Essentials for US History--Semester One
1. Students will understand the impact the Industrial Revolution had on the United States.(Ch. 6)
First off, during the Industrial Revolution, resources became a big hit. Oil was discovered in many areas all over the United States. Iron made it possible to produce steel through the Bessemer Process. Skyscrapers were able to be built. This helped because land was getting expensive horizontally, so they were able to build vertically, consuming space. Cities became bigger and more populized. Then, inventions played a huge role. The telephone was invented, making it possible to communicate within seconds rather than days or even weeks. News could spread like wildfire now! The typewriter was also an important invention. Ment as an improvement for the telegraph, it ended up being so much more. Women could now get into jobs in offices. The lightbulb was also invented during this time period. It changed American life pretty dramatically, almost like it was magic. instead of using gas or oil lamps, they could now use a lightbulb. it prevented fires, and reduced actual fires happening. It lit homes more efficiently and lasted longer. The invention of the lightbulb introduced elecricity, and it became world wide. Railroads became huge during this time period as well. They could easily transport goods to the west, therefore expanding the west. the railroads and farmers didn't exactly get along. railroads charged farmers more to transport their goods across the country, therefore farmers were being put more in debt and not earning near enough.
2. Students will understand the impact immigration and urbanization had on the United States.(Ch. 7)
When it comes to the immigrants, born and raised Americans were getting upset. They felt like the immigrants were taking their jobs from them. Immigrants would work for cheap, so therefore companies would hire them more. There were a lot of racial issues during this time period as well.
Two major immigration ports were Ellis Island and Angel island. Mostly Europeans came through Ellis Island which is located on the New York Harbor. Mostly Japanese and Chinese came through Angel Island.
Cities were populating extremely fast. There were, however many different problems in the cities. It wasn't sanitary for one thing. Then, cities got overcrowded. disease spread quickly because of this. horse and animal and even people manure crowded the streets. people rarely bathed so it became problematic.
3. Students will understand the impact of the Progressive Era on the United States.(Ch. 9)
The Progressive Era was a time period in the United States where we progressed a lot. It took place during 1890-1920. It helped the common people and made work better as well. had 4 main goals: 1) protect social welfare 2) promote moral improvement 3) create economic reform 4) fostering efficiency. Prohibition came about this time. it was where mostly women tried banning alcohol. it worked for awhile, except people still illegally brought it into the U.S. Organization groups were created as well. Labor Unions formed and for the most part got what they wanted. The Salvation Army came out during this time as well. This was to help the poor. The YMCA came out to help young men get "fit" and also recieve a better education. The 18th amendment was established. This prohibited the Sell, and manufacture and import and export of alcohol. Muckrakers were a big part of the progressive era. They were journalists who wrote about the bad things companys did. Umptan Uclair: The Jungle- wrote about meat industry and the disgusting things there. Ida Tarbell: talked about how cruel the standard oil company. which because of what she did, the standard oil company broke up into many parts.Child Labor laws were enforced more during this time. and for everyone, the hours worked a day were cut down and pay increased.
4. Students will understand the impact imperialism had on the United States and world. (Ch. 10)
Imperialism is where a stronger country took over a weaker one. The United States got involved in more wars because they were trying to be like most of the strong European powers and colonize. There were a lot of anti-imperialist groups around the country who thought imperialism was wrong and they didn't like the idea, but they weren't really "loud" enough. We went into the Spanish-American war because of imperialism. We, of course, defeated Spain and in return got Cuba (kind of), puerto rico, guam, and the philippines. Cuba later became independent. European nations were constantly at war with each other because of imperialism.
5. Students will understand the causes for US involvement in World War I and the effects it had on the United States.(Ch. 11)
The United States got involved for a few reasons. First off, unrestricted submarine warfare by the germans pushed us. They sank naval boats unexpectedly, but most important, they sank a U.S. boat. Second, Germany wrote a letter to the U.S. president insulting him, and threatening that Mexico was going to attack us. Thirdly, businesses and newspapers pushed for war as well. businesses could make a lot of money by making military supplies and stuff. and lastly, probably not so important as for us to need to join the war, the United States didn't agree or like the German dictatorship going on.
It impacted the U.S in a few ways when we joined. Businesses boomed of course. Women were able to take over jobs for their husbands and sons, etc. that were in the war. of course, there were a few anti-war people, but those didn't impact the entire country this time. The U.S. eventually was the one to make the Treaty of Versailles, although President Wilson, currently president at this time, was hoping for his 14 points.
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