American History: Progressivism, Expansionism, Great Depression and New Deal

Running head: AMERICAN HISTORY
AMERICAN HISTORY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

AMERICAN HISTORY1
Response to Question no 1
Progressivism in the 19th century, suggests that a nation is said to have progressed if it
from all the aspects is getting better including not only the economic or technological aspect
but also the social, political and ethical sectors where birth control was a big measure. The
unavoidable effect of the publication of The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin along with
the improvement in the changes that were brought about because of the industrialization was
explicitly visible. Industries increased the possibility of work implying the migration of more
number of people from village to the city. This era has witnessed the assimilation of different
culture though there was huge class discrimination. It has experienced the brilliance of
Charlie Chaplin and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot.
The era has seen political turmoil between Roosevelt and Mark Hanna. In order to
control the economy of America he even instructed the army to grab the mines. He preached
the slogan “square deal” and won the election with a great margin. Although the different
opinions surfaced from the segregated groups yet they concentrated on focusing on social,
economic and authoritative aspects. There was a rise in the number of middle-class people
and the condition of the workers deteriorated gradually. Poverty became a symbol of the
contemporary society. Business emerged as a powerful aspect of the society.
Response to Question no 2
As indoctrinated by US Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge while advocating for
an expansionist U.S. navy, many Americans in the late 19th century were clamoring for
acquiring foreign lands. Reasons ranged from security, commerce, diverting attention, empire
building, etc. Gradually, a growing consensus emerged among influential merchants,
politicians, intellectuals and the armed forces. The rise of aggressive America led to the
annexation of Midway Islands and Alaska (1867), Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines (1898)

AMERICAN HISTORY2
and it decisively ended Spanish hegemony in the Western hemisphere. US also influenced
internal politics in several Latin American countries such as Cuba and had already assumed
an international policing power while Europe was preparing for the Great War, divided into
two blocs of power - The Triple Entente consisted of Britain, France and Russia whereas the
Triple Alliance united the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy and the Germanic powers.
Historical enmities between several of these powers had existed for decades, the rise of new
nations and nationalist movements set the stage for a massive pan-European conflict.
Assassination of the Austrian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a Serbian
revolutionary sparked off the hostilities, with Germany siding with Austria-Hungary and
Russia supporting the Serbian nationalists. This situation quickly involved most European
powers and U.S. was dragged into the War, following Germany’s naval blockade on Britain
and Submarine warfare, notably the “Sinking of the Lusitania” which had shocked America.
Ironically, while the U.S. was fighting for democracy abroad, its’ internal policies infringed
individual rights; increasing espionage, vigilantes and Sedition Acts were slapped on freedom
loving citizens, and the U.S. government under Woodrow Wilson became secretive and
autocratic. Wilson’s post-war negotiations (Fourteen points) failed during the Treaty of
Versailles where England and France demanded punitive measures against Germany. The
U.S. never joined the League of Nations and did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles. The Great
War ended with a rather non-human tragedy – the Spanish Flu pandemic, which killed more
than 6 Million Americans and about 20-40 Million people of the global population.
Response to Question no 3
The Great War or WWI (1914-1918) ended with disillusionment. Progressive
expectations which were taking shape in America during the War vanished in its’ aftermath.