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US History 212 UNIT 2: America Becomes a World Power Introduction This unit treats a major change in American life: the rise of the United States as the world dominant power, beginning in the early years of the twentieth century but reaching fruition during two world wars. Major emphases include: • • • The emergence of the United States as an imperial power; The impact of World War I; Modernism and anti-modernism during the 1920s Some important themes: • • • • The social/economic impact of the Industrial Revolution; The decline of rural America and the rise of urban America; The important role of raced in American life; The transformation of government This unit covers Lessons 6–10. These will cover the tasks listed below. You will find specific assignments under the individual lessons. Lectures for this unit (All except face-to-face available below) • • • • • • Imperialism (face to face class meeting) World War I The 1920s Cultural revitalization and the 1920s Great Depression and New Deal Isolationism and the Coming of War Textbook reading: Chapters 22-26 of LEP Primary source reading: Chapters 7-10 of The South Journal assignments: See the individual lessons LESSON 6 Topics of Emphasis 1. 2. 3. The Spanish-American War American Imperialism “Walk Softly, but Carry a BIG Stick!” Unrestricted Capitalism As we begin our study of the rise of modern America, please note several trends/eras that occur through the passage of time that profoundly affect later history. The first of these is the era of unrestricted capitalism. This period runs from 1857 (which happens to coincide with the start of John D. Rockefeller’s business career) until 1929 with the great crash of the New York Stock Exchange, which signals the start of the Great Depression. The era of unrestricted capitalism was just that, a time when the government of the United States exercised little or no control over the affairs of business. The standing policy of the day was laissez faire, literally “let it be.” Politicians and economists of the period thought that the economic system, business, ran best with little or no government supervision, what they termed “meddling.” Under this policy the rise of big business began, a process that ran from about 1860 to 1920. This was the period that saw the rise of the monopolies, the trusts, massive corruption, fraud, bribery, etc. It also saw the creation of enormous personal fortunes, e.g., J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and of course the greatest of them all, John D. Rockefeller. It was a period of massive growth, overexpansion, and intense cycles of boom and bust speculation in just about everything. This era reached its peak in what we now call the “Gilded Age.” You see what I am talking about when you examine the political, social, and economic issues of the period between 1877 and 1892. Eventually this cycle produced backlash and resentment. The populists, the progressives, the muckrakers are all created by, for, and about the excesses of the capitalists. For that matter, so are the Communists and the socialist movements. Ultimately this cycle (worldwide) would reach its ghastly climax in World War I. Many of the underlying factors behind that war were caused by unrestricted capitalism. This wild economic cycle finally dies of overexertion in 1929, plunging the world into the worst economic depression in history, 1929–1939. This in turn set the stage for the most terrible of all wars, World War II. As you work your way through the early 20th century, keep this backdrop in mind. Study • • • • • • • • • • • • imperialism Alfred Thayer Mahan Social Darwinism Hawaii Spanish-American War—Cuba, Teller Amendment, USS Maine, yellow journalism, de Lome letter, San Juan Hill, Rough Riders, Teddy Roosevelt, Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines problems in the Philippines Platt Amendment Foraker Act China—spheres of influence, John Hay, Open Door Policy, Boxer Rebellion President Roosevelt—Roosevelt Corollary, Panama Canal, Russo-Japanese War/Nobel Peace Prize President Taft—dollar diplomacy President Wilson—missionary diplomacy, problems in Mexico, World War I LESSON 7 Topics of Emphasis 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Great War: 1914–1918 The Balkans (Then and Now) Imperial Europe Implodes Neutrality The School Master’s War: The Painful Choices of Woodrow Wilson Manifest Destiny becomes National Security Woodrow Wilson: Path to Power Wilson had an interesting career path in becoming president in 1912. He really had three careers prior to his political career: as a lawyer (he attended UVA law school and briefly practiced law in Atlanta); as college professor (he was one of the leading practitioners of the new discipline of political science); and as a university president (he served as president of Princeton). He had long studied politics, but became involved in it only through a sort of accident of fate. In 1910, he left Princeton after a series of frustrations with campus politics, culminating in a defeat that he suffered. The University decided to locate the new graduate school outside the confines of the campus, rather in the middle of the University. Wilson became a candidate for governor of New Jersey in 1910 as a sort of way out. Wilson was the only president in our history to have a doctorate: interesting little factoid… Progressivism Lives! Hello, everyone! As you leave the Progressives behind remember that their imprint on 20th Century America runs deep. The case can be made that if you understand what is going on with Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, you understand the direction that national policy within the U.S. has taken in the 20th Century. After them, the presidency has taken on an importance and a role in national (and later international) affairs that would have been inconceivable in the 19th Century. Running parallel to this idea is the argument that Roosevelt and Wilson define the poles between which the modern presidency has developed. Examples: Theodore Roosevelt’s activist management style. His idea of a “Square Deal” for the American People. The idea of the Presidency as a “bully pulpit” from which the president not only leads the nation, but also charts its course. • • • The U.S. as a major world power with an activist foreign policy. The willingness by the nation to project that power. These ideas have remained with the office long after Mr. Roosevelt’s time. Likewise with Wilson: • • • The role of the U.S. as a champion of democracy (ironic for the U.S. During his term of office, was not a true or full democracy.) The involvement of the U.S. in Europe, not only in the First World War (the first truly foreign war in American history). The diplomacy of the Fourteen Points, especially the League of Nations. These ideas live on with us today. The historical reality is that no U.S. president since Wilson has been able to escape the duel legacy of these two men. Every occupant of the Oval Office since 1920 has either followed (you could say imitated) a course of action that draws on either Roosevelt, Wilson, or both. (Of course, a fourth option is to actively try to be neither and achieve total mediocrity; witness the administrations of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover.) A nearly universal consensus among historians is that the most important president of the 20th century is Franklin Roosevelt. It was his “rendezvous with destiny” to lead the nation through the twin crises of the Great Depression and World War II. In his leadership, he comes as close as anyone could to combining the best qualities of the two Presidents he most admired: Teddy, his 5th cousin, his wife’s uncle, the family maverick, who threw away convention for the sake of national issues; and Woodrow Wilson, FDR’s political ideal, the man whose work he set out to complete, whose legacy he struggled to rehabilitate following the disaster of Versailles and the second terrible war that failure made possible. More examples of comparison: • Teddy, the progressive with his “Square Deal,” Pure Food and Drug Act, coal strike mediation, and aggressive diplomacy, and policy of “Walk softly and carry a big stick.” • • • Franklin, the reform-minded Democrat with his “New Deal,” with its extensive regulation of the economy and society, and his moderation of Teddy’s near imperialistic policies towards Latin America, with his “Good Neighbor” concept. Wilson with his ideal to “make the world safe for democracy,” and his ideas of self-determination for all peoples, ideals he hoped would become reality with the League of Nations. These ideals were doomed to fail when the U.S. declined to join the organization. FDR, with his articulation of the Four Freedom’s concept, and his successful resurrection of the League in the form of the United Nations. (A dream made real by FDR’s successor, Harry S. Truman, another Wilson devotee.) These comparisons only scratch the surface of what I am describing. Take a close look at every president since FDR and see in what ways each man takes on part of the mantle of these two men. Pay particular attention to the Democrats, all of whom have championed the same causes as Mr. Wilson. All of whom have, with the very notable exception of Bill Clinton, been involved in a foreign war that completely overshadowed their domestic agendas. Both Roosevelt and Wilson faced problems in several areas: Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Look and see where Mr. Clinton faced his problems: Europe, (the former Yugoslavia), Asia, (China), and Latin America. (Have you heard about the problems we are having with Mexico The Caribbean? Colombia? See any similarities?) What can George W. Bush expect, no one knows; but just perhaps, it might be wise to let the past be your guide. . .. Postscript: How do you interpret these things in light of Sept. 11, 2001? Study • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Triple Alliance Triple Entente assassination of Franz Ferdinand Central Powers Allied Powers nationalism, imperialism, militarism new weapons American neutrality—lean British “unrestricted submarine warfare” Lusitania Sussex Sussex Pledge William Jennings Bryan election of 1916 “peace without victory” resumption of “unrestricted submarine warfare” Zimmerman telegram Russian Revolution “The world must be made safe for democracy.” “Associated Power” mobilization European Front?AEF, Pershing Home Front—War Industries Board, National War Labor Board, RR Admin, Fuel Admin, Food Admin, CPI, Liberty Bonds, repression of Socialists and IWW, Espionage and Sedition Acts, Schenck v. U.S. war’s affect on women war’s affect on African Americans armistice—11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (Nov. 11, 1918) Wilson’s 14 points The Big Four Treaty of Versailles reparations League of Nations ratification fight—Henry Cabot Lodge; why does Wilson lose the ratification fight? Wilson’s stroke The Red Scare racial conflicts in the post-war era • Marcus Garvey LESSON 8 Topics of Emphasis 1. 2. 3. 4. The Roaring 20s: Flappers and Flivvers The Rise of a leisure class: The Birth of Mass Media The Agrarian Past confronts an Urban Future Prohibition and the Rise of Organized Crime A Republic, Not a Democracy The U.S. is, and was from its beginning, a republic. The U.S. was not at its start a true democracy. It was a form of limited democracy that allowed only a few to vote and thus to have political power. Even the Jeffersonians did not contemplate the idea of universal manhood suffrage. The creation of a democracy within the republic is a struggle that has consumed most of the history of the nation. This struggle can be broken down into a series of events that illustrate the point. Here they are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The Anglican property holders, 1776–1828. The republic was founded with the idea that only men of English blood who owned a fairly sizeable amount of property could vote and/or hold office. This was the case in every state and the nation from 1776 until about 1828. For an example, consider the first six presidents: all were wealthy landowners, four owned slaves and two did not, and all came from families that were primarily English. Euro-male suffrage, 1828–1865. The opening of the trans-Appalachian west (Kentucky, Tennessee, etc.) by Scots-Irish settlers challenged both the Anglican supremacy and the property qualifications on voting and office holding. Led by Andrew Jackson and his popular appeal to the “common man,” these restrictions were soon greatly weakened in every state. (Property qualifications were not totally abandoned; you cannot vote anywhere without proof of residence.) The practical result was that in most of the country, a male of European ancestry who could prove citizenship and residence could now vote. Emancipation of the slaves/universal manhood suffrage. Following the Civil War, slavery was abolished in the nation (and not by Abraham Lincoln). At this point, at least on paper, every man in the country who could prove citizenship and residence was able to vote. Note that women were not given the right to vote nationally in the legislation that gave the vote to former slaves. Unfortunately, as history shows, many freedmen were cheated of their rights both civic and political over the next ninety years by the encroachment of the so-called “Jim Crow” laws that created legalized segregation and discrimination. Women vote locally, 1867–1920. While women did not gain the right to vote nationally in 1865, they did begin to gain the right locally in city, county, state, and territorial elections. This first happened was Wyoming in 1867. The process was slow and uneven and was by no means complete by 1918 when public pressure climaxed and led to the passage of the constitutional amendment granting female suffrage nationwide. Ironically, while women of European ancestry struggled through this whole era to get the vote, at precisely the same time African Americans were losing the vote in many areas due to “Jim Crow.” Women vote nationally, 1920-2002. Technically since the 1920 election, women have been able both to vote and hold offices the same as men. Note: “Jim Crow” above. The Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965. As a result of the Civil Rights movement, legislation was enacted that, again on paper, sought to remove all restrictions on both voting and office eligibility on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin. As a result of this legislation, the only restrictions on the franchise of voting were now age (you had to be 21), legal voter registration, and proof of legal residence and citizenship. Lowering of the voting age, 1976. The passage of the 18-yr-old vote for the 1976 election brought the last change in suffrage. Now, technically, every person who is of age and has proof of residence and citizenship can vote. So, in this process you can see that while the U.S. has always embodied the possibility of a democracy,it has not over most of its history been one. What other changes to the voting rights do you think are possible? Study • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Roaring 20s Red Scare Anti-union Nativism—immigration restriction, Sacco and Vanzetti Racial tension—Marcus Garvey Rebirth of the KKK Growth industries—automobiles, construction Some industries do not experience boom—farmers, miners, textiles Consumer society—advertising, mass marketing, nation wide distribution Changing role of women—flappers Age of celebrity—Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Charles Lindbergh Republican presidents of the 20s—Harding (“front porch” campaign, women’s vote, Teapot Dome), Coolidge (laissez faire, “business of America is doing business”), Hoover (election of 1928—Al Smith) Prohibition—speakeasy, organized crime, Al Capone 20s foreign affairs—5 Power Treaty, Kellogg Briand Pact, Dawes Plan fundamentalism—Scopes Monkey Trial Harlem Renaissance—Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington Lost Generation—Sinclair Lewis, Gertrude Stein, T.S. Eliot, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eugene O’Neill, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner LESSON 9 Topics of Emphasis 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. The Collapse of Unrestricted Capitalism Franklin D. Roosevelt The New Deal: Preventing a Revolution Economy: FDIC and the SEC Industry: The NRA Agriculture: The AAA (Limiting Overproduction} Employment: The WPA, PWA, CCC, NYA Life: Social Security National Security: The TVA Huey Long, Charles Coughlin, Francis Townshend Study • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Great Depression Long Term Causes— Immediate Causes—“Black Tuesday,” subsequent banking panics Hoover’s Program—laissez faire, associational approach, RFC, Bonus Army Election of 1932—Roosevelt v. Hoover FDR—liberalism, fireside chats, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” First New Deal—alphabet soup; relief, recovery, reform; first “Hundred Days”; first priority—banks (bank holiday, EBA, FDIC), SEC, FERA, CCC, CWA, AAA, NIRA, NRA, PWA, TVA New Deal critics—Huey Long, Father Coughlin Boost to labor unions 2nd New Deal—Social Security, NLRA (Wagner Act), NLRB, NYA, WPA new Democratic Party “Good Neighbor Policy” court-packing LESSON 10 Topics of Emphasis 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. When Darkness Fell; Unimaginable Slaughter The Rise of the Fascists Isolationism vs. Limited Neutrality The Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor The European Theater / The Pacific Theater North Africa Midway Invasion of Italy Island Hopping D-Day Okinawa and Iwo Jima The Manhattan Project: Hiroshima and Nagasaki The United Nations The Cold War Study • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Long Term Causes of WWII—WWI; Treaty of Versailles; the Great Depression; rise of aggressor states (Germany, Italy, Japan); fascism, Germany—Nazis, Hitler, remilitarization, occupation of the Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland; Italy—Mussolini, Ethiopia; Japan—Manchuria, China; appeasement Immediate Cause—German invasion of Poland Axis Powers Allied Powers Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1937 invasion of Western Europe Battle of Britain Lend-Lease Act—“arsenal of Democracy” Atlantic Charter Winston Churchill Japanese aggression in the Pacific Pearl Harbor—“December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.” Big Three—Churchill, Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin Germany 1st strategy important battles/events/terms—Germans break non-aggression pact and invade USSR; Stalingrad; El Alamein; D-Day; Battle of the Bulge; Battle of Midway; Iwo Jima; Okinawa; kamikaze mobilization at home—WPB; Liberty Bonds; OPA; Rosie the Riveter; Japanese internment; Korematsu v. U.S. Yalta Conference Roosevelt dies;Truman becomes President VE Day—May 8, 1945 Holocaust Atomic Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki VJ Day—September 2, 1945