Progressive Reform Clay Wonders
The late 1890s and early 1900s saw a great deal of change in modern society. Arguably some of the biggest changes came to urban and State level reform. American industries attracted millions of immigrant workers but also forced such rapid growth in major cities that basic services were unable to keep pace (Barnes-Bowles 2015).
The influx of different cultures that were brought to the United States raised questions of the morality in major cities, thus the Progressive reform began. Two areas of focus for reformers were alcohol and prostitution.
Many attributed the rise in alcohol consumption in the 1900s to the moral depravity of urban society and cultures that incorporated beer and liquor consumption. (Barnes-Bowles 2015). At first they had little effect, until 1918 when the 18th Amendment band liquor (Barnes-Bowles 2015). Prostitution was another target for progressivism.
Largely seen as one of the oldest known professions, some identified a link between low wages for women workers and prostitution. Young women could not survive on the wages they earned in any industry thus turned to becoming prostitutes. In 1910 the Mann Act made it a federal crime to transport women across state lines for any immoral purpose (Barnes-Bowles 2015).
Through years of social reform, progressives managed to curb some problems facing American society. Although the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol was outlawed it only lasted 13 years until it was repealed by the 21 amendment. Many progressives saw American foreign policy as un American. In 1899 it was decried the forcible subjugation of any nation or people as a violation of American democratic principles (Barnes-Bowles 2015).
One way progressive reform differs from imperialism is the way other culture are seen. A global racism spread thru imperialism. Darker skinned inhabitants were seen as inferior to whites, thus colonization of these peoples was justified as they were until to survive (Barnes-Bowles 2015).The progressive mind set in American thought that thru education they could help improve their society.
As I was reading chapter 5 this week something about seemed so familiar. I continued reading about change and how the progressive movement wanted to make society a better place for everyone. It finally came to me when I read the words social justice.
Although I believe now they are referred to as social justice warriors. Just like 100 years ago people are fighting for fair wages, better treatment of immigrants, and conservation. Even though what people are fighting for, history does seem to repeat itself. And with the advances in social media ideas can be spread globally at a moment's notice.
Discussion 1
The Progressive Movement and the Age of Imperialism
According to Barnes and Bowles (2015) historians associated progressive reforms with industrialization, immigration, and urbanization. Industrialization needed reform because of hazardous and unsafe working conditions. Urbanization and immigration were looked at as needing reform because of living conditions in many city tenements where overcrowding and poor living conditions took place.
The need to reform industrialization took place because of poor working conditions such as those in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where women were forced to work in a locked room for 8 to 12 hours a day with little ventilation (Barnes and Bowles, 2015). Progressives like former factory worker Rose Rosenfeld Freedman voiced their concerns over the safety of workers after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory caught fire and many of the women inside were trapped. After the tragedy, Progressives were successful in getting many states and cities to adopt laws that required strict worker safety protections.
Examine the approaches progressives took regarding American foreign policy, including the policy of Imperialism. Explain these approaches.
The approach that American foreign policy had toward other nations is that other nations were viewed as intellectually inferior and needed guidance because they were thought to be unfit to survive (Barnes and Bowles, 2015).
Americans often tried to force their own practices and beliefs on other cultures because they thought other cultures were wrong in their beliefs. America Capitalists that invested in these countries that the United States annexed wanted those investments protected. If another country was to come in and take over the country, investors could lose their investment and caused them great financial loses when it came to the resources they were collecting being taken away.
The progressive approach at home was inconsistent with the practice of imperialism overseas. Whites argued that it was acceptable to take land and natural resources from people they felt were inferior. Whites also felt it was acceptable to take control of the government of other nations without their prior consent.
This taking control of other nations was seen as a violation of democratic principles that America was based upon and was an argument for the independence of the United States from Great Britain.
Barnes, L. & Bowles, M. (2014).The American story: Perspectives and encounters from 1877. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
New imperialism was the last part of the 19th century, coincided with an era of expansion during which " European nations and Japan extended by restless pursuit of overseas territories." Barnest & Bowles (2014) This was so that the New imperialism could turn toward modernity and industrialists (4.1) In 1890 their was so much poverty it showed terrible bad in the United States and so that's when the Western Frontier was eliminated due to the 1% wealthy and the rest of the nation in depression.
Although the Western Frontier is now gone this upset a lot of the American people who dependent on them when ever they had a problem of a safe place to go. This is hen the start of the Manifest Destiny came about it is a belief that if you want something go out and get it. Its the belief, held chiefly in the middle and latter part of the 19th century, that it was the destiny of the American people to expand it's territory over the Whole of North Americans and to extend and enhance its political, social, and economic influences. With the influence of this new act encouraged the killing of lots of Indians and for the gain of land and anything we could use on it by any means necessary.
Their was a Captain they called "The Butcher" during this time for the way in which he loved to kill. " In war their is only one thing I have to do and that's to kill." Wood, (2010) This man had half a million Cuban's rounded up in to death camps with little to no food and many diseases. Americans used what was going on in Cuba to their benefits making it seem like they where their on an Humanitarian Act to save the Cuban people.
The American believed if they played their cards right that this war could also help them solve their problem with China. Theodore Roosevelt and a few other believed that it was time the United States inserted it's will around the globe. the invasion of Cuba was June 10 Guantanamo Bay which was a very easy task for us because we had Cuban missionaries on the ground helping the Americans to take over then they take and torture and kill Cuban when they get their. After about 5 weeks of fighting most the soldiers died from disease not in war several weeks after.
The expansion of the West all in all was to gain land and to take anyway they seen fit. The idea of imperialism followed a manly course of action to increase the American Strength. Woods, (2010) A quote still famously used today from Mark Twain says " We have gone their to conquer not redeem " as so many thought during that very difficult times.
Barnes, L. & Bowles, M. (2014) The American Story: Perspective and encounters from 1877. San Diego, CA. : Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Wood, S. (2010) To Conquer or Redeem { Series Episode} ING. Lucas ( Executive Production) Manifest Density.
Chapter 4 American Lives: Queen Liliuokalani. This caught my attention while reviewing this week's reading in our textbook. Being that I am born and raised in Hawaii, I enjoy learning the history of Hawaii. The insights that I have is not knowing that Queen Liliuokalani was married to a white man or that she was adopted by a white family.
The stories that were told to me when I was younger, was that Queen Liliuokalani was held captive in the Iolani Palace because she refused to sign Hawaii over to the government. That the missionaries came to Hawaii with one goal, to turn the Hawaiian people into civilized human beings.
Reference
Barnes, L. & Bowles, M. (2014). The American story: Perspectives and encounters from 1877. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
What struck you in particular as you explored the course materials this week?
Honestly, I am deplored at the treatment of men, women, and children laborers. There should not be children having to work or laborers being paid little to nothing, forced to work is horrid conditions, and ending up disfigured as a result of the type of work they have to do. After reading about the meat packing plant with its workers, animals, and product I cannot believe that was allowed and still being allowed to happen (just maybe not to that extent).
My grandparents used to tell me stories of how hard their parents had to work and for barely nothing. I always thought they were just that, stories or fables so that I would work harder to be successful
What questions have come up for you at this point?