Unit 3 / 1920s

Key Terms

“return to normalcy“

campaign with the idea of going back to the way the US was before WWI (isolationism)

USSR

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Communism

idea of a classless society in which everyone is equal, everybody works and is paid according to their abilities and needs

Red Scare

period of time in which many accused union leaders and immigrants of being communists trying to overthrow the gov

Anarchy

society without government or laws 

Xenophobia

intense or irrational dislike/fear of people from other countries

Immigration quotas

limits on the number of immigrants coming from certain countries

Nativism

prejudge against foreign born people

Sacco and Vanzetti Case

* In 1920, two Italian immigrants were accused of murder
* Since they were immigrants *and* anarchists they were viewed as victims of prejudice from the judge and jury 
* The evidence was disputable but they were found guilty and executed in 1927

Palmer Raids

used to hunt down communists in the US

* Suspected communists (often immigrants and labor leaders) would be searched, arrested, and jailed or deported

Harlem Renaissance

cultural, social, and artistic explosion that sparked a new black cultural identity (also led to Jazz Age)

Jim Crow Laws

state and local laws that enforce racial segregation

Red Summer

race riots broke out across over 30 cities in the US resulting in injuries, deaths, and lynchings

19th Amendment

gave women the right to vote

Flapper

the “new woman” of the 20s who rejected many social regulations that controlled women of previous generations

18th Admendment

banned the sale, manufacturing, and transportation of alcohol

Temperance Movement

goal was to limit drinking in the United States

* combined a concern for general social ills with religious sentiment and practical health considerations

Prohibition

known as the time period during the temperance movement and 18th amendment

Bootlegging

making, distributing, selling alcohol illegally

Scopes Trial

1925 court case in which a science teacher, John Scopes, was arrested for violating a Tennessee law that forbade teaching evolution instead of creationism from the Christian Bible

Speculation

**r**isky investing in questionable stocks

Rugged Individualism

idea that people should help themselves, not depend on the government to help them

Fireside Chats

radio conversations with the American people to rebuilt peoples trust in the government

New Deal

* RELIEF from the depression
* Spark an economic RECOVERY
* REFORM the economy and political system to prevent catastrophe from happening again

CCC

Civilian Conservation Crops:

* Jobs = Relief
* Put 2.5 mil young, unmarried men to work maintaining and restoring forests, beaches, and parks
* Workers earned $1/day but received free housing and job training

WPA

Works Progress Association:

* Provided construction based work for over 8 mil people
* Jobs included working to build airports, hospitals, bridges, levees, roads and other projects

NIRA

National Industry Recovery Act:

* Addressed the crisis in industry by developing codes for businesses Included working hours, minimum wages, setting prices for products, and union memberships

FDIC

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation:

* When banks failed people lost everything
* Now with the FDIC, the money in banks was insured so people wouldn’t lose their money!

SSA

Social Security Act:

* Created retirement benefits, survivor benefits, and disability insurance

Huey P Long

Governor of LA

* Said FDR didn’t do enough!
* Advocated for a redistribution of wealth and guaranteed income of $2000/year for every US family by taxing the rich

Supreme Court Packing Plan

* Supreme Court opposed the New Deal and said it was unconstitutional
* FDR called for adding up to 6 new justices to the Court
* Critics accused him of trying to increase presidential power and upsetting balance of powers
* FDR didn’t end up having to go through with it because the Court eventually turned his way