The founding of the NAACP is rooted from the Springfield Illinois Race Riot of 1908. The race riot was an event that consisted of several acts of violence committed against African American individuals by its White residents. Several activists came together to advocate for civil rights and racial justice.

The founding of the NAACP is significant to our history because it played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement and events including the Brown v. Board of Education. case. Today, the NAACP still is advocating for racial equity, rights, and social justices.

The photo I used is almost like a yearbook photo of the organization I would call it. Here you can see, these are the earliest members and leaders of the NAACP, all activists committed to fighting for racial injustice. This relates to my event because this presents an idea of who was a part of the NAACP and reasons to how and why it was created.

A primary source relevant to this event would be "The Call" the first or founding document published by the NAACP in 1909. The context behind this document was made for a rally in support of racial justice, a call to action to end lynching, discrimination, and racial violence.

This document was signed or published alongside the help of activists W.E.B Du Bois and Ida B. Wells. Du Bois is the co-founder of the NAACP and a prominent leader/activist in fighting against segregation. Moreover, B. Wells was a journalist and a strong activist for anti-lynching. This document asks for racial justice and calls out the many acts of violence done against the Black community. As well as the needs of legal action and political activism to be taken in order to tackle these social issues.

In summary, I learned that the NAACP is more than just an organization for non-white individuals, this is an organization that built by colored individuals and has rooted from a rich history of challenging many of the racial injustices.

For some background, a fire broke out within 3 floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory trapping many workers inside due to the lack of safety measures and locked exit doors in place. The factory killed roughly 150 workers, most of which were female immigrants.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire is significant because it brought awareness as to creating labor reforms and pushed for stronger labor laws and union protections.

Here in the photo, is the aftermath of the factory fire. This helps provide you a better idea as to how severe the fire was and level of impact it had.

A primary source relevant to this topic is France's Perkin's "Lecture". Lecture is Perkin's testimony and her perspective on witnessing the fire. Perkin was a social worker and a labor activist who marked as the first female Secretary of Labor in the U.S. She had major contributions as to shaping the labor laws and safe working regulations we know today. Within her testimony, she uses descriptive, imagery, and a passionate tone recalling every moment that went down during the fire. Perkin spoke about the panic, locked exit doors, and witnessing several workers jumping out of the windows in attempt of escaping the fires. Additionally, referring to the fire as an episode that had to awaken the nation.

From this event, I learned that due to a fire that took away the lives of many workers, it helped protect us from working in unsafe conditions and environments. It is very unfortunate that an event had to be done in order for us to reform.

• WWI begin on July 28, 1914

What:

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot a killed by the Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.

• On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

Why: World war 1 stand as a major turning point in 20th century history, leading to the fall of empires and setting the stage for future conflicts. It's effects are still felt today in area such as global politics and civil liberties, with many of today conflicts streaming from decisions made after the war.

A primer source is "school boy Patrick Blunstone to his father."

• Patrick Blunstone is the author in this writing, he's a school boy staying at Cuffley

• he is describing in graphic schoolboy detail the landing of a Zeppelin in flames close to the house and the 'roasted' condition.

Main idea:

• To show the horrifying action that is occurred in this place where Patrick blundstone is staying at

• How terrifying it would be to see what Patrick Blunstone had seen at that moment and how scary it is to be at war.

Learned:

• The horrifying thing that could happened by being at war and seeing other people dying

• February 1899 to July 1902

• The war began after the U.S annexed the Philippines from Spain following the Spanish-American War

• The war was brutal on both sides. U.S forces burned villages, tortured suspected guerrillas, and implemented civilian reconcentration policies

• It's important because it established the United states as a global power, led to Filipino immigration to the United states, and set the stage for Philippine independence. The war led to generations of Filipino immigration to the United States.

• In the photo it shows how a fighting broke out between American forces and Filipino nationalists two days before the US Senate ratified the treaty.

• A primary source document related to this is "Emilio Aguinaldo's Proclamation of Philippine Independence".

• The author is Emilio Aguinaldo

• He proclamied the Philippine Independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite. He believed the proclamation would inspire Filipinos to rise against the Spanish rule.

• The main idea is to declare the Philippines as a sovereign and independent nation

• Formally breaking free from Spanish colonial rule after nearly 300 years of domination

• I learned how The Philippines fought for Independence from both Spain and the United States.

For some context, before the 17th amendment was ratified or implemented, state legislatures elected their representative senators which often led the nation and state into political dilemmas, corruption, and gave the voters, or citizens, little to no influence and say over their government. The Progressive Era then came into play, pushing for a reform, making governments more democratic in hopes of reducing the increasing issues prior. In which shifted some power to the American people allowing them to elect their state senators.

Ratifying the 17th Amendment is extremely important as it strengthened our nation's democracy, decreased political power and biases, and became the main influence on starting movements regarding fair political representation.

The image I chose is titled "The Bosses of the Senate" sourced by Puck. This political cartoon depicts the monopolists towering over the U.S senators seated across the left half of the page. Additionally, reflecting the frustration the public had with the biases and little influence they had on choosing their senators. Reinforcing why they believed having direct elections was more than necessary.

A primary source within this time period would be the 17th Amendment itself, directly stating that U.S. senators shall be elected directly by the people of each state. The amendment was passed by Congress and state legislatures, one known individual being the President, Theodore Roosevelt himself. The amendment ensured senators are elected by popular vote, meaning power to the people.

Based on this document, I learned that our nation has a history of being corrupt and biased in terms of government and power. It seems that history may repeat itself. Though during this era, with the ratification of the 17th Amendment, it helped weakened the influence of the wealthy and strengthened our democracy. As well as providing us Americans a voice and say on who sits within our government.

• September 14, 1901

• Teddy Roosevelt was previously involved in New York politics

• He served as the 25th vice president under President William Mckinley for six months in 1901

• He was the first President whose election was based more on the individual than the political party.

  As a leader of the progressive movement, he championed his "Square deal" domestic policies.

• In the photo it shows Teddy Roosevelt taking the oath of office for his second term as President of the United States on March 4, 1905.

• A primary source document related to this is "Roosevelt's Square Deal Speech".

• The author is Theodore Roosevelt

• He encouraged Congress to create several new national parks, set aside sixteen national monuments, and establish more than fifty wildlife preserves and refuges.

• The main idea is that The Square Deal was Theodore Roosevelt's domestic policy based on his three major goals which were corporate law, conservation of natural resources and consumer protection.

• This deal embodied the belief that all corporations must serve the general public good.

• Roosevelt's Speech was based on the idea that every American should have a fair chance.

• The Pure Food and Drug Act was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 30, 1906

• Legislation passed in 1906 to ensure the sanitary preparation of consumable goods.

• The Pure Food and Drug Act required accurate ingredient labeling and prohibited the sale of adulterated and misbranded food and drugs in interstate commerce.

• It's important because it marked the first time the US government actively regulated the safety and labeling of food and drugs. It laid a foundation for the nation's first consumer protection agency, the Food and Drug administration (FDA).

• In the photo it shows a famous cartoon from the magazine Puck, depicting a warning to "Look before you eat". The need for food safety regulations by illustrating the potential dangers of consuming adulterated food products.

• A primary source related to this is "The Pure Food and Drug Act Text".

• The author was Harvey Wiley

• He was an unceasing advocate of national pure food and drug legislation.

• The main idea is to advocate for legislation that prohibits the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of adulterated or misbranded food and drugs.

• Aiming to protect public health by ensuring consumers have access to safe labeled products through federal regulation.

• I learned that consumers have the right to know what's in their food and medicine.

• On November 7, 1916

What:

• Jeanette Rankin, was born on June 11, 1880, near Missoula, Montana, and was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress

• Jeanette Rankin spent most of her life on her family ranch instilled in her a sense of gender inequality, as she observed women working alongside men without equal voting rights.

• Before she entered politics, she graduated with a biology degree from the University of Montana in 1902 and became involved in the women suffrage movement

Why:

• Jeanette Rankin's election to Congress in 1916 marked a pivotal moment, as she became the first woman to hold federal office in the U.S. The way for future generations of women in politics and injecting a woman's voice into national political debates.

  A primary source would be The State Of Montana.

  • This document was signed by

  Montana Governor Sam V. Stewart and secondary of State Adelbert Alderson

  • In 1916, Samuel V. Stewart was the Governor of Montana, having been first elected in 1912. He successfull! ran for re-election on November 7, 1916, marking his second and final term as Governor.

Main Idea:

• Before being sworn in, newly elected members present "credentials" as evidence that they have been duly elected and are entitled to their congressional seat.

• Jeannette Rankins election certificate, signed by Montana Governor Sam V.

Stewart and Secretary of State Adelbert Alderson, certifies that she was elected Representative-at-large for Montana on November 7, 1916.

learned:

How Jeanette Rankin was the first ever woman to be elected to Congress, in U.S.

source:

link 1 link 2 link 3

• The Open door policy happened in 1899 and 1900.

What:

• The Open Door Policy was a diplomatic initiative by the U.S. in 1899 and 1900 to ensure equal trading rights for all nations in China and to maintain China's territorial.

• U.S. Secretary of State John Hay articulated the policy in notes to Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Russia, aiming to prevent any single power from monopolizing trade with China

• The policy emerged during a period of increasing foreign interest in China, especially after the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95).

Why: The Open Door Policy is historically significant as it marked a key moment in U.S. foreign policy in East Asia, aiming to promote equal opportunity for international trade in China while respecting its administrative and territorial integrity  . Although the original policy's direct relevance ended with the Communist victory in China in 1949, the term Open Door Policy is now also used to describe China's economic starting in 1978, which opened the country to foreign investment and trade, setting the stage for its transformation into a major global.

A primary source that could be apart of this is "The Second Open Door Notes"

• John Hay served as the U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt .

• He was appointed by President William McKinley on September 30, 1898, and remained in office until his death on July 1, 1905  .

Main Idea:

• The note stressed the need to respect China's territorial and administrative entity, aiming to prevent foreign powers from using the Boxer Rebellion as an excuse to carve China into colonies 

• It reiterated the principle of equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese Empire, ensuring that all nations had the right to do business with China on equal terms

Learned: I learned The Open Door Policy aimed to maintain it's equal trade access in China

Source:

Link 1 Link 2 Link 3

For some background information at the time the United States had economic interests in Cuba. During that time the Philippines and Cuba were fighting for independence from Spain. During that same year, the USS Maine sank and the United States began blaming Spain which resulted in the United States becoming involved in the Spanish-American War.

The Spanish-American War is important because it signifies when the United States became a major world power. When defeating Spain the United States gained many overseas territories.

Another reason why the Spanish-American War is important is because when the war ended it also ended Spain’s colonial empire which consisted of the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Which declined Spain's World Dominance since the 16th Century.

I chose this image because the USS Maine sinking resulted in the United States becoming involved with Spain which gave many countries independence. This image of the USS Maine relates to the Spanish-American War because the USS Maine is one of the reasons for the United State’s involvement.

A primary source that is related to this event is the De Lome Letter which was written by Enrique Dupuy De Lome who was the Spanish Ambassador to the United States.

De Lome soon later was forced to resign his position as Ambassador after the Letter created a huge scandal.

The main idea of the De Lome letter was to criticize the American President at the time William McKinley and to send it to the Foreign Minister of Spain, Don Jose Canalejas y Mendez which was later seized by Cuban revolutionaries.

In this document, I learned how and why the United States became a world power.

For some background information, Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1998 when Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown by American businessmen in 1893 ending Hawaii as an independent kingdom

The U.S. wanted Hawaii for its sugar industry and its location in the Pacific, and while many Hawaiians opposed it even to this day, with from U.S. Marines 

The annexation of Hawaii is important because it helped give the  United States a naval base in the Pacific Ocean. It also removed tariffs which benefited many American business owners. 

The photo that I chose is related to the annexation of Hawaii because this photo shows the United States flag being raised indicating the successful annexation of Hawaii.

The author of the primary source I chose (Queen Liliʻuokalani’s Protest Letter) is Queen Lili’uokalani herself. 

After the successful annexation, Queen Lili’uokalani continued to advocate for Hawaiians and their culture.

The main idea of her letter was to inform the United States that the annexation was done without the consent of the Hawaiian people.

The key details in her letter were that there was a lack of consent, her removal as queen was unjust, and that she continued to fight and advocate for her people.

In this document, I learned there was no proper communication on the annexation of Hawaii