History 20s and 30s

Return to Normalcy (Harding, 1920)

Americans wanted a return to prewar life—less government activism, fewer international entanglements, and a focus on domestic stability.

Isolationism

The belief that the U.S. should stay out of foreign alliances and conflicts

Conservatism

Preference for limited government, traditional values, and free-market economics

Flapper

A symbol of modern womanhood, freedom, and rebellion

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement celebrating African American artistic expression

Modernity vs. Tradition

A recurring theme as America wrestled with change. Cities embraced the new era, while others clung to conservative values.

Scopes Trial

Landmark legal battle over teaching evolution. Cultural clash between science and religion.

Fundamentalism

A strict interpretation of religious beliefs, often opposed to modern science.

Prohibition

A law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages. (18th amendment)

Immigration Act of 1924

Severely restricted immigration by setting strict quotas based on the ethnic makeup of the U.S. as recorded in the 1890 census.

Goal: Preserve traditional American demographics

Nativism

The belief that native-born Americans are superior to immigrants, often leading to discrimination.

Red Scare

A period of intense fear of communism in the U.S.

Sacco and Vanzetti Trial

Two Italian immigrants and anarchists were convicted of murder.

Targeted because of their ethnicity and political beliefs,

Cause of Great Depression

Overproduction, underconsumption, stock market crash, and income inequality

Unemployment rate

Increased by 25% by 1933.

Slowly declined until the New Deal Program, but remained high until WWII.

Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)

Aid big businesses, not individuals

Only supported the wealth, resisted direct aid

Dust Bowl

Caused by over-farming and drought; led to massive migrations west, especially to California

Fireside Chats

Connect directly with citizens, build confidence

Franklin D. Roosevelt

President of the US during Great Depression and World War II, began the New Deal Program

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

CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps)

Jobs for young men in conservation

WPA (Works Progress Administration)

Public works jobs (roads, arts, etc.)

TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)

Rural electrification and infrastructure

FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Insured bank deposits

SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)

Regulated the stock market

AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act)

Paid farmers to reduce production

NRA (National Recovery Administration)

Set business codes to stimulate the economy

Social Security Act

Pensions for elderly, aid for unemployed and disabled

Wagner Act (1935)

Protected workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively Long-term: strengthened labor unions

Huey Long ("Share Our Wealth")

Wanted more radical wealth redistribution

Supreme Court

Struck down parts of the New Deal; led to FDR's court-packing plan

Concerns about government overreach

Tension Between Tradition & Modernity

Seen in gender roles, religion, science, race relations, immigration

Shift in Government Role

1920s: Laissez-faire, minimal federal intervention

1930s: Active government role in economic recovery and social welfare

Populist vs. Elite Tensions

New Deal was criticized both for doing too much (by conservatives) and too little (by populists like Huey Long)

Speakeasies

An illegal bar where drinks were sold, during the time of prohibition.

Hoovervilles

Shanty towns that the unemployed built in the cities during the early years of the Depression; the name given to them shows that the people blamed Hoover directly for the Depression.

Court-Packing Plan

A political ploy to change the court for favorable rulings on New Deal legislation.

Reform Bill of 1937,

Speculation

The practice of making high-risk investments with borrowed money in hopes of getting a big return

Buying on Margin

Paying a small percentage of a stock's price as a down payment and borrowing the rest

Labor Unions

An organization formed by workers to strive for better wages and working conditions.

Rugged Individualism (Hoover's response)

The belief that all individuals can succeed on their own and that government help for people should be minimal.

People should help themselves, not rely on the government

Relief

Relief was the effort to help unemployment insurance and social security.

Recovery

Recovery was the effort to restore the economy to normal health.

Reform

Reform let government intervention stabilize the economy by balancing the interests of farmers, business and labor.