America: the Good and the Bad
1880-1920
By Erick Galicia
Industrialization
Political Machines (political)
Political machines dominated elections and defeated the purpose of having democracy. This took advantage of immigrants and stripped them of their freedom.
Industrial pollution (economic)
Factories polluted the air of urban cities and produced foul smog that tainted the city's pure, fresh air.
Assimilation (Social/Culture)
New immigrants had trouble assimilating to a single American culture. Old immigrant assimilated easier and were more skilled on arrival.
Immigration
Chinese Exclusion Act (Political)
The act that singled out Chinese and blatenly excluded and denied them a fair shot a the American dream. The act was established in order to control the influx of chinese that were immigrating from the west.
Rober barons (economic)
During the 19th century there was confusion between rober barons and captains of industry. Although many of the richest people during this time period took advantage of cheap labor, they attempted to give back to the community by establishing and promoting culture. For Example J.D. Rockefeller established Rockefeller center to promote performance arts.
Philanthropy (Social/Cultural)
Philanthropists influenced many things relating to culture and its progression in America due to their generous contributions to society. For example, Carnegie hall and Carnegie melon were established by Andrew Carnegie in order to give back with the gift of education and culture.
Urbanization
Dawes Act (political)
The Dawes Act allowed the President to divide up Native American land. These land were prominently found in Oklahoma in the form of reservations. These land would soon undergo change due to the greed brought on by manifest destiny.
Eradication of the Buffalo (Economic)
By killing off the Native Americans' means of survival in the american plains, the inocent Native Americans were forced to move and condence all on to what is now known as Oklahoma. These Native Americans were cramed into a considerably smaller lot of land where their roaming and hunting style of life was not as fully attainable. These animals were only shot and skinned while the rest of the animal was put to waste while Native Americans could have put a good portion of it to use.
Kill the Indian, Save the man (Social)
While Native Americans were being relocated, they were also forced to send their children to boarding schools.In these boarding schools the children were taught to forget their native culture and adopt the american culture. These school eventually made the children forget who they were and conform to the cookie-cutter american personality and way of life.
Progressivism
labor laws (politcal)
Through out the 19th century immigrants had been working under neglegible conditions. After revelational scripture writen by various reformists, labor laws were created to make the workplace a safer and more tolerable atmosphere.
Unions (Economic)
With the creation of labor laws and the revelation of the brutal conditions within factories, a regular workplace for many immigrants in america. Labor unions were created as a unification of workers to strike factories in order to compromise on better working conditions, better wages, or better hours. Due to this factories often didn't hire people part of a union and forced employees to sign an agreement not to be in a union. It was tough choosing between a voice and a job.
A Brief History Of Unions
Woman's Suffrage (social/cultural)
Woman's suffrage is known as the right for women to vote. This had been a pressing issue on the minds of many reformists, like Susan B. Anthony, since the convention at Seneca Falls. Women finally gained the right to vote in the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Women's Suffrage in the 20th Century
Imperialism
Open Door Policy (Political)
As China became a fruitful source for many resources, European powers took notice and quickly established spheres of influence in China. America was a sore loser so it created a loop hole to allow everyone to trade with China. This policy let america not fall behind on an economic standpoint, but also made them look like a total baby.
Panama Canal (Economic)
While Teddy Roosevelt was in office, he found it a pain for ship to have to navigate around South America to get to the other coast of the country. As a result of manifest destiny's expansion, America needed a short cut. So to do so the US helped Panama gain its independence from Columbia in order to exploit its location in Central America. The United States gained control of canal and as a result it also controlled its trade.
US established as World Power (Social/Cultural
As the US gained more territory it gained more power. Its dominence in the economic facade of this also translated into political dominence among other renound European powers. This reputation gave the United States the obligation of becoming a World Police for developing or opressed nations in the Americas.
World War 1
Zimmerman Telegram (political)
As the war raged on in Europe, America was hesitant in its involvment in the worldwide conflict, persisting to remain neutral. Germany had devised a plan to gain the alliance of Mexico in their attempt to get America involved. The United States intercepted the telegram and did not let it slip. The United states promotly entered the war against Germany.
Industries during the War (Economic)
As the US got involved with the war, the military needed oodles of equipment and supplies. As any good buisnessman knows, more demand calls for more supply. The US quickly cracked out as many goods and supplies they could for the war effort. The American women played a major part in this influx of production.
War Guilt Clause (Social)
WIth Germany losing the war, they were forced to take responsibility for their actions. They were forced to sign a war guilt clause which made them accountable for paying the billions of dollars of debt after the war.