1920s

Question 1

When did Woodrow Wilson take the USA into War?

Answer 1

1917

Question 2

Who came into power after Woodrow Wilson? When?

Answer 2

Warren G Harding.
1920.

Question 3

Was Harding a Democrat or Republican?

Answer 3

Republican.

Question 4

When Harding was elected, how many years after did Republicans dominate the White House and Congress?

Answer 4

12 years.

Question 5

In regards to the war that Wilson led the USA into, why did it anger many people?

List 3 reasons.

Answer 5

1. The US economy was benefiting from loans and arms sales to European powers - entering the war ended this.
2. 1917 - 5 million men were drafted into a war they didn’t believe in.
3. US people’s right to free speech was stiffled with the Sedition Act (1918).

Bonus - Wilson wanted America to take a leading role in international affairs with the ‘League of Nations’. Many thought this would tie the USA to other nations’ problems and force them into more wars oversea.

Question 6

List the 3 causes of the Republican victories.

Answer 6

1. Return to Normalcy
2. Isolationism
3. Republican Ideals

Question 7

Breifly explain what is meant by a ‘return to normalcy’.

Answer 7

Harding promised the people os America a return to normalcy - which he defined as a ‘stable, steady way of life’.

Question 8

Briefly explain what is meant by ‘isolationism’.

Answer 8

Harding said that the USA should be supportive of other nations, but not become entangled with them - the US had to focus on themselves.

Question 9

Brirefly explain what is meant by ‘republican ideals’.

Answer 9

• Harding’s slogan was ‘Less Government in business more more business in Government’ - Laissez-Faire.
• It was not the job of the government to control the economy or to manage social problems.
• The government’s job was to keep its own spending under control, rather than spending to help those who were failing.

Question 10

By the start of the 1920s, what were people becoming very worried about?

Answer 10

The Threat of Communism.

Question 11

When was the First Red Scare?

Answer 11

1919 - 1920.

Question 12

What was the First Red Scare?

Answer 12

In 1919, the soviets set up a comintern to promote world revolution and an American Communist Party was formed - aroused American fears that communists might promote revolution within the US.

Question 13

What is the Palmer Raids?

Answer 13

In 1919, an anarchist bomb was destroyed as part of the Attorney General A Mitchell Palmer’s house and spread anarchist leaflets and bits of the bomber’s body across the streets of Washington DC.

Question 14

Whta happened to communists during the Palmer Raids?

Answer 14

• Around 6000 supposed ‘alien’ communists or anarchist were arrested in 36 American cities.
• Secretary of Labour concluded that only 556 individuals deserved deportation.
• Only a minority of the 556 were actually communists.

Question 15

List what American Temperance Campaigners argued that drunkeness would lead to.

Answer 15

• Urban crime
• Insanity
• Poor health
• Communism
• Overcrowded prisons
• Inefficiency at work
• Poverty
• Family problems

Question 16

Briefly explain what ‘prohibition’ is.

Answer 16

1917 - 27 states had banned alcohol.
1919 - 18th Ammendment made it illegal to make, sell or transport alcohol in the US (became known as ‘prohibition’).

Question 17

Why was the concept of ‘prohibiton’ important when America entered WW1?

Answer 17

Many believed that a food staple (grain) should not be wasted on making alcohol.

Question 18

Towards the end of the 1920s, was progressivism excelling or retreating?

Answer 18

Retreating - people believed that a small, limited government was the best way forwards for the USA.