Midterm History Study Guide
Teddy Roosevelt - office from 1901-1909 Took over office after William McKinley was assassinated - became the youngest man to serve as a president Main focus was reform and change - protecting America against more radical challenges Main focus in policy: power from government to investigate the activities of corporations and make results known Railroad industry: Hepburn Railroad Regulation Act - restore regulatory authority to the government by giving ICC power to oversee RR rates Took interest in American conservation movement National Reclamation Act: provided federal funds for the construction of dams, reservoirs, and canals in the West Despite many of his reforms, government still had little control over industrial economy 1907: panic and recession broke out Andrew Carnegie 1873, Opened his own steelworks in Pitt. > dominated industry > (with Henry Clay Frick) bought coal mines and leased part of the Mesabi iron range in Minnesota, operated many ore ships on the Great Lakes, acquired railroads > 1901, created huge US Steel Corporation - enterprise that controlled 2/3 of the nations steel production Social Darwanism Industries that had prospered were ones who worked for it, others were just simply lazy misapplication to human society of Charles Darwins laws of evolution and natural selection among species those who survived in the process of evolution survived and prospered in the marketplace During capitalism time, rise of millionaires Woodrow Wilson Relating to WWI (not really clear to me - if you want to look it up, its on p.560) Settlement Houses response to crowded immigrant neighborhoods most famous settlement house: Hull House in Chicago opened in 1889 *settlement houses worked help to immigrant families adapt and adjust to language and customs of new country* also provided college-attending women with appropriate role for unmarried women: helped immigrant neighbors become better members of society
Jane Addams (see settlement houses) social worker
helped open Hull House settlement houses attracted those in social work Bimetallism beginning - questioning over the worth of a dollar/silver vs. gold gold and silver - 2 metals recognized that served as the basis for the dollar: bimetallism 1870s - change new ratio: 16 ounces of silver:1 ounce of gold Silver then available for coinage
Philippines annexation of Puerto Rico creates huge debate McKinley didnt think returning Philippines to Spain was a good idea not good to turn them over to another imperialist power granting them independence would be irresponsible - Filipinos were unfit for self government Only option was to educate Filipinos, Christian-ize them The Square Deal (see TRs definition) Roosevelt - claimed he worked in the anthracite coal strike to provide a square deal to everyone after winning election - railroad industry Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 > Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) effort to regulate industry Hepburn Railroad Regulation Act of 1906 regulate authority of government ICC power to oversee railroad rates Pure Food and Drug Act restricted sale of dangerous or ineffective medicines 1907: more reforms 8 hour work days for workers inheritance and income taxes regulation of stock market New Freedom Woodrow Wilsons progressive program during 1912 election accepting economic concentration and using government to regulate and control it bigness was unjust and inefficient destroy monopoly