USA 1918-41 Flashcards

Question

PWA

Answer 1

Public Works Administration - Employed poor people on big public works such as dams, schools - The PWA build 70% of schools and 35% of US hospitals in the 1930s

Answer 2

National Industrial Recovery Administration - blue eagle badge

Answer 3

Civilian Works Administration - sometimes criticised as jobs seen as “pointless” and wages extremely low

Answer 4

1935 - series of reform measures, addressed some limitations and criticisms of 1st new deal, particularly continued high levels of unemployment, low wages and lack of provision for elderly poor

Answer 5

Work Progress Administration

Answer 6

Rural Electrification Administration - sometimes undermined farmers cooperatives as big companies would choose not to build power to rural areas, by 41, 35% of farms had electricity

Answer 7

Move people from overworked lands. Only 3 towns ever moved

Answer 8

Lent money to sharecroppers; set up camps for migrant workers

Answer 9

PENSIONS - Compulsory system for old age pensions - Funded by employers and employee contributions (1-3%) - Low payout ($10-80 per week, depending on contributions) - Domestic maids / agricultural labourers not included UNEMPLOYMENT AID - 4 months at $18 per week (low payout) - Did not include domestic workers, agri. labourers, self-employed etc (arguably those who need most help)

Answer 10

- made firing people because of them joining a union, illegal - allowed to operate 'closed shops' (i.e. all the workers have to join the union chosen by the majority so the union is stronger) - banned company unions - 1933 - 3.5million → 1940 - 9million union members - however, some big corporations did not recognise unions - 'Battle of the Battlepass': forced Ford Motors to recognise its union

Answer 11

- Strengthened the Federal Reserve - Increased centralisation of banks

Answer 12

- Share Our Wealth - Criticised for not helping the poorest in society enough - Making a maximum and minimum range for incomes and property ownship - Old age pensions and free college education - 4M members in SOW clubs - Many economists criticised that the plan was economically unworkable - Assassinated in 1935

Answer 13

- proposed that everyone over 60 be given pensions of $200 a month on the condition that they spend the money as they get it - 500k members - not economically viable

Answer 14

- Went on the radio each sunday, regularly getting audiences of 30-40 million - Currency & banking reforms, and a fairer taxation policy

Answer 15

Right wing, conservative critics of FDR's New Deal, they were mainly rich businessmen concerned that they might have to pay more taxes. Argued that the New Deal was an over extension of federal powers and were encroaching stats rights and freedom of enterprise

Answer 16

- Ruled aspects of the NRA unconstitutional - Sick chicken case involving the Schechter Poultry Company - Appealed their case that the NRA codes were unconstitutional in the first place - Roosevelt proposed to Congress to allow the President to appoint a new judge when an existing judge reaches 70 and fails to retire in 6 months - 'Court packing' scandal - Roosevelt called 'dictator'

Answer 17

1933, the government could now reopen only safe banks that were secure

Answer 18

radio broadcasts where FDR explained his actions directly and simply. it was very successful

Answer 19

He closed every bank for four days, then he only reopened the safe banks that were secured. People trusted the banking system again and redeposited 1bln USD

Answer 20

Made the American economy boom More sales More spending Higher wages Increase in production

Answer 21

Textile workers Paid $9/week working 56 hours (half men's pay). Couldn't afford anything and had little rest. Discrimination and sexism. Causes: lack of demand for those products (new emerging products), underpayment and it was the only job they could get Coal miners/ steel Low wages for awful conditions and not represented by a trade union (cannot join one). Less chance of survival than a WW1 soldier. Causes: Rapid decline in coal demand (replaced by oil, gas), overproduction and not a safe working place. Anti-union sentiment in USA

Answer 22

low wages and overcrowded homes and had no skills. Causes: Companies had quotas on n° of black employees, no education allowed and farming background means limited skills

Answer 23

Typically had shorter, bobbed hair styles Challenged traditional expectations about appropriate behaviour for women and womenswear (shorter, more showing skirts and clothes) Sometimes smoked fags and drank in public Northern, urban,single, young

Answer 24

1. Temperance movement, anti-saloon league and women’s Christian temperance union, argued alcohol led to: Social neglect Gambling and other immorality Crime Economic decline due to less worker activity Bad health 2. Introduced income tax 1913 reduces gov reliance on alcohol tax 3. WW1: drinking seen as unpatriotic due to Germans being big drinkers and enhanced need for worker productivity

Answer 25

1. Widespread evasion of the law - stockpiling of alcohol - getting “medicinal alcohol” - making moonshine themselves - bought from bootleggers e.g Al Capone who smuggled in by sea, by Canada 2. Prohibition encouraged violent crime Profits made by smuggling alcohol encouraged bootleggers Violent gangs in cities caused violence as they competed for a share in the trade E.g St Valentines Day Massacre 1929 of Moran Gang 3. Could not be properly enforced - gov did not invest enough money to enforcement, so not enough police - corruption was common 1 in 12 prohibition agents fired for it - Intimidation of officers by gangs 4. More actually died from alcohol poisoning cuz of stronger liquor being consumed 5. Gov could raise revenues by taxing it again

Answer 26

1932 by 21st amendment to constitution, officially ended 1933