American Studies-Prosperity, The Great Depression, and The New Deal

What was the Great Migration?

The movement of African Americans from the South to northern cities after World War I.

How did the Great Migration heighten racial tensions?

It increased competition for jobs, housing, and public services.

What was one example of racial tension in the South after World War I?

Enforcement of Jim Crow laws.

What was a nationwide sign of racial intolerance in the post-war era?

Revival of the Ku Klux Klan.

What violent events reflected racial tensions in cities?

Urban race riots.

What caused an increase in immigration before World War I?

Immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe.

How did nativism affect U.S. policy after World War I?

It led to the passage of immigration quotas.

Which groups faced intolerance from the Ku Klux Klan after the war?

Immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.

What sparked the Red Scare of 1919-1920?

Fear of Communism from Russia and labor strikes in the U.S.

What actions were taken during the Red Scare?

Incarceration and deportation of many immigrants.

What economic trend followed World War I in the U.S.?

An economic boom improved the standard of living for many.

What industrial innovation increased production efficiency?

The assembly line.

Which transportation innovation changed American life after World War I?

The automobile.

What new technology allowed for talking motion pictures?

Advances in communication and film.

How did commercial radio broadcasts impact society?

They spread information and entertainment widely.

What role did newspapers and magazines play in the post-war era?

They had wider circulation and influenced culture.

How did technological innovations challenge social norms?

They brought changes that increased cultural tensions.

What was one benefit of the improved standard of living?

Many Americans experienced greater prosperity.

What was a key transportation innovation besides the automobile?

Commercial aircraft.

How did technological advances create tensions?

Some changes conflicted with traditional social values.

What influenced the Great Migration of African Americans?

Jim Crow laws and job opportunities in the North.

What cities became cultural centers due to the Great Migration?

Cities in the Northeast and Midwest.

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

A celebration of African American culture.

How did the Harlem Renaissance affect social attitudes?

It increased pride and awareness of African American struggles.

What music genre flourished during the Harlem Renaissance?

Jazz.

What amendment granted women the right to vote?

The 19th Amendment.

How did women's suffrage change society?

It increased women's economic and political participation.

What was Prohibition's main goal?

To ban the sale and production of alcohol.

What were speakeasies?

Illegal bars that operated during Prohibition.

Why was the 18th Amendment repealed?

It was difficult and costly to enforce.

What banking practice contributed to the Great Depression?

Excessive lending by banks.

How did consumer credit affect the economy before the Depression?

It increased consumer debt.

What did the Federal Reserve do to curb bank lending?

Constricted the money supply.

How did the Federal Reserve's actions worsen the economy?

It made it harder to repay debts and sustain businesses.

What was stock market speculation?

Buying stocks on margin hoping for big profits.

What happened when the stock market collapsed?

Many lost their investments and fortunes.

How did business closures affect consumers?

They led to rising consumer debt due to lost income.

What New Deal program provided retirement benefits?

The Social Security Act.

Which agency regulated the stock market after the Depression?

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

What was the purpose of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)?

To insure bank deposits and restore trust in banks.

What were examples of Public Works Programs?

Works Progress Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, Civilian Conservation Corps.

How did the New Deal affect the federal government's role?

It greatly expanded through new legislation and agencies.

Why were New Deal benefits unevenly distributed?

They furthered the divide between social classes and minorities.

What was the National Recovery Administration's role?

To regulate industry and promote economic recovery.