Free Response Questions: The Building of a Nation and The New Deal

Question 1:

To what extent was the election of 1800 aptly named the "Revolution of 1800"? Respond with reference to TWO of the following areas:

- Economics
- Foreign Policy
- Judiciary
- Politics


               The time period between 1750 and 1800 marked a crucial turning point for America as it brought a new wave of political parties and brought new ideas of expansion. Also, the slave trade became a major part of the society and more importantly this time period marked the beginning of much debate over the best form of a stabilized government. The Revolution of 1800 brought upon all these changes and it is known as a revolution due to Thomas Jefferson's election and the Democratic Republicans unseated the Federalist party. It was the first time in a western government where a change in the ruling power had occurred so radically, peacefully, and without bloodshed in terms of change in prospering economically through expansion and trade and the establishment of foreign policy in foreign affairs.

              Economic ties and expansion contributed to the development of a new nation and its productivity. For instance, Thomas Jefferson was a major advocate for an agrarian society, therefore, he was in favor of yeoman farmers and he believed they were trustworthy citizens but he also recognized the efficiency of machine- based manufacturing.With the establishment of agrarian societies and their collective expansion, a farming society would definitely benefit from it that is why with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Jefferson envisioned a prosperous agrarian society that expanded west.  Also, during this time the economy affected the navy as the funding for it was reduced in half and that led to a downsizing in its strength and supplies. Along with this financial crisis, the navy reduced to 3,350 officers and enlisted men in an austerity program. One of the most important events that affected America was the Napoleonic Wars that occurred between the British and the French. Even though America agreed to remain neutral, American ships that traded with England were seized. Britain also seized ships that would head to the French West Indies and began the idea of impressment. Jefferson established the Embargo Act of 1807, in order to force Britain to abandon seizure of American sailors and ships would not enter sea until the harassment of American ships stopped.
             
              Furthermore, the Revolution of 1800 changed through the establishment of foreign policy in terms of expansion and foreign affairs. America found themselves stuck in the middle of a waged war between Britain and France, was trapped in a blockade in which the British impressed on American sailors to join their army. New England's economy collapsed and smuggling became widespread. In 1809, the Non- Intercourse Act reopened trade with most nations but it still banned trade with Britain and France Western expansion took center stage in Jefferson's vision for the United States. In order to accomplish a form of an agrarian society, Jefferson found it necessary to expand westward. New settlers began to spread to the Appalachian Mountains and in the future Natives would have to give up more and more of their land. Additionally, Jefferson feared getting involved with the Napoleonic Wars and he sent Virginia governor, James Monroe to France to see if France would sell part of its territory to the United States. In order to finance his army for European conquests, Napoleon Bonaparte offered to sell the Louisiana territory for 15 million. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and the Lewis and Clark Expedition that followed in 1803, took fifty men and two years to complete and well made it to the Pacific Ocean. 

               In essence, the revolution of 1800 began the first in external conflicts that relate cross Atlantic trade and America's neutrality in war. The expansion of the United States became unavoidable and resettlement would be a new way to make the American economy prosper.

Key Terms

Thomas Jefferson
Embargo Act, 1807
Albert Gallatin
Louisiana Purchase
Lewis and Clarke Expedition
Federalist Party
Napoleonic Wars
Marbury v. Madison 1803
Kentucky Resolution
Election of 1800
John Adams
XYZ Affair
Alien and Sedition Acts
Quasi War
James Madison
Checks and Balances





Question 2:

How successful were the programs of the New Deal in solving the problems of the Great Depression? Assess with respect to two of the following:
- Reform
- Relieve
- Recovery


              The Great Depression (1929-39) was the deepest and longest economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world. It became challenging for Americans and immigrants to find jobs and farmers had lost all of their crops to the Dust Bowl. It seemed that the United States was in the middle of a war on poverty and franchise and there did not seem to be a way out. However, with Franklin D. Roosevelt's plans of Reform and Relief programs it allowed the government and civilians to reduce the unemployment rate and restore the banks and help create social welfare programs but failed in recovering employers and employees their economic stability. 

              Reform provides permanent programs that are meant to avoid another depression and insure citizens against an economic disaster.The reform program established the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate stock Market activity and ensure that no fraud or insider trading was taking place.The Wagner Act was enacted to eliminate employers' interference with the autonomous organization of workers into unions. The Social Security Act became a permanent agency designed to ensure that the older segment of society would always have enough money to survive. The key here is that they would then also be able to spend through out their lives.The Works Progress Administration provided long term government jobs building schools and other public works projects. The Revenue Act raised taxes all over the United States- it raised the taxation of the wealthy by 75 percent.

               Relief is the immediate action taken to halt the economies' deterioration, prioritizing the restoration of the banks. For instance, The Emergency Banking Bill closed the insolvent banks and only granted government licenses to the solvent ones. It put poorly managed banks at the hands of the Treasury Department. The Federal Deposit Insurance was created by the Banking Act of 1933 to guarantee bank deposits. This was a big deal because people lost their money if a bank went bankrupt. Glass Steagall Act gave government power to investigate banking conditions, vested greater regulatory powers in Federal Reserve Board. FDR went on to provide relief for the poor by the Agricultural Adjustment Act. It provided payments to farmers in return for their agreement to cut production by up to one half. The Farm Credit Act was provided one month later and it provided loans to those farmers in danger of foreclosure. The Civilian Conservation corps gave temporary jobs to unmarried single adults filling sand bags and helping out at disaster type situations. Participants lived in barracks type housing. The Public Works Administration set aside 3 million to private industry to build public works such as dams, ports, bridges, sewage plants, government buildings, power plants, airports, hospitals, and other useful projects. 

              The relief and reform programs successfully restored the banks and provided help for impoverished families and helped settle permanent programs but there were major flaws in giving employers and employees money. For instance, there was an increase in government power over business and the relief program removed the ideal of the poor to lift themselves out of poverty. The AAA policy was paying farmers not to grow and among the Conservatives that was considered immoral because many people were still too poor to feed themselves.

Key terms

Agricultural Adjustment Administration
FDR
Emergency Banking Relief Act of 1933
Unemployment Relief Act of 1933
Huey Long
Federal Securities Act
Resettlement Administration
Great Depression
Stock Market Crash
Dust Bowl
The 3 R's

George F.Kennan / Kent State Massacre

George F Kennan: The Containment Policy and the Domino Theory



Kennan's Long Telegram

(primary source)





                 After World War II, the world was aligned with one side of either democracy, capitalism, communism, pro-America or pro-Soviet Union. George F. Kennan was an American diplomat and historian best known for his successful advocacy of a containment policy to oppose Soviet expansionism following World War II. Kennan strongly believed that the Soviet communists would in its cliche for "dominate the world". However, Kennan also argued that a "firm and vigilant containment" would control the Soviets and their expanding power. The way communism was set up in the 1940s should not be tampered with, therefore nothing should be done to stop it.

                However, any attempts of its growth should definitely be detained by the United States or any other democracy. Kennan's containment policy describes that communism should not be stopped where it currently exists but not allowed to expand. George Kennan also developed the Domino Theory, which stated that if one nation fell to communism every other country. He compares this to a domino effect and that the spread of communism will occur rapidly and the United States would be left standing alone.

                In a primary source document, George Kennan sent President Truman a lengthy telegram ad advocating containment. He sends this from Moscow and sends to the Secretary of State.  In this telegram he describes the basic features of postwar Soviet outlook, the background of this outlook, its projection in practical policy and official level, and practical deductions from standpoint of U.S policy. He introduces the containment policy and describes the immense internal conflicts of communism and ssocialism.







Kent State Massacre (1970)

               The entire Kent State University in Kent, Ohio was plagued by disdain at the fact that President Nixon announced the invasion of Cambodia. In general, many universities were angered already at the fact that the Vietnam War was going on. Therefore, students organized protests in which they resisted and expressed their views against the war. At Kent State, for four days students protested and on the fourth day, the ROTC building was bombed and the Ohio Governor sent the Ohio National Guard to establish order on the campus. The protests intensified with the presence of the men and the National Guard opened fire at the students claiming that they felt threatened. On that day, four were killed instantly. In response, the governor pardoned the National Guard for their crimes in order to establish order at the university.

                In a poll done the following day, the majority of people believed that it was the students' own fault and disobedience that led to the massacre. Days later, 400 colleges and universities striked and students refused to go to class and considered the largest strikes in America. The shootings and the strikes are meant to symbolize one of the greatest American tragedies at the height of the Vietnam War. There is still much debate on why the National Guard opened fire and if it was true that he was being attacked. After the incident, education was heavily impacted- Kent State was closed for six weeks and had to resume again in the summer.


 The Kent State Massacre Video



              



             



               

Military Leader and President: Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961)

Dwight Eisenhower was a unique man- in all his lifetime as a boy he wanted to be a soldier and a war hero, therefore, he graduated from the U.S Military Academy at West Point. He moved on to be top rank soldier during World War II. During this time, he helped develop the D-Day invasion that would end Hitler's regime. Eisenhower went on to become the president of Columbia University from 1948 to 1950. Afterwards, NATO wanted Eisenhower to become their supreme commander. In 1952, he was asked to run as a Republican candidate for presidency. 

During his time as presidency, the Brown v. Board of Education was going on, which was the issue on civil rights issues and argued the desegregation of schools. Even after changes were to be instituted and enforced, Governor Faubus wanted to keep African Americans out of schools, but Eisenhower ordered the 101st Airborne Division to ensure that African Americans were safe when getting to school and in class. The Doctrine of Massive Retaliation expanded the defense budget and stated that money would be invested into bombers to carry nuclear warheads and there would be massive bombing against any communist country that stepped out of line. During the Arms Race, the Soviet Union made more and more weapons and portions of money in each country were going towards defense spending. 

In 1955, the Eisenhower Doctrine was a promise to support any country financially against communism with the use of military if it were necessary. In 1956, Hungarians rose against communist government and they asked the United States for aid but they refused and in this Massive Retaliation would not work because high altitude bombers could not help revolutionaries take over their own country. Eisenhower got the U.S involved in Vietnam in 1954. Vietnam did not want to be ruled by France so they defeated them at the Battle of Dienbienphu. During Eisenhower's presidency the Space Race began when the Sputnik I became the first Russian space satellite to go around the world and there was a fear that Russia would place nuclear weapons in space. 

Lastly, in Eisenhower's Farewell Address of 1960, he warns that America's economy would rely heavily on nuclear weapons and continue to kill. 

Dorothea Lange: Sleeping Gypsy 1938

It is the year 1938 of the month of June and Dorothea Lange describes her photograph as, "She awaits the international streetcar at a corner in El Paso, Texas, to return across the bridge to Mexico." This woman is homeless and she does not have much with her. She is struggling to find a job and a home since she is elderly and has no family with her. Instead of finding a better life and a job in the United States, unfortunately this woman encountered the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl and it left her with no hope.

In her image, Dorothea Lange depicts a cry of help to the government that it is their responsibility to care for the sick and the needy and house those that do not have jobs. Many people's homes were destroyed by the dust storms and their health was affected as well. For this"Gypsy Woman" the only solution for her is to return back to Mexico in order to sustain under better condition than the United States is in facing the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.

World War I: The Alliance System Domino Effect

               The alliance system was one of the crucial components that led to the first major world war and many describe it as a "domino effect." It all began when Austria Hungary became upset that the death of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was caused by a secret society in Siberia called Black Hand. Austria Hungary wanted to lead an official attack on Siberia and wanted to crush its authority. Instead of directly attacking Siberia, Austria Hungary offered an ultimatum and demanded that the assassins be brought to justice.

               At the time, Siberia was in alliance with Russia and Austria Hungary was in alliance with Germany and they assured aid in the case that Russia declared war. Siberia was indifferent about the ultimatum and unsatisfied so they declared war on July 28th, 1914. Russia began its mobilization of troops and Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st. Slowly but surely, that is how the domino effect took place.

               France was bound to a treaty to Russia and fought against Germany invaded Belgium on August 3rd. Britain loosely worded treaty and moral obligation to France, war on Germany on August 4th and was committed to defending Belgium. With Britain's entry into the war, military and financial assistance included Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

               The U.S promised to remain neutral but after the German submarine warfare, Woodrow Wilson broke the the U.S neutralizing law and entered the war on April 6, 1917. Japan honored the military agreement with Britain, therefore declared war on Germany and Austria Hungary declared war on Japan on August 23rd. Italy was part of the triple alliance with Germany and Austria and remained to stay committed to defend both countries only in "defense war".

The Progressive Era Character Analysis

Theodore Roosevelt

a. Theodore was a man born and raised in New York City and he was able to witness Abraham Lincoln's funeral when he was just a boy. Roosevelt went on to graduate fromHarvard University and as he grew older he witnessed the police department be cruel and corrupt and wanted to form a just and fair police force. Roosevelt was involved with the Spanish American War and strongly believed in the idea of Manifest Destiny and exercised the ideas of imperialism in the Philippines.

b.  Roosevelt was nominated for Nice President of the United States because people believed that it was better for Roosevelt to do little change and after the death of President William McKinley, Roosevelt took his place. Under his presidency Roosevelt established the first national park. He created a program for the poor and needy called the Square Deal and also established the Food and Drug Association (FDA). Roosevelt established the Progressive Party dedicated to follow the progressive ideals.

c. Another thing that President Roosevelt created was the Great White Fleet made up of American navy vessels that would travel around the world and demonstrate American power. He was all in favor of the Big Stick Policy which meant that there was no reason to be afraid to use the military and violence to control the countries that needed to be controlled. Roosevelt was also in favor of the labor unions and wanted to nationalize companies. He added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine and believed it was the United States' responsibility to intervene in Central and South American countries.

Woodrow Wilson

a. Without realizing it, Woodrow Wilson would end up being the head of the first world war. He graduated from Princeton University and became a college professor. He created the theory of Moral Internationalism that stated that America must be involved with the rest of the world. Wilson believed that social problems should have American involvement.

b. Wilson defied his campaign speech and slogan for presidential election when people believed that he would keep America out of war and the first thing he did was to want to be involved with World War I.  Wilson created the 14 points and its main ideas were peace without victory, freedom of the seas and the formation of the League of Nations.

c.  Wilson fought in order for the Treaty of Versailles to pass and through it the idea of moral internationalism would be established in the nation. Wilson made sure the United states would be the founding member of the league of nations. Wilson believed that the responsibility of the League of Nations would be to end war, poverty and hunger and that the world would be united with democracy.

Ida Tarbel

a.  Ida comes from a wildcat oil country in a rural area in Pennsylvannia. Oil wells were owned and operated by individual people and families. Rockefeller wanted to steal family oil well through the Standard Oil company and even though she graduated with a degree of science, Ida found her passion in writing. Rockefeller identified her as a muckraker. She became interested in Madame Roland and France as well as researching about Lincoln.

b. Through Ida Tarbel, she released a book titled the History of the Standard Oil Company that revealed all the truths and defiance of the Standard Oil Company as well as creating an expose. Through her writing an investigation was held on J.D Rockefeller and the ideal monopoly went down and the company was broken down into six little companies.

c. Ida felt the importance of journalism in order to bring change and she was able to make Rockefeller consider to give to the poor and to contribute to other philanthropic causes. Ida Wells did not support the Women's Rights Movement.


Robert La Follete

a.  La Follete came from a rural Wisconsin and a family of farmers and he also attended the University of Wisconsin. He has always been in favor of the poor. La Follete became a District Attorney  and was able to move up to the House of Representatives. He was famously known for his speeched and therefore people were able to trust him even though he was considered young and inexperienced.

b. La Follete was an advocate of the public being involved in people being part in passing laws and advocated for the legislation of referendum which was the ability to recall or end an elected official's time in office before the next election. The Wisconsin Idea was to give the power of the government back to the people to make America. He was unsuccessful in stopping the U.S declaration of war. La Follete was upset for the U.S violating the First Amendment during the war.

c. When everyone of the members of congress were in favor of going to war during the first world war,  La Follete gave many anti war speeches and argued against the idea of America going to war with the rest of the world. He was believed to be a strong anarchist and ran for president of the Progressive Party

Eugene V. Debs

a. He was born into an intellectual family but they were poor. He also comes from a German background and was taught to have respect for his community and he enjoyed school. He valued the idea of engaging in intellectual discussions and soon enough took on a risky job at the railroads.

b. Debs was able to find meaning behind the union work and believe that socialism and meeting new people paid off at the end in his career. He became a union activist and demanded for justice at the companies for railroad company workers. The ARU assisted the Great Railway Strike against the Pullman company. Dubbs strongly believed in the idea of Socialism.

c. He began the American Railway Union and it became the strongest industrial union in the railway industry. Debs established a life long friendship with Susan B. Anthony and he supported woman's suffrage. Debbs and his brother Theodore established a publishing company because he believed that many important books from great authors were not being published. He focused on the subject of unionism, struggles of the poor, socialism, anarchism, and communism.

John D. Rockefeller

a. Rockefeller was born on a small farm in upstate New York and could most likely be described as being in the middle class. He became devoted to religion. He earned a good salary as a book seller.

b. He established the idea of Monopoly and took control over all oil companies.He established the idea of predatory pricing. If any company tried to move in on the business the prices of Rockefellers priducts would drop and there would be no other company to compete with so that company would go out of business.

C. Rockefeller fought to keep unions out of his companies. He also believed that companies would know what was best for them. Philantropy was an important part of his life as well as religion. At his old retired age, Rockefeller gave money to universities, research institutes and African American Colleges.

African Americans after Reconstruction

       


         The end of the Civil War marked the ending of two nations to join into one as well as the beginning of the emancipation for African Americans. The Reconstruction, was a time of "liberation" but instead African Americans found themselves without suffrage, working for former slave masters and having to follow black codes. Even after the Reconstruction ended in 1877, there was a large population of poor black farmers in the South. Not only that, but a new wave of violence broke out from the newly formed society of the Klu Klux Klan made up of former Confederate soldiers that would cause massive terror and lynching  especially against black young men. African Americans that were put on trial, even if proven non guilty, would be persecuted by the KKK. It wasn't until 1882 that the KKK act was considered unconstitutional.