American Imperialism

Wikipedia states: "While the Monroe Doctrine had warned European powers to keep their hands off countries in the Americas, President Roosevelt was now saying that "since the United States would not permit the [European] powers to lay their hands on, he had an obligation to do so himself. In short, he would intervene to keep them from intervening."

Was Roosevelt acting from a REALISTIC OR IDEALISTIC perspective? 

The 'Gilded Age'

How did Progressives of the early 20th century bring attention to the problems created by urbanization? 

Innovator or Thief?

Robber Barons, a term used in the late 1800s and early 1900s to describe a businessman who made an enormous amount of money, today we would call them billionaires. It was not really the fact they made an extreme amount of wealth, it was more the way they made it. In all the cases the acquiring of wealth was done in what was considered a ruthless manor and unscrupulous ways. A robber baron was more interested in acquiring wealth than the safety of his employees, the amount of work hours performed in a week, or the amount of wage being paid for a days work.

For example Andrew Carnegie(the robber baron of the steel industry), he was instrumental in starting the 72 hour work week, paying out less than fair wages and having dangerous working conditions.

The robber barons were known for their business tactics that would enable them to amass a wealth by monopolies. They would corner the market on a product or service and make it almost impossible to get, accept through them. To what extent was it justified to characterize the industrial leaders of the late 19th century as either "robber barons" or "captains of industry?"

The Ku Klux Klan

The first branch of the Ku Klux Klan was established in Pulaski, Tennessee, in May, 1866. A year later a general organization of local Klans was established in Nashville in April, 1867. Most of the leaders were former members of the Confederate Army and the first Grand Wizard was Nathan Forrest, an outstanding general during the American Civil War. During the next two years Klansmen wearing masks, white cardboard hats and draped in white sheets, tortured and killed black Americans and sympathetic whites. Immigrants, who they blamed for the election of Radical Republicans, were also targets of their hatred. Between 1868 and 1870 the Ku Klux Klan played an important role in restoring white rule in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.What effect did Reconstruction have on blacks? Were they better off after Reconstruction than they were before the Civil War?

Jim Crow laws were enacted after Reconstruction.Are you shocked by these accounts of public torture and lynching?

• If not, why not?
• If so, what do you find most shocking? (the methods? the audience? the atmosphere? the quasi-official character of the proceedings?)

Manifest Destiny

Give your opinion on expansionism in the early 1800's.

rubric

"And to the Republic for which it stands..."

Welcome to our class blog for U.S. History. As we've studied the years 1492-1776, we've come across stories of turbulance and triumph. The fight for independence against The British provides us with insight of what the colonist dreamed for in regards to this "Free Nation". Which of the Founding Ideas, would you say has been challenged the most in the last 100 years? 

1920's

Research, Identify, and Describe one 1920's fad. You cannot repeat one that has been posted.

World War I

Consider the role of diplomacy in World War I. How was it a positive influence? How was it a negative one?

Imperialism

Which President was the most beneficial in expanding American influence during the early 1900's?

extra credit 10 points!

You can blog once a week to earn extra credit. Please comment on how great your break was!