1. Describe the causes of the immigration of Southern and Eastern Europeans, Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Some of the immigrants wanted to escape conditions in their countries such as famine, land shortages or prosecution. Other immigrants wanted to come and earn money and then return to their own countries. The Europeans left their country to escape religious prosecution and also the population double between 1800 and 1900 so there was a scarcity of land for farmers. The Chinese and Japanese came to seek fortune after the gold rush. Many people came from the West Indies because jobs there were scarce, and the industrial boom in the United States made it seem like there would be jobs for everyone
2. Describe the journey immigrants endured and their experiences at United States immigration stations.
The journey the immigrants endured was very harsh, because almost all of them traveled by steamship. They traveled in the cheapest accommodations in a ship's cargo holds for trips that lasted from 1 to 3 weeks. They were crowded together in the cargo hold and were not let out for exercise or fresh air. Most of the time they had to share bathrooms with many other people and were crowded into bunks. Due to the conditions disease easily spread throughout the people, and some of them died. Their experiences in the United States were not much better. Before they even got into the United States they had to pass inspection at the immigration stations. In the immigration station on Ellis Island, about 1/5 of the immigrants were detained there for a day, but only about 2 percent were denied. They had to pass a physical examination and had to report to a government inspector. On Another station on Angel Island, where primarily the Chinese came through, the immigrants endured harsh interrogations and long detentions in buildings under horrible conditions while they waited to see if they would be admitted into the United States.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Big Bussiness and Labor Quiz
The effects of Social Darwinism and the Lassiez Faire on laborers in the 19th century were that the employers felt they could treat the employees like dirt, and the government could not do anything about it. The Lassiez Faire was the beleif that industry was not man made, and so could not be ruled over by men, which was terrible for the laborers because it made it so there were no policies over working conditions or hours and pay. Social Darwinism was the belief that poor people were lazy and weak and the rich were strong, and it was survival of the fittest. These ideas made it so the employers felt that what they were doing was not wrong, because it was not the employers fault the laborers were in the position they were in.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Labor Unions & Big Business
* Identify each of the following events or people. Give an explanation or description of the item. Answer the questions who, what, where, and when.
* Explain the historical significance of each item in the space provided. Establish the historical context in which the item exists. Establish the item as the result of or as the cause of other factors existing in the society under study. Answer this question: What were the political, social, economic, and/or cultural consequences of this item?
The Knights of Labor
a. Identification - It was a labor union, and the only broad based labor organization that survived the depression. It was founded in the 1860's in Philadelphia by garment cutters.
b. Significance - The knights of labor welcomed women, African-Americans, immigrants and unskilled and semi-skilled workers, and was the only broad-based labor organization to survive the depression. It was created because of the anxiety over the loss of independence and the desire for better wages, hours, and working conditions. They wanted in the future for every man to be his own employer. The consequences were that violence began to break out, and when Powderly denounced radicalism and violence smaller militant craft unions left and the number of members dwindled.
The Haymarket riot
a. Identification - The haymarket riot was when labor groups rallied at Haymarket square, near downtown Chicago, to protest police brutality. When police showed up a bomb went off near them and 7 were killed, 67 injured. This happened in May of 1886.
b. Significance - The significance of the Haymarket riot was that it drew attention to the discontent of laborers and revived the middle-class fear of radicalism. This riot was a result of all the growing tension between labor unions and the companies who were forcing them to work under such horrible conditions. The result of the haymarket riot was that the anarchists created a sense of crisis and forced a military base to be made at Fort Sheridan. Police forces were also strengthened.
The American Federation of Labor
a. Identification - The AFL Emerged from the upheavals of these acts in 1886 as the major workers association. It was an alliance of national craft unions and had about 140,000 skilled laborers that started in America.
b. Significance - The AFL pressed for concrete goals such as higher wages, shorter hours, and the right to bargain collectively. They only fought for immediate objects that could be obtained within a few years, and unlike the Knights of Labor they accepted Industrialism, but had little interest in employing unskilled workers.
Samuel Gompers
a. Identification - He was an opportunistic immigrant who headed the Cigar Makers Union, and he lead the American Federation of Labor.
b. Significance - Gompers led the AFL to increase its members all the way up to 1 million by 1901 and 2.5 million by 1917. Gompers dictum was to support labors freinds and oppose labors enemies regardless of their party.
The Homestead strike
a. Identification - The homestead strike was when the AFL affiliated Almagamated Association of Iron and Steelworkers went on strike in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
b. Significance - The significance of the strike was that it stirred public fears of labor violence, and showed that the public would not stand by the violence of these strikes because public opinion was a against this strike due to the fact that an attempt on Henry Frick's life was made.
The Pullman strike
a. Identification - The Pullman strike was when in 1894 the workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company walked out in protest over exploitative policies at the company town in Chicago.
b. Significance - The strike was a result of Pullman exploiting the people by decreasing wages by 25 to 40 percent while keeping the rent and prices in the town the same. The workers joined the American Railway association, and they refused to use Pullman cars for they railways. Pullman did not give in, and the strikers were forced to go back to work after Grover Cleveland sent troops to Chicago due to Richard Olney obtaining a court injunction because the strikers were holding up the railways.
Eugene V. Debs
a. Identification - He was the leader of the American Railway Union who helped the strikers in the Pullman strike. He was sent to jail in 1894 and served six months for defying the court injunction.
b. Significance - The significance was that him being jailed showed the government would not tolerate these strikes. It also showed that the federal government had the power to remove obstacles to interstate commerce. He was helping with the Pullman strike because they were a part of his union. The result was that the government could jail union leaders under the grounds that they were holding up interstate commerce.
The Industrial Workers of the World
a. Identification - The IWW was a labor organization created by the miners in Colorado in 1905. It strove, like the the Knights of Labor to unify all laborers, including the unskilled who were excluded from the craft unions.
b. Significance - This organization was a result of the bitter strikes held by the Colorado miners in the West. The IWW led a series of strikes in 1905, of which their anti capitalist goals and aggressive tactics gave them great publicity. This Unions members never exceeded 150,000 people, and the organization faded after many of its leaders were sent to jail due to federal prosecution.
* Explain the historical significance of each item in the space provided. Establish the historical context in which the item exists. Establish the item as the result of or as the cause of other factors existing in the society under study. Answer this question: What were the political, social, economic, and/or cultural consequences of this item?
The Knights of Labor
a. Identification - It was a labor union, and the only broad based labor organization that survived the depression. It was founded in the 1860's in Philadelphia by garment cutters.
b. Significance - The knights of labor welcomed women, African-Americans, immigrants and unskilled and semi-skilled workers, and was the only broad-based labor organization to survive the depression. It was created because of the anxiety over the loss of independence and the desire for better wages, hours, and working conditions. They wanted in the future for every man to be his own employer. The consequences were that violence began to break out, and when Powderly denounced radicalism and violence smaller militant craft unions left and the number of members dwindled.
The Haymarket riot
a. Identification - The haymarket riot was when labor groups rallied at Haymarket square, near downtown Chicago, to protest police brutality. When police showed up a bomb went off near them and 7 were killed, 67 injured. This happened in May of 1886.
b. Significance - The significance of the Haymarket riot was that it drew attention to the discontent of laborers and revived the middle-class fear of radicalism. This riot was a result of all the growing tension between labor unions and the companies who were forcing them to work under such horrible conditions. The result of the haymarket riot was that the anarchists created a sense of crisis and forced a military base to be made at Fort Sheridan. Police forces were also strengthened.
The American Federation of Labor
a. Identification - The AFL Emerged from the upheavals of these acts in 1886 as the major workers association. It was an alliance of national craft unions and had about 140,000 skilled laborers that started in America.
b. Significance - The AFL pressed for concrete goals such as higher wages, shorter hours, and the right to bargain collectively. They only fought for immediate objects that could be obtained within a few years, and unlike the Knights of Labor they accepted Industrialism, but had little interest in employing unskilled workers.
Samuel Gompers
a. Identification - He was an opportunistic immigrant who headed the Cigar Makers Union, and he lead the American Federation of Labor.
b. Significance - Gompers led the AFL to increase its members all the way up to 1 million by 1901 and 2.5 million by 1917. Gompers dictum was to support labors freinds and oppose labors enemies regardless of their party.
The Homestead strike
a. Identification - The homestead strike was when the AFL affiliated Almagamated Association of Iron and Steelworkers went on strike in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
b. Significance - The significance of the strike was that it stirred public fears of labor violence, and showed that the public would not stand by the violence of these strikes because public opinion was a against this strike due to the fact that an attempt on Henry Frick's life was made.
The Pullman strike
a. Identification - The Pullman strike was when in 1894 the workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company walked out in protest over exploitative policies at the company town in Chicago.
b. Significance - The strike was a result of Pullman exploiting the people by decreasing wages by 25 to 40 percent while keeping the rent and prices in the town the same. The workers joined the American Railway association, and they refused to use Pullman cars for they railways. Pullman did not give in, and the strikers were forced to go back to work after Grover Cleveland sent troops to Chicago due to Richard Olney obtaining a court injunction because the strikers were holding up the railways.
Eugene V. Debs
a. Identification - He was the leader of the American Railway Union who helped the strikers in the Pullman strike. He was sent to jail in 1894 and served six months for defying the court injunction.
b. Significance - The significance was that him being jailed showed the government would not tolerate these strikes. It also showed that the federal government had the power to remove obstacles to interstate commerce. He was helping with the Pullman strike because they were a part of his union. The result was that the government could jail union leaders under the grounds that they were holding up interstate commerce.
The Industrial Workers of the World
a. Identification - The IWW was a labor organization created by the miners in Colorado in 1905. It strove, like the the Knights of Labor to unify all laborers, including the unskilled who were excluded from the craft unions.
b. Significance - This organization was a result of the bitter strikes held by the Colorado miners in the West. The IWW led a series of strikes in 1905, of which their anti capitalist goals and aggressive tactics gave them great publicity. This Unions members never exceeded 150,000 people, and the organization faded after many of its leaders were sent to jail due to federal prosecution.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Railroad Development 2
Andrew Carnegie - Born in Scotland dirt poor, was one of the first industrial moguls to make his own fortune
Social Darwinism - grew out of the English naturalist Charles Darwin's theory of biological evolution. His theories were used to explain the evolution of human society.
John D. Rockefeller - established corporations that joined with competing companies in trust agreements.
Sherman Antitrust Act - Made it illegal to form a trust that interfered with free trade between states or with other countries.
Samuel Gompers - Led the cigar makers international union to join with other crafts unions to form the American Federation of Labor.
American Federation of Labor (AFL)- Focused on collective bargaining, or the negotiation between representatives of labor and management, to reach written agreements on wages hours and working conditions.
Eugene V. Debs - formed an industrial union like the AFL, Called the ARU.
Industrial Workers of the World - formed by a group of radical unionists and socailists, and allowed african americans to join
Mary Harris Jones - The most prominent organizer of the womans labor movement.
Social Darwinism - grew out of the English naturalist Charles Darwin's theory of biological evolution. His theories were used to explain the evolution of human society.
John D. Rockefeller - established corporations that joined with competing companies in trust agreements.
Sherman Antitrust Act - Made it illegal to form a trust that interfered with free trade between states or with other countries.
Samuel Gompers - Led the cigar makers international union to join with other crafts unions to form the American Federation of Labor.
American Federation of Labor (AFL)- Focused on collective bargaining, or the negotiation between representatives of labor and management, to reach written agreements on wages hours and working conditions.
Eugene V. Debs - formed an industrial union like the AFL, Called the ARU.
Industrial Workers of the World - formed by a group of radical unionists and socailists, and allowed african americans to join
Mary Harris Jones - The most prominent organizer of the womans labor movement.
Railroad Development
The federal government gave land and made loans to the railroad companies. Why was the government so eager to promote the growth of railroads?
The government was so eager to promote the growth of the railroads because they were so critical for settling the west and developing the country. The railroads would keep the towns all connected, and make the trading industry prosper. The railroads brought the dreams of American citizens of adventure and a fresh start with the new land out west to fruition. The railroads linked previously isolated cities and towns together and promoted trade between them. The railroads also helped cities branch out, with towns beginning to specialize and help each other with materials.
The government was so eager to promote the growth of the railroads because they were so critical for settling the west and developing the country. The railroads would keep the towns all connected, and make the trading industry prosper. The railroads brought the dreams of American citizens of adventure and a fresh start with the new land out west to fruition. The railroads linked previously isolated cities and towns together and promoted trade between them. The railroads also helped cities branch out, with towns beginning to specialize and help each other with materials.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Expansion of Industry
What were the three major factors that contributed to the immense technological boom that took place in the United States after the Civil War? Explain how two of these factors helped to bring about this technological boom.
The three major factors that contributed to the technological boom in the United States after the Civil War were the discovery of the wealth of natural resources, the governments support for business, and the growing urban population that provided both cheap labor and markets for new products. The discovery of the wealth of natural resources helped bring about the technological boom by giving people the resources to build and manufacture new products, and for the fuel for cars as well as the uses for oil and kerosene. A process was invented to create steel from the massive amounts of Iron present in the United States. The steel was used by the railroad industry as well as for new feats of architecture such as skyscrapers. The governments support for business led inventors to discover uses for electricity, and allowed them to inventive time-saving appliances. The discovery of electricity allowed manufacturers to locate their plants wherever they pleased, whereas before they needed to have by a source of power such as a river. Inventors also invented the light bulb, type writer and telephone spurred an increase in office jobs for women as well.
The three major factors that contributed to the technological boom in the United States after the Civil War were the discovery of the wealth of natural resources, the governments support for business, and the growing urban population that provided both cheap labor and markets for new products. The discovery of the wealth of natural resources helped bring about the technological boom by giving people the resources to build and manufacture new products, and for the fuel for cars as well as the uses for oil and kerosene. A process was invented to create steel from the massive amounts of Iron present in the United States. The steel was used by the railroad industry as well as for new feats of architecture such as skyscrapers. The governments support for business led inventors to discover uses for electricity, and allowed them to inventive time-saving appliances. The discovery of electricity allowed manufacturers to locate their plants wherever they pleased, whereas before they needed to have by a source of power such as a river. Inventors also invented the light bulb, type writer and telephone spurred an increase in office jobs for women as well.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Native Americans Westward Expansion
History Blog
1. What are some of the main reasons that the federal government's policy of assimilation failed?
Some of the main reasons that the federal governments policy of assimilation failed was that the white people viewed the Native Americans as uncivilized people. Although there were some native american sympathizers, most people disliked them and viewed them as savages. They lived very differently, hunting and gathering as a way of life, and the white people viewed this as caveman like activities. The government promised the native americans things which they did not keep, and some of the tribes slipped into poverty, not being able to live under the conditions. Others refused to stay in their land, because they didn’t believe the white people could own land. The white people took this badly, and battles occurred because of it.
2. How successful were government efforts to promote settlement of the Great Plains? Give examples to support your answer.
The government attempts to promote settlement in the Great Plains with the homestead act worked okay at first, with only 10 percent of the desired population moving in and the rest being private speculators and railroad and state government agens who took advantage of the program. When the Homestead act was strengthened and more encouragement granted almost settlers claimed 2 million acres in only a day.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Conflict in Iraq Q & A
Short Response
1. Where do most Kurds, Shi'a, and Sunnis live in Iraq?
Kurds: the mountainous region of iraq known as Kurdistan
Shi'a:
Sunnis:
2. Which ethnic group(s) hold(s) power over the majority of oil reserves in Iraq?
The Shi'a control the oil reserves in the south and the Kurds control the oil reserves in the north.
3. What is the main reason Britain become involved in Iraq?
The main reason that Britain became involved in Iraq was because of the oil reserves.
4. What did pan-Arabists advocate after World War II?
They encouraged the Iraqi government to sever ties to Britain.
5. How was Saddam Hussein able to gain power and popularity in the 1970s?
He was able to gain power and popularity by modernizing Iraq's economy and implementing welfare programs. He used the money that came from the rapid increase in the price of oil to fund universal free education and create a good public health care system.
6. Why did the United States become involved in the Iran-Iraq War?
The United States got involved with the Iran Iraq war because the ydid not want a victory by Iran's Islamist government.
7. Why did President George H.W. Bush (1989-93) bring the ground portion of the First Persian Gulf War to a halt? List two reasons.
a. They were worried about how they could control a completely destabilized Iraq.
b. They objected to totally destroying Iraq's army that was retreating.
Extended Response:
8. What are the different ethnic and religious groups in Iraq? Why is it important to understand these differences?
Most Iraqis are muslim, and there are two branches of Islam practiced in Iraq. There and the Sunnis and the Shi'is. The groups are not ethnically different form each other but they split a long time ago over a disagreement over the rightful leader of Islam. The two groups interpreted the events of the life and times of the Mohammed differently, and they disagree on whether the succesion of the caliphs was legiatimate. It is important to understand the differences because it helps you understand the violence and the choices the United States are forced to make in Iraq.
Part II Questions:
Short Response
9. What dangers did President George W. Bush (2001-09) say Iraq posed to the region and the world? Name two.
a. The weapons program in Iraq.
b. The sponsorship of terrorism.
10. What were the U.S. government's declared goals in sending troops to Iraq?
a. To End Saddam Hussein's regime.
b. To uncover WMDs.
11. List two reasons violence continues in Iraq.
a. There is an abscense of effective government protection, and the Iraqi people are taking advantage of teh country's insecurity to take part in violence and kidnapping to make money.
b. Many Iraqis are angered at the presence of US soldiers in Iraq.
Extended Response:
12. Describe the different groups involved in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. What are their goals? (Reasons for fighting)
Shi'a: The Shi'a do not want the Sunnis to Control the country again, and yet do not want to be ruled by foreigners, so they oppose the US occupation. The Shi'i militia are fighting each other because of disagreements over political and economic control of certan regions in Iraq.The goal of the Shi'a is to have Iraq be divided so they can control Iraq's richest oil fields.
Sunni: The Sunni only make up about 20 percent of the population of Iraq, and are concerned that Democracy will shut them out of the government.The goal of the Sunni is to stop the implementation of Democracy in Iraq and stop the Shi'a from controling the country.
Kurd: The Kurds do not want Sunni political power, and they want self determination for Kurdistan. .The goal of the Kurds is to have Kurdistan be a seperate country.
al Qaeda: .The goal of Al Qaeda is to foster sectarian violence in order to overthrow the Iraqu Government. Radical members want to establish a single Islamic state that would encompass countries across the region.
1. Where do most Kurds, Shi'a, and Sunnis live in Iraq?
Kurds: the mountainous region of iraq known as Kurdistan
Shi'a:
Sunnis:
2. Which ethnic group(s) hold(s) power over the majority of oil reserves in Iraq?
The Shi'a control the oil reserves in the south and the Kurds control the oil reserves in the north.
3. What is the main reason Britain become involved in Iraq?
The main reason that Britain became involved in Iraq was because of the oil reserves.
4. What did pan-Arabists advocate after World War II?
They encouraged the Iraqi government to sever ties to Britain.
5. How was Saddam Hussein able to gain power and popularity in the 1970s?
He was able to gain power and popularity by modernizing Iraq's economy and implementing welfare programs. He used the money that came from the rapid increase in the price of oil to fund universal free education and create a good public health care system.
6. Why did the United States become involved in the Iran-Iraq War?
The United States got involved with the Iran Iraq war because the ydid not want a victory by Iran's Islamist government.
7. Why did President George H.W. Bush (1989-93) bring the ground portion of the First Persian Gulf War to a halt? List two reasons.
a. They were worried about how they could control a completely destabilized Iraq.
b. They objected to totally destroying Iraq's army that was retreating.
Extended Response:
8. What are the different ethnic and religious groups in Iraq? Why is it important to understand these differences?
Most Iraqis are muslim, and there are two branches of Islam practiced in Iraq. There and the Sunnis and the Shi'is. The groups are not ethnically different form each other but they split a long time ago over a disagreement over the rightful leader of Islam. The two groups interpreted the events of the life and times of the Mohammed differently, and they disagree on whether the succesion of the caliphs was legiatimate. It is important to understand the differences because it helps you understand the violence and the choices the United States are forced to make in Iraq.
Part II Questions:
Short Response
9. What dangers did President George W. Bush (2001-09) say Iraq posed to the region and the world? Name two.
a. The weapons program in Iraq.
b. The sponsorship of terrorism.
10. What were the U.S. government's declared goals in sending troops to Iraq?
a. To End Saddam Hussein's regime.
b. To uncover WMDs.
11. List two reasons violence continues in Iraq.
a. There is an abscense of effective government protection, and the Iraqi people are taking advantage of teh country's insecurity to take part in violence and kidnapping to make money.
b. Many Iraqis are angered at the presence of US soldiers in Iraq.
Extended Response:
12. Describe the different groups involved in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. What are their goals? (Reasons for fighting)
Shi'a: The Shi'a do not want the Sunnis to Control the country again, and yet do not want to be ruled by foreigners, so they oppose the US occupation. The Shi'i militia are fighting each other because of disagreements over political and economic control of certan regions in Iraq.The goal of the Shi'a is to have Iraq be divided so they can control Iraq's richest oil fields.
Sunni: The Sunni only make up about 20 percent of the population of Iraq, and are concerned that Democracy will shut them out of the government.The goal of the Sunni is to stop the implementation of Democracy in Iraq and stop the Shi'a from controling the country.
Kurd: The Kurds do not want Sunni political power, and they want self determination for Kurdistan. .The goal of the Kurds is to have Kurdistan be a seperate country.
al Qaeda: .The goal of Al Qaeda is to foster sectarian violence in order to overthrow the Iraqu Government. Radical members want to establish a single Islamic state that would encompass countries across the region.
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