U.S. History Midterm Study Guide

Industrial Revolution Robber Barons –negative name given to powerful industrialists by critics Captains of Industry – positive name given to powerful industrialists by supporters Sherman Antitrust Act – 1887 the goal was to promote fair industrial competition Social Darwinism – the government should stay out of the affairs of business and everyone would benefit Technological Advances – along with financial investment sparked the expansion of American industry Industrialization – enormous increase in factories throughout the US John D. Rockefeller – gained control over most of the oil industry by managing a trust made up of standard oil and allied companies, horizontal consolidation Andrew Carnegie – Captain of the steel industry, believed in the Gospel of Wealth, philanthropist, vertical consolidation

Looking West Morrill Land Grant Act – provided ways for settlers to acquire western lands; set aside for land grant colleges to the states Homestead Act – provided ways for settlers to acquire western lands; settlers had to meet specific criteria…10$ fee, farm for 5 years, race for the plot of choice, build a house etc. Native American – different views of land ownership, many agreements between NA and government fell apart due to this Myths – settlers were nearly all white males Populist Platform – people’s party; included provisions for free silver, a progressive income tax, and an eight hour day Fredrick Jackson Turner – his thesis held that the frontier helped create the strong, individualistic American spirit

The Gilded Age Political Machines – were supported by immigrants because they provided them jobs, housing etc. Social Gospel/Settlement movements – main goal to improve living conditions for the poor; Hull House and Jane Adams are examples Reasons for Urbanization – farm machines and factory-made goods reduced the need for farm labor, didn’t need as many workers so they moved North for factory jobs Prohibitionists/Purity Crusaders – shared the goal of improving the personal behavior of individuals; rid America of Vice Public Schools – helped assimilate immigrant children to America, Americanization process NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, was an example of how AA used the courts to fight discrimination Plessy Vs Ferguson – the Supreme Court established the “separate but equal” doctrine upholding segregation W.E.B. Dubois – argued that AA should educate themselves so they could provide leadership in the fight for Civil Rights, Civil Rights leader Booker T. Washington – argued that AA should learn vocational skills and be the best they could be and they would be respected by the white community Popular Amusements – in the late 1800s were inexpensive and readily available to large numbers of people, nickelodeons and trolley parks

Becoming a World Power Imperialism – Strong nations dominate weak nations and use their resources and land for naval bases President Theodore Roosevelt – is often remembered for expanding Presidential Power Open Door Policy – was important to the US because it provided access to millions of consumers in China Roosevelt Corollary – central message was the US would use force to prevent intervention in the affairs of neighboring countries, extension of the Monroe Doctrine Main goal of the Spanish American War – free Cuba from Spanish rule Results of the Spanish American War – US wins, Puerto Rico and Guam become unincorporated territories of the United States

Progressive Era Progressive Ideas – agreed the government should protect workers and help the poor Election of 1912 – Woodrow Wilson won due to a split in the Republican Party Women’s suffrage – the 19th Amendment give women the right to vote in 1919 Anti-suffrage arguments - basic anti suffrage argument was that women would become to masculine Progressivisms end – with the passage of prohibition and women’s suffrage the progressive achieve most of their goals and the party dissolved

World War I Underlying Causes – the web of alliances European nations created for their defense, militarism, nationalism, imperialism; sparked by the killing of Archduke Ferdinand Reasons for U.S. entry - Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare Selective Service Act – drafting young men for military service Economic controls – the government oversaw war time production Restrictions of rights/free speech etc. – fears of spies and sabotage led to restriction of immigration, discrimination and violence toward Germans and more League of Nations – many Senators oppose entry fearing it would weaken the country’s independence, the irreconcilables; the US did not join despite President Wilson’s pleas

The Twenties Republican Decade – key features - Isolationism and laissez-faire business policy Red Scare – was in response to the Russian Revolution Prohibition – results – the rise of organized crime

Women – changes- many women felt freer to experiment with bolder styles and manners; flappers

Heroes – Americans became fascinated because they longed for symbols of old-fashioned virtues; disheartened by the deaths and destruction of WWII and the materialism of 1920s society

The Great Depression/New Deal

Hoover’s strategy – encouraging voluntary controls in the business sector

Signs of weak economy – the failure of many rural banks

1932 election – turning point – in the way many Americans viewed the responsibilities of the federal government

Stock Market Crash – reaction – People raced to sell their stocks.

Effects of unemployment – Hooverville’s sprang up in the nation’s cities

FDR’s “bank holiday” – banks were closed to inspect their financial health

FDR’s first months in office – first 100 days…FDR pushed Congress to pass legislation to improve the economy

Eleanor Roosevelt – defied tradition – actively and aggressively promoted the New Deal

Second New Deal goal – an attempt by the government to do more for ordinary Americans FDR court-packing – aroused the most opposition when he attempted to “pack” the Supreme Court with a new judge for every one over age 70.