1. Describe the causes of the immigration of Southern and Eastern Europeans, Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

   - Many of the immigrants coming to America came here for several different reasons. One is that they were trying to escape problems back in their homelands, such as famine, disease, land shortages, religious or political prosecution. Another reason is that the (somewhat false) information that America was a prospering nation full of opportunities and wealth  had spread all over the globe. And at a time when many European nations had begun to reach their limits America had just begun its expansion into a vast , relatively uninhabited land. And the resources in America were no where near a shortage. Many immigrants saw this opportunity and decided to either move permanently to the states or to move there temporarily, earn some money then return to their homeland.

2. Describe the journey immigrants endured and their experiences at United States immigration stations.

    - Immigrants were discriminated against. It was tough times in america and in places like New England where there were dense populations and a large percentage of immigrants, the surge of new inhabitants was not welcome. One reason for this was that it made it hard for existing laborers to go on strike, for as soon as they showed any hint of unionizing or striking the factory would fire them and simply replace them with immigrants, who were probably willing to work for even less. Another reason is that most immigrants came to America with hardly anything. They were seen as poor and dirty, which in most cases wasn't entirely untrue. They were also from an entirely different culture in many cases. For instance the Chinese in the west had come from a culture that, for the most part, not only didn't speak English but wasn't even Christian. Americans found it hard not to discriminate against a people who had so little in common with them. 

Big Business and Labor Quiz

        In the late 1800s rich companies would treat their employees with very little respect, giving them very low wages , long working hours and dangerous working conditions. Social Darwinism justified their maltreatment. Social Darwinism was an idea that came from Darwin's theory of evolution, that competition between individuals and businesses helps the society to change and grow. That the rich could take advantage of the poor because they were strong and the weak deserved to suffer at their expense. The government refused to get involved in company affairs such as employee treatment partially because of an ideology called Laissez Faire a belief that the government should have as little to do with businesses Because the government believed that the monopolists were helping the economy grow.

Labour Union and Industrial People and Things

Andrew Carnegie: A man who came to this country with next to nothing but by the time he was 40 he owned most of the steel industry. He became famous for that story. It soon became the classic american story that if you have motivation and are hard working you can work your way to become anything you want. 

Social Darwinism: The belief that competition in many forms (between nations, companies, and individuals) helps society grow and become stronger.

John D. Rockefeller: Established the Standard Oil Company and by using trust agreements, eventually gained control of nearly the entire oil industry.

Sherman Antitrust Act:  it banned the use of trust agreements because the government believed that the millionaires were interfering with free trade between other states and countries.

Samuel Gompers: Founded the American Federation of  Labour. 

American Federation of Labor (AFL): Was for over 50 years the largest group of labour unions in the United States. Founded by Samuel Gompers.

Eugene V. Debs: Founded the International Labor Union and the Industrial Workers of the World. 

Industrial Workers of the World: Another group of labour unions.

Mary Harris Jones: Often refered to as "Mother" Jones. Died at age 100. 

Railroad Developement

QUESTION: 

       The federal government gave land and made loans to the railroad companies. Why was the government so eager to promote the growth of railroads?

ANSWER:

      The United States during the late 19th century was eager to expand westward and to populate the new land with american citizens. The road to the west was not an easy one and it was difficult to transport people's lives to the new states. The government saw the railroad as a huge incentive to move to the west. It made traveling westward much more comfortable and manageable.

     The railroad also connected western communities to the east. Making it easier to transport livestock and other goods to big cities in the east. Before the railroads were built in the southwest, many cattle ranches had to drive there cattle to the nearest railroad which was for many of the southern most ranchers and cowboys was a very very long way. Americans were becoming very fond of beef therefore the demand was high and there was a  lot of money to be found in the cattle herding and raising business. The government supported this hole heartedly. It brought wealth to the west.

Expansion of Industry

What were the three major factors that contributed to the immense technological boom that took place in the United States after the Civil War? Explain how two of these factors helped to bring about this technological boom.

    America's great technological advancements in the late 19th century are due to four main things; the discovery of new uses for iron and steel,  the discovery of oil in places like Texas, and the settlement of the west/Great Plains.

    Steel contributed to the vast majority of new inventions in the 1800's and early 1900's. The type writer, the telephone and the automobile are just a few of the things the contained and relied on steel. 

    The country's expansion west was also a motivation to create new technology because people now had to communicate much farther distances.

Western Expansion

1. What are the main reasons that the federal government policy of assimilation failed?

    

     One main reason that the government failed to assimilate indians is that not very many indians were willing to give up there culture and become what the americans called "civilized". 

     Another reason is that not many americans were willing to educate indians on how to be an american. Many of them believed that indians were truly inferior and were not worth the bother.

2. How successful were the U.S. government's efforts to promote the settlement of the Great Plains? Give examples to support your answer.

    They were very successful. They almost didn't even have to promote it at all, there were so many natural reasons to move westward, such as gold and buffalo. One example of a successful government promotion of the settlement o the great plains was the Dawes Act. This act divided the indian land into individual property for the indians then gave the remainder of land to the american settlers. Another example is the government's attempt to assimilate the indians into the american culture. Although this was not totally a success it did reduce the number of indians that were so often hunting on the private property of many of the settlers.

Westward Expansion Questions

1. What are some of the main reasons that the federal government's policy of assimilation failed? 

Think About:

• Native Americans' way of life
• Cultural differences
• Attitude of whites toward Native Americans
• Government promises

2. How successful were government efforts to promote settlement of the Great Plains? Give examples to support your answer.

Think about: 

• The growth in population on the Great Plains
• The role of railroads in the economy
• The Homestead Act

Conflict in Iraq

Short Response

1. Where do most Kurds, Shi'a, and Sunnis live in Iraq?

Kurds: Shi'a: Sunnis:

2. Which ethnic group(s) hold(s) power over the majority of oil reserves in Iraq?

3. What is the main reason Britain become involved in Iraq?

4. What did pan-Arabists advocate after World War II?

5. How was Saddam Hussein able to gain power and popularity in the 1970s?

6. Why did the United States become involved in the Iran-Iraq War?

7. Why did President George H.W. Bush (1989-93) bring the ground portion of the First Persian Gulf War to a halt? List two reasons.

a.

b.

Extended Response:

8. What are the different ethnic and religious groups in Iraq? Why is it important to understand these differences?


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Part II Questions:

Short Response

9. What dangers did President George W. Bush (2001-09) say Iraq posed to the region and the world? Name two.

a.

b.

10. What were the U.S. government's declared goals in sending troops to Iraq?

a.

b.

11. List two reasons violence continues in Iraq.

a.

b.

Extended Response:

12. Describe the different groups involved in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. What are their goals? (Reasons for fighting)

Shi'a:

Sunni:

Kurd:

al Qaeda: