U.S. History. The Steel Strike of 1919 - Essay Example

? U.S. HISTORY President Woodrow Wilson and Senator George Norris advanced opposing arguments about the question of American intervention in World War I. Read their views in "Woodrow Wilson, an Address to the Joint Session of Congress, 1917" and "George Norris, 'A Speech in the Senate,' 1917" in Chapter 22 of the Documents Collection. Which statesman makes the better case? After reading their statements, what do you think the United States could have done in April 1917? The statement of George Norris makes a better case. This is because, in George Norris’s Address, all the sufferings that the citizens had were passing through were well highlighted. It makes us see the reasons as to why America had to intervene in the First World War. Woodrow’s Address, on the other hand, made it seem like the Americans were on the wrong. It did not explain the reasons behind the course of actions that were taken by the Americans (stuff.mit.edu). I feel that after in April 1917, the United State should have first been neutral they should have respected the English war zone and disregarded the German war zone. The United States could have backed down from the war and avoid many casualties. Soldiers would shed blood and die in the war. There would be a lot of broken-hearted widows waiting for the return of the distorted body of their soldier husbands. A lot of mothers would weep at the deaths of their brave boys. Many little children would shiver with cold as a result of the war. Not only that, there would also be millions of daughters and mothers would carry broken hearts into their graves. He stated that War brought no prosperity to the great mass of patriotic and common citizens. It would only serve to increase the living cost of those who work and those who must strain all efforts to keep body and soul together. It only would bring wealth to stock gamblers on Wall Street. Going into war, just as George Norris said, would not do anybody right. Fathers would be killed, children killed, mothers killed, and a lot more of other catastrophes would transpire (Www.presidency.ucsb.edu). 3. Just as World War I changed international relationships, it also changed American society and raised serious questions about American democracy. For this assignment, read the cited materials and then write an essay on two of your choice. In each essay, show how the subject of your chosen reading is associated with World War I, show how it relates to the other chosen reading, and discuss how the subjects of the two readings represent either social change or questions that the war raised or brought to light. The Steel Strike of 1919 The steel workers were asked to work for democracy. They were asked to give up all their wages to it and to offer their lives for it. The steel worker and their children were subjected to fear and starvation. Thousands upon thousands of workers in Pennsylvania worked in front of burning furnaces through the night and night, twelve long hours. This strike caused the workers to be split from one another. Spies who were working among the Ohio workers told of the strike in Pennsylvania while those in Pennsylvania told of the strike in Ohio. With no communication means allowed, with mails censored, with meetings prohibited, the strikers could not be acquainted with of the development of their strike. Although the strike was subsidized by the American Labor Federation, under orders from the Steel Trust, the public were supplied with daily stories of Russian gold, Bolshevism, and revolution supporting the strike. The struggle for liberty went on against immense odds. Steel and the government were against the strikers, from the isolated government at Washington down to the tiny steel village’s official. There was disagreement in the labor ranks, where prejudice and ambition played their part. It is associated with world 1 because it is believed that it was funded by the American Labor Federation. Strikers were supplied with fire arms and weapons, just in the case with World War 1. Race riots in Chicago, 1919 Two colored men were reported to have been murdered and close to fifty Negroes and whites injured in race riots that broke out at the south side beaches. The rioting extended through the black belt and by midnight had thrown the whole south side into havoc. The trouble was so serious that Acting Police Alcock Chief was incapable of placing an approximation on the injured. Scores received bruises and cuts from flying rocks and stones and went to their homes for medicinal attention. Minor-rioting persisted all through the night all over the south side. Negroes who were found in cars in the streets were dragged out and beaten. They were ordered to the street by white men. Racial feeling, which had been, on a balance with the weather all through the day, took fire soon after 5 o'clock when white Bathers at the Twenty-ninth street invented beach saw a colored young man on a raft paddling into what they called a "white" territory. A roar of protest rose from the whites and soon a volley of stones and rocks was thrown in his direction. One rock hit the boy, and he toppled into the water. Colored men who were there tried to rescue him, but they were restrained by the whites. Colored men and women, it is alleged, asked a Policeman for assistance, but he refused. All available policemen in the city were rushed to the dispute section; former sailors and soldiers were sworn in; four guards and reserve militia troops, adding to 3,500, were called out and were being mobilized. All the hospitals were packed with victims; the elevated trains and street cars had stopped running on the south side; telephone wires were cut; numerous colored and white men were taken into custody. Rioting became adverse all over the south side. There were masses of men congregating around street cars, knocking down the trolleys, grabbing men in cars in accordance with their complexion, and beating them up. In both cases, there were occurrences that caused the riot and the strike to take place. In the first case, the social justice of the steel workers was violated, and in the second case, the social justice of the blacks was violated. The Race riots in Chicago raised questions about race. Why are white men favored over colored men? Are the white men any better than the colored men? It also raised a lot of questions on the police men, who instead of helping the colored men were siding with the whites. Identifications Margaret Sanger She was the best recognized of the birth control movement leaders. She was the catalyst of significant change for not only women in American, but also all through the world. She was a nurse, sex educator, and birth control activist. Margaret Sanger made popular the term birth control. She also opened the first clinic for birth control in the U.S. and created Planned Parenthood. Her efforts added to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case which authorized contraception in the U.S. Sanger opened the first clinic for birth control in the U.S. in 1916. In 1921, she initiated the American Birth Control League, which there after became the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In New York, she set up the first clinic for birth control, which was staffed, by only female doctors, in addition to a clinic, in Harlem with a totally African-American staff. She formed the National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control in 1929, which served as the central point of her efforts to make contraception legal in the United States. From 1952 to 1959, she served as president of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Sussex pledge This was a promise made in 1916 during World War 1 by Germans to the U.S. prior to the entry of U.S. into the war. The Sussex Pledge was intended to bring an end to German sub warfare and keep innocent individuals safe. The Sussex plan was an attempt by President Wilson to get Germany to discontinue attacking with u-boats since it was destroying trade and murder Americans who were innocent. I believe it was a good move because, for quite some time, the attacks did halt. "Zimmerman Telegram" Telegram undoubtedly contributed to Wilson's declaration of war in April 1917. Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points" This was a letter that was sent to Wilson by Baden’s Prince Maximilian. In October 1918, the German imperial chancellor called for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations on account of the Fourteen Points. This note brought stability into Europe. It delineated the 14 points to a world that is peaceful. Henry Cabot Lodge Henry Cabot is best known for his stands on foreign policy, especially his 1919 war with President Wilson over the Versailles Treaty. He demanded Congressional control of war declarations. In 1890, he co-authored the Bill of Federal Elections, together with Sen. Frisbie, that assured federal protection for the voting rights of the African American. From 1919-1924, as Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s chairman, Lodge led the victorious war against American participation in the League of Nations, which President Wilson had suggested at World War 1’s close. He also served as chair of the Senate Republican Conference from 1918 to 1924. Throughout his term in office, he and another influential senator, Beveridge advocated for the creation of a new navy. Reference Woodrow Wilson: Address to a Joint Session of Congress on the Conditions of Peace. (N.d.). The American Presidency Project. Retrieved December 10, 2012, from http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65405 George Norris, "Against Entry Into War" speech, 1917. (N.d.). Stuff.mit.edu: students' portal. Retrieved December 10, 2012, from http://stuff.mit.edu/afs/athena/course/21/21h.102/www/Norris,%20Against%20Entry%20 Int Read More