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The 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was a big step in the right direction for the progression of America. It abolished the most evil act of our nation, slavery. The amendment states that neither slavery or involuntary servitude was permitted in the U.S. but only for a punishment for crime. Even though nearly 3 million slaves were freed, illegal slavery took place and black people weren’t granted normal rights citizens had. America still had a lot of more progress to do. -
The Ku Klux Klan
The KKK was a hate group that emerged after the civil war. Their goal was to oppress and keep newly freed slaves down in society. Even though this group was founded by lower class white people such as farmers, upperclass white people started joining like doctors and lawyers as time went on. They practiced and still continue to practice violent acts against black people such as lynchings and torture. The KKK originated in the year 1865 and are still widely known today in America. -
The Black Codes
Black Codes were a series of laws put into place in the south. They restricted and and took away black people’s rights even after the 13th Amendment was ratified. Black people were denied the right to education and be segregated from whites. If they violate the many codes they could be convicted and easily slip right back into the cycle of slavery. They could also be whipped. -
Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall
William M. Tweed was an American politician who worked on giving power to the democrat party in New York. He focused on helping on the poor and immigrants. He would help them with what they needed, homes, food, jobs. He was basically the only one helping immigrants succeed but with something in return. Tweed wanted their votes and started to bribe immigrants to do so. This is an example of corrupted politics during the Gilded Age and how immigrants were used by politicians. -
Panic of 1873
The panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that sparked a global depression. Many firms at this time invested much money and sometimes too much into businesses because they could only predict success from past events. Like the Jay Crooke company, who overextended themselves and declared bankruptcy. This company handled most of our war time debts so it back lashed. The NY Stock Exchange closed for 10 days and 15,000 businesses went bankrupt. There was double digit unemployment. -
Targeting the Trusts
During the Gilded Age monopolies and trusts became the next big thing and produced some of the wealthiest men. The rapid industrialization, technological advancement, and urban growth of the 1870s and 1880s effected changes in the way businesses maneuvered. Companies started becoming corrupt and using harsh tactics like Carnegie's Steel to produce more money. This pushed for rulings and regulations in the power of monopolies. Teddy Roosevelt enforced these rulings. -
Railroads
The railroads played a crucial role in the development of the west and the evolution of the United States as a whole. The direct impact of railroads were the fast transportation of people and goods at low expense. The construction of railroads also provided many jobs and supported families. By 1880, approximately 2.5% of the nation's entire workforce labored in the railroad industry. Railroads upgraded from stretching over 9,000 miles in 1850 to 190,000 miles in 1900. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was a federal law that prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. Even though Chinese people made up only 0.002% of the nation's population, congress passed the law anyways. Natural born citizens were worried their jobs were being "taken away" and they wanted to maintain "white racial purity." Because of the law, Chinese immigrants that were already here were despised and wages were cut. This law showed how people viewed non-white immigrants. -
Dawes Severalty Act
Americans adopted multiple stereotypes of Natives from the start and the idea that the Natives threatened their gateway to their success in the west. This led to the government trying to break up of their tribes. The government created the Dawes Acts which forced natives into small plots of land. This separated tribes and led to other acts being passed. Details of them were the allotment of land to them in exchange of Natives abandoning their tribal governments and following federal laws. -
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a powerful female activist who emerged out of the club movement and campaigns. Nobody matched her fame, energy, and innovation. She attended the Rockford Female Seminary at age 17 and believed woman lacked strategies to engage in everyday reform. She was the founder of the settlement House, the Hull House, and made it her passion to eliminate social crime. Her house served for disadvantaged communities and provided resources. -
Start of Populist Party
Because agricultural depression was ignored by both parties in this time and depressed farmers' needs were neglected, the Populist Party came into existence. It was an agrarian movement whose aim was to improve the lives and success of farmers. It followed the National Grange and Farmers Align. This was a true visualization of farmers taking a stand. Some of the party's struggles included the expense of the transportation and storage of crops and the lowering of their prices. -
"How The Other Half Lives"
Jacob Rii, a Danish-American journalist and photographer, published a pictorial essay displaying immigrant life in the Gilded Age. These pictures showed just how challenging and malicious immigrants' lives were. You could see the ghettos and slums immigrants were forced to succumb to and how neglected their homes were. You can also understand how much child labor was alive at this time. These pictures helped spread awareness and are still looked at today for reference. -
Women's Movement
Minorities including woman were still denied the right to vote during the Progressive Era in most states. They started to take a stand and create clubs and organizations to protest for woman's suffrage. Even though they were inclusive of only middle and high classes of white woman, they "got the job done." Through persistence and hard work they convinced the public and president of their movement. In 1920 woman's suffrage became a reality. -
Captain Alfred Mahan
Captain Alfred was a United States naval officer of the among other things. He was the author of "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" and held a strong opinion on how control of the sea was the key to world dominance . He analyzed their methods and urged Americans to follow in their footsteps. For example, build a canal across the isthmus of Central America to link Atlantic. He also was called "the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century." -
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was another economic depression that ended in 1897. It was one that affected every sector of the economy and was responsible for leaving 4 million railroad workers to be unemployed. President Cleveland expected things to go right back into place so he took no action. People started to pull out of stock market and question the government. This all led to President McKinley being elected. -
Spanish-American War
At this point of history America has a sugar trade with Cuba but one problem is is that Cuba is controlled by Spain. Cuba wants to be freed so they rebel and Americans are believed to support it for 2 different reasons. Some people think the war reminds America of the Revolutionary War. And others think America helped because it benefited us- the land could be used and sugar trade would be kept safe. Cuba gains independence from Spain but the U.S. interferes. -
Carrie A. Nation
Carie A. Nation was an imposing woman who believed she worked God's work. She was a part of the prohibition movement and caught most fame through destroying saloons. Making headlines when she took a hatchet to beer bottles at a Carey Hotel. In other words she was a vigilante, she was braver than all the other woman of the movement. She fought her hardest to fight the "evils of society" and many woman followed in her foot steps. -
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
In 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory caught fire in Manhattan. It resulted in 147 woman dying and 71 injured. A year before this tragedy, the woman employers of this factory went on strike/protested the hazardous and restricting conditions. Their complaints were ignored. The factory still had unreliable fire escapes and the managers still locked the doors so unauthorized breaks weren't taken. This incident shined light on the mistreatment of workers and brought about reform. -
Woodrow Wilson, Progressive President
Wilson was a President with a goal, which was to bring down privilege in hopes to eradicate corruption. He planned to do this by attacking the Triple wall of Privilege. He passed acts to get rid of tariffs, to decentralize banks, and break trusts. He practiced moral diplomacy and made decisions to cut economic ties with Mexico because of their rebellion. He "kept America out of war" and was reelected in 1916 just to declare war after. -
WW1 Propoganda
During WW1 the government took to a method that wasn’t new to the public, propaganda. A system of guilting or pressuring the public into siding with the views of the president. People were needed to expand the army and fight in the war so there was a draft. A committee of public information was created and posters and speeches were publicized to get people to join. -
Flapper Movement
The flapper movement was a progressive moment for woman in history. During the world war, woman had a key role of taking care of children and doing all of the domestic war while husbands were drafted. But shortly after the war ended, they started to break that stereotypical. Woman started to drink and smoke publicly, something that was prohibited. -
Harlem Renaissance
During the Roaring 20s not only was there heavy immigration from eastern europe but there was a rush of African Americans moving up to north from the south. They wanted to escape segregation and Harlem was a popular place to move. It became the capital of Black America at this time and was the birthplace of new dances and jazz. And is still a historical moment for culture in America today. -
Manchurian Incident
The Manchurian Incident is viewed as a staged event that ultimately led to a 13 year long war. The Japanese were presumed to plan it so they had reason to invade China. On September 9, 1931, a small explosion caused destruction to the South Manchuria owned railroad. The Japanese quickly blamed anti-Japanese Chinese dissidents and led a plan to destroy the Shenyang garrison. They took advantage of this victory and soon had control over all of Manchura. -
The American Red Cross
Because it was unusual for women to be present at war during the time, they stayed at the home front. They were encouraged to take up some sort of task so many took job positions in labor. Those who chose to not work, volunteered for the Red Cross. The organization produced 27 million care packages and shipped half a million tons of medical supplies overseas. Many went on to be trained nurses. -
WW2 Propaganda
Just like previous wars, the government had great influence over the people at home and used this to their advantage. To get civilians all on the same page, they issued propaganda to the public. Most of these were directed to women and their part in the war. For example, victory gardens became mainstream and popular for housewives to do at home. The aim for victory gardens were to save enough food and supplies for the militarily, -
Pearl Harbor
With a recent supply cut off issued by America to Japan, tension rised and many knew suspected what would happen next, an attack. The Japan had motive for the attack they planned on On December 7, 1941, it was to shortly take out the U.S. out of battle. In that time Japan would secure their position in the war. They ambushed American navel base and crippled American navel power for years. This attack is still looked at remorsefully today.
