Chapter 8: Cultural and Social Transformations, 1870-1915

Cultural and Social Transformations, 1870-1915

            Along with the growth of industry and urban areas in the late 1800’s came a host of other changes. More children began attending schools, and college later, which became an attainable goal for a growing number of students. A recreation industry, which borrowed heavily from African American culture, emerged to meet the needs of the new urban workers. Yet some segments of society remained mired in the mud of old discriminatory attitudes, refusing to grant suck group as women and African American an equal chance at success. Education was a lofty goal that was out of reach for most nineteenth century Americans. As the century came to a close, more and more Americans, including women and minorities, gained the opportunity to learn and grow academically. The growing urban working class took its recreation seriously in the late 1800’s. Entertainment and sports became new industries that careened onto the American scene and collided with more restrained values. White society proved a quiet resourceful at finding ways to repress African Americans in the years after Reconstruction. Although many African Americans demonstrated an even great will to rise above the discrimination and hate. Although there were great advances and developments in society, women for example did not have a change on economic and political inequalities they face. This contradiction fueled great debate at the turn of the century.

            Americans adopted democracy as their new way of government. However, without having all of their citizens educated, the idea of democracy was not that effective. In order to have a more democratic state, the American society started supporting education by the late 1800s. Education offered job opportunities, economic and social success which favored not only the individual but the nation as well. Besides an educated society, other aspects of society highlighted in the 1800, entertainment and sports became popular forms of recreation. Among the ramifications of entertainment the saloons, trolley parks, dance halls and cabarets were the ones enjoyed the most by the people.

            African Americans had a rough time fitting into society since there have always been suppressing them into such institution. However, they have been able to stand up and rise throughout history proving they are equal or even better than many. The Ku-Klux-Klan began terrorizing the African American community in the late 1800's. It is an organization that still exists in the modern day and an example of groups of people rejecting the African Americans.

            In the 1800's, there was said to be “equality” for women. However, this was a faux statement since it was not happening in its totality. Economic and political inequalities were influential factors for the mistreating of women. The female gender has had a bumpy road throughout history as well as the African Americans in order to reach their rights.

Booker T. Washington 

            At the turn of the century, a balance emerged between the desires of the masses to amuse themselves and more elite groups to preserve old codes of behavior. Public amusements, however, would remain a prime area of contention between diverse ethnic, racial, class and generational groups in the decades ahead. Also the African American community started to raise and become a voice in society, not waiting for things to happen, but now making things happen instead. Another aspect which made the United States become a country that would distinguish from the rest would be the expansion of opportunities; this made the difference in the United States compared to other countries which were also developed. Once again we see how the US starts to become a true world leader and power due to the opportunities and advances in technology and society.

Chapter 10: The Era of Progressive Reform, 1890-1920

The Era of Progressive Reform

            The era of progressive reforms was characterized by the new reforms made towards the help and support for employees and their rights. Progressivism targets the massive problems of an urban, industrialized nation. In spite of opposition, progressives were able to redefine government roles in American life, make and have serious campaigns for the presidency. Another important event during this time period was the right for woman’s suffrage. During the late 1800’s there was a mistreatment from industry against their employees. Much of the progressive’s reforms began in the cities as opposed to the state or federal levels. The progressive movement had always been little more than a series of informal alliances, nevertheless in 1912 a number of interests and groups associated with this movement came together into a formal political party.

            In the twilight of the 1800’s, many citizens could see that existing efforts to solve the massive problems of industrialization were failing. Citizens could see that there were problems with unemployment, and a corrupt system, privet efforts to address these issues, such as charity or settlement-house work, were inadequate. During the 1880-1890 were filled with lively debates about how to reform society. The idea of journalist Henry George and Edward Bellamy were among the most popular. Socialists, unionists and city government reformed also had many followers. In 1879 Henry George wrote a book to explain why an advanced civilization seemed to increase rather than eliminate poverty. Several writers during this time period wrote how the future would be for America with the harsh working conditions. Progressive worked for reforms I a systematic manner, relying heavily on scientific data and expert testimony, they investigated issues of concern, such as slum or sweatshop conditions, also making public their reports and investigations. During this time period there were also social welfare programs, which would help ensure a basic standard of living for all Americans. Also within the social reforms there was the home rule, under which cities exercise a limited degree of self-rule.

            The unleashing of the progressive impulse led to a tremendous amount of legislation in the early 1900’s. Reform took place at all levels of government, city, state, and federals. Part of the opposition that began because the less extensive the government, the easier it is to change that government. During this time period people took lots of sides, so TR said that sides of reformers should have arbitration, a process in which an impartial third part decides on a legally blind solution. During this time period also, the direct primary was develop, in which voters cast ballots to select nominees for upcoming elections. Another problem that government faced were the holding companies, which were companies that hold the stocks and bonds of other companies, becomes a monopoly.

            In 1912 several of the loosely allied interests that made up progressivism joined forces in new political parties. Hitching their campaign wagon to a bull moose named TR; they set a course for the White House. After the elections of 1904 TR announced he would not seek another presidential term. During a trip to Africa when TR came back and found the country upside down by Taft, TR came up with the New Nationalism, in which stronger workplace protections for women and children, income and inheritance taxes, direct primaries, and the initiative, referendum, and recall. The progressive party became known as the Bull Moose Party. Roosevelt also trounced Taft by using the New Freedom, he promised to enforce antitrust laws without threatening free economic competition.

            With a long, bitter campaign, women finally won the right to biter and at the same time they demonstrated their skills as organizers and activities. By the time of NAWSA’s founding, women had won many rights. Suffragist followed two paths towards their goals. One path was to press for constitutional amendment. The other path pursued by suffragists was to get individual states to permit women to vote. During the 1910’s Carrie Chapman Catt, a former high school principal, systematized NAWSA techniques, insisting on close, precinct-by-precinct political work. Another woman who impacted the NAWSA and made an organized pared of over 5000 women in Washington D.C, one day before Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration, this courageous woman was Alice Paul. With suffrage finally won, women activist looked forward to a host of new battles in the long and difficult struggle to achieve true equality for women.

Women on strike for the right to vote

       

              The era of progressivism was a time when America became more democratic. The time when new leaders arose from the communities of the oppressed, like the great women leaders, that helped give equality not only to women, but made a better society in America. Teddy Roosevelt also was a man who believed in progress for his country, and did everything he could do to help his country. Then the suffragist movements caused by women which shaped society to become more democratized. Furthermore help African Americans have the right to vote. Another positivist aspects of progressivism was the rights fought for the employees under harsh working conditions in which it help gain rights that would develop the middle class, making America into an economic world power.

Chapter 9: Becoming a World Power, 1890-1913

Reflection

Becoming a World Power 1890-1913

            During the 1890’s the United States began to produce more products and goods than what they could consume. Sooner or later, many business and political leaders began to pursue new markets outside the United States. Inspired by grand dreams of empire, some Americans pushed for new territory as well. As the nation grew into a world power, however, a troubling question arose in some citizen’s mind. The Unites States had in mind the following: a country born in a war for independence from colonial rule become a colonial power itself-without betraying the principles of liberty and equality on which it was founded by the father of independence? The United States became also the police man of Latin America trying to spread democracy with somewhat level of Protestantism.

            In the late 1800’s, the United States began bursting at the seams with more goods than the nation could consume. If there was not consumption of the products being made the United States would have entered on a depression.  Soon other governments of the world summoned government and business leaders eager to sell those extra goods. As the US sought to increase its influences abroad, it frequently found itself feuding with other nations. After the Spanish-American War confirmed the nation’s status as a world power, but it made people argue on how to rule over new territories.

            Theodore Roosevelt, some thought he was a hero or a wild man; he conducted vigorous foreign policy that suited the new status of the US as world power. Although President William Howard Taft continued Roosevelt’s policies, he preferred a quieter, more subtle approach to influencing other nations. After the Spanish-American War, the debates and eagerness arose as if it was appropriate for the United States to continue to throw its net around other nations and drag them under American influence and control. Anti-Imperialists used a variety of arguments against the acquisition of territories.

            Although the United States became the world Police, it was not impressive that it would demand serious foreign reforms due to its expansion.  Theodore Roosevelt became a great public and influential figure during the 1890-1908 with all his expansions and acquiring of new territories. The new nation which arose from colonial domination now became in a way a freedom fighter for the European colonies. Spreading democracy and a somewhat level Christianization in Latin America became also their expansion. Without the expansion that occurred, the United States would have gotten stuck in a depression due to its massive production of goods. Furthermore the United States helped democracy expand around the world.