MC: Exam 2

How was the workday of a shop girl portrayed?

Working behind a desk/assisting in the sales apart of the department store.

Assuming it’s reasonably accurate, what insight might we gain into relationships between the elite and working classes in the 1920s from this film?

The differences in food, social events, and awareness of struggles highlight the elites' carefree stance.

From the perspective of the film, how did 1920s society view unwed mothers?

Incapable and mentally unwell, seen as helpless due to a lack of a father figure or stable employment.

Based on his mistaken belief about the shop girl’s morals, what offer did the store owner make to her in the office scene (right after the boss hands out the bonus checks)? How does she respond?

He bought the shop girl anything she wanted due to his feelings for her, but she interpreted it as a proposition to be his mistress. She confronted him angrily and left.

Why did the shop girl initially turn down the proposal on the boat?

She turned him down to hurt him as he had hurt her before.

Why did Martha Gellhorn believe Southern mill workers would not revolt against the government?

Mill workers showed loyalty to the President through photos in their homes and positive remarks, indicating hope and confidence in his leadership.

What were the inhumane working conditions and additional hardships faced by mill employees during the Great Depression?

Mill employees faced 8-hour shifts without breaks, standing while eating, and constant machine supervision. Additional hardships included reduced workdays (2-3 per week) and skyrocketing food prices, leading to non-livable wages.

What diseases were mill workers contracting, and what led to these conditions?

Pellagra and syphilis due to inadequate diets and poor living conditions, leading to malnutrition and untreated infections.

What particular reform was necessary to aid the suffering and save future working-class generations?

Access to certified education and medical resources, including birth control, was necessary. Social attitudes changed as government officials and health care workers began to support birth control, unlike during Margaret Sanger's time.

What did Gellhorn say about the mill workers and the potential consequences of inaction?

Gellhorn praised mill workers as kind, loyal, and hardworking despite hardships, emphasizing their focus on children's welfare. She warned that without drastic assistance, health deterioration could lead to increased poverty and social unrest.

In one of his most enduring quotes, what phrase did FDR use to describe Dec. 7, 1941?

FDR used the phrase, "a date which will live in infamy," to describe the Pearl Harbor bombing which occurred on December 7th, 1941.

How did FDR describe the US-Japan relationship before Pearl Harbor?

FDR described the US-Japan relationship as peaceful, with discussions aimed at maintaining peace in the Pacific, while alleging that Japan was misleading the US to conceal its planned attack.

In addition to the Pearl Harbor bombing, what other aggressive war moves had Japan also made against the US?

The destruction of American ships and the attacks on U.S. territories such as Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines.

How did FDR describe the attitude of the other government officials and the citizens toward war with Japan?

Compliant, noting they understood the threat to national safety and supported defensive measures against Japan's aggression.

What was President Truman’s opinion of Japan’s leaders during World War II?

President Truman viewed Japan's leaders as stubborn and cruel in warfare, expressing regret over the need to target whole populations due to their 'pigheadedness.'

What specific regrets did Truman express about using the atomic bomb to defeat Japan and end the war?

A feeling of sympathy towards the women and children in Japan who were killed in the bombing.

Why did Truman decide to bomb Japan a second time?

To convey the bomb's devastating nature and compel Japan, known for not surrendering, to accept unconditional surrender.

What were the mass arrests conducted by the Soviet communist government?

The Soviet communist government executed mass arrests through large roundups of ex-prisoners and exiles by the secret police, targeting small towns around Moscow to meet production quotas.

How did the Russian people respond to the mass arrests conducted by the Soviet government?

Responses varied: some lived in fear of arrest, others dismissed rumors, while some sought to evade arrests by moving and hiding their identities, reflecting a desperate need to avoid victimization.

How did Mandelstam compare the Soviet government to the French Revolution?

Noting that both created an atmosphere of pervasive terror, making survival nearly impossible for everyone. He highlighted how mass arrests in the Soviet Union fostered paranoia and fear, similar to the targeted suspicion experienced during the French Revolution, leaving lasting trauma across generations.

How did Mandelstam and her husband survive without jobs or rations? Why was life in a country shack with a cow impossible?

Mandelstam and her husband survived as beggars. Living in a shack with a cow was unfeasible due to their inability to afford a house or cow, alongside restrictive property policies and a declining number of cows.

Why did Russians shun citizens in trouble with the government?

Due to fear and suspicion instilled by Stalin's regime. People distanced themselves from the 'enemies of the people' to cope with the eroded trust and validate the state's propaganda.

Why did Russians act like everything was normal and avoid discussing the government's actions?

To avoid appearing fearful or discontent, which could attract suspicion and arrest. They wore a 'smiling mask' to protect themselves, fearing discussions, especially in front of children, might lead to dangerous revelations.

What were the prison camps like? What do these camps remind you of from our World War II lecture?

The prison camps were brutal and inhumane and were characterized by harsh conditions and a lack of adequate food, clothing, and medical care. Prisoners would endure severe cold, malnutrition, forced labor, and abuse from the guards. These resembled the abuse Jews would face in concentration camps.

Did Mandelstam ever figure out exactly when her husband died? What did she hope for as far as his death was concerned?

Mandelstam never figured out exactly how her husband died, apart from a death certificate, which included his date of death and condition (heart failure), but not the circumstances surrounding his death. Mandelstam hoped that he had a quick and painless death, as she dreaded the thought of him suffering a slow, agonizing death due to the harsh conditions in the prison camps.