The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard 11.1 (Approximate Years: 1700s to 1870s)
This standard looks at the founding of America's government and the causes and effects of the Civil War.
11.1.1
Before the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) there were philosophers in Europe and America who had many new ideas. This was from a time called the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment stressed that man was logical and that science could help one understand the world. Two of these men were John Locke and Thomas Jefferson. They believed that man could govern himself. Mankind did not need any kings. All it needed was the support of the people. This key idea is known as "consent of the governed." In the 1700s America was growing unhappy being a colony of Great Britain, Using Enlightenment ideas, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. It said that all people had certain "inalienable rights" that could not be taken away by any king. With that America declared its independence in 1776. America would have to fight a long war (1775-1783), but it would win.
11.1.2
America's first Constitution. The Articles of Confederation was not very effective so a second constitution, called The Constitution, was written m the 1780s. There was a debate between those who felt this new government would be too strong and those who said we needed more power in the national government The Federalists (the second of the groups) won the debate. However, to make everyone happy the Bill of Rights was included in the Constitution. These first ten amendments guaranteed many of the rights we hold so dearly.
11.1.3
The study of how The Constitution affected the United States is an interesting one. All during the years leading up to the Civil War (1780s to the 1850s) there was one question in the country. Who really had final authority over the people? Was it the states? Or was it the new President, Congress, and Courts set up by The Constitution? People were interested in this question because America was a country where they had the power to vote.
ADD
All during the 19" century (the 1800s) regular, everyday Americans had gained more and more political power. (This is called the New Democracy or Jacksonian Democracy). President Andrew Jackson's elections in 1832 and 1836 were because the common folk, the farmer and frontiersman as well as workers in the cities, supported him. See? That's what made America better than the countries of Europe. The common voice was heard!
11.1.4
As Americans moved west another debate rose up in America. The question that Americans struggled with was should slavery be allowed to move west? America had gained new lands from France (the Louisiana Purchase) and Mexico (the Mexican War), so the question was an important one. The North said, "No!" and the South said, "Yes!" This argument would finally lead to the Civil War (1861-1865). The North would win the war with tens of thousands of Americans from both sides dying in the war. The nation would be different after the war. The North would dominate the nation for years to come. An industrial revolution would change America from an agrarian (farming) nation to an industrial one. The South would be bitter and there would be great conflict over the rights of the freed African Americans. That struggle would continue all the way into the next century, the 20th century.
The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard 11.2 (Approximate years: 1870s to the early 1900s)
This Standard explores America's industrial revolution after the Civil War. It also looks at the large number of immigrants who arrive to work in the factories. At the same time we will find out why many American farmers "were also moving to the cities (urban areas) looking for jobs.
11.2.1
As America became more and more urban, the cities grew rapidly. There were lots of factories and business was really booming. However, there weren't any rules that had to be followed. This laissez-faire attitude of the government led to many problems in living and living conditions. This standard examines the problems of safety conditions at work, the abuses of child labor, etc. The muckrakers did expose them to the public (remember The Jungle) and the government would finally have to respond with laws and regulations.
11.2.2
As cities grew in the late 19th century (1870’s to 1900) a pattern became noticeable. Different parts of the city were each used differently. There were areas for factories. There were areas for retail shops. In another part of town would be the professional area. Another thing quickly became apparent. Another division had to do with who you were. If you were white and rich there was one neighborhood for you.
Other racial and ethnic groups had their own part of town.
11.2.3
As immigrants came to America from Europe there began attempts to "Americanize" them. That meant to have them learn English and learn our ways of doing things. Logically, this was primarily done through public schools. Also, some people set up settlement houses in the major cities. These places helped the immigrants to learn American ways. The most famous was Hall House in Chicago that was founded by
Jane Addams.
11.2.4
There was a lot of corruption during this time (1870s to 1900s). Remember this is the time of laissez-faire and the government isn't as involved in everyday life as it is today. One loud complaint was about corruption in city governments. Certain men called political bosses ("Boss" Tweed of New York is the most famous) would often trade the votes of the Sew Immigrants (from southern and eastern Europe) for favors from the politicians of the cities. These bosses were very powerful. They would have control over many parts of the cities. Historians often refer to their organizations as "political machines" because they ran so smoothly and were so powerful. But the idea of trading votes for favors goes against the idea of what America was founded for.
Soon, a group of people called The Progressives would act against this corruption. These college-educated, middle-class men and women would lead a fight to end these abuses. Their choice of weapon was the power of the government. Several state governors (including Hiram Johnson the governor of California) and Presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson will take up their battle as well.
11.2.5
With the rapid industrialization of America, some men wanted the richest company they could have. They decided the best way to do this was by eliminating their competition. This is the standard that asks about the growth of monopolies and trusts. Three of the most famous monopolists were led by Andrew Carnegie (Steel), John D. Rockefeller (Oil), and J.P. Morgan (Banking).
11.2.6
America had many advantages, as it became an economic power. It bad a lot of natural resources (oil, iron ore, coal, etc.) and it bad smart men who put all the pieces together. Also, though it led to problems for the common man, the government's philosophy of laissez-faire helped businesses by leaving it alone. Obviously, the sky was the limit. With the great production of our factories, America soon sold goods all over the world. We bad always been a nation that traded and America sought new markets wherever they could. Finally, being protected by two oceans kept the wars of the world away from us and allowed America to grow without the fear of war damage.
11.2.7
Besides the elections of Presidents, you can study America through what are called social movements. These are new ideas that affect the way people think and live. During this time of rapid change from a fanning country to an industrial country there were many social movements. Often they dealt with the question of why certain people became wealthy and some did not. One man, William Graham Sumner, took the ideas of Charles Darwin and applied it to society. He said that the reason the wealthy were wealthy was because they were the best or "the fittest." His ideas are called Social Darwinism,
There were some who saw the many new problems of America's cities and offered Christianity as the solution. The next social movement was called the Social Gospel. Some preachers and pastors taught that Christianity was the only way to find happiness in the turmoil of the new urban centers. Two of the most famous Social Gospel preachers were Dwight L. Moody and Billy Sunday.
11.2.8
There was one other movement of the 19th century that we need to know about. American farmers saw that the price of their wheat, corn, cotton, etc. was slipping as fast as their political power (because cities were growing powerful). They could see that the monopolists and city leaders had all the power and they were frustrated. They would try to create their own political voice in the late 19th century (1870’s to 1890s).
Some farmers decided to join a third political party. (The Democrats and the Republicans were the other two). The party was known as the People's Party or the Populist Party. The Populists wanted many things the Progressives would later push for (though the Progressives were concerned about city problems and not the problems on the farm.) Their main concern was the power of banks and railroads and how often found themselves in debt. They would often lose their farms to the banks and found they had no other choice but to move to the city to join the millions of others now working in the factories.
11.2.9
So in this last part of the standard, the Progressives grow in power. Laws are passed as the stale level and in Washington, D.C. to try to control the monopolies. Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson will all become "trust busters." At the state level Governor Hiram Johnson of California will attempt to control the Railroads. Governor Robert LaFollete of Wisconsin will use college exerts to advise him on how to best handle the complex business controls of the new 20th century. The 16th Amendment will start the income tax, allowing the government to have enough money and influence to take on the monopolies. It was a time of drastic change and it did not all go smoothly. The transition from laissez-faire to government control will start here. However, it won't be until the New Deal and World War II that the government's power will come close to what it is today.
The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard 11.3 (Taken from all of American History)
This standard examines the importance of religion in American History.
11.3.1
The philosophy of America came from many places. One of them was the Enlightenment philosopher mentioned in Standard 11.1. Many of the ideas we accept in American culture come from The Bible. The ideas of the Judeo-Christian traditions are found in the Old Testament and New Testament From the Puritans to the First Great Awakening, from the Second Great Awakening to the Social Gospel, from the crusades of Billy Graham to the churches and Televangelists of today, the influences of the Bible and Christianity has been very important in American History. This examination of Christianity is not a spiritual one but one of how the ideas of Christianity have affected the story of America. One way to look at the influence of Christianity is by how Americans live their lives. The Puritans gave us the concept that one should work hard and not be lazy. That's known as the Puritan work ethic. That certainly is a lesson we hear everyday. Christianity encourages the importance of each individual. That idea can be seen in the importance America puts on the rights each individual has in our country. Christianity also teaches that individuals are responsible for themselves. Again, that idea is seen in families, schools, and at work. Each of us needs to do our own job to be successful. Look at how America has been changed by the importance of religion. The individual is important so NO MORE KINGS! Everyone has certain rights leads to THE
11.3.2
The historical importance of religion in America history is most noticeable in social reform movements. This means that out of religious influence will come a change (or reform) of American society. In the 1740s there was a uniquely American religious movement called the First Great Awakening. Jonathan Edwards started this movement when he gave his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The FGA was a shared event in America. This was important in the 1730s and 1740s because as America moved to become an independent country there needed to be common events that brought us closer together. The next religious movement, and it was one of the most important in American history, was the Second Great Awakening. This started in the 1830s and 1840s. Again, it was a Christian revival throughout the land (back then the "land" was from the east coast to about the Mississippi River). The
In the 20" century, American Christianity faced a struggle with the publication of the ideas of Charles Darwin. Evolution threatened a key belief held by many Fundamental Christians (a Fundamentalist is one who believes that the Bible is God's final truth.) If God created the world, where did evolution fit in? This struggle was most famously seen in the Scopes Monkey Trial (1925). Some churches accepted the ideas of science and religion. This is known as Modernism and if someone accepts these ideas, they are called a Modernist. Religion continued its importance into the 20" century. The Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination in America. The Catholic Church examined its position in the modem world at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The decisions coming out of these meetings included making the Church services more accessible to the regular churchgoer (lay person). The service would not be in Latin, but (in America) in English. Also, priests were encouraged to be more active within their flock. These decisions (and many others) came after debate and discussion. These reforms would directly touch the Catholics in America. Finally, as America exits the 20" century and begins the 21st century, religion continues to play an important social and political role. When Ronald Reagan was elected in both 1980 and 1984 many Christians were politically involved in an interest group known as the Christian Coalition. Their goal was to support politicians that more represented their viewpoints. They could best be described as Fundamentalists. One of their important issues was the question of legal abortions. They desired to see the Supreme Court's decision of Roe v. Wade (1973) overturned.
11.3.3
Religious persecution has often been a theme in American history. Sometimes America was the place to escape religious persecution. Sometimes it was the place it happened. The Pilgrims and the Puritans came to America in the 1600s to escape persecution in England. The Quakers, led by William Penn, founded Pennsylvania in the late 1600s for the same reason. The colony of Maryland was founded as a Catholic haven (safe place) during the same time period. Catholics often faced considerable prejudice, especially in the 19" century. Protestants and Catholics are both Christian, yet they have been adversaries both in Europe and America. A Nativist political party (a nativist is someone who favors native-horn Americans and doesn't like immigrants) called the Know-Nothings had great influence during the middle of the 19th century. The KKK of the 1920s was also strongly anti-Catholic. Some say that Al Smith (D, 1928) lost the presidency because he was Catholic and that John F. Kennedy would lose in 1960 because he was Catholic. Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church in America. It grew in the 1820s and the 1830s but the church faced great persecution (some of this persecution came from their belief in polygamy). After the murder of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young led the Mormons on their Great Trek to the land that became Utah. One other area of religious persecution in America can be seen in the feelings of anti-Semitism. This means the hatred of the Jews. We know this is what happened in Germany during the time of Adolph Hitler, but American history also shows that Jews often faced great hardships. Again, the KKK of the 1920s was full of anti-Semites. However, it should be remembered that the Jews of Russia saw America as a place of hope after they escaped the pogroms (acts of persecution) ordered by the Czars.
11.3.4
Today religion in America is about Christianity... and so much more. There are a large numbers of religions that are practiced right here in California. Having many religions is called Religious Pluralism. Much of this pluralism has come about because of the immigration of the 20th century. The growth of Buddhism) Hinduism, and Islam are just a few examples.
11.3.5
This final part of the standard is about the freedoms of religion that America enjoys. Certainly the first amendment is a large part of this freedom. It guarantees that there will be no official religion in America (this is called the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment) and that each can worship as they please (that is known as the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment). The Establishment clause has led to quite a bit of controversy in America. Since there is no official or established religion in America, the Supreme Court decided that official religious activities in public schools are unacceptable. Public schools are paid for by the government (with your taxes) and should not, the Court said, officially support any particular religion. The court cases grew out concern over religious activities in tax-supported public schools. Non-Christian parents felt uncomfortable with these activities, including daily prayers.
The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard 11.4 (Approximate Years: Late 1890s to 1918)
This standard looks at the birth of American Imperialism. The Spanish-American War and World War I are the focus.
11.4.1
Because of America's new industrial power, we began to look for additional markets to sell OUT goods. One place we were real excited about was Asia. There were millions and millions of potential customers over there. However, there was a problem! Many countries had got there first because of the growth of 19th century imperialism. Each of these countries had carved out sections of China that they controlled. These places were called Spheres of Influence. We demanded from the world that any county (especially us 1) should be able to trade in China. Secretary of State John Hay and President William McKinley called for an "Open Door" (1898) in China for all to trade.
Generally, each nation involved in China allowed the Open Door policy to work. However, the Chinese themselves were unhappy with all of this foreign involvement in their country. They tried to kick out the foreigners with the failed Boxer Rebellion of 1900.
11.4.2
Cuba was in turmoil in the late 1890s. Spain still controlled it and the Cubans wanted their independence. America wanted Spain out of the Western Hemisphere as well. Events would quickly lead to a war between America and Spain. President McKinley sent the Maine, a U.S. naval ship, down to Havana harbor to show our interest and concern. It blew up! Oh, how Americans were mad. They blamed the Spanish, perhaps unfairly. The Yellow Press, led by William Randolph Hearst, made sure their newspapers kept the story on the front page. Public pressure grew on McKinley to do something. Finally in April 1898, Congress declared war on Spain. The war is called the Spanish-American War. America's interest in Asia and their desire to help the Cubans coincided in this war. Not only would we fight in Spanish Cuba we also fought over in the Spanish Philippines! Our goal in the Philippines was to find not only another market in Asia, but also a convenient place to further our trade in Asia. Because America was going to be involved in China, Hawaii was annexed (added) to America as a territory. After the war, the Americans would control the island of Guam. America's new involvement in the South Pacific will be part of the future conflict against Japan in World War II. America won the war rather easily. America had modernized its navy into a steel-hulled, steam-powered navy and it was far superior to the Old Spanish fleet. Americans fought bravely in Cuba with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders becoming national heroes. The war lasted 6 months. America would give Cuba its independence but it would hang on to Puerto Rico and, of course, the Philippines.
11.4.3
The Spanish-American War proved that a canal across Central America was needed. It was dangerous and costly to move our fleet between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Also, it wasn't practical to build two fleets. So, after looking at Nicaragua, America decided that Panama was the place. In fact, the French had already attempted to build it, though they had failed. Panama at this point was not a country but a part of Colombia. President Theodore Roosevelt (he became President after McKinley had been assassinated in 1901) thought he had a deal worked out with Colombia to build the canal. However, Colombia wanted more money. TR wanted to start the canal so he "helped" (will American military support) the Panamanians to declare their independence. TR quickly signed a deal with this new country to build the canal. Colombia and the rest of Latin America were not happy with America. With the Monroe Doctrine, America had always been seen as the guardian of Latin America. With the actions down in Panama, America-did not look any better than the Europeans to the people of Latin America. The canal would take ten years lo build and it was completed in 1914. America would control it throughout the 20th century. President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) would finally give it back to Panama.
11.4.4
Presidents Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909), William Howard Taft (1909-1913), and Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) all developed important foreign policies.
Roosevelt's foreign policy decisions included both the Roosevelt Corollary and the extension of what became known as "Big Stick" Diplomacy. The Roosevelt Corollary was an attempt to add something onto the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine said that European countries should not intervene into Latin America. However, the Roosevelt Corolla said that America could intervene instead. This intervention was usually by military force. The use of the military is known as "Big Stick" Diplomacy. Taft wanted to increase America's presence in the world. But he wanted to avoid using the military. Taft encouraged American businesses to invest in foreign countries to extend America's interest. Taft's foreign policy was called Dollar Diplomacy. Wilson's move into foreign policy was called Moral Diplomacy. In this policy, Wilson wanted to reward and support countries that did "right" and wanted to punish those that did "wrong." Of course, Wilson would be the one to determine what was right or wrong. Moral Diplomacy was applied in Mexico as Wilson attempted to support opponents of Venustiano Huerta after Huerta's supporters had assassinated the leader of Mexico. Wilson's moral voice can also be seen in his Fourteen Points speech; in this speech he outlined his goals for the world after the end of World War 1. His fourteenth point was the one that called for a League of Nations that would prevent future wars.
11.4.5
World War I helped change America. There was more government involvement. In fact, the government would take over the railroads for a while so that goods could move more easily. Many as a “victory” of Progressivism saw the increase of government activity. Remember, Progressives saw government action as the tool they desired to use. The government set up a Fuel Administration, a National War Labor Board, and the Food Administration led by future President Herbert Hoover. He encouraged Americans to voluntarily sacrifice so that there would be more food for the soldiers overseas.
Americans were encouraged to help the war effort by buying Liberty Bonds. Finally, the government took steps to ensure loyalty. The Espionage Act (1917) and the Sedition Act (1918) saw the U.S. government take steps to control some people and repress ideas that did not support the war. These laws saw the government arresting people who opposed the draft and the war. Women helped during the war by working in factories. For their help during the war, Woodrow Wilson threw his support behind women getting the vote. The 19th amendment would give them the vote. African Americans down south were encouraged to move north to help as factory workers.
11.4.6
One last thing needs to be examined as America exits World War 1. A great change is occurring in world politics. No one realizes it. Oh, maybe a few political thinkers sitting around begin to guess it, but the world was unaware. What was happening? Ever so slowly America is gaining on Great Britain as the most important and strongest nation in the world. Now in the 1930s with the Great Depression, no one could have guessed how important America would soon become. But the clues were there and after World War II America will be the most dominant nation in the whole world.
The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard 11.5 (Approximate Years: 1920-1929)
This standard looks at the decade of the "Roaring 20s."
11.5.1
To understand the 1920s we need to remember that the results of World War I will deeply affect how America thinks. Woodrow Wilson had convinced Americans to support World War I because the world would be better when it was over. Wilson promised that WWI would be "the war to end war" and it would "make the world safe for democracy." Well, it didn't really work out that way and many Americans were disappointed that the world seemed no better after the war than it had been before. America felt disillusioned. Many wanted to return to the isolation of the 19th century.
When he ran for the presidency in ]920, Warren G. Harding had promised he would take America back to how it had been before the war. He promised a "return to normalcy." During the 1920s, the Republican Party will control the Presidency and Congress. The Republican Party is both a conservative (not wanting much government intervention and change) and very supportive of business. Presidents Warren G. Harding (1921-1923), Calvin Coolidge (1923-1939), and Herbert Hoover (1929-1932) will not disappoint their supporters. Though the past twenty years (1900-1920) were the years of the Progressives, the Republicans of the 20s will slowly end Progressivism in favor of their pro-business administration. In fact, Coolidge once said, "The business of America is business."
Some of the Republican actions were a little TOO friendly with business. Harding's administration had a lot of scandals. The Teapot Dome Scandal was the most famous.
11.5.2
The end of the war brought an anti-foreign movement called the Red Scare. Americans decided that their post World War I normalcy did not include anarchy, socialism, unionism, and communism. For the next several years any person considered un-American, foreign, or just a troublemaker faced a lot of hardship. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer arrested many communists after World War 1. The Palmer Raids actually sent some of them back to Russia. Many immigrant groups were looked on suspiciously. The story of Sacco and Vanzetti demonstrated this anti-immigrant prejudice.
The growth of the KKK in the 20s also showed how hatred and fear had gripped America. Congress passed a couple of laws to restrict immigration from Europe. The first law was the Emergency Quota Act of 1921. The final one was the Immigration Act of 1924. Both of these laws were passed to put a "KEEP OUT” sign to the immigrants of Southern and Eastern Europe.
If there were those who opposed outsiders and new ideas it should not be surprising that there were many who fought FOR these people so that they could enjoy the freedoms of America. Perhaps this is one of America's greatest attributes. Whenever there is hatred and anger, there are those who fight for the good things of the country; the ideal that we are all equal and should all be treated the same. African American had hoped that the WWI would help them gain more rights. They felt they had contributed by working in the factories as the white soldiers had gone off to war. They would be wrong.
When the white soldiers came home most African Americans lost their jobs. There were racial tensions and finally racial riots in the north. Marcus Garvey, an African American who wanted his people to feel pride felt the need lo start a "back to Africa" movement. His movement failed but African Americans began to feel a greater pride in their culture. This can be seen by the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. The Harlem Renaissance was an African American cultural explosion seen in music, literature, and art. To fight the prejudice of the 1920s, organizations grew or were even created. The NAACF (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) fought social and legal battles for African Americans. The International Workers of the World (The I.W.W. or "Wobblies” fought for the poorest of the workingmen.
When Roger Baldwin founded the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) in 1920, civil liberties were in a sorry state. Citizens were sitting in jail for holding antiwar views. U.S. Attorney General Palmer was conducting raids upon aliens suspected of holding unorthodox opinions. Racial segregation was the law of the land and violence against blacks was routine. The ACLU is an organization that fought to make sure that all Americans received their rights guaranteed them in the Constitution. It usually fought through the legal system, often taking their cases to the Supreme Court. It is seen as a very controversial organization. Sometimes they fight for things that are outside the mainstream of accepted beliefs and that upset a lot of people. For an example, the ACLU would support John T. Scopes and his trial in Tennessee. We have read earlier that Jews in America were often treated harshly. The Anti-Defamation League was created in 1913 to support Jews and ensure justice for them. It is still an active organization today.
11.5.3
Way back during the Second Great Awakening (1830s onward) many Americans were worried about alcohol abuse. States had begun to pass laws restricting the production and sale of alcohol. Finally the 18th Amendment would be added to the U.S. Constitution m 1919. Prohibition was also called "The Great Experiment" because America was going to try to change the lifestyles of its citizens. To enforce Prohibition, Congress would pass the Volstead Act. Government agents now would try to keep Americans from buying and selling alcohol. It didn't really work. Oh sure, Americans drank less, but there were many ways to find alcohol. Speakeasies and bootleggers had alcohol for those who wanted it. In fact, many claim Prohibition was a mistake because of the rise of organized crime. The Great Experiment would be finished when the 21st Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1933. The 21st Amendment ended the power of the 18th Amendment.
11.5.4
Women had been fighting for the right to vote for a long time. The 15th Amendment had said that all citizens of the United States had the right to vote. But women still did not have that right. The passage of the 19th Amendment in 1919 finally gave them the right of suffrage (that means to vote). Women became more independent during the 20s. The flappers represented this new independence.
11.5.5
The cultural landscape of the 1920s saw many changes. Jazz became the 'sacred' music of the time. There was an explosion of artistic achievement. The Harlem Renaissance has already been mentioned, but its important should not be forgotten. Poet Langston Hughes and author Nora Zeale Hurston wrote important pieces of literature. Music's popularity increased because of Thomas Edison's invention of the phonograph. Radio helped as well. American authors often wrote of the disillusionment fell at the end of World War 1. The "Lost Generation" is a term applied to American authors who lived in Paris and wrote literature that sought the meaning of life. Two of these authors were F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.
11.5.6
American culture was spread worldwide by radio and movies. Movie stars were known worldwide. Radio and movies had a great impact on American culture as well. Now that everyone could hear the same song or saw the same movie, Americans were becoming more like each other. This is referred to as the "standardization" of life. Americans were becoming interconnected as never before.
11.5.7
Technology and new ideas will help change America. The mass production of the automobile affected many industries. Henry Ford and his assembly line will be quickly copied throughout many industries. Items were being produced quickly and efficiently. The costs of these consumer goods were going down Americans could afford to buy many new products. Credit buying helped this along. Cities were beginning to dominate American life. The 19th century had been a rural and agrarian (farming) one. The 20th century is the urban century. Electricity becomes the power supply of the new century.
Reaching out from the cities, it would reach rural areas in the 30s and 40s. Road constriction, the expanded city, and the first suburbs were just some of the cadence of change in the 1920s.
The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard 11.6 (Approximate Years: 1929-1939)
This standard looks at The Great Depression, the New Deal, and the first two terms of
President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
11.6.1
America had a flaw in its economic system. There was an inelasticity of currency. That sounds pretty fancy, doesn't it? What it really means is that most of America's money was found in banks on the east coast. If westerners were having economic problems and needed loans to get things going, there wasn't enough money out west to fix their problems. President Woodrow Wilson will help with the creation of the Federal Reserve System. This set up 12 regional banks that could pump money into any part of the nation that needed it. The 1920s was a strange mixture of economic success and failure. Many businesses were doing well and the stock market was certainly booming, but some groups, especially farmers and factory workers, were not enjoying the same prosperity.
11.6.2
The crash of the stock market would directly lead to the Great Depression. The stock market crashed in October 1929 during the first year of Herbert Hoover's presidency. No one understood that this was going to be the worst economic downturn in American history. Hoover and Congress were at first slow to respond. They believed if they just waited it out the bad economic times would finally go away. Hoover had another reason to not do much. He believed in the concept of rugged individualism. This meant that people should fix their own problems. Hoover wasn't a Progressive. He didn't want to use the government as a tool to fix the Great Depression. The Federal Reserve tried to do its part to help the economy. It cut the prime interest rate from 6 to 4 percent (making it easier to borrow money) and tried to expand the money supply (more money available would make getting a loan easier which might lead to more jobs). Hoover would attempt to help the economy by increasing spending on public works projects such as Hoover Dam. Dam building by both Hoover and FDR would do three things. It created jobs. It controlled flooding and finally created electricity. Hoover also created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. The RFC was an attempt at "pump priming." By giving money to corporations Hoover hoped to stimulate economic growth and see more jobs created. Though a good idea, it was much too little much too late.
11.6.3
The Great Depression would leave no American's life untouched. The name itself lets you know how harsh it was. The devastation was found in both the city and farm. Unemployment at over 25% ruined the lives of many people. Homes and farms were foreclosed, as people couldn't pay their bills anymore. The story of the American fanner in Oklahoma and Arkansas is usually told to represent the hopelessness of the Great Depression. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck tells the story of the Joad family. Farmers unwisely did not understand that the way they farmed would lead to the Dust Bowl. They didn't protect their topsoil. They were hit by drought over several years and then the winds howled south from Canada. Day turned to night as their farmland was blown towards the Gulf of Mexico. They were run off their farms and started to make their trek towards California. With their rickety trucks, entire families faced prejudice, fear, and unfair labor practices.
Californians did not welcome the "Okies" with open aims. These Midwest refugees were seen as competitors for jobs and during the Great Depression, no one wanted that! The Okies would become part of California life. They settled in the Central Valley and sent their kids to the local schools. They would eventually leave the fields when World War H created a shortage of industrial workers. During such hard times such as these it shouldn't be surprising that there were critics who offered their own suggestions. They often were found on both sides of the political spectrum (both to the right and to the left). From the right side came the very conservative Catholic Priest named Father Coughlin. He was against the New Deal. He thought FDR was going too far and that America was on the road to socialism! He was on the radio and had thousands of loyal listeners. He would finally fall from popularity when his anti-Semitic feelings became obvious. On the left side came the liberal Huey Long of Louisiana.
Nicknamed the "Kingfish", Senator Huey Long wanted Roosevelt to do more! Long pushed for a redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor.
11.6.4
The New Deal was really Progressivism in full bloom. Now, the government would really get busy and do something. Times were so hard that the people were ready and waiting for the government to help them. These changes would be controversial but most readily accepted them. FDR and his Brain Trust created dozens of New Deal agencies. They were referred to as the Alphabet Soup Agencies. Their three main goals were called the "Three R's" The Three R's were Relief, Recovery, and Reform. FDR wanted to help out Americans devastated by the Great Depression (that's the Relief part.) He next wanted to get the country back on its feet and create jobs (that's the Recovery part.) Finally, he wanted to fix the problems that had led to the Great Depression in the first place (that's the Reform part). Examples (and I could give you a whole lot) of these alphabet soup agencies included the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) for farmers, The Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for unemployed workers, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) for unemployed young men. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built dams to create jobs, helped with flood control and also brought rural electrification, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to protect bank deposits, and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for the protection of the union man.
11.6.5
FDR took a special interest in helping the workingman and unions. Traditionally American presidents represented the interests of big business and did little for the workingman. FDR's distant cousin, Theodore Roosevelt, had stood up for coal miners in the early 1900s but that was rare. Labor unions had two organizations (they would later join together in 1955). The two main unions were the American Federation of Labor (AF of L) and the Congress of Industrial Workers (CIO). The former represented a combination of unions of skilled workers. The CIO was filled with unskilled workers. It slowly became the right of unions to organize and strike if needed. However, unions often had to fight the accusation of communist influences. The 1930s saw union membership increase especially in the automobile industry. However, by the late 1940’s Congress was so upset with union power that it passed, over the veto of Harry Truman, the Taft-Hartley Act. This law was aimed at the political power of unions. One of its many provisions said that unions could not contribute to political campaigns.
Unionism is still a part of America's life today. Though union membership has drifted downwards by the end of the 20th century, there have been some victories. One of the most important ones was the birth of the United Farm Workers in California. Caesar Chavez founded the UFW.
The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard 11.7 (Approximate Years: 1939-1945)
This standard looks at the America's participation in World War II.
11.7.1
World War II bad officially started in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland. America was not involved in the war at its beginning but FDR sought to help the Allies any way he could. America had grown isolationist since World War I and did not feel motivated to get involved. Events of the WWII would finally cause America to change its mind.
America's move towards war came step by step. We began a policy called Cash and Carry to help the Allies. Anything they wanted was waiting here in America but they had to pay cash and carry it back to Europe in their own ships. Soon this policy was replaced by Lend-Lease. Britain was in desperate trouble and FDR convinced the American people to help Great Britain (who stood alone against the Germans after the fall of France) with his garden hose analogy. World War D would start for the Americans with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December, 71941. Relations between the two sides had not been very good ever since the Japanese had attacked Manchuria., China in 1931. Though the Americans had broken the Japanese code, the target of Pearl Harbor was a surprise. It was thought the Philippines or the Aleutians islands would be where the attack would occur. The day after the attack, President Roosevelt went to Congress and received a declaration of War against the Axis powers.
11.7.2
The Allies' strategy was to “Get Hitler First" The war would be fought in two major theaters of war: The European Theater and the Pacific Theater.
The British, the Americans, and the Soviets will combine their powers to attack towards Germany. America and GB will attack through North Africa and continue with the invasion of Italy. In Eastern Europe, the Germans will be stopped by the Soviets at Leningrad and Stalingrad. The Soviets will then begin a massive counterattack, pushing the Germans back towards Berlin. In 1944, the Americans and the
British will start their own invasion of Europe with the D-Bay attack at Normandy Beach on June 6th led by General Eisenhower. Though, there would be tough fighting, (The Battle of the Bulge in late '44 and early '45 proved that) the Germans would finally surrender in May of 1945.
In the Pacific Theater, the Japanese advancement will be stopped at the battle of Midway (May, 1942). Midway was a naval/air battle with aircraft carriers playing a major role. The Americans developed a strategy to fight the Japanese called "island hopping." This is where the Allies would attack and conquer key islands and then would leave others to starve. It was a great idea, but the islands they did have to take proved very difficult to conquer. The battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa (Japanese-held islands in the Pacific) are just two examples. The Japanese were tough fighters and had no "give up" m them. (Remember that when we get to the decision to drop the Atomic Bombs.) The island hopping attack towards Japan will take two routes. General Douglas MacArthur and the army will move on the left side and Admiral Nimitz, the navy and the marines move on the right side toward Japan.
11.7.3
The America military will play the key role in defeating the Axis powers. Through volunteers and draftees America will have over 16 million participants in the armed services. There were many examples of sacrifice and bravery all over the world. Inside the military, several minority groups gave special contributions to America's victory.
To help with radio contact in the Pacific Theater, Navajo Codetalkers were used. Navajo Indians were used as radiomen keeping the Japanese from understanding key communications. African American pilots were trained and became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. They fought in Europe and did very well as fighter pilots who flew protection for bombers. Many in these units received Presidential citations. Japanese Americans who wanted to prove their loyalty would volunteer to join the 442'd Regimental Combat team. Fighting in Italy, the "Go For Broke" unit would fight so bravely (9,500 Purple Hearts) that it was the most decorated unit in American history. These minority groups contributed to their country with the hope that they would then be welcomed into the mainstream of American society. After the war, their dream did not come true. It would take some more time for America to break its racist heritage.
11.7.4
FDR's leadership during the war was very important. Not only was he the commander-in chief of the American military he also was the voice of hope and reason. In his speeches to the American people, he talked to the people about the important issues that the war represented. In one speech, called the Four Freedoms Speech, FDR detailed four goals of the war that all people of the world could enjoy when the war was over. These four freedoms were: Freedom of Worship, Freedom of Speech, Freedom From Fear, and Freedom From Want. The first two are found in the First Amendment The latter two were new ideas, perhaps growing out of the years of the Great Depression and the New Deal. FDR also contributed to the Atlantic Charter. This was a document detailing what the war goals of the Allies were. FDR and Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, signed it, it proclaimed, as one of its points, that both countries wanted all countries to be able to choose their own form of government.
11.7.5
Besides studying the events and battles of a war, you need to be aware of what happens to the regular people of the country during a war. This is the studying of the "homefront". After Pearl Harbor all German Americans, Italian Americans and Japanese Americans faced some real problems. Are you surprised about the first two groups? Everyone knows something about the internment of the Japanese Americans, but German Americans and Italian Americans faced the same problems. The big difference was that the Japanese Americans had over 120,000 sent to the camps. About 10,000 each for the first two groups were affected and, yes, some were even held in camps. However, the story of Executive Order 9066 and the internment of the Japanese Americans is the most famous. FDR believed that it was a military necessity to remove the Japanese Americans from the west coast. Some even said that it was for their own safety. They would have very little time to prepare for the trip and they had no idea how long they'd be gone. They lost millions of dollars worth of property because of the short amount of time. Almost 2/3rds of the Japanese Americans were AMERICAM citizens. They couldn't believe how they were being treated. Fred Korematsu sued the United States (Korematsa v. U.S.) but the Supreme Court claimed that what the government did was legal. Later, in the 1980s surviving Japanese Americans were be apologized to and given a cash payment. An interesting side note is that there was a group of Japanese Americans that volunteered to fight; they were stationed in Europe. They were the 44th Regiment and were nicknamed the "Go For Broke" unit They were the most decorated unit in the entire war. African Americans were also affected by the war. They were drafted but served in segregated units. Many African Americans moved north and west to the factories producing war goods. Tills movement from the south to oilier parts of the country in both World War I and World War II is called the Great Migration. When they went looking for jobs they often were turned down because of the racist attitudes of the factory owners. They were very upset by this. Here they were trying to help the country win the war, there was a great shortage of labor, and yet they weren't being hired. An important African American leader named A, Philip Randolph, the leader of the Sleeping Car Porter's Union, threatened FDR with a march on Washington. FDR was angered that blacks weren't being hired so he created another Executive Order. EO 8802 stated that any factory working on government contracts could not discriminate. To make sure that factory owners followed the rules FDR created the Fair Employment Practice Committee
(FEPC). Finally, the Tuskegee Airmen was a famous fighter pilot unit that fought bravely during the war.
The story of women during the war is important as well. Many left their homes and worked in factories to help the war effort. Rosie the Riveter was the iconic symbol for women. To help them, the government set up over 3000 day care centers. Many women really enjoyed the challenge of the job. However, when the war was over the government put considerable pressure on women to leave their jobs to open them up for the returning soldiers. Finally, America's reaction to the Holocaust should be examined. People escaping from Europe let the Roosevelt administration what was going on but the President and his advisors chose to do very little to stop the Holocaust. They said the quickest way to help was to defeat the Germans as soon as possible. There is some logic to this decision but the government could have done much more to save Jewish lives (such as bombing railroad lines going to the camps.) This decision was later regretted.
11.7.6
11.7.7
After the defeat of the Germans in May of 1945, America focused its attention on Japan. The Japanese were really tough fighters and the prospect of invading the Japanese homeland really worried the President. However, there was a secret weapon. America, at the suggestion of Albert Einstein had started the Manhattan Project. The secret project was to build an atomic bomb. It was tested in 1945 m New Mexico. In August 1945 the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and then three days later it was dropped on Nagasaki. The bombs would lead to over 200,000 deaths. The Japanese would then surrender.
The dropping of the bomb has become controversial. Some have said (though certainly not the veterans of the war who were going to have to invade Japan) that dropping the bomb wasn't necessary. They argue that the Japanese were getting ready to quit; others have said that the dropping of the bomb was also intended to send a message to the Soviet Union. Though the Russians were our allies in the war ("the enemy of my enemy is my friend") everyone knew they would be a problem after the war. So, the dropping of the bomb was a message to them to be careful! We had the bomb and they did not.
11.7.8
When the war was there was barely any time to enjoy the victory. We would immediately begin to have trouble with the Soviet Union. Western Europe was a prime concern. It was pretty beaten up by the war and was ripe for communism. Hairy Truman went to Congress and asked for aid. At first they were stunned at the cost but when Czechoslovakia fell to communism Congress kicked in. The Marshal! Plan was an incredible success for both Western Europe AND the United States. The bill ions of do liars weren't given to Europe. It was spent in America and then the purchased goods (food, equipment, technology) were sent to Europe. This obviously helped America's economy as it made the post-war transition.
The California Social Science Standards for the 11th Grade - United States History
Standard II. 8 (Approximate Years: 1945 to the present)
This standard examines the economic boom and social transformation of post-World
War 11 America.
11.8.1
The type of work done by most Americans changed after World War II. Before the War most Americans were involved in manufacturing. After the war most Americans will be involved in what is called the "service economy." These types of jobs include sales and customer service. They are sometimes called "white collar" jobs. The manufacturing of items (called "blue collar" jobs) often moved overseas because salaries were cheaper. With manufacturing jobs going overseas, union membership begins to drop after World War II. A lot of the new jobs are in the bureaucracy of the government. The U.S. government hires more people than any business in America. State and local governments will also need people. Remember, the New Deal and the Great Society created many new government programs and these programs needed people lo run them.
11.8.2
This part of the standard deals with the increase of Mexican immigration and its effect on California's economy. We remember that the Bracero program started the movement of Mexicans north of the border during WWII. The program was so successful that it officially continued into the 1960s. The pattern that was started officially unofficially continues until today. Californians hire many immigrants to work the fields and to work many low paying jobs. Cesar Chavez organized the United Farm Workers to help establish minimum standards of work and pay.
11.8.3
Labor Unions faced hard time in the years following World War II. Prices were going up and up and the unions wanted raises to keep up with the increases. FDR had been friendly to unions and President Truman wanted to continue this pro-union policy after the war. However, the unions became too aggressive demanding higher and higher wages. Truman was annoyed with the unions. He believed their demands for higher wages would lead to inflation throughout the entire country and he did not want that. At one point Truman threatened to draft strikers and order them as soldiers lo stay on the job! Congress would go even further than Truman. Congress passed, over Truman's veto, the Taft-Hartley Act. This law allowed the president to order strikers back to work in certain industries, even if die strike was legal.
11.8.4
Government spending following World War II can be seen in two categories. Tills spending will eventually create a third category. The two categories can be nicknamed "guns" and "butter." The first refers to spending on defense. The Cold War and the Arms Race, plus the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam will all be very expensive. The "butter" part refers to the many government programs to help the American people. The cost of Social Security, Medicare, education and so many other programs is tremendous. The pressure on every politician is to keep taxes down. So to pay for the "guns" and "butter" the government will borrow money from banks creating debt for the nation. This debt has led to the third major category of government expense. That expense is the interest on the debt. When America borrows money from the banks, not only do they have to pay back the original amount, they have to pay the interest. That can be very expensive.
The states also fought the problem of high costs. In California, education is the number one cost. California came up with an ambitious educational program called the "California Master Plan." This plan called for an ambitious program supporting the three parts of California's higher education institutions: The community colleges, the State Universities (ex. California State University, Fullerton), and the UCs (ex. University of California, Irvine),
11.8.5
This standard is about how the power of the American President has dramatically increased after World War n. We started seeing this power as FDR actively tried to fight the Great Depression. President Roosevelt's power certainly increased as he led the Allies during World War IT. The Cold War, the forty-year struggle against communism, continued to see the President's power grow. Both Korea and Vietnam were undeclared wars. America was there because of the will of the President. Even Iraq today is an example of how an American President can commit the country on a path without a formal declaration from Congress. Truly, the President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world.
11.8.6
This standard looks at the concerns of protecting the environment. Americans became more and more aware of environmental problems in the 1960s on. Silent Spring, a book written by Rachel Carson in 1962 that examined the impact of the insecticide DDT raised the environmental concerns of many Americans. Air and water pollution was a growing concern and business had government regulations placed on them to reverse the polluting trends. There also began a struggle between business and government over these regulations. Steps to clean up the environment are often very costly and business bristled against the new rules a regulations. Many things became more costly as business passed the cost of government regulations on to their customers.
11.8.7
If you look at America since WWU, there is certainly one area where the country has changed the most and that's in technology. Anywhere and everywhere you look you see the impact of technology. The computer, the advances in telephone/wireless technology, the impact of digital communication, and even the advances in agricultural machinery and seed and fertilizer information have changed the world in which we live. Think of all of the advances in medicine and all of the different treatments for different diseases. This standard examines how technology has changed and continues to change the lives of Americans.
11.8.8
This last part of standard 11.8 looks at how America is truly a "whole" nation today.
Ideas, foods, customs and traditions are now more universally found throughout the country. Certainly the media (TV, radio. movies, etc) have contributed to this. But so has the fact that Americans have moved a