exam 3 study guide

What were the main causes of the Great Depression? (Think "Too Much, Too Little, Too Risky.")

Too Much Production: Factories made more than people could buy. Too Little Buying: People couldn't afford all the goods, leading to an economic slowdown. Too Risky Stocks: People gambled too much in the stock market. Bad Tariffs: The Smoot-Hawley Tariff made trade worse, hurting the economy.

Describe President Hoover's approach to the Great Depression.

"Hands-Off and Hope." He believed in limited government help and that things would fix themselves, emphasizing voluntary cooperation.

How did immigration policy change during the Great Depression, particularly for Mexican immigrants?

"Closed Doors, Especially for Mexicans." Immigration was severely cut, and many Mexicans, even citizens, were deported to save jobs.

What were "Unemployment Councils" during the Depression?

"Communist Organizers." Groups created by communist and socialist organizations to help the jobless and protest.

Who were the "Bonus Army" and what did they want?

"WWI Vets Want Their Pay." WWI veterans marched on Washington for early payment of their promised bonus.

What was the "Bank Holiday" during FDR's presidency?

"Fix the Banks." FDR closed all banks temporarily (Emergency Banking Act) to stop panic and fix the banking system.

What were the three main goals of FDR's New Deal programs?

"Relief, Recovery, Reform." Relief: Give immediate help. Recovery: Get the economy back on track. Reform: Prevent future depressions.

Name two prominent critics of the New Deal and their main arguments.

Huey Long: Said New Deal didn't go far enough; wanted to "Share Our Wealth" (take from rich, give to poor). Frances Townsend: Said New Deal didn't help elderly enough; wanted big pensions for seniors.

What legislation created the federal minimum wage?

The Fair Labor Standards Act.

What was the purpose of the Farm Security Administration (FSA)?

"Helping Farmers & Documenting Poverty." Provided loans to farmers and took famous photos of rural life.

Did the New Deal alone end the Great Depression?

"No, WWII Did." The New Deal helped a lot, but massive spending for World War II truly pulled the U.S. out of the Depression.

What contributed to the rise of Fascism in Germany and Japan in the 1930s?

"Anger & Hunger for Power." Germany: Humiliated by Treaty of Versailles after WWI, had economic chaos, leading to Hitler's rise and desire for revenge. Japan: Wanted more resources and power in Asia, leading to military expansion.

Describe U.S. foreign policy in the 1930s regarding growing conflicts abroad.?

"Isolationist But Leaning." U.S. tried to stay out of foreign wars while Germany and Japan expanded.

How did Japan demonstrate its aggression in the 1930s and 1940s?

"Conquering Asia." Japan invaded Manchuria, then China, and parts of Southeast Asia to grow its empire.

What were Germany's main complaints about the Treaty of Versailles?

"Unfair Blame & Punishment." Germany hated being blamed for WWI, losing land, and paying huge fines.

How did Nazi Germany draw inspiration from the U.S. for its racist policies?

"Dark Mirror." Nazis studied U.S. Jim Crow laws and eugenics (forced sterilization) for their own racist policies.

What event forced the U.S. into World War II?

"Wake-Up Call." Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor forced the U.S. into WWII.

What was the purpose of A. Philip Randolph's planned March on Washington during WWII?

"Civil Rights Demand." To protest discrimination in war jobs for Black Americans.

What was the "Double V Campaign" during WWII?

"Victory Abroad, Victory at Home." African Americans fought for victory against fascism overseas and racism in the U.S.

How did the U.S. economy shift to support the war effort in WWII?

"All-Out Production." The War Production Board took over industries to make tanks, planes, and weapons, shifting from consumer goods.

How did the U.S. solve the farm labor shortage during WWII?

"Bracero Program." The U.S. invited Mexican laborers to work on farms during the war.

What was Japanese Internment during WWII?

"Fear & Injustice." After Pearl Harbor, over 100,000 ethnic Japanese in the U.S. (many citizens) were forced into remote camps due to fear.

What were the "Sleepy Lagoon Case" and the "Zoot Suit Riots" and what did they indicate?

"Racial Tensions Explode." Sleepy Lagoon: Unfair trial of young Mexican Americans for murder, showing prejudice in the justice system. Zoot Suit Riots: Sailors attacked young Mexican Americans (and others) wearing "zoot suits" in Los Angeles, fueled by racial tension.

What was the Holocaust?

"Genocide of Jews & Others." Nazi Germany's systematic murder of 6 million Jews and millions of others (Roma, disabled, homosexuals, etc.).

What was the "Manhattan Project"?

The U.S. secretly developed the atomic bomb.

What was the main debate surrounding the U.S. use of the atomic bomb on Japan?

"Save Lives vs. Morality." Truman used the bombs on Japan to avoid a costly invasion, but some worried about the devastation.

Describe the "Island Hopping" strategy used by the U.S. in the Pacific during WWII.?

"Leapfrogging to Japan." U.S. military strategy in the Pacific to skip heavily fortified islands and capture key ones closer to Japan.

What were the main causes of the Cold War?

"Clash of Ideas." The deep differences between U.S. capitalism/democracy and Soviet communism/totalitarianism.

What was "Operation Paperclip"?

"Grabbing Nazi Scientists." U.S. brought German scientists (many with Nazi ties) to America to gain an advantage over the Soviets in science and rockets.

What was the goal of the Communist Control Act & Internal Security Acts in the U.S.?

"Crushing Communism at Home." Laws passed to weaken the Communist Party in the U.S. and control suspected communists due to Cold War fears, aiming for control and surveillance over communism.

Why did the U.S. fear the Cuban Revolution?

"Communism Next Door." The U.S. feared the Cuban Revolution because of its communist alignment.

What did President Eisenhower warn about in his "Military-Industrial Complex Speech"?

"Warning About War's Power." He warned about the growing power and influence of the military and arms industries.

Who was Senator Joseph McCarthy and what was he known for during the Cold War?

"Fear and Witch Hunts." He led a highly publicized campaign accusing many Americans of being communists.

How did communism impact religion during the Cold War in the U.S.?

"Atheism vs. Faith." Communism, being atheistic, was seen as a direct threat to religious faith in the U.S. during the Cold War.

What was the "Lavender Scare"?

"Anti-Gay Purge." A part of the Cold War Red Scare where homosexuals were purged from government jobs, seen as security risks.