American History Study Guide - 1920s and 1930s

Ku Klux Klan

a society set up to restore white Protestant America by terrorizing African Americans and other minorities.

Emergency Quota Act

law that established a temporary quota system and limited immigration

Flapper

a young, dramatic, stylish, and unconventional woman

Speakeasy

bar where people illegally purchased alcohol

Mass Media

Radio, movies, newspapers, and magazines aimed at a broad, popular audience

Great Migration

the movement of African Americans from the rural South to the industrial North

Harlem Renaissance

the flourishing of African American arts

Jazz

A style of music influenced by Dixieland music and ragtime, originated by African Americans

Blues

a soulful style of music that evolved from African American spirituals

Normalcy

a reference to returning to a normal time, used by Harding

Ohio Gang

a group of friends President Harding appointed to cabinet positions and other high-level positions

Teapot Dome Scandal

scandal involving Harding's secretary of the interior

Mass Production

large scale product manufacturing usually done by machinery

Assembly Line

a manufacturing system that divided operations into simple tasks that unskilled workers could do

Model T

assembly-line automobile manufactured in Henry Ford's plants

Isolationism

philosophy that a nation should limit its involvement in international affairs

Bull Market

a long period of rising stock prices

Margin

a way of buying stocks by paying only a small percent of the price of the stock and taking a loan from a stockbroker to pay the rest

Margin Call

a demand by a broker for the investor to repay the loan at once

Speculation

buying shares, betting that the stock market will continue to climb, and then selling the stock to make money quickly

Black Tuesday

the day, October 29,1929, that the stock market experienced its steepest dive

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

high tariff that damaged American sales abroad

Hoovervilles

name given to shantytowns

Dust Bowl

the dried-up lands of the Great Plains that resulted from a severe drought

Public Works

government-financed building projects

Relief

money that went directly to people in poverty

Bonus Army

a group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington to demand the payment of bonuses that Congress promised

New Deal

President Franklin Roosevelt's programs for ending the Depression

Bank Holiday

the closing of banks before bank runs could put them out of business

Hundred Days

the time between March 9 and June 16, 1933, when Congress passed 15 laws to deal with the nation's economy

Fireside Charts

radio talks that President Roosevelt held with the American people to let them know what he hoped to accomplish

Securities and Exchange Commission

a government agency set up to regulate the stock market and prevent fraud

Federal Deposit Insurance Coporation

provided government insurance for bank deposits

Agricultural Adjustment Administration

the agency that administered Roosevelt's farm

Civilian Conservation Corps

a New Deal relief program that gave young men jobs under the federal forestry service

Deficit Spending

borrowing money to pay for programs

Works Progress Administration

a federal agency set up for work relief and to increase employment

Social Security Act

a law that provided security for the elderly and for unemployed workers

Court-Packing

Roosevelt's plan to add justices to the Supreme Court

Safety Net

safeguards and relief programs that protected Americans against economic disasters

Why did nativist and isolationist feelings increase in the 1920s?

The increased immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, economic anxieties following WWI, and a desire to avoid further international conflicts.

How did the Emergency Quota Act and the National Origins Act affect immigration?

The Emergency Quota Act established a temporary quota system limiting immigration. The National Origins act made immigrant restriction a permanent policy, and tightened the Quota Act.

What things did the "new morality" of the 1920s shift many Americans towards?

It shifted greater individual freedom, including more liberal attitudes about gender, sexuality, and personal behavior.

On what two theories did the Scopes trial focus?

Darwin's theory of evolution and the literal interpretation of the Bible regarding creation.

What was the purpose of the 18th Amendment? Why did it pass?

It was passed due to the influence of the national temperance movement, which believed that alcohol consumption led to numerous social ills and that a ban on alcohol would improve American society.

What was Harlem? Why was it important to Black culture in the 1920s?

It was an important space for artistic expression, political activism, and self-discovery, fostering a vibrant cultural movement that profoundly impacted Black identity and consciousness.

Why did Marcus Garvey call for African Americans to settle in Africa?

Garvey believed people of African descent could establish a great independent nation in their ancient homeland of Africa.

What problems did President Harding face in his administration? (think scandals, shady advisors, etc.)

Harding's administration was plagued with scandals by cabinet members and other government officials appointed by Harding; Some members of the Ohio Gang used their government positions to sell jobs, pardons, and immunity from prosecution; Colonel Charles R Forbes, head of the Veteran's Bureau, sold scarce medical supplies from veteran's hospitals and kept the money, which cost the taxpayers $250 million; Secretary of the interior, Albert B Fall, secretly allowed private interests to lease lands containing US Navy oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming.

How did Coolidge approach governing and business?

His approach to governing was generally described as hands-off, favoring limited government and a pro-business stance.

What was the effect of using mass production in making goods? (for prices, for amount of goods bought by consumers, etc).

Mass production led to lower production costs, making goods more affordable for consumers and stimulating consumerism. It also increased efficiency and productivity, allowing for the creation of more goods in less time.

How did consumerism change Americans' lives?

By transforming how people worked, lived, and interacted with each other. It created a culture of constant desire for new goods and services, leading to both positive and negative consequences.

What challenges did farmers face in the 1920s?

The demand for food dropped, so farmers' incomes went down. They could not afford payments on their farms, so they lost their land.

Why was America's policy of isolationism dangerous after WWI?

Isolationism was dangerous because it created a vacuum in world leadership, allowing other nations to pursue their own interests, and potentially leading to conflict.

How did religion play a part in the 1928 presidential election?

Because of the Democratic nominee Al Smith's Roman Catholic faith. As the first Catholic candidate from a major party, Smith's religion became a central issue, exposing deep-seated anti-Catholic sentiments across the country.

Why did many investors buy stocks on speculation in the late 1920s?

Many investors bought stocks on speculation, betting that prices would continue to rise, driven by an environment of easy credit and a perceived "get-rich-quick" opportunity. This was fueled by a booming economy, rising stock prices, and the widespread belief that the market was a sure thing.

Why did many banks collapse in 1929?

Many banks failed in 1929 due to a combination of factors, primarily linked to the stock market crash and the subsequent panic.

How did the Hawley-Smoot Tariff contribute to the Great Depression?

It significantly worsened the Great Depression by increasing tariffs on imports and prompting retaliatory measures from other countries, leading to a sharp decline in international trade and exacerbating economic hardship.

Why did many farmers in the Great Plains leave their land in the 1930s and head west?

Primarily due to the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl, caused by severe drought and poor land management practices, resulted in massive dust storms that ruined crops and made farming unsustainable. With no chance of making a living, farm families abandoned their homes and land, fleeing westward to become migrant laborers.

What was the subject of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" primarily explores the plight of migrant farmworkers during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl.

Why did many states declare bank holidays in 1933?

Numerous states declared bank holidays to prevent mass bank runs during the Great Depression. The national bank holiday, were designed to stop panic withdrawals and give the government time to assess the financial health of banks.

What were the effects of the Agricultural Adjustment Act?

It aimed at stabilizing agricultural prices and supporting farmers during the Great Depression. It successfully increased crop prices, but the benefits were not evenly distributed, and the program faced challenges and ultimately a Supreme Court ruling.

What did the PWA do to help Americans?

By providing jobs and funding infrastructure projects. It aimed to reduce unemployment and stimulate the economy by funding public buildings, roads, bridges, and subways.

Why did some people oppose President Roosevelt's policies?

Some people opposed President Roosevelt's New Deal policies due to a variety of reasons, including concerns about government overreach, the potential for socialism, and the impact on business interests.

Why did the Supreme Court strike down the National Industrial Recovery Act?

The main reason was the Court's interpretation that the NIRA unconstitutionally delegated legislative power to the executive branch, violating the principle of separation of powers.

What was the goal of the Social Security Act?

The Social Security Act aimed to provide a safety net for Americans by establishing a system of social insurance and welfare programs. It specifically focused on providing old-age benefits, assistance to the blind, dependent children, and those with disabilities.

Why did FDR attempt to add justices to the Supreme Court?

Because he was frustrated by the Court's rulings that struck down key New Deal programs as unconstitutional. Specifically, the Court had found several measures, including the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, the National Industrial Recovery Act, and the Railway Retirement Act, to be unconstitutional, hindering FDR's efforts to address the Great Depression.

How did the congressional elections of 1938 affect New Deal legislation?

In 1938, the Republican Party gained seats in Congress and joined with conservative Democrats to block further New Deal legislation, and some of it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.