Unit 8: 1920s, Great Depression, New Deal & WWII

Question 1

Red Summer

Answer 1

bloody period in 1919 where white hysteria over Black success led to 25 race riots + 80 lynchings
led to African American agitation (turned towards insistence for change)

Question 2

Chicago Race Riot

Answer 2

late July 1919 5 day riot that killed almost 40
tensions arose bc Great Migration → lots of Black ppl hired as strikebreakers (white resentment)

Question 3

First Red Scare

Answer 3

people were scared that 1900s strikes/riots were caused by Communists and anarchists (despite them being 2 totally different groups),, exacerbated by reports of mail bombs [First Red Scare]
brought huge violations of civil liberties as USFG induced paranoia == vigilantism for stupid shit
subsided by summer 1920, but strengthened conservative ideals of nativism and 100% patriotism

Question 4

A. Mitchell Palmer

Answer 4

one of the mail bombs initiated by violent militants hit US Attorney General Palmer, who then became devoted to fighting the “Red Menace”

Question 5

Palmer Raids

Answer 5

During the First Red Scare, US Attorney General Palmer established organizational network to gather info on + arrest and deport alleged radicals (often foreign born bc nativism)

Question 6

Consumer Culture of the 1920s

Answer 6

radioes, mass ads, etc == American becoming leading consumer society
traditional values (austerity) XX, rise of urban middle class bent on mass consumption + carefree spending
econ growth + indus innovation fueled explosion of consumer goods → “mass culture” b/c Americans viewed + bought the same stuff

Question 7

Advertising and Buying on Installments in the 1920s

Answer 7

reckless spending necessitated biz kept people spending – “Buy Now Pay Later” financed purchases in installments
advertisement turned into a huge enterprise => appealed to middle class housewives, promised + defined people’s pursuit of happiness

Question 8

Growth of Movies and Radios in the 1920s

Answer 8

radios also appealed to middle class housewives, as they purchased ⅔ of consumer goods
radio ads/ programs sponsored by big companies targeted women
movies also expanded consumer culture by setting arbitrary standards for its characters

Question 9

Jazz Age

Answer 9

1920s period of social/cultural rebellion among youth in the form of jazz, a partially improvised and spontaneous genre of music (living in moment music)
African American musicians pioneered: Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington
critics found the music and provocative dances base and annoying

Question 10

Henry Ford and the Automobile

Answer 10

The automobile becomes widespread due to lower prices as a result of efficient mass production. The automobile industry also catalyzes the development of other industries such as the oil, rubber, glass industries.

Question 11

Margaret Sanger

Answer 11

NY nurse and midwife who advocated for birth control bc of witnessing unwanted pregnancies and crude abortions
organized American Birth Control League in 1921 (present-day Planned Parenthood) – distributed info abt contraception – laid foundation for legal prescription of contraceptives in 1936
good for that stuff BUT promoted sterilization of “mentally incompetent” ppl + BC as a means of eugenics

Question 12

The New Morality and the Flapper

Answer 12

flapper = small pop of young women who wore short skirts and defied traditional gender norms by cutting hair, driving cars, lots of makeup, shooting the shit with guys, lots of partying
their “carefree feminism” was self-indulgent, independent, and seductive – most women did not subscribe (cult of domesticity bc of conservative post-war pressures)
interracial marriage frowned upon + punished (societally and “legally”)

Question 13

The Great Migration

Answer 13

the movement of 400,000 southern Black (mostly farming) people to northern cities like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis – tripled Black pop in the North (“land of promise” for Black ppl due to less blatant racism, though white resentment&raquo_space;>, especially by white immigrants who feared job loss)

Question 14

The New Negro and the Harlem Renaissance

Answer 14

the convergence of Black people in NYC that inspired common iden among “culture capital” of African-American life – led to lots of art + literature in 1930s
gave rise to the “New Negro”: one who wasn’t subservient to white culture (as previous circumstances had often necessitated them to be)
celebrated “Aframerican” cultural contributors,, communities that resisted white violence + bigotry

Question 15

Langston Hughes

Answer 15

Black artist who wrote about and supported the Harlem Renaissance and described the beauty of the African American community.

Question 16

Marcus Garvey

Answer 16

fostered idea of Black nationalism + racial separatism (solidarity + power in their iden)
founded Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) – hq in Harlem
NAACP members opposed Garveyism – Du Bois said “lunatic”
1st mov collapsed when he was convicted for fraud + deported in 1923

Question 17

Sinclair Lewis

Answer 17

part of the Lost Generation: people who had lost faith in Western institutions and with materialism of postwar Roaring 20s, mostly by ppl who had fought in WWI.
Lewis’ literature criticized small town insular mindsets of small towns in America (e.g. rejection of science)

Question 18

F Scott Fitzgerald

Answer 18

part of the Lost Generation: people who had lost faith in Western institutions and with materialism of postwar Roaring 20s, mostly by ppl who had fought in WWI.
Captured society of jazz age, including the disparities between the excessive wealth and extreme poverty

Question 19

National Origins Act

Answer 19

1921 act that limited immig for fear of foreign radicals (bc influx of southern/Eastern Europeans) through % and total caps
Main purpose = favor nw immig + exclude se bc of US prejudice — unintentionally ignored Western Hemisphere (Latin Americans became fastest growing ethnic minority)

Question 20

Sacco and Vanzetti Case

Answer 20

1920 arrest of Italian immig anarchists who allegedly stole $ and killed guards
Happened during height of Italian immig — mass hysteria contributed to their sentencing + death
Strengthened nativism (connected se immig and political radical violence)

Question 21

The New KKK

Answer 21

recreated in 1915 NATIONWIDE by biz-minded ppl (created dues) — promoted 100% Americanism (White Protestants born US) and white supremacy
militant patriotism/Protestant morality —> floggings, tarrings, harassment, and other domestic terrorism
came to elect local/state officials, exerting some pol influence BUT anti-Klan mov ended it when “kluxing” leader arrested for kidnapping + rape

Question 22

Fundamentalism

Answer 22

an ideology hostile towards liberal ideas + Darwinism (Bible = literally true) adopted by conserv Protestants

Question 23

Scopes Trial

Answer 23

Highly publicized trial of tennessee schoolteacher arrested for teaching evolution
Clarence Darrow: famous Chicagoan defense attorney who argued that trial was about intelligence triumphing over ignorance
William Jennings Bryan: former Congressman who argued that the trial was about states’ discretion over edu (“evolution vs Christianity”)
ended in “draw” bc no one disputed that teacher was TEACHING evolution, BUT Tennessee SC waived fine on tech

Question 24

Effects of Prohibition: Organized Crime

Answer 24

connected trad rural religious community + progressive reformers around prohibition and prejudice (“foreigners drink too much”)
compelled millions towards bootlegging instead of disuading alcohol consumption — law was too sweeping to enforce
led to job loss + revenue loss
econ boost to organized crime — Al Capone = biggest G (arrested for tax evasion in 1929)

Question 25

"Return to Normalcy"

Answer 25

landslide election of Warren G Harding in 1920 due to post-WWI decline of progresssivism (post-New Freedom) vanilla promise of dispassionate isolationism and a prez who was unexceptional and practical Signified dominance of Republicans again in white house + congress + courts — blocked many progressive laws

Question 26

Andrew Mellon Economic Policy

Answer 26

econ plan created to address ballooning post-WWI debt + high unemployment Sec of Treasury advocated for < USFG spending, < taxes for super rich+poor, high tariffs on ag + manu products 1921 created Bureau of Budget to outline Congress-approved annual federal budget Super successful — Mellon = “modern Hamilton”

Question 27

The role of unions and farmers in 1920s

Answer 27

Organized labor took a hit bc Republican Congress… post WWI transition from war to peace = open shops: employers could hire anyone not just union members anti union low wages mov —> purchasing power crisis: factories churning out products with few ppl with enough money to buy them

Question 28

Causes of the Great Depression: Buying stock on margin / stock speculation

Answer 28

Practice of making down payment on a stock and borrowing rest from stockbroker, paying it off if price rose and selling it for cheap if “margin call” not reached Too much speculation = stock market crash. Revealed shaky econ foundations prior to GD.

Question 29

Causes of the Great Depression: Overproduction (biz/farm)

Answer 29

Manufacturing grew by 43% in the 1920s, but consumers lacked purchasing power Biz to blame for purch crisis — investcest instead of increasing wages Farm took out mortgages during WWI bc high demand… but post war crop prices <<<, tumbling them into debt

Question 30

Causes of the Great Depression: Protective Tariffs / War Debt

Answer 30

Hawley Smoot Tariffs instituted during Hoover admin added hundreds of new items to the list raised prices for raw mats, consumer products. Made it harder for foreign powers to pay off debts. Other countries passed their own tariffs in response, making US exports plummet

Question 31

Hoover's Belief in the Economy

Answer 31

Initial reaction = denial; insisted biz keep jobs + services going so that working ppl could afford to boost the econ wanted to raise taxes and cut budgets to balance USFG budget (wrong - led to less consumer spending) commitment to rugged individualism and feared more gov help —-> socialism

Question 32

Reconstruction Finance Corporation

Answer 32

Dems exploited bad Hoover rep to get Congressional majority and force him to do stuff 1932 corporation gave emergency loans to banks and RRs Hoover signed Emergency Relief Act that allowed RFC to do construction loans, but criticized

Question 33

Bonus March

Answer 33

WWI veterans fought for cash bonuses owed to them in spring 1932 - camped by the Capitol Hoover tried to remove via paying for trains home but some remained - sec of war’s dispatch burned the unarmed camp and arrested unarmed vets cemented Hoover’s rep as cold prez in denial

Question 34

The New Deal

Answer 34

FDR swept election vs Hoover w/ promise of New Deal (new. aggressive action) Recovery economically, Relief from GD misery (consumers) - CCC, FERA, AAA, NRA, TVA Reform capitalist systems that caused GD - FDIC, SEC, Wagner Act, SSA

Question 35

Glass Steagall Act and FDIC

Answer 35

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation created by GS Act in June 1937 - insured saving accounts for consumers to reduce likelihood of future panic. Also gave Federal Reserve Board more authority to intervene in panics. Helped end banking crisis along with Emergency Banking Relief Act (which closed banks, allowed only stable banks to reopen, giving consumers confidence in investment again)

Question 36

SEC

Answer 36

Securities and Exchange Commission created by Federal Securities act in 1934. enforced laws created a year earlier that regulated sale of stocks and bonds through requiring disclosure of pertinent info (aiming to eliminate fraud/deceit in market)

Question 37

FERA

Answer 37

1st instance of FDR's USFG taking responsibility for unemployment during the First New Deal - gave states money to spend on the unemployed + homeless BUT not enough, CCC came along and was more effective

Question 38

CCC

Answer 38

Civilian Conservation Corps housed and gave jobs to half a million employed young men - worked in rec areas and conservation efforts, even minorities (native American + Black ppl) but segregated (and women banned) paid very low ($1 a day for 9 months) but jobs good

Question 39

HOLC

Answer 39

Home Owners Loans Corporation created during the First New Deal to help reduce foreclosures by refinancing mortagges with lower interest rates discriminated against Black peopl

Question 40

NRA

Answer 40

National Recovery Administration created by National Industrial Recovery Act in 1933 intercorporate cooperation (w disregard for antitrust) sets industry wide codes created by employers and union officials mandating certain working conditions and hours. The codes often encouraged more part-time workers than full time workers and discouraged child labor in order to decrease unemployment. Declared unconstitutional in Schechter vs US due to interference with interstate commerce

Question 41

AAA

Answer 41

Agricultural Adjustment Administration created in 1933 by the Ag Adjustment Act helped farmers lower debt by paying them to cut production even in the middle of growing season (increasing crop prices) declared unconstitutional in US v Butler bc tax on "middle man", but continued w/o tax

Question 42

TVA

Answer 42

Tennessee Valley Authority created to help the Appalachia poor through electric power, flood control, and jobs made hydroelectric dams, it was pro-conservation and union, provided plumbing and electricity access helped some but hurt others - displaced homes, destroyed villages

Question 43

Indian Reorganization Act

Answer 43

proposed by Collier's Bureau of Indian Affairs to restore land and sovereignty to tribes (countering Dawes Severalty Act) Congress passed diluted version - "Indian New Deal" only a partial improvement

Question 44

Huey Long

Answer 44

Democratic senator who criticized New Deal for not doing enough to help common ppl presidential campaign rested on his Share the Wealth Program: simple plan that placed higher taxes on the wealthy and redistributed $$ problem was that gov budget outspent tax revenue gains

Question 45

Francis Townsend

Answer 45

critic of New Deal advocated for old-age pensions so that elderly could retire, opening up jobs for young people BUT same problem as Huey Long - the math was not mathing

Question 46

Father Coughlin

Answer 46

went opposite direction in criticizing New Deal through anti-Semitic fear mongering ("Jewish Communism") - had sizeable political influence and promoted coinage of silver to increase money supply

Question 47

Schecter v. US

Answer 47

SCOTUS ruling in 1935 that killed NRA - said "fair competition" negotiating were unconstitutional (violated antitrust laws)

Question 48

US v. Butler

Answer 48

SCOTUS ruling in 1936 that AAA was unconstitutional bc taxed the "middle man" (process tax) FDR re-established AAA in 1938 w/o the tax

Question 49

WPA

Answer 49

Works Progress Administration created by the 2nd New Deal in early 1935 to manage new federal job programs became nation's largest employer, did construction, restoration, arts helped 9 million ppl before shutdown in 1943

Question 50

Wagner Act

Answer 50

another core pt of 2nd New Deal - guaranteed unions right to organize + bargain directly with management Also established overseeing National Labor Relations Board

Question 51

Social Security Act

Answer 51

cornerstone of 2nd New Deal provided self-financed fed retirement fund meant to supplement income for the elderly/unemployed payroll taxes = funds very regressive tax - hurt the poor

Question 52

New Deal Coalition

Answer 52

Democratic party unites a variety of elements — Ethnic groups, middle class voters, intellectuals, labor unions, African Americans

Question 53

Court Packing Plan

Answer 53

FDR wanted to pack the squo conservative court bc had declared some of his key New Deal legislation unconstitutional -- SCOTUS “reform” through adding 6 new judges huge backlash from Republicans + Dems (feared dictatorial intentions) -- humiliatingly vetoed in July 1937

Question 54

1937 Recession

Answer 54

FDR cut USFG spending to balance budget, inflation -- led to econ downturn Caused by decrease in disposable income (as a result of the SSA), as well as cutback in federal relief programs.

Question 55

Keynesian Economics

Answer 55

Belief that during times of economic recession, government spending should increase so as to stimulate the economy. During times of economic prosperity, government spending should decrease.

Question 56

Washington Naval Conference

Answer 56

Advocated end to arms race and permanent world peace. Treaties establish tonnage limits, moratorium on battleship building, respect of Pacific possessions, Open Door policy / Chinese integrity

Question 57

Kellogg Briand Pact

Answer 57

unique France-US treaty that made pledge that war between the 2 countries banned, reserving their right to self defense. Essentially did nothing, yet represented desires of nations to eliminate war and perpetuate peace in the context of post WWI isolationism.

Question 58

Good Neighbor Policy

Answer 58

FDR declaration that in the Western Hemisphere, no nation has the right to intervene in affairs of another - led to withdrawal of US troops from Latin America

Question 59

Hitler and Mussolini

Answer 59

palingenetic totalitarian ultranationalism (fascism created by M) H wanted renunciation of Versailles Treaty to preserve German dignity H and M were idolized by their voters. Upon election, H created Nazi police state M did same thing in Italy (eliminated political opposition)

Question 60

Munich Conference

Answer 60

Despite H and M invasions, GB + France wanted to pursue peace. At the Munich Conference, British and French leaders agreed to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland unopposed hoping it'd appease them (but H had no intention of abiding by the pact - seized rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939)

Question 61

Invasion of Manchuria

Answer 61

Japanese aggressive military occupation of NE China region (intended on conquering all of East Asia). This was a clear violation of the League of Nations Charter, the Open Door Policy, and other treaties from the Washington Naval Conference

Question 62

Stimson Doctrine

Answer 62

In response to Invasion of Manchuria, the US issued the Stimson Doctrine, stating a refusal to recognize any agreement or situation which violated treaty rights, prior agreements, or the territorial integrity of China.

Question 63

Nye Committee

Answer 63

prominent isolationist Senate group that concluded (after investigations) that arms dealers and bankers ere to blame for encouraging US intervention in WWI

Question 64

Neutrality Acts

Answer 64

aimed to keep US from entering another war - no lending nations money, countries must bring "cash in hand" and carry the arms back by their own means. FDR revised in 1939, allowing GB and France to send ships to US for mil supplies

Question 65

Fall of France

Answer 65

Germans overwhelm the Maginot line, invading France in June 1940 and making Britain the only major democratic nation free of dictatorial control. rapidly spurred US to fearful action

Question 66

Battle of Britain

Answer 66

late summer 1940 air battle - Germany deployed planes, air bombs to destroy Royal Air Force despite losses, Hitler failed to invade (a moral victory for the British)

Question 67

Destroyer Base Deal

Answer 67

trade negotiation between FDR and Churchill in Sept 1940. Gave GB 50 US warships in exchange for US able to build mil bases on British colonies followed FDR's "All Aid Short of War" push for the public to give up isolationism

Question 68

Peacetime Conscription

Answer 68

2 weeks after Destroyer Base Deal, FDR signed 1st peacetime draft in US history - required 21-35 year old men to register

Question 69

Lend Lease Act

Answer 69

FDR's interventionist way to provide more miliatray aid to GB 1941 bill alowed prez to lend and lease military equipment ot nay country whose defense was key to US defense boosted morale and "All Aid Short of War" through the US being the "great arsenal of democracy" for allies

Question 70

Atlantic Charter

Answer 70

FDR-Churchill signed in summer 1941 - declaration of common values that'd persist after WWII: self determination, economic cooperation, freedom of seas, United Nations similar to Wilson's Fourteen Points endorsed by 11 anti-Axis nations

Question 71

Pearl Harbor

Answer 71

irreconcilable issues between Japan and US. Japan needed US oil, yet refused to respect CHN integrity and the open door policy failure of negotiation attempts led to attack on Pearl harbor, killing 2k Americans BUT did little damage to US mil. awoke "sleeping giant" by driving US to enter WW2

Question 72

War Productions Board

Answer 72

since prez was given auth to reorganize gov with the War Powers Act, FDR created WPB in 1942, directed all industries towards war production effective - >> output than all Axis nations combined by the end of the year

Question 73

Double V Campaign

Answer 73

A popular commitment to extending democratic ideals as a result of the Second World War led to the desegregation of the U.S. military during WWII. Randolph planned protest (march on washington) so the government created the Fair Employment Practices Committee, which prohibited employment related discrimination and assisted minorities in gaining jobs in defense industries. The committee had no power to enforce its directives however, making it weak.

Question 74

Financing WWII

Answer 74

taxes covered 45% of war debt, but gov war bonds sale ($185 billion) covered the rest, paying interest to purchasers. USFG also set price ceilings, rations, mobilization (ended many New Deal programs like WPA, CCC)

Question 75

Role of women in WWII

Answer 75

brought into labor force again. "Rosie the Riveter" = gov way of persuading women to take traditionally male jobs via promotion of excelling women. conservative backlash, though women liked getting good pay for skilled jobs. also mil allowed women to serve in segregated units (WAC, WAVES, etc).

Question 76

Bracero Program

Answer 76

labor agreement in 1942 between US and Mexico. Mex provided abt 200k seasonal farmworkers on year long contracts. US promised decent working and living conditions. rural pop moving west, US farms needed labor (wanted migrants back, ones they'd forced back to Mexico already)

Question 77

Zoot Suit Riots

Answer 77

Mexicans pt of the Bracero Program encountered a lot of racism especially in California ZSR = several thousand locals participated in a week long white rampage in LA attacking Hispanics/African Americans/Filipinos. built up bc racial prejudice -

Question 78

Native American Code Talkers

Answer 78

1/3 of eligible NA men served (integrated with white army) main role = code talking: encoding/deciphering messages using Indigenous language (especially Navajo) that Axis powers didn't have access to

Question 79

Executive Order 9066

Answer 79

Feb 1942 order that created Japanese interment camps. FDR authorized the removal of all on the Pacific coast with no evidence of "military necessity" only offered 20k in reparations for nisei still alive in 1983

Question 80

Korematsu v. US

Answer 80

Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of Executive Order 9066. This authorized the government to deny Japanese Americans their constitutional rights due to military concerns and fear of espionage.

Question 81

Allied Strategy in WWII

Answer 81

US mainly focused on war with Japan, but also Europe at 1st Allies/anti Axis signed Declaration of the United Nations (no separate peace with Axis, full war mobilization Supreme Commander of Allied Force title established. in charge of operation overlord(supervised by British American board - Eisenhower was first SC)

Question 82

D-Day

Answer 82

day of invasion of German controlled France (Nazi controlled Western Europe) succeeded bc surprising and lucky (Germany expected Pas de Calais, but invasion was in Normandy 200 miles south) huge casualties BUT turning pt for the Allies (knew that victory was a matter of time) British American mil went east , Paris liberated Aug 25, 1942

Question 83

Yalta Conference

Answer 83

Discussion of what the postwar world would look like with US, USSR, GB Occupation zones in Germany Free elections in the liberated countries of Eastern Europe Soviets would enter the war against Japan New world peace organization (the United Nations) Soviet promises to respect Manchurian sovereignty

Question 84

The Atomic Bomb Debate

Answer 84

Truman believed in using the A-bomb as an expedient to make the war end faster. Furthermore, the use of the A-bomb would allow Truman to avoid a costly amphibious invasion of Japan. He and the Allies called on Japan to surrender unconditionally or face utter destruction. When Japan didn’t surrender, Truman dropped two atomic bombs in the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The human toll was around a quarter million Japanese.