Progressive Era, Imperialism, and World War 1

Section 7.1

Imperialism- a nation desires to gain more territory outside it’s borders

Reasons for US Imperialism: ◦ Economic growth- new people to sell to ◦ National security ◦ Manifest Destiny / Patriotism

Others believed in Isolationism-It was not in the best interest of the US to expand our borders ◦ Foreign wars ◦ Focus on internal problems ◦ Should not take away other’s freedoms

US wanted to control the pacific ocean for trade

Purchased Alaska from Russia

Took Hawaii

Hawaii's Last Queen

While under Spanish rule, Cuban people rebelled

Spanish army put 150,00 Cubans in concentration camps

US saw an opportunity to take Cuba Newspapers published stories of Cuban

suffering ◦ Yellow journalism- embellishing stories to sell

papers

Secretary of the NAVY Theodore Roosevelt called for war with Spain

Feb 12, 1898 the battleship USS Maine blew up in Cuba’s harbor

US Newspapers blamed Spain

US Congress declared war

Teddy Roosevelt left Washington to lead a Calvary unit The Rough Riders

Rough Riders attacked at San Juan Hill and won

George Dewey led the Navy to Philippines to attack Spain at their colonies there

Less than 3 months- Spain surrendered Cuba and Philippines- Treaty of Paris 1898

Known as “a splendid little war”

Teller Amendment to treaty- US promised to not annex Cuba ◦ US kept military on Cuba for 3 years to protect

American businesses while they rebuilt the govt

Platt Amendment to Cuban Constitution- Forced the Cubans to included the amendment allowing the US to have 2 Navy bases in Cuba

Meanwhile- Puerto Rico and Guam both became US territories

Many Americans questioned why the US took over Philippines’ ◦ Anti-Imperialist League- said it was un democratic

Funded by Andrew Carnegie

Emilio Aguinaldo lead guerrilla fighters ◦ War lasted 2 years and was VERY violent

1901 Aguinaldo captured and Philippines' became a US territory

Received independence in 1946

Teddy Roosevelt dreamed of a canal that would unite Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

US asked Columbia to sell the panama territory

Panama rebelled and asked for independence ◦ US sent the army to help fight Columbia

Panama wins independence and allows US to build a canal as a thank you gift

US maintained ownership and control of the canal until 1999

Panama Canal- Time Lapse

T. Roosevelt issued the Roosevelt Corollary ◦ It was added to the Monroe Doctrine

◦ Said US could occupy a nation in the Western Hemisphere if they could not pay their dept

Roosevelt became known for his “big stick diplomacy” ◦ Not open threats, but threats with a large military

Section 7.2

Progressive era- a time of political, social, and economic change

Progressives- white, middle class protestants who believed things could be made better by government regulation ◦ Praise- they were people who genuinely tried to

improve the lives of others and help less fortunate

◦ Criticism- they were arrogant and thought they new what was best for poor people

Ida M. Tarbell was an investigative journalist.

Tarbell wrote about John D. Rockefeller's tactics and exposed

how bad monopolies and trust are for American people

Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle about the meat packing

factories in Chicago

Exposed the horrible conditions and lives of the workers

“Jurgis and Ona go for a walk through their new

neighborhood. The stench of rotting animal flesh and

animal excrement, along with billowing smoke, fills the

air.”

“The government inspector who checks the slaughtered

pigs for signs of tuberculosis often lets several

carcasses go unchecked. Spoiled meat is specially

doctored in secret before it is scattered among the rest

of the meat in preparation for canning and packing.”

A few quotes from the book…

“Jurgis begins his job of sweeping the entrails of

slaughtered cattle through trap doors. Despite the stench,

he is filled with optimism because he earns a little over

two dollars for twelve hours of labor.”

“Jurgis notes that unfit meat, such as calf fetuses and

animals that have died of disease, are butchered and

packed with the rest of the meat.”

1. Meat Inspection Act of 1906 – declared that every animal

must be inspected before and after being slaughtered and

established standards for sanitation.

2. Led to the founding of the Food and Drug Administration

in 1930.

The effect of The Jungle…

Labor Reforms

Women’s Reforms

Racial Reforms

Political Reforms

Minimum age laws ( ranged between 12-16)

Maximum working hours- 40 hour week

Safety laws at work ◦ Must have fire escapes

◦ Extra wide doors

◦ No locked/blocked doors

◦ Must have windows

A result of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Jane Adams founded the Hull House- a community center in poor neighborhoods that would help citizens

Temperance Movement success ◦ 18th Amendment passes

Women’s Suffrage success ◦ 19th Amendment passes

Susan B Anthony

Progressives believed segregation was good ◦ Blacks could only develop and advance in their own

culture

Supported Plessy v. Ferguson ◦ Court case that said segregation was legal as long

as it was “separate but equal”

W.E.B. Dubois disagreed- he felt blacks would only achieve equality by pursuing professional jobs and political power ◦ Founded the NAACP to fight for that

17th amendment- direct election of senators by the people = more accountability ◦ Could get voted out if they did not do a good job

Initiative- citizens could force a vote on an issue by signing an initiative

Recall- citizens could hold a special election to vote someone out of office before their term was up

Referendum- officials elected by public vote ◦ (except the president)

16th amendment- everyone now had to pay income tax ◦ Encourage the very rich to give some money away

17th amendment- direct election of senators

18th amendment- alcohol now illegal

19th amendment- women’s right to vote