The Roaring 20s, The Great Depression, World War II

XENOPHOBIA

Fear of outsiders and foreigners. Feeling that developed post World War I as a result of our participation in the war, the creation of the Soviet Union, and our isolationist policies

THE FIRST RED SCARE

First movement against Communists and anarchists post World War I; fueled by the Russian Revolution and the mood of hysteria, paranoia and xenophobia.

SACCO AND VANZETTI

Two Italian anarchists who were charged with the murder of a paymaster in Massachusetts; they were convicted and sent to the electric chair despite circumstantial evidence and worldwide protests against their execution; example of nativist Post World War I

THE PALMER RAIDS

Raids conducted by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer to find anarchists that resulted in the deportation of hundreds of immigrants without trials or due process

THE KU KLUX KLAN

Secret organization that became mainstream by the 1920s due to support from president Wilson and increased nativism; expanded their hatred towards Jews, Catholics and immigrants

ROARING 20s

Nickname for the decade of the 1920s due to economic prosperity, the rise of jazz, consumer spending and new cultural norms and behaviors

PROHIBITION

18th amendment passed in 1919, making the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol illegal in the U.S. Widely ignored by the American people and deliberately defied in several ways.

SPEAKEASIES

Underground (secret) clubs that served alcohol illegally, defying prohibition and encouraging disrespect for the law

BOOTLEGGING

The practice of importing alcohol illegally; became a lucrative business for organized crime and Al Capone and encouraging disrespect for the law

VOLSTEAD ACT

Created a government agency to enforce prohibition in America; severely underfunded and unsuccessful

HARLEM RENAISSANCE

A literary and cultural movement of the flourishing and celebration of African American poetry, writings, music and art; caused by the Great Migration and the creation of Harlem in Manhattan

FLAPPERS

Women in the 1920s who held a more liberal attitude with dress, behavior and social norms as a result of attaining suffrage in 1919; Women wore more revealing clothing, bobbed their hair, drank and attended parties

MODEL T FORD

A “car for the common man” that was produced on assembly lines through mass production by Henry Ford. Because of the way it was produced, it was much more affordable than custom made cars that only the wealthy could afford

EMERGENCY QUOTA ACT OF 1921

Law that restricted immigration based on the national origins formula; it limited the number of people who could come into the United States from other countries, setting up a system that only allowed 3% of people from each country, based on how many people from that country already lived in the U.S., based on the 1910 census. Severely limited immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia.

NATIONAL ORIGINS ACT OF 1924

Law that further restricted immigration based on the national origins formula; it limited the number of people who could come into the United States from other countries, setting up a system that only allowed 2% of people from each country, based on how many people from that country already lived in the U.S., based on the 1890 census. Severely limited immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia.

SCOPES “MONKEY” TRIAL

Trial of John T. Scopes, a teacher in Tennessee that broke the law by teaching the theory of evolution to high school students. Scopes was found guilty and fined, but the trial was really about the clashing views of creationism v. evolution in America and the clash between rural and urban cultures

CONSUMER CULTURE

Culture that developed in the 1920s due to mass advertising, increased spending on appliances and luxury goods, and installment buying

FALSE PROSPERITY

The idea that the perceived wealth of the roaring 20s was not shared by everyone and that there were weaknesses in the American economy prior to the stock market crash of 1929

INSTALLMENT BUYING

Americans purchased consumer goods on credit with a payment plan over time, resulting in Americans living beyond their means and attaining debt

SPECULATION

Gambling that the price of a stock will rise or fall; leading to risky trading on Wall Street during the 1920s

MARGIN

Purchasing a stock with borrowed money from a broker; if the investor loses money on a stock, they will also wind up in debt to the broker

STOCK MARKET CRASH

October 29, 1929: Stock prices plunged due to panic on Wall Street. Also known as “Black Tuesday.”

BANK RUNS

Immediately after the stock market crash, Americans ran to banks to withdraw their money, but banks had invested people’s money in the market. Because there was no depositors’ insurance, banks lost all of their customer’s money

GREAT DEPRESSION

1929-1941: Largest economic downturn and highest rate of unemployment (25%) in U.S. history

DUST BOWL

Region of the Great Plains that suffered from drought, over-cultivation of the land, widespread crop failure and dust storms. Conditions in this region led to severe poverty and hard times during the depression

OKIES

People who left the Dust Bowl and migrated to California looking for jobs during the Depression

RICKETS

Widespread disease in children and some adults due to malnutrition during the Great Depression. Rickets causes weakening of bones and spontaneous fractures due to the lack of calcium and Vitamin D.

RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM

The idea that America should “pull itself up by its bootstraps” and work hard to end the depression through self-reliance, personal responsibility and without relying on government assistance or intervention. Hoover pushed and supported this idea during the depression

SMOOT-HAWLEY TARIFF (1930)

High tariff on imports supported by Hoover in order to stimulate American manufacturing. Foreign nations responded with retaliatory tariffs on American imports, bringing world trade to a standstill

TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS

Theory of economics in which the government will give tax breaks and loans to corporations to stimulate the economy. Businesses will expand their operations, create new jobs and pay their workers more so they will have more money to spend and invest. Supported by Hoover.

RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION

Example of trickle down economics in which the federal government authorized up to $2 billion for emergency financing for banks, life insurance companies, railroads and other large businesses

“HOOVERVILLES”

Nicknames for shantytowns and shacks that Americans built because they were homeless as a result of the Depression. Named after Hoover as a way to blame him for the Depression.

BONUS ARMY

Group of WWI veterans who protested in Washington D.C., demanding their bonus payments that they never received for their service in the war. Hoover ordered the military to disperse the veterans by any means necessary- the military tear gassed the bonus army, resulting in terrible press for Hoover and him losing the election of 1932

THE NEW DEAL

FDR’s plan to combat the Depression through programs that offered relief, recovery and reform to Americans

PUMP PRIMING

Economic theory in which the government will provide direct relief to Americans through money and jobs, which will stimulate the economy through increased spending and investment. As a result, businesses will grow and demand will increase. Supported by FDR.

FIRESIDE CHATS

FDR spoke to Americans directly through radio for the purposes of reassuring Americans that the economy will recover, educating them about the banking system, and giving Americans confidence in the government to combat the Depression

“BANK HOLIDAY” (EMERGENCY BANKING RELIEF ACT)

Relief and Recovery program of the New Deal in which all banks were closed temporarily. While they were closed, the government would audit their finances and would only allow them to reopen if they were financially solvent

WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (WPA)

Relief and Recovery program of the New Deal in which the federal government hired Americans directly to work on infrastructure projects including building roads, schools, hospitals, bridges, tunnels, airports, public buildings, playgrounds, golf courses, storm drains and sewer lines. Employed 25% of all Americans. Largest New Deal program

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (FDIC)

Reform program of the New Deal in which the Federal government insured all bank deposits up to $5000 in 1933 ($250,000 per account today). Investors’ money is safe in banks that are members of FDIC if the bank fails, goes out of business or is robbed because their money is “backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.”

SOCIAL SECURITY

Reform program of the New Deal that provides payments to people who do not work: elderly, disabled, aid to mothers and dependent children, and retirees. Social security is taken out of American paychecks and placed in a fund that is available to Americans at the age of 65-70

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA)

Relief, Recovery and Reform program of the New Deal in which the government hired thousands of people in the Tennessee Valley on infrastructure projects and created full electrification of the South. Sold electricity to residents of the region at cheaper rates than private companies

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS (CCC)

Relief program of the New Deal that gave jobs to young men to work on conservation projects, including constructing and maintaining state and nations parks and hiking trails

NATIONAL YOUTH ADMINISTRATION (NYA)

Relief program of the New Deal that provided student aid to high school, college and graduate students; created “work study”programs for students to work part time at their school in exchange for government aid

21ST AMENDMENT

1933: Repealed prohibition (18th amendment) making alcohol legal again in America, increasing tax revenue on alcohol during the depression

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC)

Reform program of the New Deal in which the stock market is regulated to prevent insider trading, fraud and requires companies to provide a financial statement to investors. Purpose is to prevent another stock market crash

AGRICULTURAL ADJUSTMENT ACT (AAA) [1 and 2]

Recovery and Reform program in which the government pays subsidies to farmers as an incentive for them to reduce the number of acres they plant (the government pays farmers not to grow food) for the purpose of raising prices for agricultural products. AAA1 was declared unconstitutional.

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL RECOVERY ACT (NIRA)

Recovery program that set codes for wages, hours of work, levels of production and prices for finished goods. Gave workers the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining. Attempted to guarantee reasonable profits and fair wages and hours for workers. Declared unconstitutional.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT

Reform program of the New Deal that set minimum wage, maximum work hours, overtime pay and banned child labor

COURT PACKING

FDR’s scheme to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court in order to prevent his programs from being declared unconstitutional; He would appoint an additional justice for every justice over the age of 70, in effect increasing the court from 9 to 15 justices; did not succeed because Americans felt it was an abuse of power

DEFICIT SPENDING

Also known as Keynesian economics; The government spends more money than it collects in revenue. Result of government spending of New Deal programs. FDR believed it was a “necessary evil” to “spend our way out of the depression.” Resulted in huge budget deficits in America.

WELFARE STATE

The idea that the government is responsible for taking care of Americans that cannot sustain themselves economically. Liberals and Democrats generally support this idea, while conservatives and Republicans do not.

22ND AMENDMENT

1951: Placed a 2-term limit on the presidency as a result of FDR being president for 12 years

Neutrality Acts

Laws passed in the 1930s to keep the United States out of foreign wars by banning arms sales and loans to nations at war.

Lend-Lease Act

A 1941 law that allowed the U.S. to send weapons and supplies to Allied nations during WWII without immediate payment, signaling the end of strict neutrality.

“Cash and Carry”

A policy from 1939 allowing warring nations to buy U.S. goods if they paid in cash and transported them themselves; aimed at helping Allies while keeping the U.S. neutral.

Pearl Harbor

A surprise Japanese attack on a U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States entering WWII.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. government project during WWII to develop the atomic bomb.

Rationing

A system used during WWII to limit civilian use of goods and food so more could be sent to support the military effort.

Rosie the Riveter

A cultural icon representing women who worked in factories and shipyards during WWII, symbolizing female empowerment and contributions to the war effort.

Internment Camp

Centers where over 110,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and confined during WWII due to fear of espionage.

Korematsu v. United States

A 1944 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of Japanese American internment during WWII as a wartime necessity.

Victory Garden

Private or community gardens planted by Americans during WWII to supplement food supplies and support the war effort.

War Bonds

Debt securities sold by the U.S. government to raise money for the war effort during WWII, promoted as a patriotic duty.

Atomic Bomb

A powerful weapon developed during the Manhattan Project and used by the U.S. to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending WWII in the Pacific.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Japanese cities destroyed by U.S. atomic bombs in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of WWII.

Nuremberg Trials

Post-WWII military tribunals that prosecuted Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

GI Bill

A 1944 law providing benefits like education, housing loans, and unemployment pay to WWII veterans to help them transition to civilian life.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates from 1946 to the early 1960s, as soldiers returned home and started families after WWII.