Effect Of The GD On US Society And Economy

Question 1

What event marked the beginning of the most severe economic downturn in US history?

Answer 1

The Wall Street Crash of October 1929

This crash led to a major fall in share prices and was followed by widespread economic depression.

Question 2

What percentage of America’s workforce was unemployed by 1932?

Answer 2

25 percent

This figure highlights the severity of the economic situation during the Great Depression.

Question 3

Who lost the 1932 presidential election largely due to the Depression?

Answer 3

President Hoover

His presidency was heavily criticized for the government’s handling of the economic crisis.

Question 4

What major political shift occurred as a result of the 1932 election?

Answer 4

The Democrats won the presidency and controlled both houses of Congress

This marked the end of the Republican Party’s dominance of the 1920s.

Question 5

What was the role of the federal government during Roosevelt’s presidency from 1933 to 1945?

Answer 5

Played a major role in getting the US economy out of economic depression

This was achieved through programs called the New Deal.

Question 6

How did unemployment change from October to December 1929?

Answer 6

Rose from 500,000 to over four million

This rapid increase highlights the immediate impact of the Wall Street Crash.

Question 7

What was the unemployment figure when Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in spring 1933?

Answer 7

15 million

This figure does not include those working part-time.

Question 8

Fill in the blank: The economic downturn after the Wall Street Crash was the most severe in both US and _______.

Answer 8

world history

Question 9

What were the key programs initiated by Roosevelt to address the economic crisis?

Answer 9

The New Deal

These programs aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the economy.

Question 10

True or False: The majority of Americans were directly affected by the Wall Street Crash.

Answer 10

False

Only a small proportion of the US population owned shares.

Question 11

What significant tariff was passed in June 1930 during the Great Depression?

Answer 11

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

This tariff raised duties on imports and worsened the economic situation.

Question 12

What happened in November 1930 regarding the House of Representatives?

Answer 12

Democrats gained control

This change was part of the political shift following the Depression.

Question 13

What was the economic condition of the US prior to the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 13

Rapid economic growth

The 1920s experienced significant economic expansion before the crash.

Question 14

What is one consequence of the economic downturn on businesses?

Answer 14

Hundreds of businesses went bankrupt

This contributed to rising unemployment and economic instability.

Question 16

What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash on public confidence?

Answer 16

The Wall Street Crash shattered public confidence and plunged the USA into a deep economic depression.

Question 17

By how much did real wages in the USA fall between 1929 and 1931?

Answer 17

Real wages in the USA fell by 16% between 1929 and 1931.

Question 18

What happened to the Gross National Product (GNP) of the US economy between 1929 and 1933?

Answer 18

The GNP fell dramatically during this period.

Question 19

How does GNP differ from GDP?

Answer 19

GNP includes net property income from abroad, while GDP does not.

Question 20

What was the percentage decline in construction from 1929 to 1931?

Answer 20

Construction declined by 78% during the period 1929-31.

Question 21

What was the percentage decline in manufacturing from 1929 to 1931?

Answer 21

Manufacturing went down by 54% during the period 1929-31.

Question 22

What was the percentage decline in investment from 1929 to 1931?

Answer 22

Investment declined by a massive 98% during the period 1929-31.

Question 23

Why was the federal government reluctant to intervene during the Great Depression?

Answer 23

President Hoover believed the downturn would be short-lived and the Republican administration was committed to laissez-faire policies.

Question 24

What was the total GNP in billions in 1933?

Answer 24

The total GNP in 1933 was $55 billion.

Question 25

What was the unemployment rate in the USA in 1933?

Answer 25

The unemployment rate reached 12.8 million in 1933.

Question 26

What was the state of welfare for the unemployed in the USA during the Depression?

Answer 26

There were no national unemployment welfare systems; only a few state governments had systems in place.

Question 27

What did Frank Murphy, Mayor of Detroit, state in 1932?

Answer 27

He stated that Detroit was on the verge of bankruptcy without federal aid.

Question 28

What was the main help for the poor and unemployed during the Depression?

Answer 28

The main help came from voluntary organizations, as President Hoover encouraged voluntarism.

Question 29

What were soup kitchens and breadlines?

Answer 29

They were set up in towns to provide direct help to those affected by the Depression.

Question 30

What was the key term 'Voluntarism'?

Answer 30

Voluntarism is the idea that help for the poor and unemployed should be provided by voluntary organizations like churches.

Question 31

What health issues arose from insufficient feeding of schoolchildren in Colorado by 1931?

Answer 31

Diseases such as dysentery, typhus, and pellagra spread due to poor diet and living conditions.

Question 32

What significant event occurred in 1935 regarding the US Supreme Court?

Answer 32

The US Supreme Court declared the National Recovery Administration (NRA) unconstitutional.

Question 33

What major acts were passed in August 1935?

Answer 33

The Social Security Act and Revenue Act were passed in August 1935.

Question 34

What was Roosevelt's 'Court Packing Plan'?

Answer 34

It was introduced in February 1937 but was ultimately defeated.

Question 35

What was the Fair Labor Standards Act?

Answer 35

It was enacted in June 1938 to set standards for labor practices.

Question 37

What was the increase in suicide rates in the USA between 1929 and 1932?

Answer 37

Suicide rates rose 14 percent between 1929 and 1932.

Question 38

What was the impact of the economic decline on ethnic minorities?

Answer 38

The rapid decline in economic activity led to a rise in racial discrimination against ethnic minorities.

Question 39

How were Hispanic workers affected during the Depression?

Answer 39

Hispanic workers were severely affected by a dramatic drop in demand for agricultural products.

Question 40

What actions did some states take to encourage Mexican citizens to leave the USA?

Answer 40

Some states barred non-US citizens from public works programs and were willing to pay the rail fare to the Mexican border.

Question 41

What discrimination did Chinese workers face in 1932?

Answer 41

Customers in New York City boycotted Chinese laundries in an attempt to drive them out of business.

Question 42

How did the Depression affect Black Americans?

Answer 42

Black Americans faced renewed oppression, being the first to be fired during downsizing and experiencing increased lynching.

Question 43

What was the fate of farmers during the economic collapse?

Answer 43

Farm incomes fell by two-thirds between 1929 and 1932 due to a sharp fall in demand and prices.

Question 44

What happened to farmers who had bank loans during the banking collapse?

Answer 44

Thousands of farmers lost their livelihoods when over 600 banks went out of business in 1930.

Question 45

What was the Bonus Army?

Answer 45

In 1932, 21,000 veterans marched on Washington DC demanding immediate payment of bonuses due in 1945.

Question 46

What was the outcome of the Bonus Army march?

Answer 46

The army forcibly evicted the Bonus marchers using tanks, resulting in the loss of two lives.

Question 48

What event marked the beginning of the economic crisis in the USA?

Answer 48

The Wall Street Crash.

Question 49

What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash on the US economy?

Answer 49

It led to the collapse of the US economy and encouraged the development of organized crime.

Question 50

Who was the most notorious gangster associated with organized crime during the Depression?

Answer 50

Al Capone.

Question 51

What illegal activities were gangsters involved in during the 1930s?

Answer 51

Gangsters were involved in illegal activities connected with the alcohol trade, gambling, and other black market trading.

Question 52

What happened to Al Capone after federal officials targeted his operations?

Answer 52

He was convicted of tax evasion and received 11 years in prison.

Question 53

Who were Bonnie and Clyde?

Answer 53

They were a notorious gang that robbed banks and committed murder until they were killed by the FBI in 1934.

Question 54

What was the fate of Bonnie and Clyde?

Answer 54

They were tracked down and killed by the FBI on 23 May 1934.

Question 55

Who was Machine Gun Kelly?

Answer 55

He was a gangster known for bank robbery, caught by police in Oklahoma in 1933.

Question 56

What was the FBI's decision regarding certain criminals in 1931?

Answer 56

The FBI labeled certain criminals as 'public enemies.'

Question 57

Who was Public Enemy Number 1 during part of the Depression?

Answer 57

John Dillinger.

Question 58

What was John Dillinger known for?

Answer 58

He was a bank robber, bootlegger, and organized crime gangster.

Question 59

What epitomized the lawlessness in the USA during the Depression years?

Answer 59

The activities of notorious gangsters like Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, and John Dillinger.