Am Hist Final: Continuities and Changes in American History (1865–1920)

Group 1

Group 2

• It reduced the need for government spending on transportation.
• It made travel and trade across the nation faster and helped western towns and industries grow.
• It limited western settlement by making transportation too costly for most Americans.
• It had little impact on migration or economic activity outside of rail construction.

• They mainly protested railroad wages and labor conditions.
• They opposed industrial growth in eastern cities but supported settlement on their lands.
• They sought to protect their land, culture, and independence from U.S. expansion.
• They were primarily concerned with immigration policies on the East Coast.

• Urban populations declined as more people moved to rural areas.
• Cities grew rapidly as factories attracted workers, creating crowded neighborhoods and new social challenges.
• Industrialization had no significant impact on city size or organization.
• Industrialization caused cities to adopt primarily agricultural economies.

• Workers created unions to reduce factory production and close industries.
• Labor unions primarily focused on promoting business profits rather than worker conditions.
• Workers organized to improve wages, hours, and safety.
• Labor unions were mainly formed to increase immigration into urban areas.

• Immigrants provided a growing labor force for factories
• Immigrants reduced factory output.
• Immigrants avoided industrial jobs.
• Immigrants caused businesses to relocate overseas.

• The government promoted economic growth through land grants and support for industry.
• The government continued to avoid involvement in the economy.
• Policies remained focused only on immigration restriction.
• The government favored farming over all other economic activity.

• The U.S. rejected global trade.
• The U.S. ended military involvement overseas.
• The U.S. focused only on domestic issues.
• The U.S. expanded its influence beyond its borders.

• They faced discrimination despite contributing to economic growth.
• Despite laboring on the construction of the railroads for many years, they eventually controlled all railroad companies.
• They gained political power quickly and experienced economic improvements.
• They avoided dangerous labor.

• Both policies were motivated by a desire to acquire land and resources, but imperialism extended U.S. influence internationally.
• Westward expansion decreased government involvement, while imperialism avoided economic considerations.
• Expansion ended conflict, while imperialism caused domestic economic collapse.
• Imperialism relied entirely on volunteer settlers, while westward expansion relied on forced relocation

• They thought industrialists should solve social problems voluntarily by improving wages and working conditions.
• They wanted to limit government involvement in cities and factories.
• They believed that unregulated industrialization created social problems that could only be addressed through law and policy.
• They were mainly interested in foreign policy and expansion.

• Labor union members seeking higher wages and safer working conditions at home.
• Industrial business leaders who hoped to gain new markets for goods and investment opportunities abroad.
• Native American tribal leaders concerned with preserving land and sovereignty.
• Farmers on the western frontier who opposed any federal involvement.

• Federal policies consistently aimed to limit Native American autonomy and control land through legal and military means.
• Policy shifted entirely toward full sovereignty and cultural preservation reflecting a greater respect for Native American culture and identity.
• Native Americans controlled most federal decisions regarding land allocation.
• Federal involvement decreased after 1870 and Native Americans were left alone after the United States acquired colonies after the Spanish-American War.

• Industrial growth reduced the U.S.’s interest in foreign trade and markets.
• Industrialization slowed overseas expansion because most investment remained domestic.
• Industrialization created a need for raw materials and new markets, encouraging imperial expansion abroad.
• There was no connection between industrial growth and foreign policy decisions.

• Economic prosperity and equality reduced the need for government intervention.
• Public exposure to unsafe working conditions, corruption, and social inequalities convinced citizens that government action was necessary.
• Immigration restrictions eliminated social problems in cities.
• Urban populations declined, so there were fewer problems to solve.

• Both groups avoided government involvement to create social change entirely.
• Labor unions focused on foreign policy, while reformers focused on industrialists.
• Both focused only on ending immigration by supporting immigration laws requiring literacy tests.
• Labor unions focused primarily on improving working conditions and wages, while Progressive reformers sought broader social, economic, and political reforms.

• Expansion, industrial growth, reform, and overseas influence helped define the U.S. as an industrial and increasingly global power, while also creating ongoing social challenges.
• American identify aligned with communist values as democracy declined permanently and opportunities disappeared.
• The identity of the United States became more agrarian and it became less involved in world affairs and focused only on farming.
• Industrialization had no effect on U.S. power or identity.

• They wanted to address social, economic, and political problems caused by industrialization, including corruption, inequality, and unsafe conditions.
• They aimed to reduce government involvement in daily life and avoid regulating industries.
• They focused exclusively on foreign policy and military expansion rather than domestic problems.
• They primarily worked to limit immigration and reduce urban population growth.

• By exposing corruption and unsafe practices, they raised public awareness and pressure for new laws and regulations.
• They discouraged reforms by praising industrialists and political bosses.
• Their work primarily focused on international affairs rather than domestic issues.
• They influenced government to reduce regulation of factories and cities.

• By refusing to participate in elections and focusing solely on domestic life.
• By securing the right to vote through the 19th Amendment, allowing them to influence elections and policy.
• Women gained the right to hold property but not to vote.
• Women were only able to vote in local elections, not national ones.

• Leaders sought new markets for goods, access to raw materials, and strategic military bases overseas.
• Expansion was primarily motivated by the desire to reduce domestic industrial production.
• Imperialism was mainly intended to increase Native American landholdings.
• Leaders wanted to withdraw from international trade and limit foreign influence.

• They supported imperialism only for military reasons, not economic ones.
• They argued imperialism was unnecessary because all territories were already well developed.
• They opposed imperialism because they wanted to expand industrial production overseas.
• They believed it contradicted the nation’s founding principles of self-government and consent of the governed.

• Large corporations gained control over prices and competition, limiting consumer and worker choices.
• Small businesses became the primary drivers of national economic growth.
• Government regulation increased immediately, preventing corporate consolidation.
• Monopolies reduced industrial output and slowed economic expansion.

• Most Americans agreed that industrial leaders benefited workers equally.
• Some viewed them as innovators who built the economy, while others criticized their business practices and treatment of workers.
• The debate focused mainly on foreign policy rather than business practices.
• Industrial leaders avoided public attention and political influence.

• Immigrants were unwilling to work in industrial jobs.
• Some Americans feared that immigrants would compete for jobs and change American culture.
• The federal government required all immigrants to vote.
• Nativism was caused by opposition to westward expansion. Answer: A

• The federal government reduced its influence over the economy and labor and moved away from laissez-faire policies.
• Government involvement shifted entirely to foreign affairs and away from domestic affairs.
• Progressive reforms eliminated the need for state governments and the federal government adopted communism.
• The government became more involved in regulating business, protecting consumers, and addressing social problems.