wwii Flashcards
- What migration trends occurred in the 1920s?
Great Migration - African Americans migrated to the North because of economic opportunities and racism in the South. Through acts, the U.S limited immigration and put a literacy test.
- What forms of intolerance occurred and why? Think about the Palmer Raids and the rise of a new KKK and hostility toward immigrants.
Palmer Raids were bombings led by Mitchell Palmer to gain information on radicals. Americans were fearful of outsiders, and many were scared due to the communist takeover in Russia. They arrested socialists, union laborers, and anarchists. The Ku Klux Klan had an extreme view of nativism in the 1920s. They were hostile towards not only African Americans but also Catholics, Jews, Foreigners and suspected communists. Most KKK were white protestants. They terrorized anyone who they believed to be un-American and believed they were doing justice. They had a strong political influence. At first people tolerated the KKK because they held high standards of christian morality and were driving out any bad influences. However there was lots of fraud and corruption.
- What forms of mass media became popular in the 1920s and how did they shape cultural norms?
The radio became very popular. People were able to hear the president’s voice and news about the world. Later FDR had fireside chats through the radio. Newspaper circulation grew as more people were educated and learned to read. Movies and magazines became popular and people started to have the free time to watch movies. Pop culture developed.
- What was the Harlem Renaissance and which forces provided the impetus for this event?
African Americans started migrating to Harlem in Manhattan, New York to escape some of the segregation that took place in the South. Harlem soon became the biggest concentration of African Americans in the world, including people from all backgrounds where they could share common experiences. African American culture began to form in Harlem, known as the Harlem Renaissance. In Harlem, poetry, art, music, and dance became present, representing the African Americans’ culture and their experiences. This movement brought notice to African Americans’ works and inspired future generations. The Harlem Renaissance also created a foundation for the civil rights movement in the 60s.
- What were the causes of the Stock Market Crash of 1929? Be able to explain such risky practices as buying on margin and speculation.
Overproduction → ppl get laid off from their jobs, stock prices drop because of less production and then ppl start selling stocks when they get low. People would buy on a margin which is when people would buy stocks on a loan in hopes of being able to pay the loan back. When the stock prices dropped, they couldn’t pay them back. Many people sold their stocks. As consumer spending declined, there was a surplus of goods. Investors tried to buy stocks to stabilize the prices but it didn’t work. Speculation was when people would speculate that the price of stock would go up so they would buy and sell it for a quick profit. Stocks became very low and borrowers couldn’t repay banks. People also panicked and started to take their money out of banks which led to banks closing.
- Why and in what ways did Laissez Faire economics return in the 1920s?
Laissez Faire economics returned in the 1920s because of economic growth. The government supported the growth of big businesses and decrease of progressive regulation and they relaxed many regulations on businesses and banks.
- What principles guided Hoover’s response to the Great Depression, and how did this restrict his ability to help the American people?
Laissez Faire. Hoover and many others believed that the economy would fix itself because it went through ups and downs. He didn’t want to ask Congress for aid because he thought people’s self reliance would decrease if the government stepped in. He thought public relief should come from the state and local government. He encouraged charities to increase efforts for the needy, employers to not cut wages and unions to not strike. This didn’t help the American people because he couldn’t give them aid.
- What economic trends/causes throughout the 1920s led to the Great Depression of the 1930s?
Many people used excessive credit due to growing consumerism. Overproduction of consumer goods, stock market speculation, stock market crash, laissez- faire, and the U.S insistence of other nations repaying their debts. The U.S also put a high tariff on foreign goods. Other countries couldn’t repay their war debts and they responded by putting high tariffs on U.S goods. The Dawes Plan had made a cycle of payments where the U.S gave money to Germany to rebuild its economy and pay reparations to Britain and France. Britain and France would use this money to pay their war debts to the U.S. When the U.S banks failed, this plan stopped and other countries got into a depression as well.
- Describe the suffering both farmers and workers endured as a result of the depression. What was unique about their experiences and how was their suffering similar? How did each group respond to conditions?
Soil Conservation Service in 1935 to teach and subsidize the plains farmers to rotate crops, terrace fields, use contour plowing, and plant trees to stop soil erosion and conserve water. For those who could stay behind, the region recovered, but environmental issues remained. Farmers lost their farms and homes since they could not pay their debts. They were also overproducing crops.
- What was Hoover’s personal and political philosophy especially in terms of pulling the nation out of the depression? What tactics/solutions did he resort to?
Hoover believed in less government involvement. Hoover built the Hoover Dam in order to provide people with jobs. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation was meant to help declining railroads, banks, and other financial institutions. Hoover believed that by providing them emergency loans, the RFC could stabilize these businesses and the benefits would trickle down to smaller businesses and bring recovery. Since Hoover realized that other countries couldn’t pay their debts, he called for a temporary suspension. The Hawley Smoot Tariff added a high tariff on foreign goods.
- What effects did Hoover’s actions have on the nation, both good and bad? Think about the impact on farmers, workers, and WW1 Veterans. Why were these efforts largely inadequate?
Hoover’s actions did not benefit the nation. His practice of laissez faire led to many people suffering from depression while he didn’t do much to help.
- Describe the results of the 1932 presidential election and explain why those were the results.
Republican influence decreased and the majority of people voted for the democratic candidate, FDR. Most people focused more on who would help them during the depression and less on the parties of the candidates. Hoover was seen as not a good president because he didn’t do much to help and he was seen as unhelpful.
- What was Roosevelt’s personal and political philosophy especially in terms of pulling the nation out of the depression? Think about the differences with Hoover.
FDR had a plan to pull the U.S out of the depression. FDR believed in government involvement and rejected the Laissez-Faire idea.
- Describe the purpose and parts of Roosevelt’s New Deal, especially the 3 Rs, and examples of laws/agencies for each “R”
The new deal was meant to provide relief, recovery, and reform. Relief for people out of work, Reform of American economic institutions, Recovery for business and the economy. He believed in government regulation and one thing he did was the Bank Holiday, where failing banks closed for one day so that the government could reorganize them.
The first new deal focused on recovery while the second new deals focused on relief and reform.
relief: CCC (civillian conservation)
Reform: SSA (social security)
Recovery: AAA (agricultural adjustment)
- What other tactics did Roosevelt use to lift the nation out of the depression?
He used fireside chats to talk directly to the people and spread hope. He also passed banking reform laws, emergency relief programs. People were able to get jobs.
