for improvement
► Most
Progressives came from the urban middle-
class
► Progressives charged with Christian values and
morality
► American ideals seemed antiquated and needed
changes or modifications
 The American character should change/evolve with
society
Development of Progressives
►
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Industrialization, commercialism, and urbanization
exacerbated social, political, and economic problems and
issues
Expansion of the middle-class who were educated and
understood the conditions
 Whereas upper-class preferred status quo and lower-class
enveloped in conditions
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Laissez-faire and limited government proved ineffective and
socialism and anarchism proved too radical
Inspired by Social Gospel and Gospel of Wealth to solve
problems affecting society through promotion of Christian
values
Fueled by historic idealistic pursuits such as
Jeffersonianism, Jacksonian democracy, and Populism
Initiatives and referendums at municipal and state levels
spread notice of issues in hopes of making them national
Use of scientific research and statistics supported
Progressive initiatives to justify and reason for
change/modification
Progressives and Democracy
►
Promotion of democracy by pursuing policies
and initiatives to expand the people’s voice
 In order to limit the corruption and influence of
patronage, political machines, and big
business
►
Secret ballots (Australian ballot)
 Polling places inundated with corrupt tactics
 All candidates printed on ballots
 Vote in privacy at assigned polling place
►
Direct primaries
 Eliminate practice of electing candidates
through political bosses
 Not thoroughly effective
►
Direct election of Senators
 Eliminate patronage practice with state
legislators selecting candidates
 Seventeenth Amendment (1913)
 Most Southern states did not ratify due to
belief in limiting states’ rights
►
Initiatives, referendums, and recalls
 Way of persuading legislatures to seriously
consider and adhere to issues
Progressive Social Initiatives and
Developments
►
Settlement Houses and YMCA
 From idealistic reformers to professional social workers
 Provide shelters, constructive leisure activities, education
 Hull House in Chicago and Jane Addams
►
Blue Laws
 Regulating morality at the local and state levels
►
Temperance to Prohibition
 Support for prohibition more from rural reformers than urban reformers
 Eighteenth Amendment (1919) and Volsteadt Act prohibited manufacturing and sale
of alcohol
►
Education
 Comprehensive and compulsory education
 Teachers based on merit and professionalism
 Educational reform varied from location
►
Labor Unions
 AFL worked better for labor reforms
►
Workers’ compensation, minimum wages, improved conditions
 Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) aka Wobblies
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Direct action use of general strikes
Socialists, anarchists, immigrants
Progressives and Minorities
►
Blacks and Civil Rights
 Whether exploited through sharecropping or publicly segregated, blacks
suffered inequities and Progressives tended to ignore their plight
 By 1900, 90% blacks in South; Great Migration to cities and the North
►
National Urban League (1911)
 W.E.B Du Bois – demand for civil rights for progress
 Booker T. Washington – economic opportunity for progress
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President of Tuskegee University
Up From Slavery and White House dinner
 Niagara Movement to NAACP (1908)
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Women’s Suffrage Movement
 Younger women rose up for women reform and suffrage
 Suffrage gains at the state levels and changed to national suffrage
movement
 National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) (1900) – Carrie
Catt
 Stronger tactics – Alice Paul and Lucy Burns AND National Women’s Party
(NWP, 1916)
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Picketing, parades, hunger strikes
Silent Sentinels
 Nineteenth Amendment (1920)
►
League of Women Voters for female efficacy
Internal Migration
Suffrage by States
Muckrakers
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Journalists and authors investigated
and probed the “dirty side” of politics,
economics, and society by combining
research with sensationalism
Originated with attacks on the
Standard Oil Company
Targets included: monopolies/trusts
(steel, oil), corporations (railroads),
political bosses and machines, poor
living and working conditions
(tenements)
Informed public and aroused feelings
against corruption and poor conditions
Led to more and new government
regulations and enforcement;
development of public relations by
businesses
Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle
Local Political Reform
► Political
bosses and local businesses forged
corrupt allegiances
► Cities asserted more control and regulation
of public utilities
► Commissioners and city councils popularly
elected; city managers
► Progressive mayors: Toledo’s Samuel
Jones and Cleveland’s Tom Johnson
State Political Reform
► More
and more states assumed progressive
reforms
 Direct primaries, business regulations, tax
reforms, suffrage, temperance
► Wisconsin’s
Robert LaFollette’s “Wisconsin
Idea”
► As more states became progressive,
reformers began to pursue initiatives on a
national level
Roosevelt and Progressives (19011908)
►
Square Deal
 Favored fairness and national
welfare
 Domestic “Big-Stick”
►
Trust-Busting
 Enforce Sherman Anti-Trust Act
 Good trusts and bad trusts
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National Regulation
 Elkins Act and Hepburn Act
strengthened ICC over railroads
 Pure Food and Drug Act
 Meat Inspection Act
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Conservation
 Forest Reserve Act
 Newlands Reclamation Act
 Gifford Pinchot and National
Conservation Commission
National Parks
Taft and the Progressives (19081912)
► Trust-busted
more than Roosevelt
► Set aside lands for conservation
► Mann-Elkins Act
► Sixteenth Amendment
Election of 1912
►
Taft’s policies lead to a split in the Republican Party
 Conservative Republicans and Progressive Republicans
(Insurgents)
►
Bull Moose Party and Roosevelt
 New Nationalism – executive regulations of industries and social
justice
►
Democrat Woodrow Wilson
 New Freedom – regulate business but promote competition and
small businesses
►
Socialist Party of America and Eugene V. Debs
 Radical reforms
►
Woodrow Wilson defeated Roosevelt as the Republicans
were split
Election 1912
Woodrow Wilson and Progressives
(1912-1920)
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Business Regulation
 Clayton Antitrust Act
 Federal Trade Commission
► Regulate unfair practices in most
industries
Federal Reserve
 Banks’ bank
 Federal Reserve Board dictated
monetary policy
 12 national financial districts
Federal Farm Loan Act
 Low interest loans from federal banks
Child Labor Act (1916)
 Prohibited interstate shipment of
products made with children under 14
 Found unconstitutional
Underwood Tariff

Lowered tariffs and increased income tax
U.S. Foreign Events Before 1880
► Monroe
Doctrine
► Japan
 Commodore Perry
 Convention of Kanagawa (1854)
► William
H. Seward
 Mexico (1866)
 Midway Island (1867)
 Alaska Purchase - “Seward’s Folly” (1867)
Hawaii
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Hawaii was an independent kingdom
Christian missionaries and sugar plantation farmers settle
since 1820s
Rise of Sugar Oligarchy and Fall of Kingdom
 Duty-free sugar led to sugar plantation owners become prosperous
and powerful
 Queen Liliuokalani resented American encroachment
 Sugar owners back by marines overthrew the Queen and
established Republic of Hawaii
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Annexation
 Grover Cleveland refused
 William McKinley argued manifest destiny
 Annexed in 1898 and territory by 1900
Why Hawaii?
Enforcing the Monroe Doctrine
► Pan-American
Conference (1889)
 Permanent organization between U.S. and Latin
American nations for mutual political and
economical prosperity
► Venezuela
and Great Britain
 U.S. threatened force against Britain
 Deal made favoring U.S. and G.B.
Spanish-American War
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Cuba
 Cuban revolt and Spanish retribution threatened American investments
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Yellow journalism
 Sensational stories whipped up anti-Spanish sentiment
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DeLome Letter (Feb. 9, 1898)
 Spanish minister criticized McKinley
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“Remember the Maine!” (Feb. 15, 1898)
 250 Americans lost in explosion in Havana Harbor
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War declaration and Teller Amendment
 Spain’s refusal of American demands led to war
 Teller Amendment promised Cuban independence once peace restored
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Cuban Theater
 Inexperienced soldiers died from disease than Spanish
 Rough Riders and San Juan Hill
 Santiago Bay
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Philippines Theater
 Destruction of Spanish fleet in Manila Bay (May 1, 1898)
 Americans capture Manila (August 13, 1898)
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Treaty of Paris
 Cuban independence
 Annexation of Puerto Rico, Guam; Philippines for $20 million
A Cry for War
Imperialists and Anti-Imperialists
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Mostly from Republican
Party
Theodore Roosevelt, John
Hay, James G. Blaine
Economic expansion,
political security,
international prestige,
humanitarian efforts
Insular Cases (1901-1903)
 Constitutional provisions and
guarantees granted only by
Congress to territories
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Anti-Imperialist League
► William Jennings Bryan,
Samuel Gompers, Mark
Twain, Ben Tillman,
Andrew Carnegie
► Mostly from Democratic
Party
► Undemocratic, violated
republicanism
Big Stick by Teddy
Policies of Diplomacy
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Big Stick Policy (Roosevelt 1901-1908)
 Aggressive and interventionist policies
 Roosevelt Corollary
► Right
for American intervention if a nation proved incapable to protect
American investments and hemisphere stability
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Dollar Diplomacy (Taft 1909-1912)
 Endorse American expansion through overseas investment and
infrastructure
 Lodge Corollary extended Monroe Doctrine to non-European
nations
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Moral Diplomacy (Wilson 1912-1921)
 Opposition to aggressive expansion
 Promote democratic and republican ideals especially in affected
nations/territories
Intervention in Latin America
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Cuba
 Platt Amendment
► Removal
of U.S. troops on acceptance
► Became a U.S. protectorate
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Haiti (BSP)
Santo Domingo (BSP)
Panama (BSP)
 Revolution and Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
► After
U.S.-supported rebellion, U.S. awarded rights to canal zone
connecting Atlantic and Pacific interests
 Panama Canal
► 1904-1914
► Eliminated American
►
exemption in 1914 (MD)
Nicaragua (1911) (DD)
 Marines sent to protect investments
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Puerto Rico
 Limited sovereignty and citizenship in 1917 (MD)
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Mexico
 Tampico and Pancho Villa (1913-1917)
Panama Canal Zone
Caribbean Involvement
Intervention in Asia
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Philippines
 Annexed by Treaty of Paris (1899)
 Guerilla warfare led by Emilio Aguinaldo
 Jones Act of 1916 (MD)
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Guaranteed rights and independence given stability
China
 Open Door Policy
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Equal trading among nations with spheres of influence in order to protect American
investments in China
Preserve Chinese independence for mutual benefit
 Boxer Rebellion
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International force suppressed anti-foreigner rebels
Europeans further strangled Qing Dynasty
 Railroad investment in China (DD)
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Japan
 Treaty of Portsmouth
►
Ended Russo-Japanese War
 “gentleman’s agreement”
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Japanese restrict emigration and U.S. repeal discrimination laws
 Great White Fleet (1907-1909) (BSP)
 Root-Takahira Agreement (1908)
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Japan supported Open Door Policy in China
Acknowledged each nation’s territories in Pacific
Great War in Europe (1914-1919)
► Archduke
and wife of
Austria-Hungary
assassinated by
Serbian nationalist on
June 28, 1914
► Alliances and
ultimatums dragged
Europe into a
destructive conflict
American Neutrality and Opinion
►
Wilson proclaims neutrality on August 4, 1914
► Economic prosperity key to American progress and
continue trade with both sides
► American ships seized by British and sunk by Germans
violating freedom of the seas
► American loans toward Allies
► American public and American and British press favored
Allies while depicting Central Powers as brutal aggressors
► Ethnic opinions based on nation’s allegiance
► Populists, Progressives, William Jennings Bryan,
Socialists, Midwest, West, women, Jane Addams opposed
becoming more involved in war
Toward American Involvement
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German U-Boats
 Lusitania sunk on May 7, 1915 killing 128 Americans
 Sussex in March 1916
 Wilson threatened sanctions and Germany promised to abide by freedom
of the seas
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National Security League
 Preparedness by developing and increasing military during 1915-1917
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Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany
Russian Revolution
Zimmermann Telegram
 German request for Mexico alliance in return for lost land by U.S.
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Wilson requested declaration of war by Congress against Germany
 Given on April 6, 1917 by near unanimous vote
American Home Front
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War agencies
 War Industries Board – prioritized production, limited use of resources, set prices
 Food Administration – rationing of food
 National War Labor Board – union concessions, no strikes
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Liberty Bonds
 Americans purchase government bonds to finance war
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Committee on Public Information
 Provide a pro-Allies perspective in the newspapers, arts, literature, theaters, music
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American Protective League
 Prejudice-based propaganda, especially against Germans
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Espionage Act of 1917
 Prohibit interference in military and obstruct the draft
 Schenck v. United States upheld; “clear and present danger”
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Sedition Act of 1918
 Prohibit criticism of U.S. government
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Selective Service Act of 1917
American Society Effects
 Women
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Filled in jobs as men fought war
 Blacks
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Segregated as troops
Job opportunities
 Mexicans
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Job opportunities
American Propaganda
American War Front
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American Expeditionary Force (AEF)
 Inspired to preserve democracy and defend American honor
 Reality of trench warfare and war of attrition
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Naval convoy
► Spring Offensive (1918)
► Hundred Days Offensive (1918)
► Armistice (11/11/1918)
► 117,000 American casualties, most due to influenza
 Over 16 million total dead
 1 million British, 1.6 million French, 3.3. million Russian, 2.4 million
German, 2.9 million Ottoman, 1.5 Austrian-Hungarian
Wilson and Peace
►
“Peace without victory” and
Fourteen Points
 Self-determination and League
of Nations
►
Treaty of Versailles
 German guilt, reparations
 League of Nations
►
Treaty Ratification in U.S.
 Republican majority in
Congress – 2/3 majority needed
for ratification
 Henry Cabot Lodge and
Republicans
►
Irreconcilables and
Reservationists
► Never ratified; separate peace
couple of years later
America After the War
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Economic turmoil
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First Red Scare
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Fueled by Russian Revolution and labor strikes
Targets included socialists, communists,
anarchists, Wobblies
1919 Bombings
Newspapers and government spearheaded
raids and deportations, but public soon detested
actions as violations of civil liberties
Strikes
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Recession hit in 1919 and more severely in
1920-1921
Overproduction, increased labor force,
adjustment from war production to peace
production, labor strife/unions, Fed and interest
rates
Led to anti-union sentiment as national security
and welfare threatened by strikes
Race riots
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Increased competition led to increased racism in
Northern cities and South