USH2 midterm flashcards

Define muckraker

a term that refers to those who published novels and articles in the early 20th century because they wanted to expose corruption not only in businesses, but government as well

Sacco and Vanzetti case

• April 15, 1920

• Two men robbed and murdered two employees of a shoe factory in Massachusetts

• Police arrested the Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti

• Not only were they italian immigrants, but they were anarchists (oppose any form of government)

• The “evidence” was a similar gun that Sacco owned and bullets that matched the murder weapon

• Even though the evidence was not solid, people believed that because they are anarchists must mean that they are guilty

• The two were found guilty in 7/14/1921 and sentenced to death

• They were finally executed on 8/23/1927 after six years of appeals

How did Henry Ford’s system of making cars increase efficiency?

Henry Ford’s system of making cars increased efficiency by introducing the nation to the first ever assembly line. He gave his workers different tasks so they could focus on one thing instead of building a car all at one station. Before this line his workers used to build an automobile every 93 minutes, but now they were finished building by 10 seconds. These changes all made it possible to increase supply all while reducing the cost. Workers now made more and the goods cost less.

How did the Ku Klux Klan add to its membership in the 1920’s?

The Ku Klux Klan grew its membership to 4 million (north & west) by 1924 because of professional promoters that sold klan memberships.

Contrary to belief, President Taft brought forth more cases dealing with this subject, than President T. Roosevelt who is more known for it.

President Taft placed less emphasis on military force and more on economic development, dollar diplomacy (policy of joining the business interests of a country with its diplomatic interests abroad.) His administration worked hard to advance the “trust-busting” process even though Roosevelt was already known for that. He brought twice as many antitrust cases in 4 years than Roosevelt had in seven.

What was the Espionage Act?

(Spying) The Espionage Act of 1917 made it illegal to give false reports, aid to the enemy, and interfere with the war effort.

What was the Sedition Act?

The Sedition Act of 1918 made it illegal to speak against the war in public when it was deemed a “danger” or a “threat” to the nation.

What was President Wilson’s plan for peace after WWI?

President Wilson’s fourteen points was a peace plan based on the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities. He wanted this plan to undermine the Central Powers' will to continue fighting and to lay out his vision for peace.

• The first give points proposed to eliminate the causes of war through freedom of seas, free trade, impartial adjustment of colonial claims, open diplomacy, and disarmament.

• The next eight points addressed the right of national self-determination (the free choice by the people of a nation of their own future political status). This also meant that no nation should keep territory stolen from another country.

• The last point called for the creation of a League of Nations.

Women were sent overseas during WWI in what capacity?

WWI was the first war in which women could officially serve in the armed forces. They only served in noncombat positions. Early in 1917, the navy authorized the enlistment of women to meet its needs. Women who served in the navy wore a standard uniform with the assigned rank yeoman. By the end of the war, more than 11,000 women had spent their time in the navy. Even though most performed clerical duties, others served as pharmacists, chemists, photographers, electricians, and radio operators. The only women who actually served in the army and their major war would be those in the Army Nurse Corps. More than 20,000 nurses served in the ANC and 10,000 in the navy. Women also served as nurses in the army/navy since the early 1900s as auxiliaries (a person providing additional help/support).

What did President Coolidge believe was his role with regards to government regulation?

President Coolidge believed that his role was to make sure that the government should not interfere with businesses or industry at all.

What group seized power in Russia during WWI?

In Russia during WWI riots broke out in March 1917. Czar Nicholas II abdicated his throne and the Russian Revolution began. A temporary government was put in place and took command. However, this new government was unsuccessful and could not deal with the problems affecting the nation. Vladimir Lenin’s Bolshevik Party sized power and established their Communist government in November of 1917. Later, Russia was pulled out of the war to concentrate on building their communist state. He agreed to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany on March 3, 1918.

Why did people support the US annexing the Philippines?

People supported the US annexing the Philippines because of the following reasons:

• Provide another pacific naval base

• Stopover on the way to China

• Larger market for American goods

• Americans believed that they had a duty to help the “less civilized” people

Why did President McKinley send the USS Maine to Cuba in 1898?

President McKinley sent the USS Maine to Cuba in 1898 because he wanted to protect the American people living there who were endangered. They also felt the need to support the Cuban people during their own revolution just like the U.S. was offered help years and years ago.

Why did people elect President Harding in 1920?

American citizens elected President Harding in 1920 because he promised that the U.S. would return to “normalcy” aka the days before the Progressive Era reforms.

Radio rose in popularity with news about what?

The radio rose in popularity when the news about the upcoming 1927 event, Jack Dempsey’s attempt to win back the world heavyweight title (1919-1926) after his loss to Gene Tunney. In one store they sold $90,000 worth of radios just two weeks before the event.

How did many Americans wish to avoid war in the future after WWI?

After World War I ended, Americans wished to avoid war in the future by the method of isolationism. This idea was that the U.S. should stay out of world affairs in order to be safe. This was shown through the U.S. not ratifying the treaty of Versailles and not joining the LON.

After the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, what was the response of the public and the government? What changes, if any, were made?

After the triangle shirtwaist factory fire (in which nearly 150 out of 500 died.) New York passed new laws that changed the labor code. The laws divided cities/towns into zones for commercial, residential, or anything else in order to regulate how the buildings could be used. There were minimum standards for light, air, room, size, sanitation, and now required buildings to have fire escapes. Even health codes required restaurants/facilities to maintain their environment clean.

In the treaty ending the Spanish American War, America now claimed what?

The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish American War. It gave the United States the claim to countries like Guam, Philippines (purchased for $20 million), Puerto Rico, and Cuba now became a U.S. protectorate.

What was the Roosevelt Corollary?

The Roosevelt Corollary was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine where the U.S. would intervene in any Latin American affairs when it was needed to maintain the economic/political stability of the Western Hemisphere.

• Its goal was to prevent European powers from using the debt problems of Latin America to take over the countries in that region.

• The “policeman of the Western Hemisphere”

Who were the “Big Four”?

The big four were the most important participants in the conference of the Treaty of Versailles. President Wilson represented the United States, David Lloyd George was the British prime minister, Georges Clemenceau who was the French premier, and the Italian prime minister Vittorio Orlando.

How/where did immigrants enter New York? Were there any other similar locations, or was this the only port of entry?

Immigrants entered New York through Ellis Island, which was a harbor where most European immigrants arrived. It took about 7 crossing days to get to the island in 1900. A similar location to this was Angel Island, which was located in San Francisco. Most Asians entered the U.S. this way.

Define imperialism

Imperialism is a term that is described as the actions used by one nation to have economic or political power over a weak nation

Why did Americans support the Cuban rebels fighting for independence from Spain? What prompted that support?

Americans supported the Cuban rebels fighting for independence from Spain because the stories that were released in which it revealed the horrible events that the Cubans had to suffer at the hands of the Spaniards. They also got reminded of how the U.S. was back when they were fighting their own revolution to gain independence from Great Britain.

Who was John T. Scopes?

John T. Scopes was a biology teacher in Dayton, Tennessee that was charged for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory that all life evolved from a common ancestor and not the creation of man as taught in the Bible.

• Tennessee outlawed any teaching that denied the creation of man story in the bible (Tennessee’s Butler act)

• His trial would be known as the Scopes Monkey trial

• Convicted and fined $100

What was the new morality of the 1920’s centered on?

The new morality of the 1920’s was centered on the idea of liberalism (all individuals are entitled to freedom and equality)

• Example of this is the changes for Women

• Many took jobs and broke away from parental authority & later established financial independence

• Women’s fashion changed (slight boyish look due to the flappers short hair and slim bodies)

Who “sold” WWI to the American people? What does that mean?

The country that “sold” WWI to the American people was Great Britain. This defined the propaganda that they used to try to steer the American people to their side, basically wanting them to join the war. Another example of this is the CPI (Committee on Public information.) They were tasked to “sell” the war to the American people.

• They hired entertainers or anyone that could help sway public opinion in favor of the war

What was the ruling of Schenck vs. United States**? What was the significance of the case?**

Schenck vs. The United States was a supreme court case in 1919, ruled that the government could restrict speech when it was deemed a “danger.” This meant that anyone who spoke against the war publicly would get prosecuted, thus violating their freedom of speech and defying the first amendment. The supreme court no longer strictly interpreted the Constitution as it did years ago.

• “Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”

What was the Fordney-McCumber Act? What were the consequences of the act?

The Fordney-McCumber Act was passed in 1922, it made matters worse for farmers by raising tariffs. This dampened the American market for foreign goods and sparked a reaction foreign markets were against buying American farmers products. This caused Agriculture to remain in recession throughout the 1920’s.

How did Theodore Roosevelt become president?

After President McKinley’s first term he was re-elected in 1900, but was assassinated in September of 1901. At the time, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency.

Who gained independence at the end of the Spanish American War?

The country that gained independence at the end of the Spanish American war was Cuba. The U.S. helped Cuba defeat Spain and made sure that the revolution would be successful.

What was the Teapot Dome Scandal?

The teapot dome scandal was an event that began in early 1922. Harding’s secretary of the interior, Albert B. Fall, allowed private interests to lease lands that contained the U.S. Navy oil reserves located at Teapot Dome, Wyoming and Elk Hills, California. In return, he received bribes that totaled more than $300,000.

Why did President Roosevelt want to defeat President Taft for the Republican nomination in 1912?

• President Roosevelt wanted to defeat President Taft for the Republican nomination in 1912 because they never could see eye to eye on topics. Roosevelt even publicly criticized Taft for his decisions. After they broke apart Roosevelt announced that he would reenter politics and attempt to replace Taft as the Republican nominee for president.

  • Conservatives supported Taft

  • Progressives supported Roosevelt

• However, when Roosevelt realized Taft’s delegates controlled the nominations he left the party and campaigned as an independent. This would be a newly formed Progressive Party, but later be known as the Bull Moose Party.

• This all came to a close when the election was cut to be between Roosevelt and Democratic Woodrow Wilson.

What was Henry Ford’s business philosophy?

Henry Ford’s business philosophy was to make sure to win his workers loyalty and to undercut union organizers. He doubled his workers wages in 1914 to $5 dollars a day and reduced their workday to eight hours.

What was the Volstead Act?

The Volstead Act gave the U.S. Treasury department, the power to enforce Prohibition and made alcohol illegal. This made a dramatic increase in federal police powers.

What was the Great Migration?

The Great Migration was a massive population movement. This all occurred because Henry Ford was desperate for workers, so he sent agents to the South to recruit African Americans. Around 300,000-500,000 African Americans moved to the North in the promise of high wages and a stable job. This changed the racial makeup of cities like Detroit, Cleveland, New York, and Chicago.

According to the Selective Service Act, how was it decided what order the draftees were chosen for the draft?

The Selective Service Act of 1917, required all men between the ages of 21-30 to register for the draft. A lottery would determine the order in which they were called before a local draft board. They were in charge of selecting or exempting men from their military service.

What was Tammany Hall?

Tammany Hall was the main local democratic political machine in New York City. William “Boss” Tweed was the city boss of the hall.

What was the Zimmerman Telegram?

The Zimmermann telegram was sent in January 1917 by German official Arthur Zimmermann. He had sent the telegram to the German ambassador in Mexico promising Mexico that they will recover their lost territories (New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.) if they allied with Germany. The message was intercepted by British intelligence and its transcript was revealed in American newspapers.

What were the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles?

The Treaty of Versailles included many terms that were intended to punish and weaken germany.

• Germany’s armed forces were greatly reduced

• German troops were not allowed west of the Rhine River

• Allies demanded Germany pay monetary compensation (reparations) for war damages because Germany had started the war

• Germany owed the Allies 33 billion dollars

• The sum kept Germany’s economy weak for a long time

What happened after Glenn Curtiss and others began to build practical aircraft?

Glenn Curtiss invented ailerons, which made it possible to build rigid wings and a much larger aircraft. The federal government began to support the airline industry after this moment.

How did the government prevent strikes during WWI?

The government prevented strikes from affecting the war efforts during WWI by establishing the National War Labor Board. Governor Calvin Coolidge called the National Guard to help calm down the Boston Police Strike when it got to riots and looting.

What were some of the policies introduced by the Fuel Administration during WWI?

The Fuel Administration managed the use of oil and coal. It majorly recommended conserving energy with the usage of daylight savings time. It also shortened workweeks for civilian good factories and encouraged heatless mondays.

What was the goal of nativists?

Nativists believe that one’s native land needs to be protected against immigrants. They wanted to restrict immigration into the U.S. due to the turmoil occurring with the red scare and economic recession that created intolerance/disillusionment.

Why were people suspicious of Sacco and Vanzetti?

People were suspicious of Sacco and Vanzetti because of three reasons:

• Anarchists

• Italian Immigrants

• Sacco owned a gun and bullets that were similar to the murder weapon

Where did Mexican Americans settle when they moved north during WWI?

Mexican Americans settled in areas where they could get agricultural jobs when they moved north during the war.

• Between 1917-1920 more than 100,000 Mexicans migrated to the Southwest where they got jobs as ranchers and farmers. Mexican Americans found new opportunities in factory jobs that were located in Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha, and other popular cities.

• Daily they faced hostility and discrimination, so they later settled in Barrios (separate neighborhoods) where people who were a part of the same group could support one another due to discrimination and hostility.

What was the Ohio Gang?

The Ohio Gang were President Harding's old friends from Ohio. He gave them cabinet positions and other high-level jobs to his allies/friends much like Andrew Jackson’s spoils system.