1. What are the main historic events(hit five) that took place in 8th Grade US History that helped shape the United States up to 1877?(10 points)-Chapters 1-4
European Colonization/Columbus Discovering the Americas- Started with Christopher Columbus trying to sail West to get to India, but sailed to the America’s instead. He thought it was India, but it was actually the Caribbean Islands. After he did this other Europeans tried going that way to find riches for their country. This is significant because the Europeans would develop communities and it would eventually lead to the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War- The colonists didn’t like the way Great Britain was treating them, for example, Great Britain was taxing the colonists way too much. The colonists decided to rebel, in order to be a country. This is significant because if the colonist wouldn’t have won the war, or if they decided not to even go to war then America wouldn’t have the same democratic government. Or we would be ruled by Great Britain or some other country.
Civil War/Reconstruction- The North winning the civil war was another big event in our countries history. The biggest difference it made was slavery being abolished with the 13th amendment. It also would lead to giving African Americans their rights. Reconstruction was more of a negative event that shaped our country, it was supposed to get the country back together. The North sent soldiers down to the South to keep order. During Reconstruction the South was very corrupt. After reconstruction the white men were back in power.
Manifest Destiny- The belief that we were supposed to move west. Some people moved west for land and others like ministers moved west to preach the Native Americans. It was both positive and negative. Positive- most of the country was settled, negative- it made diversity which would help lead to the civil war.
Industrial Revolution- The Industrial Revolution changed the manufacturing industry, factories were being made and products were starting to be made by machine instead of hands. Cities began growing. The only bad thing was that factory conditions were not safe.
2. How did the US change during the late 1800's and early 1900's?(10 points)-Chapters 5-8
Moving West-People started moving west in order to go into the cattle industry, farm because of the Homestead Act gave people 160 acres of land to families, and also the gold rush in the Black Hills and California.
Industrial Revolution-The Industrial began to take off because of the increasing immigrants and factories, and the steam engine being invented to provide power. More railroads meant you could ship items faster.
Immigration-More and more immigrants kept coming to America which made cities grow. The immigrants came for free religion, to escape famine and many more reasons. US citizens didn’t like immigrants because the immigrants would take their jobs.
3. What impact did the Progressives have on the United States?(10 points)-Ch. 9
18th Amendment-They had a negative impact when they helped create the 18th Amendment which banned alcohol. It was negative because people would form gangs and illegally produce and sell alcohol.
17th Amendment-People elected senators instead of state government choosing. It was a positive impact because it made the country more democratic.
Sherman Anti-Trust Act-Made workdays for shorter for men and women, limited child labor, and created workers compensation.
4. Describe US Foreign Policy in the late 1800's and early 1900's and be able to give examples.(10 points)-Ch. 10
Imperialistic-The US bought Alaska from Russia which gave the US a lot of resources, got control of the philippines, guam, and puerto rico after winning the Spanish American War.
Stronger Army and Navy- Big Stick Diplomacy- the US would use our military power as a threat, which would make countries back down.
Interventionists-Became more involved in Central and South America with the Roosevelt Corollary which backed up the Monroe Doctrine and pretty much stated that if Europe had a problem with Latin America then they could talk to the US.
Strong Nationalism-People started having more pride in the US.
5. What impact did World War I have on the United States?(10 points)-Ch. 11
Reasons for US joining- economically tied to Great Britain, the Zimmerman Note, American banks and businesses, and propaganda.
US making a difference- the US added more fresh troops to the Allies, giving the Allies more power.
Treaty of Versailles- the US didn’t sign the Treaty of Versailles because they didn’t want to join the League of Nations. They just wanted "A Return to Normalcy".
6. What positive and negative impact did the 1920's have on the United States?(20 points)-Ch. 12-13
Positives- Electricity was invented, people were buying cars on credit which is a good and bad thing, the bad thing was that people would go into debt, but people could travel more places and go out to eat, cars also made it so suburbs could be built. Another positive is women had a right to vote.
Negatives- Ku Klux Klan was starting to show up more, they didn’t like immigrants or African Americans. African Americans moving North would take peoples jobs and still get treated badly even though they were in the north. Segregation started forming because African Americans would move to the ghetto neighborhoods. The Republican philosophy Laissez-faire was starting to backfire because the government wouldn’t help struggling businesses which would help lead up to the Great Depression.
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