Comprehensive US History: FDR, WWI, WWII, and the New Deal

Who was nominated by the Democrats in the Election of 1932?

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

What significant change did the 20th Amendment bring?

It changed the inauguration date for presidents to January 20.

What was FDR's famous quote during his inaugural address?

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

What was the purpose of the 'bank holiday' declared by FDR?

To give banks time to stabilize and reorganize.

What was the Emergency Banking Relief Bill?

A bill passed to reorganize national banks facing possible failure.

What did the Glass-Steagall Act create?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which guarantees savings up to $5,000.

What was the Agricultural Adjustment Act?

A law that paid farmers to cut production of goods.

What was the National Industrial Recovery Act?

An act that allowed cooperation between government and business, suspending anti-trust laws.

What did the Public Works Administration (PWA) aim to achieve?

To hire unemployed individuals for public works projects.

What was the Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)?

It provided $500 million to states to assist the unemployed.

What was the purpose of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act?

To develop and plan uses of the Tennessee River Valley.

Who was Father Charles Coughlin?

A Catholic priest who initially supported FDR but later became critical of him.

What was Francis Townsend's proposal?

To provide pensions of $200 monthly to all individuals over 60.

What was Huey Long's political stance?

He advocated for wealth redistribution and created the Share Our Wealth Society.

What did the Social Security Act establish?

The first national system of pensions for the elderly, financed by payroll taxes.

What was the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)?

An act that established the right to unionize and prohibited unfair labor practices.

What was the outcome of the Election of 1936?

FDR was re-nominated and won a landslide victory against Alf Landon.

What was the Court Packing Controversy?

FDR's proposal to add justices to the Supreme Court to protect New Deal legislation.

What was the Fair Labor Standards Act?

An act that banned child labor and established minimum wage and workweek standards.

What major event occurred in the fall of 1937?

A recession that affected the recovery signs from the Great Depression.

What was the significance of the New Deal?

It expanded the federal government's role in the economy and provided relief during the Great Depression.

What did the National Housing Act of 1934 create?

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to improve home mortgage conditions.

What was the impact of the New Deal on American expectations?

It changed expectations of what the federal government could and should do for its citizens.

What was the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps?

To provide jobs for young men from relief families in government-run camps.

What was the significance of the WPA?

It created public works jobs and financed cultural projects during the Second New Deal.

What was the primary goal of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act?

To provide jobs instead of direct financial aid from the federal government.

What was the outcome of FDR's Judicial Reorganization Act?

It faced significant resistance and failed to pass in the Senate.

What was the legacy of the New Deal?

It established a precedent for federal involvement in the economy and social welfare.

What was the primary goal of the Allies during the Paris Peace Conference in January 1919?

To impose harsh terms, revenge, and reparations on Germany.

What did Germany have to accept as part of the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany had to accept 'war guilt,' pay $33 billion in reparations, and lose territory.

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

June 28, 1919.

Who led the Republican opposition to the Treaty of Versailles?

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts.

What was the main concern regarding Article 10 of the Treaty of Versailles?

It could lead to greater U.S. military involvement abroad.

What was the outcome of Wilson's efforts to ratify the Treaty of Versailles?

The treaty was never ratified by the U.S., and the country did not participate in the League of Nations.

What was the Washington Naval Conference?

A conference in 1921-1922 where agreements on naval limitation were reached.

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

An agreement to solve international issues by peaceful means.

Who became the prime minister of Italy in 1922 and established a fascist regime?

Benito Mussolini.

When did Hitler become chancellor of Germany?

In 1933.

What significant action did Germany take in violation of the Treaty of Versailles?

Rearming of Germany began.

What was the Munich Conference known for?

It was associated with the policy of appeasement regarding the Sudetenland.

What event marked the beginning of full-scale war between Japan and China?

The invasion of Manchuria in fall 1931.

What was the American response to the rise of fascism and militarism in Europe?

Disillusionment with involvement in WWI led to the passage of Neutrality Acts.

What was the 'Cash and Carry' policy?

A policy allowing the sale of arms to countries at war under certain conditions.

What was the significance of the Yalta Conference?

Agreements were made regarding post-war Europe as Germany was about to be defeated.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

A policy stating that the U.S. would intervene to prevent any government from falling to communism.

What was the Marshall Plan?

A program for massive economic aid to Europe to help rebuild after WWII.

What led to the division of Germany into East and West?

The introduction of separate currencies and the blockade of West Berlin by the Soviet Union.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

An operation to supply West Berlin with food and supplies during the Soviet blockade.

What was the outcome of the Berlin Airlift?

The Soviet Union lifted the blockade in May 1949.

What was the impact of WWII on African Americans?

Expansion of job opportunities and an ideological shift towards civil rights.

What was the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII?

Detention of Japanese-Americans in camps due to fears of espionage, upheld by the Supreme Court.

What was the American public's sentiment towards entering WWII?

70% believed entering WWI was a mistake, leading to reluctance for involvement in WWII.

What was the significance of the 'Phony War' period?

A time of inactivity on the Western Front after the initial invasion of Poland.

What did FDR do in response to the growing threat of Germany in 1939?

He called a special session of Congress to repeal Neutrality Act provisions forbidding arms sales.

What was the ideological justification for the internment of Japanese-Americans?

Fear of espionage and long-standing prejudice against Japanese people.

What was the primary purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

To keep Western European nations united against the potential Soviet threat.

When was the North Atlantic Treaty signed, and how many nations were initially involved?

Signed in April 1949 by 12 nations.

What principle does NATO operate on regarding attacks on member nations?

An attack on one member nation is considered an attack on all.

What military alliance did the Soviets respond with after NATO was formed?

The Warsaw Pact.

What was the Marshall Plan's role during the Cold War?

It provided economic aid to Europe to help rebuild after World War II.

What significant event occurred in August 1949 that escalated the arms race?

The Soviets detonated their first atomic bomb.

What was the outcome of the Korean War in terms of territorial boundaries?

The boundary remained at the 38th parallel.

Who was the Supreme Commander of the Occupation Forces in Japan after World War II?

General Douglas MacArthur.

What was the result of the Chinese Civil War in 1949?

The communists led by Mao Zedong declared the People's Republic of China.

What was the significance of the Mutual Defense Pact between the Soviet Union and China in 1950?

It raised additional concerns for the US regarding the spread of communism.

What was the purpose of Truman's Executive Order creating the President's Committee on Civil Rights?

To document unfair treatment of African Americans and recommend federal intervention.

What landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 declared that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal'?

Brown v. Board of Education.

What was the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on the military during the Korean War?

It accelerated the integration of the armed forces.

What was the Great Migration?

The movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North.

What was the significance of Jackie Robinson's debut in Major League Baseball?

He broke the color barrier in baseball, symbolizing progress in civil rights.

What was the Southern Manifesto?

A document signed by Southern senators and Congressmen urging noncompliance with the Brown decision.

What event prompted President Eisenhower to send federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas?

The resistance to integrating Central High School by Governor Faubus.

What did the Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1896 uphold?

Legal segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

What was the outcome of the Elmer Henderson case regarding railroad dining car segregation?

The Supreme Court ruled it violated the Interstate Commerce Act.

What was the primary concern of the US regarding the Soviet Union during the Cold War?

The perception of the Soviets as bent on world domination.

What was the main ideological stance of the US during the Cold War?

Containment of communism.

What was the significance of the Korean War for US military involvement abroad?

It marked a significant commitment to military action in Asia.

What was the role of the UN Security Council during the Korean War?

It approved a 'police action' by UN troops in response to North Korea's invasion.

What did Truman's special message to Congress in February 1948 call for?

Action on civil rights, but no significant measures were taken.

What was the impact of World War II on African American civil rights?

It highlighted the contradiction of fighting for democracy abroad while facing discrimination at home.

What was the effect of the withdrawal of federal troops from the South after Reconstruction?

It led to the rise of Jim Crow laws and segregation.

What was the significance of the March on Washington Movement?

It pressured FDR to issue an executive order against discrimination in defense jobs.

What did the 'pupil placement law' aim to achieve in the context of segregation?

To maintain segregated schools by delaying integration.

What was the response of Southern leaders to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling?

They called for Massive Resistance to integration.

What was the outcome of the Korean War by July 1953?

A stalemate was reached, with the boundary remaining at the 38th parallel.