IGCSE Edexcel History USA actual one

What percentage of the US population were White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs) in 1920?

89%

What was the approximate percentage of Black Americans in the US population by the 1920s?

About 10%

What significant amendment granted women the right to vote in the US?

The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920.

What does the Bill of Rights guarantee?

Fundamental rights such as freedom of religion, speech, and press.

What is the role of the Supreme Court in the US government?

To ensure that federal laws are followed and can cancel state laws that contravene the Constitution.

How many judges are on the US Supreme Court?

Nine judges.

What major economic event occurred in the US at the end of World War I?

A brief recession due to the end of wartime markets.

What production method did Henry Ford introduce in 1913?

The assembly line method of mass production.

How much did the production time for a car reduce from the early 1920s to 1925?

From about 12 hours to 90 minutes.

What was the impact of World War I on US wheat exports?

The US supplied 30% of the world's wheat, leading to a 25% rise in grain prices.

What was the increase in US factory production during WWI?

Factory production rose by 35%.

What was the significance of advertising in the 1920s?

It promoted mass-produced products and grew into a $2 billion industry by 1929.

What was the trend in radio ownership in American homes by 1930?

Increased from 19% in 1925 to 40% in 1930.

What was the purpose of buying on credit in the 1920s?

To allow consumers to make a small down payment and pay in installments over time.

What was the economic boom in the 1920s characterized by?

An upward spiral of increasing profits, investment, production, and employment.

What industries grew due to the rise of the car industry?

Rubber, steel, glass, roadbuilding, and out-of-town stores.

What was the effect of new technologies like electricity in the 1920s?

Enabled the widespread use of new products like radios and vacuum cleaners.

What was the significance of the 15th Amendment?

It made it illegal to deny a person the vote based on race, though many Black Americans faced barriers in practice.

What is the federal system of government in the US?

A system where power is divided between a central government and state governments.

What are the two houses of Congress?

The House of Representatives and the Senate.

What was the role of the President in the law-making process?

The President's signature is required for laws, but Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 majority.

What was the impact of the introduction of assembly line production on car prices?

It reduced the cost of cars significantly, from $950 to $250 by 1925.

What was a key feature of the economic boom in the 1920s?

A cycle of increasing profits leading to more investment and higher employment.

What was the effect of the introduction of hire purchase on consumer behavior?

It became popular, allowing consumers to buy products on credit, leading to increased sales.

What was the main reason for the increase in employment during WWI?

Increased factory production to meet wartime needs.

What was the impact of returning soldiers on the US economy post-WWI?

They contributed to rising unemployment by displacing the people who had taken their place

What was the significance of the term 'WASP' in the context of 1920s America?

It refers to the dominant White Anglo-Saxon Protestant population in terms of politics and wealth.

What term describes individuals who hoped to profit from short-term stock market trading?

Speculators

What was a common practice among investors in the stock market during the 1920s?

Buying shares on margin, using loaned money.

What economic policies did the Republican Party implement during the 1920s?

Low taxes on incomes and company profits, and high tariffs on imported goods.

What percentage of the American population lived below the poverty line by 1928?

Approximately 42%

What was the primary reason for the economic struggles of farmers in the 1920s?

Falling agricultural prices due to overproduction.

What major agricultural issue affected cotton farmers in the Deep South?

Boll weevil attacks and competition from synthetic fibers.

What was the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 designed to do?

Provide long-term loans to farmers for land purchases.

What was the Red Scare?

A period of heightened fear of communism and radical ideas in the 1920s.

What event in 1917 contributed to the rise of the Red Scare in America?

The communist Revolution in Russia.

What were the Palmer Raids?

Government raids that led to the arrest and deportation of suspected radicals.

How many people were arrested during the Palmer Raids?

Approximately 6,000.

What was one reason for the end of the Red Scare?

Realization that many arrested during the Palmer Raids were not dangerous radicals.

What were the three major Acts that tightened immigration quotas in the 1920s?

Emergency Quota Act (1921), National Origins Act (1924), Immigration Act (1929).

What did the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 restrict?

European arrivals to 3% of each nationality based on the 1910 census.

What was the quota for European arrivals set by the National Origins Act of 1924?

2% of the 1890 census for each national group.

What was the maximum number of immigrants allowed per year by the Immigration Act of 1929?

150,000 immigrants.

What was a significant consequence of the high tariffs imposed by the Republican government?

Retaliatory high trade taxes on US agricultural products.

What was the impact of mechanization on farming in the 1920s?

Increased production efficiency and overproduction of agricultural goods.

What was the attitude of the Republican administration towards government intervention in the economy?

They believed in a laissez-faire approach, opposing intervention.

What was a common fear among Americans regarding immigrants in the 1920s?

Fear of imported radicalism, particularly socialism and communism.

What was one of the main reasons for the decline in demand for coal during the 1920s?

The rise of oil, gas, and electricity as alternative energy sources.

What did the term 'buying on credit' refer to in the context of the 1920s economy?

Purchasing goods with borrowed money, often through hire purchase agreements.

What was the significance of the Model T Ford in the 1920s?

It revolutionized the automobile industry and was made affordable through assembly line production.

What role did the stock market play in the economy during the 1920s?

It became a popular way for individuals to invest and make money, contributing to economic growth.

What was the effect of the high tariffs on American industries?

It encouraged Americans to buy domestic products, fueling local industries.

How did the economic boom of the 1920s affect consumer spending?

Increased wealth allowed people to spend more, further stimulating the economy.

What was the primary concern of Americans regarding immigrants from southern and eastern Europe in the 1920s?

Fear of imported political radicalism, including socialism, communism, and anarchism.

How did the economic recession of 1918-1922 relate to immigrant perceptions?

Immigrants were blamed for inciting strikes, contributing to fears of political radicalism.

What is nativism?

A belief in protecting the interests of White Anglo Saxon Protestants (WASPs) against immigrants.

What were the three major immigration acts passed in the 1920s?

Emergency Quota Act (1921), National Origins Act (1924), and Immigration Act (1929).

What did the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 establish?

It restricted European arrivals to 3% of those admitted from each nationality according to the 1910 census.

What was the purpose of the National Origins Act of 1924?

To reduce European arrivals to 2% of the 1890 census, favoring immigrants from north-western Europe.

What was the Immigration Act of 1929's quota for immigrants?

Only 150,000 immigrants per year were permitted, with 85% allocated to North Western Europeans.

Who were Sacco and Vanzetti?

Italian immigrants and anarchists charged with armed robbery and murder during the Red Scare.

What was the outcome of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial?

They were found guilty and sentenced to death by electric chair despite claims of an unfair trial.

What evidence was presented against Sacco and Vanzetti?

Eyewitness accounts, alibis, and ballistics evidence linking Sacco's gun to the crime.

What was the public reaction to the Sacco and Vanzetti case?

Many believed the trial was unfair due to bias against their immigrant status and anarchist beliefs.

What did the Governor of Massachusetts acknowledge in 1977 regarding the Sacco and Vanzetti case?

He acknowledged that the trial had not been fair but did not declare them innocent.

What were Jim Crow Laws?

State laws that enforced racial segregation in public facilities in the Southern States.

What principle did the Supreme Court uphold in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

'Separate but equal' principle, allowing segregation laws to exist.

What was the impact of literacy and tax qualifications on black Americans in the South?

These laws made it difficult for black people to register to vote.

What was the significance of lynchings in the Southern States? (+ statistic for lynching)

Lynchings were a violent feature of life, with over 4,000 black people lynched between 1885 and 1930.

What was the Great Migration?

The movement of significant numbers of black Americans from the Southern States to the North and West.

What were the economic conditions for black Americans in the South during the 1920s?

They faced economic inequality, with limited job opportunities and a median income significantly lower than white families.

What was the KKK and its role in the 1920s (how many members)?

The Ku Klux Klan was a white supremacist group that grew to 5 million members in 1923, promoting racism and violence.

What was the outcome of the Chicago race riots in 1919?

23 black people were killed, and thousands were injured or had property destroyed due to racial tensions.

What was the significance of the Tulsa Race Riot in 1921?

It resulted in the deaths of approximately 300 black Americans and left 10,000 homeless, highlighting racial violence.

What was the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)?

A white supremacist hate group responsible for violent attacks and intimidation, which peaked at 5 million members in 1923.

What ideology did the KKK promote?

Defending White Anglo Saxon Protestant values and morals.

What types of discrimination did the KKK exhibit?

Violently racist against black Americans, anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, and antisemitic.

What were some actions taken by the KKK?

Violence and threats against black Americans, marches, boycotts of 'un-American' businesses, and political intimidation.

Who was Edward Clarke?

The chief recruitment organizer for the KKK who encouraged membership sales.

What caused the decline in KKK membership in 1925?

The Immigration Acts, the end of the Red Scare, and the convictions of key KKK leaders for crimes.

What was Prohibition?

The legal ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors in the U.S., enforced by the 18th Amendment in 1920.

What were the main causes of Prohibition?

• Alcohol damaged society: women said that alcohol consumption affected family life because it led to unemployment, wages being wasted in the bar and domestic violence

• It led to sinful behaviour: religious groups believed alcohol was responsible for sin

• It weakened the economy: workers who were drunk, or recovering from drinking alcohol, were less efficient in their jobs.

• It created problems for a country at war: grain was needed for food production, rather than alcohol manufacture, during the First World War

What was the Volstead Act?

A law that defined 'intoxicating liquors' as any liquid containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume.

What were some effects of Prohibition?

Positives: a temporary decline in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related accidents (deaths to liver disease fell from 20.5 per 100,000 in 1911 to 10.7 per 100,000 in 1929). It aimed to improve social issues caused by drinking.

Negatives: prohibition led to a rise in organized crime, speakeasies, and disrespect for the law. It also resulted in loss of tax revenue and increased illegal activities surrounding alcohol consumption.

Who were bootleggers?

Individuals who illegally produced or distributed alcohol during Prohibition.

What was a speakeasy?

Secret establishments that served alcohol during Prohibition.

What was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre?

A violent event in 1929 where several mobsters were murdered, likely orchestrated by Al Capone's gang.

What led to the repeal of Prohibition?

The 21st Amendment was passed in 1932 due to increased crime, economic issues during the Great Depression (need for taxes from alcohol), and changing public attitudes towards alcohol.

What were the Chicago Race Riots?

Violent racial conflicts in Chicago in 1919, stemming from racial tensions and competition for jobs and housing.

What does 'separate but equal' refer to?

A legal doctrine that justified racial segregation, claiming that separate facilities for blacks and whites were acceptable if they were equal.

What were lynchings?

Public executions, often by hanging, used as a form of racial terror against African Americans.

What role did sharecroppers play in the South?

Farmers who worked land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crops, often leading to cycles of debt and poverty.

What was the Tulsa Race Riot?

A violent outbreak in 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a prosperous African American community was attacked by white mobs.

What was the significance of the 18th Amendment?

It marked the beginning of Prohibition, banning alcohol in the U.S.

What was the Anti-Saloon League?

A prominent organization that advocated for Prohibition and the banning of alcohol.

What was the impact of the First World War on Prohibition?

It fueled anti-German sentiment and increased calls for Prohibition as a patriotic measure.

What was the economic impact of Prohibition?

It led to a loss of tax revenue from alcohol sales and increased government spending on law enforcement.

Who was Al Capone?

A notorious gangster who became a symbol of the lawlessness during Prohibition, known for bootlegging and organized crime.

What was the role of the temperance movement?

A social movement aimed at reducing or prohibiting alcohol consumption, which played a key role in the establishment of Prohibition.

What do Christian Fundamentalists believe about the Bible?

They believe in a strict, literal interpretation of the Bible.