US History: Urbanization, Reform, and Global Conflict

Growth of Cities

Immigrants took factory jobs, mostly in cities, gathering in ethnic communities under poor conditions (e.g., Chinatown).

Nativism and Conflict

• Nativism: "Native" Americans disliked immigrants, claiming they took jobs and did not speak the language.
• Red Scare: During the Cold War, anti-communist raids led the Attorney General to deport suspected communists back to their home countries.
• Race Riots: In northern cities, competition between immigrants and Black Americans over jobs often ended in bloodshed.

Progressive Era Reforms

Women’s Suffrage

The movement aimed to secure voting rights for women. (Reference: The movie Iron Jawed Angels depicts this struggle.)

• State-by-State Approach: Early efforts focused on getting individual states to grant suffrage rights (associated with conservative figures like Susan B. Anthony).
• Constitutional Amendment: Extremists, like Alice Paul, pushed for a sweeping change via a Constitutional Amendment, using any means necessary, including protests.
• Susan B. Anthony: Advocated for peaceful, non-violent methods, seeking Congressional passage of a law.

Labor Laws

Reforms targeted conditions for children and women:

• Child labor laws limiting working hours.
• Fire escape laws, prompted by events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.
• Limitations on women's working hours.
• Establishment of minimum wage laws.
• Regulations ensuring safety in the work environment.
• Maximum work hour limits.

Foreign Policy Shifts

Isolationism

Before the Spanish-American War, the U.S. generally stayed out of foreign affairs, adhering primarily to the Monroe Doctrine, which aimed to ensure consistency in the Americas regarding U.S. interests.

Spanish-American War (Yellow Journalism)

• The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor was used by the U.S. as justification to declare war on Spain.
• Yellow Journalism: Exaggerating facts to boost newspaper sales fueled public support.
• The U.S. emerged as an imperialist and expansionist power, gaining control over the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Interventionism

Following this period, the U.S. became actively involved in numerous foreign conflicts.

World War I

The Spark

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

This event, known as the "shot heard around the world," pressured Germany to support Austria's declaration of war on Serbia.

Military Strategies and Alliances

• Schlieffen Plan: Germany planned to swiftly defeat France before turning to fight Russia, knowing it could not effectively fight both simultaneously. To speed up the advance, German troops moved through neutral Belgium, angering the future Triple Entente nations, who then declared war on Germany.
• Starting Entente Powers: Great Britain, France, Russia.
• Ending Entente Powers: France, Great Britain, U.S., Italy.
• Starting and Ending Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire.