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History > America - the 'Roaring 20s' > Flashcards

America - the 'Roaring 20s' Flashcards

0
Q

Who won the 1920 presidential election?

A

Warren Harding

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1
Q

Why was America the most powerful nation in the world after WW1? (3)

A

1) Didn’t join WW1 till 1917 so spent less money
2) Main industrial supplier for the allies
3) Received reparations from Germany

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2
Q

1) What was Harding’s policy in the election campaign?

2) What was his slogan?

A

1) ‘Normalcy’

2) America first

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3
Q

Why did Americans support the policy of isolationism? (3)

A

1) 100,000 Americas died in WW1 and trade with other countries had suffered
- wanted to stay out of international affairs

2) By 1920, half of all Americans were immigrants, mainly from Europe
- they had harsh memories of the ‘old country’ and did not want more involvement

3) Europe was going through a wave of communism (Russian revolution)

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4
Q

In 1920, what proportion of the American population were immigrants?

A

50%

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5
Q

Why were many Americans opposed to the League of Nations? (2)

A

1) They felt that disputes hundreds of miles away didn’t concern them
2) They believed that the USA would have to bear the cost of keeping peace

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6
Q

Name 4 republican policies that contributed to the ‘boom’

A

1) Tariffs
2) Laissez-faire
3) Trusts
4) Low taxation

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8
Q

What is meant by the Republican policy of Laissez-faire?

A

Minimal government interference in the everyday lives of people

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9
Q

Why did republicans keep taxes low?

A

So that people could spend it on consumer goods and the stock market

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10
Q

Give 2 examples of industry leaders who benefited from the policy of trusts

A

1) Carneige (steel)

2) Rockerfeller (iron)

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11
Q

What were the average annual industrial wages in:

a) 1919
b) 1927

A

a) $1,158

b) $1,304

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12
Q

How many millionaires were there in:

a) 1914
b) 1928

A

a) 7,000

b) 35,000

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13
Q

How did the war benefit American exports?

A

USA supplied materials to the allies

Americans were able to take over international European trade. Exports to areas controlled by European colonial powers increased

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14
Q

Give an example of an industry that America took over

A

Chemical industry

  • Germany used to have the most successful chemical industry, but war inhibited its growth
  • USA out-produced Germany and created jobs in the process
  • Explosives manufacture also stimulated many by-products
    e. g plastics
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15
Q

How did natural resources help the boom?

A

There was little need to import from other countries, so most American money was spent in a
America itself

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16
Q

What was capital investment in the film industry in the 20s?

A

$2 billion

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17
Q

How many Hollywood studios were there by 1929?

A

20

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18
Q

1) In the 1920s what was the average annual output of feature films?
2) What is the annual output in the 21st century?

A

1) 800 per year

2) 500 per year

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19
Q

What percentage of American fiction films were produced by the ‘Big 5’?

A

90%

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20
Q

How many cars were made in America in:

1) 1900
2) 1929

A

1) 4000

2) 4.8 million

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21
Q

By 1929 a car was owned by what proportion of:

1) Americans
2) British
3) Russians

A

1) 1/5
2) 1/43
3) 1/7000

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22
Q

How many jobs depended driectly or indirectly on the moor industry?

A

4 million

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23
Q

What percentage of radios were bought on credit in the 1920s?

A

80%

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24
Q

What percentage of cars were bought on credit in the 1920s?

A

60%

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25
Which one of Wilson's policies did tariffs end?
Free trade
26
When was the Fordney McCumber tariff introduced?
1922
27
How many times did Warren Harding vary the rate of the Fordney McCumber tariff?
37
28
How many times did Calvin Coolidge vary the rate of the Fordney McCumber tariff?
32
29
What were the benefits of tariffs? (2)
1) American goods were cheaper as they were not effected by tariffs, more people bought these goods and therefore helped the US economy 2) Ended farmers opposition to protectionism. - they could make more profit because there was less foreign competition
30
What were the disadvantages of tariffs? (3)
1) Tensions with other countries - especially struggling European powers 2) Eventually American industries would need a new market, but it would be harder to export their own goods because other countries may introduce tariffs on the USA 3) Led to overproduction, which in turn led to poverty
31
How many women were in employment in 1929? | How does this compare to 1920?
10 million by 1929, 24% more than in 1920
32
How many divorces were there in: 1) 1914 2) 1929
1) 100,000 | 2) 200,000
33
What are the limitations women faced by the end of the 20s? (5)
1) Political influence 2) Wages 3) Religion/upbringing (Catholics kept womens' status low) 4) Location 5) Marital status
34
How much did unemployment fall between 1920 and 1929?
It stayed the same (5%) | Even though industrial production doubled
35
What percentage of the population were below the poverty line during the 20s?
42%
36
How much of the overall income did the poorest 42% receive?
10%
37
How much of the overall income did the richest 5 % receive?
32%
38
How much did company profits and dividends to shareholders increase by from 1920-29? How much did average wages increase by from 1920-29?
60% 10%
39
What percentage of semi-skilled workers in Chicago owned car? What was this in other areas?
3% 29%
40
Give an example of a strike in the 20s due to exploitation of workers
1928: Coal industry of North Carolina -Male workers $18 -Female workers $9 For a 70 hour week ($48 considered minimum for a decent life)
41
What was the total US farm income in: 1) 1919 2) 1928
1) $22 billion | 2) $13 billion
42
How much food did the average farmer produce during the 20s?
Enough to feed his family and 14 others
43
How much did farm prices fall by in 1921?
50%
44
What were the reasons for overproduction? (4)
1) Europe imported less food from the US due to economic depression and tariffs 2) Competition from highly efficient Canadian wheat producers 3) Farming became more efficient due to developments such as the combine harvester and fertiliser 4) Population decreased - fewer mouths to feed
45
How many more farm bankruptcies were there in the 1920s than in the previous decade?
5 times more
46
How many people did overproduction directly affect?
60 million
47
How many rural Americans were forced off their land in the 1920s?
6 million
48
How many rural African Americans became unemployed due to overproduction?
750,000
49
How many crates of lettuce were transported to cities in: 1) 1920 2) 1928
1) 14,000 | 2) 52,000
50
What laws were passed by the Supreme Court that legalised segregation? when was this?
Jim Crow laws 1896
51
In .......... The leader of the KKK claimed that America was a ................................
1921 | Garbage can
52
When was the KKK established?
1866
53
Why was the KKK reformed in 1915
The film 'the birth of our nation,' set just after the civil war, glorified the KKK as defenders of decent American values against renegade African Americans and corrupt white business men
54
How many members did the KKK have at its peak?
5 million
55
Give an example of members of the KKK who were in positions of political power
Governors of Oregon and Oklahoma
56
What year did KKK membership begin to decline? | Why was this?
1925 - Grand Wizard David Stephenson convicted of a vicious sexually motivated murder - Turned informer and the corruption of the Klan became common knowledge
57
How many lynchings were there in the state of Georgia due to the KKK?
135 in 2 years
58
During the 20s how much did the population of African Americans rise in: 1) New york 2) Chicago
1) 150,000 -----> 330,000 | 2) 110,000 -----> 230,000
59
What was America's immigration policy prior to WW!?
'Open door'
60
How many immigrants entered America between 1900 and 1915?
13 million
61
What year was the immigration law passed? | What were the terms of this?
1917 Required all foreign immigrants to take an English literacy test. -This effectively prevented people from poorer countries from entering the USA
62
What year was the Immigration Quota Act passed? | What were the terms of this?
1921 Limited number of immigrants to 357,000 per year. Limited the number of each ethnic group entering to 3% of the population of that group in America in 1910
63
What year was the National Origins Act passed? | What were the terms of this?
1924 | This further reduced the quota to 2% of the population in 1890
64
What year was the Immigration Act passed? | What were the terms of this?
1929 | Number of immigrants entering was reduced to 150,000 per year
65
How many immigrants from the UK/Ireland entered America in: 1) 1921 (3% of the 1910 population) 2) 1934 (2% of the 1890 population)
1) 77,342 | 2) 62,574
66
How many immigrants from Italy entered America in: 1) 1921 (3% of the 1910 population) 2) 1934 (2% of the 1890 population)
1) 42,957 | 2) 3,845
67
Prohibition was which amendment to the constitution? | What year was this in?
18th amendment | 1919
68
What was the act that legalised prohibition?
Volstead Act
69
Name 2 groups in society that supported prohibition and why
1. Industrial leaders Thought workers would be more reliable without alcohol 2. Politicians Temperance was stronger in rural areas, politicians wanted to gain votes in these areas
70
What is meant by 'bootleg'?
Illegally imported alcohol
71
What is meant by 'moonshine'?
Homemade alcohol
72
What is meant by a 'speakeasy'?
Illegal bar
73
What is meant by 'hoodlum'
Gangsters hand men who regularly used violence and intimidation
74
How many gallons of spirit were seized in: 1. 1921 2. 1929
1. 414,000 | 2. 11,860,000
75
How many prohibition related arrests were made in: 1. 1921 2. 1929
1. 34,175 | 2. 66,878
76
Name 2 famous prohibition agents
Izzy Einstein | Moe Smith
77
1) How many speakeasies did Izzy Einstein and Moe Smith raid from 1920-25? 2) How many arrests did they make?
1) 3000 | 2) 4392
78
In Smith and Einstein's report, how long did it take to get a drink in: 1) Chicago 2) Pittsburg 3) Atlanta 4) New Orleans
1) 21 minutes 2) 11 minutes 3) 17 minutes 4) 35 seconds
79
How many speakeasies were in New York by 1927? | How did this compare to the number of legal bars before prohibition?
32,000 | Twice as many
80
How much bootleg came from Canada?
2/3
81
How many prohibition officers were dismissed for corruption?
1/12
82
When was the Valentines day massacre?
14th February 1929
83
What happened at the valentines day massacre?
Capone's hoodlums lines up 7 of the rival Moran gang and machine gunned them to death
84
Which rival gang leader did Capone order the murder of? | How did Capone respond to this?
Dion O'Banion | -sent $50,000 worth of flowers to his funeral
85
How many hoodlums did Al Capone have?
Over 1000
86
Give an example of gang action in Chicago
Between 1926 and 1927 there were 130 gangland murders and not one arrest
87
Why was Capone well respected?
Donated $30,000 to a soup kitchen for the unemployed
88
How much money did organised gangs make annually from the sale of alcohol?
$2 billion
89
How and when was Capone prosecuted?
Jailed for 11 years in 1931 for tax offences
90
When and why was prohibition ended?
December 1933 * St Valentines day massacre showed how corrupt society had become from gang violence * In the depression, legalising alcohol would create jobs, raise tax revenue and free up resources tied to the impossible task of enforcing prohibition
91
When and why was prohibition ended?
December 1933 * St Valentines day massacre showed how corrupt society had become from gang violence * In the depression, legalising alcohol would create jobs, raise tax revenue and free up resources tied to the impossible task of enforcing prohibition
92
On 24th October 1929, how much money was wiped from wall street?
$10 billion in 2 hours
93
What bank tried to stabilise the stock market on the 24th October? How did they do this?
House of Morgan | They pumped hundreds of millions into the stock exchange
94
What bank tried to stabilise the stock market on the 24th October? How did they do this?
House of Morgan | They pumped hundreds of millions into the stock exchange
95
When did banks withdraw funding from the stock exchange?
Friday 25th October
96
How many shares were changed on Tuesday 29th October? | When was this record beaten?
16 million | Not beaten until 1969
97
How much money did the stock market lose on 29th October alone?
$14 billion
98
How much money was lost during the week of the crash? | -How does this compare to the Federal budget and spending during WW1?
$30 billion lost - 10 times more than Federal budget - More than spent in WW1
99
How much money did the stock market lose on 29th October alone?
$14 billion
100
How much money was lost during the week of the crash? | -How does this compare to the Federal budget and spending during WW1?
$30 billion lost - 10 times more than Federal budget - More than spent in WW1
101
How many new investors were speculators?
600,000
102
What was 'buying on the margin'
Banks lent money to people to buy shares. They could put down a 10% deposit and loan the rest.
103
How many share holders were there in: 1. 1920 2. 1929
1. 4 million | 2. 20 million (out of a population of 120 million)
104
When did Herbert Hoover win the election? | Who was his opponent?
``` November 1928 Al smith (democratic Irish Catholic and a 'wet') ```
105
What did Hoover say in regard to poverty after he won the presidential election?
"We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before... the poor man is vanishing from among us"
106
On what day did the index lose 43 points?
Monday 28th October 1929
107
What was the last day of rising prices?
3rd September (hottest day of the year)
108
When did factory output begin to decline?
June 1929

History (6 decks)

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