progressive+outside+readings

**NBC Archives - “The Spanish-American War” ** Economic interest in Cuba is what propelled the United States into war with Spain, and despite reasons given at the time, the war was fought for a cause that had little to do with the two belligerents’ relationships. The sinking of the USS //Maine//  in 1898 prompted Americans to cry for war, because propaganda found in Yellow Journalism attributed the act to Spanish saboteurs, when in fact it is now believed to have been an accident. After Spain refused an ultimatum from the United States, William McKinley, coerced by Congress, declared war. Governmental criticism is exemplified by the mere fact that this war was essentially fought because of an incident not propagated by the Spanish. America had vested interest in Cuba, and the Cuban war for independence made Spain an easy target. Wealthy individuals who would profit from this small island, only 90 miles off the coast of Florida benefited greatly from the brutal journalistic portrayal of Spain, and even more from the explosion of the //Maine// . Once the United States had helped Cuba gain its independence from Spain, both the war and America’s economic betterment were virtually achieved. Cuba became property of America, not its own independent country, showing that the United States’ goal was not to help the Cuban people free themselves from Spain. An Obvious testament to America’s goals in the Spanish-American War was its imperialist operation in the Philippines. The USS //Maine// allowed the United States to prosper from Cuba, after defeating the “inhumane” Spanish who had been doing the exact same thing. ﻿ MDS Based on the articles “Atlanta Exposition Address”, a speech by Booker T. Washington, and “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others” by W.E.B. Du Bois. Despite being the most respected black voices of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois had radically opposing viewpoints of the role of the newly freed blacks in society. The common contradiction of the time was whether black focus should be on building economic liberation to achieve civil equality, or vice versa. In a respect, both viewpoints offered thoroughly narrow perspectives on the situation, as cooperation between campaigning for social and civil rights and working to develop economic self-sufficiency was necessary to develop equality for blacks in American society. Both Washington and Du Bois’ ideas appeared paradoxical because they required one another to be valid. For example, Washington maintained that blacks needed to build their equality from the bottom up by taking advantage of the resources available to them and learning functional skills so they could work and make meaningful contributions to society. However, as Du Bois demonstrated, it would be impossible for these blacks to have equal opportunities to work and build their lives when they were severely prejudiced against and the government, ruling in cases such as Plessy vs. Ferguson that separation of races was not unconstitutional, did little to support them. Du Bois misinterpreted Washington’s points as suggestions to accept inferiority and work under unequal conditions, to retrogress into the days before the Civil War. However, what Washington was trying to demonstrate was that such lofty visions as immediate granting of civil equality for blacks would be difficult to achieve without first a demonstration of their natural equality to white men, their ability to work just as efficiently and to support themselves as valuable contributors to society. What the black community really needed was a combination of Washington and Du Bois’ philosophies – first, they needed to campaign to have the same opportunities as white laborers and farmers. Then, by taking advantage of these opportunities, they could show the white men, predisposed to prejudice and racism, of their abilities to achieve any rank as a white man could.
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**CJD- ** **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">Quote Analysis: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">William McKinley said this during the inaugural address of his first presidential term in 1897. He had just been elected after campaigning as the Republican candidate against William Jennings Bryan, a Democrat. Part of the impetus to assure the American populace that peaceful negotiations would come before war was McKinley’s aggressive foreign policy. He wanted to garner support from Democrats in Congress and in the general population, so he made this statement, attempting to appease any anti-imperialists. By 1900 however, William McKinley’s inauguration promise had become untrue, as the United States had become involved in three conflicts far from American soil. The Spanish-American War in 1898 signified the president’s inability to negotiate after the USS //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Maine // battleship sank in Havana harbor, Cuba. Yellow journalism played a large role in the public war fervor, and McKinley was easily swayed into sending troops to fight the Spanish. In China, the Boxer Rebellion prompted the president to involve the United States with Asia, and in 1900, the army was sent to aid in the end of the revolt without consultation from Congress. By this point, McKinley had not come through on his promise, but the cause for these conflicts were acceptable because, publicly, they were viewed as peace-making efforts. Not attributable to peaceful causes, however, was the Philippine-American War, which was waged from 1898 to 1902. The Filipinos, after being annexed by the United States, sought independence, but were eventually defeated by American soldiers. McKinley viewed the Philippines as an irreplaceable territory for the United States, but this conflict caused many people to call the president an imperialist. William Jennings Bryan’s presidential campaign in 1900 was largely based on an end to American imperialism, which McKinley had, when he was first elected, convinced the public would not be an issue. While at the time McKinley may have meant the statement sincerely, it is now seen as blatantly ironic. Theodore Roosevelt’s Run in the 1912 Presidential Election. NBC Archives. MJM. Theodore Roosevelt left the White house in 1908 after 8 years as the presiding president. In the 1908 election his full support was behind William Howard Taft, another Republican that vowed to continue Roosevelt’s policy. Taft won that election, thanks in most part to Roosevelt’s avid support, and became the fifth Republican President in a row in the United States. From there the recently ex-president travelled the entire globe, becoming the first “World Citizen”. In 1910 he returned ready for political involvement once again but lost at the Republican national convention to Taft. This is where the split between the Republican and the Progressive Parties first becomes tangible. Even though this is the first time there is any gravely apparent difference between the two parties it is not the source of the split. There are many factors that must be considered starting in Roosevelt’s second term when he began pressuring for more reform and breaking the trusts that dominated the oil, tobacco and steel industries. This was all brought under scrutiny because of the Sherman Anti-Trust Laws. Taft then lost a large amount of his supporters that in essence were gifted to him by Roosevelt himself, when he brought U.S. Steel to court for their absorption of an iron and coal company in Tennessee. This was not a problem until they realize that the move had previously been approved by Roosevelt himself so the new president, Taft that campaigned with the promise to uphold Roosevelt’s policies is now challenging one of his predecessor’s decisions. Taft was unable to find middle ground between the conservatives and the progressives in the Republican Party and that was the final thing that split them into entirely separate entities. Taft’s Republican Campaign in 1912 spoke of a strong Federal Government and the containment of big business but Roosevelt took it a step further promoting welfare and equality for women. It is interesting to note that this sounds much closer to Obama’s campaign in 2008 than Republican candidate John McCain’s. Where the Republicans used to favor a strong government and social welfare and democrats wanted little federal government involvement, today’s parties are completely opposite. It is an example of how the parties have rotated over time. J.R.C.- Based on the article “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others”, from //The Souls of Black Folk// by W.E.B. Du Bois.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">“War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed.” **

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois were both prominent civil rights speakers during the early twentieth century, who had very conflicting thoughts. In this article, Du Bois states a very controversial idea that basically states that in history, it is common for other races and people to base morality off of self-respect rather than the commodities of which they are deprived. Upon bringing this statement to light, Du Bois goes further to state that those who cease to strive for self-respect, are not worth civilizing. This contradiction epitomizes every idea that Du Bois held against Washington. While supporting his idea, Du Bois challenges his opponent by mocking the submissive nature of which Washington promotes. Du Bois essentially states that Washington is asking the African American population to give up various aspects of life, which places Washington and his followers under those who have given up in a fight for self-respect. Both men strive for further education involving the black race, but it is said that Washington promotes education in the industrial or working class fields. Du Bois finds fault in this due to the fact that, upon educating one to work in a subservient situation, that being has accepted an oppressed lifestyle, ultimately giving up any chances of striving for the self-respect Du Bois speaks of. Essentially, throughout this excerpt of Du Bois writing, Washington’s ideals and plans for education have promoted the African American race to give up in their attempts to achieve self-respect, and ultimately accept a life of discrimination and oppression. ====KBM Today, in the USA, the population is known for it's desire to complete tasks and live lives that are 'quick and easy', often spitting out the phrase 'time is money' and earning modern Americans the stereotype of being lazy. This American quick and easy ideal began an intense development in the beginning of the 20 th century. The biggest innovation that brought around this idea seems to be the automobile. The mass production of the Model T, invented by Henry Ford in 1908, allowed these automobiles to spread across the nation. No longer were horse carriages required because they could use an electric automobile, cutting travel time drastically and easing the process of traveling by no longer needing to care for horses of carriages or plan longer traveling time. Not only was transportation influencing the way Americans viewed transportation, but communication as well. The previously invented telephone was becoming increasingly popular as, in 1915, the first transcontinental telephone call was completed, with Thomas Watson in San Francisco receiving the call from Alexander Graham Bell at in New York City. This meant that being away from friends or family was less of a hassle and less of a worry. Telephones were quick and easy. People no longer had to rely on mail which may have taken months, give or take. Families that were separated by war or men who left in search of work were able to stay connected instantly without the hassle of wondering whether or not the message via mail was even delivered. The innovations and inventions of the progressive era gave high expectations to Americans and made them take advantage of the quicker and easier aspects of life that were becoming available, an aspect of the American population that withstood over a century to the modern population. ==== ====

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==== MRL - "The Atlanta Exposition Address" by Booker T. Washington, and "Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others" by W.E.B. Du Bois. The philospohies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois appeared nearly like polar opposites and both men frimly believed their belief was the right solution for the gradual gain of equality by African Americans. In reality, African American society needed to mirror both of the philosophies, because the beliefs of Du Bois and Washington were in fact deeply interwoven with each other. Both men were only half correct in their proposals for the progression of African Americans in society, because in order to progress in society and become equal with white men, African Americans must first have become both economically independent and capable as well as politically active, not only one or the other. This is closely mirrored by the progression of European immigrants in America. For example, the immigrants were able to easily secure jobs in the United States and show Americans they were willing to work to support themselves, but until immigrants began to be politically represented through the work of settlement houses, political machines, and pro-laborer politicians, immigrants were unable to progress in society and were forced to be isolated in the slums. Thus, without economic independence, immigrants would have been regarded as burdens on society and ignored, and without political representation, immigrants would have been unable to speak out against the abuses they underwent and would not have improved their living conditions and social standing. This combination of economic capability and political representation closely resembles the situation of African Americans equality and interests as well, therefore African American progress would only be possible through the advancement of political activeness and the development of economic independence. Thus, neither Booker T. Washingtonn nor W.E.B Du bois was entirely correct or entirely wrong, but each man believed in two different aspects of African American progress that in reality needed to be combined.

LM- on "//Of Mr. Booker T Washigton and Others", by W.E.B. DuBois// In this article, DuBois takes a polite, but clearly condemning stance against B.T. Washington's belief that black equality must rise out of economic and social conciliation and rebuilding. The essentiall thesis of DuBois' paper falls in line with his life's major thesis, that only through immediate imposition of civil and economic equality will racial equailty for Blacks be achieved. DeBois provides convincing and well organized rebuttals to Washington's position, distinctly contrasting the predictions of Washington and the reality of what came to pass under acceptance of Washington's stance. In essence, it seems as though Blacks met with a large return to their originally inferior status below Whites when Washington's premise of gradual assimilation through education and economy was adopted. It is unfortunate that Washington's imagined path to assimilation did fail so quickly (within ten years on implementation). DuBois' commentary was quite right; however, by the time Washington's plans began to decline in efficacy, the nation was not in the proper mood to heed DuBois' calls for immeidate restitution. As many idealized social plans had before and will after, extreme strategies for societal improvement tend to only work if implemented wholly and rigorously, and due to the decline in enthusiasm for Black education and economic assimilation after reconstruction, Washington's success eventually slowed to what some argue was a halt.

Speculation could percieve that, in fact, if DuBois' plans had been implemented, the situation of American Blacks today would be quite different. Missing the critical opportunity for complete social emmancipation after the radical changes proceeding the Civil War, America was never privy to full implementation of DuBois' plan. Many argue that Blacks today are continuing their struggle to bridge the education and economic gap; perhaps if his plan had been adopted fully, America would be a more equal country even today.

J.R.C.- "A Red Record", by Ida B. Wells-Barnett In “A Red Record” by Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a new light was shed upon the cold-blooded killings of African Americans in the South. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Southerners in America performed perfidious acts of cold-blooded murder, which were absolutely unquestioned by the judiciary branch, let alone ever, brought to justice. Upon questioning these acts, various excuses were given to defend killing minorities. Wells-Barnett questions the primary excuse given by Southerners who committed these murders, which was that the African Americans killed were planning to riot. One finds fault in this claim, due to the fact that none of the Southerners even remotely close to the various hangings were ever hurt. This excuse was probably given due to the differing notions on the minority race following the closing of the Civil War and the many years that followed. Many influential speakers during the time this article was written such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois served as a very clear example that African Americans did not have hostile tendencies or negative qualms towards their fellow Southerners. These men advocated a peaceful integration of blacks into a white dominated society, rather than a hostile one. Southerners who committed lynching’s were either very ignorant to the true emotions and thoughts of African Americans or they played the role of one who is ignorant, in an attempt to excuse their horrible acts.

JGF - "Of Mr. Booker T Washington and Others," by WEB DuBois WEB DuBois, in his 1903 essay, “Of Mr. Booker T Washington and Others,” argued powerfully against the policies and ideals advertised by Washington. Washington promoted a program for the immediate behavior of the black population that involved essentially compromising with and buckling under the demands of the white population. His platform was built on three key concessions on the part of the black man; blacks would give up political power, the right to insist on civil rights, and the right to higher education. These concessions, DuBois argued, were too generous, and would have crippled the black man’s cause. DuBois asserted, in life and in his essay, that education and persistence were the only means by which black Americans would gain respect or rights. DuBois used formal language that advertised his college background, serving to remind the white population that blacks were just as capable as they, and to remind the black population that there were no barriers that could not be overcome. Though his diction sounded pompous at times, it was very clear throughout the essay, something necessary to appeal to the less educated of his readers. Washington did great things for the American black population. From founding Tuskegee to writing his autobiography, Booker T was truly a hero to the black men and women of his time. Retrospectively, however, it was DuBois’ advice that should have been taken, since he was the man advocating logical things: intolerance of prejudicial behavior, insistence on civil rights, and absolute priority to education of black youth. Washington’s compromises were well-meaning but ill advised.

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