Economic Downturn And Recovery

Question 1

When was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 1

October 1929

Question 2

How high was unemployment in America by the end of 1929?

Answer 2

2.5 million

Question 3

What did unemployment rise to by 1932?

Answer 3

13 million

Question 4

Describe Hoovervilles.

Answer 4

The alternative homes, made of scrap wood and metal because people couldn’t afford the resources. They were called Hoovervilles to mock the President.

Question 5

Describe hobos.

Answer 5

Hobos are homeless people that drifted across the country on freight trains looking for work.

Question 6

Describe the 1931 drought.

Answer 6

The drought hit Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas the worst, and the poor farming methods exhausted the soil and turned it to dust.
As a result, many farmers packed up their things, and left to find work in the West Coast. These farmers were called Okies and Arkies because of where they came from

Question 7

Describe the Okies and Arkies.

Answer 7

Farmers from Oklahoma and Arkansas that packed up their things and travelled to the West Coast to find work.

Question 8

Describe some of the social consequences of the Great Depression.

Answer 8

Marriages fell, birth rate fell, and suicide rate reached 17 per 1,000 by 1932

Question 9

Describe the Veterans March of 1932.

Answer 9

12,000 veterans marched to Washington DC to ask for an early payment for their war bonuses promised to them in WWI. Hoover refused to pay, as it would have cost the government $2.3 million. 5,000 marchers remained, but they were labelled communists and the army was brought in.

Question 10

When did the veterans march to Washington DC?

Answer 10

1932

Question 11

Describe the aftermath of the Washington DC march of 1932.

Answer 11

The army was brought in, and tear gas was used to disperse the soldiers. Ultimately, 1 baby was killed and 100 people were injured.

Question 12

What were the Republican policies that Hoover continued to push?

Answer 12

Rugged individualism and Laissez-Faire

Question 13

What was the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Tax?

Answer 13

Signed in 1930, and increased import duties, but other countries refused to trade with the USA as a result.

Question 14

When was the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Tax established?

Answer 14

1930

Question 15

Give an example of one of the public works Hoover spent money on.

Answer 15

Boulder Dam

Question 16

Which election did Roosevelt win?

Answer 16

The 1932 election.

Question 17

What did Roosevelt’s New Deal involve?

Answer 17

The 3 R’s (Relief Recovery and Reform)

Question 18

What were the fireside chats?

Answer 18

Personal explanations of FDR’s policies on the radio, all done in the evenings, near the “fireside”.

Question 19

Describe the FDR banking crisis.

Answer 19

Before FDR’s presidency, 2,000 banks had closed, so FDR held a fireside chat about the banking crisis, and made the decision to close all banks for a day, and tell people to keep their money in the banks. The next day, the banks that had sufficient funds would reopen, and the others would stay closed, and reopen when they were secure.

Question 20

State 3 of the alphabet agencies.

Answer 20

FERA, CCC and NRA.

Question 21

What was FERA?

Answer 21

Federal Emergency Relief Agency. Gave $500 million to the unemployed.

Question 22

What was the CCC?

Answer 22

Civilian Conservation Corps. Created jobs for men aged 18-25, offering work to protect the environment, for example planting trees.

Question 23

What was the NRA?

Answer 23

National Recovery Act. Set fair prices, wages and working conditions. It’s symbol was the blue eagle. Reformed the work force.

Question 24

What year was the Second New Deal introduced?

Answer 24

1935

Question 25

Who disapproved of the New Deal?

Answer 25

The Supreme Court and Huey Long. Felt there was too much government intervention.

Question 26

What year was the Sick Chickens Case?

Answer 26

1935

Question 27

What was the Sick Chickens Case?

Answer 27

Two poultry selling brothers were confronted by the government for selling diseased chickens. The government claimed it was illegal, so the case was taken to court. Ultimately, the NRA was found to be illegal, not the brothers.

Question 28

When was the US v Butler case?

Answer 28

1936

Question 29

What was the consequence of the US v Butler case?

Answer 29

The AAA was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, as Congress was overusing their powers to regulate the farming industry.

Question 30

What was the AAA?

Answer 30

The Agricultural Adjustment Administration, which paid farmers to produce fewer crops. It aimed to end overproduction of food and drive food prices back up.

Question 31

What year did FDR attempt to retire Supreme Court judges over 70 years old, and what were the consequences?

Answer 31

1937, and it was deemed unconstitutional and damaged his reputation, as he ultimately aimed to replace the judges with his supporters

Question 32

What year was the Sick Chickens case ruling reversed?

Answer 32

1937.

Question 33

What was the War Production Board?

Answer 33

A measure set up by FDR which was run by leading industrialists to ensure the US could still function during wartime.

Question 34

Describe the US economy during WWII.

Answer 34

-Contracts were given to large companies to produce wartime equipment such as bullets and guns.
-Industries such as coal, iron, steel and oil were expanded due to government contracts.
-In 1944, the USA was producing 50% of the weapons in the world.
-By 1945, the US economy was the most powerful in the world.
-As a result of conscription, unemployment was resolved.

Question 35

How many men and women served in the US armed forces during WWII?

Answer 35

16 million.

Question 36

What was the unemployment figure in 1944?

Answer 36

700,000

Question 37

How many women joined the workforce during WWII?

Answer 37

7 million

Question 38

What percentage of munitions workers were women?

Answer 38

50%

Question 39

Describe some of the benefits of the US post WWII.

Answer 39

-Americans cashed in war bonds and used the money to buy consumer goods
-Billions of dollars were spent on weapons research and development
-There was a high demand for American goods at home and abroad
-The Korean War and Cold War ensured the US industry was kept busy.

Question 40

After WWII, what percentage of steel, oil and cars did the USA produce worldwide?

Answer 40

60% of steel, 60% of oil, 80% of cars.

Question 41

What was the name of the policy that President Truman introduced?

Answer 41

The Fair Deal.

Question 42

Describe the standard of living for the average US citizen in 1960.

Answer 42

2x that of the average British person.

Question 43

What was the average wage of factory workers by 1959?

Answer 43

$80 per week.

Question 44

Describe life for middle-class families post WWII

Answer 44

-Moved to suburbs, that had reasonably priced houses with low cost mortgages. Seen as the best place to raise a family.
-Most had a car to commute into the city for work
-Luxuries became necessities (eg televisions, cars, washing machines, fridges)

Question 45

How many people owned homes by 1960?

Answer 45

33 million.

Question 46

In 1959, what percentage of people still lived below the poverty line?

Answer 46

30%

Question 47

What were some of the problems in the USA post WWII?

Answer 47

-There was no national health service, and the cost of medical care increased.
-11 million families were living off incomes of less than $2,000 a year.
-The USA lagged behind in producing good pensions and welfare service.

Question 48

Describe the reactions to the Okies and Arkies

Answer 48

Farmers over there were happy to employ them, because they worked for low wages, but locals resented them for taking their jobs.