Thursday, November 8, 2007

Progressivism

What social, political, and economic trends in American life do you think caused
the reform impulse during the Progressive Era?

During the Progressive Era many trends occured that caused the reform impulse in America. One being populism which meant that the "little" people could have a say in the government. Groups such as the YMCA helped the poor in welfare. Muckrakers were leaking out secrets about corrupt businesses. Also workers in factories and other businesses wanted better respect and called for labor unions. Women were getting more desk jobs and continuing on pursuing women;s suffrage to end. And the government started to take over on businesses, such with the meat industry and child labor. And some politicians such as Wilson who became president made new laws that gave labor unions the rights that they deserved.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Foreign Influence in China

China was seen as a perfect market for trade by U.S. imperialists. It was seen as a doorway for economical and military oppurtunities. In 1899 the U.S. Secretary of State, John Hay, issued the Open Door Notes which opened trade in China with other countries, But the Chinese grew to hate these foreigners and missionaries in their country controlling them and soon began to rebel. Many of these protesters were called the Boxers, who killed many missionaries. These forces came to be known as the Boxer Rebellion. And then after the U.S. tried to take control again with the Open Door Policy. This opened more influence in China. And so the U.S. was able to grab its hold on China, but of China's people were still against having foreigners in their country.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Spanish- American War

1. What were the consequences of the war for Spain and the United States?

In the consequences of the war, the Americans triumphed over the Spanish. After Spain and the U.S. signed an agreement called the Treaty of Paris. In this Spain freed Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico. And they sold the Philippines for 20 million.



2. Why did the Treaty of Paris cause such debate among Americans?

There was such a great debate because there was an argument whether or not the United States had the right to annex the Philippines, whereas imperialism was a big problem. Some Americans thought that the treaty violated the Declaration of Independence by denying slef- government to the islands. And others were concerned with the race issues in the States. And the laborers feared that the Filipino immigrants would take their jobs.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Jane Addams biography

1. What kind of programs do you think helped immigrants the most?

I think the kindergarten for many immigrants' children helped the msot because these people would have to work all day and their children would have nowhere to go and wouldn't be well taken care of. There a kindgarten could give them their needs.

2. On what basis do you think Addams qualified for the Nobel Peace Prize?

First of all Addams was one of two leaders of social reform, speaking against racism, helping immigrants in special houses. She was also a leader of women's rights and overall peace justly giving her a reason to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

"Trade Unions"

pg 455

5. If the government had supported unions instead of management in the late 19th century, how might the lives of workers have been different?
If the government had supported the unions instead of the management the workers would have the conditions that they needed and wouldn't even have to be in a union. They could probably get better pay and shorter work days and life would be easier.


pg 456

7. Why did workers form unions in the late 19th century?
Workers formed unions for many reasons. For one they were treated horribly with no respect from the management. They had to work very long days under dangerous circumstances and received low wages. Also many workers received injuries on the job and usually weren't helped by their employers.


8. What factors limited the success of unions?
During the workers' strikes the strikes sometimes became violent and the strikers would be jailed or fired nd could never get that job again. The more powerful the unions became the angrier their employers got. The government wasn't on the workers' side.Many legal limitations made it more and more difficult for the unions to get together.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

14-3 questions

1. What is the difference between vertical integration and horizontal integration?
Vertical integration means buying out suppliers in order to control the raw materials and transportation systems. Horizontal integration means that companies producing similar products merge.

2. What does the theory of Social Darwinism advocate?
The theory of Social Darwinism advocates the evolution of human society, supporting the notion of individual responsibility and blame, that only the best should survive.

3. What conditions did many factory workers face in the late 19th century?
In the late 19th century many factory workers faced ahrd conditions. These included no vacation, no sick leave, unemployment compensation, or reimbursement for injuries on the job and long hours. Also the workers faced very low wages.

4. What did labor unions advocate?
Labor unions advocated shorter work days, higher wages and better conditions.

14-2 questions, make-up

1. If the last 30 years of the nineteenth century is considered the Age of the Railroads, what name might you give the present age?
I would give this age the Age of Technology because we're all focused on cars, computers, cellphones, all these gagdets play big roles in our lives.


2. Read Another Perspective on page 444 and then write a paragraph objecting to a modern development common in your lifetime.
A modern development now which I don't like are video games. They're all about violence which little children really shouldn't be learning about. They give children nightmare and the wrong impression about how to treat people. They also easily manipulate little children and older people to think that guns and other weapons are ok to use.

3. What current technology exerts the most influence on all aspects of American life?
I think that television exerts the most influence on all aspects of American life. Everyone watches it for some reason, the news, or just a soap opera.

14-1 questions, make-up

1. List three factors that enabled the United States to rapidly industralize?
Three factors that enabled the United States to rapidly industralize was a wealth of natural resources, government support for business and a growing urban population which provided cheap labor and markets for new products.

2. What invention provided architects the ability to build skyscrapers?
The steel frame was invented by William Le Baron Jenney to build skyscrapers.


3. What hampered a building's height previously?
Previously the weight of large buildings was supported entirely by their walls or iron frames.


4. How did the harnessing of electricity transform American business?
Electricity enabled industry to grow as it had never have, it gave people an efficient, cheaper source of energy and allowed manufacturers to locate their plants near rivers.

5. How were women affected by the inventions of the typewriter and telephone?
The inventions of the typewriter and the telephone opened doors for women to work such as office work. And with inustrialization women were needed as garment makers.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Native American DBQ

Marissa Barmash
9/9/07
Period D


The Native Americans never asked for much of what was done to them in the late 19th century. The government and the military believed they were "helping" the Natives. However instead of helping they were doing a lot of damage to the Natives Americans. As seen by Document A, the Reconstruction of the Five Civilized Nations in Indian Territory was supposed to help Indians by securing the Indian concentration. But instead it benefited the government where the Federal government could release territory for white settlers as well as Indian Territory.
The government has made many treaties, bargains, and promises to do with the Natives. And the government has backed out on all of them. This is seen by a Native American man in Document B, " Too many misinterpretations have beem made; too many misinterpretations have come up by the white men and the Indians." This man has grown weary of all the negotiations that the white men have given his people and haven't given their end of the bargain. He's seen that their words really mean nothing. And he just wishes for peace and for himself to just to be able to be a free man.
Others than the government found it adequate to civilize and "take care of" the Indians. These people didn't believe that the government was doing the right thing in killing off their people. They should just just try to civilize the Indians by making them good Christians and by making them like everyone else. As seen in Document I, "...In order that certain picturesque aspects of savagery and barbarism may continue..." These people thought that the Natives were brutal savages, but by educating them and making them law-abiding citizens. This is a great example of how many people thought they were in the Natives best interests, but really they were ruining their culture, their families, their traditions and overall their lives.
Only a few sources give us information of how the Native Americans lives were ruined while the white men sought to civilize and kill them. In Document C it's described how the Government always broke its promises. There was a long history of brutal killings of the Natives by the white men as well as robbery, and truly savage work done by white men. Also in Document J, we hear the words of another Native American man who felt that before the white men took over the land the Indians were a good people. After he received a property which was worthless."Congress recognizes the fact forcibly, by implication, that these allotments are not sufficient." Meaning that Congress knew that they were doing wrong, they just didn't want to do anything about it. And so seen by these sources we see that the people and organizations who thought they had the Native American's best interests at heart were hurting them in the process.