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