The Era of Progressive Reform (Chapter 10) Reflection

It has been proven time and time again that it is the spirit of the people that can move a nation. A government is nothing without its citizens, a leader nothing with its followers. The United States was going through issues concerning their urbanization and industrialization – problems that not even the government knew how to fix correctly. Soon, however, there was a change in mentality, the progressive reform had arrived. Being an informal and unlikely conglomeration of alliances, progressivism reformed more than the government had in the last few years. Their actions being responsible for results such as the women’s right to vote.

            Progressives recognized that the nation’s free enterprise system often was unfair, but they didn’t want to lose the high standard of living and liberty it had given them. They had to reform the bad without changing the good. What was interesting about progressivism was that its members didn’t always share the exact same set of ideas or mentalities, but they were prone to using the same methods to fulfill them; methods such as mass-circulation publication and journalists – gaining grass support, pressuring officials.

            The progressive reforms took place at urban, state, and federal levels. This movement had spread to the point in which they found allies in unlikely political machines. They reformed the workplace, environment, and prohibition. Progressivism is closely linked to the ideologies of the democratic power, something President William Taft was very much in favor of, until the Republicans convinced him otherwise. Roosevelt soon abandoned him for this and created the Progressive party: the Bull Moose Party. The next president Wilson carried on this mentality, until World War 1 took place.

            One of progressivism’s greatest victories was women’s suffrage. This had been a quest taken place for over seventy years. Even though it took great effort, inner campaign conflicts for strategies, and definite resistance, in 1920 they were given the right to vote. Women were finally begun to be seen as higher than just second class citizens.

            Progressivism commenced as a mentality, a set of ideals with hopes of perhaps someday creating something. This democratic mentality spread like wild fire, initiating movement throughout the entire US territory and not failing to bring change. Politically, economically but, most importantly and as evidenced with their gaining of women’s suffrage, socially.

Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party also known as the Progressive Party. 

Becoming A World Power (Chapter 9)

Seems like the United States’ presence is found everywhere. Its status as a world power is certainly not something overstated. Their politics, economy, and social welfare are a concern for nearly every nation for, in one way or another, they are dependent on them. This all began in the 1890’s, with the mere reason of a nation producing more than they needed and soon broadening their chances. They began to pursue new international markets; through this the United States consolidated its place and power in the systematic functioning of the world. However, the behavior that the United States was presenting seemed all too familiar to some of its citizens. They were apprehensive, for the desire to become involved and supervising of other countries was an approach that they had to endure whilst being a colony. The danger of the US becoming or attempting to become a colonial power was something they couldn’t condone.

            The overproduction of agricultural as well as industrial goods in the United States placed a very large stress in its economy and motivated the creation of a foreign market. Coincidentally, this need to expand economically occurred at a time in which the major European powers were, as well, attempting to seize new territories around the globe. They were eager to join this chain of events. Citizens in favor of the expansion argued with Darwinist’s perspectives – claiming to be the most-favored nation, and the excuse of the survival of the fittest. Those against had a simple rebuttal: the fact that the economic expansion could bring about the risk of foreign entanglements.

            To give themselves advantage in Latin American lands, the United States created the Monroe Doctrine – which stated the their country was to be involved in whatever matters or issues may arise. This took the European chances within that territory and meshed them in the ground. The US took advantage of various incidents in Latin America to reaffirm the validity of the Monroe Doctrine, the Cuban Rebellion being an example. In fact, this particular rebellion in conjunction with the pressure to expand led to the Spanish-American War. As this war occurred, they were intervening in other parts of the Pacific; changing relationships with Hawaii, Somoa, and China – bringing upon territory and influence in their favor.

            Theodore Roosevelt is one of the main minds behind the US’ foreign policies. His involvement in these matters increased the power in his presidency. Under his command, he secured a strip of land in Panama on which he built the canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He also asserted the right of the US to use military forces to preserve peace in any neighboring nations. Roosevelt was forceful and nearly right handed when it came to this area of interest, where as his successor President Howard Taft preferred economic pressure than anything such as military forces which was Roosevelt preferred.

            The United States’ expansion was controversial. A large majority encouraged Roosevelt’s decisions, any movement that involved the mentality actions like the Monroe Doctrine were based on. Certainly, these moves were effective. In a short period of time the United States had a say in the behavior and peace-keeping of Latin America and had treaties with Hawaii, China, and the Phillipines. The negative opinions were present as well. The imperialist behavior displayed was something, they said, that went completely against the values upon which the US had been founded. Soon enough, though, the economic benefits, pride in growing power and the search for a new frontier through an economic expansion were far too appealing to the citizens.

Theodore Roosevelt. The main designer of the United States' foreign policy. 

 

Changing Frontiers (Chapter 7)

The expansion within the United States towards the West was not the only growth the nation experienced after the Civil War. An explosion of new ideas led to revolutionary technologies and new standards of living – wealth and urbanization made their way into the United States’ normalcy. However, its repercussions were not only confined in the good and prosperous. Harsh conditions for workers, the gap between the rich and the poor widened tremendously, violent strikes in favor of the workers, the near destruction of Native American tribes for territory, and political corruption accompanied the country in their new, burgeoning years. Progress and movement and all its rewards would come at a price.

                Before the Civil War the ideas of indoor electric lighting, refrigeration, and efficient communications were not something citizens could get themselves to even imagine – a matter soon to be changed after the 1790-1860 flood of ideas and inventions. Investors and business leaders placed their hopes and trust in these, bettering the living standards in the US. As new fuels, transportation methods, railroad systems, and architectural monuments were accomplished, the business industry did too; concepts such as monopolies, cartels, trust, horizontal consolidation, and vertical consolidation incremented the competitive nature as well as business creation. All which lead to the importance of workers.

                Workers suffered tremendously during this time period. Hardships not only affected their physical health, but also their emotional and social wellbeing. Wages were low, treatment was merciless, even children were forced to play a part. This unfair environment lead to the creation of unions – groups made of employees to ensure rightful treatment. Clearly, employers were not in favor if said groups – taking measures such as firing members or contract signing in path of never being involved in such activities. This solved nothing. In 1877 the Railroad Strike triggered multiple uprising throughout the nation. Including the major role of political radicals called anarchists to continue the labor unrest as far as 1892.

                Livelihood in the west wasn’t exactly ideal either. As settlers began to move towards the unconquered lands of the United States greatly thanks to the Morrill Land-Grand and Homestead Act that offered large amounts of lands, they encountered a life they hadn’t faced for decades. It was one filled with difficult work and cooperation; they were building upwards from nothing. Difficulty also lay in the amounts of Native American presence in those lands. The United States settlers were unforgiving with the natives; they brutally removed nearly all their numbers, and commenced a battle between the two races. Even though an agreement was reached, the settlers still had the upper hand, and the Natives had to move on with small areas of land. Farmers took technology with them, technology that would soon lead to reformation of ranching and mining industries. Things declined when tariffs and deflation came into the picture. Farmers had to take measures – populists, those who actively supported the circulation of money, launched new reforms that shifted the course of US history.

                This economic hardship expanded and affected politics, immigration, and urban life. The unfair business practices, the division between democrats and republicans on issues, and ineffective institution of reforms to end corruption were present in politics. While, as immigrants began to become more and more allured to the country, cities expanded. However, this expansion was overpopulated, lacking control and, thus, corrupt. Reforms were made to try to balk illegal immigration and helping the needy through charities.

                Growth in a country is not something that can be utterly controlled and predicted. As much as the results can favor and progress, so can they hurt and digress. The technologies that flourished after the Civil War were extraordinary to say the least – such a development of ideas and creativity had not been witnessed before. However, when it came to business, politics, economy, and worker welfare – well, that had another light. The government tried its best to better situations, and then there were civilians who took matters in their hands and decided to become their own helping hand. Revolts, reforms, poverty, striving; all at once in a nation searching to grow. 

Chinese immigrants arriving to the United States. 

The Civil War (Chapter 6)

The Civil War was nothing short of complex and eventful. It was both sides pressing strategically, legislatively, and geographically. Historic staples such as the War of Waterways, Johnson’s election, Vicksburg, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Appottamox Courthouse worked hand in hand to give an end to the dispute. But proved to be the antithesis of such – slowly building up the conflict, and furthering its impact. The reconstruction was then another obstacle that the nation had to go through. Both economically and socially, the country was broken – the reformations had to be thought through, for it was a matter of considering the circumstances for race, agriculture, economy, and territory.

            The War of Waterways occurred during the first two years of the Civil War. Here, dispute for the usage of the Mississippi River took place – this landmark would offer travel, artillery sending and a variety of benefits for whoever gained control of it. War officials from the South devised cunning strategies such as the Anaconda Plan and they gained advantages in the War of Attrition by an attack-retreat system. Socially, the Civil War was a theme of amusement, watchers often having picnics as they witnessed live warfare.

            The conflict wasn’t influenced by the people only, the government tried to have its say as well. The Emancipation Proclamation was one of Lincoln’s moves. One in which he promised freedom to any slave who contributed with the fight for freedom. This law took place during and after the war. Government officials of the North all raved about the African American’s soldiering skills – naming them better in any area than any white soldier they could have possible recruited.

            Vicksburg was a crucial point in the war for it gave it the status of “total war,” which meant that the conflict was now something that threatened both sides’ economies and societies. The town of Vicksburg, Mississippi had been an area General Grant from the North had wanted to take over – when he did and chased the Confederates out, the Confederation took it personally.

            The Battle of Gettysburg and the Appottamox Courthouse events both culminated and finalized the war. The battle was won by the North, after General Lee of the South made the irrevocable mistake of placing nearly all his troops forward and placing confidence in the enemy’s lack of artillery. Finding himself defeated, General Lee and General Grant met at Appottamox Courthouse; Lee, representing the Confederation, surrendered to the North.

            The Reconstruction after the war was something difficult for Congress – they had to redefine through acts and amendments what citizenship meant for the United States. To formerly enslaved African Americans, freedom meant the ability to move, organize, educate themselves, own land, and participate in politics. It was a world of opportunities for them, they had been confined by white man’s rule for so long – the doors were finally opening. For the South’s relief, a combination of different groups including Northerners and African Americans provided support for them – proving that the country still stood as a whole. The South’s economy was not lost completely when slavery was made illegal, they were still able to replace it through new forms of enforced labor.

            The bloodshed in the four years of the Civil War was immense, the conflict manifesting in multiple encounters that turned the tables in favor of both sides. The Gettysburg Address, however, marks a victor = the North. What took for this to occur is unmeasurable. The costs, the broken families, military strategies, territorial invasion. But, as well, what good it brought is not easily put into words. Equality burgeoned, the Union was back, and their society was evolving. Proving that, as Lincoln stated during the Gettysburg Address for the fallen soldiers, “the Civil War was a test of whether any nation dedicated to freedom and equality could succeed.” 

General Lee from the South was one of the greatest military minds the world has known. One mistake, though, is what cost him the war.