STAAR Review notes
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CHAPTER 6: A NEW INDUSTRIAL AGE
LATE 19TH CENTURY AMERICA EXPERIENCED AN INDUSTRIAL BOOM
SECTION 1: THE EXPANSION OF INDUSTRY
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After the Civil War (1865) the U.S. was still largely agriculture
By 1920, the U.S. was the leading industrial power in the world
This enormous growth was due to three factors;
1) Natural Resources
Governmental support 3) Urbanization
2)
BLACK GOLD
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In 1859, Edwin Drake used a steam engine to drill for oil
This breakthrough started an oil boom in the Midwest and later Texas
At first the process was limited to transforming the oil into kerosene and throwing
out the gasoline -- a by-product of the process
Later, the gasoline was used for cars
BESSEMER STEEL PROCESS
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Oil was not the only valuable natural resource
Coal and iron were plentiful within the U.S.
When you removed the carbon from iron, the result was a lighter, more flexible and
rust resistant compound – Steel
The Bessemer process did just did (Henry Bessemer & William Kelly)
NEW USES FOR STEEL
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The railroads, with thousands of miles of track, were the biggest customers for steel
Other uses emerged: barbed wire, farm equipment, bridge construction (Brooklyn
Bridge- 1883),and the first skyscrapers
INVENTIONS SPUR INDUSTRY
ELECTRICITY
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1876- Thomas Alva Edison established the world’s first research lab in New Jersey
There Edison perfected the incandescent light bulb in 1880
Later he invented an entire system for producing and distributing electricity
By 1890, electricity powered numerous machines
THE TYPEWRITER
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Christopher Sholes invented the typewriter in 1867
His invention forever affected office work and paperwork
It also opened many new jobs for women
1870: Women made up less than 5% of workforce 1910: They made up 40%
THE TELEPHONE
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Another important invention of the late 19th century was the telephone
Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson unveiled their invention in 1876
SECTION 2: THE AGE OF THE RAILROADS
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The growth and consolidation of the railroad industry influenced many facets of
American life
However, the unchecked power of the railroad companies led to widespread abuses
and then reforms
A NATIONAL NETWORK
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By 1869, tracks had been laid across the continent (Golden Spike- Utah)
Immigrants from China and Ireland and out-of-work Civil War vets provided most of
the difficult labor
Thousands lost their lives and tens of thousands were injured laying track
RAILROAD AND TIME
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Before 1883, each community still operated on its own time
For example: Noon in Boston was 12 minutes later than noon in New York City
Indiana had dozens of different times
No standard time reference
PROFESSOR DOWD CREATES TIME ZONES
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In 1869, to remedy this problem, Professor C.F. Dowd proposed dividing the earth into
24 time zones
The U.S. would be divided into 4 zones: the eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific
1883 – Railroads synchronized their watches across U.S.
1884 – International Conference adopts zones
RAILROADS SPUR OTHER INDUSTRIES
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The rapid growth of the railroad industry influenced the iron, coal, steel, lumber, and
glass businesses as they tried to keep up with the railroads demand for materials
The spread of the railroads also led to the growth of towns, new markets, and
opportunity for profiteers
RAILROADS LED TO GROWTH OF CITIES
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Many of today’s major cities owe their legacy to the railroad
Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, and Seattle all grew up thanks to the railroad
PULLMAN: A FACTORY & TOWN
In 1880, George Pullman built a factory for manufacturing sleepers and other railroad
cars in Illinois
The nearby town Pullman built for his employees was modeled after early industrial
European towns
Pullman workers felt his puritanical town was too strict
When he lowered wages but not rent – it led to a violent strike in 1894
CREDIT MOBILIER SCANDAL
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Stockholders of Union Pacific Railroad formed a construction company in 1864
Stockholders then gave contracts to the company to lay track at 3 times the actual
costs and pocketed the difference
They donated shares of the stock to 20 Republican members of Congress in 1867
THE GRANGE AND THE RAILROADS
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Farmers were especially affected by corruption in the railroad industry
Grangers (a farmers organization) protested land deals, price fixing, and charging
different rates to different customers
Granger Laws were then passed protecting farmers
States were given regulation control of railroads by the Courts
INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT
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In 1887, the Federal government re-established their control over railroad activities
Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act and established a 5-member Interstate
Commerce Commission (ICC)
The ICC struggled to gain power until 1906
SECTION 3: BIG BUSINESS
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AND LABOR
Andrew Carnegie was one of the first industrial moguls
He entered the steel industry in 1873
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By 1899, the Carnegie Steel Company manufactured more steel than all the factories
in Great Britain combined
CARNEGIE BUSINESS PRACTICES
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Carnegie initiated many new business practices such as;
Searching for ways to make better products more cheaply
Accounting systems to track expenses
Attracting quality people by offering them stock & benefits
CARNEGIE’S VERTICAL INTEGRATION
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Carnegie attempted to control as much of the steel industry as possible
How? Vertical integration; he bought out his suppliers (coal fields, iron mines, ore
freighters, and rail lines) in order to control materials and transportation
HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION
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Additionally, Carnegie bought up the competition through friendly and hostile
takeovers
This is known as Horizontal Integration; buying companies that produce similar
products – in this case other steel companies
BUSINESS GROWTH & CONSOLIDATION
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Mergers could result in a monopoly (Trust)
A monopoly is complete control over an industry
An example of consolidation: In 1870, Rockefeller Standard Oil Company owned 2% of
the country’s crude oil
By 1880 – it controlled 90% of U.S. crude oil
SOCIAL DARWINISM
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The philosophy known as Social Darwinism has its origins in Darwin’s theory of
evolution
Darwin theorized that some individuals in a species flourish and pass their traits on
while others do not
Social Darwinists (like Herbert Spencer) believed riches was a sign of God’s favor, and
being poor was a sign of inferiority and laziness
ROBBER BARONS
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Alarmed at the cut-throat tactics of industrialists, critics began to call them “Robber
Barons”
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Famous “Robber Barons” included Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Stanford, and J.P.
Morgan
ROBBER BARONS WERE GENEROUS, TOO
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Despite being labeled as greedy barons, rich industrialists did have a generous side
When very rich people give away lots of money it is called “Philanthropy”
Carnegie built libraries, Rockefeller, Leland Stanford, and Cornelius Vanderbilt built
schools
SHERMAN ANTI-TRUST ACT
In 1890, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act made it illegal to form a monopoly (Trust)
Prosecuting companies under the Act was not easy – a business would simply
reorganize into single companies to avoid prosecution
Seven of eight cases brought before the Supreme Court were thrown out
(REAL TRUST)
WORKERS HAD POOR CONDITIONS
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Workers routinely worked 6 or 7 days a week, had no vacations, no sick leave, and no
compensation for injuries
Injuries were common – In 1882, an average of 675 workers were killed PER WEEK on
the job
LABOR UNIONS EMERGE
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As conditions for laborers worsened, workers realized they needed to organize
The first large-scale national organization of workers was the National Labor Union in
1866
The Colored National Labor Union followed
CRAFT UNIONS
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Craft Unions were unions of workers in a skilled trade
Samuel Gompers led the Cigar Makers’ International Union to join with other craft
unions in 1886
Gompers became president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL)
He focused on collective bargaining to improve conditions, wages and hours
INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM
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Some unions were formed with workers within a specific industry
Eugene Debs attempted this Industrial Union with the railway workers
In 1894, the new union won a strike for higher wages and at its peak had 150,000
members
SOCIALISM AND THE IWW
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Some unionists (including Debs) turned to a socialism – an economic and political
system based on government control of business and property and an equal
distribution of wealth among all citizens
The International Workers of the World (IWW) or Wobblies, was one such socialist
union
STRIKES TURN VIOLENT
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Several strikes turned deadly in the late 19th century as workers and owners clashed
The Great Strike of 1877: Workers for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad struck to
protest wage cuts
Other rail workers across the country struck in sympathy
Federal troops were called in to end the strike
THE HAYMARKET AFFAIR
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Labor leaders continued to push for change – and on May 4, 1886 3,000 people
gathered at Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest police treatment of striking
workers
A bomb exploded near the police line – killing 7 cops and several workers
Radicals were rounded up and executed for the crime
THE HOMESTEAD STRIKE
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Even Andrew Carnegie could not escape a workers strike
Conditions and wages were not satisfactory in his Steel plant in Pennsylvania
and workers struck in 1892
Carnegie hired Pinkerton Detectives to guard the plant and allow scabs to work
Detectives and strikers clashed – 3 detectives and 9 strikers died
The National guard restored order – workers returned to work
THE PULLMAN STRIKE
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After the Pullman Company laid off thousands of workers and cut wages, the workers
went on strike in the spring of 1894
Eugene Debs (American Railroad Union) tried to settle dispute which turned violent
Pullman hired scabs and fired the strikers – Federal troops were brought in
Debs was jailed
WOMEN ORGANIZE
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Although women were barred from most unions, they did organize behind powerful
leaders such as Mary Harris Jones
She organized the United Mine Workers of America
Mine workers gave her the nickname, “Mother Jones”
Pauline Newman organized the International Ladies Garment Workers Union at the
age of 16
EMPLOYERS FIGHT UNIONS
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The more powerful the unions became, the more employers came to fear them
Employers often forbade union meetings and refused to recognize unions
Employers forced new workers to sign “Yellow Dog Contracts,” swearing that they
would never join a union
Despite those efforts, the AFL had over 2 million members by 1914
IMMIGRANTS AND URBANIZATION
AMERICA BECOMES A MELTING POT IN THE LATE 19TH & EARLY 20TH CENTURY
SECTION 1:THE NEW IMMIGRANTS
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Millions of immigrants entered the U.S. in the late 19 th and early 20th centuries
Some came to escape difficult conditions, others known as “birds of passage”
intended to stay only temporarily to earn money, and then return to their homeland
EUROPEANS
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Between 1870 and 1920, about 20 million Europeans arrived in the United States
Before 1890, most were from western and northern Europe
After 1890, most came from southern and eastern Europe
All were looking for opportunity
CHINESE
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Between 1851 and 1882, about 300,000 Chinese arrived on the West Coast
Some were attracted by the Gold Rush, others went to work for the railroads, farmed
or worked as domestic servants
An anti-Chinese immigration act by Congress curtailed immigration after 1882
JAPANESE
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In 1884, the Japanese government allowed Hawaiian planters to recruit Japanese
workers
The U.S. annexation of Hawaii in 1898 increased Japanese immigration to the west
coast
By 1920, more than 200,000 Japanese lived on the west coast
THE WEST INDIES AND MEXICO
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Between 1880 and 1920, about 260,000 immigrants arrived in the eastern and
southeastern United States form the West Indies
They came from Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other islands
Mexicans, too, immigrated to the U.S. to find work and flee political turmoil – 700,000
Mexicans arrived in the early 20th century
LIFE IN THE NEW LAND
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In the late 19th century most immigrants arrived via boats
The trip from Europe took about a month, while it took about 3 weeks from Asia
The trip was arduous and many died along the way
Destination was Ellis Island for Europeans, and Angel Island for Asians
ELLIS ISLAND, NEW YORK
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Ellis Island was the arrival point for European immigrants
They had to pass inspection at the immigration stations
Processing took hours, and the sick were sent home
Immigrants also had to show that they were not criminals, had some money ($25), and
were able to work
From 1892-1924, 17 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island’s facilities
ANGEL ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO
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Asians, primarily Chinese, arriving on the West Coast gained admission at Angel Island
in the San Francisco Bay
Processing was much harsher than Ellis Island as immigrants withstood tough
questioning and long detentions in filthy conditions
FRICTION DEVELOPS
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While some immigrants tried to assimilate into American culture, others kept to
themselves and created ethnic communities
Committed to their own culture, but also trying hard to become Americans, many
came to think of themselves as Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, ChineseAmericans, etc
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Some native born Americans disliked the immigrants unfamiliar customs and
languages – friction soon developed
IMMIGRANT RESTRICTIONS
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As immigration increased, so did anti-immigrant feelings among natives
Nativism (favoritism toward native-born Americans) led to anti-immigrant
organizations and governmental restrictions against immigration
In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which limited Chinese immigration
until 1943
SECTION 2: THE CHALLENGES OF URBANIZATION
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Rapid urbanization occurred in the late 19th century in the Northeast & Midwest
Most immigrants settled in cities because of the available jobs & affordable housing
By 1910, immigrants made up more than half the population of 18 major American
cities
MIGRATION FROM COUNTRY TO CITY
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Rapid improvements in farm technology (tractors, reapers, steel plows) made farming
more efficient in the late 19th century
It also meant less labor was needed to do the job
Many rural people left for cities to find work- including almost ¼ million African
Americans
URBAN PROBLEMS
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Problems in American cities in the late 19th and early 20th century included:
Housing: overcrowded tenements were unsanitary
Sanitation: garbage was often not collected, polluted air
URBAN PROBLEMS CONTINUED
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Transportation: Cities struggled to provide adequate transit systems
Water: Without safe drinking water cholera and typhoid fever was common
Crime: As populations increased thieves flourished
Fire: Limited water supply and wooden structures combined with the use of candles
led to many major urban fires – Chicago 1871 and San Francisco 1906 were two major
fires
PHOTOGRAPHER JACOB RIIS CAPTURED IMAGES OF THE CITY
REFORMERS MOBILIZE
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Jacob Riis was a reformer who through his pictures hoped for change– he influenced
many
The Social Gospel Movement preached salvation through service to the poor
Some reformers established Settlement Homes
These homes provided a place to stay, classes, health care and other social services
Jane Addams was the most famous member of the Settlement Movement (founded
Hull House in Chicago)
SECTION 3: POLITICS IN THE GILDED AGE
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As cities grew in the late 19th century, so did political machines
Political machines controlled the activities of a political party in a city
Ward bosses, precinct captains, and the city boss worked to ensure their candidate
was elected
ROLE OF THE POLITICAL BOSS
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The “Boss” (typically the mayor) controlled jobs, business licenses, and influenced the
court system
Precinct captains and ward bosses were often 1st or 2nd generation immigrants so they
helped immigrants with naturalization, jobs, and housing in exchange for votes
MUNICIPAL GRAFT AND SCANDAL
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Some political bosses were corrupt
Some political machines used fake names and voted multiple times to ensure victory
(“Vote early and often”) – called Election fraud
Graft (bribes) was common among political bosses
Construction contracts often resulted in “kick-backs”
The fact that police forces were hired by the boss prevented close scrutiny
THE TWEED RING SCANDAL
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William M. Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, became head of Tammany Hall, NYC’s
powerful Democratic political machines
Between 1869-1871, Tweed led the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians, in
defrauding the city
Tweed was indicted on 120 counts of fraud and extortion
Tweed was sentenced to 12 years in jail – released after one, arrested again, and
escaped to Spain
CIVIL SERVICE REPLACES PATRONAGE
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Nationally, some politicians pushed for reform in the hiring system
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The system had been based on Patronage; giving jobs and favors to those who helped
a candidate get elected
Reformers pushed for an adoption of a merit system of hiring the most qualified for
jobs
The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 authorized a bipartisan commission to make
appointments for federal jobs based on performance
SCIENCE AND URBAN LIFE
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By the turn of the 20th century, four out of ten Americans lived in cities
In response to urbanization, technological advances began to meet communication,
transportation, and space demands
LIFE AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY
THE EMERGENCE OF MODERN AMERICA
SKYSCRAPERS
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Skyscrapers emerged after two critical inventions: elevators & steel skeletons that
bear weight
Famous examples include; Daniel Burnham’s Flatiron Building in NYC, Louis Sullivan’s
Wainwright Building in St. Louis
The skyscraper was America’s greatest contribution to architecture and solved the
issue of how to best use limited and expensive space
ELECTRIC TRANSIT
Changes in transportation allowed cities to spread outward
By the turn of the century, intricate networks of electric streetcars – also called trolley
cars –ran from outlying neighborhoods to downtown offices & stores
“EL’S” AND SUBWAYS
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A few large cities moved their streetcars far above street level, creating elevated or
“el” trains
Other cities built subways by moving their rail lines underground
BRIDGES & PARKS
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Steel-cable suspension bridges, like the Brooklyn Bridge, also brought cities’ sections
closer
Some urban planners sought to include landscaped areas & parks
Frederick Law Olmsted was instrumental in drawing up plans for Central park, NYC
CITY PLANNING: CHICAGO
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Daniel Burnham oversaw the transformation of Chicago’s lakefront from swampy
wasteland to elegant parks strung along Lake Michigan
Today Chicago’s lakefront is one of the most beautiful shorelines in North America
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
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New developments in communication brought the nation closer
Advances in printing, aviation, and photography helped speed the transfer of
information
A REVOLUTION IN PRINTING
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By 1890, the literacy rate in the U.S. was nearly 90%
American mills began to produce huge quantities of cheap paper from wood pulp
Electrical web-perfecting presses printed on both sides of paper at the same time
Faster production and lower costs made newspapers and magazines more affordable
(most papers sold for 1 cent)
AIRPLANES
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In the early 20th century, brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright, experimented with
engines and aircrafts
They commissioned a four-cylinder internal combustion engine, chose a propeller, and
built a biplane
On December 17, 1903 they flew their plane for 12 seconds covering 120 feet
Within two years the brothers were making 30 minute flights
By 1920, the U.S. was using airmail flights regularly
PHOTOGRAPHY EXPLOSION
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Before 1880, photography was a professional activity
Subjects could not move and the film had to be developed immediately
George Eastman invented lighter weight equipment and more versatile film
In 1888, Eastman introduced his Kodak Camera
The $25 camera came with 100-picture roll of film
SECTION 2: EXPANDING PUBLIC EDUCATION
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Between 1865 and 1895, states passed laws requiring 12 to 16 weeks of annual
education for students ages 8-14, but the curriculum was poor and the teachers were
usually not qualified
However, the number of kindergartens expanded from 200 in 1880 to 3,000 in 1900
HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SOARS
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High schools expanded their curriculum to include science, civics and social studies
By 1900 500,000 teen-agers were enrolled in high schools
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
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African Americans were mostly excluded from secondary education
In 1890 less than 1% attended high school
By 1910 that figured had reached only 3%
EDUCATION FOR IMMIGRANTS
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Unlike African Americans, immigrants were encouraged to go to school
Most immigrants sent their children to public schools
Also, thousands of adult immigrants attended night schools to learn English
EXPANDING HIGHER ED
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In 1900, less than 3% of America’s youth attended college
Between 1880 and 1920 college enrollments more than quadrupled
Professional schools were established for law and medicine
AFRICAN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES FORMED
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After the Civil War, thousands of African Americans pursued higher education despite
being excluded from white institutions
Blacks founded Howard, Fisk, and Tuskegee Universities (founded by Booker T.
Washington)
W.E.B. Dubois founded the Niagara Movement, which sought liberal arts educations
for all blacks
SECTION 3: SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION
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By the turn of the 20th century, Southern States had adopted a broad system of legal
discrimination
Blacks had to deal with voting restrictions, Jim Crow laws, Supreme Court set-backs,
and physical violence
WHAT IS DISCRIMINATION?
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Discrimination involves:
Beliefs : "This group of people is inferior because"
Emotions : "I hate this group of people."
Actions : "I will deny opportunity/hurt/kill members of this group."
VOTING RESTRICTIONS
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All Southern states imposed new voting restrictions and denied legal equality to
African Americans
Some states limited the vote to those who could read, other states had a poll tax
which had to be paid prior to voting
JIM CROW LAWS
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Southern states passed segregation laws to separate white and black people in public
and private facilities
These laws came to be known as “Jim Crow Laws”, named after an old minstrel song
Racial segregation was put into effect in schools, hospitals, parks, and transportation
systems throughout the South
PLESSY v. FERGUSON
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Eventually a legal case reached the U.S. Supreme Court to test the constitutionality of
segregation
In 1896, in Plessy v. Ferguson the Supreme Court ruled that the segregation of races
was legal and did not violate the 14th Amendment
RACE RELATIONS - 1900
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Blacks faced legal discrimination as well as informal rules and customs
Meant to humiliate these “rules” included; whites never shaking the hand of an
African America, blacks had to yield the sidewalk to whites, blacks also had to remove
their hats in the presence of whites
VIOLENCE
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African Americans who did not follow the racial etiquette could face severe
punishment or death
Between 1882-1892, more than 1,400 black men and women were shot, burned, or
lynched
Lynching peaked in the 1880s and 90s but continued well into the 20 th century
DISCRIMINATION IN THE NORTH
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While most African Americans lived in the segregated South, many blacks had
migrated to the North in hopes of better jobs & equality
However, the North had its own brand of racism as blacks got low paying jobs and
lived in segregated neighborhoods
DISCRIMINATION IN THE WEST
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Discrimination in the west was most often directed against Mexican and Asian
immigrants
Mexicans were often forced in Debt Peonage – a system of forced labor due to debt
Asians were increasingly excluded from mainstream society
SECTION 4: DAWN OF A MASS CULTURE
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Many middle class Americans fought off city congestion and dull industrial work by
enjoying amusement parks, bicycling, tennis and spectator sports
American leisure was developing into a multi-million dollar industry
AMUSEMENT PARKS
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To meet the recreational needs of city dwellers, Chicago, NYC and other cities began
setting aside land for parks
Amusement parks were constructed on the outskirts of cities
These parks had picnic grounds and a variety of rides
BICYCLING & TENNIS
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After the introduction of the “safety bike” in 1885, Americans increasingly enjoyed
biking
By 1890, 312 companies made over 10,000,000 bikes
Tennis also was very popular in the late 19th century
SPECTATOR SPORTS
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Americans not only participated in new sports, but became avid fans of spectator
sports
Baseball and boxing became profitable businesses
Mark Twain called baseball, “the very symbol of the booming 19 th century”
NEWSPAPERS
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Mass-production printing techniques led to the publication of millions of books,
magazines, and newspapers
Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst were two leading publishers whose
competition led to more and more sensational newspaper reporting
PROMOTING FINE ARTS
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By 1900, free circulating Public libraries numbered in the thousands
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By 1900, most major cities had art galleries
In the early 20th century, the Ashcan School of American Art painted urban life
POPULAR FICTION
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“Dime” novels were popular & inexpensive
Most of these focused on adventure tales and heroes of the west
Some readers preferred a more realistic portrayal from authors Mark Twain, Jack
London, and Willa Cather
GROWING CONSUMERISM
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The turn of the century witnessed the beginnings of the shopping center, department
and chain stores, and the birth of modern advertising
THE DEPARTMENT STORE
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Marshall Field of Chicago brought the first department store to America
Field’s motto was “Give the lady what she wants”
Field also pioneered the “bargain basement” concept
CHAIN STORES
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In the 1870s, F.W. Woolworth found that if he offered an item at a low price, “the
consumer would purchase it on the spur of the moment”
By 1911, the Woolworth chain had 596 stores and sold $1,000,000 per week
ADVERTISING
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Expenditures for advertising was under $10 million a year in 1865, but increased to
$95 million by 1900
Ads appeared in newspapers, magazines and on billboards
CATALOGS AND RFD
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Montgomery Ward and Sears were two pioneers in catalog sales
By 1910, 10 million Americans shopped by mail
In 1896 the Post Office introduced a rural free delivery (RFD) system that brought
packages directly to every home
CHAPTER 9 THE PROGRESSIVE ERA
AMERICA SEEKS REFORMS IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM
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As America entered into the 20th century, middle class reformers addressed many
social problems
Work conditions, rights for women and children, economic reform, environmental
issues and social welfare were a few of these issues
FOUR GOALS OF REFORMERS
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1) Protect Social Welfare
2) Promote Moral Improvement
3) Create Economic Reform
4) Foster Efficiency
1.PROTECT SOCIAL WELFARE




Industrialization in the late 19th century was largely unregulated
Employers felt little responsibility toward their workers
As a result Settlement homes and churches served the community
Also the YMCA and Salvation Army took on service roles
2. PROMOTE MORAL DEVELOPMENT



Some reformers felt that the answer to societies problems was personal behavior
They proposed such reforms as prohibition
Groups wishing to ban alcohol included the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
(WCTU)
3. CREATE ECONOMIC REFORM







The Panic of 1893 prompted some Americans to question the capitalist economic
system
As a result some workers embraced socialism
Eugene Debs organized the American Socialist Party in 1901
MUCKRAKERS CRITICIZE BIG BUSINESS
Though most progressives did not embrace socialism, many writers saw the truth in
Debs’ criticism
Journalists known as “Muckrakers” exposed corruption in business
Ida Tarbell exposed Standard Oil Company’s cut-throat methods of eliminating
competition
4. FOSTERING EFFICIENCY



Many Progressive leaders put their faith in scientific principles to make society better
In Industry, Frederick Taylor began using time & motion studies to improve factory
efficiency
Taylorism became an Industry fad as factories sought to complete each task quickly
CLEANING UP LOCAL GOVERNMENT




Efforts at reforming local government stemmed from the desire to make government
more efficient and responsive to citizens
Some believe it also was meant to limit immigrants influence in local governments
REGULATING BIG BUSINESS
Under the progressive Republican leadership of Robert La Follette, Wisconsin led the
way in regulating big business
PROTECTING WORKING CHILDREN



As the number of child workers rose, reformers worked to end child labor
Children were more prone to accidents caused by fatigue
Nearly every state limited or banned child labor by 1918
EFFORTS TO LIMIT HOURS


The Supreme Court and the states enacted or strengthened laws reducing women’s
hours of work
Progressives also succeeded in winning worker’s compensation to aid families of
injured workers
ELECTION REFORM



Citizens fought for, and won, such measures as secret ballots, referendum votes, and
the recall
Citizens could petition and get initiatives on the ballot
In 1899, Minnesota passed the first statewide primary system
DIRECT ELECTION OF SENATORS



Before 1913, each state’s legislature had chosen its own U.S. senators
To force senators to be more responsive to the public, progressives pushed for the
popular election of senators
As a result, Congress passed the
17th Amendment (1913)
SECTION 2: WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE


Before the Civil War, American women were expected to devote their time to home
and family
By the late 19th and early 20th century, women were visible in the workforce
DOMESTIC WORKERS


Before the turn-of-the-century women without formal education contributed to the
economic welfare of their families by doing domestic work
Altogether, 70% of women employed in 1870 were servants
WOMEN IN THE WORK FORCE



Opportunities for women increased especially in the cities
By 1900, one out of five women worked
The garment trade was popular as was office work, department stores and classrooms
WOMEN LEAD REFORM



Many of the leading progressive reformers were women
Middle and upper class women also entered the public sphere as reformers
Many of these women had graduated from new women’s colleges
WOMEN AND REFORM



Women reformers strove to improve conditions at work and home
In 1896, black women formed the National Association of Colored Women (NACW)
Suffrage was another important issue for women
THREE-PART STRATEGY FOR WINNING SUFFRAGE




Suffragists tried three approaches to winning the vote
1) Convince state legislatures to adopt vote (Succeeded in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho,
Colorado)
2) Pursue court cases to test 14th Amendment
3) Push for national constitutional Amendment
SECTION 3: TEDDY ROOSEVELT’S SQUARE DEAL

When President William McKinley was assassinated 6 months into his second term,
Theodore Roosevelt became the nations 26th president
ROOSEVELT AND THE ROUGH RIDERS

Roosevelt grabbed national attention by advocating war with Spain in 1898


His volunteer cavalry brigade, the Rough Riders, won public acclaim for its role in the
battle at San Juan Hill in Cuba
Roosevelt returned a hero and was soon elected governor of NY and later McKinley’s
vice-president
THE MODERN PRESIDENT










When Roosevelt was thrust into the presidency in 1901, he became the youngest
president ever at age 42
He quickly established himself as a modern president who could influence the media
and shape legislation
TRUSTBUSTING
By 1900, Trusts – legal bodies created to hold stock in many companies – controlled
80% of U.S. industries
Roosevelt filed 44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Antitrust Act
1902 COAL STRIKE
In 1902 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike for increased wages, a 9hour work day, and the right to unionize
Mine owners refused to bargain
Roosevelt called in both sides and settled the dispute
Thereafter, when a strike threatened public welfare, the federal government was
expected to step in and help
“THE JUNGLE” LEADS TO FOOD REGULATION


After reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Roosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat
Inspection Act of 1906
The Act mandated cleaner conditions for meatpacking plants
PURE FOOD AND DRUG ACT


In response to unregulated claims and unhealthy products, Congress passed the Pure
Food and Drug Act in 1906
The Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and called for truth in
labeling
ROOSEVELT AND THE ENVIRONMENT


Before Roosevelt’s presidency, the federal government paid very little attention to the
nation’s natural resources
Roosevelt made conservation a primary concern of his administration
ROOSEVELT’S ENVIROMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS


Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves
He also set aside 1.5 million acres of water-power sites and he established 50 wildlife
sanctuaries and several national parks
ROOSEVELT AND CIVIL RIGHTS


Roosevelt failed to support Civil Rights for African Americans
He did, however, support a few individuals such as Booker T. Washington
NAACP FORMED TO PROMOTE RIGHTS




In 1909 a number of African Americans and prominent white reformers formed the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The NAACP had 6,000 members by 1914
The goal of the organization was full equality among the races
The means to achieve this was the court system
SECTION 4: PROGRESSIVISM UNDER PRESIDENT TAFT


Republican William Howard Taft easily defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan to
win the 1908 presidential election
Among his accomplishments, Taft “busted” 90 trusts during his 4 years in office
TAFT LOSES POWER


Taft was not popular with the American public nor reform minded Republicans
By 1910, Democrats had regained control of the House of Representatives
1912 ELECTION




Republicans split in 1912 between Taft and Teddy Roosevelt (who returned after a
long trip to Africa)
Convention delegates nominated Taft
Some Republicans formed a third party – The Bull Moose Party and nominated
Roosevelt
The Democrats put forward a reform - minded New Jersey Governor, Woodrow
Wilson
WILSON’S NEW FREEDOM


As America’s newly elected president, Wilson moved to enact his program, the “New
Freedom”
He planned his attack on what he called the triple wall of privilege: trusts, tariffs, and
high finance
CLAYTON ANTITRUST ACT



In 1914 Congress enacted the Clayton Antitrust Act which strengthened the Sherman
Act
The Clayton Act prevented companies from acquiring stock from another company
(Anti-monopoly)
The Act also supported workers unions
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FORMED


The FTC was formed in 1914 to serve as a “watchdog” agency to end unfair business
practices
The FTC protects consumers from business fraud
FEDERAL INCOME TAX ARRIVES


Wilson worked hard to lower tariffs, however that lost revenue had to be made up
Ratified in 1916, the 16th Amendment legalized a graduated federal income tax
WOMEN WIN SUFFRAGE


Native-born, educated, middle-class women grew more and more impatient
Through local, state and national organization, vigorous protests and World War I,
women finally realized their dream in 1920
LIMITS OF PROGRESSIVISM


While the Progressive era was responsible for many important reforms, it failed to
make gains for African Americans
Like Roosevelt and Taft, Wilson retreated on Civil Rights once in office
IMPERIALISM AND AMERICA
CHAPTER 10 AMERICA CLAIMS AN EMPIRE



Throughout the 19th century America expanded control of the continent to the Pacific
Ocean
By 1880, many American leaders felt the U.S. should join European nations and
establish colonies overseas
Thus began America’s foray into Imperialism – the policy in which stronger nations
extend control over weaker nations
WHY IMPERIALISM?



1) Desire for Military strength – Mahan advised strong navy
2) Thirst for new markets – to spur economy & trade
3) Belief in Cultural Superiority – a belief that Anglo-Saxons were superior
THE U.S. ACQUIRES ALASKA




In 1867, Secretary of State William Steward arranged for the United States to buy
Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 million
Some thought it was a silly idea and called it “Steward’s Icebox”
Time has shown how smart it was to buy Alaska for 2 cents an acre
Alaska is rich in timber, minerals and oil
U.S. TAKES HAWAII




Hawaii had been economically important to Americans for centuries
To avoid import taxes (tariffs), sugar growers pleaded for annexation
The U.S. knew the value of the Islands – they had built a naval base at Pearl Harbor in
1887
Led by Sanford Dole, American annexed Hawaii in 1898 and it formally became a state
in 1959
SECTION 2: THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR



America had long held an interest in Cuba
When Cubans unsuccessfully rebelled against Spanish rule in the late 19 th century,
American sympathy went out to the Cuban people
After Spain abolished slavery in Cuba in 1886, Americans invested millions in Cuban
sugar
CUBA’S SECOND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE



Anti-Spain sentiment in Cuba soon erupted into a second war for independence
Led by poet Jose Marti, Cuba attempted a revolution in 1895
Marti deliberately destroyed property, including American sugar plants, hoping to
provoke American intervention
WAR FEVER ESCALATES

Newspaper publishers William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph
Pulitzer (New York World) exaggerated Spanish atrocities and brutality in “Headline
Wars”
U.S.S MAINE EXPLODES



Early in 1888, President McKinley ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba in order to bring
home American citizens in danger
On February 15, 1898 the ship blew up in the harbor of Havana
More than 260 men were killed
WAR ERUPTS WITH SPAIN



There was no holding back those that wanted war with Spain
Newspapers blamed the Spanish for bombing the U.S.S. Maine (recent investigations
have shown it was a fire inside the Maine)
“Remember the Maine!” became a rallying cry for U.S. intervention in Cuba
THE WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES



U.S. forces surprised Spain by attacking the Spanish colony of the Philippines
11,000 Americans joined forces with Filipino rebel leader Emilo Aguinaldo
By August, 1898 Spain had surrendered to the U.S. in Manila
THE WAR IN THE CARIBBEAN


A naval blockade of Cuba was followed by a land invasion highlighted by Roosevelt’s
Rough Rider victory at San Juan Hill
Next, the American Navy destroyed the Spanish fleet and paved the way for an
invasion of Puerto Rico (Spanish colony)
U.S. WINS; SIGNS TREATY OF PARIS




The U.S. and Spain signed an armistice on August 12, 1898, ending what Secretary of
State John Hay called “a splendid little war”
The war lasted only 16 weeks
Cuba was now independent
U.S. receives Guam, Puerto Rico, and “bought” the Philippines for $20 million
SECTION 3: ACQUIRING NEW LANDS




The U.S had to decide how to rule the new lands
Puerto Rico wanted their independence– but the U.S. had other plans
Puerto Rico was important to the U.S. strategically
The U.S. set up a civil government, full citizenship, and a bicameral system
CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES




The Treaty of Paris granted full independence to Cuba
The U.S signed an agreement with Cuba known as the Platt Amendment 1903
Key features of “Platt” included the right of the U.S. to maintain naval stations on the
island and the right to intervene in Cuban affairs
Cuba had become a “protectorate” of the U.S.
FILIPINOS REBEL



Filipinos reacted with rage to the American annexation
Rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo vowed to fight for freedom and in 1899 he led a
rebellion
The 3-year war claimed 20,000 Filipino rebels, 4,000 American lives and $400,000,000
(20x the price the U.S. paid for the land)
FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN CHINA



China was a vast potential market for American products
Weakened by war and foreign intervention, many European countries had colonized
in China
In 1889, John Hay, U.S. Secretary of State, issued the Open Door Policy which outlined
his plan for free trade among nations in China
BOXER REBELLION




European nations dominated China’s cities
Resentment arose in the form of secret societies determined to rid China of these
“foreign devils”
The Boxer’s were a secret group that rioted in 1900, killing and vandalizing all things
foreign
Foreign Troops were called in to put down this “Boxer Rebellion”
AMERICANS PROTECT RIGHTS IN ASIA


After the Boxer Rebellion, John Hay again issued a series of Open Door Policies
These policies reflected American beliefs in the importance of exports, the right of
America to intervene to keep foreign markets open, and the belief that America’s
survival depended on access to foreign markets
SECTION 4: AMERICA AS A WORLD POWER


Two events signaled America’s continued climb toward being the #1 world power
1) Roosevelt negotiated a settlement between Russia and Japan who had been at War
– his successful efforts in negotiating the Treaty of Portsmouth won Roosevelt the
1906 Nobel Peace Prize

2) Construction of Panama Canal
THE PANAMA CANAL


By the early 20th century, many Americans understood the advantages of a canal
through Panama
It would greatly reduce travel times for commercial and military ships by providing a
short cut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
BUILDING THE PANAMA CANAL 1904-1914



The French had already unsuccessfully attempted to build a canal through Panama
America first had to help Panama win their independence from Colombia – which it
did
Construction of the Canal stands as one of the greatest engineering feats of all-time
POLITICS OF THE ROARING 20’S
SECTION 1: AMERICAN POSTWAR ISSUES






The American public was exhausted from World War I
Public debate over the League of Nations had divided America
An economic downturn meant many faced unemployment
A wave of nativism swept the nation
Many Americans adopted a belief in isolationism
Isolationism meant pulling away from involvement in world affairs
FEAR OF COMMUNISM


One perceived threat to American life was the spread of Communism
Communism is an economic and political system based on a single-governmental
party, equal distribution of resources, no private property and rule by a dictatorship
SOVIET UNION COMMUNISM




Russia was transformed into the Soviet Union in 1917, a Communist state
Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks and overthrew the Czarist regime
He was a follower of the Marxist doctrine of social equality
A Communist party was formed in America, too
SACCO & VANZETTI


The Red Scare fed nativism in America
Italian anarchists Sacco & Vanzetti were a shoemaker and a fish peddler

Convicted of robbery and murder despite flimsy evidence, their execution was
symbolic of discrimination against radical beliefs during the Red Scare
THE KLAN RISES AGAIN


As the Red Scare and anti-immigrant attitudes reached a peak, the KKK was more
popular than ever
By 1924, the Klan had 4.5 million members
CONGRESS LIMITS IMMIGRATION


Congress, in response to nativist pressure, decided to limit immigration from southern
and eastern Europe
The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 set up a quota system to control and
restrict immigration
A TIME OF LABOR UNREST

Strikes were outlawed during WWI, however in 1919 there were more than 3,000
strikes involving 4 million workers
BOSTON POLICE STRIKE



Boston police had not received a raise in years and were denied the right to unionize
The National Guard was called
New cops
were
hired
STEEL MILL STRIKE




In September of 1919, the U.S. Steel Corporation refused to meet with union
representatives
In response, over 300,000 workers struck
Scabs were hired while strikers were beaten by police and federal troops
The strike was settled in 1920 with an 8-hour day but no union
COAL MINERS’ STRIKE


In 1919, United Mine Workers led by John L. Lewis called a Strike on November 1
Lewis met with an arbitrator appointed by
President Wilson

Lewis won a 27% pay raise and was
hailed a hero
1920s: TOUGH TIMES FOR UNIONS



The 1920s hurt the labor movement
Union membership dropped from 5 million to 3.5 million
Why? African Americans were excluded from membership and immigrants were
willing to work in poor conditions
SECTION 2: THE HARDING PRESIDENCY

Warren G. Harding’s modest successes include the Kellogg-Briand Pact which
renounced war as a means of national policy (signed by 15 nations, but difficult to
enforce), and the Dawes Plan which solved the problem of post-war debt by providing
loans to Germany to pay France/Britain who then paid the U.S.
SCANDAL HITS HARDING
TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL




The worst case of corruption was the Teapot Dome Scandal
The government set aside oil-rich public land in Teapot, WY
Secretary of Interior Albert Fall secretly leased the land to two oil companies
Fall received $400,000 from the oil companies and a felony conviction from the courts
SECTION 3: THE BUSINESS OF AMERICA


The new president, Calvin Coolidge, fit the pro-business spirit of the 1920s very well
His famous quote: “The chief business of the American people is business . . .the man
who builds a factory builds a temple – the man who works there worships there”
AMERICAN BUSINESS FLOURISHES




Both Coolidge and his Republican successor Herbert Hoover, favored governmental
policies that kept taxes down and business profits up
Tariffs were high which helped American manufacturers
Government interference in business was minimal
Wages were increasing
THE IMPACT OF THE AUTO


The auto was the backbone of the American economy from 1920 through the 1970s
It also profoundly altered the American landscape
and
society
IMPACT OF THE AUTO
Among the many changes were:









Paved roads, traffic lights
Motels, billboards
Home design
Gas stations, repair shops
Shopping centers
Freedom for rural families
Independence for women and young people
Cities like Detroit, Flint, Akron grew
By 1920 80% of world’s vehicles in U.S.
AIRLINE TRANSPORT BECOMES COMMON


The airline industry began as a mail carrying service and quickly “took off”
By 1927, Pan American Airways was making the transatlantic passenger
flights
AMERICAN STANDARD OF LIVING SOARS




The years 1920-1929 were prosperous ones for the U.S.
Americans owned 40% of the world’s wealth
The average annual income rose 35% during the 1920s ($522 to $705)
Discretionary income increased
ELECTRICAL CONVENIENCES

While gasoline powered much of the economic boom of the 1920s, the use of
electricity also transformed the nation
MODERN ADVERTISING EMERGES



Ad agencies no longer sought to merely “inform” the public about their products
They hired psychologists to study how best to appeal to Americans’ desire for
youthfulness, beauty, health and wealth
“Say it with Flowers” slogan actually doubled sales between 1912-1924
A SUPERFICIAL PROSPERITY



Many during the 1920s believed the prosperity would go on forever
Wages, production, GNP, and the stock market all rose significantly
But. . . .
PROBLEMS ON THE HORIZON?




Businesses expanded recklessly
Iron & railroad industries faded
Farms nationwide suffered losses due to overproduction
Too much was bought on credit (installment plans) including stocks
THE ROARING TWENTIES LIFE & CULTURE IN AMERICA IN THE 1920S CHANGING WAYS OF LIFE




During the 1920s, urbanization continued to accelerate
For the first time, more Americans lived in cities than in rural areas
New York City was home to over 5 million people in 1920
Chicago had nearly 3 million
URBAN VS. RURAL



Throughout the 1920s, Americans found themselves caught between urban and rural
cultures
Urban life was considered a world of anonymous crowds, strangers, moneymakers,
and pleasure seekers
Rural life was considered to be safe, with close personal ties, hard work and morals
PROHIBITION



One example of the clash between city & farm was the passage of the 18 th
Amendment in 1920
This Amendment launched the era known as Prohibition
The new law made it illegal to make, sell or transport liquor
SUPPORT FOR PROHIBITION



Reformers had long believed alcohol led to crime, child & wife abuse, and accidents
Supporters were largely from the rural south and west
The church affiliated Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance
Union helped push the 18th Amendment through
SPEAKEASIES AND BOOTLEGGERS




Many Americans did not believe drinking was a sin
Most immigrant groups were not willing to give up drinking
To obtain liquor illegally, drinkers went underground to hidden saloons known as
speakeasies
People also bought liquor from bootleggers who smuggled it in from Canada, Cuba
and the West Indies
ORGANIZED CRIME



Prohibition contributed to the growth of organized crime in every major city
Chicago became notorious as the home of Al Capone – a famous bootlegger
Capone took control of the Chicago liquor business by killing off his competition
GOVERNMENT FAILS TO CONTROL LIQUOR


Eventually, Prohibition’s fate was sealed by the government, which failed to budget
enough money to enforce the law
The task of enforcing Prohibition fell to 1,500 poorly paid federal agents --- clearly an
impossible task
SUPPORT FADES, PROHIBITION REPEALED



By the mid-1920s, only 19% of Americans supported Prohibition
Many felt Prohibition caused more problems than it solved
The 21st Amendment finally repealed Prohibition in 1933
SCIENCE AND RELIGION CLASH



Another battleground during the 1920s was between fundamentalist religious groups
and secular thinkers over the truths of science
The Protestant movement grounded in the literal interpretation of the bible is known
as fundamentalism
Fundamentalists found all truth in the bible – including science & evolution
SCOPES TRIAL


In March 1925, Tennessee passed the nation’s first law that made it a crime to teach
evolution
The ACLU promised to defend any teacher willing to challenge the law – John Scopes
did
SCOPES TRIAL


The ACLU hired Clarence Darrow, the most famous trial lawyer of the era, to defend
Scopes
The prosecution countered with William Jennings Bryan, the three-time Democratic
presidential nominee
SCOPES TRIAL

Trial opened on July 10,1925 and became a national sensation



In an unusual move, Darrow called Bryan to the stand as an expert on the bible – key
question: Should the bible be interpreted literally?
Under intense questioning, Darrow got Bryan to admit that the bible can be
interpreted in different ways
Nonetheless, Scopes was found guilty and fined $100
SECTION 2: THE TWENTIES WOMAN


After the tumult of World War I, Americans were looking for a little fun in the 1920s
Women were becoming more independent and achieving greater freedoms (right to
vote, more employment, freedom of the auto)
THE FLAPPER


During the 1920s, a new ideal emerged for some women: the Flapper
A Flapper was an emancipated young woman who embraced the new fashions and
urban attitudes
NEW ROLES FOR WOMEN



The fast-changing world of the 1920s produced new roles for women
Many women entered the workplace as nurses, teachers, librarians, & secretaries
However, women earned less than men and were kept out of many traditional male
jobs (management) and faced discrimination
THE CHANGING FAMILY



American birthrates declined for several decades before the 1920s
During the 1920s that trend increased as birth control information became widely
available
Birth control clinics opened and the American Birth Control League was founded in
1921
MODERN FAMILY EMERGES


As the 1920s unfolded, many features of the modern family emerged
Marriage was based on romantic love, women managed the household and finances,
and children were not considered laborers/ wage earners but rather developing
children who needed nurturing and education
SECTION 3: EDUCATION AND POPULAR CULTURE


During the 1920s, developments in education had a powerful impact on the nation
Enrollment in high schools quadrupled between 1914 and 1926



Public schools met the challenge of educating millions of immigrants
As literacy increased, newspaper circulation rose and mass-circulation magazines
flourished
By the end of the 1920s, ten American magazines -- including Reader’s Digest and
Time – boasted circulations of over 2 million
RADIO COMES OF AGE



Although print media was popular, radio was the most powerful communications
medium to emerge in the 1920s
News was delivered faster and to a larger audience
Americans could hear the voice of the president or listen to the World Series live
AMERICAN HEROES OF THE 20s




In 1929, Americans spent $4.5 billion on entertainment (includes sports)
People crowded into baseball games to see their heroes
Babe Ruth was a larger than life American hero who played for Yankees
He hit 60 homers in 1927
LINDBERGH’S FLIGHT



America’s most beloved hero of the time wasn’t an athlete but a small-town pilot
named Charles Lindbergh
Lindbergh made the first nonstop solo trans-atlantic flight
He took off from NYC in the Spirit of St. Louis and arrived in Paris 33 hours later to a
hero’s welcome
ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS




Even before sound, movies offered a means of escape through romance and comedy
First sound movies: Jazz Singer (1927)
First animated with sound: Steamboat Willie (1928)
By 1930 millions of Americans went to the movies each week
MUSIC AND ART



Famed composer George Gershwin merged traditional elements with American Jazz
Painters like Edward Hopper depicted the loneliness of American life
Georgia O’ Keeffe captured the grandeur of New York using intensely colored canvases
WRITERS OF THE 1920S

The 1920s was one of the greatest literary eras in American history


Sinclair Lewis, the first American to win the Nobel Prize in literature, wrote the novel,
Babbitt
In Babbitt the main character ridicules American conformity and materialism
WRITERS OF THE 1920s



Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald coined the phrase “Jazz Age” to describe the 1920s
Fitzgerald wrote Paradise Lost and The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby reflected the emptiness of New York elite society
WRITERS OF THE 1920S


Edith Warton’s Age of Innocence dramatized the clash between traditional and
modern values
Willa Cather celebrated the simple, dignified lives of immigrant farmers in Nebraska in
My Antonia
WRITERS OF THE 1920



Ernest Hemingway, wounded in World War I, became one of the best-known authors
of the era
In his novels, The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms, he criticized the glorification
of war
His simple, straightforward style of writing set the literary standard
THE LOST GENERATION


Some writers such as Hemingway and John Dos Passos were so soured by American
culture that they chose to settle in Europe
In Paris they formed a group that one writer called, “The Lost Generation”
SECTION 4: THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE


Between 1910 and 1920, the Great Migration saw hundreds of thousands of African
Americans move north to big cities
By 1920 over
5 million of the nation’s 12 million blacks (over 40%) lived in cities
AFRICAN AMERICAN GOALS


Founded in 1909, the NAACP urged African Americans to protest racial violence
W.E.B Dubois, a founding member, led a march of 10,000 black men in NY to protest
violence
MARCUS GARVEY - UNIA




Marcus Garvey believed that African Americans should build a separate society
(Africa)
In 1914, Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association
Garvey claimed a million members by the mid-1920s
He left a powerful legacy of black pride, economic independence and Pan-Africanism
HARLEM, NEW YORK



Harlem, NY became the largest black urban community
Harlem suffered from overcrowding, unemployment and poverty
However, in the 1920s it was home to a literary and artistic revival known as the
Harlem Renaissance
AFRICAN AMERICAN WRITERS



The Harlem Renaissance was primarily a literary movement
Led by well-educated blacks with a new sense of pride in the African-American
experience
Claude McKay’s poems expressed the pain of life in the ghetto
LANGSTON HUGHES



Missiouri-born Langston Hughes was the movement’s best known poet
Many of his poems described the difficult lives of working-class blacks
Some of his poems were put to music, especially jazz and blues
ZOLA NEALE HURSTON



Zola Neale Hurston wrote novels, short stories and poems
She often wrote about the lives of poor, unschooled Southern blacks
She focused on the culture of the people– their folkways and values
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERFORMERS



During the 1920s, black performers won large followings
Paul Robeson, son of a slave, became a major dramatic actor
His performance in Othello was widely praised
LOUIS ARMSTRONG



Jazz was born in the early 20th century
In 1922, a young trumpet player named Louis Armstrong joined the Creole Jazz Band
Later he joined Fletcher Henderson’s band in NYC

Armstrong is considered the most important and influential musician in the history of
jazz
EDWARD KENNEDY “DUKE” ELLINGTON


In the late 1920s, Duke Ellington, a jazz pianist and composer, led his ten-piece
orchestra at the famous Cotton Club
Ellington won renown as one of America’s greatest composers
BESSIE SMITH


Bessie Smith, blues singer, was perhaps the most outstanding vocalist of the decade
She achieved enormous popularity and by 1927 she became the highest- paid black
artist in the world
THE GREAT DEPRESSION BEGINS
SECTION 1: THE NATION’S SICK ECONOMY









Agriculture
Railroads
Textiles
Steel
Mining
Lumber
Automobiles
Housing
Consumer goods
FARMERS STRUGGLE




No industry suffered as much as agriculture
During World War I European demand for American crops soared
After the war demand plummeted
Farmers increased production sending prices further downward
CONSUMER SPENDING DOWN



By the late 1920s, American consumers were buying less
Rising prices, stagnant wages and overbuying on credit were to blame
Most people did not have the money to buy the flood of goods factories produced
GAP BETWEEN RICH & POOR




The gap between rich and poor widened
The wealthiest 1% saw their income rise 75%
The rest of the population saw an increase of only 9%
More than 70% of American families earned less than $2500 per year
HOOVER WINS 1928 ELECTION



Republican Herbert Hoover ran against Democrat Alfred E. Smith in the 1928 election
Hoover emphasized years of prosperity under Republican administrations
Hoover won an overwhelming victory
THE STOCK MARKET




By 1929, many Americans were invested in the Stock Market
The Stock Market had become the most visible symbol of a prosperous American
economy
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the barometer of the Stock Market’s worth
The Dow is a measure based on the price of 30 large firms
STOCK PRICES RISE THROUGH THE 1920s



Through most of the 1920s, stock prices rose steadily
The Dow reached a high in 1929 of 381 points (300 points higher than 1924)
By 1929, 4 million Americans owned stocks
SEEDS OF TROUBLE



By the late 1920s, problems with the economy emerged
Speculation: Too many Americans were engaged in speculation – buying stocks &
bonds hoping for a quick profit
Margin: Americans were buying “on margin” – paying a small percentage of a stock’s
price as a down payment and borrowing the rest
THE 1929 CRASH





In September the Stock Market had some unusual up & down movements
On October 24, the market took a plunge . . .the worst was yet to come
On October 29, now known as Black Tuesday, the bottom fell out
16.4 million shares were sold that day – prices plummeted
People who had bought on margin (credit) were stuck with huge debts
THE GREAT DEPRESSION

The Stock Market crash signaled the beginning of the Great Depression


The Great Depression is generally defined as the period from 1929 – 1940 in which the
economy plummeted and unemployment skyrocketed
The crash alone did not cause the Great Depression, but it hastened its arrival
FINANCIAL COLLAPSE




After the crash, many Americans panicked and withdrew their money from banks
Banks had invested in the Stock Market and lost money
In 1929- 600 banks fail
By 1933 – 11,000 of the 25,000 banks nationwide had collapsed
GNP DROPS, UNEMPLOYMENT SOARS



Between 1928-1932, the U.S. Gross National Product (GNP) – the total output of a
nation’s goods & services – fell nearly 50% from $104 billion to $59 billion
90,000 businesses went bankrupt
Unemployment leaped from 3% in 1929 to 25% in 1933
HAWLEY-SMOOT TARIFF





The U.S. was not the only country gripped by the Great Depression
Much of Europe suffered throughout the 1920s
In 1930, Congress passed the toughest tariff in U.S. history called the Hawley- Smoot
Tariff
It was meant to protect U.S. industry yet had the opposite effect
Other countries enacted their own tariffs and soon world trade fell 40%
CAUSES OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION





Tariffs & war debt policies
U.S. demand low, despite factories producing more
Farm sector crisis
Easy credit
Unequal distribution of income
SECTION 2: HARDSHIPS DURING DEPRESSION




The Great Depression brought hardship, homelessness, and hunger to millions
Across the country, people lost their jobs, and their homes
Some built makeshifts shacks out of scrap material
Before long whole shantytowns (sometimes called Hoovervilles in mock reference to
the president) sprung up
SOUP KITCHENS


One of the common features of urban areas during the era were soup kitchens and
bread lines
Soup kitchens and bread lines offered free or low-cost food for people
CONDITIONS FOR MINORITIES




Conditions for African Americans and Latinos were especially difficult
Unemployment was the highest among minorities and their pay was the lowest
Increased violence (24 lynchings in 1933 alone) marred the 1930s
Many Mexicans were “encouraged” to return to their homeland
RURAL LIFE DURING THE DEPRESSION



While the Depression was difficult for everyone, farmers did have one advantage;
they could grow food for their families
Thousands of farmers, however, lost their land
Many turned to tenant farming and barely scraped out a living
THE DUST BOWL




A severe drought gripped the Great Plains in the early 1930s
Wind scattered the topsoil, exposing sand and grit
The resulting dust traveled hundreds of miles
One storm in 1934 picked up millions of tons of dust from the Plains an carried it to
the East Coast
HARDEST HIT REGIONS


Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado were the hardest hit regions
during the Dust Bowl
Many farmers migrated to California and other Pacific Coast states
HOBOES TRAVEL AMERICA



The 1930s created the term “hoboes” to describe poor drifters
300,000 transients – or hoboes – hitched rides around the country on trains and slept
under bridges (thousands were teenagers)
Injuries and death was common on railroad property; over 50,000 people were hurt or
killed
EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION


Suicide rate rose more than 30% between 1928-1932
Alcoholism rose sharply in urban areas



Three times as many people were admitted to state mental hospitals as in normal
times
Many people showed great kindness to strangers
Additionally, many people developed habits of savings & thriftiness
SECTION 3: HOOVER STRUGGLES WITH THE DEPRESSION



After the stock market crash, President Hoover tried to reassure Americans
He said, “Any lack of confidence in the economic future . . . Is foolish”
He recommended business as usual
HOOVER’S PHILOSOPHY




Hoover was not quick to react to the depression
He believed in “rugged individualism” – the idea that people succeed through their
own efforts
People should take care of themselves, not depend on governmental hand-outs
He said people should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps”
HOOVER’S SUCCESSFUL DAM PROJECT



Hoover successfully organized and authorized the construction of the Boulder Dam
(Now called the Hoover Dam)
The $700 million project was the world’s tallest dam (726 feet) and the second largest
(1,244 feet long)
The dam currently provides electricity, flood control and water for 7 western states
HOOVER TAKES ACTION: TOO LITTLE TOO LATE




Hoover gradually softened his position on government intervention in the economy
He created the Federal Farm Board to help farmers
He also created the National Credit Organization that helped smaller banks
His Federal Home Loan Bank Act and Reconstruction Finance Corp were two measures
enacted to protect people’s homes and businesses
BONUS ARMY




A 1932 incident further damaged Hoover’s image
That spring about 15,000 World War I vets arrived in Washington to support a
proposed bill
The Patman Bill would have authorized Congress to pay a bonus to WWI vets
immediately
The bonus was scheduled to be paid in 1945 --- The Army vets wanted it NOW
BONUS ARMY TURNED DOWN


Hoover called the Bonus marchers, “Communists and criminals”
On June 17, 1932 the Senate voted down the Putnam Bill
BONUS MARCHERS CLASH WITH SOLDIERS



Hoover told the Bonus marchers to go home– most did
2,000 refused to leave
Hoover sent a force of 1,000 soldiers under the command of General Douglas
MacArthur and his aide Dwight Eisenhower
AMERICANS SHOCKED AT TREATMENT OF WWI VETS



MacArthur’s 12th infantry gassed more than 1,000 marchers, including an 11-month
old baby, who died
Two vets were shot and scores injured
Americans were outraged and once again, Hoover’s image suffered
THE NEW DEAL
AMERICA GETS BACK TO WORK
SECTION 1: A NEW DEAL FIGHTS THE DEPRESSION
The 1932 presidential election showed that Americans were clearly ready for a change
Republicans re-nominated Hoover despite his low approval rating
The Democrats nominated Franklin Delano Roosevelt
ROOSEVELT WINS OVERWHELMING VICTORY
Democrat Roosevelt, known popularly as FDR, was a 2-term governor of New York
FDR was a distant cousin of Teddy Roosevelt
The Democrats also won huge victories in the house and senate
Greatest Democratic victory in 80 years
FDR LAUNCHES NEW DEAL
FDR promised a “new deal” for the American people
He took office with a flurry of activity known as “The Hundred Days”
The 100 Days lasted from March to June 1933
CONGRESS GETS BUSY
FDR’s philosophy was to get people help and work through “deficit” spending
During the 100 Days, Congress passed more than 15 major pieces of legislation that
significantly expanded government’s role in the nation’s economy and welfare
TO DO LIST: #1- HELP BANKS
First order of business was to get the banking system in order
On March 5, one day after taking office, FDR declared a bank holiday
He persuaded Congress to pass the Emergency Relief Act, which authorized the
Treasury Department to inspect the nation’s banks
AMERICANS GAIN CONFIDENCE IN BANKS
Next, FDR passed the Glass-Steagall Act which established the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation
The FDIC insured account holders up to $5,000 and set strict standards for banks to
follow (today = $100,000)
MORE 100 DAYS ACTIVITY
Federal Securities Act: Required stock info to be accurate and truthful
Agricultural Adjustment Act: (AAA) Raised crop prices by lowering production
Tennessee Valley Authority: (TVA) Focused on direct relief to hard hit area– created
ambitious dam projects
ALPHABET AGENCIES
CCC – Civilian Conservation Corps put young men to work
Men ages 18 to 25 worked building roads, parks, planting trees (200 million trees in
Dust Bowl areas)
By 1942 three million men worked for the CCC
ALPHABET AGENCIES
PWA – Public Works Administration was part of the NIRA (National Industrial
Recovery Act)
The PWA provided money to states to construct schools and community buildings
ALPHABET AGENCIES
CWA – Civil Works Administration built 40,000 schools and provided salaries for
50,000 teachers in rural America
Also built 500,000 miles of roads
ALPHABET AGENCIES
FHA – Federal Housing Administration provided home loans, home mortgages and
repairs
ALPHABET AGENCIES
FERA – Federal Emergency Relief Agency provided $500 million in direct relief to the
neediest Americans
CRITICS EMERGE
Despite the renewed confidence of many Americans, critics from both political
spectrums emerged
Liberals (left) felt FDR’s program was NOT doing enough
Conservatives (right) felt that government intervention was TOO much and interfered
with our free market economy
SUPREME COURT REACTS
By the mid-1930s, the Supreme Court struck down the NIRA as unconstitutional (citing
too much government control over industry)
The Court also struck down the AAA on the grounds that agricultural was a local
matter -- not a federal matter
FDR REGAINS CONTROL OVER SUPREME COURT
From the mid to late 1930s, FDR was able to appoint 7 new judges to the Supreme
Court, thus assuring that his programs would carry on unabated
MORE CRITICS
Every Sunday, Father Charles Coughlin broadcast radio sermons slamming FDR
He called for a guaranteed annual income and nationalized banks
At his height of popularity, Coughlin had 45 million listeners
His increasingly anti-Semitic remarks ultimately cost him support
ANOTHER CRITIC
Huey Long was a Senator from Louisiana who was a constant (and effective) critic of
FDR
Long was setting up a run for president
A lone gunman assassinated Long at the height of his popularity in 1935
FDR EASILY WINS 2ND TERM
The Republicans nominated Alfred Landon, Governor of Kansas, while the Democrats
(of course) nominated Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Again the Dems and FDR won an overwhelming victory in the presidential election and
in both houses
SECTION 2: THE SECOND NEW DEAL
Although the economy had improved during FDR’s first term (1932-1936), the gains
were not as great as expected
Unemployment remained high and production still lagged
THE SECOND HUNDRED DAYS
FDR launches the “Second New Deal”
also called the “Second Hundred Days”
First priority was the farmers – FDR reinvigorated the AAA which provided aid for
migrants, sharecroppers, and poor farmers
FDR authorized more than $1 billion to help tenant farmers become landowners
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
Helping urban workers was critical to the success of the Second Hundred Days
The WPA set out to create as many jobs as possible as quickly as possible
Between 1935-1943, the WPA spent $11 billion to give jobs to 8 million workers
WPA BUILDS AMERICA
WPA
workers
and 125,000 public buildings
built 850 airports, 651,000 miles of roads and streets,
The WPA also hired artists, writers and photographers to create art
NATIONAL YOUTH ADMINISTRATION
The National Youth Administration (NYA) was created to provide education, jobs and
recreation for young people
Getting young people off the streets and into schools and jobs was a high priority for
the NYA
IMPROVING LABOR RELATIONS
In the Second New Deal FDR helped pass the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
This legislation protected workers, ensured collective bargaining, and preserved the
right to unionize
CONGRESS PROTECTS WORKERS
In 1938, Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act which set maximum hours at 44
per week and minimum wage at 25 cents per hour
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
One of the most important achievements of the New Deal era was the creation of the
Social Security System
The Social Security Act, passed in 1935, had 3 parts:

Old-Age Pension


Unemployment compensation
Aid to families with dependent children & disabled (welfare)
NEW DEAL AFFECTS MANY GROUPS
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped women gain higher political positions during the
New Deal
Eleanor was influential in her role as advisor to the president
Frances Perkins became America’s first female cabinet member (Labor)
AFRICAN AMERICANS DURING THE NEW DEAL
The 1930s
witnessed a
growth of activism for black Americans
A. Philip Randolph became head of the nation’s first all-black union – the Brotherhood
of Sleeping Car Porters
AFRICAN AMERICANS GAIN POLITICAL POSITIONS
FDR appointed over 100 African Americans to positions within the government
Mary McLeod Bethune headed the division of Negro Affairs of the NYA
Despite these gains, FDR was never fully committed to Civil Rights
NATIVE AMERICANS MAKE GAINS
Native Americans made advances during the 1920s & 1930s
Full citizenship granted in 1924
The Reorganization Act of 1934 gave Natives more ownership of reservations
Policy was moving away from assimilation towards autonomy
FDR WINS IN 1936 . . . AGAIN
FDR had wide appeal in the United States, especially in urban areas
African Americans, Jews, Catholics and immigrants all supported the popular
president
SECTION 4: CULTURE IN THE 1930s
MOVIES:
By the late 1930s, 65% of Americans were attending the movies at least once per week
at one of the nation’s 15,000 movie theaters
Comedies, lavish musicals, love stories and gangster films dominated the movie
industry
MOVIE
A new era of glamour in Hollywood was launched with stars like Clark Gable, Marlene
Dietrich and James Cagney
FAMOUS FILMS OF THE 30s
One of the most famous films of the era was Gone with the Wind (1939)
Other notable movies of the era included The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
RADIO: THE ORIGINAL ENTERTAINMENT
Sales of radios greatly increased in the 1930s, from 13 million in 1930 to 28 million by
1940
Nearly 90% of American homes owned a radio
ROOSEVELT’S FIRESIDE CHATS
FDR communicated to Americans via radio
His frequent “Fireside Chats” kept Americans abreast of the government’s efforts
during the Depression
POPULAR RADIO SHOWS
Popular radio shows included comedies with Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and the duo of
Burns and Allen
Soap operas (named because they were sponsored by soap companies) ran in the
mornings, kids shows in the afternoon and entertainment at night
FAMOUS RADIO MOMENTS
Orson Wells created a radio special called War of the Worlds
It was an epic drama about aliens landing in America
Unfortunately, many thought it was a news broadcast and panicked
LIVE NEWS COVERAGE
Radio captured news as well as providing entertainment
One of the first worldwide broadcasts was the horrific crash of the Hindenburg, a
German Zeppelin (blimp), in New Jersey on May 6, 1937
Such immediate news coverage became a staple in society
ART DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION
The Federal Art Project (branch of the WPA) paid artists a living wage to produce art
Projects included murals, posters and books
Much of the art, music and literature was sober and serious
ARTISTS HERALDED
Painters like Edward Hopper, Thomas Hart Benton, and Iowa’s Grant Wood were all
made famous by their work in the WPA program
Photographer Dorothea Lange gained fame from her photos during this era (featured
throughout this presentation)
GUTHRIE’S MUSIC CAPTURES ERA
Singer Woody Guthrie used music to capture the hardship of the Great
Depression
Guthrie traveled the country singing about America
WRITERS DEPICT AMERICAN LIFE
The Federal Writers’ Project (branch of WPA) paid writers to write
Richard Wright’s acclaimed Native Son was written for the project
JOHN STEINBECK RECEIVES ACCLAIM
American writer John Steinbeck received assistance from the Federal Writers’ Project
He published his most famous book, Grapes of Wrath (1939), as part of the program
SECTION 5: THE IMPACT OF THE NEW DEAL
Over time, opinions about the merits of the New Deal and FDR have ranged from
harsh criticism to high praise – usually along partisan lines
Conservatives felt FDR made government too large and too powerful
Liberals countered that FDR socialized the economy because Americans needed help
LEGACIES OF THE NEW DEAL
FDIC – banking insurance critical to sound economy
Deficit spending has became a normal feature of government
Social Security is a key legacy of the New Deal in that the Feds have assumed a greater
responsibility for the social welfare of citizens since 1935
WORLD WAR LOOMS
SECTION 1: DICTATORS THREATEN WORLD PEACE

For many European countries the end of World War I was the beginning of revolutions
at home, economic depression and the rise of powerful dictators driven by
nationalism and territorial expansion
FAILURE OF VERSAILLES


The peace settlement that ended World War I (Versailles Treaty) failed to provide a
“just and secure peace” as promised
Instead Germany grew more and more resentful of the treaty that they felt was too
harsh and too punitive
WEIMAR REPUBLIC RULES GERMANY


The victors installed many new democratic governments in Europe after World War I
including the Weimar Republic in Germany
Most were overwhelmed from the start and struggled economically
JOSEPH STALIN TRANSFORMS THE USSR

After V.I. Lenin died in 1924, Joseph Stalin took control of the Soviet Union


His goals included both agricultural and industrial growth
Stalin hoped to transform the USSR from a backward rural nation to a major industrial
power
STALIN’S PLANS


In the first year of his “5-year plan” Stalin placed all economic activity under strict
state control
By 1937, Stalin had achieved his goal– USSR was the world’s 2nd largest industrial
power
STALIN MURDERS MILLIONS OF SOVIETS


In his desire to purge (eliminate) anyone who threatened his power, Stalin was
responsible for the deaths of 8 – 13 million of his own Soviet citizens
Millions more died of famine caused by his economic policies
TOTALITARIAN STATE


By 1939, Stalin firmly established a totalitarian government in the USSR
In a totalitarian state the government suppresses all opposition and has strict control
over the citizens who have no civil rights
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN ITALY


While Stalin was consolidating his power in the Soviet Union, Benito Mussolini was
establishing a totalitarian regime in Italy
Mussolini seized power, taking advantage of high unemployment, inflation and a
middle-class fear of Communism
MUSSOLINI CREATES FASCIST PARTY


Mussolini was a strong public speaker who appealed to Italian national pride
By 1921, Mussolini had established the Fascist Party -- Fascism stressed nationalism
and militarism and placed the interest of the state above the interests of the
individual
MUSSOLINI MARCHES ON ROME

Despite the fact that King Emmanuel II had already agreed to turn power over to
Mussolini (IL DUCE), he staged a mock takeover by marching his black shirts through
the streets of Rome in October, 1922
NAZIS TAKE OVER GERMANY




Meanwhile in Germany, Adolf Hitler followed a similar path to Mussolini
At the end of WWI he was a jobless soldier drifting around Germany
In 1919, he joined a struggling group called the National Socialist German Workers’
Party (Nazis)
(Despite its name the party had no ties to socialism)
HITLER GAINS FOLLOWING



Hitler’s ability as a public speaker and organizer drew many followers
He quickly became the Nazi Party leader
Calling himself “Der Fuhrer” (the leader) he promised to return Germany to its old
glory
HITLER’S BELIEFS



Hitler explained his beliefs in his book, Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
He wanted to unite all German-speaking people under one grand Empire
He wanted racial purity – “inferior” races such as Jews, Slavs and all non-whites were
to form a work force for the “master race” – blond, blue-eyed “Aryans”
LEBENSRAUM



Another element of Hitler’s grand design was national expansion
Hitler called it “Lebensraum” or living space
Hitler believed that for Germany to thrive it needed more land at the expense of her
neighbors
HITLER APPOINTED CHANCELLOR



By mid-1932, the Nazis had become the strongest political party in Germany
In January of 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor (Prime Minister)
Once in office he quickly dismantled Germany’s democratic Weimar Republic and
replaced it with a totalitarian government
THE THIRD REICH



Once in power, Hitler established the Third Reich, or Third German Empire
The first was during the Middle Ages and the Second came with the Unification of
Germany in 1871
According to Hitler the Third Reich would last 1,000 years
MILITANTS GAIN CONTROL OF JAPAN


Halfway around the world, nationalistic leaders were seizing control of the Imperial
government of Japan
Like Hitler, they desired living space for their growing population
JAPAN IN THE 1930s

The 1930s were years of fear in Japan, characterized by the resurgence of right-wing
patriotism, the weakening of democratic forces, domestic terrorist violence (including
an assassination attempt on the emperor in 1932), and stepped-up military aggression
abroad
HIROHITO: EMPEROR OF JAPAN




Emperor Hirohito’s reign lasted from 1926-1989
Hirohito followed tradition and chose a name for his reign
His reign was called "Showa", or "Radiating Peace“
However, he began a military buildup with several attacks on China and a dream of
Pacific domination
JAPAN ATTACKS CHINA
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
In 1931, Japan attacked the Chinese province of Manchuria
Swiftly Japan captured the province which is roughly twice the size of Texas
AGGRESSION BEGINS IN EUROPE
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
In the early 1930s both Japan and Germany quit the League of Nations
Hitler then began a huge military build-up (in direct violation of the Treaty of
Versailles)
By 1936 Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland, a German region bordering France and
Belgium that was demilitarized by the Versailles Treaty
CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN


In 1936, a group of Spanish army officers led by General Francisco Franco, rebelled
against the Spanish Republic
A Civil War ensued as Hitler and Mussolini supported Franco’s fascists while the
western democracies remained neutral
FRANCO’S FASCISTS WIN CIVIL WAR


Franco’s victory in 1939 established him as fascist leader of a totalitarian Spain
The Spanish Civil War led to a closer relationship between the German and Italian
dictators

Hitler and Mussolini signed an alliance known as the Rome-Berlin Axis
U.S. REMAINS NEUTRAL . . . FOR NOW



With memories still fresh from WWI, most Americans believed the U.S. should not get
involved in the increasing aggression in Europe
Some critics believed banks and manufacturers were pushing for war solely for their
own profit
Critics called them “merchants of death”
FDR: WE ARE NEUTRAL AND FRIENDLY




FDR’s polices in the early to mid 1930s reflected a desire to remain out of the growing
conflict in Europe
He recognized the USSR diplomatically in 1933 (exchanged ambassadors)
He lowered tariffs
He withdrew armed forces from Latin America
CONGRESS STAYS NEUTRAL




Congress, too, pushed neutrality
Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts
The first two acts outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at war
The third act outlawed arms sales or loans to nations fighting civil wars
U.S. NEUTRALITY IS TESTED



After Japan renewed attacks China in 1937, FDR sent arms and supplies to China
He got around the Neutrality Acts because Japan had not actually declared war on
China
FDR promised in a speech in Chicago to “take a stand against aggression”
SECTION 2: WAR IN EUROPE
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Late in 1937, Hitler was anxious to start his assault on Europe
Austria was the first target
The majority of Austria’s 6 million people favored unification with Germany
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria unopposed
A day later, Germany announced its union with Austria
CZECHOSLOVAKIA NEXT

Hitler then turned to Czechoslovakia


About 3 million German-speaking people lived in the western border regions of
Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland
Hitler built up troops on the border . . .
HITLER MAKES A DEAL


Then, just as an attack on Czechoslovakia seemed imminent, Hitler invited French
leader Edouard Daladier and British leader Neville Chamberlain to meet with him in
Munich (Italy was there too)
In Munich he promised that the annexation of the Sudetenland would be has “last
territorial demand”
“PEACE IN OUR TIMES!!?”


This agreement turned over the Sudetenland to Germany without a single shot fired
Chamberlain returned to England and announced,
“I have come back from Germany with peace with honor. I believe it is peace in our
time.”
APPEASEMENT CRITICS

Critics of Chamberlain included English politician and future Prime Minister Winston
Churchill who said Europe had adopted a dangerous policy of appeasement – or giving
up principles to pacify an aggressor
GERMAN OFFENSIVE BEGINS



Despite the Munich Agreement, Hitler was not finished expanding the German Empire
March, 15 1939: German troops poured into what remained of Czechoslovakia
At nightfall Hitler declared, “Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist”
NEXT TARGET: POLAND
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Hitler next turned toward Germany’s eastern neighbor – Poland
Many thought Hitler was bluffing because an attack on Poland surely would bring
USSR, Britain and France into war
As tensions rose over Poland, Stalin shocked everyone by signing a Non-Aggression
Pact with Hitler
Once bitter enemies now Communist Russia and Fascist Germany now vowed to never
attack each other
BLITZKRIEG IN POLAND


As day broke on September 1, 1939, the German Luftwaffe (air force) roared over
Poland raining bombs on airfields, military bases, railroads and cities
German tanks raced across Polish countryside
WORLD WAR II BEGINS
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
After the Polish invasion, Britain and France declared war on Germany
Too late to save Poland, the Allies focused on getting troops to the front in time to
stop Germany’s Blitzkrieg strategy (Lightning War – fast moving tanks and powerful
aircraft)
STALIN ATTACKS EASTERN
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POLAND
While Hitler was blitzing western Poland, Stalin was attacking the east
Stalin and Hitler had secretly agreed to divide Poland
Later in 1939, Stalin attacked and defeated Finland while Hitler conquered Norway
and Denmark
STALIN & HITLER ROLL
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
After occupying Poland, Stalin annexed the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania
Hitler, meanwhile successfully attacked the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg
FRANCE AND BRITAIN GO IT ALONE

The Maginot Line (a series of trenches and fortifications built along the eastern
France) proved ineffective as Hitler’s troops and tanks detoured through the
“impassable” Ardennes wooded ravines in NE France
FRANCE FALLS
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Italy, allied with Germany, invaded France from the south as the Germans closed in on
Paris from the north
France surrendered in June of 1940
After France fell, a French General named Charles de Gaulle fled to England and set up
a French government in exile
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
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In the summer of 1940 Germany launched an air attack on England
The goal was to bomb England into submission
Every night for two solid months, bombers pounded British targets: airfields, military
bases and then cities
RAF FIGHTS BACK
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The Royal Air Force fought back bravely with the help of a new device called radar
With radar, British pilots could spot German planes even in darkness
The British Spitfire Plane was instrumental in downing 175 Nazi planes on September
15, 1940
Six weeks later, Hitler called off the attack on England
JEWS LOSE RIGHTS
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Jews in Germany were subject to increasingly restrictive rights
In 1935 – Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their citizenship, jobs and property
Also in 1935 Jews forced to wear bright yellow stars to identify themselves
KRISTALLNACHT (NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS)
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On November 9-10, 1938 Nazi Storm Troopers attacked Jewish homes, businesses and
synagogues across Germany
Over 100 Jews were killed, hundreds more were injured, and 30,000 Jews arrested
Afterward, the Nazis blamed the Jews for the destruction
SOME JEWS FLED
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As a result of increasing violence, many German Jews fled the country
However, few countries were willing to take in Jewish refugees
The U.S. accepted 100,000 refugees including Albert Einstein, author Thomas Mann,
architect Walter Gropius and Theologian Paul Tillich
THE PLIGHT OF THE ST. LOUIS
THE ST. LOUIS RETURNS HOME
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This German ocean liner passed Miami in 1939
The U.S. coast guard followed the ship to prevent anyone from disembarking in
America
The ship returned to Europe – more than ½ of the 943 passengers were later killed in
the Holocaust
HITLER’S FINAL SOLUTION
In 1939 only about 250,000 Jews remained in Germany
But other nations that Hitler occupied had millions more
Obsessed with his desire to “rid Europe of Jews,” Hitler imposed what he called the
Final Solution
THE FINAL SOLUTION

The Final Solution – a policy of genocide that involved the deliberate and systematic
killing of an entire population – rested on the belief that Aryans were superior people
and that the purity of the “Master Race” must be preserved
HITLER’S HATRED WENT BEYOND JEWS
JEWISH GHETTOS IN POLAND
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Jews were also ordered into dismal, overcrowded ghettos in various Polish cities
Factories were built alongside the ghettos where people were forced to work for
German industry
Many of these Jews were then transferred to concentration camps (labor camps) deep
within Poland
THE FINAL STAGE
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Hitler’s program of genocide against Jews took place primarily in 6 Nazi death camps
located in Poland
The final stage began in early 1942
The Germans used poison gas to more quickly exterminate the Jewish population
Each camp had huge gas chambers that could kill as many as 12,000 per day
SECTION 4: AMERICA MOVES TOWARD WAR

In September of 1939 (invasion of Poland), Roosevelt persuaded Congress to pass a
“cash & carry” provision that allowed nations to buy U.S. arms and transport them in
their own ships
THE AXIS THREAT RISES, BRITAIN GETS OUR SUPPORT
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Axis powers were making great progress across Europe – France fell to Germany in
1940
The Axis powers were formidable – Germany, Italy and Japan
Hoping to avoid a two-ocean war, FDR scrambled to support Britain
He provided 500,000 rifles and 80,000 machine guns and numerous ships
U.S. BUILDS DEFENSE
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Meanwhile, Roosevelt got Congress to increase spending for national defenses and
reinstitute the draft
FDR ran for and won an unprecedented third term in 1940
The majority of voters were unwilling to switch presidents during such a volatile time
in history
THE GREAT ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY
To support Britain, FDRestablished a “Lend-Lease Plan” which meant the U.S. would
lend or lease arms to nations whose defense was vital to America.

America was becoming the “Great Arsenal of Democracy” supplying weapons to
fighting democracies
U.S. SUPPORTS STALIN

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In June of 1941, Hitler broke the agreement he made with Stalin in 1939
FDR began sending lend-lease supplies to the USSR
German U-boats traveled in “wolf packs” at night torpedoing weapon shipments
headed for the Britain and the USSR
FDR OK’ed U.S. warships to attack German U-boats in self-defense
THE ATLANTIC CHARTER
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
Late in 1941, FDR and Churchill met secretly and agreed on a series of goals for the
war
Among their goals were collective security, disarmament, self-determination,
economic cooperation and freedom of the seas
This “Declaration of the United Nations” was signed by 26 nations
JAPAN ATTACKS THE UNITED STATES

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
While tensions with Germany mounted, Japan launched an attack on an American
naval base
Japan had been expanding in Asia since the late 1930s
Early on the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the largest American naval
base – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
ATTACK KILLS 2,403 AND WOUNDS 1,178; U.S. DECLARES WAR
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The surprise raid on Pearl Harbor by 180 Japanese planes sank or damaged 21 ships
and 300 planes
The losses constituted more than the U.S. Navy had suffered in all of WWI
The next day, FDR addressed Congress, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, (is) a date
which will live in infamy”
The United States declared war on Japan and three days later Germany and Italy.
THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR II
AMERICA TURNS THE TIDE
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But if America was trembling, it was with rage, not fear
“Remember Pearl Harbor” was the rallying cry as America entered WWII AMERICANS
RUSH TO ENLIST
After Pearl Harbor five million Americans enlisted to fight in the war
The Selective Service expanded the draft and eventually provided an additional 10
million soldiers
WOMEN JOIN THE FIGHT
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Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for the formation of the
Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC)
Under this program women worked in non-combat roles such as nurses, ambulance
drivers, radio operators, and pilots
ALL AMERICANS FOUGHT
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Despite discrimination at home, minority populations contributed to the war effort
1,000,000 African Americans served in the military
300,000 Mexican-Americans
33,000 Japanese Americans
25,000 Native Americans
13,000 Chinese Americans
A PRODUCTION MIRACLE
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Americans converted their auto industry into a war industry
The nation’s automobile plants began to produce tanks, planes, boats, and command
cars
Many other industries also converted to war-related supplies
LABOR’S CONTRIBUTION

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By 1944, nearly 18 million workers were laboring in war industries (3x the # in 1941)
More than 6 million of these were women and nearly 2 million were minority
MOBILIZATION OF SCIENTISTS
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In 1941, FDR created the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) to
bring scientists into the war effort
Focus was on radar and sonar to locate submarines
Also the scientists worked on penicillin and pesticides like DDT
MANHATTAN PROJECT
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The most important achievement of the OSRD was the secret development of the
atomic bomb
Einstein wrote to FDR warning him that the Germans were attempting to develop such
a weapon
The code used to describe American efforts to build the bomb was the “Manhattan
Project”
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKES CONTROL OF INFLATION


With prices of goods threatening to rise out of control, FDR responded by creating the
Office of Price Administration (OPA)
The OPA froze prices on most goods and encouraged the purchase of war bonds to
fight inflation
WAR PRODUCTION BOARD
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To ensure the troops had ample resources, FDR created the WPB
The WPB decided which companies would convert to wartime production and how to
best allocate raw materials to those industries
COLLECTION DRIVES
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The WPB also organized nationwide drives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper, rags
and cooking fat for recycling
Additionally, the OPA set up a system of rationing
Households had set allocations of scarce goods – gas, meat, shoes, sugar, coffee
SECTION 2: THE WAR FOR EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA


Days after Pearl Harbor, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived at the White
House and spent three weeks working out war plans with FDR
They decided to focus on defeating Hitler first and then turn their attention to Japan
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
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After America’s entry into the war, Hitler was determined to prevent foods and war
supplies from reaching Britain and the USSR from America’s east coast
He ordered submarine raids on U.S. ships on the Atlantic
During the first four months of 1942 Germany sank 87 U.S. ships
ALLIES CONTROL U-BOATS
In the first seven months of 1942, German U-boats sank 681 Allied ships in the Atlantic
Something had to be done or the war at sea would be lost
First, Allies used convoys of ships & airplanes to transport supplies
Destroyers used sonar to track U-boats

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Airplanes were used to track the U-boats ocean surfaces
With this improved tracking, Allies inflicted huge losses on German U-boats
THE EASTERN FRONT & MEDITERRANEAN
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Hitler wanted to wipe out Stalingrad – a major industrial center
In the summer of 1942, the Germans took the offensive in the southern Soviet Union
By the winter of 1943, the Allies began to see victories on land as well as sea
The first great turning point was the Battle of Stalingrad
BATTLE OF STALINGRAD
THE NORTH AFRICAN FRONT
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“Operation Torch” – an invasion of Axis -controlled North Africa --was launched by
American General Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1942
Allied troops landed in Casablanca, Oran and the Algiers in Algeria
They sped eastward chasing the Afrika Korps led by German General Edwin Rommel
CASABLANCA MEETING
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FDR and Churchill met in Casablanca and decided their next moves
1) Plan amphibious invasions of France and Italy
2) Only unconditional surrender would be accepted
ITALIAN CAMPAIGN – ANOTHER ALLIED VICTORY
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The Italian Campaign got off to a good start as the Allies easily took Sicily
At that point King Emmanuel III stripped Mussolini of his power and had him arrested
However, Hitler’s forces continued to resist the Allies in Italy
Heated battles ensued and it wasn’t until 1945 that Italy was secured by the Allies
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
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Among the brave men who fought in Italy were pilots of the all-black 99th squadron –
the Tuskegee Airmen
The pilots made numerous effective strikes against Germany and won two
distinguished Unit Citations
ALLIES LIBERATE EUROPE

Even as the Allies were battling for Italy, they began plans on a dramatic invasion of
France

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It was known as “Operation Overlord” and the commander was American General
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Also called “D-Day,” the operation involved 3 million U.S. & British troops and was set
for June 6, 1944
D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944
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D-Day was the largest land-sea-air operation in military history
Despite air support, German retaliation was brutal – especially at Omaha Beach
Within a month, the Allies had landed 1 million troops, 567,000 tons of supplies and
170,000 vehicles
FRANCE FREED
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By September 1944, the Allies had freed France, Belgium and Luxembourg
That good news – and the American’s people’s desire not to “change horses in
midstream” – helped elect FDR to an unprecedented 4th term
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
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In October 1944, Americans captured their first German town (Aachen)– the Allies
were closing in
Hitler responded with one last ditch massive offensive
Hitler hoped breaking through the Allied line would break up Allied supply lines
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
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The battle raged for a month – the Germans had been pushed back
Little seemed to have changed, but in fact the Germans had sustained heavy losses
Germany lost 120,000 troops, 600 tanks and 1,600 planes
From that point on the Nazis could do little but retreat
LIBERATION OF DEATH CAMPS
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While the British and Americans moved westward into Germany, the Soviets moved
eastward into German-controlled Poland
The Soviets discovered many death camps that the Germans had set up within Poland
The Americans also liberated Nazi death camps within Germany
ALLIES TAKE BERLIN; HITLER COMMITS SUICIDE

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By April 25, 1945, the Soviet army had stormed Berlin
In his underground headquarters in Berlin, Hitler prepared for the end

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On April 29, he married his longtime girlfriend Eva Braun then wrote a last note in
which he blamed the Jews for starting the war and his generals for losing it
The next day he gave poison to his wife and shot himself
V-E DAY
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General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich
On May 8, 1945, the Allies celebrated V-E Day – victory in Europe Day
The war in Europe was finally over
FDR DIES; TRUMAN PRESIDENT
SECTION 3: THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC
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
The Americans did not celebrate long, as Japan was busy conquering an empire that
dwarfed Hitler’s Third Reich
Japan had conquered much of southeast Asia including the Dutch East Indies, Guam,
and most of China
BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA


The main Allied forces in the Pacific were Americans and Australians
In May 1942 they succeeded in stopping the Japanese drive toward Australia in the
five-day Battle of the Coral Sea
THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY
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Japan’s next thrust was toward Midway Island – a strategic Island northwest of Hawaii
Admiral Chester Nimitz, the Commander of American Naval forces in the Pacific,
moved to defend the Island
The Americans won a decisive victory as their planes destroyed 4 Japanese aircraft
carriers and 250 planes
KAMIKAZE PILOTS ATTACK ALLIES
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The Americans continued leapfrogging across the Pacific toward Japan
Japanese countered by employing a new tactic – Kamikaze (divine wind) attacks
Pilots in small bomb-laden planes would crash into Allied ships
IWO JIMA
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General MacArthur and the Allies next turned to the Island of Iwo Jima
The island was critical to the Allies as a base for an attack on Japan

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It was called the most heavily defended spot on earth
Allied and Japanese forces suffered heavy casualties
THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA
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In April 1945, U.S. marines invaded Okinawa
The Japanese unleashed 1,900 Kamikaze attacks sinking 30 ships and killing 5,000
seamen
Okinawa cost the Americans 7,600 marines and the Japanese 110,000 soldiers
INVADE JAPAN?
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
After Okinawa, MacArthur predicted that a Normandy type amphibious invasion of
Japan would result in 1,500,000 Allied deaths
President Truman saw only one way to avoid an invasion of Japan . . .
ATOMIC BOMB DEVELOPED
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Japan had a huge army that would defend every inch of the Japanese mainland
So Truman decided to use a powerful new weapon developed by scientists working on
the Manhattan Project – the Atomic Bomb
U.S. DROPS TWO ATOMIC BOMBS ON JAPAN
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Truman warned Japan in late July 1945 that without an immediate Japanese
surrender, it faced “prompt and utter destruction”
On August 6 (Hiroshima) and August 9 (Nagasaki) a B-29 bomber dropped Atomic
Bombs on Japan
JAPAN SURRENDERS
THE YALTA CONFERENCE


In February 1945, as the Allies pushed toward victory in Europe, an ailing FDR met
with Churchill and Stalin at the Black Sea resort of Yalta in the USSR
A series of compromises were worked out concerning postwar Europe
YALTA AGREEMENTS
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1) They agreed to divide Germany into 4 occupied zones after the war
2) Stalin agreed to free elections in Eastern Europe
3) Stalin agreed to help the U.S. in the war against Japan and to join the United
Nations
NUREMBERG WAR TRIALS
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The discovery of Hitler’s death camps led the Allies to put 24 surviving Nazi leaders on
trial for crimes against humanity, crimes against the peace, and war crimes
The trials were held in Nuremberg, Germany
“I was only following orders” was not an acceptable defense as 12 of the 24 were
sentenced to death and the others to life in prison
THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN
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Japan was occupied by U.S. forces under the command of General MacArthur
During the seven- year occupation, MacArthur reshaped Japan’s economy by
introducing free-market practices that led to a remarkable economic recovery
Additionally, he introduced a liberal constitution that to this day is called the
MacArthur Constitution
SECTION 4: THE HOME FRONT
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The war provided a lift to the U.S. economy
Jobs were abundant and despite rationing and shortages, people had money to spend
By the end of the war, America was the world’s dominant economic and military
power
ECONOMIC GAINS

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Unemployment fell to only 1.2% by 1944 and wages rose 35%
Farmers too benefited as production doubled and income tripled
WOMEN MAKE GAINS
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Women enjoyed economic gains during the war, although many lost their jobs after
the war
Over 6 million women entered the work force for the first time
Over 1/3 were in the defense industry
POPULATION SHIFTS
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The war triggered the greatest mass migration in American history
More than a million newcomers poured into California between 1941-1944
African Americans again shifted from south to north
GI BILL HELPS RETURNING VETS


To help returning servicemen ease back into civilian life, Congress passed the
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights)
The act provided education for 7.8 million vets
INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS

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
When the war began, 120,000 Japanese Americans lived in the U.S. – mostly on the
West Coast
After Pearl Harbor, many people were suspicious of possible spy activity by Japanese
Americans
In 1942, FDR ordered Japanese Americans into 10 relocation centers
U.S. PAYS REPARATIONS TO JAPANESE


In the late 1980s, President Reagan signed into law a bill that provided $20,000 to
every Japanese American sent to a relocation camp
The checks were sent out in 1990 along with a note from President Bush saying, “We
can never fully right the wrongs of the past . . . we now recognize that serious wrongs
were done to Japanese Americans during WWII.”
SECTION 1: MOBILIZING FOR DEFENSE


After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, they thought America would avoid further conflict
with them
The Japan Times newspaper said America was “trembling in their shoes”
The Cold War Conflicts
The Cold War 1945-1991
Cold War Begins
o
o
o
a non-military battle of diplomacy and propaganda between the United States
and Soviet Union
Lasted from 1945-1990
led to “hot” wars around globe in Korea, Vietnam
- Many of the smaller wars were called proxy wars because the U.S. and U.S.S.R. never
fought face to face
U.S. vs. USSR (Soviet Union)
U.S.
U.S.S.R
Capitalism Communism
Private property
State owns
Democratic Totalitarian
FIGHTING COMMUNISM
CONTAINMENT POLICY: The U.S. would work to stop the spread of communism.
1. Truman Doctrine
2. Marshall Plan
3. NATO and other alliances

4. The Truman Doctrine & Domino Theory
Truman Doctrine: U.S. would aid countries around the world who are fighting
communism (like Greece and Turkey).
Domino Theory: If the U.S. doesn’t fight communism, then countries will fall to
communism like dominos.
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The ‘Truman Doctrine’
Truman had been horrified at the pre-war Allied policy of appeasement and was
determined to stand up to any Soviet intimidation.
The Truman Doctrine in March 1947 promised that the USA “would support free
peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”.
Triggered by British inability to hold the line in Greece, it was followed by aid to
Greece and Turkey, and also money to help capitalists to stop communists in Italy and
France.
It signalled the end of “isolationst” policies.
The Marshall Plan 1948
Plan to aid Europe—in ruins
o Prevent countries from falling to communists
o Aid American business
$17 billion to 16 countries in Europe (not Soviet Union)
The ‘Marshall Plan’
The Marshall Plan offered huge sums to enable the economies of Europe to rebuild
after World War II, and, by generating prosperity, to reject the appeal of Communism.
The Soviet Union (USSR) prevented Eastern European countries from receiving
American money.
NATO vs. WARSAW PACT
North Atlantic Treaty Organization: defense alliance among U.S. and Europe against
the Soviet Union. Still exists.
Warsaw Pact: Defense alliance among Soviet Union and its satellite governments in
Eastern Europe.
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Postwar Germany
Nuremburg Trials for war crimes
Divided into 4 zones:
o West Germany – U.S., Britain, and France
o East Germany- Soviets
o Capitol city of Berlin divided into 4 zones (in East Germany)
Berlin Airlift: In 1948-49, the U.S. and Europe flew food and supplies to save
West Berlin, until Soviets reopened roads.
Improve your knowledge
The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the
early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German
democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to
admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.
Berlin
West Berlin, was an outpost of Western democracy and economic success deep within
the communist zone – like a capitalist island within communist East Germany
The Berlin Blockade was an attempt to starve West Berlin into submitting [giving up]
to the communists
The Allied [western powers] airlift signalled the West’s determination to use all
resources to defend Berlin.
It was felt by both sides that Berlin could act as the trigger for general war between
capitalist and communist countries
Post War Japan:
U.S. occupied – under General MacArthur
o New constitution
o Democracy with Emperor as figurehead
o Rebuild economy
o Abolished army and navy
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Tokyo trials convicted war criminals
The Red Scare
Intense fear of Communists taking over U.S.
o China became a Communist country in 1949.
o Soviets developed an atomic bomb in 1949.
o Rosenbergs convicted of selling atomic secrets to Soviet Union. Executed 1953.
McCarthyism
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In 1950, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed that he had “lists”
of communists in the U.S. government.
Falsely accused hundreds of people of being active Communists, ruining lives.
When hearings were televised, people saw that McCarthy was wrongly accusing many
people.
Censured (punished) by Senate.
Korean War, 1950-53
Divided north and south at 38th parallel at end of WWII.
In 1950, Communist North Korea invaded South Korea.
The U.S. and United Nations, aided the South; China aided the North Koreans.
Treaty signed in 1953, keeping dividing line at 38 th parallel (still today).
33,000 American soldiers died, 100,000 wounded.
Space Race
Began when Soviets beat the U.S. into space
o Soviet satellite Sputnik launched in 1957
o Explorer I, the first U.S. satellite, was launched in 1958.
The National Defense Act of 1958 approved federal funding of education in math,
science and foreign languages.
Reforms in education –
Nuclear Arms Race
Hydrogen bomb invented – both U.S. and Soviets had them
1,000 times more powerful than atomic bomb—vaporized an island.
Dangers of fallout and radiation
Many built bomb shelters!!
Improve your knowledge
The nuclear bomb gave America a lead which was expected to last at least 5 years. The
rapid Russian development of nuclear technology, helped by the work of the “atom
spies” was a shock. Significantly, Russia hurriedly declared war against Japan at the
beginning of August 1945 and rushed to advance into Asia to stake out a position for
the post-war settlement. This helped make both the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts
more likely.
SECTION 1: POSTWAR AMERICA
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After WWII, returning vets faced a severe housing shortage
In response to the crisis, developers used assembly-line methods to mass-produce
houses
Developer William Levitt bragged that his company could build a home in 16 minutes
for $7,000
Suburbs were born
REDEFINING THE FAMILY
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A return to traditional roles after the war was the norm
Men were expected to work, while women were expected to stay home and care for
the children
Conflict emerged as many women wanted to stay in the workforce
Divorce rates surged
REMARKABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
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Experts who predicted a postwar depression were proved wrong as they failed to
consider the $135 billion in savings Americans had accumulated from defense work,
service pay, and investments in war bonds
Americans were ready to buy consumer goods
DESPITE GROWTH, ISSUES PERSIST
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One persistent postwar issue involved labor strikes
In 1946 alone, 4.5 million discontented workers, including Steelworkers, coal miners
and railroad workers went on strike
TRUMAN TOUGH ON STRIKERS
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Truman refused to let strikes cripple the nation
He threatened to draft the striking workers and then order them as soldiers to return
to work
The strategy worked as strikers returned to their jobs
SOCIAL UNREST PERSISTS
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African Americans felt they deserved equal rights, especially after hundreds of
thousands served in WWII
Truman took action in 1948 by desegregating the armed forces
Additionally, Truman ordered an end to discrimination in the hiring of governmental
employees
THE 1948 ELECTION
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The Democrats nominated President Truman in 1948
The Republicans nominated New York Governor Thomas Dewey
Polls showed Dewey held a comfortable lead going into election day
TRUMAN WINS IN A STUNNING UPSET
Truman’s “Give ‘em hell, Harry” campaign worked
Truman won a very close race against Dewey
REPUBLICANS PLAN FOR 1952 ELECTION
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By 1951 Truman’s approval rating sank to an all-time low of just 23%
Why? Korean War, rising tide of McCarthyism, and a general impression of
ineffectiveness
STEVENSON VS. IKE 1952 ELECTION
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The Democrats nominated intellectual Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson while the
Republicans nominated war hero Dwight David Eisenhower
“I LIKE IKE”
Eisenhower used the slogan, “I Like Ike” for his presidential campaign
Republicans used Ike’s strong military background to emphasize his ability to combat
Communism worldwide
IKE’S VP SLIP-UP
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One potential disaster for Ike was his running mate’s alleged “slush fund”
Richard Nixon responded by going on T.V. and delivering an emotional speech denying
charges but admitting to accepting one gift for his children – a dog named Checkers
The “Checkers speech” saved the ticket
IKE WINS 1952 ELECTION
SECTION 2: THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE FIFTIES
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After WWII ended, Americans turned their attention to their families and jobs
New businesses and technology created opportunities for many
By the end of the 1950s, Americans were enjoying the highest standard of living in the
world
THE ORGANIZATION AND THE ORGANIZATION MAN
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During the 1950s, businesses expanded rapidly
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More and more people held “white-collar” jobs - clerical, management, or
professional jobs
The fields of sales, advertising, insurance and communications exploded
SOCIAL CONFORMITY
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American workers found themselves becoming standardized
Called the “Organization Man,” the modern worker struggled with a loss of
individualism
Businesses did not want creative thinkers, rebels or anyone that would “rock the
boat”
CONGLOMERATES EMERGE
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Conglomerates, major corporations that include a number of smaller companies in
unrelated fields, emerged in the 1950s
One conglomerate, International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), bought rental car
companies and hotel chains
FRANCHISES EMERGE
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Another strategy for business expansion was franchising
A franchise is a company that offers similar services in many locations
Fast food restaurants developed the first franchises in America
THE SUBURBAN LIFESTYLE
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Most Americans worked in cities, but fewer and fewer of them lived there
New highways and the affordability of cars and gasoline made commuting possible
Of the 13 million homes built in the 1950s, 85% were built in suburbs
For many, the suburbs were the American Dream
THE BABY BOOM
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During the late 1940s and through the early 1960s the birthrate in the U.S. soared
At its height in 1957, a baby was born in America every 7 seconds (over 4.3 million
babies in ’57 alone)
Baby boomers represent the largest generation in the nation’s history
WHY SO MANY BABIES?
Why did the baby boom occur when it did?
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Husbands returning from war
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Decreasing marriage age
Desirability of large families
Confidence in economy
Advances in medicine
ADVANCES IN MEDICINE AND CHILDCARE
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Advances in the treatment of childhood diseases included drugs to combat typhoid
fever and polio (Jonas Salk)
DR. SPOCK ADVISES PARENTS
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Many parents raised their children according to the guidelines of pediatrician Dr.
Benjamin Spock
He thought children should be allowed to express themselves and parents should
never physically punish their kids
IMPACT OF BABY BOOM
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As a result of the baby boom 10 million students entered elementary schools in the
1950s
California built a new school every 7 days in the late ’50s
Toy sales reached an all-time high in 1958 when $1.25 billion in toys were sold
WOMEN’S ROLES IN THE 1950S
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During the 1950s, the role of homemaker and mother was glorified in popular
magazines, movies and television
WOMEN AT WORK
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Those women who did work were finding job opportunities limited to fields such as
nursing, teaching and office support
Women earned far less than man for comparable jobs
LEISURE IN THE 1950s
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Americans experienced shorter work weeks and more vacation time than ever before
Leisure time activities became a multi-billion dollar industry
Labor-saving devices added more spare time
POPULAR LEISURE ACTIVITES
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In 1953 alone Americans spent $30 billion on leisure
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Popular activities included fishing, bowling, hunting and golf
Americans attended, or watched on T.V., football, baseball and basketball games
THE AUTOMOBILE CULTURE
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After the rationing of WWII, inexpensive and plentiful fuel and easy credit led many to
buy cars
By 1960, over 60 million Americans owned autos
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ACT 1956
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In 1956 Ike authorized a nationwide highway network – 41,000 miles of road linking
America
THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM
“Automania” spurred the construction of roads linking major cities while connecting
schools, shopping centers and workplaces to residential suburbs
IMPACT OF THE HIGHWAY
The Interstate Highway system resulted in:
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More trucking
Less railroad
More suburbs, further away
HIGHWAYS “HOMOGENIZE” AMERICA
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Another effect of the highway system was that the scenery of America began to look
the same
Restaurants, motels, highway billboards, gas stations, etc. all began to look similar
The nation had become “homogenized”
DOWNSIDE TO MOBILITY
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While the car industry boom stimulated production, jobs, shopping centers, and the
restaurant industry, it also had negative effects
Noise
Pollution
Accidents
Traffic Jams
Stress
Decline of public transportation
RISE OF CONSUMERISM
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By the mid-1950s, nearly 60% of Americans were members of the middle class
Consumerism (buying material goods) came to be equated with success and status
NEW PRODUCTS
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One new product after another appeared in the marketplace
Appliances, electronics, and other household goods were especially popular
The first credit card (Diner’s Club) appeared in 1950 and American Express was
introduced in 1958
Personal debt increased nearly 3x in the 1950s
THE ADVERTISING AGE
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The advertising industry capitalized on runaway consumerism by encouraging more
spending
Ads were everywhere
Ad agencies increased their spending 50% during the 1950s
SECTION 3: POPULAR CULTURE
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A new era of mass media led by television emerged in the 1950s
In 1948, only 9% of homes had T.V
In 1950, 55% of homes had T.V.
By 1960, 90% of American homes had T.V.
THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION
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The 1950s was known as the “Golden Age of Television”
Comedies were the main attraction as Milton Berle, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were
very popular
TELEVISION EXPERIMENTS WITH VARIOUS FORMATS
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Television innovations like on-the-scene-news reporting, interviews, westerns and
sporting events offered the viewer a variety of shows
Kids’ shows like The Howdy Doody Show and The Mickey Mouse Club were extremely
popular
TV ADS, TV GUIDES AND TV DINNERS EXPAND
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TV advertising soared from $170 million in 1950 to nearly $2 billion in 1960
TV Guide magazine quickly became the best selling magazine
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Frozen TV dinners were introduced in 1954 – these complete ready-to-heat meals on
disposable aluminum trays made it easy for people to eat without missing their
favorite shows
A SUBCULTURE EMERGES
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Although mass media and television were wildly popular in the 1950s, dissenting
voices emerged
The “Beat Movement” in literature and rock n’ roll clashed with tidy suburban views
of life
BEATNIKS FOLLOW OWN PATH
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Centered in San Francisco, L.A. and New York’s Greenwich Village, the Beat Movement
expressed social nonconformity
Followers, called “beatniks”, tended to shun work and sought understanding through
Zen Buddhism, music, and sometimes drugs
MUSIC IN THE 1950s
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Musicians in the 1950s added electronic instruments to traditional blues music,
creating rhythm and blues
Cleveland DJ Alan Freed was the first to play this music in 1951– he called it “rock and
roll”
ROCK N’ ROLL
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In the early and mid-fifties, Richard Penniman, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets,
and especially Elvis Presley brought rock and roll to the forefront
The driving rhythm and lyrics featuring love, cars,
and
problems
of being
young --captivated
teenagers
acros
s the
country
THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL
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Presley’s rebellious style captured young audiences
Girls screamed and fainted, and boys tried to imitate him
SECTION 4: THE OTHER AMERICA
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In 1962, nearly one out of every four Americans was living below the poverty level
Most of these poor were the elderly, single women and their children, and/or
minorities
WHITE FLIGHT
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In the 1950s, millions of middle-class white Americans left the cities for the suburbs
At the same time millions of African American rural poor migrated to the cities
The so-called “White Flight” drained cities of valuable resources, money and taxes
THE NEW FRONTIER AND THE GREAT SOCIETY KENNEDY AND JOHNSON LEAD
AMERICA IN THE 1960S
SECTION 1: KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR
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The Democratic nominee for president in 1960 was a young Massachusetts senator
named John Kennedy
He promised to “get America moving again”
Kennedy had a well-organized campaign and was handsome and charismatic
REPUBLICAN OPPONENT: RICHARD NIXON
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The Republicans nominated Richard Nixon, Ike’s Vice-President
The candidates agreed on many domestic and foreign policy issues
Two factors helped put Kennedy over the top: T.V. and Civil Rights
TELEVISED DEBATE AFFECTS VOTE
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On September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon took part in the first televised debate
between presidential candidates
Kennedy looked and spoke better than Nixon
Journalist Russell Baker said, “That night, image replaced the printed word as the
national language of politics”
JFK: CONFIDENT, AT EASE DURING DEBATES
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Television had become so central to people's lives that many observers blamed
Nixon's loss to John F. Kennedy on his poor appearance in the televised presidential
debates
JFK looked cool, collected, presidential
Nixon, according to one observer, resembled a "sinister chipmunk"
JFK’S OTHER EDGE: CIVIL RIGHTS
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A second major event of the campaign took place in October, 1960
Police arrested Martin Luther King for conducting a “Sit-In” at a lunch counter in
Georgia
King was sentenced to hard labor
JFK, NIXON REACT DIFFERENTLY TO KING ARREST
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While the Eisenhower Administration refused to intervene, JFK phoned King’s wife
and his brother, Robert Kennedy, worked for King’s release
The incident captured the attention of the African-American community, whose votes
JFK would carry in key states
CLOSEST ELECTION SINCE 1884
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Kennedy won the election by fewer than 119,000 votes
Nixon dominated the west, while Kennedy won the south and the east coast
“ASK NOT . . .”
In his inaugural address, JFK uttered this famous challenge: “Ask not what your
country can do for you --- ask what you can do for your country”
THE CAMELOT YEARS
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During his term in office, JFK and his beautiful young wife, Jacqueline, invited many
artists and celebrities to the White House
The press loved the Kennedy charm and JFK appeared frequently on T.V.
The Kennedys were considered American “Royalty” (hence “Camelot” reference)
THE KENNEDY MYSTIQUE
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The first family fascinated the American public
For example, after learning that JFK could read 1,600 words a minute, thousands
enrolled in speed-reading courses
Jackie, too, captivated the nation with her eye for fashion and culture
THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST
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JFK surrounded himself with what one journalist described as the “best and the
brightest” available talent
Of all of his elite advisors who filled Kennedy’s inner circle, he relied most on his 35year-old brother Robert, whom he appointed attorney general
FOCUS ON THE COLD WAR
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From the beginning of his term in early 1961, JFK focused on the Cold War (Soviet
relations)
JFK tripled our nuclear capability, increased troops, ships and artillery, and created the
Green Berets (Special Forces)
CRISIS OVER CUBA
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Just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, Cuba presented the first big test of JFK’s foreign
policy
Openly Communist, Cuba was led by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who welcomed
aid from the USSR
Relations between the U.S. and Cuba were deteriorating
BAY OF PIGS
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In March 1960, Eisenhower gave the CIA permission to secretly train Cuban exiles for
an invasion of Cuba
Kennedy learned of the plan only nine days into his presidency
JFK approved the mission
It turned out to be a disaster when in April, 1961, 1,200 Cuban exiles met 25,000
Cuban troops backed by Soviet tanks and were soundly defeated
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
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Castro had a powerful ally in Moscow
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev promised to defend Cuba with Soviet weapons
During the summer of 1962 the flow of Soviet weapons into Cuba – including nuclear –
increased greatly
13 DAYS
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When more Soviet ships headed for the U.S. with weapons, JFK ordered a blockade
The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviets ships turned back
Finally, Khrushchev agreed to remove the nuclear weapons from Cuba in exchange for
a U.S. promise NOT to invade Cuba
CRISIS OVER BERLIN
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In 1961, Berlin, Germany was a city in great turmoil
In the 11 years since the Berlin Airlift, almost 3 million East Germans (Soviet side) had
fled into West Berlin (U.S. controlled) to flee communist rule
SOVIETS SEEK TO STOP EXODUS
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The Soviets did not like the fact that East Berliners were fleeing their city for the
democratic west
Their departure hurt the economy and the prestige of the USSR
Just after midnight on August 13, 1961 the Soviets began construction of a 90-mile
wall separating East and West Berlin
EASING TENSIONS
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Both Khrushchev and Kennedy began searching for ways to ease the enormous
tension between the two superpowers
In 1963 they established a hot line between the White House and the Kremlin
Later that year, the superpowers signed a Limited Test Ban Treaty that served to ban
nuclear testing in the atmosphere
SECTION 2: THE NEW FRONTIER
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Kennedy initiated his vision in a program he called “The New Frontier”
The economy, education, medical care for the elderly and the poor, and space
exploration were all part of his vision
THE PEACE CORPS
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One of the first programs launched by JFK was the Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is a volunteer program to assist developing nations in Asia, Africa and
Latin America
The Peace Corps has become a huge success
RACE TO THE MOON
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On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space
Meanwhile, America’s space agency (NASA) began construction on new launch
facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida and a mission control center in Houston, Texas
A MAN ON THE MOON
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Finally, on July 20, 1969, the U.S. would achieve its goal
An excited nation watched as U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the
moon
Space and defense-related industries sprang up in Southern and Western states
KENNEDY ADDRESSES INNER CITY BLIGHT AND RACISM
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In 1963, Kennedy called for “a national assault on the causes of poverty”
He also ordered his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy to investigate racial
injustice in the South
Finally, he presented Congress with a sweeping civil rights bill and a sweeping tax cut
bill to spur the economy
TRAGEDY IN DALLAS
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On a sunny day on November 22,1963, Air Force One landed in Dallas with JFK and
Jackie
JFK received warm applause from the crowd that lined the downtown streets of Dallas
as he rode in the back seat of an open-air limousine
JFK SHOT TO DEATH
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As the motorcade approached the Texas Book Depository, shots rang out
JFK was shot in the neck and then the head
His car was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors frantically tried to revive him
President Kennedy was dead (11/22/63)
LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON BECOMES PRESIDENT
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The Vice-President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, became President after JFK was
assassinated
The nation mourned the death of the young president while Jackie Kennedy remained
calm and poised
JFK LAID TO REST
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All work stopped for Kennedy’s funeral as America mourned its fallen leader
The assassination and the televised funeral became historic events
Like 9-11, Americans can recall where they were when they heard the news of the
President’s death
LEE HARVEY OSWALD CHARGED; SHOT TO DEATH
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A 24-year-old Marine with a suspicious past left a palm print on the rifle used to kill
JFK
He was charged and as a national television audience watched his transfer from one
jail to another, nightclub owner Jack Ruby broke through the crowd and shot Oswald
to death
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
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The bizarre chain of events led many to believe that Oswald was part of a conspiracy
The Warren Commission investigated the assassination and determined that Oswald
had indeed acted alone
Recent filmmaker Oliver Stone isn’t so sure – his film, “JFK,” is filled with conspiracy
theories
SECTION 3: THE GREAT SOCIETY
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A fourth-generation Texan, Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) entered politics in 1937 as a
congressman
Johnson admired Franklin Roosevelt who took the young congressman under his wing
Johnson became a senator in 1948 and by 1955 he was Senate majority leader
JOHNSON’S DOMESTIC AGENDA
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As soon as Johnson took office, he urged Congress to pass the tax-cut bill that
Kennedy had sent to Capital Hill
The tax cut passed and $10 billion in cuts took effect
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
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
In July of 1964, LBJ pushed the Civil Rights Act through Congress
The Act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin, and
granted the federal government new powers to enforce the law
VOTING RIGHTS ACT 1964
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
Part of the Civil Rights Act was to insure voting rights for all Americans
The act prohibited literacy tests or other discriminatory practices for voting
The act insured consistent election practices
THE WAR ON POVERTY
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
Following his tax cut and Civil Rights Act successes, LBJ launched his War on Poverty
In August of 1964 he pushed through Congress a series of measures known as the
Economic Opportunity Act
The Act provided $1 billion in aid to the inner city
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT
THE EOA legislation created:
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
The Job Corps
VISTA (Volunteers in service to America)
Project Head Start for underprivileged preschoolers
The Community Action Program which encouraged the poor to participate in public
works program
THE 1964 ELECTION

In 1964, the Republicans nominated conservative senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona
to oppose Democrat Lyndon Johnson


Goldwater opposed LBJ’s social legislation
Goldwater alienated voters by suggesting the use of nuclear weapons in Cuba and
North Vietnam
LBJ WINS BY A LANDSLIDE

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
LBJ won the 1964 election by a landslide
For many it was an anti-Goldwater vote
Many Americans saw Goldwater as a War Hawk
The Democrats also increased their majority in Congress
Now Johnson launched his reform program in earnest
BUILDING THE GREAT SOCIETY


In May of 1964, LBJ summed up his vision for America in a phrase: “The Great Society”
By the time he left the White House in 1969, Congress had passed 206 of LBJ’s Great
Society legislative initiatives
EDUCATION



Johnson considered education “the key which can unlock the door to the Great
Society”
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act provided $1 billion to help public
schools buy textbooks and library materials
This Act represented the first major federal aid package for education ever
HEALTHCARE



LBJ and Congress enhanced Social Security by establishing Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare provided hospital insurance and low-cost medical care to the elderly
Medicaid provided health benefits to the poor
HOUSING

LBJ and Congress appropriated money to build 240,000 units of low-rent public
housing; established the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and
appointed the first black cabinet member, Robert Weaver, as HUD’s first leader
IMMIGRATION REFORM


The Great Society also brought reform to immigration laws
The Natural Origins Acts of the 1920s strongly discriminated against immigration by
those outside of Western Europe

The Immigration Act of 1965 opened the door for many non-European immigrants to
settle in the U.S.
THE ENVIRONMENT



LBJ also actively sought to improve the environment
The Water Quality Act of 1965 required states to clean up their rivers and lakes
LBJ also ordered the government to clean up corporate polluters of the environment
CONSUMER PROTECTION



Consumer advocates also made gains during the 1960s
Major safety laws were passed in the U.S. auto industry and Congress passed the
Wholesome Meat Act of 1967
LBJ said, “Americans can feel safer now in their homes, on the road, and at the
supermarket”
SUPREME COURT REFORMS SOCIETY, TOO


Reform and change were not limited to the Executive and Legislative branches
The Judicial Branch led by the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Earl Warren did much
to protect individual rights
WARREN COURT AND SUSPECT’S RIGHTS



In Mapp v. Ohio (1961) the Supreme Court ruled that illegally seized evidence could
not be used in court
In Escobedo v. Illinois the court ruled that the accused has the right to have an
attorney present when questioned by police
In Miranda v. Arizona the court ruled that all suspects must be read their rights before
questioning
IMPACT OF GREAT SOCIETY



The Great Society and the Warren Court changed the United States
No president in Post-WWII era extended the power and reach of the federal
government more than LBJ
The War on Poverty helped, the Civil Rights initiative made a difference and the
massive tax cuts spurred the economy