The United States experienced an extreme cultural change in the 1920’s. This decade was called “The Roaring twenties”, because the US had an economic boom. Some citizen’s like Henry Ford helped increase the economy by creating the automobile, and the assembly line. However, the 1920’s was a period in time where modernism clashed against tradition. Urban vs. rural, religion vs. science, and Americans vs. communism (the red scare) are examples of this.
As the US entered the 1920’s modern urban communities and traditional rural communities clashed. Rural areas thought that all urban areas were places of sin. This was mainly because of alcohol, gangs, and “inappropriate” dressed women. Liquor was made illegal because of the ratification of the 18th amendment. It was made illegal, because crime and death rates increased during the beginning of the 1920’s. Al Capone of Chicago ran an infamous gang which scared numerous people. In addition, urban women were called flappers because they wore dresses with higher hemlines, drank alcohol, and smoked cigarettes. This angered traditional women.
Another clash was science vs. religion. All traditionalist believed in the word of God over anything else. However, modernist proved that that could be wrong. Traditionalist believed that in order to survive you have to believe in God. A man named Darrow taught his student’s Darwin’s theory of evolution. Darwin’s theory supports that life is based on the survival of the fittest. Darrow was eventually arrested and trailed for teaching the theory against state law. The ironic part of the trial was that the jury ruled Darrow guilty, but the verdict was overturned
Many Americans got scared after the success of the Russian Revolution. Many were afraid that communism might eventually spread to the United States. This became known as the red scare. Practically all Americans became afraid of immigrants fearing they might introduce communism to the American way of life. Many of these Americans call themselves the 100 percenters, which meant they had no affiliation with anyone who was foreign to the US. In addition, the KKK reemerged except not only causing terror to African-Americans they caused terror to all foreigners. The US passed four acts that would limit the amount of total immigrants per year. A major incident regarding immigrants was the Sacco-Vinzetti trail. This was about two Italian men were arrested and convicted of murder. Even though there was inconclusive evidence the two men were executed.
Overall, the Roaring Twenties was good and bad. The US experienced an economic boom. New technologies were created such as: television, sound movies, automobiles, and the assembly line. However, modernism clashed with tradition. Urban vs. rural, religion vs. science, and Americans vs. communism (the red scare) are examples of this.
February 24, 2007
February 17, 2007
DBQ
World War I began and ended with the United States. Even though the United States officially entered the war two years after the war began the United States were still somewhat involved. The Americans could have said that they were neutral and convinced themselves that they were neutral, but in actuality they weren’t. There were specific and events general events that lead up to the US entering the war.
Some specific events involving the United States proved that they weren’t neutral. Those events were the use of German U-boats, the sinking of the Lusitania, the Sussex pledge, the Zimmerman note, and the Russian Revolution. While the US was trading with the Allies German U-boats sunk the Lusitania, an American ship. This caused tension between the US and Germany, which resulted in the Sussex pledge. Another factor Arthur Zimmerman promising lost land to Mexico from the United States, and Russia preserving Democracy in the Russian Revolution.
There were three factors that tried to prove that the US were neutral. those acts were: not lending money, British blockage, and William Jennings Bryan’s resigning. A US policy mandated that the US would not lend any money to the Allies nor Central Powers. Unfortunately this policy was broken once J.P. Morgan loaned money to France who was on the Allies side. Another factor was British blockage. The British seized any and all ships that they thought would be carrying contraband to the Central Powers. The US declared that in violation of the international shipping law. This was because the US wanted to trade with everyone. William Jennings Bryan resigned because he was afraid that the United States would enter the war. He knew that German U-boats, the Zimmerman note, and J.P. Morgan’s three billion dollars would force the US into war.
Hugo Munsterburg from Harvard University claimed that, “By permitting this new interpretation the United States practically supports the starving out policy of the Allies...” This is true because the United States were close to the Allies. An example of this was J.P. Morgan giving France three billion dollars. The United States had problems against Germany and the Central powers. When Germany resumed using U-boats the United States entered the war. Many events proved that the US was indeed not neutral, however they tried to do things that proved that they were.
Once World War I began the United States had nothing to do with it. They declared themselves neutral because of the fact that they didn’t have anything to do with the war. The United States were too involved with most of the warring countries prior to the war. In addition, there were too many events involving the United States with the warring countries. This lead up to the United States entering World War I.
Some specific events involving the United States proved that they weren’t neutral. Those events were the use of German U-boats, the sinking of the Lusitania, the Sussex pledge, the Zimmerman note, and the Russian Revolution. While the US was trading with the Allies German U-boats sunk the Lusitania, an American ship. This caused tension between the US and Germany, which resulted in the Sussex pledge. Another factor Arthur Zimmerman promising lost land to Mexico from the United States, and Russia preserving Democracy in the Russian Revolution.
There were three factors that tried to prove that the US were neutral. those acts were: not lending money, British blockage, and William Jennings Bryan’s resigning. A US policy mandated that the US would not lend any money to the Allies nor Central Powers. Unfortunately this policy was broken once J.P. Morgan loaned money to France who was on the Allies side. Another factor was British blockage. The British seized any and all ships that they thought would be carrying contraband to the Central Powers. The US declared that in violation of the international shipping law. This was because the US wanted to trade with everyone. William Jennings Bryan resigned because he was afraid that the United States would enter the war. He knew that German U-boats, the Zimmerman note, and J.P. Morgan’s three billion dollars would force the US into war.
Hugo Munsterburg from Harvard University claimed that, “By permitting this new interpretation the United States practically supports the starving out policy of the Allies...” This is true because the United States were close to the Allies. An example of this was J.P. Morgan giving France three billion dollars. The United States had problems against Germany and the Central powers. When Germany resumed using U-boats the United States entered the war. Many events proved that the US was indeed not neutral, however they tried to do things that proved that they were.
Once World War I began the United States had nothing to do with it. They declared themselves neutral because of the fact that they didn’t have anything to do with the war. The United States were too involved with most of the warring countries prior to the war. In addition, there were too many events involving the United States with the warring countries. This lead up to the United States entering World War I.
February 10, 2007
World War I
At the beginning of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson had a choice on whether or not he was suppose to enter World War I. It was a good idea for him to stay out at the beginning of the war, because the cause of the war had nothing to do with America. However, there were events during the war lead up to the United States entering the war. These events were the America’s neutrality, the Zimmerman note, and Germany’s use of U-Boats. These events forced Wilson to enter the war.
When World War I began the United States had nothing to do with it. America stayed neutral during the first three years of the war. This is because World War I interrupted international trade and the entire world’s economy. Wilson’s primary focus during his presidency was the economy. The main countries that were at war with one another were the countries that the United States did a lot of trading with. Since those countries were at war their primary focus wasn’t on trading with one another. This resulted in America’s neutrality.
In early 1917 the British intercepted a telegram from Germany to Mexico. The telegram was a note from Alfred Zimmerman discussing why Mexico should enter the war on the Central Powers side. On the note Zimmerman promised Mexico the if they and the United States entered the war and the Central Powers won Mexico would recieve the land that they had lost in the Mexico-American war. Many Americans were outraged at the fact that this could indeed happen. This was another contributing factor in America entering World War I
Germany’s use of U-boats (submarines) was the final factor in America entering the war. In 1915 Germany claimed the British waters was a War-zone. Germany claimed that they would attack any ship that entered the zone. This surely backfired on the United States and Germany. A British ship called the Lusitania was torpedoed killing 128 American passengers. This resulted in Wilson threatening to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany if the sunk another ship carrying US passengers. However, when 2 Americans were injured by Germans the Sussex pledge was devised. This pledge was so that Germany wouldn’t sink passenger ships without a significant warning. Unfortunately this didn’t last long, because the Germans began using the U-boats once again in 1917 which was a primary factor in the US entering the war.
Initially, President Woodrow Wilson had a choice on whether or not the US would enter the war. World War I had nothing to do with the United States. Events regarding the United States during the war forced Wilson into entering the war. These events were America’s neutrality, the Zimmerman note, and Germany’s use of U-boats. That’s why Wilson had no choice on whether or not the US would enter the war.
When World War I began the United States had nothing to do with it. America stayed neutral during the first three years of the war. This is because World War I interrupted international trade and the entire world’s economy. Wilson’s primary focus during his presidency was the economy. The main countries that were at war with one another were the countries that the United States did a lot of trading with. Since those countries were at war their primary focus wasn’t on trading with one another. This resulted in America’s neutrality.
In early 1917 the British intercepted a telegram from Germany to Mexico. The telegram was a note from Alfred Zimmerman discussing why Mexico should enter the war on the Central Powers side. On the note Zimmerman promised Mexico the if they and the United States entered the war and the Central Powers won Mexico would recieve the land that they had lost in the Mexico-American war. Many Americans were outraged at the fact that this could indeed happen. This was another contributing factor in America entering World War I
Germany’s use of U-boats (submarines) was the final factor in America entering the war. In 1915 Germany claimed the British waters was a War-zone. Germany claimed that they would attack any ship that entered the zone. This surely backfired on the United States and Germany. A British ship called the Lusitania was torpedoed killing 128 American passengers. This resulted in Wilson threatening to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany if the sunk another ship carrying US passengers. However, when 2 Americans were injured by Germans the Sussex pledge was devised. This pledge was so that Germany wouldn’t sink passenger ships without a significant warning. Unfortunately this didn’t last long, because the Germans began using the U-boats once again in 1917 which was a primary factor in the US entering the war.
Initially, President Woodrow Wilson had a choice on whether or not the US would enter the war. World War I had nothing to do with the United States. Events regarding the United States during the war forced Wilson into entering the war. These events were America’s neutrality, the Zimmerman note, and Germany’s use of U-boats. That’s why Wilson had no choice on whether or not the US would enter the war.
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