US economic power: 1900

US economic power: 1900

How foreign trade influenced American decisions.

Rural population

Sixty percent of Americans lived in rural areas, with little machine power, no electricity, and (on average) six years of education.

Rural to Urban

Agriculture

American families spent on average 44% of their income on food in 1900 (17% is common today). Food was the largest US export in 1900.

Industry

Favored with a growing population, a continent filled with raw materials and a legal system that rewarded ingenuity, the US became the single largest industrialized nation in 1903.

Shifting to Urban

Immigration

Productivity

Production and Work Loads

Rising Incomes

US Role in World Economy

US-World Incomes

Trade

Trade Partners

Defense Spending

Defense spending was about 1% of GDP in 1900 – mostly on naval costs.

The Empires

Questions for DraftWrite about 600 words (4 standard, typed pages) to answer these questions:

o Aside from the US, were there other nations with a ‘democratic’ style government? Name 2-3 and summarize how their government passed laws, chose leaders, etc.

o The US tradition in foreign affairs (relations with other countries) was to be strictly neutral in all matters of conflict (war, trade restrictions, etc.). How did this tradition begin? Why?

o How did Americans get their news about other nations in 1900?

These remarks will serve as the draft for your first paper. Turn it in on the due date.