Key Concepts from U.S. History (1920s-1930s)

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from U.S. History related to the 1920s and the Great Depression.

Scientific Management

A system of industrial efficiency developed by Frederick Taylor, applied by Henry Ford in automobile factories to mass-produce cars using the assembly line.

Welfare Capitalism

Business practices providing benefits like pensions and health care to workers to prevent unionization and improve productivity.

Charles Lindbergh

The first aviator to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, who became a national hero.

Fundamentalism in Religion

A religious movement emphasizing the literal interpretation of the Bible, often opposing modern science and cultural changes.

Marcus Garvey

Leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) advocating for black pride and the return of African Americans to Africa.

Calvin Coolidge

U.S. president (1923–1929) known for pro-business policies and limited government intervention in the economy.

Herbert Hoover

U.S. president (1929–1933) criticized for his inadequate response to the Great Depression.

Buying on Margin

A practice of purchasing stocks with borrowed money, contributing to the stock market collapse.

Gross National Product (GNP)

The total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year, which declined significantly during the Great Depression.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

A high tariff passed in 1930 that worsened the Great Depression by reducing international trade.

Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)

A government agency created by Hoover to provide financial support to banks, railroads, and other businesses during the Depression.

Standard of Living

The level of wealth and necessities available to individuals or societies, which improved during the 1920s due to economic growth.

Hollywood/Movie Industry

The film industry centered in Hollywood, California, which boomed in the 1920s with the rise of silent films and later "talkies."

Scopes Trial

A 1925 court case in Tennessee where teacher John Scopes was tried for teaching evolution, highlighting the conflict between science and religion.

Prohibition (18th Amendment)

A constitutional amendment (1919) that banned the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol, leading to widespread illegal activity.

Al Capone

A notorious gangster who profited from illegal alcohol sales during Prohibition.

Sacco and Vanzetti

Italian anarchists convicted and executed in 1927 for robbery and murder; their trial was controversial and seen as biased against immigrants.

Quota Laws

Immigration laws of the 1920s that restricted immigration from certain countries, especially from southern and eastern Europe.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion in Harlem, New York, celebrating African American culture in literature, music, and art.

Black Tuesday

October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed, signaling the beginning of the Great Depression.

Bank Failures

The widespread closure of banks during the Great Depression due to economic instability.

Stock Market Crash

The sharp decline in stock prices in 1929 that led to the Great Depression.

Bonus March

A 1932 protest by World War I veterans demanding early payment of military bonuses; they were forcibly removed by the U.S. Army.

Warren Harding

U.S. president (1921–1923) whose administration was marred by scandals, including the Teapot Dome Scandal.

Teapot Dome Scandal

A political scandal where government officials illegally leased oil reserves to private companies for personal profit.

Brain Trust

A group of academic advisors who helped FDR develop New Deal policies.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

A New Deal program that provided jobs to young men for environmental conservation projects.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

A government agency that built dams and power plants to provide electricity and economic development to the Tennessee Valley.

Emergency Banking Relief Act

A law allowing the government to regulate banks and reopen only those that were financially stable.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

A New Deal agency that insured bank deposits to restore trust in the banking system.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

A government agency that regulates the stock market to prevent fraud and abuses.

Second New Deal

A second wave of New Deal programs introduced in 1935, focusing on long-term economic security and labor rights.

Wagner Act

A law that protected workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively.

Father Charles Coughlin

A Catholic priest and radio broadcaster who criticized the New Deal and promoted populist and anti-Semitic views.

Court Packing

FDR’s controversial plan to add more justices to the Supreme Court to gain support for his policies.

John L. Lewis

A labor leader who helped organize industrial unions, including the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

Fair Labor Standards Act

A 1938 law establishing minimum wages, maximum working hours, and child labor restrictions.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

U.S. president (1933–1945) who implemented the New Deal to combat the Great Depression.

New Deal

A series of government programs and reforms introduced by FDR to provide economic relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression.

Bank Holiday

FDR’s temporary closure of banks in 1933 to restore public confidence.

Fireside Chats

Radio addresses by FDR to reassure the American public and explain his policies.

Social Security Act

A 1935 law creating a system of pensions for the elderly, unemployment insurance, and disability benefits.

Dust Bowl (Okies)

A severe drought and soil erosion crisis in the 1930s that displaced many farmers, particularly from Oklahoma.