US History Semester Review

Fugitive Slave Act – Laws requiring the return of runaway slaves and punishment for anyone who helped them Slavery and Western Expansion −The law actually hurt the Southern cause by creating active hostility toward slavery among many Northerners. popular sovereignty - government subject to the will of the people; before the Civil War, the idea that people living in a territory had the right to decide by voting whether slavery would be allowed there Jim Crow laws statutes or laws created to enforce segregation

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Settling the West assimilate to absorb a group into the culture of a larger population homestead act method of acquiring a piece of U.S. public land by living on and cultivating it

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Causes of Industrialization Abundant natural resources Cheap immigrant labor force High tariffs reduce the import of foreign goods National transportation and communication networks

Causes of the Growth of Big Business Little or no government intervention (see below) Development of pools, trusts, holding companies, and monopolies Small businesses could not compete with economies of scale of larger businesses Practices of some big businesses sometimes limited competition laissez-faire policy that government should interfere as little as possible in the nation’s economy

Effects on the Workplace Rural migration and immigration created large, concentrated workforce Low wages, long hours, and dangerous working conditions were common in large-scale industries First large unions formed but had little bargaining power against larger companies

Europeans immigrants came to the United States for many reasons: −plenty of available jobs −escape from poverty and the restrictions of social class in Europe Europeans Flood Into America −religious persecution Social Darwinism - states that humans have developed through competition and natural selection with only the strongest surviving

Causes of the Progressive Movement People thought progress in science and knowledge could improve society. People thought immigration, urbanization, and industrialization had created social problems. People thought laissez-faire economics and an unregulated market led to social problems and that government could fix them. Political corruption prevented the government from helping its citizens. muckraker a journalist who uncovers abuses and corruption in a society

Effects on Business and Society Consumer protection laws are passed. Federal Reserve System is created to regulate the money supply. Zoning laws and building codes improve urban housing. Child labor laws are passed, regulating time and conditions for minors to work.

Effects on Politics Seventeenth Amendment is ratified, requiring direct election of senators. Nineteenth Amendment is ratified, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

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imperialism the actions used by one nation to exercise political or economic control over a smaller or weaker nation Open Door policy a policy that allowed each foreign nation in China to trade freely in the other nations’ spheres of influence sphere of influence section of a country where one foreign nation enjoys special rights and powers

Causes of World War I NATIONALISM IMPERIALISM MILITARISM ALLIANCE SYSTEM WORLD WAR I Isolationism – policy of opposition to political or economic ties with other nations

U.S. Reasons for Involvement in WWI 1.Allied repayment of debt 2.German U-Boats 3.Zimmerman note – Germany promises support for Mexico to recover lost territories if U.S. enters War 4.President Wilson – unable to broker a “peace among equals”

Opportunities for African-Americans and Women in WW1 “Great Migration.” A-A move North for war work – 1919 Women involved in war industries work.

Treaty of Versailles Britain and France wanted harsh conditions to insure Germany would not be a threat again Conditions: –Germany accepts blame for the War –Germany has to pay reparations (cost of war) –Nine new nations created

Weaknesses of the Treaty 1.Humiliates Germany 2.Ignores Russia 3.Reassigns colonies – not self- determination or freedom U.S. Senate rejects Treaty and League of Nations

A Changing Society Cultural Changes Young people and women gain more independence. The working class enjoys more leisure time. New mass media in radio, movies, and sports develops. 1920’s

A Changing Society Changes for African Americans Harlem Renaissance begins. Great Migration during the war. NAACP battles segregation and discrimination.

A Changing Society Opposition to Change Nativists and a new Ku Klux Klan target immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and African Americans. Government imposes new quotas on immigration. Fundamentalists push for traditional values. Prohibition is implemented.

The Prohibition Experiment Causes –Various religious groups thought alcohol was sinful –Need to protect the public’s health –Alcohol leads to crime, domestic abuse, and job issues –Nativism – against foreign born brewers and immigrants that used alcohol Effects –Widespread disregard for the law –Increased smuggling and bootlegging –Birth of organized crime

Impacts of the New Deal 1.Deficit spending – spending more money on programs than the government receives in revenue 2.Expanding government’s role in the economy 3.Protection of workers’ rights 4.Banking and Finance Reform 5.Social Security 6.Environmental protection