Semester Test Blog
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
1. Christopher Columbus Coming over in 1492 and discovering America, he came on a ship and was looking for an easier way to Asia but ran into land that was not previously known by people in Europe.
2. Revolutionary War- The colonies gained independence from Great Britain's power by fighting in a war, this war was in the colonies and the colonies wanted freedom because they were being treated unfairly by the British.
3. Civil War- The North and South fought over many differences on how they wanted to run things but mainly over slavery, the North won this war, abolishing slavery and keeping the United States together.
4. Native Americans Coming and Going- The Native Americans were the first people on our continent when they came over the land bridge in Alaska, When Colonization started, the Europeans started taking the Native Americans land and made them move to specific areas called Reservations.
5. Lewis And Clark- Lewis and Clark were explorers that when the U.S. made the Louisiana Purchase, they were sent to explore it, they found out that both sides of the Continent were surrounded by water and then the fact of Manifest Destiny came into play to where they should own from sea to sea.
2. How did the US change during the late 1800's and early 1900's?(10 points)-Chapters 5-8
Immigration- Many immigrants came into the country at this point, Mainly from Europe and Asia which made urban population very crowded. The Immigrants either came through Ellis Island on the East Coast or Angel Island on the West Coast. They came to America to get a better life, religious freedom, escape a ruler, or just to be able to start over and make it better for their family.
Industrial Revolution- Oil was being started to be used as fuel for steam engines at this time, Steel also became big to build buildings and the railroads at this time but was very expensive. The railroads became big because they transported goods and people faster than they had ever been able to. Electricity also became big at this time, the first light bulb was really what made the start of this happen. Big Businesses started to be in control of things at this time and it made it so people were being very abused with how wrong their labor was. Labor unions and strikes helped to make labor conditions better.
Moving West- Many settlers at this time pushed Westward mainly because of the fact of gold, gold was a big thing in the West and that was where it was mainly found, This greed of the settlers for money made them move west which in fact pushed out the Indians. Indians were moved from their land to reservations. The settlers pushing out the Indians caused many conflicts between them, many people died over this.
Segregation- Segregation was very bad against African Americans, everything was split from white only and colored, the African Americans were looked at as lesser of a person and made it very hard for them to live in the U.S. even though they were not slaves. There was a lot of violence for the simple reason as of white people did not like the colored people. The African Americans were not the only ones that were segregated against, if you were not white, you were not treated the same.
3. What impact did the Progressives have on the United States?(10 points)-Ch. 9
The main goals of this time was to improve the quality of life for everyone as women fought and gained their rights. Many Amendments were passed at this time. in 1919, the amendment to begin prohibition was made. In 1920, the amendment was passed that allowed women to vote and have equal rights to men. They were trying to clean up the government of the time. Direct Election of Senators came at this time. Teddy Roosevelt broke trusts and made labor laws. He Passed Meat Inspection Act. He passed the Pure Food and Drug Act also. Clayton Antitrust Act was made to break up monopolies. Federal Trade Commission came to watch over everything in this department. Federal Reserve System helped by making more money to give to banks when they ran out of money.
4. Describe US Foreign Policy in the late 1800's and early 1900's and be able to give examples.(10 points)-Ch. 10
Imperialism- American wanted to go out and get more land, they wanted more military strength, new markets, and cultural superiority. They took Alaska and Hawaii at this time, they bought Alaska but had to take over Hawaii. Dollar Diplomacy was used in 1911 in nicaragua, by helping them with money, this gave them control over this country. Big Stick Diplomacy was where Teddy Roosevelt had made it so that if the European countries came back into Latin America, that they would use force to protect its economic interests there. Missionary Diplomacy was used by Woodrow Wilson and was the thought that the U.S. had a moral responsibility to deny recognition to any Latin American government it viewed as oppressive, undemocratic, or hostile to U.S. interests.
5. What impact did World War I have on the United States?(10 points)-Ch. 11
At first it made it so that the united states just stayed neutral but was eventually dragged into the war. America was looking to keep out but was dragged in by big businesses wanting money, propaganda, the sinking of the lusitania, and Germans sinking ships with submarines. This was a very good thing for women as fact of they took over mens’ jobs in the homefront while the men were away and really gave them a good push towards their equality. Food started to become rationed in the U.S. so that they would have enough food for the troops overseas also. During the war it was established that it was illegal to say anything as of a threat, disloyal, or abusive about the government or war effort. Immigration into the U.S. was very high at this time. The league of nations was created because of this war.
6. What positive and negative impact did the 1920's have on the United States?(20 points)-Ch. 12-13
The red scare- The U.S. was being very cautious after the war because they were afraid of communism in the country. The Palmer Raids were a result of this, where they would hunt down suspected communists, socialists, and anarchists, people who opposed any form of government. This suspicion ruined many people's lives.
The Klu Klux Klan was started during this time because they did not like immigrants, they were opposed to anyone that was not white. The believed that American was for Americans and not anyone else.
Charles Evans Harding- Cut Taxes to get us out of Post-War depressions, Unemployment & inflation went down, Helped veterans from WWI. Signed first Child Welfare Program that mainly helped with striking and people who worked on railroads, he achieved more things in 2 years of being president than many do in 8, Tea Pot Scandal, Leased government land to companies and got personal loans from this, Harding died of a heart attack in office. Him appointing high ranking government officials led to major corruption in the government.
Calvin Coolidge- Signed the Immigration Act restricting southern and eastern European immigration.Signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted full U.S. citizenship to all American Indians while permitting them to retain tribal land and cultural rights
Hoover-Set aside millions of acres for national parks, built many veterans hospitals, began production of the hoover dam. formulated good neighbor policy, built San Francisco Oakland bay bridge Negatives- did not do much to help ease the problems of the great depression.
Women in the 1920s- Mostly for them about fashion and rights, called themselves flappers, started with young teenagers as a rebellious look, had overall different attitude, wore make up which was weird. Women started smoking, women suffrage movement, senate passed it in 1920s, made women have the right to vote.
African Americans in the 1920s- started to feel better about being African american, a lot moved out of the south because they were moved into the bigger cities because they were hated, moved into the ghettos, known as the great migration, Ku Klux Klan came about at this time.
Gangs Due To Prohibition- The Prohibition and gangs go hand in hand because it gave the gangs something to traffic illegally. This worked out so well because Alcohol was illegal and that is what everyone wanted. The main gang during this time was Al Capone's Mafia. He was responsible for many murders, and trafficking of a huge amount of alcohol. Capone made sixty million dollars a year on alcohol trafficking alone. He bribed many policemen, judges, and was behind many corrupted government workers.
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