The U.S. Government & The Reformation of America

In the United States, the early 20th century was a time of industrial expansion and progressive reform, otherwise known as the "Progressive Era". During this time, the U.S. government played a critical role in the successful reforming of the american society socially, politically, and economically.
Socially, american citizens wanted to make life better and change certain aspects of society. A group in particular were the muckrakers. Muckrakers were a group of people who came onto the scene in the late 1800's. They spoke out on activities that had negative effects on the public and workers. Such as child labor, monopolies, and corruptions in industry. A well-known muckraker was Upton Sinclair, who wrote the book titled, The Jungle in 1906. His book described the harsh, dangerous conditions in a Chicago meatpackin factoring, and the unsanitary methods that took place there. "Where comment was made to floor superintendents about these matters, it was always the reply that this meat would afterwards be cooked, and that this sterilization would prevent any danger from its use. Even this, it may be pointed out in passing, is not wholly true. A very considerable portion of the meat so handled is sent out as smoked products and in the form of sausages, which are prepared to be eaten without being cooked..." With this reform at city level Sinclair was successful at getting more eyes to look at his side of the street, like those of the President.
After reading Sinclaire's book, President Theodeore Roosevelt passed the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, which gave the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to inspect any meat processing plant in america and report them if the plant was indeed unfit for distribution. After this meat distribution and manufactoring were reformed.
Politically, the government was putting limits on itself (or the process of checks and balances), so to not have too much power. New amendments were released in the 1900's. There was the sixteenth amendment- which limited the Congress' power to levy income taxes based on populations. And the seventeenth amendment, which was the direct elction of senators. A reform which gave the state the power to choose their senators with popular vote.
Economically, the reforms were definitely at federal level. The government had to find a way to pump money back into the economy and get the american people out of poverty. There was the Square Deal, made by President Roosevelt, which assisted the middle-class by enforcing anti-trusts and and helped shield businesses from the demands of labor unions. There was also the Interstate Commerce Commision (ICC), founded by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which was an effort to regulate industry. Though it did not have a big influence for long.
In conclusion, the U.S. government had a well-played role in the early 20th century, The Progressive Era. American society was put back into motion socially, politically, and economically by its government. The government reformed the workplace, liberties, and wages of the american people.

The Spanish-American War

Before the close of the nineteenth century, America was engaged in war with Spain. Started in 1898, it was known as The Spanish-American War. The main cause of this war was the liberation of Cuba from Spain, who was denying Cuba its freedom. This rejection caused Spain to become America's new enemy, and the starting point of the war from April to August. The U.S. had claimed victories in the Phillipine Islands and Cuba. Cuba in the end was free. Or was it? On Dec. 10, 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed. This document stated that Cuba would be independent from Spain, but put under the "protection"(more like control) of the United States. As Spain evacuated, its spot became filled by the U.S. With this being said, America was not justified in going to war against Spain, because there were no real morals or friendship there for Cuba. America simply wanted what territorial and economic "treats" that Spain had in Cuba.
Strong expanionist sentiments in America made its government start brainstorming plans to obtain Spain's territories over seas. Mainly the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. When Cuba needed help seceding from Spain, well, that was the icing needed for the cake.

Trade Union Movements

Trade union movements in the U.S. were formed by laborers(during the years of the american republic) to better represent, protect, and aid the rights of other workers in a certain area or business. The very first labor movement on american soil was founded in 1827, when several trade unions came together to form the Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations in order to improve working conditions. As time progressed though, many workers began to be employed by small firms who had close relationships with their employees. Thus with the barrier between employer and employee diminished, less conflict stirred about and union movements ceased. Until the Civil War era began. During the war, industrialization boomed, and large enterprises started hiring thousands of workers. The barrier returned, and more than thirty unions were formed between the 1860's and 70's. The trade union movements in the post Civil War era were successful because they organized workers, had political actions, and economic goals.

"What They Fought For" Summary

Chapter 1: "The Holy Cause of Liberty and Independence"
This first entry into the book showcases the side of the southern Confederate armies, who were comparing the Civil War to the Revolutionary War. They saw their enemies, the Northern Yankees, as nothing more than tyrants trying to oppress the south. Just as the British had done to the colonists a century and a half ago. This gave them a "holy cause of southern freedom", a reason to step into the shoes of their famed forefathers and once again fight for their liberties and constitutional rights.
Chapter one also gives acounts of Confederates lives through letters and journals they wrote in during the Civil War. These letters told about many things: how the Southern fighters felt about the war, the tyrannical Yanks, southern ideology, slaves, and a yearning for the war to be over. What's so surprising in this chapter is that only about one-third of Confederate soldiers came from slaveholding families.

Chapter 2: "The Best Gov. On God's Footstool".
The second entry focuses on the Confederates despised enemies, theNorthern Yankees. It also asks an important question,"Why did the North fight?" Like the South, they too believed they were fighting for the same things their ancestors had fought for, freedom and liberty. "We fight for the blessings bought by the blood and treasure of our Fathers." This was written by a Yank from Missouri. In letters and journals/diaries, many Yanks felt that the Confederates were traitors, spitting on the rights their forefathers fought and died for in the War with the British. By keeping slaves, and departing from the Union.

Chapter 3: "The War Will Never End Until We End Slavery"
The last part in this book deals with one of the pillars and causes of the Civil War, slavery. One side wanted to keep it and the other wanted to destroy it. Chapter three delves on both sides, and their opinions on the already touchy subject. The Confederates felt it was their god-given right to have slaves, the superior controlling the weak. The North wanted to abolish slavery because it went against the Constitution. But letters show that some of the Yanks felt it was the only way to defeat the south, so they could really care less. Abraham Lincoln knew though, that the only way to end the war and bring the United States of America back together again, was to end slavery and free the blacks.

American Unity

As North America colonists were becoming angry and quiescence with the British's unjustifiable acts and laws, the colonists decided to depart from Britain. from the period of 1750 to 1776, many colonists began to band together and sense the identity of their new home, America. Many groups were then formed, bringing the colonists and their opinions together. These groups would unify the colonists and lead to an eve of Revolution.
The first spark of colonial unity was the Albany Congress, which began in 1754. As the French + Indian War was in motion, many of the colonists were lacking unity and thrashed by France. So in 1754 the British government requested an intercolonial congress to Albany, New York. Delegates from Seven out of thirteen colonies attented. The purposes of the Albany Congress were: 1.) Achieve a better colonial unity to increase the defense against the French. 2.) Keep the Iroquois (native american) tribes loyal to the British. Document A showcases the famous cartoon by the Albany Congress' spirited speaker, Benjamin Franklin. Published by the Pennsylvania Gazette the same year, the cartoon was a dismembered snake representing the thirteen colonies and New England. Saying "Join, Or Die."
Next was the Stamp Act Congress of 1765. This party was formed after the Stamp Act of 1765. An unconstitutional law that stated that all legal and commercial documents required stamps, which would cost extra.
This tax was part of the Grenville Tax Program, unlawful taxes that were pretty much made to punish the colonists for their lack of support with the British during the French + Indian War. The Stamp Act Congress was founded by twenty-seven delegates from nine colonies. The first radical Congress, the enraged members immediately wrote to Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act. Petitions and protests then followed suit, until Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. This spontaneously united the colonists for the first time in common action.
In conclusion, the years of 1750 to 1776 can also be known as the unity period. When the american colonists put all their differences aside and stand together, forming groups such as the Albany Congress and the Stamp Act Congress. These parties helped the colonists build an identity for their new home and mark the secession from their old one, England.

Nationalism and Foreign Policy