This semester blog will talk about everything we learned in U.S. history. It will have all of the possible questions that can be asked on the test. There are seven questions that will be answered.1. Students will understand the impact the Industrial Revolution had on the United States.The reasons for the Industrial Revolution was the numerous amount of natural resources the U.S. had, gov’t support for businesses, and a growing urban population. Also, there was a laissez-faire approach so the gov’t stayed out of businesses’ ways, they sided with them and had very few laws. The U.S. had a growing urban population, and immigrants would work for low wages. Captains of industry were another reason, such as Andrew Carnegie and John Rockefeller believed in industry and were very wealthy. Carnegie came up with horizontal and vertical integration to control much of the steel industry. Railroads were built which helped expansion in the west for businesses as well as people who were settling. Many people worked hard building them and many died or were injured. Railroads would raise the prices for farmers, which upset them so they worked hard to make the prices fair. There were many important inventions created during this time. Examples would be the light bulb, typewriter, and telephone.2. Students will understand the impact immigration and urbanization had on the United States.Immigrants came to America because of famine, land shortages, political or religious persecution, and more opportunities. Most of them came from Europe, but some came from China and Japan. Natives thought the immigrants were taking jobs from the Americans, and they didn’t like them. The Chinese Exclusion Act banned entry of Chinese for a time. The Gentleman’s Agreement was between Japan and the U.S. Japan would limit emigration if U.S. would repeal the San Francisco segregation order.Cities grew quickly because of immigrants and farmers moving to the city. With more people moving to the cities came more problems. The crime rate grew, fires started because buildings were built close together, lack of public transportation, clean water, and fire and police protection. People started building establishment houses for the poor and immigrants, new buildings were built, police and fire fighters were hired, more lighting to reduce crime. Political machines, people who ran the political parties in the cities, came to be. Immigrants liked them because they helped them. The Pendleton Civil Service Act required people who worked for the gov’t to take tests to prove they were worthy of their job.Settlement houses were built during this time as well.3. Students will understand the impact of the Progressive Era on the United States.This was the time that changed lives of the common people. It was in the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. Women started getting a higher education and getting jobs outside of the home. They pushed for the right to vote, which they eventually got. Women also were the ones who pushed for prohibition. They were the ones who were experiencing the effects, such as the abuse and cheating. Muckrakers were people who exposed and wrote about the corrupt side of business and public life.Progressives worked to shorten working hours for people. They worked to end child labor, and they succeeded. Businesses hired children because they could do jobs that adults couldn’t do, and they worked for low wages and didn’t complain or argue. Also, workers’ hours were shortened from 12-15 hour days to ten hour days and eventually eight. They also got workers’ compensation. The Keating-Owen Law was passed, which stated that if a product was made by a child in a state, it couldn’t be taken to another state.Progressives did not do much to help African Americans. White people were separated from black people, and Plessy v. Ferguson set this up. This stated that they were separate but equal, but they really were separate and unequal. Woodrow Wilson did not help them very much. Wilson also allowed segregation in Washington D.C.Progressives also worked to reform elections, such as getting a secret ballot and direct election of senators. Also, the recall allowed people to remove public officials from elected positions by forcing them to run in another election before the end of their term ended if voters wanted it.Teddy Roosevelt became the president during this time. He was known as the trust buster, as he broke up trusts that he thought were unfair. Examples of this would be trusts that lowered their prices to drive out other competitors. Railroads were regulated by the Interstate Commerce Act, which kept wealthy railroad owners from having high prices in certain areas. Also, people found out during this time that many unhealthy things were put in food and meat. The Meat Inspection Act was passed to make sure the meat was safe to eat. It was passed by Teddy Roosevelt after reading ‘The Jungle’ by Upton Sinclair. Also, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed, which stopped the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and truth in labeling. Teddy Roosevelt also conserved a lot of land and many natural resources.Wilson created the Federal Reserve System, which was a system of banks that served as the nation’s banking system. It could transfer money and issue new currency. It helped banks in trouble, as well.4. Students will understand the impact imperialism had on the United States and world.Imperialism is the policy in which stronger nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories or countries. Countries colonized to get more money, power, trade, and land. Also, nations colonized to establish naval bases and refueling stations, and to gain natural resources. McKinley said "to uplift, civilize, and Christianize people", which was also another reason. The U.S. acquired Alaska, which was first thought of as a stupid purchase. It was actually a very smart buy because of the oil, natural resources, and furs. We also attained Hawaii. Hawaii was important because there were sugar plantations, and we got sugar from them without having to pay taxes.We obtained Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rice from the Spanish-American War. Causes of the Spanish-American War were yellow journalism, the De Lôme Letter, and the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.5. Students will understand the causes for US involvement in World War I and the effects it had on the United States.At first, the U.S. declared neutrality. One reason the U.S. entered WWI was because of the assassination on Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Also, Germany and Great Britain were sinking ships with American citizens on board, and “unrestricted submarine warfare”, which meant they would sink passenger ships without warning. The second reason was the Zimmerman note. In the letter, Germany made an alliance with Mexico to fight America. The note was intercepted and put in papers, which caused people to support war with Germany. Beliefs of War Hawks also were a big reason. Trade with England increased and with Germany decreased, which pulled us into the war because it showed we wanted them to win. American Businesses related to munitions (weapons) business pushed U.S. into war to make money. Lastly, Lusitania pushed the U.S. more towards war.WWI created nine new countries and the League of Nations. Germany's army was reduced to 100,000 men. Also, they were not allowed tanks or an air force. They also only were allowed 6 capital naval ships and no submarines. Germany lost vital industry territory, which their economy fell. They printed a lot of money, which made it worthless. Treaty of Versailles was the treaty that ended the war, and it stated Germany should take full responsibility for the war, which was the War Guilt Clause. League of Nations was set up to keep world peace.6. Students will understand the political, social and economic changes that occurred in the 1920’s in the United States.Political..nativism- not wanting immigrantsisolationism- keeping to ourselves-no foreign affairscommunism- everything controlled by dictatorthe red scare was America fearing we would become communistlimiting immigration- stopped immigration.. thought they would be communist or radicalists.KKK- white men who didn't like African AmericansQuota System- limited number of foreigners that could enter the U.S.strikes- people stopped working to get something for themselvesRepublicans dominated the 1920's.Economic..Tariffs were low, profits grew. Fordney McCumber Tariff was supposed to protect farmers, and taxes on imports grew 60%. Automobiles were being mass produced, so the price was low and many people were buying them. President Calvin Coolidge wanted low taxes. Airplanes were mail carriers in the beginning, but started carrying radios and other equipment. The Pan American started transatlantic passenger flights. There was a surplus of goods, such as new machinery. There was lots of food, which meant low food prices. Advertising started and it helped the image of the businessman. Taxes were increased to help finance schools. Communities wanted children of immigrants to be able to speak English and go to school so they could be a part of society.Social..Automobiles changed lives completely, and Route 66 was made. Traffic lights were created, and gas stations, motels, and places of interests were built. Cars became a status symbol. There were drive-in movies and cars made it possible for people dating to spend time alone together.Advertising became a big role, and people believed them. Radios were the major form of communication (could hear things as it happened); boxing was something people liked to listen to. Most families had a radio. More kids started going to high school. A lot of money was spent on entertainment. Crosswords became popular and the Chinese game. The 1920’s were known as the "Jazz Age". The Harlem Renaissance was when African Americans could show their talent. They would sing, perform, and they did things the whites did. African Americans wrote about being black in a white world (paintings, books, plays).7. Students will understand the causes and effects of the Great Depression.Causesbank failures, savings and bank runs, business bankruptcy, unemployment, Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act, European Depression, uneven distribution of wealth, industries in trouble, housing starts fall, price-supports, agriculture, less money, low standard of living, stock market crash, black TuesdayEffectsbanks closed, people loss jobs, people loss homes (Shantytowns, also known as Hoovervilles-cardboard homes on sides of towns or cities), farm foreclosures, soup kitchens, hobos became common, suicide, malnourished children, schools closed, movies were popularThese are all the things we need to know for our semester test. It's been a good semester, and I have learned quite a bit. Thanks, Bruns!
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