History 304
The Four Freedoms
FDR 1941 1. Freedom of Speech and Expression 2. Freedom of Worship 3. Freedom from Want - economic security 4. Freedom from Fear - internationalist view of foreign policy
Curtis Sitcomer - Harvest of Discontent
Mexican Americans. Cesar Chavez - unionization of migrant workers. Successful in leading marginalized workers in strikes and boycotts to improve their working and living conditions. Article describes conditions of workers and Chavez's fight.
New Nationalism
TR's progressive political philosophy central issue was gov't protection of human welfare and property rights platform called for: social insurance for elderly, unemployed and disabled, minimum wage law for women, eight hour workday, workers comp, women's suffrage, direct election of senators
Rough Riders
1898, 1st US volunteer cavalry, one of three such regiments raised for the Spanish-American War and the only one to see action, led by TR, famous for the siege of Santiago, turning point for America - brought them up on the ladder of world powers and also began a trend of US intervention in foreign affairs which has lasted to present day
Mississippi Black Codes
1860s, laws after the Civil War that limited rights of African Americans, reaction to the abolition of slavery - different from Jim Crow laws that existed after reconstruction, granted rights such as legalized marriage and property ownership and limited access to the courts but outlawed intermarriage, denied them the right to testify against whites or serve on state militias or vote. Also declared that those who failed to sign yearly labor contracts could be arrested and hired out to white landowners
Freedmen's Bureau
1865-1872, aided slaves during Reconstruction era, initial goals were to encourage plantation owners to rebuild their plantations, urge AA to gain employment, keep an eye on contracts between labor and management and push both black and white together as employer and employee instead of master and slave - powers later expanded to find lost family for AA and help them read and write Bureau defunded by 1869
Fourteenth Amendment
1868 Citizenship Clause - overruled Dred Scott v. Stanford (held that black people couldn't be US citizens) Due Process Clause - prohibits state and local gov'ts from depriving people of life, liberty or property without certain steps being taken to ensure fairness Equal Protection Clause - requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people - this clause was the basis of Brown v. Board of Education (dismantling of racial segregation in US education)
Knights of Labor
1880s labor organization that promoted the social and cultural uplift of the workingman, rejected Socialism and radicalism, demanded the eight-hour day, and promoted the producers ethic of republicanism its frail organizational structure could not cope and was battered by failure and violence some say it was the first labor union
Homestead Strike
1892, Carnegie Steel installed open hearth system at Homestead in 1886 which made it possible to move towards the continuous system of production. As the mills expanded the labor force grew rapidly, especially with less skilled workers, the more skilled union members reacted with a strike designed to protect their historic position. The Homestead Strike broke the AA as a force in the American labor movement. Many employers refused to sign contracts with their AA unions while the strike lasted.
Spanish-American War
1898 conflict between Spain and the US as a result of US intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence. Resulted in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, negotiated in terms favorable to the US, allowing temporary US control over Cuba and indefinite authority over Puerto Rico andGuam and the purchase of the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 mil.
New Freedom
1912, campaign speeches and promises of Woodrow Wilson, called for less gov't tariff reform: Underwood Tariff Act of 1913 - lowered tariffs, went against protectionist lobby business reform: Federal Trade Act - established Federal Trade Commission to investigate and halt illegal business practices by using cease and desist orders banking reform: Federal Reserve System and Federal Farm Loan Act (set up Farm Loan Banks to support farmers) Stood in opposition to TR's New Nationalism. Warned that New Nationalism stood for collectivism whereas New Freedom stood for freedom from monopolies Although Wilson and Roosevelt agreed that economic power was being abused by trusts, Wilson ideas split with Roosevelt on how the government should handle the restraint of private power as in dismantling corporations that had too much economic power in a large society.
Committee on Public Information
1917-1919 independent agency of the government of the United States created to influence U.S. public opinion regarding American participation in World War I. used every medium available to create enthusiasm for the war effort and enlist public support against foreign attempts to undercut America's war aims.
American Liberty League
American political organization formed in 1934 by conservative Democrats to oppose the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was active for just two years nonpartisan organization founded to defend the Constitution and defend the rights and liberties guaranteed by that Constitution
Nordic Ideal
Aryan race, late 19th, early 20th c it was posited that Indo-Europeans made up the highest branch of humanity because their civilization was the most technologically advanced
Booker T Washington - Atlanta Exposition Address
Believed blacks needed to accommodate themselves to white prejudice and concentrate on self-improvement. Considered by whites to be a "reasonable" black leader. Speech delivered by Washington at Cotton State Exposition of Industry and the Arts, famous for its presentation of the "Atlanta compromise" approach to race relations. The exhibition was designed to encourage dissatisfaction with the southern economy. The speech gained overwhelming approval appreciation of common labor, no race can prosper until it recognizes that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life that we must begin, not the top.
W.E.B. Du Bois - Of Mr. Booker T Washington and Others
Believed that if blacks prepared themselves to be only farmers, mechanics and domestics that they would remain forever in those occupations. One of the founders of the Niagara Movement and the NAACP, he argues that Washington's approach contributed to the loss of political rights, erection of caste barriers and diversion of funds from academic education for talented blacks.
David E Wildom - The Conscience of a Conservative Christian
Conservative Christians supported Reagan. Wildom describes his decision to become involved in grassroots activism. Changing channels on TV
Reconstruction
Constitutional Amendment guaranteed rights overthrow of gang labor, no apprentice system, freed person's political participation and community building, white supremacy, violence and the beginning of segregation democratic political control The meaning of freedom is unclear - civil equality, land ownership and vote? religious services (Methodists and Baptists) and sought out family members, local migration, slave marriages recognized land ownership - economic life beyond white control south - sought to regain former control north - wage workers and land owners Freedman's Bureau - functioning free labor system in south sharecropping - landowner lets tenant use land in return for a share of the crop (disadvantage: debt-building) Black Codes Radical Republicans in Congress called for new state gov'ts that would exclude rebels from power and guarantee the vote to blacks. Radicals believed in equal rights and sought expanded powers of federal gov't. Johnson against this. Civil Rights Bill in 1866 became first major law passed over a presidential veto, which became basis of 14th Amendment. 15th Amendment - barred fed and state gov'ts the right to deny anyone the vote based on race.
Market Revolution 1793-1909
Drastic change in the manual labor system originating in the South before spreading to the rest of the world. Traditional commerce obsolete by improvements in transportation and communication. Mercantilist ideas (government control of foreign trade ensures military security and positive balance of trade) inc industrialization isolationism dominant and left North America waiting to explode into the Civil War Northern cities more powerful economy gender roles - separate spheres - with market economy, household declined as center of economic production (men = economy and politics, women = the home) women as a moral counterweight to men in the public space and could educate children with republican values - protective home makes economic change less frightening domestic ideology empowers women - control of the household, expanded educational opportunities, interaction with other women (a shared destiny, moral support), yet could not participate in politics and married women could not hold jobs falling birthrates in urban areas Jacksonian Democracy - rise of mass democracy for men, women unable to vote or hold office, expanded equality: 1840 - 90% could vote, democrats alarmed by growing gaps between social classes, non-producers benefiting over producers Jackson excluded AAs and Indians from democratic vision, commoners could be corrupted by market revolution Enlightenment values
Ronald Reagan - Speech to the House of Commons
Dubbed the "evil empire" speech for its description of the Soviet Union, given to British Commons in 1982. As president, Reagan portrayed himself as tough on communism and increased military spending dramatically while in office. use of humor, humanizing anecdotes and aggressive anticommunism Optimism should be in order because democracy is not fragile and is standing up to totalitarianism.
Eugene V. Debs, Statement to the Court
Eugene V. Debs, a labor organizer, first became well-known as head of the newly formed American Railway Union when he organized a secondary strike in support of the Pullman strikers, for which he was arrested and sent to prison. By 1901, he became head of the Socialist Party in the US and ran for president four times. Like most Socialists, Debs strongly opposed US involvement in WWI and he was sent to prison for giving a speech in Ohio in 1918 advocating defiance of the draft. He made this statement at his sentencing. Looks on Espionage Law (prohibits any effort to interfere with military operations, to promote insubordination in the military, to show support for US enemies or to interfere with military recruitment) was a despotic enactment in conflict with democratic principles and with the spirit of free institutions. Industry ought to be the common property of all
Ida M Tarbell - History of the Standard Oil Company
First began appearing as a series of articles, was later published as a book. Although Tarbell gave credit to the shrewd business sense of Rockefeller, much of the book detailed the ruthlessness with which he and his oil company steamrolled over competitors to form one of the most powerful monopolies the world had ever known. Tarbell didn't like being labeled a "muckraker" but her work epitomizes the effort of Progressive-era journalists in their effort to expose business and government abuses to the public. Rockefeller's advantage over his competitors was in transportation (getting better rates from the railroads because he had such a large amt of freight). He also bought out and absorbed the big refineries that competed with him in Cleveland. Yet he was religiously pious even though he was shrewd in his dealing with the railroad companies.
Gilded Age 1877-1893
Following Civil War, 1877-1893 when Progressive Era began Result of Market Revolution - Vast new wealth and giant industrial corporations undermined Jeffersonian ideas about America as an egalitarian nation of small independent farmers and artisans. Extremes of wealth and poverty North rich, South poor AAs stripped of political power and voting rights Second Industrial Revolution - See Market Revolution Carnegie and Rockefeller benefits of big business: opportunity for all (immigrants), embracing technological change, lower prices revolutionize economic life - yet, unequal distribution of wealth Knights of Labor
Huey Long - Share Our Wealth
Governor of Louisiana every family given a home by the gov't yearly income of every family shouldn't be less than 1/3 of the average family income limit work hours age pension balance of agricultural production with consumption pay veterans and disabled equal opportunity education raising of taxes for the rich
Jane Addams - Twenty Years at Hull House
Hull House was an establishment to help the immigrant poor in Chicago. Addams was the leading spokesperson for the settlement house movement for the next several decades, and she sought to use the settlement houses not only to assist the indigent but to champion progressive reform. In this excerpt from Twenty Years at Hull House, Addams quotes from her 1892 speech in which she makes it clear that in addition to helping the needy, the settlement houses could provide useful work for disengaged upper class youth. Philosophy - fills a need on both the higher and lower ends of society
Kevin McCauley - Oral History on the 1968 Siege of Khe Sanh
In 1968, just days before the outbreak of the Tet Offensive, the North Vietnamese began a massive assault on the US Marines air base in Khe Sanh. For more than two months, the marines withstood a constant onslaught of shelling, suffering heavy losses. McCauley was a corporal who endured the siege. Talks about the change of weather, the animals, the weight they had to carry with them. You fought not for America but for the guy next to you.
Andrew Carnegie - Gospel of Wealth
Justified the fortunes made by industrialists like Carnegie and provided a model for the distribution of their wealth. Carnegie believed laissez-faire economics were tied to social responsibility. Means of distributing wealth by using it year by year for the general good
Martin Luther King Jr. - Letter from a Birmingham Jail
MLK challenged Birmingham's segregation but Birmingham police commissioner responded with dogs, tear gas and cattle prods. King wrote to a local clergyman from prison who had asked him to back off his fight. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Nonviolent campaign steps: collection of facts, negotiation, self-purification and direct action They should not be blamed for their peaceful protests precipitating violence
Malcolm X - God's Judgment of White America
Malcolm X thought that the violence Kennedy had failed to stop had come back to him in his assassination. Muslims, Allah, White America run by a race of devils
Joseph R. McCarthy - Speech to the Women's Club
McCarthy claims he could identify 57 known Communists in the State Department, reduced from a previous number of 205. Wants to get rid of Dean Acheson.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - 1st Inaugural Address
Meant to reassure the people of their unique heritage, the primary task of government and the spirit that had made the nation great. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Our fear only involves material things (Great Depression). Direct recruiting by government to put people to work. International trade relations should be second to the establishment of a sound national economy.
National Organization of Women - Statement of Purpose
Most influential orgainization that spoke for women in the 1960s-70s. Founded by professional women including Betty Friedan, focused on raising consciousness and correcting the legal, economic and political inequities facing women. Used the Equal Employment Act and the Civil Rights act of 1964 to initiate social changes to benefit women. This is the statement of purpose adopted at the NOW organizing conference in Washington DC in 1966. rights as workers (equal wages), right to go to school, right to careers in industry and government WE BELIEVE, WE REJECT
Albert Beveridge - The March of the Flag
One of the leading spokesmen for a strongly expansionist foreign policy. In this address, Beveridge merged prevalent opinions about America's civilizing mission with its economic destiny. It is our God-given duty to govern the Philippines without their consent because they are incapable of self-governing. We are rescuing them from a savage, bloody rule of pillage and extortion.
Margaret Chase Smith - Declaration of Conscience
Response to McCarthy's speech after he could not prove evidence of Communist activity. She believes he is taking away freedom of speech and being unamerican. Freedom of speech has been so abused by some that it is not available to others.
Boy Scouts of America - Boy Scouts Support the War Effort
Selection from a pamphlet published by the Boy Scouts. Encourages vigilantism and loyalty checks. Many Americans became formal or informal loyalty enforcers during WWI and many individuals were sent to prison for published or unpublished criticisms of the war efforts or Wilson's policies. The Boy Scouts played an important role on the home front, which included planting vegetable gardens and recycling. As a democracy, our country faces great danger - not so much from submarines and armies, because thanks to our allies, our enemies have apparently little chance of reaching our shores. Our danger is from within. We are to help spread facts about America and America's part in the WW. We are to fight lies with truth.
Sectionalism to Civil War
Slavery in South, North started to abolish slavery hindered urbanization illiteracy master/slave - non-market relationship North built railroads, south didn't conservatism - wanted to keep existing society intact politics: most politicians in south slave owners, north had no use for slaves so it was easy for them to get rid of them 2nd great awakening Civil War initially about South wanting to secede and North wanting to preserve union became about slavery to get more states involved and spawned enthusiasm, black recruits when it became about emancipation of slaves * South wanted to secede because North wanted to abolish slavery Emancipation Proclamation of 1862-3
Star Wars
Strategic Defense Initiative - proposed by Reagan in 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the prior strategic offense doctrine of mutual assured destruction (MAD) criticized for being unrealistic Under the administration of President Bill Clinton in 1993, its name was changed to the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) and its emphasis was shifted from national missile defense to theater missile defense; and its scope from global to more regional coverage. It was never truly developed or deployed, though certain aspects of SDI research and technologies paved the way for some anti-ballistic missile systems of today
The Second Red Scare
The second Red Scare occurred after World War II (1939-45), and was popularly known as "McCarthyism" after its most famous supporter and namesake, Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthyism coincided with increased popular fear of communist espionage consequent to a Soviet Eastern Europe, the Berlin Blockade (1948-49), the Chinese Civil War, the confessions of spying for the Soviet Union given by several high-ranking U.S. government officials, and the Korean War. The events of the late 1940s—the trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, the Iron Curtain (1945-1991) around Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union's nuclear weapon—surprised the American public, influencing popular opinion about U.S. national security, that, in turn, connected to fear of the Soviet Union hydrogen-bombing the United States, and fear of the Communist Party
A. Phillip Randolph - Why We Should March
Threatened to lead a protest in Washington against discrimination against blacks by US Defense Industries. Roosevelt responded by issuing Executive Order 8802, establishing a fair employment practices committee and requiring that defense industries hire black workers. During the war, Randolph kept up his campaign for a march for justice. Negroes will not fight wholeheartedly for democracy unless justice is served.
Progressivism
late 19th - early 20th c in cities with settlement workers and reformers who were interested in helping those facing harsh conditions at home and work. Spoke out about tenement housing and child labor. Also called for better working conditions for women. Progressive party : TR (founder, 1912), Woodrow Wilson, FDR
Andrew Carnegie
late 19th c, led expansion of steel industry, built Pittsburgh's Carnegie Steel Company, one of the wealthiest men of his time along with Rockefeller, sold steel company in 1901 to JP Morgan who created US Steel - Gospel of Wealth author
Immigration Restriction Act of 1924
limited the annual number of immigrants who could be admitted from any country to 2% of the number of people from that country who were already living in the United States in 1890, down from the 3% cap set by the Immigration Restriction Act of 1921 Proponents of the Act sought to establish a distinct American identity by favoring native-born Americans over Southern and Eastern Europeans The Act controlled "undesirable" immigration by establishing quotas
Tet Offensive
military campaign during the Vietnam War that was launched in 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong and People's Army of Vietnam against the forces of the Republic of Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. It was a campaign of surprise attacks were launched against military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam, during a period when no attacks were supposed to take place
Black Power
movement was prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s, emphasizing racial pride and the creation of black political and cultural institutions to nurture and promote black collective interests expresses a range of political goals, from defense against racial oppression, to the establishment of social institutions and a self-sufficient economy. The earliest known usage of the term is found in a 1954 book by Richard Wright entitled Black Power. Made a political slogan by Stokey Carmichael, organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He felt this movement was not just a movement for racial desegregation, but rather a movement to help combat America's crippling racism
Civil Rights Act of 1964
outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public
Internment Camps
relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of about 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1988, Congress passed and President Ronald Reagan signed legislation which apologized for the internment on behalf of the U.S. government
Progressive Era
social activism and political reform - muckrakers, Anti-Imperialism purify government, women's suffrage, income tax, direct election of senators science, technology, expertise, education Pure Food and Drug Act Prohibition - 2nd Great Awakening Labor Unions Immigration prelude to New Deal Jane Addams TR Rough Riders (ethnically diverse but excluded blacks and Asians) Roosevelt celebrated mixed blood
Bataan Death March
the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II march was characterized by wide-ranging physical abuse and murder, and resulted in very high fatalities inflicted upon prisoners and civilians alike by the Japanese Army, and was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime
Jane Addams
women's suffrage leader, most prominent reformer of progressive era aside from TR and Woodrow Wilson helped turn the nation to issues of concern to mothers, such as the needs of children, public health, and world peace founder of Hull House, first settlement house in US First American woman to be awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
