USA Flashcards
Who were WASPs?
White Anglo Saxon Protestants
Where would poor immigrants come from?
Eastern + Southern Europe
Ireland
China
Japan
South America
When was the first economic boom?
1920s
What were the factors in the first economic boom?
Selling weapons and supplies to allies in Europe in WW1
Taking over European industries following WW1
Tariffs put high taxes on imports
Tax cuts on rich people caused them to invest more money in creating businesses and jobs
Low taxes in general so people had more to spend
Laissez-Faire approach meant businesses were left alone to generate wealth
Huge demand for new electronic goods
Mass production of cars
‘Hire purchase plans’ allowed people to buy on credit
Catalogues made buying easy and products could be delivered
Advertising helped promote sales
What impacts did the motor industry have on the boom?
For every worker in a car factory, 10 more made the parts needed for the cars
Jobs building roads, highways, oil refineries, petrol stations, roadside hotels, garages and restaurants
People could buy a home in the suburbs and drive to work
Who did not benefit from the boom?
African-Americans
Native Americans
Farmers
Traditional Industry Workers
What entertainment developed during the 1920s?
Jazz music
Cinema
Sports - Radio and Television broadcasting
What were flappers?
Mainly middle and upper class women from Northern states
Some rode motorcycles and went to night clubs with men until early hours of the morning
Shocked traditional members of society
What was the Anti-flirt league?
A group formed to protest against flappers
Why was prohibition introduced?
Alcohol was seen to be contributing to a decline in moral values
Religious organisations and churches believed alcohol caused violence, poverty, addiction and debt
Groups like the Anti-Saloon League believed alcohol fuelled violence and crime
Many beers were imported from Germany who were seen as the enemy during WW1
What negative impact did prohibition bring?
Speakeasies
Organised Crime
Moonshine
Smuggling
Why did people choose to emigrate to America?
Overcrowded Europe
Plenty of jobs
Land was cheap and fertile
Great poverty in Europe
Europe was still divided by class
Living standard in America was higher
Persecution in Europe
American Dream
What was the 1917 Literacy Act?
Banned entry to any immigrant over the age of 16 who couldn’t read a sentence of 40 words
What was the 1921 Immigration Quota Law?
Allowed only 350,000 immigrants to enter each year
What was the 1924 National Origins Act?
Allowed only 150,000 immigrants to enter each year
What were some troubles faced by immigrants?
Immigrants were often resented as they were poor, couldn’t speak very good English and they had unfamiliar traditions and religions
WW1 added to American suspicion of foreigners
Many had poor and difficult working and living conditions
Many were poorly educated and worked for very low wages
What were Jim Crow Laws?
Prominent in Southern States
Segregated African-Americans
What was the KKK?
Racist group who wanted to maintain white supremacy
What were methods used by the KKK?
Whipping, Branding with acid, Kidnapping, Castration and Lynching
What was the Red Scare?
The fear of Communist and Anarchist ideas within America causing more persecution towards immigrants
What were Palmer Raids?
Around 6000 suspected communists were arrested
Who were Sacco and Vanzetti?
Italian Immigrants
Anarchists
Arrested for supposedly robbing a shoe factory and murdering two people
Despite little evidence, they were found guilty and executed
What were the Alphabet Agencies of the New Deal?
FCA - Farm Credit Administration
AAA - Agricultural Adjustment Agency
NRA - National Recovery Administration
TVA - Tennessee Valley Authority
HOLC - Home Owners Loan Corporation
EBA - Emergency Banking Act
EA - Economy Act
BA - Beer Act
CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps
CWA - Civil Works Administration
FERA - Federal Emergency Relief Agency
Who opposed the New Deal?
The rich
Business people
The Supreme Court
Republicans
Huey Long
Thomas Coughlin
Francis Townsend
