1. US economic power: 1900 How foreign trade influenced American decisions.

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

3. Rural to Urban

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Shifting to Urban

7. Immigration

8. Productivity

9. Production and Work Loads

10. Rising Incomes

11. US Role in World Economy

12. US-World Incomes

13. Trade

14. Trade Partners

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

16. The Empires

17. Questions for Draft Write 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.