british and american history week 16

British and American HistoryWeek 16

A Few Announcements…• The Final Exam will be Tuesday, December 27 at 1:30 pm in rooms:

– 2009级双学位英语 1班 ;2009级双学位英语 2 班 13 104

– 2009级双学位英语 3班 ;2009级双学位英语 4 班 13 204

– 2009级商英专科 3班 ;2009级商英专科 4 班 13 304

You must take the exam in the

correct room.

America in the 20th CenturyPage 326

1865-1900

• In the end of the 1800’s an beginning of the 1900s major trends in the US were:– Industrialization: big business; steel & oil

refining– Urbanization: growth of large cities (New

York, Chicago)– Immigration: new ethnic groups – Eastern &

Southern Europe; Roman Catholics & Jews

Industry Millionaires• Monopolies started to arise. Millionaires.

–Andrew Carnegie: Carnegie Steel Corp– John D. Rockefeller: Standard Oil–Cornelius Vanderbilt: Railroads

• The gap between rich and poor was very wide, but there was a growing middle class.

Social Divisions

• New upper class: extreme wealth; life of luxury

• Middle class: work hard and save money, personal ambition, interest in common good

• Working class & poor: mostly newly-arrived immigrants

Social Reforms• “Muckrakers”: journalists expose corruption

and problems with society.• Populists: political party for farmers.• Labor unions for industrial workers.• Personal income tax to redistribute wealth.• 1913: Federal Reserve Bank created as

America’s central bank.

Imperialism• America started to expand to increase trade.• The US purchased Alaska from Russia very cheaply.• They also wanted to purchase some smaller islands such as Cuba.

Powerpoint Templates

Imperialism: Spanish-American War 1898

• Spain controlled Cuba, and didn’t want to sell it.• American newspapers say that the Cubans want to be

liberated from Spain.• Problems arise in Cuba, and an American battleship is

sent to protect the Americans there.• The ship is attacked and sunk. War with Spain starts.• US invades Cuba and wins.• US and Spain fight in the Philippines, US wins.• US acquires Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico • Cuba was granted independence 1902

http://www.powerpointstyles.com/

America in WWIPage 337

America in WWI• At first, the US stayed neutral.• In 1915, Germany sank a US submarine, The

Lusitania. But the US still didn’t fight.• In 1917, Germany started attacking more

submarines. Also, they promised to give part of America to Mexico if Mexico would join Germany.

• After this, the US joined the war. They began sending soldiers to help France.

World War I, 1914-1918• President Woodrow Wilson: “War to end all wars” & war to “make world safe for democracy”.• He wanted to form the “League of Nations” to prevent future wars.

“Big Four” at Versailles• US, Britain, France, Italy

Treaty of Versailles

• Italy wanted land from Austria-Hungary.

• France wanted to punish Germany and set up a buffer between them.

• England wanted to protect and expand its empire.

• U.S. wanted justice and fairness, and the U.S. soon gave up these ideals.

Europe 1920s & 1930s

Versailles Treaty

• Americans were disillusioned with treaty and began to retreat from world affairs.

• Possibly the worst peace treaty in history.

• Germany forced to sign “War Guilt Clause” admitting sole responsibility for war.

• This directly led to rise of Hitler.• Failure of Versailles Treaty directly

led to World War II.

Free Powerpoint Templates

America After WWIPage 340



The Red Scare

• In 1917, there was a Communist (“Bolshevik”) Revolution in Russia.

• Several American millionaires received mail bombs – (capitalism and communism are opposites, so some people were angry at them.)

• Americans assumed the bombs were sent by Russians. So Americans became very suspicious of Russia and communism.

• Americans who believed in communism were arrested throughout the US.



Prohibition of Alcohol• In 1919 a law was made making it illegal to sell alcohol. Many Americans believed that use of alcohol led to crime.• People still sold it illegally and became very rich.



Prohibition of Alcohol


America in the 1920’s• Disillusionment with European powers.• Many killed in WWI.• « Roaring 20’s » describes the attitude

in America. • Drinking, partying, forgetting your problems.• Financial prosperity – extra money to

waste.• Desire to be « modern » (women with short

hair, new clothing styles, etc.)• New music – jazz.• New motion pictures (movies).• Women got the right to vote.

Industry & Technology• Henry Ford, assembly-line mass

production, & Model T car• 1903 Wright Brothers “Flyer”• 1927 Charles Lindberg first solo

transatlantic flight• 1927 First sound movie • Economic & investment boom

“Model T Ford” and an assembly line

Wright Flyer 1903


The Great Depression

• Stock speculation was popular.• 1929 Stock Market Crash: panic selling.• Corporation bankruptcies.• Bank failures.• Unemployment.• Farmers abandon crops due to high cost.• Homelessness.• It lasted until late 30s.



Bank Run, homeless



The Dust Bowl

• In the 30s there was a drought in Oklahoma. The land became so dry, the soil began to blow away.

• The farmers had to abandon the land.

• This added to the economic hardship.



Dust storm


The New Deal

• FDR: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933-1945

• 100 days: 70 bills to deal with Depression

• 3Rs: Relief, Recovery, Reform• Agencies to create jobs:

– CCC: Civilian Conservation Corps

– WPA: Works Progress Administration


The New Deal

• AAA: Agricultural Adjustment Act (farm production reduced to increase prices)

• TVA: Tennessee Valley Authority (built dams for flood control, irrigation, electricity, recreation)

• Social Security System (unemployment compensation & old-age pensions)

• Many more acts & agencies created


New Deal• By 1937 US economy was not much better

than in 1933.• The New Deal did not end the Depression• World War II ended the Depression


America During and After WWII Page 351



Progression of WWII• Original problems in Europe had not

been solved.• Adolf Hitler used unrest in Germany

to inspire followers.• When he attacked Poland, its allies

France and Britain had to fight to defend it.

• Hitler then invaded France, France surrendered in 1940. Britain had to fight alone.

• Germany attacked Britain by air and sea.

• Britain held on until the Allied forces invaded France and defeated Germany.



D-Day, June 6, 1944



Jodl signs surrender



Yalta Conference divides up Europe after war



Division of Germany after war


Adolph Hitler

War in Europe• Germany conquers France, Norway, other

countries.• President Roosevelt wants to help Britain,

but is prevented by American public opinion.

british and american history week 16

Documents