Unit 6... The Emergence of Modern America
History by Dave Moskowitz
The early twentieth century heralded a wide variety of changes in American policies, both foreign and domestic. In foreign policy, trends of imperialism and the outbreak of the Great War characterized America's policy towards the rest of the world. Domestically, Progressivism and rights for laborers and women were at the forefront of the minds of the American people.
With imperialism spreading rampantly throughout Europe, Americans, particularly those in places of wealth and power, concluded that the only method by which the United States could hope to contend was to become a world power. In 1898 America operated under this idea and engaged in the Spanish-American War. Instigated by the questionable and inconclusive evidence linking Spain to the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine, America quickly found a pretext to seize the colonies of the continually weakening Spanish Empire. The U.S. quickly found itself in possession of multiple territories in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
When World War I initially broke out in Europe, America was reluctant to become entangled in foreign alliances. However, Great Britain intercepted and decoded the Zimmerman Telegram. Germany offered aid to Mexico in re-annexing the territories seized by America in the Mexican-American War if Mexico agreed to attack America and distract the U.S. from the fighting in Europe. American public opinion swayed from Germany. The final straw came when a German U-boat, operating under a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, sank the Lusitania killing multiple American civilians. The attack prompted America to enter the war, fighting alongside Great Britain and France.
On the home front, women and laborers were fighting for equal rights. Women, who had never been given the right to vote, found themselves filling the jobs formerly occupied by the men who had been sent off to fight. Having a new position of economic power, women sought equal political power and in 1920, gained their constitutionally protected right to vote. Laborers, who were frequently victimized by the greedy robber barons for whom they worked, were organizing themselves in labor unions and protesting their inhumane treatment. With the election of Teddy Roosevelt, who openly supported the Progressive movement, came the "Square Deal". The program called for the implementation of new government departments and laws on labor including the regulatory Clayton Anti-Trust Act.
In the early twentieth century America experienced massive reforms in both foreign and domestic policies. With imperialism, World War I, women's rights, and Progressivism all at the forefront of American life, the nation experienced its most turbulent times since the Civil War.
All songs and essays are the intellectual property of their respective authors and are protected under United States copyright laws. The image on the inside label is credited to Mark Hess. The CD design is the Original Design of the Great Seal of the United States as reproduced from Our Documents, 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives. History Raps & History Rocks is ™ Peter Mastrota 2001. A Music History of the American People is Copyright © South Studio Productions 2004. Site design is Copyright NuTech Web & Services © 2005. All Rights Reserved.
