Periodization
The years 1890-1920 marked the better years of America in industry. With Teddy Roosevelt's election into office as president, the United States began to see a better change. His Square Deal focused on improving the lives of Americans with conservation, consumer protection, and business control. Policies that were never enforced before finally began to take control of businesses. Fair practices were finally being established. Roosevelt worked to improve the lives of Americans and greatly succeeded in doing so with many of the acts and legislations that were passed.
Despite the reform movements occurring within the United States, outside of the country, imperialism ran rampant. Pro-imperialists were adamant about adding the Philippines and Puerto Rico to the United States. A well known case of imperialism is the annexation of Hawaii, where Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown and forced down from her throne. The Spanish-American War was a result of the imperialism that was growing. In fact, throughout the world, many countries raced to "civilize" lesser countries and imperialize them, creating the beginning of World War I. |
Turning Points/ Major Events
Annexation of Hawaii (1893)
- Cleveland thought this was crap and wanted to restore her to her throne but the American public was against that idea - He withdrew the annexation but yo the American public sucks - The problem was prolonged until Cleveland left office :\\\\\\
- Eventually Hawaii would become a state
- Spanish American War |
U.S.S. Maine (1898)
Cuba, protecting it when suddenly the thing exploded - Blame the Spaniards no one likes them
- Spanish American War |
Spanish American War (1898)
- U.S. said kk and agreed to help them, especially since the U.S.S. Maine exploded under abnormal circumstances
- Freed Cuba - U.S. got Puerto Rico - U.S. got Guam - Insular Cases - Platt Amendment - Teller Amendment
- Spanish American War |
Wisconsin Experiment (1901 ish)
- Proposed the idea to allow the citizens to elect members of the Senate rather than having them chosen by an elite few
continued today where citizens elect Senate members and vote for them in elections as well
- Political corruption |
The Square Deal (1901)
- THE THREE Cs (not FDR, TR) - Control, conserve, and consumers - Control crappy business corruption - Protect crappy consumers - Conserve the not crappy environment
- Sherman Anti Trust Act was finally enforced
- Federal intervention - TR is immortal |
Platt Amendment (1901)
- Promised to leave Cuba's government in its own hands - Promised all of this but it still managed to place restrictions on Cuba
without U.S. approval - U.S. had a lot of control in Cuba's gov't and economics cool not really
- Spanish American War |
Anthracite Coal Strike (1902)
- The strikers threatened to cut off all power supply - Protested for higher wages, shorter hours, and union recognition
company were able to compromise with the strikers nice TR - Increase in gov't intervention
- Federal intervention |
Hay Bunau Varilla Treaty (1903)
- U.S. would get 5 miles on each side of the canal - The U.S. would pay $10 million as a down payment then $250k annually
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Roosevelt Corollary (1904)
- It protected American trade and gave a giant u suck to Europeans if they tried to interfere in the western hemisphere - Would assist those Latin American countries that were being messed with
- U.S. became the police of the western hemisphere
- Isolationism (getting there) |
Mann Elkins Act (1910)
- The act helped with controlling interstate commerce - Gave fed gov't power to regulate telephones, telegraphs, and railroads
otherwise the fed gov't would intervene
- Political corruption |
Comparisons
Anti-Imperialists & Pro-Imperialists
Similarities
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Anti-Imperialists
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Pro-Imperialists
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Teddy Roosevelt & William Taft
Similarities
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Roosevelt
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Taft
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Muckrakers & Yellow Journalism
Similarities
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Muckrakers
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Yellow Journalism
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