APUSH Chaps. 28-29
James G. Blaine
(1830-1893) A Republican politcian who served as a US respresentative, speaker of the US house of Reps., two time Secretary of State, and a US senator from Maine. Narrowley defeated by Grover Cleveland in 1894. As secretary of state, he marked the end of American Isloationism and foreshadowed the rise of the American Century that would start with the Spanish-American War. He advocated for a more active foreign policy. He was a pioneer in tariff reciprocity and urged greater involvement in Latin American affairs. He was expansionist.
Alfred Thayer Mahan
(1840-1914) A US Navy flag officer, a geostrategist, and historian. He conceived the idea of sea power was based around the idea that the nation with the greatest naval strength will have a greater worldwide impact. His ideas have influenced the strategic though of navies across the world, which ultimately caused the WWI naval arms race.
William McKinley
(1843-1901) The 25th President of the US who is best known fpr winning tough elections. He supported the gold standard and high tariffs. He succeeded in forging a republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s. Led the US to victory in 100 days in the Spanish-American War. Assassinated in 1901.
Eugene V. Debs
(1855-1926) A union leader, a founding member of the International Labor Union and the Industrial Workers of the World, and several times the candidate of the Socialist Party of America. His work made him a well known socialist. Known as a skilled orator.
Theodore Roosevelt
(1858-1919) The 26th President of the US from 1901-1909. Noted for his exhuberent personalisty and range of achievements, he was also a soldier, author, hunter, naturalist, and statesman at local, state, and federal levels. He became the youngest President at age 42, built the Panama Canal, designated dozens of national parks, built up a navy, was a hero of the Spanish-American War.
William Jennings Bryan
(1860-1925) A politician who was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Did not support the Gold Standard, railroads, or banks. Supporter of populist Dem. Promoted Free Silver, anti-imperialism, and trust-busting. 41st Secretary of State under Pres. Woodrow Wilson. A populist leader. Prosecuted John Scopes for teaching evolution in a Tennessee school.
Emilio Aguinaldo
(1869-1964) A Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. He played a vital role in the Philipines' revolution against Spain. He also led the subsequent Philippines-American War for Philippines Independence. He became the first Philippino President.
CHAPTER 29
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Pullman strike
A antionwide conflict that took place between labor unions and railroads that ocurred in 1894. Conflict began in Pullman, Illinois. 3,000 employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company began a wildcat strike in response to recent reductions in wages, paralyzing west Chicago. The American Railway Union (natin's first industry-wide union), led by Eugene V. Debs soon became embroiled. At its peak, ovr 250,000 workers in 27 states partook at the strikes peak. US Marshals and US Army troops violently broke up the strike.
Free Silver
A major policy issue in the late 19th century, advoicates for free silver wanted an inflation in monetary policy using the free coinage of silver. Free Silver supporters were opposed by supporters of the Gold Standard (silverites), which was less inflationary. Silverites wanted bimetallism, which would see gold and solver used as currency. As silver was cheaper, economists warned more people would mint it, and thus cause inflation. Gold Standard was supported in the NE, while Free Silver saw much support in the S and W. Farmers would benefit from higher prices for crops, and wanted silver. The silver Vs. gold issue was a central point in the elections of 1896 and 1900. In majority elections, Free Silver saw defeat in 1896 and the Gold Standard was adopted soon after.
Bimetalism
A monetary standard where the value of the monetary unit is defined as equivalent to both a certain quantity of gold and to a certain quantity of solver. There is an established rate of exchange between the two metals. The battle over "free silver" in the 19th century involved bimetallism and was a crucial part of forming a new American monetary policy. More silver = more inflation.
Coxey's Army
A protest march of unemployed workers in 1894, the march was led by populist Jacob Coxey. The march occurred in Washington DC in 1894 during a 4 year economic depression that was the worst in US history up to that time. They protested the high unem,loyment and wanted jobs in public works and payment in paper currency. March began in Ohio.
Populist Party
A short-lived political party that was founded in 1891, and was very important from 1892-96. The party drew support from the poor white cotton famers in the South, and wheat farmers from the plains states. The group represented a radical agrarian group that wass hostile to banks, railroads, and elites. Sometimes worked with labor unions. Supported William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 election. Grew out of resentment for low agricultural prices.
Cross of Gold Speech
A speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that occurred in 1896. Bryan supported bimetallism, or free silver, which he believed would bring the naiton prosperity. He vehemently oposed the gold standard, and famously said, "you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold". The speech helped put him on as the Democratic presidential nomination. The nation since 1873 was bitterly divided on the monetary standard.
Teller Amendment
An amendment to a joint resolution of the US Congress, it was enacted in 1898, in reply to William McKinley's War Message. The TA placed a condition of the US military in Cuba. The clause stated that the US could not annex Cuba but only leave "control of the island to its people".
Homestead strike
An industrial lockout and strike in 1892. A battle was the culminating event that occurred between strikers and private security agents. One of the most serious labor disputes in US history. Strike originated in Homestead, Penn. between the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the Carnegie Steel Company. The end result was a major setback for efforts to unionize steelworkers.
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing specific acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions. In some cases, breaches of Injunctions are considered serious criminal offenses that merit arrest and possible prison sentences.
Platt Amendment
Created in 1901, the Amendment replaced the earlier Teller Amendment. The PA stimulated conditions for withdrawal of US troops remaining in Cuba at the end of the Spanish-American War. The PA defined the terms of Cuban-US relations until the 1934 Treaty of Relations. The US could be involved in Cuban affairs and gave legal standing to certain US claims on the island, such Guantanamo Bay.
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
Enacted in 1890, the Act, named after its author John Sherman, increased the amount of silver the government was required to purchase every month. The act was passed upon complants from farmers and miners interests. Due to immense debt from deflation due to overproduction, thus they wanted the gov. to cause more inflation with the buying of silver so debts could be paid with cheaper dollars. The miners mined toom much silver, which caused the silver to lose value. Thus, they wanted the gov. to artificially increase demand for silver.
Treaty of Paris (1898)
Ended the Spanish-American War. The treaty also signaled the end of the Spanish empire in America and the Pacific, and the rise of the US as a colonial power.
Anti-Imperialist League
Established in 1898, the League was founded to battle the US annexation of the Philippines as an insular area (a US territory). Imperialism was opposed as people believed that it went agaisnt the credo of the Republicanism, especially the need for the "consent of the governed". The League was composed of members of an older generation who had little force in the polls, and new progressive politicians were in support of imperialism.
Jingoism
Extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy. In practice, a jingoistic people uses advocation of the use of threats or actual force agaisnt other naitons to secure its own national interests. The term can also be an extreme form of nationalism. The term originated in the 1870s in Britain, and at the end of the 19th century was used in the US, especially after the sinking of the USS Maine.
USS Maine
Having at first been sent to Havana Harbor, the ship was sent to protect US interests during the Cuban revolt against Spain. Suddenly, she exploded in 1998 and sank, killing almost 3/4 of the crew. The cause of the sinking has never been determined, but many at the time blamed Spain. The event was one of the main events that preceipated into war with Spain. Some have speculated her sinking was the result of an undetected fire in a coal bunker, a naval mine, or deliberately sunk for the purpose of taking the US to war with Spain.
Rough Riders
Known also as the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry, it was one of 3 regiments raised for the Spanish-American War in 1898. The US Army was weakened in manpower significantly after the Civil War. Thus, President William McKinley called upon 1,250 volunteers. It was commanded by Leonard Wood, and his second in command was former assistant secretary of the US Navy Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt wanted American involvement in the push for Cuban independence. When Wood became commander of the 2nd Cav. Brig., they became known as "Roosevekt's Rough Riders".
Gold Standard Act
Passed in 1900, gold was established as the only standard for redeeming paper money and stopping bimetallism (allowed silver to be exchanged for gold). Signed into effect by William McKinley. Gold was soon assaigned a specific dollar value. Gold Standard dropped in 1933.