Unit 8: 1920s, Great Depression, New Deal & WWII Flashcards
Red Summer
bloody period in 1919 where white hysteria over Black success led to 25 race riots + 80 lynchings
led to African American agitation (turned towards insistence for change)
Chicago Race Riot
late July 1919 5 day riot that killed almost 40
tensions arose bc Great Migration → lots of Black ppl hired as strikebreakers (white resentment)
First Red Scare
people were scared that 1900s strikes/riots were caused by Communists and anarchists (despite them being 2 totally different groups),, exacerbated by reports of mail bombs [First Red Scare]
brought huge violations of civil liberties as USFG induced paranoia == vigilantism for stupid shit
subsided by summer 1920, but strengthened conservative ideals of nativism and 100% patriotism
A. Mitchell Palmer
one of the mail bombs initiated by violent militants hit US Attorney General Palmer, who then became devoted to fighting the “Red Menace”
Palmer Raids
During the First Red Scare, US Attorney General Palmer established organizational network to gather info on + arrest and deport alleged radicals (often foreign born bc nativism)
Consumer Culture of the 1920s
radioes, mass ads, etc == American becoming leading consumer society
traditional values (austerity) XX, rise of urban middle class bent on mass consumption + carefree spending
econ growth + indus innovation fueled explosion of consumer goods → “mass culture” b/c Americans viewed + bought the same stuff
Advertising and Buying on Installments in the 1920s
reckless spending necessitated biz kept people spending – “Buy Now Pay Later” financed purchases in installments
advertisement turned into a huge enterprise => appealed to middle class housewives, promised + defined people’s pursuit of happiness
Growth of Movies and Radios in the 1920s
radios also appealed to middle class housewives, as they purchased ⅔ of consumer goods
radio ads/ programs sponsored by big companies targeted women
movies also expanded consumer culture by setting arbitrary standards for its characters
Jazz Age
1920s period of social/cultural rebellion among youth in the form of jazz, a partially improvised and spontaneous genre of music (living in moment music)
African American musicians pioneered: Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington
critics found the music and provocative dances base and annoying
Henry Ford and the Automobile
The automobile becomes widespread due to lower prices as a result of efficient mass production. The automobile industry also catalyzes the development of other industries such as the oil, rubber, glass industries.
Margaret Sanger
NY nurse and midwife who advocated for birth control bc of witnessing unwanted pregnancies and crude abortions
organized American Birth Control League in 1921 (present-day Planned Parenthood) – distributed info abt contraception – laid foundation for legal prescription of contraceptives in 1936
good for that stuff BUT promoted sterilization of “mentally incompetent” ppl + BC as a means of eugenics
The New Morality and the Flapper
flapper = small pop of young women who wore short skirts and defied traditional gender norms by cutting hair, driving cars, lots of makeup, shooting the shit with guys, lots of partying
their “carefree feminism” was self-indulgent, independent, and seductive – most women did not subscribe (cult of domesticity bc of conservative post-war pressures)
interracial marriage frowned upon + punished (societally and “legally”)
The Great Migration
the movement of 400,000 southern Black (mostly farming) people to northern cities like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis – tripled Black pop in the North (“land of promise” for Black ppl due to less blatant racism, though white resentment»_space;>, especially by white immigrants who feared job loss)
The New Negro and the Harlem Renaissance
the convergence of Black people in NYC that inspired common iden among “culture capital” of African-American life – led to lots of art + literature in 1930s
gave rise to the “New Negro”: one who wasn’t subservient to white culture (as previous circumstances had often necessitated them to be)
celebrated “Aframerican” cultural contributors,, communities that resisted white violence + bigotry
Langston Hughes
Black artist who wrote about and supported the Harlem Renaissance and described the beauty of the African American community.
Marcus Garvey
fostered idea of Black nationalism + racial separatism (solidarity + power in their iden)
founded Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) – hq in Harlem
NAACP members opposed Garveyism – Du Bois said “lunatic”
1st mov collapsed when he was convicted for fraud + deported in 1923
Sinclair Lewis
part of the Lost Generation: people who had lost faith in Western institutions and with materialism of postwar Roaring 20s, mostly by ppl who had fought in WWI.
Lewis’ literature criticized small town insular mindsets of small towns in America (e.g. rejection of science)
F Scott Fitzgerald
part of the Lost Generation: people who had lost faith in Western institutions and with materialism of postwar Roaring 20s, mostly by ppl who had fought in WWI.
Captured society of jazz age, including the disparities between the excessive wealth and extreme poverty
National Origins Act
1921 act that limited immig for fear of foreign radicals (bc influx of southern/Eastern Europeans) through % and total caps
Main purpose = favor nw immig + exclude se bc of US prejudice — unintentionally ignored Western Hemisphere (Latin Americans became fastest growing ethnic minority)
Sacco and Vanzetti Case
1920 arrest of Italian immig anarchists who allegedly stole $ and killed guards
Happened during height of Italian immig — mass hysteria contributed to their sentencing + death
Strengthened nativism (connected se immig and political radical violence)
The New KKK
recreated in 1915 NATIONWIDE by biz-minded ppl (created dues) — promoted 100% Americanism (White Protestants born US) and white supremacy
militant patriotism/Protestant morality —> floggings, tarrings, harassment, and other domestic terrorism
came to elect local/state officials, exerting some pol influence BUT anti-Klan mov ended it when “kluxing” leader arrested for kidnapping + rape
Fundamentalism
an ideology hostile towards liberal ideas + Darwinism (Bible = literally true) adopted by conserv Protestants
Scopes Trial
Highly publicized trial of tennessee schoolteacher arrested for teaching evolution
Clarence Darrow: famous Chicagoan defense attorney who argued that trial was about intelligence triumphing over ignorance
William Jennings Bryan: former Congressman who argued that the trial was about states’ discretion over edu (“evolution vs Christianity”)
ended in “draw” bc no one disputed that teacher was TEACHING evolution, BUT Tennessee SC waived fine on tech
Effects of Prohibition: Organized Crime
connected trad rural religious community + progressive reformers around prohibition and prejudice (“foreigners drink too much”)
compelled millions towards bootlegging instead of disuading alcohol consumption — law was too sweeping to enforce
led to job loss + revenue loss
econ boost to organized crime — Al Capone = biggest G (arrested for tax evasion in 1929)
“Return to Normalcy”
landslide election of Warren G Harding in 1920 due to post-WWI decline of progresssivism (post-New Freedom)
vanilla promise of dispassionate isolationism and a prez who was unexceptional and practical
Signified dominance of Republicans again in white house + congress + courts — blocked many progressive laws
Andrew Mellon Economic Policy
econ plan created to address ballooning post-WWI debt + high unemployment
Sec of Treasury advocated for < USFG spending, < taxes for super rich+poor, high tariffs on ag + manu products
1921 created Bureau of Budget to outline Congress-approved annual federal budget
Super successful — Mellon = “modern Hamilton”
The role of unions and farmers in 1920s
Organized labor took a hit bc Republican Congress…
post WWI transition from war to peace = open shops: employers could hire anyone not just union members
anti union low wages mov —> purchasing power crisis: factories churning out products with few ppl with enough money to buy them
Causes of the Great Depression: Buying stock on margin / stock speculation
Practice of making down payment on a stock and borrowing rest from stockbroker, paying it off if price rose and selling it for cheap if “margin call” not reached
Too much speculation = stock market crash. Revealed shaky econ foundations prior to GD.
Causes of the Great Depression: Overproduction (biz/farm)
Manufacturing grew by 43% in the 1920s, but consumers lacked purchasing power
Biz to blame for purch crisis — investcest instead of increasing wages
Farm took out mortgages during WWI bc high demand… but post war crop prices «<, tumbling them into debt
Causes of the Great Depression: Protective Tariffs / War Debt
Hawley Smoot Tariffs instituted during Hoover admin added hundreds of new items to the list
raised prices for raw mats, consumer products. Made it harder for foreign powers to pay off debts. Other countries passed their own tariffs in response, making US exports plummet
Hoover’s Belief in the Economy
Initial reaction = denial; insisted biz keep jobs + services going so that working ppl could afford to boost the econ
wanted to raise taxes and cut budgets to balance USFG budget (wrong - led to less consumer spending)
commitment to rugged individualism and feared more gov help —-> socialism
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Dems exploited bad Hoover rep to get Congressional majority and force him to do stuff
1932 corporation gave emergency loans to banks and RRs
Hoover signed Emergency Relief Act that allowed RFC to do construction loans, but criticized
Bonus March
WWI veterans fought for cash bonuses owed to them in spring 1932 - camped by the Capitol
Hoover tried to remove via paying for trains home but some remained - sec of war’s dispatch burned the unarmed camp and arrested unarmed vets
cemented Hoover’s rep as cold prez in denial
The New Deal
FDR swept election vs Hoover w/ promise of New Deal (new. aggressive action)
Recovery economically, Relief from GD misery (consumers) - CCC, FERA, AAA, NRA, TVA
Reform capitalist systems that caused GD - FDIC, SEC, Wagner Act, SSA
Glass Steagall Act and FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation created by GS Act in June 1937 - insured saving accounts for consumers to reduce likelihood of future panic. Also gave Federal Reserve Board more authority to intervene in panics. Helped end banking crisis along with Emergency Banking Relief Act
(which closed banks, allowed only stable banks to reopen, giving consumers confidence in investment again)
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission created by Federal Securities act in 1934. enforced laws created a year earlier that regulated sale of stocks and bonds through requiring disclosure of pertinent info (aiming to eliminate fraud/deceit in market)
FERA
1st instance of FDR’s USFG taking responsibility for unemployment during the First New Deal - gave states money to spend on the unemployed + homeless
BUT not enough, CCC came along and was more effective
CCC
Civilian Conservation Corps housed and gave jobs to half a million employed young men - worked in rec areas and conservation efforts, even minorities (native American + Black ppl) but segregated (and women banned)
paid very low ($1 a day for 9 months) but jobs good
HOLC
Home Owners Loans Corporation created during the First New Deal to help reduce foreclosures by refinancing mortagges with lower interest rates
discriminated against Black peopl
NRA
National Recovery Administration created by National Industrial Recovery Act in 1933
intercorporate cooperation (w disregard for antitrust) sets industry wide codes created by employers and union officials mandating certain working conditions and hours. The codes often encouraged more part-time workers than full time workers and discouraged child labor in order to decrease unemployment. Declared unconstitutional in Schechter vs US due to interference with interstate commerce
AAA
Agricultural Adjustment Administration created in 1933 by the Ag Adjustment Act
helped farmers lower debt by paying them to cut production even in the middle of growing season (increasing crop prices)
declared unconstitutional in US v Butler bc tax on “middle man”, but continued w/o tax
TVA
Tennessee Valley Authority created to help the Appalachia poor through electric power, flood control, and jobs
made hydroelectric dams, it was pro-conservation and union, provided plumbing and electricity access
helped some but hurt others - displaced homes, destroyed villages
Indian Reorganization Act
proposed by Collier’s Bureau of Indian Affairs to restore land and sovereignty to tribes (countering Dawes Severalty Act)
Congress passed diluted version - “Indian New Deal” only a partial improvement
Huey Long
Democratic senator who criticized New Deal for not doing enough to help common ppl
presidential campaign rested on his Share the Wealth Program: simple plan that placed higher taxes on the wealthy and redistributed $$
problem was that gov budget outspent tax revenue gains
Francis Townsend
critic of New Deal
advocated for old-age pensions so that elderly could retire, opening up jobs for young people
BUT same problem as Huey Long - the math was not mathing
Father Coughlin
went opposite direction in criticizing New Deal through anti-Semitic fear mongering (“Jewish Communism”) - had sizeable political influence and promoted coinage of silver to increase money supply
Schecter v. US
SCOTUS ruling in 1935 that killed NRA - said “fair competition” negotiating were unconstitutional (violated antitrust laws)
US v. Butler
SCOTUS ruling in 1936 that AAA was unconstitutional bc taxed the “middle man” (process tax)
FDR re-established AAA in 1938 w/o the tax
WPA
Works Progress Administration created by the 2nd New Deal in early 1935 to manage new federal job programs
became nation’s largest employer, did construction, restoration, arts
helped 9 million ppl before shutdown in 1943
Wagner Act
another core pt of 2nd New Deal - guaranteed unions right to organize + bargain directly with management
Also established overseeing National Labor Relations Board
Social Security Act
cornerstone of 2nd New Deal
provided self-financed fed retirement fund meant to supplement income for the elderly/unemployed
payroll taxes = funds
very regressive tax - hurt the poor
New Deal Coalition
Democratic party unites a variety of elements — Ethnic groups, middle class voters, intellectuals, labor unions, African Americans
Court Packing Plan
FDR wanted to pack the squo conservative court bc had declared some of his key New Deal legislation unconstitutional
– SCOTUS “reform” through adding 6 new judges
huge backlash from Republicans + Dems (feared dictatorial intentions) – humiliatingly vetoed in July 1937
1937 Recession
FDR cut USFG spending to balance budget, inflation – led to econ downturn
Caused by decrease in disposable income (as a result of the SSA), as well as cutback in federal relief programs.
Keynesian Economics
Belief that during times of economic recession, government spending should increase so as to stimulate the economy. During times of economic prosperity, government spending should decrease.
Washington Naval Conference
Advocated end to arms race and permanent world peace. Treaties establish tonnage limits, moratorium on battleship building, respect of Pacific possessions, Open Door policy / Chinese integrity
Kellogg Briand Pact
unique France-US treaty that made pledge that war between the 2 countries banned, reserving their right to self defense. Essentially did nothing, yet represented desires of nations to eliminate war and perpetuate peace in the context of post WWI isolationism.
Good Neighbor Policy
FDR declaration that in the Western Hemisphere, no nation has the right to intervene in affairs of another - led to withdrawal of US troops from Latin America
Hitler and Mussolini
palingenetic totalitarian ultranationalism (fascism created by M)
H wanted renunciation of Versailles Treaty to preserve German dignity
H and M were idolized by their voters. Upon election, H created Nazi police state
M did same thing in Italy (eliminated political opposition)
Munich Conference
Despite H and M invasions, GB + France wanted to pursue peace. At the Munich Conference, British and French leaders agreed to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland unopposed hoping it’d appease them (but H had no intention of abiding by the pact - seized rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939)
Invasion of Manchuria
Japanese aggressive military occupation of NE China region (intended on conquering all of East Asia). This was a clear violation of the League of Nations Charter, the Open Door Policy, and other treaties from the Washington Naval Conference
Stimson Doctrine
In response to Invasion of Manchuria, the US issued the Stimson Doctrine, stating a refusal to recognize any agreement or situation which violated treaty rights, prior agreements, or the territorial integrity of China.
Nye Committee
prominent isolationist Senate group that concluded (after investigations) that arms dealers and bankers ere to blame for encouraging US intervention in WWI
Neutrality Acts
aimed to keep US from entering another war - no lending nations money, countries must bring “cash in hand” and carry the arms back by their own means. FDR revised in 1939, allowing GB and France to send ships to US for mil supplies
Fall of France
Germans overwhelm the Maginot line, invading France in June 1940 and making Britain the only major democratic nation free of dictatorial control. rapidly spurred US to fearful action
Battle of Britain
late summer 1940 air battle - Germany deployed planes, air bombs to destroy Royal Air Force
despite losses, Hitler failed to invade (a moral victory for the British)
Destroyer Base Deal
trade negotiation between FDR and Churchill in Sept 1940. Gave GB 50 US warships in exchange for US able to build mil bases on British colonies
followed FDR’s “All Aid Short of War” push for the public to give up isolationism
Peacetime Conscription
2 weeks after Destroyer Base Deal, FDR signed 1st peacetime draft in US history - required 21-35 year old men to register
Lend Lease Act
FDR’s interventionist way to provide more miliatray aid to GB
1941 bill alowed prez to lend and lease military equipment ot nay country whose defense was key to US defense
boosted morale and “All Aid Short of War” through the US being the “great arsenal of democracy” for allies
Atlantic Charter
FDR-Churchill signed in summer 1941 - declaration of common values that’d persist after WWII:
self determination, economic cooperation, freedom of seas, United Nations
similar to Wilson’s Fourteen Points
endorsed by 11 anti-Axis nations
Pearl Harbor
irreconcilable issues between Japan and US. Japan needed US oil, yet refused to respect CHN integrity and the open door policy
failure of negotiation attempts led to attack on Pearl harbor, killing 2k Americans
BUT did little damage to US mil. awoke “sleeping giant” by driving US to enter WW2
War Productions Board
since prez was given auth to reorganize gov with the War Powers Act, FDR created WPB in 1942, directed all industries towards war production
effective -»_space; output than all Axis nations combined by the end of the year
Double V Campaign
A popular commitment to extending democratic ideals as a result of the Second World War led to the desegregation of the U.S. military during WWII. Randolph planned protest (march on washington) so the government created the Fair Employment Practices Committee, which prohibited employment related discrimination and assisted minorities in gaining jobs in defense industries. The committee had no power to enforce its directives however, making it weak.
Financing WWII
taxes covered 45% of war debt, but gov war bonds sale ($185 billion) covered the rest, paying interest to purchasers. USFG also set price ceilings, rations, mobilization (ended many New Deal programs like WPA, CCC)
Role of women in WWII
brought into labor force again. “Rosie the Riveter” = gov way of persuading women to take traditionally male jobs via promotion of excelling women. conservative backlash, though women liked getting good pay for skilled jobs.
also mil allowed women to serve in segregated units (WAC, WAVES, etc).
Bracero Program
labor agreement in 1942 between US and Mexico. Mex provided abt 200k seasonal farmworkers on year long contracts. US promised decent working and living conditions.
rural pop moving west, US farms needed labor (wanted migrants back, ones they’d forced back to Mexico already)
Zoot Suit Riots
Mexicans pt of the Bracero Program encountered a lot of racism especially in California
ZSR = several thousand locals participated in a week long white rampage in LA attacking Hispanics/African Americans/Filipinos. built up bc racial prejudice -
Native American Code Talkers
1/3 of eligible NA men served (integrated with white army)
main role = code talking: encoding/deciphering messages using Indigenous language (especially Navajo) that Axis powers didn’t have access to
Executive Order 9066
Feb 1942 order that created Japanese interment camps. FDR authorized the removal of all on the Pacific coast with no evidence of “military necessity”
only offered 20k in reparations for nisei still alive in 1983
Korematsu v. US
Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of Executive Order 9066. This authorized the government to deny Japanese Americans their constitutional rights due to military concerns and fear of espionage.
Allied Strategy in WWII
US mainly focused on war with Japan, but also Europe at 1st
Allies/anti Axis signed Declaration of the United Nations (no separate peace with Axis, full war mobilization
Supreme Commander of Allied Force title established. in charge of operation overlord(supervised by British American board - Eisenhower was first SC)
D-Day
day of invasion of German controlled France (Nazi controlled Western Europe)
succeeded bc surprising and lucky (Germany expected Pas de Calais, but invasion was in Normandy 200 miles south)
huge casualties BUT turning pt for the Allies (knew that victory was a matter of time)
British American mil went east , Paris liberated Aug 25, 1942
Yalta Conference
Discussion of what the postwar world would look like with US, USSR, GB
Occupation zones in Germany
Free elections in the liberated countries of Eastern Europe
Soviets would enter the war against Japan
New world peace organization (the United Nations)
Soviet promises to respect Manchurian sovereignty
The Atomic Bomb Debate
Truman believed in using the A-bomb as an expedient to make the war end faster. Furthermore, the use of the A-bomb would allow Truman to avoid a costly amphibious invasion of Japan. He and the Allies called on Japan to surrender unconditionally or face utter destruction. When Japan didn’t surrender, Truman dropped two atomic bombs in the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The human toll was around a quarter million Japanese.
