AP US History Study Guide: Period 7 - 1890 to 1945

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

5 chapters7 takeaways23 key terms5 questions

Overview

This video covers Period 7 of AP US History (1890-1945), a transformative era for the United States. It explores the nation's shift towards a more active foreign policy, including imperialism and interventions in Latin America and the Pacific. Domestically, the Progressive Era saw reforms addressing industrialization, urbanization, and corruption, alongside significant social changes like the Great Migration and the fight for women's suffrage. The period also delves into America's involvement in World War I, the subsequent Red Scare, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression and the New Deal, and finally, the nation's emergence as a global superpower through its involvement in World War II. The video emphasizes how these events shaped modern America and its international role.

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Chapters

The US adopted a more interventionist foreign policy, marked by imperialism and influence in other nations.
Sensationalist journalism, like that of William Randolph Hearst, fueled public support for the Spanish-American War.
The acquisition of territories like the Philippines and the construction of the Panama Canal demonstrated America's growing global reach and strategic interests.
The Roosevelt Corollary expanded the Monroe Doctrine, positioning the US as an international police power in Latin America, leading to 'Big Stick Politics'.
Dollar Diplomacy, under Taft, aimed to use economic influence to achieve political and social control in foreign nations.

This chapter explains how the US transitioned from a relatively isolationist nation to a global power, setting the stage for its 20th-century international role and interventions.

The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, amplified by sensationalist newspaper reports, served as a catalyst for the Spanish-American War and subsequent US expansion.

Muckraking journalists exposed corruption and unsafe conditions, sparking the Progressive Era reforms.
Key legislation like the Clayton Antitrust Act aimed to regulate big business and protect workers' rights to organize.
Reforms in public health and social work, exemplified by the Clean Food and Drug Act and settlement houses, addressed urban poverty and worker exploitation.
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, a culmination of decades of activism.
Immigration restrictions, such as the 1924 Immigration Act, reflected growing nativism and altered the demographic landscape of the US.

This section details how domestic movements and reforms sought to address the challenges of industrialization and urbanization, fundamentally changing the relationship between citizens, corporations, and the government.

Upton Sinclair's novel 'The Jungle' exposed the unsanitary conditions in the Chicago meatpacking industry, directly leading to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.

Woodrow Wilson's 'Moral Diplomacy' initially guided US foreign policy, but global events forced a reevaluation.
The sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman Telegram were key factors that pushed the US into World War I.
Wilson's Fourteen Points aimed to establish a lasting peace and a new balance of power in Europe after the war.
The US Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations highlighted domestic divisions and a desire for continued isolationism.
The post-war era saw a 'Red Scare,' fueled by fears of communism and radicalism, leading to increased government surveillance and suppression of dissent.

This chapter illustrates America's reluctant entry into a major global conflict and the subsequent domestic anxieties and political shifts that followed, impacting civil liberties and international engagement.

The Zimmerman Telegram, a secret German proposal to Mexico to ally against the US, significantly inflamed public opinion and contributed to the US declaration of war in 1917.

The 1920s were characterized by increased consumerism, cultural shifts like the Harlem Renaissance, and social changes such as Prohibition.
Economic speculation and over-borrowing led to the stock market crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression.
Herbert Hoover's initial response to the Depression was limited, emphasizing private charity over direct government intervention.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal introduced massive federal intervention to provide relief, recovery, and reform, fundamentally altering the role of government.
Key New Deal programs like the TVA, AAA, and the establishment of 'alphabet agencies' aimed to address unemployment, stabilize the economy, and regulate markets.

This section explains the dramatic economic boom and bust cycle of the early 20th century and how the government's response to the Great Depression redefined its responsibilities to its citizens.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Act, a New Deal initiative, funded the construction of dams to provide electricity and flood control, transforming a vast impoverished region.

Despite initial neutrality, the US was drawn into World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The war effort mobilized the entire nation, impacting domestic industries and daily life, including the controversial internment of Japanese Americans.
The US played a crucial role on multiple fronts in both Europe and the Pacific.
Wartime conferences like Yalta and Potsdam began shaping the post-war global order and the division of Germany.
The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the end of the war and ushered in the nuclear age, solidifying the US's status as a superpower.

This chapter details the US's pivotal role in World War II, its transformation into a global military and economic powerhouse, and the profound, often difficult, consequences of its actions on the world stage.

Executive Order 9066, signed by FDR, led to the forced internment of Japanese Americans in camps during World War II, a significant violation of civil liberties justified by wartime paranoia.

Key takeaways

1The period 1890-1945 saw the US evolve from a developing nation to a dominant global superpower, driven by economic expansion, foreign policy shifts, and military engagement.
2Domestic reforms during the Progressive Era fundamentally reshaped American society by addressing industrialization's challenges and expanding government's role in regulating the economy and protecting citizens.
3The US's involvement in World War I marked a significant departure from its traditional isolationist stance, though a desire for non-involvement resurfaced in the interwar period.
4The Great Depression and the New Deal represented a critical turning point, establishing the federal government as a major player in economic management and social welfare.
5World War II solidified America's position as a global leader, but also introduced new challenges, including the Cold War and the threat of nuclear annihilation.
6Technological advancements in communication and transportation played a crucial role in shaping mass culture and spreading modern ideas throughout this period.
7Internal social and cultural conflicts, exacerbated by migration and global events, were a constant feature of this era, influencing policy and societal norms.

Key terms

ImperialismSpanish-American WarRoosevelt CorollaryBig Stick PoliticsDollar DiplomacyProgressive EraMuckrakersClayton Antitrust Act19th AmendmentGreat MigrationMoral DiplomacyFourteen PointsTreaty of VersaillesRed ScareProhibitionHarlem RenaissanceGreat DepressionNew DealAlphabet AgenciesPearl HarborInternment CampsYalta ConferencePotsdam Conference

Test your understanding

1How did the US foreign policy shift from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, and what were the key events driving this change?
2What were the primary goals of the Progressive movement, and what were some of its most significant legislative achievements?
3Explain the main reasons for the United States' entry into World War I and the impact of the war on American society and its international standing.
4How did the Great Depression and the subsequent New Deal programs fundamentally alter the role of the federal government in American life?
5What were the major domestic and international consequences of the United States' involvement in World War II, and how did it emerge as a superpower?