USAP Academic Pentathlon Social Science Section I 2025-2026

Covers the first section of social science topics during the Great Depression.

What event in 1919 highlighted the shortcomings of American democracy?

Racial violence during a government crackdown.

What was Woodrow Wilson's stance on world democracy during the Great War?

He proclaimed victory for world democracy while facing domestic issues.

What significant global health crisis occurred in 1918?

The Spanish flu pandemic, which caused an estimated 20 million deaths worldwide.

How many American lives were claimed by the Spanish flu?

Nearly 700,000 American lives.

What was Wilson's campaign slogan in 1916?

He Kept Us Out of War.

What was the total estimated casualty figure for World War I?

Over 37 million casualties.

What did Wilson aim to achieve with his Fourteen Points?

A new world order based on American democratic values and international cooperation.

What was the main focus of Wilson's Fourteen Points?

Establishment of a League of Nations.

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles regarding Germany?

Germany was assigned sole blame for the war and faced severe penalties.

What was the amount set for Germany's war reparations?

$21 billion.

Who were the leaders of the Big Three Allied Powers during the Paris Peace Conference?

Georges Clemenceau (France), David Lloyd George (Britain), and Woodrow Wilson (United States).

What was Wilson's health issue during the Paris Peace Conference?

He likely suffered from Spanish flu and possibly a minor stroke.

What was the reaction of Clemenceau and Lloyd George to Wilson's idealism?

They had little patience for it and wanted to punish Germany.

What did Wilson's League of Nations aim to promote?

International cooperation and the achievement of international peace and security.

What did Wilson believe could address the flaws in the Treaty of Versailles?

The League of Nations.

What was the public's perception of the League of Nations in the U.S.?

Many viewed it as a threat to U.S. sovereignty.

Who was Wilson's greatest rival in the Senate regarding the League of Nations?

Henry Cabot Lodge.

What did the term 'Irreconcilables' refer to in the context of the Treaty of Versailles?

Senators who opposed the Treaty and the League with no exceptions.

What was one of the key principles of Wilson's Fourteen Points?

Self-determination for small nations.

What was the significance of Wilson's arrival in Paris in December 1918?

He was celebrated as a global celebrity and symbol of American influence.

What did Wilson's Fourteen Points speech utilize for global communication?

A network of radio transmitters.

What was the impact of the Meuse-Argonne offensive?

It helped turn the tide for the Allies and led to the armistice.

How many American troops died during the Meuse-Argonne offensive?

26,277 American troops.

What did Wilson's vision for international relations emphasize?

Cooperation among nations to prevent future conflicts.

What was the public sentiment towards Wilson's treaty after his return to the U.S.?

He faced opposition from a hostile, Republican-controlled Congress.

What was required for the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations to be ratified?

Approval of two-thirds of the Senate.

Who was the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee opposing Wilson?

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.

What group of senators opposed the League of Nations unless major changes were made to the treaty?

Reservationists.

What article of the League's Charter did Lodge criticize the most?

Article X, which affirmed the respect for territorial integrity and political independence of League members.

How did Wilson respond to Lodge's proposed changes to the treaty?

He insisted that they accept the League without any changes.

What was Wilson's view on opposing the League of Nations?

He believed it was unpatriotic and against progress.

What did Wilson proclaim about the League of Nations?

It represented the best hope for lasting peace.

What was the outcome of the Senate vote on the Treaty of Versailles on March 19, 1920?

The treaty was rejected by a vote of 49 to 35.

What health crisis did Wilson face during the treaty negotiations?

He suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed.

What was the significance of Wilson's speaking tour in 1919?

It was an attempt to gain public support for the League of Nations.

What was the public reaction to Wilson's speaking tour?

He attracted huge crowds, filling large venues.

What was the first time in U.S. history related to the Senate's rejection of the treaty?

It marked the first time the Senate defeated a peace treaty.

How did Wilson's stroke affect his leadership?

It removed him from the fight at a crucial time and made him more irritable.

What did Wilson's wife do after his stroke?

She restricted access and directed many government functions.

What was the impact of the League of Nations' failure on U.S. foreign policy?

It ended Wilson's plan for America to lead after the war.

What labor unrest occurred in the U.S. after World War I?

Strikes by workers demanding higher wages and better working conditions.

How many steelworkers went on strike in September after the war?

365,000 steelworkers from the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers.

What were the working conditions for immigrant steelworkers during the war?

They worked grueling schedules, sometimes up to 84 hours a week for only $4 a day.

What ultimately led to the breakdown of the steelworkers' strike?

Dwindling union resources, government-supported violence, and rising public opposition.

What led to the breakdown of the strike by steelworkers?

Dwindling union resources, government-supported violence, and rising public opposition.

What was Governor Calvin Coolidge's response to the Boston police strike?

He sent state guard units to restore order and declared there is no right to strike against public safety.

What significant political impact did Coolidge's actions during the police strike have?

It boosted his political career and helped him rise to the presidency.

What was the Seattle general strike?

A city-wide general strike involving over one hundred labor unions that lasted five days and drew national attention.

How many strikes occurred in the United States by the end of 1919?

3,600 strikes involving more than 4 million workers.

Which two labor organizations united during the Seattle general strike?

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the International Workers of the World (IWW).

What was the outcome for the United Mine Workers after their strike in 1919?

They accepted a deal that gave them pay raises but ignored demands for safer conditions and shorter hours.

What was the Red Scare?

A campaign against suspected radicals that further weakened civil liberties in the U.S.

What event intensified fears leading to the Red Scare?

The Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917.

What acts did Congress pass in response to fears of radicalism?

The Espionage Act in 1917 and the Sedition Act in 1918.

What was the government's response to domestic terrorist attacks in 1919?

Congress approved $500,000 to support the Justice Department's campaign against domestic terrorism.

What happened to many individuals targeted during the Palmer Raids?

Many were arrested, and foreign-born radicals faced immediate deportation.

Who was Emma Goldman?

A famous anarchist deported during the Palmer Raids.

What was the role of J. Edgar Hoover during the Red Scare?

He was appointed to run the General Intelligence Division and tracked suspected radicals.

What was the purpose of the General Intelligence Division (GID)?

To lead the fight against radical groups and monitor citizens.

How did the government violate civil liberties during the Red Scare?

Strict enforcement of the Espionage and Sedition Acts against those opposing the war or supporting radical ideas.

What significant legal cases regarding free speech reached the Supreme Court in 1919?

Three important cases concerning the First Amendment.

What significant event occurred from November 1919 to January 1920 involving the Justice Department?

The Palmer Raids, which targeted radicals and resulted in the arrest of nearly two thousand suspected subversives.

What was the purpose of the Palmer Raids according to Attorney General Palmer?

To 'clean up the country [by] tear[ing] out the radical seeds that have entangled American ideas in their poisonous theories.'

Who was Charles Schenck and what was he convicted for?

A Socialist Party leader convicted for violating the Sedition Act by distributing anti-draft leaflets.

What was the Supreme Court's ruling in Schenck v. United States?

The Court upheld Schenck's conviction, stating that his speech posed a 'clear and present danger' to national defense during wartime.

What is the 'clear and present danger' rule established by Justice Holmes?

A legal standard that allows for the suppression of speech that poses an immediate threat to national security.

What was the outcome of the case Abrams v. United States?

The Supreme Court ruled against Jacob Abrams, affirming his conviction for distributing leaflets that threatened war production.

What was Justice Holmes's dissent in Abrams v. United States?

He argued that the leaflet did not pose an immediate danger and criticized the government's power to criminalize political ideas.

Who was Eugene Debs and what was his significance during this period?

A Socialist presidential candidate who ran from prison and advocated for free speech and dissent in a democracy.

What was the outcome of Debs v. United States?

The Supreme Court upheld Debs' conviction for an anti-war speech, ruling it could hinder recruitment efforts.

What was the Great Migration?

A movement from 1915 to 1970 where over six million African Americans relocated from the South to northern and western cities for better opportunities.

What factors contributed to the Great Migration?

The search for employment, escape from Jim Crow segregation, and racial violence in the South.

What was the impact of World War I on the Great Migration?

The war increased demand for workers in northern industries, accelerating the migration of African Americans seeking jobs.

What was the significance of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial?

It became a symbol of injustice and xenophobia, highlighting the anti-radical sentiment of the time despite the lack of concrete evidence against them.

What role did anti-radicalism play in the 1920s?

It fueled demands for immigration restrictions and heightened xenophobia, particularly against Southern and Eastern European immigrants.

How did the public perceive Sacco and Vanzetti during their trial?

They were viewed with suspicion due to their foreign origins and radical political beliefs, despite a lack of solid evidence linking them to the crime.

What demographic changes occurred in cities like Detroit and Chicago during the Great Migration?

Detroit's African American population increased by 611.3% and Chicago's by 148.2% between 1910 and 1920.

What was the outcome of the Palmer Raids?

They led to the arrest of many suspected radicals and the suppression of numerous radical publications.

What did Justice Holmes mean by the 'free trade of ideas'?

He advocated for the importance of open expression and debate of ideas in a democracy, even those that are unpopular.

What was the Sedition Act, and how did it relate to the cases discussed?

A law that made it a crime to speak out against the government, under which individuals like Schenck and Abrams were prosecuted.

What was the broader social context of the Red Scare during this period?

A climate of fear and suspicion towards radicals and immigrants, leading to widespread civil liberties violations.

What did the Supreme Court's decisions during this period reveal about free speech?

They indicated a willingness to limit free speech in the name of national security, especially during wartime.

What was the percentage increase of the African American population in New York during the Great Migration?

66.3 percent

What nickname was given to Harlem during the Great Migration?

Black Mecca

Who led the famous Harlem Hellfighters 369th Infantry Band?

Lt. James Reese Europe

What cultural movement emerged in the 1920s as a result of the Great Migration?

The Harlem Renaissance

What genre of music did Louis Armstrong help popularize in Chicago?

Jazz

What was the significance of the Chicago Defender during the Great Migration?

It provided critical coverage of racial violence and promoted opportunities in the North.

What was the impact of jazz on American culture in the 1920s?

Jazz became a major force in American popular music and a significant cultural export.

What was the 'Red Summer'?

A period of intense racial violence in 1919, marked by numerous lynchings and race riots.

What role did the introduction of electrical recording in 1925 play in jazz music?

It enhanced the sound quality of jazz records, capturing richer performances.

Which dance styles became popular alongside jazz in the 1920s?

The Lindy-hop and the Charleston

What city served as an outpost of the jazz revolution and was known for its distinctive 'swing' style?

Kansas City, Missouri

Who was Josephine Baker and what was her significance?

An African American performer who became an international star in Paris during the 1920s.

What was the reaction of some Americans to the rise of jazz music?

Many traditional thinkers viewed it as vulgar and a threat to societal values.

What was the role of African American soldiers in introducing jazz to Europe?

They introduced jazz during World War I, notably through the 369th Infantry Band.

What was the Chicago race riot of 1919 triggered by?

The drowning of a Black teenager, Eugene Williams, after he accidentally floated into a white swimming area.

What were some of the notable cities where jazz flourished as African Americans migrated?

Memphis, Kansas City, and St. Louis

How did the Harlem Renaissance impact African American culture?

It brought national and global attention to the richness of African American art, literature, and music.

What was the significance of the Cotton Club and Roseland Ballroom in the jazz era?

They were iconic venues where jazz music was performed and popularized.