2 - United States History from 1877 to Present Flashcards
This deck covers U.S. history from 1877 to the present, focusing on imperialism, industrialization, urbanization, regional changes, political and economic shifts, the Great Depression, World Wars, the Cold War, and social movements. (70 cards)
Identify:
Characteristics of United States territorial imperialism.
Late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Manifest Destiny
- Desire for new markets, resources, and investment opportunities
- Need to secure naval bases and protect trade routes in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
- White supremacy
Identify:
Effects of United States territorial imperialism.
Late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- United States gained control of territories such as Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the American Samoa
- Economic expansion
- Military build-up
- Anti-Imperialist Movement
Define:
industrialization
The shift from agricultural economies to manufacturing-based economies, driven by technological advancements and increased production efficiency.
Define:
urbanization
The growth of cities and the movement of people from rural areas to urban centers.
Define:
immigration
The movement of people from one country to another, often in search of better opportunities or to escape hardship.
Explain:
Relationship between industrialization, urbanization, and immigration.
Late 19th century America
- Industrialization fueled urbanization: The growth of industries in cities attracted workers from both rural areas and other countries.
- Urbanization created a demand for labor: The rapid expansion of cities led to a need for workers in various sectors, driving immigration.
- Immigration provided a labor force for industrialization: Immigrants filled the labor gaps created by industrialization and contributed to economic growth.
Identify:
How did the Industrial Revolution in America begin?
- Technological innovations
- Growth of factories
- Urbanization
- Advancements in transportation and communication infrastructure such as railroads and telegraphs.
Began in the late 18th century and accelerated throughout the 19th century.
Explain:
How did the Industrial Revolution in the United States reshape economic and social structures, and what were its long-term implications for global influence?
- Reshaped economic structures by shifting from agrarian-based economies to industrialized ones, fostering mass production and urbanization.
- Transformed labor patterns, leading to the rise of urban working classes and impacting social hierarchies.
- Globally positioned the U.S. as a major economic and technological leader, influencing global trade and industrial development.
Goods could be transported swiftly across vast distances, fueling the growth of cities in inland areas that were not dependent on rivers or coastlines. This rapid expansion also spurred mass immigration from Asia and Europe, as people sought new opportunities in these emerging urban centers.
Explain:
How did immigration laws passed during the Industrial Revolution in the United States shape national identity, labor markets, and societal integration?
- Aimed to regulate and control the influx of immigrants, often reflecting societal fears and economic interests.
- Laws influenced demographic shifts, labor dynamics, and cultural assimilation processes, shaping the social fabric and economic development of the nation.
Explain:
How did the Second Industrial Revolution accelerate technological advancements, transform global economies, and reshape societal structures in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
- Laid foundation for unprecedented technological innovations.
- Spurred mass production through electrification and assembly line methods.
- Reshaped global economic dynamics, fundamentally altering societal structures and urban landscapes worldwide.
Examples: electrification, assembly line techniques by Henry Ford, mass production of automobiles
Explain:
What was the significance of labor unions during the Second Industrial Revolution?
- Emerged as powerful advocates for workers’ rights.
- Campaigned for improved working conditions, shorter hours, and fair wages amidst rapid industrialization.
- Contributed to the establishment of collective bargaining agreements, which gave workers a stronger voice in negotiations with employers and helped shape labor laws that aimed to protect workers’ rights.
Examples: Creation of AFL in 1886, Pullman Strike of 1894
Explain:
How did the Gilded Age in the United States symbolize both unprecedented economic growth and profound social inequality?
- Marked a period of rapid industrialization, urbanization, and economic expansion fueled by technological innovations and entrepreneurial ventures.
- Underscored stark disparities between the wealthy elite and the working class, leading to widespread social unrest and calls for reform amid growing economic inequality.
Explain:
How did religion play a role in the Gilded Age?
- The Social Gospel movement emerged within Protestantism during the Industrial Revolution.
- Advocated for the application of biblical ethics to address social and economic injustices, aiming to eradicate poverty, improve living conditions, and promote societal equality.
- Jane Addams was a pioneering social reformer and activist who co-founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889.
- Hull House became a model for social work, providing essential services like education and healthcare to immigrant and low-income communities.
Explain:
How did imperialism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries reshape global power dynamics, economic structures, and cultural exchanges among nations?
- Allowed Western powers, particularly Europe and the U.S., to dominate vast territories in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, establishing themselves as global hegemonic forces.
- Reshaped global trade networks, leading to the extraction of resources from colonies and the establishment of markets for manufactured goods, benefiting imperial powers at the expense of colonized regions.
- Facilitated exchanges and imposed Western ideologies, while also sparking resistance, nationalism, and hybrid cultural practices in colonized societies.
Explain:
Significance of the Spanish-American War.
- Resulted in the United States gaining overseas territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, marking its transition from a regional to a global power.
- Underscored America’s growing influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, shaping its foreign policy objectives and strategic interests in the Western Hemisphere.
Describe:
Populist Movement in the United States.
- Period of political and social unrest in the late 19th century.
- Characterized by a movement of farmers and laborers who sought to address economic and political inequalities.
Identify:
3 causes of the Populist Movement.
- Farmers struggled with low prices for their crops, high debt, and railroad monopolies.
- Rural Americans, especially African Americans, faced voting restrictions and political corruption that limited their representation in government.
- Growing gap between the rich and the poor.
Explain:
Significance of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) as it relates to Jim Crow Laws.
- Supreme Court case established the “separate but equal” doctrine, which legalized racial segregation in public facilities.
- Ruling provided a legal justification for Jim Crow laws and allowed for their continued existence.
Explain:
How did Jim Crow laws impact daily life for African Americans throughout the South?
- Jim Crow laws were expanded to cover a wide range of public facilities, including schools, transportation, restaurants, and restrooms. These laws ensured that African Americans were denied equal access to essential services.
- Southern states enacted various laws to disenfranchise African American voters, such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses.
- The threat of lynching and other forms of violence was used to intimidate African Americans and maintain racial control.
Identify:
4 causes of WWI.
- Alliances
- Nationalism
- Militarism
- Imperialism
Explain:
What brought the United States into WWI?
- Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare led to the sinking of ships with American passengers (e.g. Lusitania).
- Propaganda campaigns in America depicted Germany as vicious killers after they invaded Belgium.
- The Zimmerman Telegram revealed Germany’s proposal to Mexico to join the war against the U.S. in exchange for the return of lost territories.
Despite initial efforts to stay neutral, growing anti-Germany sentiment and direct threats to American security led to U.S. involvement in WWI.
Explain:
Impact of WWI on American homefront.
- Mobilized millions of men for military service, leading to significant changes in the economy and social life.
- Boosted the American economy, as the country became a major supplier of food, munitions, and other goods to the Allied powers.
- Accelerated social and cultural changes, as women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers and African Americans migrated to cities in search of opportunities.
Explain:
Outcomes of America’s involement in WWI.
- Changed the course of the conflict, enabling the Allies to achieve victory and convene the Paris Peace Conference to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles, shaping the post-war global order.
- Expanded opportunities for women in the workforce, strengthened federal powers and presidential authority, fostered growth in organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Red Cross, and increased international travel.
Describe:
Contributions of women to war effort during WWI.
- Took on jobs traditionally held by men, such as factory work, as companies lost male employees to military service.
- Served as ambulance and medical personnel overseas.