Period 7 - Part 1

• Imperialism in the 1890s can be defined as extending power through territorial acquisition or by extending political and economic control over other areas
• American expansion and imperialism in the 1890s were stimulated by trends in trade and the Monroe Doctrine
• Foreign Policy before the 19th century was dominated by President Washington's isolationist warning and the Monroe Doctrine
• Senator Henry Cabot Lodge in 1895 expressed the idea that the great nations were rapidly absorbing the waste places of the earth for their future expansion and defense
• Reasons and rationalizations for imperialism included gaining power in the international arena, missionary zeal, gaining wealth and markets, societal pressure, and naval competition
• Social Darwinism applied Darwin's theory of evolution to society and politics, justifying the domination of weaker nations by stronger ones
• The White Man's Burden was a poem advocating for the United States to assume colonial control of the Filipino people and their country
• The Spanish-American War was caused by factors like yellow journalism, Cuban nationalism, and the USS Maine incident
• The Platt Amendment governed relations with Cuba for the next 33 years, giving the US oversight of Cuban treaties and the right to intervene to protect Cuba
• Arguments against imperialism in the Philippines included concerns about subjugation and the forcible annexation of the people
• Progressivism in the early 20th century aimed for government activism, addressing social problems through legislation, and using public funds for social issues
• Progressives believed in reform at the local, state, and national levels, addressing problems from the Gilded Age like disease, social issues, and conflicts between labor and big business
• The Muckrakers were writers who exposed social problems in US society, leading to reforms like stricter child labor laws
• Major reforms at the state level included the Wisconsin Idea, which introduced initiatives like the secret ballot, referendums, and protections for workers and women
• The Progressive Era Presidents included Teddy Roosevelt, William H. Taft, and Woodrow Wilson
• Teddy Roosevelt described his approach to social problems as the ‘Square Deal’, focusing on equal opportunity, strong personal ethics, fairness, and adherence to the law
• Roosevelt's 'Square Deal' fell into the 'three C’s': Corporations, Consumer Protections, and Conservation
• Roosevelt extended the power of the presidency and confronted the trusts dominating the American business world
• Roosevelt believed in breaking up "bad trusts" while leaving "good trusts" that benefited consumers alone
• The Elkins Act of 1903 forbade railroad carriers from giving powerful clients rebates on shipments and allowed railroads to set rates according to market conditions
• The Hepburn Act of 1906 gave the Interstate Commerce Commission power to force railroads to obey orders and extended its authority to cover various transportation aspects
• The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 prevented the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or harmful foods, drugs, and liquors
• The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 required the inspection of all livestock processed for human consumption to ensure sanitary conditions
• Roosevelt focused on conservation, aiming to preserve natural resources for future generations due to over-lumbering and environmental damage by extractive industries
• William H. Taft's presidency was marked by his 'dollar diplomacy' foreign policy, trust-busting, and support for amendments and statehood
• Woodrow Wilson's 'Moral Diplomacy' foreign policy focused on advancing society's best interests and supporting the rights of unions and the working man
• Wilson's 'New Freedom' platform included tariff reduction, banking system reform, controlling abusive corporations, and supporting union rights
• The Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act of 1913 increased the free list and provided for a federal income tax to compensate for reduced tariff duties
• The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 established the Federal Reserve System to prevent economic cycles of 'boom and bust'
• The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 clarified existing antitrust laws and prohibited predatory pricing and ownership of stock in competing companies
• The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 created the FTC to investigate corporate practices and issue cease and desist orders
• The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 limited working hours for children and banned the interstate sale of goods produced by child labor
• The 19th Amendment, passed in 1920, granted women the right to vote after suffrage organizations united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment
• World War 1 occurred from 1914 to 1918, during Woodrow Wilson's presidency
• Amendment 13: Abolition of slavery
• Amendment 14: Civil rights
• Amendment 15: Black suffrage
• Amendment 16: Income taxes
• Amendment 17: Senatorial elections
• Amendment 18: Prohibition of liquor