The USA Flashcards
What were reasons for why the USA emerged as a global superpower?
- Economic strength
- World war 1
- Geographic isolation
- Diplomatic power
- Technological advancements
How did economic strength help the USA emerge as a global superpower?
- The USA experienced rapid industrialisation and economic growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- It became the worlds leading industrial power surpassing Great Britain and Germany.
- This economic strength gave the US the ability to project power globally and establish itself as a dominant force.
How did world war 1 help the USA emerge as a global superpower?
- Upon its entrance in 1917.
- It helped the allies win providing fresh troops, supplies, and resources that helped secure victory.
- This military contribution enhanced the nation’s global standing and established it as a major player in international affairs.
How did geographic isolation help the USA emerge as a global superpower?
- The United States was geographically isolated from the conflicts and power struggles of Europe and Asia.
- This allowed the US to focus on its own economic and industrial development, avoiding the devastation caused by the two World Wars.
- Its geographic position helped the US emerge better than before and with a global influence.
How did diplomatic power help the USA emerge as a global superpower?
- The US played a key role in shaping the outcome of World War I and the subsequent peace negotiations, particularly with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. - President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points and his advocacy for the League of Nations demonstrated American leadership and its desire to shape the post-war world order.
- Even though the USA didn’t join the League of Nations.
How did technological advancements help the USA emerge as a global superpower?
- The United States was at the forefront of technological innovation during this time, particularly in areas such as industrial production, transportation, and communication.
- Advancements in industries like steel, oil, and electricity propelled the US economy forward.
What are the causes of the economic boom?
- Mass-production
- Mass-marketing / advertisements
- Credit
- Confidence
- The policies of the Republican presidents
- Entertainment
How did mass-production help cause the economic boom?
- Fords invention of 1913; the assembly line, changed production forever.
- Parts of the model T were added by each worker as it travelled down the assembly line.
- The ford factory in 1913 were producing 1 car every 3 minutes.
- In the 1920’s, 1 car was produced every 10 seconds with this method.
- Eventually, other industries adopted this technique which led to the production of masses of cheap goods which could be afforded by thousands of ordinary Americans which previously couldn’t afford such a luxury.
How did mass-marketing / advertisements help cause the economic boom?
- Mass produced goods had to be sold to a mass-market; so they had to ensure that people knew about the goods that they were selling.
- This resulted in companies spending huge amounts of money on advertising in order to make them eye-catching to the consumer.
- The expansion of the mail-order also helped consumers in the countryside access to their wide range of goods on offer.
How did credit help cause the economic boom?
- Credit allowed for people to pay for goods in installments; at low interest rates.
- This helped the economy as many Americans could buy expensive things that they originally couldn’t afford.
- The demand for more goods lead to more job opportunities; leading to more consumers.
How did confidence help cause the economic boom?
- Confidence amongst Americans was sky-high.
- This refers to the confidence to buy goods, invest in companies and try out new ideas.
How did the republican policies help cause the economic boom?
- They put tariffs on imported goods. This made imports more expensive so Americans would buy American goods - helping American business and production.
- They introduced a laissez-faire approach; this means no taxes, regulations, or tariffs. Instead, the market should be completely free to be led by the natural laws of supply and demand.
- Lowered taxes - giving the wealthy more money to invest in American industry and architecture - allowing people to spend more money on American goods.
How did entertainment help cause the economic boom?
- Many families, having bought new houses in the suburbs of rapidly growing American cities, had a lot of money and a lot of time to spare.
- Many Americans were finally able to buy things that they previously couldn’t and were spending their money rapidly.
- With so much disposable income, Americans were able to go to the movies, sports games and music events which were previously all viewed as a luxury.
- The birth of a nation became the first blockbuster movie and made 60 million in profit.
- Baseball was the most popular spectator sport with the most popular player being Babe Ruth.
What are the republican policies?
- Laissez faire.
- Tariffs
- Lower taxation.
What is the melting pot?
By 1920, more than 40 million people had arrived. As a result, there was a mixture of people from different races, cultures and religions living in America. The term used for this blend of 130 different nationalities was the ‘Melting Pot’.
What were some reasons to come to the USA?
- Escaping from poverty in their own country;
escaping from political persecution; - The religious tolerance promised in the American Bill of Rights, for example the Jews wanted to escape the pogroms in Russia;
- A plentiful supply of land and the hope of owning property;
- Massive industrialisation in the USA meant the possibility of jobs with higher wages than in their homeland;
- The adventure of going to a new country;
- The hope of equality of opportunity.
- Lack of opportunity in their home country.
- Many people were persecuted from their home countries due to their beliefs.
What were some reasons to not come to the USA?
- Some people were turned away from entering the USA.
- The United States implemented strict immigration restriction laws during this period, that heavily favoured immigrants from Western and Northern Europe while limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. - These quotas significantly reduced the number of immigrants eligible to enter the United States, particularly those from countries with historically higher levels of immigration.
What was the red scare?
Some Americans were worried that through immigration, people from southern and eastern Europe will bring their anarchist and communist beliefs with them and eventually push these beliefs into America.
What was one of the main reasons that people started becoming scared of the ‘reds’?
This is due to a wave of strikes in 1919, 3600 strikes involving 400,000 workers, convinced Americans that communists were trying to destroy their way of life.
What were the palmer raids?
Mitchell palmer devoted himself to rounding up anyone who he believed was a ‘red’ - between 4000 and 6000 suspected communists were arrested in 36 cities across the USA. In the end 556 reds were deported back to their countries. Some people used the red scare as an excuse to attack any groups that they disliked or distrusted.
Why were trade-unions weakened?
They were regarded as ‘un-american’ and they were weakened by raids and persecution.
What was the Sacco and Vanzetti trial about?
On 15th April 1920, the paymaster of a shoe factory and an armed guard were attacked by two men who opened fire on them. The attackers escape with $15,000. The paymaster (Parmenter) was able to say - before he died - that the attackers had olive skin, and no other information was provided.
Who was arrested and charged with the murder of parmenter and the guard?
- Nicola Sacco
- Bartolomeo Vanzetti
Who were Sacco and Vanzetti and why were they considered ‘guilty’?
- They were self-confessed anarchists who hated capitalism and the American system of government.
- Protestors claimed that the trial had not been fairly conducted, and that Sacco and Vanzetti were being singled out because of their politics and their race as their trial took place at the height of the red scare.
When did the trial take place and for how long?
May 1921 and it lasted 45 days so the verdict was considered on the 14th July 1921.
What points to the fact that Sacco and Vanzetti were wrongfully proven guilty?
It aroused such strong emotions among the American people that it took a week to find a jury of 12 men, out of 875 who were called to the court.
When did Sacco and Vanzetti actually get their death sentence?
Six years later on 24 August 1927.
What did the governor of Massachusetts say about the trial in the 70’s?
He granted Sacco and Vanzetti a formal pardon and accepted that a mistrial had taken place.
What were the roaring twenties?
Was a period in American histroy with dramatic social, economic and political changes. This decade had a booming economy which led to mass consumerism - ultimately leading to the rise of entertainment like sports games, music halls, movies and dance.
What was the impact of the radio in the 1920’s?
- Americas first radio station KDKA, was started in the 1920’s.
- By 1930 40% of all homes in the USA had a radio set.
- They gave Americans access to new types of music from dance bands to jazz.
What was the impact that newspapers and magazines had in America in the 1920’s?
- There were very few serious articles, and they were written mostly on sports, fashion and movie stars. In 1922 ten magazines claimed a circulation of over 2.5 million.
What kind of impact did sport have in America in the 1920’s?
Increasing affluence and leisure time saw the growth of spectator sports. In 1924 it was reported that 67,000 people went to watch the football game between Illinois and Michigan at the memorial stadium - but the most popular sport was baseball, with the most influential sportsperson being Babe Ruth (a baseball player).
What kind of impact did the model T have on America?
- It brought an immense sense of freedom to rural America especially to those living in rural areas (could go see information).
- It was able to run on rutted mud roads and gravel tracks.
- People were able to go to work much faster.
How did the price of the model T change?
- It was $1200 and by 1928 it was $295.
- 15 million model T’s had been built by the time production was ended in 1928.
What even in the 1920’s shows how much people loved Henry Ford?
- In the early 1920’s a Ford-for-president movement developed but he quickly put a stop to it.
How did Henry Ford help regarding humanitarian issues?
- He order a ship in 1915 to sail to Europe to persuade both sides to stop fighting.
- He built his own hospital, maintained an orphanage and gave millions to schools and colleges.
Why did people respect Henry Ford so much?
Due to the fact that he was so rich and famous, Americans took note of what he said on matters other than business. He has the ear of powerful people and tried to influence national policy.
Which groups suffered in the 1920’s?
- Farmers
- African Americans
- New immigrants
- People who worked in old industries
- Women
What was the main problem that set off the many problems to farmers?
- The price of grain collapsed and brought ruin to many small farmers.
How much were farmers being payed?
After the price of grain collapsed, three million farming families were earning less than $1000 per year.
How did farmers deal with the pay drop?
- Some were evicted.
- Some sold their land to clear debts.
- Many went as migrant workers to California.
- Others went to industrial cities to look for work.
What kind of farmers suffered?
Small farmers and the labourers who lost out.
Which farmers were fine?
Midwestern grain growers and the California and Florida fruit growers made a good living by shipping their produce in large quantities.
How did the poverty of the farmers effect other people who live in rural areas?
- Americans in rural areas make their income from selling machinery or providing services to farmers.
What were the main problems facing farmers in the 1920’s?
- Overproduction and falling agricultural devices.
- Decline in export demand.
- Eviction from their farms.
- Competition with Canada over grain.
- Mechanisation meant that fewer farmers were required as they could do their jobs for them.
Where was the biggest concentration of African Americans?
In southern states where they were either labourers or sharecroppers.
How did African Americans suffer in the 1920’s?
- Three quarters of a million black farm workers lost their jobs during the 1920’s.
How did African Americans deal with losing their jobs?
They made their journey northward to find work in the cities. By the end of the decade, 25% of black people were living in Northern cities, but they still faced discrimination.
How did African Americans experience discrimination in the northern states?
- 60% of black women in the northern city of Milwaukee worked as low-paid domestic servants in white households.
- Car factories only hired blacks in small numbers; most operated an all-white policy.
What was the KKK?
- It was a white supremacy movement, and it used violence (lynchings) to intimidate African Americans.
- The movie - the birth of a nation - glorified the clan after it had been in decline.
- It became a powerful political force in the early 1920’s.
What were the Jim Crow laws?
- White supremacy remained prevalent throughout these laws.
- It was an attempt to try and remind African Americans about who was in charge.
How did new immigrants suffer in the 1920’s?
- They were paid very low wages.
- Were exploited for cheap-labour.
- They faced discrimination.
Where did new immigrants usually work?
In construction where there was a building boom, but constructions’ workers wages only rose by 4% in the 1920’s because immigrants were a form of cheap labour and some work was being mechanised.
What happened to the unemployment rate amongst new immigrants?
The unemployment rate amongst new immigrants remained high throughout the decade.
How did people who worked in old industries suffer in the 1920’s?
- Steel industries skyrocketed while workers particularly those who work in raw materials (cotton, coal, tin and copper - were suffering.
- They overproduced these materials- prices dropped and wages fell.
- Mines closed.
How did people who worked in old industries deal with cut wages?
In 1992- 600,000 miners went on a four-month strike for better conditions but to no avail. The unions were broken as non-union mines charged less for their coal and got 65% of the market in 1926.
What changes did the war bring about for women in the 1920’s?
- Women had been given the vote in 1920; meaning that they had political power.
- Women worked in wartime factories in large numbers showing that they could do the jobs just as well as men, and gave women the desire for more work opportunities.
How did the role of women in the 1920’s affect work?
- Mechanisation in certain industries meant that physical strength was not so important.
- Regarding the radio industry - they were the preferred employees.
- Women began working in offices.
Why did some employers prefer women employees?
This is because they could pay them lower wages.
How many women were working by the end of the decade?
There were over 10 million women in paid employment - a 25% increase than in 1920.
What were some changes of social habits for women in the 1920’s?
- Their clothes had changed; replaced by waistless knee-length, lightweight dresses which gave greater freedom of movement as well as being more daring.
- After the war short hair became a sign of liberation so many women cut their hair.
- Make-up became popular as its sales boomed.
- Women smoked in public and drove cars so they were no longer bound at home.
- They had more free time due to the development of home-helper technologies.
In what industries were women their main consumers?
- Womens magazines
- Radio and cinema were well aware that women formed a major part of their audience.
What is a flapper?
Was the name given to a liberated urban woman.
What did the flapper represent?
- An extreme example of the changes that were affecting many women (short skirts, bobbed hair, powdered knees, bright clothes and lots of make-up).
Between what years did prohibition take place?
January 1920 - December 1933
What is prohibition?
It meant that it was against the law to make, sell or transport alcoholic drinks in the USA. It was written into the American constitution by the 18th ammendment.
Why did America introduce prohibition?
- Temperance was very common feature of the groups who had settled in America in the 19th century.
- The dries became stronger with the formation of the Womens’ Christian Temperance Union in 1873 and the powerful anti saloon league in 1893.
Which areas liked the idea of prohibition?
Mainly rural areas of the south and the midwest.
How did the first world war boost the image of prohibition?
The big American brewers were of German descent and had German names. The ‘dries’ used this to their advantage and portrayed drink as the cause of German aggression. The dries said that refusing alcohol was a patriotic duty.
How did prohibition affect the elections?
- By 1917 the anti-saloon league had made its way into politics
- Anybody who admitted to ‘wet’ sympathies knew that they would lose hundreds of votes.
What were some advantages of prohibition?
- Wife beating and lack of family support decreased 82%
- Drunkenness decreased 55.3%
- Assault decreased 53.1%
- Vagrancy decreased 52.8%
- Disorderly conduct decreased 51.5%
- Delinquency decreased 50.0%
- Deaths due to cirrhosis decreased 50.0%
Why could some people get around prohibition and still drink alcohol?
This is because consumption was not against the law.
Who were bootleggers?
They brought illegal liquor supplies into the cities; run was smuggled from the west Indies.
What locations did alcohol cross into with bootleggers?
Whisky crossed the river to Detroit from Canada.
Who made a lot of money on the illegal liquor trade?
Joseph Kennedy, father of the future president.
What was alcohol that was made at home called?
Moonshine and bathtub gin.
