usa boom and bust t2

Question 1

How did unemployment change during the Great Depression?

Answer 1

Unemployment skyrocketed, reaching around 25% in the US by 1933. Many businesses closed, and banks failed, leading to widespread job loss.

Question 2

What was the impact of the Depression on GDP?

Answer 2

GDP fell sharply during the Depression, with a contraction of about 30% in the US. Economic output dropped as consumer spending, industrial production, and trade decreased.

Question 3

How were workers affected by the Great Depression?

Answer 3

Many workers lost their jobs due to factory closures and reduced production. Those employed faced wage cuts and longer working hours, leading to severe economic hardship.

Question 4

What were the effects of the Depression on families?

Answer 4

Families struggled with poverty, malnutrition, and displacement. Homelessness increased, and many families faced the breakdown of traditional support structures due to financial strain

Question 5

How did farmers suffer during the Depression?

Answer 5

Farmers faced falling crop prices, drought, and the Dust Bowl, leading to widespread poverty and foreclosure of farms.

Question 6

What caused the Dust Bowl?

Answer 6

The Dust Bowl was caused by drought, poor farming practices, and high winds, leading to dust storms and crop failure in the Great Plains.

Question 7

How were ethnic minorities affected by the Depression?

Answer 7

Ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans and Hispanics, faced high unemployment rates, discrimination, and were often the first to lose jobs.

Question 8

What role did gangsterism play during the Great Depression

Answer 8

Economic hardship and Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime. Gangsters, like Al Capone, gained wealth and power by smuggling alcohol, extorting businesses, and engaging in illegal activities.

Question 9

What was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff

Answer 9

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930) raised U.S. import duties to protect domestic industries but worsened the Depression by leading to retaliatory tariffs and a decline in international trade

Question 10

What were Hoovervilles?

Answer 10

makeshift shantytowns where homeless people lived during the Great Depression. They were named derisively after President Hoover, who was blamed for the economic crisis.

Question 11

What was the purpose of the RFC?

Answer 11

created to provide emergency loans to banks, railroads, and businesses to stimulate economic recovery

Question 12

why was the RFC criticised

Answer 12

for not doing enough for the poor

Question 13

What did the Emergency Relief and Construction Act do?

Answer 13

funds for public works projects and relief programs to combat unemployment

Question 14

What was Roosevelt’s approach to emergency relief?

Answer 14

provided direct relief through programs like the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), which offered immediate financial assistance to the unemployed and struggling families.

Question 15

How did Roosevelt address public works during the New Deal?

Answer 15

public works projects, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA), to create jobs by building infrastructure like roads, bridges, and schools.

Question 16

What was the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)? (FND) 19333

Answer 16

built dams for flood control, provided electricity, and improved infrastructure, helping lift the region out of poverty.

Question 17

What was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)? 1933
(FND)

Answer 17

provided jobs for young, unemployed men. They worked on conservation projects, such as planting trees, building parks, and improving national forests.

Question 18

What did the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) do? 1933
FND

Answer 18

aimed to raise crop prices by reducing production. It paid farmers to reduce acreage and slaughter livestock

Question 19

What did (NIRA) do 1933
FND

Answer 19

Set minimum wages and maximum working hours to prevent exploitation

Question 20

Emergency Banking Act (EBA) 1933
FND

Answer 20

Allowed only financially stable banks to reopen after federal inspection restoring confidence

Question 21

What was the Supreme Court’s opposition to Roosevelt’s policies?

Answer 21

struck down several New Deal laws, like the NRA and AAA, arguing they were unconstitutional. This led Roosevelt to propose the controversial Court-packing plan to increase the number of justices.

Question 22

Opposition from the Right

Answer 22

Belief in Laissez-Faire, undermining capitalism
(NIRA) set minimum wages and working hours, which many business leaders saw as restrictive and anti-business

Question 23

opposition from the left

Answer 23

Huey Long, share our wealth

Question 24

who was Huey Long and what was his opposition to Roosevelt?

Answer 24

opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal, arguing it didn’t go far enough. He promoted his own plan, “Share Our Wealth,” to redistribute wealth and provide more direct aid to the poor.

Question 25

Court-Packing Controversy

Answer 25

attempted to add more justices to the Supreme Court after several New Deal programs were struck down, sparking accusations of undermining democracy.

Question 26

Impact of Public Works Programs

Answer 26

Reduced Unemployment: Provided millions of jobs, particularly for unskilled workers.
Infrastructure Expansion and modernisation
Economic Boost demand for steel cement etc.

Question 27

What was the NLRA 1935
SND

Answer 27

Introduced the Wagner act

Question 28

what was the Wagner act 1935

Answer 28

strengthened laborer’s rights
form unions, negotiate wages, employers couldn’t intimidate or threaten workers

Question 29

what was an impact of the NLRA/ Wagner act

Answer 29

increased wages and working conditions
reduced employee abuse e.g. unfair dismissals

Question 30

what did the works progress administration do (WPA) 1935
SND

Answer 30

created millions of jobs for the unemployed by funding public works projects, including building roads, bridges, schools, and providing jobs in the arts.

Question 31

social security act SSA
1935, SND

Answer 31

federal insurance for the unemployed
guaranteed retirement payments (65+)
additional assistance for the disabled, women and children

Question 32

impact of the SSA

Answer 32

reduced poverty amongst the elderly
economic security
still operates together

Question 33

the revenue act 1935
SND

Answer 33

higher taxes for the rich (75% for those over 5 mil) —didn’t affect many—
corporate tax

Question 34

impact of the revenue act 1935

Answer 34

funded new deal programs
promoted wealth distribution

Question 35

national housing act NHA
FND and SND 1933+37

Answer 35

fnd- made housing more affordable
snd- low cost public housing, replace slums

Question 36

impact of the NHA

Answer 36

thousands of low income families could afford housing
created employment in construction

Question 37

opposition to the second new deal

Answer 37

businesses, the wealthy, the supreme court

Question 38

the supreme court and the second new deal

Answer 38

began declaring laws as unconstitutional finding 11 between 1935 and 36

Question 39

the wealthy

Answer 39

higher taxes which many criticised and began finding loopholes (revenue act)

Question 40

businesses

Answer 40

many despised the Wagner act believing their overstepping their authority