America 1920-1937: People and The 'Boom' Flashcards
What is The Bill of Rights?
Part of the constitution, guaranteeing Americans a series of freedoms and rights.
List the Republican party policies and supporters:
. ‘Laissez-faire’- a policy preserving traditions and pushing staying out of people’s lives.
. Didn’t support high taxes.
. Conservative.
. Supported mostly in the richer, industrial North.
List the Democratic party policies/ supporters:
. ‘Ordinary people’s’ party- preferring to intervene in everyday life.
. Helps the vulnerable, such as poor and elderly.
. Liberal.
. Supported mostly in the poorer Southern states.
The _____ Americans lived in tribes across America for thousands of years before white ________ settlers. After these settlers took much of their land, the were forced to live on ____________. There were around _ million Native Americans upon the settlers arrival but by ____ it decreased to 250,000.
- First
- European
- reservations
- 5
- 1900
The Early immigrants, also known as _____, arrived from Europe in the _____ and fought many wars with the ______ Americans. The largest group of white settlers were _______. Later, around __% of America people owned 90% of the wealth (most descending from white immigrants).
1.WASPs
2. 1600s
3. Native
4. British
5. 10%
___ immigrants entered America in around 18__ onwards. Mainly from Eastern/ Southern Europe, ____, Ireland, _____, and _____ America. Most were poor and illiterate and many WASPs saw these immigrants as _______ due to their search for work.
- New
- 50
- China
- Japan
- South
- threats
Between 1600 and __00, millions of African- Americans were taken to work as slaves. Slavery was abolished in ____ and by 1920 there were around __ million African- Americans mainly living in Southern states. Most had limited ______ and were denied access to basic needs.
- 18
- 1865
- 10
- freedom
What was the ‘Cycle of Prosperity’?
ASHAME
1) Mass production
2) Employment increase
3) Hire purchase plans
4) Affordable
5) Advertising
6) Spending
How did WW1 contribute to the Economic Boom in America?
. Isolationism- led to USA prospering financially.
. Loaned money to Britain and its allies, creating jobs.
. The war disrupted the economic growth of other countries.
. Other large nation’s were exhausted by the war so US resources could be exploited.
. No major war time debts.
What was the role of the Republican government in the Economic Boom?
. The Fordney- McCumber Tax- high tax on imports.
. Cut taxes paid by rich people.
. Generally low taxes, ppl has more money to spend.
. ‘Laissez- faire’
How did the consumer society boost the economy?
. People bought new gadgets due to the rise from 15% to 70% of electrical use in homes.
. Gadgets like gramophones and fridges.
. High demand for these goods created jobs in factories that made them.
How did growing industries and the introduction of mass production benefit the economy?
. The growth of the motor industry ment there were jobs created for making the materials needed.
. Mass production- as companies got quicker, their goods became cheaper.
In what ways did new ways to buy and sell help the Economic Boom?
. Hire purchase plans- ‘ buy one get one free ‘ schemes.
. 6/10 cars bought this way.
. Catalogues made it easier to buy goods (delivery).
. Advertisement.
List facts about the Ford Motor Company:
. First Ford factory built in 1903, in Detroit Michigan.
. Ford introduced the assembly line in 1913- led to mass production.
. Price of car fell- $800 in 1911 to $295 in 1928.
. 15 million ppl bought Model T’s between 1911- 1929.
What was Henry Ford and the motor industries role in the Economic Boom?
. ‘ An affordable car for ordinary people ‘ - Ford
. 20 million cars on the road by 1926- 1 in 2 were a Ford.
. New jobs like road building.
. Freedom.
. However, cars caused pollution, crashes and traffic.
Why was buying shares so popular?
. Ordinary Americans, as well as the rich, bought and profited of shares.
. In 1920, 4 million ppl owned shares, changing to x 5 as many in 1929.
What is ‘ buying on the margin ‘?
Buying shares with money borrowed from banks or small 10% deposits, then paying it back using the profits of sold shares.
How does the stock market work?
. Set up a company if you have money for wages, land, equipment etc.
. Most companies get money from investors- being those who buy into the company.
. In return, investors own a share of the company- becoming shareholders.
. A shareholder makes money by recieving shares of the company profits (a dividend)
. Or through selling their shares for higher prices.
Why did prices of farmers goods fall?
. Less demand for US imports in Europe after WW1.
. Some countries taxed US goods, making it difficult to sell overseas.
What was the cause of many farmers poverty?
. Many bought high-tech equipment through loans that they couldn’t pay back.
. As well as buying mortages they also couldn’t pay back.
Why we’re farmers forced to sell their farms or be evicted? How many lost their farms in 1924 alone?
. Some had borrowed money from banks for the machinery, which they couldn’t pay back now.
. Around 600,000 lost their farms in 1924 alone.
Why did coal miners suffer?
Coal mines closed as other forms of fuel were increasingly used to heat homes and cook food.
Why was their less demand for cotton and wool?
The popularity of man- made fibres instead- reducing the demand for such products.
How did the inequalities of wealth in the 1920s affect African- Americans
. Many African- Americans worked as labourers or sharecroppers (those renting small areas of farmland).
. As the farming industry suffered, they were hit even harder.
Why we’re Native Americans forced to move to reservations and how did this impact their life?
. Large amounts of their land was seized by mining companies.
. The reservations they had to move to usually had infertile soil meaning food was hard to grow.
. Most lived in poverty, and were poorly educated.
. Having a lower life expectancy than other ethnic groups in the USA.
