IRSC American history 2020 exam 2

What was the Immigration Act of 1924 intended to do

Congress took action in the anti-foreign mood to limit immigrants from Europe, specifically "New Immigrants" (mostly from the southeastern Europe regions). The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 cut the number of immigrants who could enter America to 3% of their nationality's U.S. population in 1910. This law somewhat favored the New Immigrants (the group they wanted to limit) because their numbers in 1910 were so large. A new bill was desired. In 1924, the Immigration Act sliced the number down to 2% of a group's U.S. population in 1890. Changing from 1910 to 1890 (before many New Immigrants had arrived). This change clearly had racial undertones beneath it (New Immigrants out, Old Immigrants in). This law also closed the door to Japanese immigrants. Canadians and Latin Americans were not included in the law. They were desired to work jobs. In 1931, for the first time, more foreigners left American than came. Aside from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, this marked the first restriction on immigration or the end of free and open American immigration

How did radio in American differ from radio in Europe?

Guglielmo Marconi invented wireless telegraphy in the 1890's. His invention was used in WWI. The beep-beep radio would soon give birth to voice radio. The first major radio broadcast was made by KDKA it Pittsburgh. They broadcast the results of Warren Hardings presidential victory. Radio spread out from being local, to powerful national shows that often drowned out the local stations. Entrepreneur Powel Crosley's station sent out 500,000 watts (10 times the limit today) and could be reached nearly anywhere in the U.S. Radio standardized or homogenized Americans in a way never before possible—everyone could hear the same news at exactly the same time. Whereas the car scattered people, the radio drew them back to their homes. Sitting as a family listening to the radio was the norm. Popular shows were "Amos 'n' Andy. Radio was a new and powerful medium for advertisers as well. They sponsored shows like the "A&P Gypsies" and the "Eveready Hour." Politicians had to adjust to the new media as well.

What was the goal of the American Legion?

In the era of laissez-faire and pro-business policies, the labor movement struggled badly. A bloody strike was broken in 1919, crippling the labor movement. In 1922, the Railway Labor Board cut wages by 12%. This started a two month strike. Atty. Gen. Daugherty laid down a stinging injunction and crushed the strike. This was a near-death blow to labor unions and union enrollment dropped by 30%. Veterans began organizing. Teddy Roosevelt started the American Legion in Paris in 1919. Vets got together socially, but also for other reasons, mainly seeking money. The vets sought wages lost while away and/or veterans benefits. Their pressure got Congress to pass a "bonus" bill, Harding vetoed it. Congress passed another, the Adjusted Compensation Act, Pres. Calvin Coolidge vetoed it, but Congress overrode the veto

What was President Coolidge's view of the role of government?

It was ironic that in the Twenties, the "Age of Ballyhoo," the U.S. had a very traditional, old-timey president. Coolidge was even more pro-business than Harding had been. He once said, "the man who builds a factory builds a temple" and "the man who works there, worships there." During WWI, farmers had enjoyed a boom. There much much food needed, they provided it, and earned good money in doing so. After the war, new technologies like the tractor made farm work much easier and increased production.

What was President Hoover's approach to the Great Depression?

It was ironic that in the Twenties, the "Age of Ballyhoo," the U.S. had a very traditional, old-timey president. Coolidge was even more pro-business than Harding had been. He once said, "the man who builds a factory builds a temple" and "the man who works there, worships there." During WWI, farmers had enjoyed a boom. There much much food needed, they provided it, and earned good money in doing so. After the war, new technologies like the tractor made farm work much easier and increased production. But, increased supply with the same demand yields decreased prices. Whereas many enjoyed an economic boom during the decade, farmers fell onto tough times during the 20's. The Capper-Volstead Act was passed exempting farmer cooperatives from antitrust laws. The McNary-Haugen Bill tried to keep the price of agricultural goods high. This was to be done by the government buying up excess surpluses then selling them to other nations. Coolidge, the thrifty conservative, vetoed this bill twice. 1924 was a presidential election year. Calvin Coolidge was to be reelected for the Republicans as a conservative.

What city in American had the worst crime problem in the 1920s and why was this so?

Prohibition created an entire industry for organized crime: liquor distribution. Gangs emerged and staked out their territories for liquor and their accompanying "speakeasy" bars, gambling, narcotics, whore houses, and extortion money. Chicago led the gang world. About 500 gangsters were murdered in the 20's in Chicago. Arrests were few and convictions were rare since gang members would not rat out others. "Scarface' Al Capone was the biggest and the baddest. Bloodshed and murder followed his armor-clad, bulletproof windowed car through Chicago. The feds named him "Public Enemy Number One." The "G-men" never got him for the dirty stuff; they did jail him in Alcatraz for tax evasion. By 1930, the estimate of gang income was between $12 and $18 billion—several times the income of the Washington D.C. government. Gang violence/extortion hit the headlines in 1932 when Charles Lindbergh's baby was kidnapped for ransom. The baby was soon found murdered. Congress passed the "Lindbergh Law" making interstate kidnapping punishable by death

Why were average Americans able to buy expensive items in the 1920s?

To sell the tons of new stuff, new advertising techniques were needed. Ads began to employ persuasion and sex appeal. The ad-master was Bruce Barton. He wrote a best-seller called The Man Nobody Knows. That man was Jesus Christ, whom Barton said was the best advertiser ever and others marketers would do well to follow his steps. People began to buy things they didn't know they'd needed or wanted, until they saw the ad. Folks followed new (and dangerous) buying techniques...they bought (1) on the installment plan and (2) on credit. Both ways were capable of plunging an unsuspecting consumer into debt. The growing mass media, like newspapers, magazines, and infant radio, made America more homogeneous, more the same from coast-to-coast. This was great for mass consumption. Mass media helped sports grow in popularity. Baseball was the king of American sports with heroes like Babe Ruth. It was now practical to follow your team on a daily basis, home or away. Boxing was popular, with champ Jack Dempsey. Horse racing was the second most popular sport by attendance.

From a military standpoint, why was Germany willing to risk war with the US?

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How was American participation in World War I financed?

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What benefits did Wilson expect from an allied victory in World War I?

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What is the rule of reason

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Why did President Wilson break diplomatic relations with Germany in 1917?

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Why did the US trade with Britain and not with Germany before the US entered World War I?

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How did European countries react when the US demanded that they pay their World War I debts?

... America demanded that Britain and France pay their debts to the U.S. They couldn't. So, they placed a huge price-tag onto Germany who certainly could not pay. Germany printed paper money en masse, thus creating inflation and making the money completely worthless. Inflation was crippling in Germany: a loaf of bread was 480 million marks, it got so bad that it was immeasurable. Coolidge, conservative and thrifty, would not just erase the debt. The situation for paying off debt was hopeless. Charles Dawes came up with the Dawes Plan for payments. America would loan money to Germany. Germany would make payments to Britain and France. Then, they would repay their loans to America. The plan was simply a circle of money from-and-back-to America. Nothing would really be gained in the U.S., but at least on paper, the debts would be repaid. The U.S. never did get repaid for the loans. The only thing America got was resent from Britain and France who thought the U.S. was a greedy bully.

What was the impact of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff?

... At first, Hoover enjoyed the economic prosperity of the day. Hoover's philosophy of helping one's self prompted his to get the Agricultural Marketing Act passed. It set up a Federal Farm Board which was to lend money to farmers. The board started the Grain Stabilization Corp. and Cotton Stabilization Corp. in 1930. They were to buy up surpluses of those crops to keep prices high. Isolationism was carried in the economics as well as politics. The Hawley-Smoot Tariff was hiked up to almost 60%. To other nations, this was like an economic act of war. This increase had negative effects: (1) it went against a trend toward lower tariffs, (2) it would slow trade and thus deepen the depression when it hit, and (3) it helped move the U.S. to full-fledged isolationism and thus help allow Hitler to rise to power.

What was the Clayton Anti-Trust Act designed to do?

... Last on Wilson's "triple wall of privilege" were the trusts. Congress passed the Federal Trade Commission Act (1914) which set up a position, appointed by the president, to investigate activities of trusts. The goal would be to stop trade practices deemed unfair such as unlawful competition, false advertising, mislabeling, adulteration, and bribery. Congress wanted to strengthen the largely ineffective Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890), so it passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act (1914). The Clayton Act put real teeth into anti-trust law. It added to the Sherman law's list of objectionable trust practices by forbidding price discrimination (a different price for different people) and interlocking directorates (the same people serving on "competitors" boards of trustees). It also (a) exempted labor unions from being considered trusts and (b) legalized strikes as a form of peaceful assembly

. What caused the Red Scare after World War I?

• A "Red Scare" (a fear of communism) emerged • This fear was fueled by (1) the recent Russian revolution, (2) Eugene Debs growing numbers, (3) loads of strikes, and (4) a series of mail bombs • The logic went that communism was from Europe—all the more reason to shun foreigners and their ways

5. How was the Anthracite Coal Strike ended?

• A strike took place in 1902 at coal mines of Pennsylvania. The workers called for a 20% pay increase and a reduction of work hours from 10 to 9 hours • Coal supplies dwindled and the nation felt the effects of the coal shortage so TR called in strike workers to the White House. Roosevelt was not impressed with the strike leaders • Roosevelt finally threatened to use federal troops to operate the mines • The owners agreed to go to arbitration and the workers were given a 10% increase and the 9 hour day • Roosevelt called on Congress to form the Dept. of Commerce and Labor, which it did. The department split in half ten years later.

Who were the "Muckrakers"?

• Around 1902, a new group of social critics emerged—the muckrakers • They typically exposed what they saw as corruption or injustice in writings • Favorite outlets for the muckrakers were liberal, reform-minded magazines like McClure's, Collier's, Cosmopolitan, and Everybody's • They were called "muckrakers" first by Teddy Roosevelt. It was a derogatory term, him being unimpressed with their tendency to focus on the negatives and "rake through the muck" of society • Muckrakers were loud about the ills, but didn't offer cures • To the muckrakers, the cure for societal ills was democracy • They had no faith in politicians leading the charge, but wanted to get the story out to the public • Muckrakers believed that the public conscience would eventually remedy the problems

Why did the Germans initiate unrestricted submarine warfare?

• Being officially neutral, American businesses sought to trade with either side in the war to make money • Trade with the Central Powers was much trickier with the British navy controlling the sea • Germany was aware of their inferior naval status and the benefits of Allied-American trade • Germany knew they could not compete with the British navy one-on-one. The German solution was to rely on U-boats, or submarines • Germany announced "unrestricted submarine warfare" on the Allies or anyone assisting the Allies • The greatest U-boat attack was on the Lusitania, a British cruise liner. Nearly 1,200 souls were killed in the attack, including 128 Americans • The Arabic was sunk, a British ship, killing two Americans • The Sussex was sunk, a French passenger ship, and prompted Pres. Wilson to pressure Germany.

What was the major revelation of the 1920 census?

• By the census of 1920, for the first time, more Americans lived in urban areas than in rural areas • This red-letter year marked a teetering point in American history socially—the change from an agrarian to an urban society • There were many social changes during the 20's • The decade marked the break from old-to-new, from traditional-to-modern

What was Woodrow Wilson's job when he first ran for President

• Democrats in 1912 felt they could take the White House (since being out for 16 years) because the Republicans had split their party. • Democrats looked to Dr. Woodrow Wilson, the governor of New Jersey. • Wilson had been a mild conservative but had turned become an strong progressive. • His background was in education as a history professor, then as president of Princeton Univ. As governor of NJ, he made a name for himself by standing up to the bosses, trusts, and as a liberal. • At their convention, it took 46 votes to choose Wilson. The final vote was cast after William Jennings Bryan threw his support behind Wilson.

How did John Dewey see the role of teachers?

• Education began to change from rote memorization to more hands-on learning • John Dewey advocated "learning by doing" and "education for life." • Science made gains. The Rockefeller Foundation funded a health drive that nearly eliminated hookworm which mostly struck the poor • Nutrition and health care extended the life expectancy from 50 years in 1901 to 59 years in 1929 • Scientists butted heads with traditionalists in the 20's in the "Scopes Monkey Trial" over Darwin's theory of evolution.

What was President Wilson's approach to foreign policy

• He got American bankers to pull out of a 6 nation loan to China • Wilson got Congress to repeal the Panama Canal Tolls Act (1912) which allowed American ships to pass through the canal toll free • Wilson signed the Jones Act (1916) granting territorial status to the Philippines. It also promised independence when a "stable government" was established • He was forced to take military action in 1915 in Haiti. Chaos erupted there and Wilson sent U.S. Marines to protect Americans and American interests there. They stayed for over a year and a half

What was the Reconstruction Finance Corporation designed to do?

• Hoover's most far-reaching effort was not construction in nature, but financial. He got the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (the RFC) passed • It would lend money to finance the massive government projects of FDR's "New Deal" • The real beneficiaries of the RFC were the government agencies lending the money. They were essentially banks profiting on the interest of loans

How did most Americans react to the start of World War I in 1914?

• In 1914, Austrian heir-to-the-throne Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. This started a domino-effect where Europe quickly fell into war • The powers of Europe chose sides due to culture and to alliances • The main Central Powers were Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey (aka the Ottomon Empire) • The main Allied Powers were Russia, France, England, and Australia • Most Americans favored the Allies but many supported the Central Powers due to ethnic heritage. Nearly all Americans were happy that an ocean separated them from the war and wanted to stay neutral • The Allies had most of the cultural, political, and economic ties with America. Generally speaking, most Americans were sympathetic to the Allies' side

How did the Russian Revolution affect World War I?

• In Russia, the communist Bolsheviks had taken over in late 1917. By early 1918, Russia had pulled out of the war • German soldiers could now relocate over to the Western Front • Despite the Allies urging, America was late getting "over there." • Americans began spilling over to Europe and first served as Allied replacements in the quieter sections. Others served in Belgium, Italy, and even Russia to prevent Russia from falling to Germany. Some troops went to Siberia to hold back Japan's interests there.

What was accomplished by the Kellogg-Brand Pact?

• In keeping with Woodrow Wilson's "war to end all war" ambition, there was an international trend to end warfare as a means of solving disputes • 1928 Sec. of State Frank B. Kellogg signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which outlawed war • 62 nations signed this treaty—a beautiful idea, yet incredibly naive

What was revealed in Shame of the Cities?

• Lincoln Steffens wrote "The Shame of the Cities" (1902) which exposed city corruption in cahoots with big business. • Ida Tarbell wrote an exposé in McClure's that laid bare the ruthless business tactics of John D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company. Some thought she was just out for revenge because her father's business had been ruined by Rockefeller. But, all of her facts checked out. • Thomas Lawson exposed the practices of stock market speculators in "Frenzied Finance" (1905-06), published in Everybody's. (He'd made $50 million himself playing the market.) • David Phillips wrote "The Treason of the Senate" (1906) in Cosmopolitan. He said that 75 of the 90 U.S. senators represented big businesses rather than the people. He backed up his charges with enough evidence to also impress Teddy Roosevelt. • John Spargo wrote The Bitter Cry of the Children (1906) exposing, and critical of, child labor. • Ray Stannard Baker wrote Following the Color Line (1908) about the still-sorry state of life for Southern blacks. • Dr. Harvey Wiley criticized patent medicines which were largely unregulated, habit-forming, and normally did more bad than good. He and his "Poison Squad" used themselves as guinea pigs for experiments.

4. What was the city-manager system designed to do?

• Progressivism really got its start and took off on a more local level rather than national • Galveston, TX successfully used the city-manager system • The idea was to use professional people trained in their field of city management, rather than using "friends" of a corrupt mayor or city boss • Local Progressives cracked down on "slumlords," rampant prostitution, and juvenile delinquents • Led by Gov. Robert "Fighting Bob" LaFollette, Wisconsin was able to grab power back from the big businesses and return it to the people.

What was the Stimson Doctrine and how successful was it?

• Sec. of State Henry Stimson issued words as actions. The "Stimson doctrine" said the U.S. would not recognize any territories acquired by force • The words may have even backfired. Japan was insulted and bombed Shanghai on the coast of China in 1932 • Some Americans engaged in informal boycotts. But, this was just piecemeal and unorganized • The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 taught a lesson: aggressive nations could take over weaker nations, the free nations would complain, but they would take no action

What is the New Nationalism

• The 1912 presidential campaign was thus set and the campaigning began. • The 1912 candidates were... Republican: Pres. William Howard Taft, Democrat: Woodrow Wilson, Progressive: Theodore Roosevelt • Talk between Taft and TR got nasty as the two old friends laid into one another. Wilson could enjoy just letting his other two opponents rip themselves. • Personality wars aside, Wilson's New Freedom plan and Roosevelt's "New Nationalism" plan came front-and-center. • The New Nationalism plan had been inspired by The Promise of American Life by Herbert Croly (1910). The book agreed with TR's old policy of leaving good trusts alone but controlling bad trusts. • The New Nationalism also pushed for female suffrage and social programs such as minimum wage laws social insurance programs. These such programs would later be manifested during the Great Depression in Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. • These "socialistic" social welfare programs would be a hard pill to swallow for business folks and conservatives

How did President Wilson create support for the war amongst the US population?

• Stopping u-boats would not be convincing enough to Midwesterners. Thus, Wilson's new slogan and purpose for the war was to, "make the world safe for democracy." • This slogan laid out a very idealized goal: not to fight for the riches or war, but to free others from the tyranny of autocrats. • Wilson successfully sold the idea. Americans eagerly joined the effort to "hang the Kaiser." The expense was Wilson's initial goal of "peace without victory." • In order to ratchet up and to keep up the war's enthusiasm in America, the Committee on Public Information was created to sell the war. • He sent out 75,000 "four-minute men" to give patriotic speeches. • Posters were pasted everywhere saying things like "Battle of the Fences" or encouraging people to buy war bonds. • Leaflets and pamphlets told of the idealistic goals of the war. • Creel used movie shorts (often featuring America's first big movie star, Charlie Chaplin) or propaganda films like The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin or To Hell with the Kaiser. • Perhaps a drawback of Creel's success was that he was too successful. Americans entered the war with too-lofty ideals. The reality was a dirty war in the trenches, with no glorious battle, high casualties, and a generation of disillusioned young men who survived. This would be later immortalized in Hemingway's novels The Sun Also Rises and especially in A Farewell to Arms.

How did Teddy Roosevelt affect the power of the presidency

• TR's legacy was to begin to tame unbridled capitalism. He wasn't an enemy of business, but brought it under control • He sought the middle-ground in between the "me alone" idea of pure capitalism and the "father knows best" ideas of a government that controls people's lives • Other parts of his legacy include: • increasing the power of the presidency, he initiated reforms, and he showed that the U.S. was a world power and thus held great responsibilities

6. What was Teddy Roosevelt trying to prove with his anti-trust actions?

• Teddy Roosevelt nurtured the reputation of a trust buster. TR concluded, however that there were "good trusts" and there were "bad trusts." The bad trusts had to go. • TR's most noteworthy target was the Northern Securities Company run by J.P. Morgan and James Hill. • TR busted up Northern Securities (his decision was upheld by the Supreme Court). Busting J.P. Morgan's outfit angered Wall Street but this high-profile bust furthered TR's trust buster image. • In all, Roosevelt attacked some 40 trusts, including busting the beef, sugar, fertilizer, and harvester trusts • Despite his reputation as a trust buster, TR allowed the "good trusts" to survive. He believed his actions against the bad trusts would prevent the good ones from going astray. • William Howard Taft, who succeeded Roosevelt, would actually be more of a trust buster than TR. Taft actually busted more trusts than TR.

Why did Teddy Roosevelt decide to run again in 1912?

• Teddy Roosevelt was so upset about Taft's policies that TR dropped hints that he'd be interested in running again for president • He finally said, "My hat is in the ring!" arguing that he hadn't wanted three consecutive terms as president • The Taft-Roosevelt showdown came in June of 1912 at the Republican convention. Both men vied for the Republican nomination • As the sitting president, Taft was nominated as the Republican candidate for 1912 • Roosevelt wasn't done, however. TR would simply run on his own as a third party candidate

What was the result of the decision in the Scopes Monkey Trial?

• Tennessee passed a law banning teaching evolution in public school • A young biology teacher, John T. Scopes broke this law and taught evolution • The trial itself was almost a non-factor—Scopes had broken the no-evolution law. He was convicted and given a slap-on-the-wrist • The stress and passion of the case literally led to Bryan's death • Fundamentalism may have gained a victory in that, through mocking, their faith was strengthened even more

What was the Zimmerman note (also called the Zimmerman telegram)?

• The "last straw" came in the Zimmerman note • German foreign secretary sent a secret telegram from Germany to Mexico. The telegram, however, was intercepted by British spies • In the note, Germany encouraged Mexico to wage war against the U.S • After a victory, Mexico would regain Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona • President Wilson decided the time had undoubtedly come for the U.S. to enter the war. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war. Congress declared war on April 6, 1917

Why did the US declare war on Germany in 1917?

• The "last straw" came in the Zimmerman note. • German foreign secretary sent a secret telegram from Germany to Mexico. The telegram, however, was intercepted by British spies. • In the note, Germany encouraged Mexico to wage war against the U.S. After a victory, Mexico would regain Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. • Meanwhile, German u-boats were indeed sinking ships. Four unarmed American merchant ships were sunk by German subs. • And to the east, Vladimir Lenin's communist revolution overthrew the Russian czar. • President Wilson decided the time had undoubtedly come for the U.S. to enter the war. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war. Congress declared war on April 6, 1917.

What lessons were learned from the panic of 1907

• The 16th Amendment had recently been passed legalizing an income tax, the Underwood Tariff law simply laid out the rules. • America's financial system had been set up by the National Banking Act back during the Civil War. The Panic of 1907 had shown the system to have faults and to be incapable of addressing emergency needs. Wilson set up an committee to look into the banking system. • The committee was headed by Republican Senator Aldrich (of the Aldrich-Vreeland Act which addressed banking back in 1908). The committee recommended what amounted to a third Bank of the United States. • The Democrats, following a House committee chaired by Arsene Pujo, concluded that the "money monster" was rooted in the banking system. • And, Louis D. Brandeis wrote Other People's Money and How the Bankers Use It (1914) which fired people up even more to reform a supposedly corrupt banking system.

What is the New Freedom

• The Democrats now had a candidate in Woodrow Wilson and they added a platform they named the "New Freedom." • The New Freedom platform was made up of liberal and progressive policies • The New Freedom plan supported small business and wanted to bust all trusts, not distinguishing good or bad. The plan did not include social welfare programs

What caused the resurgence of the KKK during the 1920s?

• The Ku Klux Klan was somewhat re-vamped at this time • In the 20's, it added to its list of "we don't likes": Catholics, Jewish, pacifists, communists, internationalists, revolutionists, bootleggers, gambling, adultery, and birth control • The KKK was pro-white Anglo-Saxon protestant ("WASP") and anti-everything else and in the 20's— reached about 5 million members strong • The KKK employed the same tactics as it always had: fear, lynchings, and intimidation • Finally, the KKK was given a stiff setback due to an internal money/initiation fee scam

What did Henry Ford contribute to manufacturing?

• The business period was personified by Henry Ford • He perfected the assembly line at his Rouge Rive Plant and could produce a new car every 10 second • Ford-style mass production was then applied to other industries, lowering costs, and starting mass consumption.

Why did European countries NOT want to pay their World War I debt to the US?

• The issue of Europe's debt to America was intricate; and besides, Europe was unable to pay up anyway • America demanded that Britain and France pay their debts to the U.S • They couldn't. So, they placed a huge price-tag onto Germany who certainly could not pay. Germany printed paper money en masse, thus creating inflation and making the money completely worthless • Charles Dawes came up with the Dawes Plan for payments. America would loan money to Germany. Germany would make payments to Britain and France. Then, they would repay their loans to America. • The U.S. never did get repaid for the loans

What was the Teapot Dome Scandal?

• The worst scandal was the Teapot Dome scandal, which involved oil • When oil was discovered near the "Teapot Dome" in Wyoming, Fall sneakily had the land placed under his power • Fall then accepted bribes for oil drilling rights from Edward Doheny and Harry Sinclair for about $100,000 and $300,000 respectively • Word leaked out in 1923 and it drug through the courts for six years • Fall served one year in jail

What impact did the Great Migration of African Americans during World War I have on American society?

• Wartime inflation threatened to negate the wage increases • Strikes ran rampant—there were some 6,000 strikes, often violent • For example in 1919, over 250,000 steel workers struck (America's largest strike). Steel officials would not bargain. Instead, 30,000 African-American workers were brought in to keep the mills going. Violence followed, a dozen workers were killed, and the strike failed • African-Americans began moved north during the war by the tens of thousands seeking jobs. Appearing in formerly all-white neighborhoods, tension and sometimes violence resulted. Chicago and St. Louis are good examples

What was Wilson's objective at the Paris Peace Conference?

• Wilson decided to personally travel to Europe peace talks • The "Big Four" met at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 to settle terms of peace. The Big Four were Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (Britain), and Woodrow Wilson (U.S.). • Wilson's big dream was the League of Nations to "end all wars." He'd "sell the ranch" to get the League. So he bargained with Britain and France • Britain and France agreed to go along with the League, Wilson reluctantly agreed to go along with punishment • The War Guilt Clause was included doing two things: (1) it formally placed blame on Germany, a proud and embarrassed people, and (2) it charged Germany for the costs of war, $33 billion

How did Woodrow Wilson behave as a politician?

• Wilson was an idealist, not a pragmatist like TR • He was completely stubborn at times, not budging an inch on his ideals or beliefs • Consequently, his stubbornness meant at times not getting anything done • Wilson also was an intellectual who lacked the people's touch • Wilson was scholarly and arrogant. Or in other words, whereas TR might have had a beer with the people, Wilson might scoff at their ignorance and move on.

What were the powers of the Federal Reserve when it was created

• Wilson's mind was made up. In June of 1913 he asked a joint session of Congress to make broad reforms to the nation's banking system. • Congress reacted and passed the monumental Federal Reserve Act (1913). • The law created the Federal Reserve Board (appointed by the president) which oversaw 12 regional, federal banks. • The Federal Reserve Board was given the power to issue paper money (AKA "Federal Reserve Notes"). Thus, it could regulate the amount of money in circulation by issuing, or holding back, paper money

3. What were the political results of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire?

• Women were an indispensable catalyst in the Progressive army. They couldn't vote or hold political office, but were active none-the-less • Women focused their changes on family-oriented ills such as child labor. • Women reformers gained speed after the Triangle Shirtwaist Company burnt down in 1911, trapping and killing 146 mostly young, women workers • The public outcry prompted many states to pass laws regulating hours and conditions in such "sweatshops" and to pass workers' compensation laws